La subjectivité des estimations et des perceptions, la complexité de l’environnement, l’interaction entre sous-systèmes, le manque de données précises, les données manquantes, une faible capacité de traitement de l’information, et l’ambiguïté du langage naturel représentent les principales formes d’incertitude auxquelles les décideurs doivent faire face lorsqu’ils prennent des décisions stratégiques à l’aide de systèmes d’intelligence économique. Cette étude utilise un paradigme de « soft computing » pour identifier et analyser l’incertitude, que nous associons à la notion de facteurs de risque d’information. Pour cela, nous proposons un modèle de rapprochement exploitant des ontologies, ainsi qu’un modèle baptisé « FuzzyWatch » fondé sur la logique floue. Nous avons modélisé le processus de prise de décision depuis la définition du problème jusqu’à la réponse à la question : « est-il raisonnable de décider ? ». Un diagramme causal d’Ishikawa permet de prendre en compte les facteurs intangibles dans cette approche. Le cadre de référence du rapprochement de connaissances a été prévu pour faciliter le partage et la réutilisation de connaissances entre les utilisateurs et la machine. En complément, les facteurs intangibles, les émotions, les ambiguïtés du langage naturel sont pris en compte à l’aide de fonctions d’appartenance floues. Les outils de la logique floue ont été également utilisés au niveau des ontologies (« FuzzOntology »). Au niveau du processus de recherche d’information, l’introduction d’une fonction de mise en correspondance floue, appelée « FuzzyMatch », améliore le taux de rappel et subséquemment le processus d’intelligence économique. Le modèle « Fuzzontologique » autorise une prise en compte flexible de facteurs intangibles et incertains, offrant ainsi un moyen de traiter l’ambiguïté du langage naturel. FuzzyMatch permet de réduire les problèmes de données manquantes. A l’aide de ces modèles, le processus de décision en intelligence économique bénéficie d’une réduction des risques liés à l’information lors du processus de recherche. / Subjective estimation and perception, complexity of the environment under study, interaction amongst subsystems, lack of precise data, missing data, limited information processing capacity and ambiguity in natural languages are major forms of uncertainty facing Decision Makers in the process of delivering strategic decisions in economic intelligent systems. This study employs soft computing paradigm to capture and analyze uncertainty based on information risk factors via our proposed knowledge reconciliation model based on ontology and the FuzzyWatch model. We modeled the process of decision making from the point of problem definition to decision delivery (translation credibility) and include intangible factors with the fish-bone architecture. Ontological framework for Knowledge Reconciliation was developed to facilitate knowledge sharing and reuse among both human and computer agents while intangible factors, emotions and ambiguities in natural languages were captured with fuzzy membership function. We extended this operation with fuzzy that is – what ontology captures is interpreted by fuzzy techniques (FuzzOntology). The fuzzy match relation for information retrieval tagged “FuzzyWatch” improves the information search result thus reducing the risk of missing data which is of grave consequence in Economic Intelligence process. FuzzOntological model facilitates a flexible means of capturing intangible and uncertain factors as a means of resolving the ambiguity in natural languages. FuzzyWatch assists in reducing missing data problems. Future decisional process will contend with lesser information retrieval risks in Economic Intelligence process using this model.

The purpose of this research is to investigate how the Rwanda NEPAD e-schools project is achieving its objectives, in order to draw lessons for policy. Case studies of three NEPAD e-schools were conducted to explore the integration of ICT in schools. This qualitative research was based on semi-structured interviews with Ministry of Education staff, school personnel and students, as well as a review of policy documents. The literature review identified a number of factors that hinder the use of ICT, which factors were also evident in the research findings. It was found that greater support is required to overcome the barriers, including lack of policy, teaching and learning, funding, access, training and professional development, curriculum content, technical support, time and attitudes towards ICTs. The analysis of the position in these e-schools offers lessons for policy and practice in Rwanda and with regard to the NEPAD e-schools programme on the continent. Ministries of Education in African countries should align ICT in education policy with other education strategic and operational policies to ensure that ICT initiatives are in line with national developmental goals and objectives.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which participatory deliberative democracy is being practised in the constitution making process in Zimbabwe. The nature of public participation determines the character, quality and extent of consultations and democratic deliberation in policy formulation Constitution making has inescapably remained an ‘unfinished business’ in Zimbabwe as a consequence of the Lancaster House settlement of 1979. Yet, a national constitution is a biography of the nation, whose crafting must embody legitimacy and credibility. This research sought to examine the processes available for public participation for constitution making in Zimbabwe. The research focused on the constitution making process as a case study against the background of a partocratic policy making system that existed since 1980, and the advent of the Inclusive Government consummated on 13 February 2009 whose policy making architecture is premised on the GPA. The central question of this study was: “What processes are being used to secure deliberative democratic participation in the constitution design process in Zimbabwe? The research relied on documentary evidence, the researcher’s experience and observations as well as targeted semistructured interviews on public participation in the constitution making process in Zimbabwe for data collection, as a case study. The researcher relied on secondary data from published and unpublished literature and tracked newspaper publications to gather data related to the constitution making process. The researcher also visited and observed some of the Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) outreach meetings to gather information relating to the quality of deliberation at the meetings. The main findings were that the COPAC structure did not adequately provide a framework for delivering deliberative democracy as political parties retained decision making at stages of the process. The research concluded that political parties, the Executive and Parliament, dominated the process. Participation was cosmetic and “Executo-partocratic driven” rather than a “people-driven” process. The prevalence of citizen harassment and intimidation as well as the occurrence of violence during the consultative process hampered meaningful participation in deliberative processes by citizens. Similarly the inauspicious operating environment discouraged the free flow of information and debate, alienating citizen views and limiting deliberative participatory democracy. In the main, the policy making approach adopted was ‘Executo-partocratic’ and as such limited the citizens participation in equal, open and free deliberation resulting in a process that lacked legitimacy and credibility.

Actuellement la connaissance objectif de dispositifs magnétomécaniques est achevée par diverses approches complémentaires . D'une part l'approche physique avec ses formulations mathématiques des forces magnétiques. D'autre part, les approches multiphysiques afin d'aboutir à une connaissance plus fine, et plus réelle, des phénomènes physiques associés aux interactions qui agissent dans le dispositifs. Et finalement, l'approche interdisciplinaire qui tiendrait en compte le cycle de vie du produit, l'éco-conception. Une conception d'un micromoteur ultra rapide à aimantation induite et flux axial est présentée dans ce mémoire avec l'approche physique montrant les limites de celle-ci . Partant donc de l'approche physique, une nouvelle méthode tensorielle générale est développée comme apport à une modélisation multiphysique de dispositifs magnétomécaniques, regroupant ainsi les diverses formulations numériques de forces magnétiques. Une caractérisation du nouveau tenseur est présentée et appliquée pour le calcul des forces sur des milieux en contact. / Currently the goal of knowledge magnetomechanical devices is completed by means of several complementary approaches. On one hand the physical approach with mathematical formulations of magnetic forces. On the other hand, multiphysics approaches to achieve a deeper insight and more real, physical phenomena associated with interactions that act in the devices. And finally, the interdisciplinary approach that takes into account the lifecycle of the product, so called eco-design. A design of a ultra fast micromotor with induced magnetization and axial flux is presented in this paper with the physical approach showing the restrictions thereof. Accordingly therefore, the physical approach, a new tensor method is developed as a general contribution to a multiphysics modeling of magnetomechanical devices, bringing together the various numerical formulations of magnetic forces. A characterization of the new tensor is presented and applied to calculate the forces on bodies in contact.

This thesis looks at policy formulation in a Revenue Office over the nine-year period, from 1984 to 1993. It presents a case study that is based on actual events; but, because of the difficulties in reporting on the events in a large organisation without the possible influence of some staff, particularly senior management, it was decided to change the names of the organisation, the people and policies. The thesis is based on an examination of a number of policy initiatives that were 'quilted' together. Its focus is not on the contents of the policies or primarily on their economic success, but on the bureaucratic and stakeholder processes involved in their formulation. The purpose of the thesis is to provide a way of understanding events in organisations that are portrayed or categorised by research as policy formulation. Policy formulation is considered to be a core process in organisations, but it is still poorly understood or explained by current models, particularly those based on a rationalistic view of the world. Many of these models have their roots in economic theory and rationality, which promotes the idea that policy is a fundamental and almost inevitable part of organisation goal attainment. These ideas permeate and structure the theory and depiction of organisations and, hence, the way we understand the nature of the social actions and interactions supporting policy formulation. The thesis rejects the assertion that organisations move in a consistently calculated and logical direction based on goal setting and developing policies to meet objectives. An alternative view is proposed: that policy formulation must be understood within the phenomenon of an organisation where people enact a particular form of social reality. Under this model organisations are created and maintained by social processes that are continually executed by people. In this context, individuals and groups use processes of negotiation and power to manipulate and re-define the meanings attributed to problems and solutions to maintain a perception of consistent and coordinated change and goal attainment in policy formulation. This social practice is an attempt to define reality and maintain legitimacy for the policy changes. Thus, the emphasis is on social processes rather than outcomes, thereby focusing on the development and maintenance of perceptions of problems and solutions. This thesis analyses policy formulation as a distinctive kind of social practice using a case study of policy developments in a revenue office, as a means of explaining the basic nature of ongoing corporate life. The case study explores the way that core revenue office policies, proposed as 'logical' change, were formulated by individuals and groups who constantly used 'legitimising' management models and principles, agenda management, and bargaining and power processes to negotiate, influence, modify and manipulate the perceptions of change. The aim is to explain how policy options were generated in the 'Charisma period', to examine their origins and how they were acted upon, and to develop a set of summary concepts that might be used to understand policy development behaviours. / Master of Commerce (Hons)

Views of strategy formulation can be mainly divided into two categories. One is I-O(Industrial Organization), the other one is RBV(Resource Based View)(Hitt, Ireland and Hoskisson, 1999¡G2003¡FSe-Hwa Wu, 2000¡FJoseph Shyu, 2000¡FCher-Min Fong, 2001¡FMing-Jer Tang, 2003).Both of vews have each suitable situation. If strategy is formulated from single view, it will cause defects (Robbins, 2003). Recent years, scholars provide solutions from integration¡Bcontingency and dynamic. However, thesis combines 3 features is still few. This paper attempts to find combined views to suit different situation in a dynamic framework. The research provides a static framework included¡G(1) If the contingency of inside and outside company are stable, companies ought to choose ¡uposition-based view¡v; (2)If the contingency of outside company are not stable but stable contingency of inside company, companies ought to choose ¡uvision-based view¡v; (3)If the contingency of outside company are not stable but stable contingency of inside company, companies ought to choose ¡uenvironment-based view¡v; (4)If the contingency of inside and outside company are both not stable, companies ought to choose ¡uresource-based view¡v; (5)If the contingency of inside and outside company are changing smoothly with controllable situation, companies ought to choose ¡uconstruction-based view¡v. The research provides a dynamic framework. From the long term view, a company needs to adjust itself to match the changing of situation in order to have sustainable competitive advantage.

A recently mandated change in the use of pharmaceutical propellants spurred the development and reevaluation of aerosolized pharmaceuticals. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants were commonly used in pressurized metered dose inhalers (MDIs), but were unfortunately linked to the depletion of the ozone layer. As such, a search for new propellants was initiated and ultimately resulted in the implementation of hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants in MDIs. These HFA propellants however demonstrated significantly different properties than CFCs and necessitated a considerable amount of reformulation efforts. Not only did HFAs demonstrate different physiochemical properties, but in some cases these differences necessitated reengineering of the delivery device. Unfortunately HFA propellants are considered greenhouse gasses, albeit to a lesser degree than CFCs, so the development of alternate delivery methods has been ongoing. One delivery method that has received significant attention and resources is dry powder inhalers (DPIs). DPIs are a propellant-free alternative to aerosolized drug delivery, and demonstrate some advantages and disadvantages compared to the use of MDIs and nebulizers.In addition to the modernization of pharmaceutical agents, excipients, and delivery devices, technological advances have allowed for different and/or improved characterization of pharmaceutical aerosols. Particle size characteristics of aerosols are the primary physical measure examined and are relevant to ensure proper and reproducible drug delivery to the lung. Likewise, chemical analysis of the pharmaceutical agent is extremely important for pharmaceutical development and monitoring, including solubility determination, stability monitoring, and ultimately, dose emitted. Because many limitations exist in characterization however, and because experimental means can be costly with regard to labor and materials, prediction of aerosol performance characteristics based on formulation and device variables are valuable.Previous work predicting the performance of solution based MDIs has opened the door for improved prediction of suspension based MDI systems. Suspension aerosol prediction has been examined in the past, but additional information is now available to more appropriately model suspension MDI systems that include polydisperse drug material and emit polydisperse droplets.

Acne is an extremely common condition, affecting almost 80% of adolescents and young adults. It is an inflammatory disease, characterised by comedones, papules, pustules and sometimes cysts. Factors causing acne include enhanced sebum excretion, hypercornification of the sebaceous duct, ductal coloniazation with Propionibacterium acnes and production of inflammation (Gollnick & Cunliffe, 2003:1). Because of the widespread use of topically applied antimicrobial agents in the treatment of inflammatory acne, resistance of disease-related micro-organisms developed. Therefore new strategies for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne are necessary. Nicotinamide is a new approach to topical treatment of moderate inflammatory acne without the development of resistant micro-organisms (Otte et al., 2005:257). Using the skin as an alternative route for the administration of nicotinamide for the treatment of acne, may be beneficial. When nicotinamide permeates through the skin, it is directly delivered to the dermis, the place where action is needed and better results can thus be expected after the treatment has started. Another benefit is that smaller amounts of the drug are absorbed systemically with decreased adverse reactions. Unfortunately, using the skin as an alternative route for administering drugs (transdermal drug delivery), has numerous limitations. One of these limitations is the barrier function of the skin (Naik et al., 2000:319). Because of the skin's outstanding ability to protect the body against unwanted substances from its surroundings, it is necessary to use methods to enhance drug penetration through the skin. A new technology, named Pheroid™ technology, was used in this study to enhance penetration through the skin. This technology is based on the use of vesicular structures with no phospholipids or cholesterol to enhance penetration (Grobler et al., 2008:283). The aim of this study was to formulate four different semi-solid formulations with nicotinamide as the active ingredient, and to determine which of the formulations deliver nicotinamide best to the target site. Stability tests over a six months period were also performed on the different formulations. A 3% nicotinamide cream, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, and a 3% nicotinamide gel, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, were formulated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Acne is an extremely common condition, affecting almost 80% of adolescents and young adults. It is an inflammatory disease, characterised by comedones, papules, pustules and sometimes cysts. Factors causing acne include enhanced sebum excretion, hypercornification of the sebaceous duct, ductal coloniazation with Propionibacterium acnes and production of inflammation (Gollnick & Cunliffe, 2003:1). Because of the widespread use of topically applied antimicrobial agents in the treatment of inflammatory acne, resistance of disease-related micro-organisms developed. Therefore new strategies for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne are necessary. Nicotinamide is a new approach to topical treatment of moderate inflammatory acne without the development of resistant micro-organisms (Otte et al., 2005:257). Using the skin as an alternative route for the administration of nicotinamide for the treatment of acne, may be beneficial. When nicotinamide permeates through the skin, it is directly delivered to the dermis, the place where action is needed and better results can thus be expected after the treatment has started. Another benefit is that smaller amounts of the drug are absorbed systemically with decreased adverse reactions. Unfortunately, using the skin as an alternative route for administering drugs (transdermal drug delivery), has numerous limitations. One of these limitations is the barrier function of the skin (Naik et al., 2000:319). Because of the skin's outstanding ability to protect the body against unwanted substances from its surroundings, it is necessary to use methods to enhance drug penetration through the skin. A new technology, named Pheroid™ technology, was used in this study to enhance penetration through the skin. This technology is based on the use of vesicular structures with no phospholipids or cholesterol to enhance penetration (Grobler et al., 2008:283). The aim of this study was to formulate four different semi-solid formulations with nicotinamide as the active ingredient, and to determine which of the formulations deliver nicotinamide best to the target site. Stability tests over a six months period were also performed on the different formulations. A 3% nicotinamide cream, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, and a 3% nicotinamide gel, with and without Pheroid™ vesicles, were formulated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The study explores the role that the CEO plays in the facilitation of the Strategic Management Process (SMP) within the small and medium sized companies on the JSE with a turnover between R10 to R80 mil. In answering the question “Is the facilitation of the SMP vested in the CEO alone or does he/she share the overall responsibility with Executives, Functional Managers, Supervisors or Consultants? In response to this question the findings purport that the majority view (69%) strengthen the CEO’s influential role in the facilitation of the SMP. This was evident within the launching and growth phase of the company, where the owner plays a big role as the visionary and as there is no formal distinction between the facilitation and the SMP. In contrast, we have to acknowledge the minority view (31%) of CEO’s who engages Executives, Functional Managers, Supervisors, Consultants and other selected personnel in strategic discussions, in ways to leverage their perspective and insights and create shared meaning and ownership. This could be used to develop skills in facilitation, reaffirm team norms and develop agility to respond timeously and strategically to rapid change. This bridges the transition from the higher growth phase and lower maturity phase of the company. For that reason this will enhance decision making, creativity, collaboration, enumerate core values and stimulate growth within the company.