Thesis (M. Ed.(Assessment and quality assurance))-University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

This thesis deals with streamlining business processes using project management tools at VOLET, Ltd. The company sells components and services in the field of garden ponds and irrigation systems. The first part describes the theoretical background, these are concepts based on project management. The analytical part describes the company and its current situation, then the individual analyzes. On the basis of these analyzes will be presented in the last part of the proposals on which to base the proposed project to streamline business processes.

In the last decades, several research studies have been executed on the key factors that influence school effectiveness. Taking state of the art literature into account, six broad areas can been identified: student, home, school and leadership, curricula, teachers and teaching/learning approaches. As part of the area of school and leadership, the overarching topic of performance management has been empirically tested to be an effective strategy for improving student outcomes. The role of organizational performance metrics and monitoring cannot be overstated as a success factor of an organization because they affect strategic, tactical and operational planning in setting objectives, evaluating performance, and determining future courses of action. Consequently, the research project at hand aims to analyze, as a first step, the interrelation between the use of technology and performance monitoring and, as a second step, the impact of these management practices on the organizational effectiveness of schools. For that, an online survey is sent to about 20.000 principals in Germany. Statistical analysis will be conducted.

In this thesis, I explore the topic of chief executive officer (CEO) compensation in UK publicly traded firms. My objective is threefold. First of all, I investigate debt-holders‟ reaction to CEO compensation in terms of the cost of debt financing. Secondly, I examine the possible link between CEO compensation and expectation management. Thirdly, I examine whether and how the interactive relation between CEO career horizon and compensation package affects a firm‟s research and development spending. Multiple regression is employed in this thesis to investigate the causal relationship between these above mentioned aspects I‟m interested (the cost of debt, expectation management and research and development spending) and CEO compensation. I consider all major compensation components for a typical CEO in UK publicly traded firms: defined benefit pension, bonus, restricted shares, traditional stock options and performance-vested stock options. The accumulated equity incentives, such as ownership, are also examined. My major findings are as follows. First of all, I find that an increase in defined benefit pension and bonus in CEO compensation are associated with a lower bond yield spread, while an increase in stock options and ownership intensifies it. Secondly, I document that CEO equity incentives that will be vested in the following year are positively associated with the probability of employing expectation management to meet or beat financial analysts‟ forecasts about a firm‟s reporting earnings. Thirdly, I demonstrate that older CEOs will not spend less in research and development expenditures in general. However, older CEOs with more defined benefit pensions and ownership are reluctant to engage in such an investment. iii My results generate several implications for CEO compensation research. First of all, I show that debt-holders rationally incorporate the information of CEO compensation about risk-taking and risk-avoiding incentives when pricing a firm‟s publicly traded debts. Secondly, I provide the evidence that CEO compensation motivates top managers to manipulate information disclosure by employing expectation management for personal gains. Thirdly, the joint influence of CEO career horizon and compensation package on a firm‟s research and development spending is highlighted. CEO compensation motivates a short-sighed and risk-averse investment policy when top managers have a short career horizon. The first novel contribution in this thesis is the coverage of CEO pension, which is overlooked by the most of previous literature on compensation studies. Secondly, I provide the evidence that the popularity of expectation management in the UK, which is well documented in the literature, can be partly explained by CEO compensation. Finally, the interactive relation between CEO compensation and career horizon on a firm‟s investment policy is re-examined. It provides further material in the debate of career horizon problem, which has no consensus in the previous literature. Overall, this thesis generates some empirical evidence about the influence of CEO compensation on managerial behaviour. Some adverse effects of CEO compensation highlighted in this thesis may help remuneration committee to design a better pay package for top managers in the future.

This dissertation is focused on the analysis of the current method of proceeding REC incl. its effect on accounting firm and to draw up its own credit management. Theoretical part of the dissertation offers information and receivables management concepts, their prevention, and debt collection. This part describes the meaning and usability tools of collection activity. The starting point for setting up a new system is the assessment of the financial situation of the company with financial analysis and analysis of the current state of the receivables. The practical part also includes the elaboration of proposals and recommendations, and the application of specific methods, incl. the costs and benefits. The result of the dissertation is effective system solutions to the outstanding receivables.

The purpose of the study was to assess the coverage and effectiveness of the management of severe acute malnutrition project implemented in Dhas district of Borena zone, Ethiopia, from July 2010 to December 2010. Quantitative, descriptive study was conducted to assess the comparability of the outcome of community-based management of acute malnutrition in a pastoralist area to International Sphere standards using performance indicators. Data collection was done using data capturing sheet. Outpatient therapeutic programme (OPT) registers in all health facilities were the sources of data. Clinical records of children admitted to the programme (n=163) were analysed. Standard nutrition survey result was used to estimate the malnutrition prevalence and programme coverage. International Sphere standard was achieved for mortality rate but not for recovery rate, defaulter rate, length of stay and weight gain / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of the study was to assess the coverage and effectiveness of the management of severe acute malnutrition project implemented in Dhas district of Borena zone, Ethiopia, from July 2010 to December 2010. Quantitative, descriptive study was conducted to assess the comparability of the outcome of community-based management of acute malnutrition in a pastoralist area to International Sphere standards using performance indicators. Data collection was done using data capturing sheet. Outpatient therapeutic programme (OPT) registers in all health facilities were the sources of data. Clinical records of children admitted to the programme (n=163) were analysed. Standard nutrition survey result was used to estimate the malnutrition prevalence and programme coverage. International Sphere standard was achieved for mortality rate but not for recovery rate, defaulter rate, length of stay and weight gain / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The conservation units (CU) are spaces patrimonializated by the state and are part of the dynamics of territorial transformations, which gives challenges to the management towards governance and its role in the resilience of local communities. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the territorial management of three coastal protected areas of the State of Sergipe: Biological Reserve (REBIO) of Santa Isabel in Pirambu and Pacatuba, Environmental Protected Area (APA) Morro do Urubu, in Aracaju, and Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPN) of Caju in Itaporanga D'Ajuda, in terms of progress and challenges of governance. The analysis of the management of these spaces from the systemic view approach to the Milton Santos ideas, of territory transformation and inseparability between objects and actions systems. Interviews, field visits and questionnaires were undertaken. The method Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) allowed dialogues with management and analysis of the effectiveness of management. Governance was analyzed at three levels: general; institutional and local. Observe historical conditions of environmentalism/ conservationism on protected areas systems in the world, with increasing interface between sponsors, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and institutionalization of environmental issues under based on democracy and sustainable development. The biological/ecological concepts are references to the management of CU and are directed to complex patterns and management focused on results. In the coast of the State of Sergipe territorial occupation highlights the role of the state in spatial dynamics through the infrastructure deployment related to tourism and real estate expansion. At the same time, there are communities with significant social vulnerability. REBIO and RPPN present in the surrounding activities such as fisheries, extractivism, family agriculture and livestock, while in APA urban occupation advances over its limits. Observed weak governance in the three UC linked to the effectiveness of management. The management of REBIO has solid organizational structure and operates in the governance perspective, with active Consulting Council, but faces conflicts due to insecurity the legal boundaries of the protected area and lack of management plan. There are also conflict with the TAMAR Project, historical intertwined relationship. The APA does not have Management Plan and displays organizational weakness of the Secretary of Environment and Water Resources that affects the management. The Council has been inactive causing dissatisfaction of the members on the surrounding changes. The RPPN has Management Plan which provides a management committee, has autonomy to raise funds, but the continuity of actions depends on the leadership of Embrapa mechanisms. The threats REBIO signal environmental conflicts if restrictive actions based on force, which exacerbate vulnerability and affect governance. In APA urban occupation suggests inefficient coordination between state and municipality in territorial planning. Threats of RPPN are linked to fire management in neighboring properties of builders and developers, the extractive activities and leisure visitors. UC materialize ideas related to nature protection, biodiversity and the environment, but the conception of production nature in the social bias enhances knowledge of territorial dynamics and the role of management in the resilience of socially vulnerable communities. / As unidades de conservação (UC) são espaços patrimonializados pelo Estado e se inserem na dinâmica das transformações territoriais, o que atribui desafios à gestão no sentido da governança e de seu papel na resiliência das comunidades locais. Dessa forma, objetivou-se analisar a gestão territorial de três UC do litoral sergipano: Reserva Biológica (REBIO) de Santa Isabel, em Pirambu e Pacatuba, Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Morro do Urubu, em Aracaju, e Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) do Caju, em Itaporanga D’Ajuda, em termos de avanços e desafios para a governança. A gestão desses espaços foi pensada a partir da visão sistêmica com aproximação às ideias de Milton Santos, de território em transformação e indissociabilidade entre sistemas de objetos e ações. Foram realizadas entrevistas, visitas de campo e questionários. O método de Avaliação e Priorização da Gestão de UC (RAPPAM) permitiu diálogos com gestores e análise da efetividade da gestão. A governança foi analisada em três níveis: geral; institucional e local. Observam-se condicionantes históricos do ambientalismo/conservacionismo sobre sistemas de áreas protegidas no mundo, com crescente interface entre financiadores, organizações intergovernamentais e não-governamentais, e institucionalização das questões ambientais sob a égide da democracia e do desenvolvimento sustentável. As concepções biológicas/ecológicas são referenciais à gestão das UC e se direcionam para padrões complexos e gestão para resultados. No Litoral de Sergipe a ocupação territorial evidencia o papel do Estado na dinâmica espacial via construção de infraestrutura relacionada com turismo e expansão imobiliária. Ao mesmo tempo, há comunidades com vulnerabilidade social significativa. REBIO e RPPN apresentam no entorno atividades como pesca artesanal, extrativismo, agricultura familiar e criação de gado, enquanto que na APA a ocupação urbana avança sobre seus limites. Observa-se governança frágil nas três UC vinculadas à efetividade da gestão. A gestão da REBIO tem estrutura organizacional sólida e atua na perspectiva de governança, com Conselho Consultivo atuante, e enfrenta conflitos com a indefinição legal do polígono e inexistência do Plano de Manejo. Há também relação conflitiva com o Projeto TAMAR, imbricada historicamente. A APA não possui Plano de Manejo e exibe fragilidade organizacional da Secretaria de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos que afeta a gestão. O Conselho inativo gerou insatisfação dos membros diante das transformações do entorno. A RPPN tem Plano de Manejo que prevê uma comissão gestora, apresenta autonomia para captação de recursos, mas a continuidade das ações depende dos mecanismos da chefia da Embrapa. As ameaças na REBIO sinalizam conflitos socioambientais se houver restrição das atividades coercitivamente, o que agravaria a vulnerabilidade e afetaria a governança. Na APA a ocupação urbana sugere articulação ineficiente entre Estado e Município no ordenamento territorial. As ameaças da RPPN se vinculam ao manejo do fogo em propriedades de construtoras, além de grupos extrativistas e visitantes para lazer. As UC materializam ideias vinculadas à proteção de natureza, biodiversidade e meio ambiente, mas a concepção de produção de natureza sob o viés social, e a perspectiva de complexidade, ampliam o entendimento da dinâmica territorial e do papel da gestão na resiliência das comunidades socialmente vulneráveis.

The theoretical part of this master’s thesis introduces to the reader problems of production management tools, and optimization of the manufacturing process. It explains basic concepts, principles and methods that has aim to clarify systems and methods used in the practical part to the reader. The practical part describes the implementation of these methods and optimization of specific part of the manufacturing process. The result of optimization is evaluated from the perspective of time and finance.