In response to the rapidly growing global environmental problems many call for changes in how individuals should deal with the environment. An important aspect of moving towards an environmentally sustainable world is to promote pro-environmental consumer behavior. Against this background, the purpose of this study is to conduct a literature review to identify social and psychological factors that influence environmental behavior and use these as a basis for an empirical study in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for analyzing current behavioral patterns between population groups. The findings suggest that willingness to sacrifice for the environment, perceived behavioral control of environmental problems and the feeling of responsibility of environmental problems are significantly positively related to environmental behavior in Abu Dhabi. It was evaluated that younger age groups, very low and very high income groups, people from developing nations and low education groups are performing worse in environmental behavior than older age groups, middle income groups, people from developed nations and high education groups. Furthermore, it was concluded that the general level of environmental behavior is low. This is ascribed to a lack of facilities supporting environmental behavior in Abu Dhabi, and a lack of environmental values in the country. Policies aimed at promoting environmental behavior should aim at changing the attitudes and values regarding the environment of the society. Such policies should be tailored for specific population segments.

Since the inception of the Masdar Initiative in 2006, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has invested a considerable amount of resources to promote renewable sources of energy like solar and wind. With an aim of achieving 7% of its electricity from renewable sources by the year 2020, there is much that the emirate needs to do in order to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons while still planning capacity for future electricity demand. This report explores the effectiveness of a smart grid infrastructure as a mechanism to afford the flexibility and functionality required to incorporate renewable energy sources into the electric grid, as well as leveraging a real-time data network to attain reductions in peak demand consumption. Specific regulatory structures that exist in Abu Dhabi's electric and telecommunications markets are evaluated to understand the role they will play in dealing with interoperability standards, privacy concerns, and consumer participation issues that influence the effective integration of smart grid into Abu Dhabi's energy future. / text

Emirate of Abu Dhabi is located in an arid region, where the main source of fresh water is desalination plants. The vulnerability of desalination plants renders planning for an alternative source of freshwater essential. In this study the feasibility of aquifer storage and recovery in the Liwa area, in Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates was investigated. Based on operational data collected from the pilot project, the model was set up and calibrated. The calibrated model was used to study the affect of various operational parameters, namely storage duration, pumping rate, screen location, multiple cycle operation and periodic recharge, as well as some aquifer characteristics factors: dispersion and salinity profile. This study can be utilized to optimize the operation of the Liwa ASR project. / text

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Security Building in Post Cinflict Environments)--Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2004. / Thesis Advisor(s): Gaye Christoffersen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-91). Also available online.

Fear of global, social and environmental catastrophes has led to most developed and developing economies to embrace sustainability as a desirable public policy goal. Therefore, the Abu Dhabi government has made public commitments to transform along a more sustainable trajectory and assigned the public sector the collective responsibility of leading this transformation. Henceforth, public sector organisations have to embrace sustainable practices, re-orient their activities to achieve wider societal sustainable outcomes and govern others to act more sustainably. However, little is known about how public sector organisations are responding to this encouragement in the Abu Dhabi. The aim of this research is to explore how Abu Dhabi public sector organisation is embedding sustainability strategies for improved competitiveness. Given the relatively new and unexplored nature of the research problem, qualitative research method was adopted to collect and analyse data. Semi-structured interviews with 60 professionals were used to collect data which was then analysed using content analysis for inference and conclusion. The study concluded that the concept of sustainability is perceived as a distinct concept. It is suggests that an organisation wide awareness-raising training programme on the concept of sustainability needs to be to developed and deployed. Also, there is a need for cross-sector collaboration to capture and share best and worst practices related to transformative change towards sustainability. The lack of leadership skills for successful deployment of sustainability initiatives is one of the most important challenges for organisation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop and deliver a bespoke training framework to address, improve and measure the effectiveness of leadership skills for driving change towards sustainability. Green technology has enormous potential to enable Abu Dhabi public sector organisation to meet its sustainability goals. It is recommended that future research on mobile applications for sustainability should focus on user readiness aspects, as well as organisation readiness for adoption and usage patterns of mobile devices. Overall, it is evident from the empirical findings that the outlook of improved sustainability initiatives efforts from the Abu Dhabi public sector organisation is quite promising at present. A strategic framework for transformative change towards sustainability was developed and validated. It is recommended to explore the level of embeddedness of sustainability initiatives in the public sector between developed and developing countries. This should lead to a generation of benchmark data and best practices in addressing global sustainability issues.

Thesis (MCur)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) has included a patient safety goal as part of the standards for the accreditation of hospitals. Goal number six states the need to “reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls”. An acute care hospital setting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates had implemented a multifaceted, multidisciplinary fall prevention programme (FPP) in preparation for accreditation by the JCIA. The achievement of the above goal is dependent on compliance with JCIA standard requirements and the hospital’s FPP. This study was undertaken to identify the factors preventing the successful implementation of the existing FPP in an acute care setting. The FPP is recognised to be in its development stages and therefore has opportunities for improvement for better patient safety outcomes, more so by reducing the incidence of falls and the severity of injuries from falls. Literature studies by Gowdy and Godfrey (2003:365) and Hathaway, Walsh, Lacey and Saenger (2001:172) suggests that the most successful approach to reducing falls and the severity of injuries from falls among patients in an acute care setting is that of a multifaceted, multidisciplinary approach. The nurses, who were primarily responsible for completing the initial fall risk assessment, expressed feelings of being overwhelmed by more safety standards being required for the JCIA. Patients with a high risk for falls were not referred to the physicians and physical therapists, nor were they referred to the clinical pharmacists for the review of high-risk medications. In addition, fall risk assessments were sometimes not done in the afternoon and during the night shift. The existing programme also did not consider bedbound, long-term patients, who require less frequent assessment. There furthermore was observer evidence to suggest that the existing FPP was not being implemented correctly. The aim of this study was to describe factors preventing the successful implementation of the existing FPP. The objectives were to identify areas being implemented successfully, to identify any barriers to successful implementation and to identify aspects of the existing FPP that may need revision. A quantitative descriptive approach was applied. The population was healthcare providers (HCPs), including both registered and practical nurses, physicians, physical therapists and pharmacists, working in an acute care setting in the United Arab Emirates. The respondents were 118 (86%) from a stratified sample of n = 137 (20%) from 684 HCPs. A specifically developed structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Reliability and validity were assured through the use of experts in questionnaire design and statistical consulting, in addition to pre-testing of the questionnaire. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Stellenbosch Committee for Human Research and the Ethics Committee of the hospital where the study was undertaken. The respondents’ completion of the questionnaire served as voluntary consent to participate. The data were analysed and are presented in frequency tables. The mean and standard deviation were used for the statistical analysis. Correlational analyses were not done because of the descriptive approach to the study. It was considered most practical to focus on the professional groups and not on the variables, as the initial analysis indicated weak correlations. The results show those aspects of the FPP that were successfully implemented and those areas that need improvement if the JCIA requirements are to be met. Policy revision to include a clearly defined referral process for the high-risk patients, in addition to consistency of the environmental safety rounds and greater involvement and support of the unit managers/supervisors, will contribute to the greater success of the FPP. The hallmark of a successful FPP is staff education, which should be the key step in addressing the identified barriers. The human need for safety and the patient’s right to safe care and a safe environment must be integrated into staff orientation, and education and safety training programmes for all HCPs. Increased compliance may occur when HCPs are more aware of the hospital’s commitment to the patient’s right to safety. Compliance with JCIA standards and the FPP will contribute in the achievement of the accreditation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) het ’n pasiëntveiligheidsdoelwit as deel van die standaarde vir die akkreditasie van hospitale ingesluit. Doelwit nommer ses lui: “verminder die risiko vir leed aan die pasiënt as gevolg van val”. ’n Akute sorg hospitaal in die Verenigde Arabiese Emirate het ’n veelvuldig gefasetteerde, multidissiplinêre program vir die voorkoming van val (fall prevention programme (FPP)) geïmplementeer ter voorbereiding vir akkreditasie deur die JCIA. Die bereiking van bogenoemde doelwit is afhanklik van nakoming van die standaardvereistes van die JCIA en die hospitaal se FPP. Hierdie studie is onderneem om die faktore wat die suksesvolle implementering van die bestaande FPP in die akute sorg omgewing verhinder, te identifiseer. Daar word erken dat die FPP nog in die ontwikkelingstadium is en dat daar dus geleenthede vir beter pasiëntveiligheidsuitkomstes is, veral deur die aantal valvoorvalle en die erns van beserings as gevolg van val te verminder. Literatuurstudies deur Gowdy en Godfrey (2003:365) en Hathaway, Walsh, Lacey en Saenger (2001:172) stel voor dat die suksesvolste benadering tot die vermindering van val en die erns van die gevolglike beserings onder pasiënte in ’n akute sorg omgewing ’n veelvuldig gefasetteerde, multidissiplinêre benadering behels. Verpleërs, wat die primêre verantwoordelikheid vir die voltooiing van die aanvanklike assessering van die risiko vir val het, het daarop gewys dat hulle oorweldig voel deur bykomende veiligheidstandaarde wat vir die JCIA vereis word. Pasiënte met ’n hoë risiko vir val is nie na die geneeshere en fisiese terapeute verwys nie, en ook nie na die kliniese aptekers vir die beoordeling van hoë-risiko medikasie nie. Assessering van die risiko vir val is soms ook nie in die middag en tydens die nagskof gedoen nie. Die bestaande program het ook nie bedlêende, langtermyn pasiënte wat minder gereelde assessering benodig, oorweeg nie. Daar is verder ook waargeneem dat die bestaande FPP nie korrek geïmplementeer word nie. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die faktore te beskryf wat die suksesvolle implementering van die bestaande FPP verhoed. Die doelwitte was om areas wat suksesvol geïmplementeer word, te identifiseer, sowel as hindernisse tot suksesvolle implementering en aspekte van die bestaande FPP wat hersiening benodig. ’n Kwantitatiewe beskrywende benadering is gebruik. Die populasie was gesondheidsorgverskaffers, insluitend beide geregistreerde en praktiese verpleërs, geneeshere, fisiese terapeute en aptekers wat in ’n akute sorg omgewing in die Verenigde Arabiese Emirate werk. Daar war 118 (86%) respondente uit ’n gestratifiseerde steekproef van n = 137 (20%) uit 684 gesondheidsorgverskaffers. ’n Spesiaal ontwikkelde, gestruktureerde vraelys is vir dataversameling gebruik. Betroubaarheid en geldigheid is verseker deur die gebruik van kundiges in vraelysontwerp en statistiese raadgewing, sowel as die vooraftoetsing van die vraelys. Etiese goedkeuring is van die Universiteit Stellenbosch se Komitee vir Menslike Navorsing, en die Etiekkomitee van die hospitaal waar die studie onderneem is, verkry. Die voltooiing van die vraelys deur die respondente het gedien as vrywillige toestemming om deel te neem. Die data is geanaliseer en in frekwensietabelle voorgesit. Die gemiddelde en standaardafwyking is vir die statistiese analises gebruik. Korrelasie-analises is as gevolg van die beskrywende benadering nie onderneem nie. Daar is besluit dat die mees praktiese benadering sou wees om op die professionele groeperinge te fokus en nie op die veranderlikes nie, aangesien die aanvanklike analise swak korrelasies aangedui het. Die resultate identifiseer daardie aspekte van die FPP wat die suksesvolste geïmplementeer is, sowel as dié gebiede wat verbetering benodig om aan die JCIA-vereistes te voldoen. Faktore wat sal bydra tot die groter sukses van die FPP is beleidshersiening wat ’n duidelik bepaalde verwysingsproses vir hoë-risiko pasiënte insluit, sowel as konsekwentheid in die omgewingsveiligheidsrondtes, en meer betrokkenheid en ondersteuning deur die eenheidsbestuurders/toesighouers Die waarmerk van ’n suksesvolle FPP is personeelopvoeding, wat die belangrikste stap in die aanspreek van die geïdentifiseerde hindernisse moet wees. Die menslike behoefte aan veiligheid en die pasiënt se reg op veilige sorg en ’n veilige omgewing moet in personeeloriëntering, personeelopvoeding- en veiligheidsopleidingsprogramme vir alle gesondheidsorgverskaffers ingesluit word. Verhoogde nakoming sou moontlik plaasvind indien gesondheidsorgverskaffers meer bewus was van die hospitaal se verbintenis tot die pasiënt se reg op veiligheid. Nakoming van JCIA-standaarde en die FPP sal bydra tot die verkryging van die akkreditasie.

Originally published as the author's Thesis--Freiburg Universität, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Originally published as the author's Thesis--Freiburg Universität, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

To ensure greater success in its regular projects, Abu-Dhabi Police (ADP) is working on: training their project managers, applying project management software, utilising the services of engineering consultants, etc. However, the performance and outcomes of its projects are still not fully meeting the desired expectations. Therefore, a study to understand some of the undermining factors was carried out. A critical literature review was carried out initially where it was established that project delivery and outcomes are affected in part by the three overarching factors of: project managers’ characteristics, organizational culture and project management culture. On this basis a conceptual framework was developed highlighting how these 3 compound factors affect project performance and outcome; and in particular how ADP’s values relate with the competencies of their project managers. The empirical aspects involved the use of mixed methods where the first part was a quantitative survey of the understanding and achievement of both ADP’s 5 values (part of organizational culture) and 15 competencies (part of project manager’s characteristics), as well as the impact of the former on the later. A questionnaire was administered to 157 people for data collection and 71 fully completed responses were obtained, representing a response rate of 45%. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the levels of achievement of ADP’s values and competencies, which were found to be high. The analysis went on to use ordered logistic regression to examine the association between the attainment of ADP’s values and competencies. The findings showed that the 5 values impact on the competencies of ADP’s project managers differently; for example, the value of ‘integrity and honesty’ impacts heavily on the 5 competencies of Integration management, Scope management, Time management, Achieving and action, and Leadership; while the value of ‘effective communication’ impacts heavily on the 3 competencies of Scope management, Cost management, and Achieving and action. An advanced training programme was subsequently developed for ADP to further increase the attainment of values and competencies by their project managers. This programme was developed in focus group discussions that involved some selected project managers who had long working experience and high understanding of ADP project schemes. A further round of focus group discussions was also used to validate this advanced training programme.