Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Tarek Mohamed Selim. / M.S.

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Science in Construction Project Management

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

This thesis provides an analysis of the co-production of the defense function as provided by the legislative branch, Department of Defense (DoD) and the defense industry at large. The aim of the study will be to examine the evolution of the procurement and contracting process since World War II with a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the increasingly symbiotic relationship between DoD and corporate America. This relationship has evolved significantly over the last halfcentury. It is no longer merely transactional as each side has leveraged the wartime and peacetime interaction to yield upgrades in weapon systems and capabilities that may have been otherwise unattainable in the same time frame. The benefits of this research include the identification and assessment of the intricacies of the DoD-defense industry relationship, particularly with regard to financial management, to elucidate significant trends, and characteristics that pose potential risk and warrant further study.

ABSTRACT This research report sets out the results of investigations into the causes of client dissatisfaction in the South African building industry and ways of improvement, from the contractors’ perspectives. The study is limited to the views of contractors who are registered with the Gauteng Master Builders Association (GMBA). The descriptive survey method was adopted in the study, which involved two stages of data gathering. At the first stage, semi-structured pilot interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 18 directors and senior executives of construction companies within the target group. The data obtained from the exploratory surveys were subjected to crosstabulation matrix analysis. Results showed that the most recurring factors underlying client dissatisfaction were late completion (medium sized contractor category), unrealistic construction programs imposed by clients (large sized contractor category) and poor quality of workmanship (combined/pooled category) at the end of the development phase; slow reaction time on part of contractor to attend to defects (medium sized, large sized and combined/pooled contractor categories) at the operation phase. Making use of a competent and reputable contractor was the most recurring strategy for improving client satisfaction. Correlation analysis was carried out to determine the extent of divergence or consensus in views of the two groups / categories of contractors targeted in the questionnaire survey. The results indicate significant correlation in the views of the contractor groups on the underlying causes of client dissatisfaction at the end of the development phase and at the operation phase. Significant correlation was also established in the views of the contractor groups on strategies for improving client satisfaction. Recommendations were made on ways of improving client satisfaction levels in the South African building industry based on the results obtained in the study. Areas requiring further research/investigation/exploration were also identified.

The purpose of this study was to capture, analyse and interpretate Non-Standard Workers (NSWs) experience of the phenomenon of silence in organisational settings to provide a conceptualisation of the antecedents and determinants of silence utilised by NSWs.

This thesis is concerned with the nature of employment-type relationships that currently exist in Australia, with specific regard to the meaning of the terms 'employer,' 'employee,' and the 'employer-employee relationship', and the extent to which the employee-independent contractor dichotomy is respected. This thesis seeks to show how current legislation at federal, state and territory level is largely inconsistent in defining key terms; to explain why this is problematic; and to propose a workable solution. An examination is made of the common law as it currently stands, followed by an investigation of federal, state and territory revenue, superannuation, workers' compensation and employment laws that govern or affect employer-employee and principal-contractor relationships. The thesis recognises that there currently exists no comprehensive solution to the problems plaguing the employee-contractor dichotomy, and an all encompassing solution is proposed. The solution presented moves away from the traditional common law approach, rejects a statutory definitional approach, and instead adopts the principles of the Torrens Title system to land ownership in Australia. Following this proposed solution, alternate models and arguments are compared and contrasted.

Thesis (LL. M.)--Judge Advocate General's School, United States Army, 1995. / "April 1995." Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in microfiche.