Human capital is a major resource controlled by a company, but is not recognised as an asset by traditional accounting practices. An alternative accounting treatment of human capital, using the human resources scorecard as a guide, is suggested in this study. The study comprises a literature review as well as an empirical study to that end. The empirical research of this study focuses on how human capital affects important financial figures and ratios of a company when employee-related costs are recognised as an asset rather than as an expense. A corresponding liability was recognised to make provision for an annual cash outflow relating to employee related costs. The annual financial statements of ten companies listed on the JSE were examined in order to determine the impact on the reported results, had human capital been treated as an asset. A methodology whereby asset values for human capital can be calculated was introduced. The influence on several core financial ratios of a company is analysed. A large increase in assets and liabilities was noted in both 2010 and 2011 when human capital was recognised as an asset rather than as an expense on a company’s financial statements. Assets for the companies analysed increased on average between 58.62% and 414.78% and liabilities increased between 204.84% and 748.26%. Due to the large increase in assets and liabilities, the recognition of human capital as an asset had a significant impact on the financial ratios of the companies analysed. This is directly linked to the decision making of company stakeholders. Throughout this study, it becomes evident that there are some general inadvertencies and inconsistencies regarding the human capital and employee costs recognition and reporting on companies’ financial statements. The way in which human capital is reported varies from company to company. The capitalisation of human capital has an impact on the financial performance of a company that cannot be ignored. There are several advantages to comprehensive human capital reporting which includes workforce motivation as well as an enhanced reputation of a company. Whether human capital is treated as an asset or as an expense, companies should invest in broad, comprehensive human capital reporting in their financial statements. The study concludes with recommended human capital disclosure in financial statements. / MCom (Management Accountancy)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

Environmental issues are an increasing concern for various stakeholders in the mining industry. To address these concerns, managements of mining companies should embrace sustainable mining practices in their daily decision making processes. Internal decision making processes are strongly dependent on the quality of data included in reports used by management. Currently environmental issues are only considered as a separate item which is attached to the annual financial statements. No link is made between the environmental performance of the mine and the economic performance that is achieved. To achieve greater acknowledgement by management of the importance of controlling environmental costs on a daily basis, environmental costs need to be identifiable in internal management reports, including management accounting reports. Various methods are available with which the value of environmental inputs and outputs can accurately be determined. If these values are correctly integrated into information systems, reporting these environmental costs will be possible, allowing a mining company to consider triple-bottom-line reporting. The goal of this study is to assist mining companies, specifically platinum mining, in measuring and reporting on environmental costs by setting up a framework. This framework will be formulated by means of conducting a thorough study of the recent and current literature pertaining to the measurement methods of environmental costs upon which a comparison will be drawn between this theory and the actual measurement and reporting of environmental costs by means of case study research. A gap analysis has identified the problems that platinum mines are experiencing, and consequently, the framework created will assist platinum mines in introducing the reporting of environmental costs. A case study on a platinum mine was done in order to evaluate the current measurement methods and reporting on environmental costs. The collected data was analysed through explanation building and an organisational-level logic model was developed in order to understand the reasons that costs are recorded and reported on by using the method currently applied in the case study principal. This organisational-level logic model will assist in identifying problems within the current costing method in relation to environmental cost measurement and reporting. The findings identified by the case study were compared to the theory underlying environmental management accounting after which a gap analysis identified the problems that platinum mines experience. Based on the findings of the gap analysis, a framework was developed to assist platinum mines in closing the gap that has been identified. The framework, if applied within an organisation will assist mining companies in expanding their current reporting on environmental issues to an in-depth review of environmental impacts which can be linked to the achievement of economic performance. This will allow a step forward in triplebottom- line reporting as the value of environmental costs has been identified as the missing link in current financial reports. The framework could not be tested as the application of the framework requires a procedural change within the organisation which needs to be approved at top management level. This limitation does, however, open the possibility for a follow up study. Additional reporting on environmental costs will help management in adding value and quality to daily and overall decision making processes. This hypothesis can be tested in possible future studies which involve multiple-case studies and which will extend the framework to include a decision making matrix. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The study was conducted to establish what effect life cycle cost forecasting accuracy has on project valuations with special reference to a global mining organisation’s coal business unit in South Africa. The research stemmed from the fact that the organisation identified through its own research in 2009 that its capital projects rarely met the originally budgeted life cycle cost forecasts estimated during the project development stages. These forecasts were generally found to be underestimated. Overrunning of cost budgets in project management terms results in project failure. The study employed two main empirical research sections. The first section took a case study approach where past implemented project results were collated and analysed. The main aim was to determine how close to reality the original life cycle cost estimates were, and secondly how any variances to the originally budgeted costs impacted on the anticipated project value post implementation. Secondly, the study employed in-depth interviews with seven project specialists within the organisation that were also involved in the development stages of the investigated projects. The study concluded that life cycle cost forecasts are very important project business case inputs and that the necessary time and effort should go into developing them so as to ensure that they are as comprehensive and accurate as possible. The sensitivity analysis that was conducted revealed that a coal mining project business case is the second most sensitive to variations in life cycle costs after variations in commodity price. The results indicated that a 20% increase in life cycle costs can destroy an equivalent project value of up to 100%. Accurate life cycle cost forecasting is therefore essential in order to estimate to a certain degree of accuracy the value of a project which in turn will be used to inform capital investment decision making. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Human capital is a major resource controlled by a company, but is not recognised as an asset by traditional accounting practices. An alternative accounting treatment of human capital, using the human resources scorecard as a guide, is suggested in this study. The study comprises a literature review as well as an empirical study to that end. The empirical research of this study focuses on how human capital affects important financial figures and ratios of a company when employee-related costs are recognised as an asset rather than as an expense. A corresponding liability was recognised to make provision for an annual cash outflow relating to employee related costs. The annual financial statements of ten companies listed on the JSE were examined in order to determine the impact on the reported results, had human capital been treated as an asset. A methodology whereby asset values for human capital can be calculated was introduced. The influence on several core financial ratios of a company is analysed. A large increase in assets and liabilities was noted in both 2010 and 2011 when human capital was recognised as an asset rather than as an expense on a company’s financial statements. Assets for the companies analysed increased on average between 58.62% and 414.78% and liabilities increased between 204.84% and 748.26%. Due to the large increase in assets and liabilities, the recognition of human capital as an asset had a significant impact on the financial ratios of the companies analysed. This is directly linked to the decision making of company stakeholders. Throughout this study, it becomes evident that there are some general inadvertencies and inconsistencies regarding the human capital and employee costs recognition and reporting on companies’ financial statements. The way in which human capital is reported varies from company to company. The capitalisation of human capital has an impact on the financial performance of a company that cannot be ignored. There are several advantages to comprehensive human capital reporting which includes workforce motivation as well as an enhanced reputation of a company. Whether human capital is treated as an asset or as an expense, companies should invest in broad, comprehensive human capital reporting in their financial statements. The study concludes with recommended human capital disclosure in financial statements. / MCom (Management Accountancy)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

Environmental issues are an increasing concern for various stakeholders in the mining industry. To address these concerns, managements of mining companies should embrace sustainable mining practices in their daily decision making processes. Internal decision making processes are strongly dependent on the quality of data included in reports used by management. Currently environmental issues are only considered as a separate item which is attached to the annual financial statements. No link is made between the environmental performance of the mine and the economic performance that is achieved. To achieve greater acknowledgement by management of the importance of controlling environmental costs on a daily basis, environmental costs need to be identifiable in internal management reports, including management accounting reports. Various methods are available with which the value of environmental inputs and outputs can accurately be determined. If these values are correctly integrated into information systems, reporting these environmental costs will be possible, allowing a mining company to consider triple-bottom-line reporting. The goal of this study is to assist mining companies, specifically platinum mining, in measuring and reporting on environmental costs by setting up a framework. This framework will be formulated by means of conducting a thorough study of the recent and current literature pertaining to the measurement methods of environmental costs upon which a comparison will be drawn between this theory and the actual measurement and reporting of environmental costs by means of case study research. A gap analysis has identified the problems that platinum mines are experiencing, and consequently, the framework created will assist platinum mines in introducing the reporting of environmental costs. A case study on a platinum mine was done in order to evaluate the current measurement methods and reporting on environmental costs. The collected data was analysed through explanation building and an organisational-level logic model was developed in order to understand the reasons that costs are recorded and reported on by using the method currently applied in the case study principal. This organisational-level logic model will assist in identifying problems within the current costing method in relation to environmental cost measurement and reporting. The findings identified by the case study were compared to the theory underlying environmental management accounting after which a gap analysis identified the problems that platinum mines experience. Based on the findings of the gap analysis, a framework was developed to assist platinum mines in closing the gap that has been identified. The framework, if applied within an organisation will assist mining companies in expanding their current reporting on environmental issues to an in-depth review of environmental impacts which can be linked to the achievement of economic performance. This will allow a step forward in triplebottom- line reporting as the value of environmental costs has been identified as the missing link in current financial reports. The framework could not be tested as the application of the framework requires a procedural change within the organisation which needs to be approved at top management level. This limitation does, however, open the possibility for a follow up study. Additional reporting on environmental costs will help management in adding value and quality to daily and overall decision making processes. This hypothesis can be tested in possible future studies which involve multiple-case studies and which will extend the framework to include a decision making matrix. / MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The study was conducted to establish what effect life cycle cost forecasting accuracy has on project valuations with special reference to a global mining organisation’s coal business unit in South Africa. The research stemmed from the fact that the organisation identified through its own research in 2009 that its capital projects rarely met the originally budgeted life cycle cost forecasts estimated during the project development stages. These forecasts were generally found to be underestimated. Overrunning of cost budgets in project management terms results in project failure. The study employed two main empirical research sections. The first section took a case study approach where past implemented project results were collated and analysed. The main aim was to determine how close to reality the original life cycle cost estimates were, and secondly how any variances to the originally budgeted costs impacted on the anticipated project value post implementation. Secondly, the study employed in-depth interviews with seven project specialists within the organisation that were also involved in the development stages of the investigated projects. The study concluded that life cycle cost forecasts are very important project business case inputs and that the necessary time and effort should go into developing them so as to ensure that they are as comprehensive and accurate as possible. The sensitivity analysis that was conducted revealed that a coal mining project business case is the second most sensitive to variations in life cycle costs after variations in commodity price. The results indicated that a 20% increase in life cycle costs can destroy an equivalent project value of up to 100%. Accurate life cycle cost forecasting is therefore essential in order to estimate to a certain degree of accuracy the value of a project which in turn will be used to inform capital investment decision making. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (MScIngwet)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The diesel consumption of haul trucks deployed on opencast mines was investigated as a means of reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of mining haul trucks. The conceptualisation of TCO and an introduction to the mining operation was presented as an introduction to the field of research. Thereafter, a review of the available literature revealed that linear programming, queueing theory and coast-down testing were applicable means of investigation. The relevant engineering sciences were applied and correlated with experimental and measured data from the Grootegeluk, Sishen and Thabazimbi mines operated by Kumba Resources Ltd (formerly known as ISCOR Mining). A cost-driver model for diesel consumption was formulated by exploiting the expert judgement of role players in the mining operation. A cost-driver model was developed for the Sishen, Thabazimbi and Grootegeluk mines. The cost-driver models were then modelled as a linear programming problem and solved using the student version of LINDO Optimization Software. The results were discussed and a universal diesel cost driver model was formulated by consolidating the individual diesel cost driver models. The operational cycle of haul trucks was simulated in order to quantify equipment utilisation and reduce diesel consumption of the mining vehicles. The operational cycle of haul trucks was modelled utilising queueing theory. The simulation of the queue network was implemented in Matlab using the next event advance method and was called Q Sim. Q Sim - - was utilised to investigate optimal fleet size and the economies of scale of haul truck capacity. The results of coast down tests were analysed in order to determine the effect of treating mining roads, with a bitumen product, on rolling resistance coefficient. Finally, recommendations for further research are proposed. This includes further refinement of the diesel cost-driver model, expanding the scope of application of Q_Sim in the mining operation and further investigation of dust reduction by bitumen products. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ondersoek is ingestel na die dieselverbruik van myntrokke sodoende die Totale Koste van Eienaarskap (TKE) van myntrokke te verminder. Die konsep rondom TKE is bespreek en 'n inleiding tot die mynybedryf is aangebied sodoende die verskeie aspekte in verb and te bring. 'n Literatuur studie het gevolg, wat aangetoon het dat lineere programmeering, toustaan-en loswieltoetse toepaslike navorsingsmetodes is om die nodige resultate te verkry. Daarna is hierdie ingenieurswetenskappe toegepas en 'n vergelyking is tussen die eksperimentele en gemete data van die Grootegeluk, Sishen en Thabazimbi myne getref. 'n Diesel koste-drywer model is opgestel met die insette van kundige rolspelers in die mynbou bedryf. Dit het gelei tot Koste-drywer modelle vir die Sishen, Thabazimbi en Grootegeluk myne. Die modelle is met lineere programmeering as probleemstelling daargestel en is deur middel van die studente weergawe van die LINDO optimaliseringssagteware opgelos. Die resultate was toe bespreek en daarvolgens is 'n universele diesel koste-drywer model opgestel deur die reeds-geskepte modelle te konsolideer. Die operasionele siklus van myntrokke was gesimuleer sodoende die benutting van toerusting te kwantifiseer en die dieselverbruik van myntrokke te verminder. Hierdie operasionele siklus was gemodelleer deur middel van die toustaan-teorie. Die simulasie van 'n toustaannetwerk was in Matlab gevoer deur Q_Sim te gebruik. Hierdie metode was gebruik om die optimale vloot grootte en die invloed van myntrokkapasiteit te ondersoek. Die ontleding van die loswieltoetse was gedoen om die invloed van In bitumen prod uk op rolweerstand te bepaal. Ten slotte is aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing bespreek. Dit behels die verder aansuiwerings van die diesel koste-drywer model, die uitbreiding van aanwending van die Q_Sim in die mynbou en 'n verdere ondersoek om stofvoorkoming in die mynbou te bewerkstellig deur die gebruikmaking van bitumen produkte.

The aim of this thesis was to explore the use of genome-scale metabolic models to predict metabolic fluxes in plant tissues. Results from this thesis showed that the application of constraint-based modelling, namely flux balance analysis, to an Arabidopsis genome-scale metabolic model gave accurate predictions of metabolic fluxes in heterotrophic cell culture and in photosynthetic leaves. Two major factors important for the accuracy of model predictions were highlighted from the study: 1) the inclusion of energetic costs for transports and cellular maintenance in terms of ATP and NADPH; 2) consideration of the interactions between light and dark metabolism in modelling photosynthetic leaves. This study began with the construction of a well-curated and compartmented genome-scale metabolic model of Arabidopsis. Using the model, cellular maintenance costs in a heterotrophic cell culture under control and two stress conditions were estimated in terms of ATP and reductant usage. The results suggested that the cells were not stressed under hyperosmotic conditions. Comparisons between model predictions and experimentally estimated flux maps showed that the inclusion of transport and maintenance costs was important for obtaining accurate model flux predictions. To model leaf metabolism over a day-night cycle, a diel modelling framework was developed which took into account the interactions between light and dark metabolism. Numerous known features of metabolism in a C₃ leaf were predicted such as the nocturnal accumulation of citrate utilised for diurnal glutamate and glutamine synthesis and the operation of an incomplete TCA cycle during the day. Using the Arabidopsis genome-scale metabolic model and the diel modelling framework, the operation of the CAM cycle was predicted as a direct consequence of blocking the CO₂ exchange with the external air during the day to simulate closure of the stomata. Comparisons between model predictions of C₃ and various subtypes of CAM leaves suggested that photon and nitrogen use efficiencies are unlikely to be the driving forces for the evolution of CAM plants under the current atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Finally, the model was utilised to predict the changes in metabolic fluxes, in particular fluxes through various routes of alternative electron flow, in a C₃ leaf with varying light intensity, nitrogen availability and at different stages of leaf development. From the model flux predictions, it was shown that constraint-based modelling can be utilised to elucidate the distinct metabolic roles of enzymes in different subcellular compartments and the tissue-specific use of distinct forms of enzymes with different coenzyme specificities.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 28-31, 1996 / Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / Deutsche Telekom has been operating different communication satellites for several years. The Satellite Control Center (SCC) of Deutsche Telekom is located near Usingen, about 50 km northwest of Frankfurt/Main. The system has been under operation since the launch of the first flight model DFS in June 1989. The entire computer system was based on Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) VAX type computers. The maintenance costs of these old Complex Instruction Sets Computers (CISC) were increased significantly during the last years. Due to the high operational costs Deutsche Telekom decided to exchange the operational computer system. Present-day information technology world uses more and more powerful Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC). These new designs allow operational costs to be reduced appreciably. The VAX type computers will be replaced by DEC Alpha AXP Computers. This paper describes the transition process from CISC to RISC computers in an operational realtime environment.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1969. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming