Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / The aim of the study was to identify the retention variables highlighted as most important by call centre agents at a financial institution in the Western Cape. In addition, to assess which of the independent variables they place more importance on; and to determine whether differences exist between the retention variables highlighted as most important by the respective age and gender groups.

This research aims to 1) analyse the key roles and activities performed by foreign MNC subsidiaries in Japan, and 2) investigate the key factors leading to the creation of centres of excellence among those subsidiaries.We surveyed 134 MNC foreign subsidiaries in Japan and identified three key areas for the formation of centres of excellence in Japan. The first is the continuous expansion of R&D activities; the second is the integration of R&D processes and functions within the rest of the MNC; the third is subsidiary linkage with external suppliers. Whilst we have many in-depth studies of multinational MNC activities in markets outside of Japan, fewer investigate foreign MNC activities in Japan. Our study has practical implications for senior management of multinational MNCs who intend to start up or expand operations in the Japanese market.In summary, centres of excellence in Japan need to have all-round balanced capabilities with strong competence in the R&D area.

Please read the abstract (Summary) in the section, 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / PhD / Unrestricted

La problématique de cette recherche est la professionnalisation, construite et vécue par les directeurs des centres de formation d’apprentis du bâtiment et des travaux publics (CFA-BTP) qui font partie d’un système paritaire national de formation professionnelle coordonné par le Comité de concertation et de coordination de l’apprentissage du BTP (CCCA-BTP). L’objectif principal est de comprendre et d’interpréter les différentes situations d’interaction et d’interdépendance qui permettent à ces sujets-acteurs de développer leurs capacités et de faire évoluer leurs postures professionnelles. C’est une recherche qualitative, basée sur des critères de crédibilité, de transférabilité, de fiabilité et de confirmation des résultats d’analyse pour laquelle un corpus empirique composé d’entretiens avec des directeurs de CFA-BTP et de documents décrivant la prescription institutionnelle en relation avec les processus de professionnalisation a été constitué, croisé et interprété. Ce travail a permis de comprendre les intentions institutionnelles, les compréhensions et les interprétations de ces intentions par les sujets-acteurs concernés et, enfin, les réalisations et les usages qui en sont faits. En termes de résultats, l’auteur soutient que la professionnalisation des directeurs de CFA-BTP est construite principalement sur l’imprévisibilité des situations-expériences au travail auxquelles ces sujets-acteurs sont confrontés, ce qui leur permet, simultanément, de construire de nouvelles visions de leur fonction, ainsi que d’appréhender des missions et objectifs professionnels en transformation. / La problematic of this research is the professionalization, built up and experienced by directors of training centres of apprentices of building and public works (CFA-BTP), which is part of a national paritary system of vocational training coordinated by the French National Committee of Cooperation and Coordination of Apprenticeship in the Construction Sector, called CCCA-BTP. Principally, it is a matter of comprehension and interpretation of different situations of interaction and of interdependence which enable these subjects and actors to develop their capacities and to advance their professional attitudes. This is a qualitative research, based on the criteria like credibility, transferability, liability and confirmation of results of the analysis where the empirical corpus, composed of the outcomes of interviews with the CFA-BTP directors and of the documents describing the institutional prescription related to the professionalization process were put together, criss-crossed and interpreted. This work permitted to understand institutional intentions and their interpretations by the subjects and actors concerned and, finally, the achievements and use done with them. In terms of results, the author supports that the professionalization of the CFA-BTP directors is principally constructed on the unforeseen aspects of the situations and experiences, which these subjects and actors have to face at work. This enables them, simultaneously, to acquire new visions of their function and to achieve new missions and professional objectives, which are in a permanent transformation.

The fumonisins are a class of polyketide mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticilliodes (formerly Fusarium monoliforme) which commonly affects maize. Ingestion of these toxins has been associated with leukoencephalomalacia in equine species, pulmonary oedema in swine, hepatocarcinogenesis in rats and have been linked to oesophageal cancer in humans. The structurally related AAL toxins are host specific mycotoxins produced by Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici, producing stem canker disease in susceptible tomato cultivars. Examination of the C-11-C-20 fragment of the fumonisin B1 backbone [(2S,3S,5R,10R,12S,14S, 15R,16R)-2-amino-3,5,10,14,15-hydroxy-12,16-dimethyleicosane] and the C-10-C-17 fragment of the AAL toxin TA backbone[(2S,4S,5R,11S,13S,14R,15R)-1-amino-2,4,5,13,14-hydroxy-11,15- dimethylheptadecane], reveals four common stereogenic centres, with the only difference between the two fragments being the length of the alkyl chain. It is thought that the position and configuration of these four stereogenic centres is conserved among all members of the fumonisin and AAL classes of toxins. Retrosynthetic analysis of the backbones reveals a common intermediate aldehyde, which can be synthesised from methyl (S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate. A simple synthetic route to access the C-11-C-20 fragment for the fumonisins and the C-10-C-17 fragment of the AAL toxins was devised utilising Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and an Evans aldol reaction as key transformations. In practice, it was found that although the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation produced the desired epoxide in low enantiomeric excess, the two diastereomers produced could be separated by two consecutive flash chromatography silica gel columns. In pursuit of a more efficient method for introduction of the stereogenic centre in the target, other synthetic routes and key transformations were considered. Jacobsen’s kinetic resolution of terminal racemic epoxides was explored, requiring a terminal alkene from which the racemic epoxide was synthesised. An attempt to synthesise the terminal alkene from the appropriate tosylate and vinyl-MgBr, mediated by copper (I) iodide, failed. The synthetic route was redesigned, and the terminal alkene was synthesised by two one-carbon additions: the first a nucleophilic substitution with cyanide, and the second a Wittig olefination. The resolution of the terminal epoxide was also unsuccessful with no significant kinetic resolution occurring. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation was also investigated; however, this reaction too failed to produce products of high diastereomeric excess. As a consequence, it was decided to pursue the asymmetric epoxidation route as the diastereomeric products could at least be separated. The second key transformation, the Evans aldol reaction, also provided an interesting result. When the aldol reaction was attempted with benzaldehyde and enolates derived from (4R,5S)-3-butanoyl-4-methyl-5-phenyl-oxazolidin-2-one and (4R,5S)-3-hexanoyl-4-methyl-5-phenyl-oxazolidin-2-one, the butanoyl derivative was found to give the expected Evans syn product, while the hexanoyl derivative was found to give the non-Evans syn product, with proof provided by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. It is proposed that the aldol reaction with the hexanoyl derivative does not proceed through the expected Zimmerman-Traxler-type transition state, but rather through an open chain transition state similar to that seen for asymmetric alkylation reactions. Synthesis of the pentanoyl derivative, and subjecting it to the same aldol reaction gave the expected syn Evans product, as deduced from spectroscopic properties. When the aldol reaction was attempted with the appropriate aldehyde intermediate, it was found that the dibutylboron triflate in the reaction medium caused the cleavage of the O-TBS ether protection, resulting in the formation of (3S,5R)-3-(4-methoxybenzyloxy)-5-methyl-tetrahydropyran-2-ol, before the aldehyde could undergo the aldol reaction. In order to avoid this problem, it is suggested that an alternative protecting group strategy using a more robust protecting group, such as a benzyl group which is stable to Lewis acids, could be substituted for the O-TBS group. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Chemistry / unrestricted

Telecentres are an important tool for promoting socio-economic development in areas with very low levels of e-access. They have the potential to offer benefits to rural communities in education, health, agriculture and business. The purpose of this study was to explore the strengths and weaknesses of telecentres in promoting specific socio-economic objectives set in Rwanda’s National Information and Communication Infrastructure (NICI II) plan 2006 - 2010. The findings were that telecentres have been effective in contributing to community development through access to information, skills development, job creation, study opportunities, low cost in telecentre services and increased income. The three main challenges that hinder rural communities from advanced e-access were found to be literacy and level of education, language barriers, and lack of skills and awareness. Future policy requires comprehensive guidelines to guide the deployment of rich local content in telecentres that will enable more effective use of these facilities to promote socio-economic development through e-Soko type projects, Umuganda activities and other community or egovernment initiatives.

Les centres de jour font partie intégrante de l'offre de services de maintien à domicile destinés aux clients atteints de démence. Toutefois, les approches utilisées demeurent méconnues. Ce mémoire vise à documenter les caractéristiques d'une approche optimale, soit les activités, les attitudes du personnel et les ressources offertes, qui correspondent le mieux aux besoins de la personne âgée atteinte de démence en centre de jour. Trois focus groups ont été réalisés auprès d'intervenants et de proches aidants de personnes atteintes de démence fréquentant un centre de jour. Le contenu des entrevues a été analysé à l'aide d'un cadre de référence développé pour les besoins de l'étude. Les résultats de cette étude démontrent qu'une seule approche n'est pas nécessairement le meilleur choix, des éléments provenant de diverses approches (sociale, émotionnelle et environnementale) sont considérés comme plus appropriés pour répondre aux besoins des clients atteints de démence fréquentant un centre de jour.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1998.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal