A new administrative scenario - the virtual office - emerged in organisations because of the influence of technological developments that drastically changed the traditional office scenario. The virtual office is a worksite that is situated outside of the traditional office, where people still do the work associated with a traditional office, whilst maintaining their status as full-time employees. Although telework has been practiced internationally for several decades, it is a new concept in South Africa with only a few large organisations embarking on telework. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which organisations in trade and industry are aware of and comply with the required policies, regulations and legislation in terms of ergonomics, technology and health in the e-environment. The preferred kind of telework and information and communication technologies for the South African context was determined. The study investigated the prevalence and extent of health and wellness aspects that teleworkers could be exposed to in the e-environment. The role that ergonomics could play in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders that could lead to compensation claims and other legal actions was investigated. The elements that could ensure the successful implementation of a telework programme were identified and were presented as a conceptual telework framework. Within the parameters of applied research, a descriptive quantitative research design has been followed. The mode of enquiry followed in this research was a quantitative, non-experimental, survey method. A baseline study has been conducted followed by an empirical study using two structured online questionnaires, one for managers of teleworkers and one for teleworking employees. The findings indicated that although the policies, regulations and legislation existed, organisations did not diligently comply with it. The lack of training for the managers and teleworkers on the applicable policies and legislation caused concern. The application of ergonomic specifications on the use of equipment, furniture and services at the preferred home office, is mainly done to avoid ergonomic risk factors that may lead to the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Although teleworkers suffered from disorders, there was a lack of knowledge on ergonomic interventions and on the processes to claim compensation. The need for an instrument that will assist organisations to implement telework successfully has been identified. Therefore, a conceptual telework framework that provides a structure of the elements that need to be in place to implement a telework programme successfully has been proposed. / Business Management / D. Admin. (Business Management)

A new administrative scenario - the virtual office - emerged in organisations because of the influence of technological developments that drastically changed the traditional office scenario. The virtual office is a worksite that is situated outside of the traditional office, where people still do the work associated with a traditional office, whilst maintaining their status as full-time employees. Although telework has been practiced internationally for several decades, it is a new concept in South Africa with only a few large organisations embarking on telework. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which organisations in trade and industry are aware of and comply with the required policies, regulations and legislation in terms of ergonomics, technology and health in the e-environment. The preferred kind of telework and information and communication technologies for the South African context was determined. The study investigated the prevalence and extent of health and wellness aspects that teleworkers could be exposed to in the e-environment. The role that ergonomics could play in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders that could lead to compensation claims and other legal actions was investigated. The elements that could ensure the successful implementation of a telework programme were identified and were presented as a conceptual telework framework. Within the parameters of applied research, a descriptive quantitative research design has been followed. The mode of enquiry followed in this research was a quantitative, non-experimental, survey method. A baseline study has been conducted followed by an empirical study using two structured online questionnaires, one for managers of teleworkers and one for teleworking employees. The findings indicated that although the policies, regulations and legislation existed, organisations did not diligently comply with it. The lack of training for the managers and teleworkers on the applicable policies and legislation caused concern. The application of ergonomic specifications on the use of equipment, furniture and services at the preferred home office, is mainly done to avoid ergonomic risk factors that may lead to the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Although teleworkers suffered from disorders, there was a lack of knowledge on ergonomic interventions and on the processes to claim compensation. The need for an instrument that will assist organisations to implement telework successfully has been identified. Therefore, a conceptual telework framework that provides a structure of the elements that need to be in place to implement a telework programme successfully has been proposed. / Business Management / D. Admin. (Business Management)

by Tsui Hok Kan, Brian. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 53). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Background --- p.1 / Cable & Wireless : A Strategic Perspective --- p.2 / Research Objective --- p.4 / Methodology --- p.8 / Chapter II. --- CABLE & WIRELESS HISTORY --- p.11 / Chapter III. --- RELATIONS BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND INDIVIDUAL SUBSIDIARIES --- p.14 / Matrix Classification of Cable & Wireless Group's Subsidiaries --- p.14 / Case Studies : Cross-national Related Strategy --- p.15 / Cable & Wireless Business Networks --- p.16 / Cable & Wireless Mobile --- p.16 / Case Studies : Cross-national Unrelated Strategy --- p.17 / Omnes --- p.18 / Cable & Wireless (Marine) Ltd --- p.19 / PHS International Ltd --- p.20 / Case Studies : National Related Strategy --- p.21 / Hongkong Telecom ´ب --- p.21 / OPTUS --- p.23 / Case Studies : National Unrelated Strategy --- p.24 / Sembawang Cable Depot Pte Ltd --- p.24 / S.B. Submarine Systems Co. Ltd --- p.25 / Chapter IV. --- DISCUSSION --- p.27 / General Organization of Cable & Wireless Activities --- p.27 / General Observations on Relations Between Organizational Characteristics and Strategies --- p.29 / Business Diversification and Geographic Diversification --- p.30 / Concluding Remarks --- p.31 / Chapter APPENDIX 1 - --- QUESTIONNAIRE FOR HONGKONG TELECOM --- p.34 / Chapter APPENDIX 2 - --- SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESULTS --- p.40 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.53 / Books / Periodicals / Annual Reports / Interviews

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Chan, Eunice Shan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-119). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / CHINESE ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.v / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vi / CHAPTERS / Chapter 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.5 / Definitions of Turnaround --- p.5 / Causes of Firm Decline --- p.6 / Severity of the Situation --- p.8 / A Western Perspective on Turnaround Responses --- p.10 / Turnaround Success --- p.20 / Turnaround in the Non-U. S. Contexts --- p.21 / Chapter 3. --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND HYPOTHESES --- p.23 / Organizing Framework --- p.23 / Institutions and Their Impact on Turnaround --- p.26 / Institutional Environment in East Asia and the West --- p.32 / Hypotheses --- p.44 / Chapter 4. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.54 / Research Design --- p.54 / Quantitative Methods --- p.55 / Qualitative Methods --- p.62 / Chapter 5. --- RESULTS --- p.65 / Quantitative Results --- p.65 / Qualitative Evidence --- p.79 / Chapter 6. --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION --- p.97 / Implications --- p.98 / Limitations and Future Research --- p.102 / Conclusion --- p.104 / REFERENCES --- p.108 / APPENDIX 1: INTERVIEW PROTOCOL --- p.120 / APPENDIX 2: ANALYSIS OF FIRMS WITH NON-ETHNIC CHINESE PRINCIPALS REMOVED --- p.121 / APPENDIX 3: ANALYSIS OF FIRMS WITH LOW Z-SCORES --- p.123 / APPENDIX 4: ANALYSIS OF FIRM SIZE --- p.126

Although private family organisations are prevalent role players in both the South African and international economies, limited research has been performed with regard to them. In terms of regulatory requirements, South African private organisations are neither legally required to comply with corporate governance principles, nor are they required to make their financial data available to the general public. Lack of available data, and limited available research, have resulted in an absence of clarity with regard to whether governance structures in private family organisations add any value to these organisations. This study therefore explores, through the use of a multiple-case study, how the individual private family organisations have structured their governance mechanisms, and the reasons as to why they chose to implement these structures. Both case studies revealed that governance structures, in general, add value. The implemented governance structures may even have contributed to the increase in financial performance over time. / Management Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)