In 2008, 75% of municipal sport and recreation facilities in South Africa were underutilised, while 62% of these facilities were reported to be poorly managed (SRIMP, 2008). A possible reason for these reported findings can be the lack of managerial skills. However, Goslin (2003:39) mentions that little research on recreation management and education has been done in South Africa, which highlights the increasing need for knowledge to establish and maintain future management practices (Goslin, 2003:40). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the management competencies applied by recreation managers for effective management of local community centres. In addition, this study compares the gaps between the recreation managers’ qualifications and the requirements for successfully providing the public with quality recreation opportunities in community centres. A qualitative method was applied as a practical guide for the research. The seven regional recreation managers of the City of Johannesburg were selected for the case study. The sample size (n=5) was determined through data saturation. Data was gathered by means of a semi–structured interview with each regional manager (De Vos, 2005:296; Veal, 2006:386). Through the process of data analysis two main categories were identified. The first, Tasks and limitations experienced by regional managers in Johannesburg pointed out that the daily tasks of facility, programme and human resource management is seen as essential responsibilities to recreation managers and it is unfortunate that the majority of problems relating to these tasks are due to unskilled staff that must be supervised on a daily basis. The second, Training needs of recreation staff at recreation centres: Regional managers’ perspective indicated that the staff’s inability to understand the term recreation may in fact be caused by organisations’ bad choices regarding employment or the lack of setting clear criteria for job positions (Mull et al., 2005:227). The answer to training needs for already employed personnel, saving both money and time, may be short courses. By working with each specific centre’s problems and training needs, as well as with each individual employee’s competencies, the short courses could be designed to specifically help better equip the staff member and in turn provide better recreation services to the community. / Thesis (M.A. (Recreation Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thesis (M.Comm. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

In 2008, 75% of municipal sport and recreation facilities in South Africa were underutilised, while 62% of these facilities were reported to be poorly managed (SRIMP, 2008). A possible reason for these reported findings can be the lack of managerial skills. However, Goslin (2003:39) mentions that little research on recreation management and education has been done in South Africa, which highlights the increasing need for knowledge to establish and maintain future management practices (Goslin, 2003:40). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the management competencies applied by recreation managers for effective management of local community centres. In addition, this study compares the gaps between the recreation managers’ qualifications and the requirements for successfully providing the public with quality recreation opportunities in community centres. A qualitative method was applied as a practical guide for the research. The seven regional recreation managers of the City of Johannesburg were selected for the case study. The sample size (n=5) was determined through data saturation. Data was gathered by means of a semi–structured interview with each regional manager (De Vos, 2005:296; Veal, 2006:386). Through the process of data analysis two main categories were identified. The first, Tasks and limitations experienced by regional managers in Johannesburg pointed out that the daily tasks of facility, programme and human resource management is seen as essential responsibilities to recreation managers and it is unfortunate that the majority of problems relating to these tasks are due to unskilled staff that must be supervised on a daily basis. The second, Training needs of recreation staff at recreation centres: Regional managers’ perspective indicated that the staff’s inability to understand the term recreation may in fact be caused by organisations’ bad choices regarding employment or the lack of setting clear criteria for job positions (Mull et al., 2005:227). The answer to training needs for already employed personnel, saving both money and time, may be short courses. By working with each specific centre’s problems and training needs, as well as with each individual employee’s competencies, the short courses could be designed to specifically help better equip the staff member and in turn provide better recreation services to the community. / Thesis (M.A. (Recreation Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of violence exhibited by clients towards Youth Protection workers. The sample consisted of 59 Youth Protection employees of Batshaw Youth and Family Centres who were given a questionnaire related to their experience with client initiated violence. The study attempted to identify several factors such as whether violence was an important issue for workers; whether there was a relationship between gender, job status or work experience and violence; whether training and policy adequately meet the needs of workers. The thesis concludes with recommendations to the agency on how to better deal with the violence issue and suggestions for future exploration in research, policy development, training and education.

The aim of the study is to prove that a correlation exist between job satisfaction and the levels of absenteeism, turnover, performance and customer satisfaction. Data were collected using the Job Satisfaction Survey which is a self-administered questionaire to measure job satisfaction of call centre representatives. Additional data were collected using the company's existing measures for measuring absenteeism, turnover, performance and customer satisfaction. The study found a relationship between job satisfaction and performance, between job satisfaction and turnover and between job satisfaction and customer service. However, no relationship was found between job satisfaction and absenteeism, which is consistent with previous studies.

La incontinencia urinaria femenina es un problema de salud de elevada prevalencia y motivo de consulta frecuente a ginecólogos, médicos generales y urólogos. En población general, la prevalencia encontrada en la literatura se sitúa alrededor del 20% y varía en función de parámetros como la definición de incontinencia o el cuestionario de síntomas utilizados, el método de recogida de la información, y el uso o no de instrumentos objetivos, entre otros.Las recomendaciones de los documentos de consenso de la "International Continence Society-ICS" (2002), Sociedad Española de Ginecologia y Obstetrícia-SEGO (2002) y la "American Health Care Policy and Research-AHCPR" (1996), entre otras, y las publicaciones de diferentes autores, avalan la posibilidad de realizar la evaluación inicial de la incontinencia de orina desde Atención Primaria. Es aceptado en general, y así lo confirma la ICS en su informe de 2002, que los síntomas del tracto urinario inferior no permiten, por si solos, realizar un diagnóstico definitivo de las disfunciones del tracto urinario inferior y por tanto, que el diagnóstico clínico o evaluación inicial debe ser apoyado con instrumentos más objetivos. Se acepta que el estudio urodinámico representa la forma más objetiva de analizar las posibles causas de incontinencia de orina, si bien sus condiciones reales de aplicación la convierten en una prueba especializada, ubicada en centros hospitalarios o unidades especializadas de nivel III y con ciertas dificultades de accessibilidad para el nivel de atención primaria de salud. Por otra parte, al revisar la literatura, se comprueba que la mayor parte de los estudios publicados que evalúan la concordancia entre el diagnóstico clínico y el estudio urodinámico de la incontinencia de orina femenina están realizados desde el nivel asistencial hospitalario.Todo lo anterior justificaba un estudio sobre el grado de concordancia entre el diagnóstico clínico de la incontinencia de orina en la mujer y el diagnóstico urodinámico partiendo de las condiciones reales de trabajo de una Unidad de Suelo Pelviano de Atención Primaria.Se estableció como diagnóstico clínico de incontinencia de orina de esfuerzo, la demostración de la incontinencia al esfuerzo en la consulta, realizada en las condiciones especificadas en el estudio, junto con un patrón de frecuencia de micción diurna y nocturna normales obtenido a partir de un diario miccional.Se estableció como diagnóstico clínico de incontinencia de orina de urgencia, la ausencia de incontinencia al esfuerzo en la consulta, realizada en las condiciones especificadas en el estudio, junto con un patrón de frecuencia de micción diurna >7 y nocturna >1 obtenido a partir de un diario miccional.Se observó un grado de concordancia moderado entre el diagnóstico clínico y urodinámico de las pacientes con incontinencia de orina.Con los criterios fijados en el estudio y considerando el estudio urodinámico como "Patrón de oro", la validez del diagnóstico clínico es limitada. El diagnóstico clínico de incontinencia de orina de esfuerzo, presentó el valor predictivo positivo más elevado. Los síntomas que con más frecuencia presentaron las pacientes, fueron: pérdida de orina al esfuerzo, urgencia miccional, aumento de la frecuencia miccional diurna y nocturna e incontinencia de orina de urgencia. Resulta difícil establecer un patrón clínico que permita un diagnóstico de incontinencia de urgencia sin recurrir al estudio urodinámico para evidenciar la hiperactividad del detrusor. La clínica realiza más diagnósticos de incontinencia de orina mixta. En un entorno asistencial de Atención Primaria como el descrito, la incontinencia de orina mixta resultaría la principal indicación de estudio urodinámico.

“Estudio analítico descriptivo de los Centros de Interpretación patrimonial en España” se articula en torno a tres objetivos fundamentales que estructuran el cuerpo teórico de la misma. En primer lugar, la investigación ha analizado el proceso histórico de implantación de Centros de Interpretación en el marco geográfico español. Se ha tratado de conocer cuáles son los modelos o tipos existentes hoy, diferenciándolos en función de sus variantes y se han planteado los prototipos fundamentales, con la finalidad de establecer las formas usualmente empleadas en los equipamientos patrimoniales de este tipo para ejercer la interpretación de los mismos. Para éste análisis, la investigación se ha basado en equipamientos del ámbito territorial español. En segundo lugar, se han definido los componentes fundamentales para que un Centro de Interpretación pueda cumplir su función. Estos componentes son muy variados y no siempre hay acuerdo en cuáles son los mínimos para una correcta interpretación. Es evidente que el concepto de interpretación, por su amplitud, admite una gran variedad de componentes. Por ello, es preciso inventariarlos y establecer cuáles son los más importantes, sin lo que el equipamiento no podría cumplir con su función básica que es la de interpretar. Finalmente, y en tercer lugar, se plantea un análisis crítico sobre la función y el significado histórico de la existencia de este tipo de equipamientos culturales. Así pues, la estructura de la investigación está dividida en tres grandes partes: un estado de la cuestión, el estudio de campo y la presentación de resultados con las correspondientes conclusiones. En la primera, se realiza un análisis y un estado de la cuestión de la introducción del fenómeno de los Centros de Interpretación en España y sobre los parámetros en los que se debe fundamentar un Centro de Interpretación concretando en el cuarto capítulo los objetivos citados. En la segunda parte, se describe la metodología utilizada para la realización del trabajo de campo, dentro del marco teórico y conceptual, se presenta el trabajo de campo, donde se especifica la recogida de datos resultante de la estrategia de la encuesta telemática y se especifica todos los Centros de Interpretación visitados in situ, que corresponden a una muestra del 10 % del total descrito en el capítulo anterior. En la tercera parte de la investigación es donde se realiza el análisis cuantitativo de los resultados extraídos del trabajo de campo. Para finalizar el análisis crítico del sistema, se estudia la hipótesis en la que se argumenta que: “Habida cuenta que la mayoría de Centros de Interpretación han nacido vinculados a intereses turísticos, carentes de planificación y de estrategias de sostenibilidad, sin contenidos que reflejen autenticidad, y faltos de rigor, hay que suponerlos abocados a un relativo fracaso”. Las conclusiones de la investigación de esta tesis doctoral ponen de manifiesto la problemática existente al entorno de los Centros de Interpretación o paramuseos en España, apuntándolos como un claro fenómeno cultural del cambio de milenio en posibles vías de extinción. / ANALYTICAL DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF THE CENTERS OF PATRIMONIAL INTERPRETATION IN SPAIN This doctoral dissertation is articulated concerning three fundamental aims that structure the theoretical body of the same one. First of all, the investigation has analyzed the historical process of implantation of Centers of Interpretation in the geographical Spanish frame. It has been a question of knowing which are the models or existing types today, differentiating them depending on his variants and the fundamental prototypes have appeared, with the purpose of establishing the forms usually used in the patrimonial equipments of this type to exercise the interpretation of the same ones. For this one analysis, the investigation has been based on equipments of the territorial Spanish area. Secondly, the fundamental components have been defined in order that a Center of Interpretation could fulfill his function. These components are very varied and not always there is agreement in which they are the minimums for a correct interpretation. It is evident that the concept of interpretation, for his extent, admits a great variety of components. For it, it is necessary to inventory and to establish which are the most important. Finally, and thirdly, a critical analysis appears on the function and the historical meaning of the existence of this type of cultural equipments. The conclusions of the investigation of this doctoral thesis reveal the existing problematics to the environment of the Centers of Interpretation or “paramuseos” in Spain, aiming at them as a clear cultural phenomenon of the change of millenium in possible routes of extinction.

There has been minimal Australian research focussed on the management and leadership aspects of directors' work in centre-based child care to date. In Australia, practices in early education have been largely drawn from studies in other cultural contexts, particularly research undertaken in the United States. It is timely that Australian research should inform its social policy about quality child care programs. The focus of this research was on the nature and characteristics of effective management and leadership practices in centre-based child care. Research (Jorde Bloom, 1992b; Morgan, 2000; Poster & Neugebauer, 2000; Rodd, 1994) indicates that quality of child care programs is influenced mostly by the leadership that the centre director can provide to staff within the centre. The conceptual framework adopted in this study views leadership from a Social Systems framework. Central to a Social Systems framework is the notion that organisations do not exist in isolation rather, leadership and management in these settings are embedded in a broader social context. A Social Systems Model has received little attention in contemporary research on child care in Australia, and this study aims to build a framework for future studies in this area. The aim was to investigate leadership and management in child care in social, legislative and economic context. The findings seek to inform researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Eight directors were purposively selected from community-based and privately based centres in urban and rural areas, and from accredited centres in South East Queensland. The selection of varying locations allowed the researcher to gain a broader perspective of the directors' daily lives, as different contextual and environmental conditions were anticipated to influence management and leadership within the child care centres. Within this study, case studies of directors of child care centres were developed through interviews with the directors. The interview methodology focussed on exploratory semi-structured, open-ended questions in relation to management and leadership in centre-based child care. Directors were interviewed on two occasions within a three month period. In the current context of the delivery of child care services in a market driven climate, the language of business and organisational theory has entered the lexicon of the early childhood field (Press, 1999). The findings indicate that the director of a child care centre needs to have training and experience in business management and leadership to enhance their competencies for management of centres in today's competitive environment. Growth in child care franchises is significantly changing and truly developing a "child care industry" (Murdoch, 2004). Also, consideration needs to be given to increasing accountability in child care service delivery, and how to better support directors in their role as advocates in the broader early childhood field. Further, families in specific communities have varying needs and early childhood programs should reflect the needs of the local community. Leadership models within child care centres should encompass the micro and macro influences on the operation of centres. Literature suggests that early childhood centres provide an opportune place to support families in a variety of ways through integrating support services to address the underlying social and policy factors that affect young children and their families (Commonwealth of Australia, 2003; Corter, 2001).

Retail centres are a visible sign of developed capitalist societies and make an appreciable contribution to these economies. For the firms involved in supplying air conditioning maintenance to retail centres, governance structures (that incorporate the make-or-buy decision and the decision concerning the nature of the exchange relationship) are fundamental business decisions. The absence of literature in this area creates a research opportunity to undertake a theoretical and empirical investigation into the determinants of the governance of air conditioning maintenance in Australian retail centres. The research objectives revolve around a microeconomic theory (Transaction Cost Economics) and two related theories – one from strategic management (Resource-Based Theory) and one from a power-based perspective (Resource Dependency Theory). In terms of the make-or-buy decision, an integrative framework of vertical integration is developed that aims to create a clearer understanding of the conditions under which Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) and Resource-Based Theory (RBT) are dominant. This approach is encouraged by the similarity of the assumptions made in TCE and RBT concerning rationality and which envisage a short term approach to profits. If a wider view is taken, that includes supply chains in which firms take a longer term approach to profits, then Resource Dependency Theory (RDT) can also be considered as a complementary theory to TCE. In order to test TCE on the issue of the nature of the exchange relationship, TCE's contractual schema is developed, along with a new type of asset specificity (Ongoing Asset Specificity). Case studies and a nationwide postal survey are used to collect data from multiple sources, comprising 51 interviews, the collection of documentary information, as well as 18 completed case study questionnaires and 205 useable survey questionnaires. Multiple research methods allow the relative strengths of different methods to be combined to more effectively test the hypotheses. Pattern matching and regression analysis are the main techniques used to analyse the data. The results provide a successful testing of the integrative framework of vertical integration. That is, this framework is shown to be more powerful in accounting for the make-or-buy decisions in the supply chains in this thesis, than the singular deployment of either TCE or RBT. With regard to the nature of the exchange relationship decision, the results also support the development of TCE's contractual schema and Ongoing Asset Specificity. Through the incorporation of these developments, TCE outperforms RDT across all of the internal and external exchanges in the supply chains in this thesis. In total, it is concluded that transaction costs and production costs can both be key determinants of the governance of air conditioning maintenance in the chain that supplies this activity to Australian retail centres. Moreover, and in this chain, upstream exchange relationships are not determined by downstream external exchange relationships. The implications of the results for practice - in more mainstream construction, and concerning the make-or-buy decision, particularly concern trades in close physical and intellectual proximity to the main contractor’s key activity of planning and coordinating site activity. Here, the results indicate that main contractors would benefit from focusing on the possibility of hold-up and not production cost improvements. With respect to external relationships, the results show that even when clients have an ongoing requirement for an activity, a discrete exchange can be both economical and effective. This suggests that calls by some government sponsored reports for all clients buying services from main contractors to seek a relational exchange are not justified. In terms of the firm's internal relationships and upstream external relationships, the evidence from this thesis is that these relationships should not necessarily be determined by the firm’s downstream external relationships. Here, for example, main contractors might not allow their exchanges with their staff and subcontractors to be determined by exchanges with their clients. More specifically, this thesis suggests that main contractors can prosper from developing relational exchanges with their staff, core subcontractors and suppliers despite engaging in discrete and arms-length exchanges with their clients. This finding may encourage main contractors to help move mainstream construction away from any "command and control" image.

This research reports on an observation study conducted in Adelaide, South Australia of how 12 educators working in six long day care centres spent their day when working in their care. Specifically the study sought to answer the following research questions: 1. How do educators spend their day in a long day care setting?-- 2. What is the quality of the interactions that occur between educators and children?-- 3. In what ways, if any, does an educator's qualifications and experience impact on the quality and frequency of interactions? / Thesis (MEducation)--University of South Australia, 2008.