Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Customer relationship management (CRM) is perceived as critical to the longterm success of any organisation, since CRM could be developed into a core competence providing a competitive advantage. Although the importance of CRM is recognised worldwide, most implementations of CRM systems fail to achieve their goals. Trends show that CRM success is still the exception and not the rule. The main objective of this study is to examine the value and characteristics of CRM systems and determine the most common factors that impact on the success of CRM systems implementations. CRM is a business strategy that integrates people, processes and technology, and places the customer at the core of the business. CRM aims to increase business performance and enhance customer value by increasing customer retention, acquisition, satisfaction and loyalty resulting in increased revenue and profitability. The study found that the implementation of CRM systems involves a completely new way of doing business. The major problems experienced in the implementation of CRM systems are identified as change management problems and too much emphasis on technology. The study paints out that technology alone will not guarantee the success of CRM systems implementations, since CRM systems are not so much about technology but more about people and business processes. It is recommended that more emphasis should be placed on cultural and behavioural change in the business environment by focusing on the management of change of the people using CRM systems. A CRM systems implementation model based on previous studies and literature relating to CRM has been developed in the South African context. This model is derived from the Gartner model, the customer management assessment tool and different readiness approaches for CRM systems implementations. The study concludes· with the development of a measuring instrument for the implementation of CRM systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die persepsie is dat klienteverhoudingebestuur (KVB) krities tot die langtermyn sukses van enige organisasie is, aangesien KVB ontwikkel kan word in 'n kernvaardigheid wat 'n kompeterende voordeel verskaf. Alhoewel die belangrikheid van KVB wereldwyd erken word, misluk die meeste KVB implementerings om hulle doelwitte te bereik. Tendense toon dat KVB sukses steeds die uitsondering en nie die reel is nie. Die doel van die studie is om die waarde en eienskappe van KVB stelsels te ondersoek en om die mees algemene faktore wat 'n impak op die sukses van KVB stelsels implementerings het, te bepaal. KVB is 'n besigheidstrategie wat mense, prosesse en tegnologie integreer en kliente as die kern van die besigheid beskou. KVB het ten doel om die werkverrigting van die besigheid en die waarde vir die klient te verhoog deur verbetering van die retensie, werwing, tevredenheid en lojaliteit van kliente, wat 'n verhoogde inkomste en winsgewendheid tot gevolg het. Die studie het gevind dat 'n KVB stelsel 'n totale nuwe manier van besigheid behels. Die belangrikste probleme wat met die implementering van KVB stelsels ondervind word, is geidentifiseer as veranderingsbestuursprobleme en te veel klem op tegnologie. Die studie het ook aangetoon dat tegnologie alleen nie die sukses van KVB stelsels implementerings sal waarborg nie, omdat KVB stelsels nie soseer om tegnologie gaan nie, maar meer om mense en besigheidsprosesse. Dit word aanbeveel dat meer klem op kulturele en gedragsveranderinge in die besigheidsomgewing geplaas moet word deur te fokus op die bestuur van verandering van die mense wat KVB stelsels gebruik. 'n KVB stelsels implementeringsmodel gebaseer op vorige KVB verwante studies en literatuur, is in die Suid-Alrikaanse konteks ontwikkel. Hierdie model is afgelei van die Gartner model, die klientebestuur assesseringshulpmiddel en verskillende gereedheidsbenaderinge vir KVB stelsels implementerings. Die studie sluit af met die ontwikkeling van 'n meetinstrument vir die implementering van KVB stelsels.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the feasibility of establishing a diversified hotel property fund (DHPF) on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. To be launched in 2005/2006, the proposed unit trust fund is made up of a diversified portfolio of hotels located throughout South Africa. Research suggests that Hotel Property Funds have traditionally been the most volatile of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) with their share value largely dependent on hotel revenue. However, investing in HPFs and REITs have numerous advantages such as their stipulated 90% dividend-payout ratio, steady stream of cash flow and zero corporate income taxes. The Property Unit Trust sector in South Africa in 2003 realised annualised rates of returns of 39%, and furthermore, the economic outlook and hotel industry sector show promising signs with economic growth rates for 2004 and 2005 reaching 4% and 5% respectively. This study thus considers whether a hotel property fund will succeed in South Africa and what returns investors can expect. By drawing on empirical and primary research and lessons learnt from international best practices this ground-breaking report identifies and analyses key performance variables of HPFs and REITs and applies them to a South African context. These variables include; capital structure, investment strategy, risk and return, Net Asset Value (NA V) and initial public offerings (IPO's). The report establishes that there is no optimal capital structure for REITs and only when the market reacts to the issuance of debt can one tell if the REIT is favourably structured or not. Concerning investment strategy, investors are in general, often lured to a diversified portfolio, however this report suggests that there is no optimal strategy for investing in REITs. In addition, over a medium to long term, REIT performance is strong, while over the short term performance is varied impacting on investor strategy. In assessing risk and return it was concluded that including REIT shares in an already diversified portfolio, the maximum expected return for each given level of risk is increased, and the level of risk for each level of expected return is reduced. Furthennore, the performance of RElTs is not necessarily detennined by size or Net Asset Value and thus small and large REITs can offer investors similar returns. Finally, initial-day returns for industry lnitial Public Offerings (lPO's) easily outperfonn REIT lPO's. Similarly to RElTs, there are numerous advantages to Hotel REITs which include, unlocking and redeployment of capital, investment spread and risk reduction and the provision of synergies between counter cyclical performing properties. However, empirical research indicates that Hotel REITs prove to be the most volatile of REIT sectors. Hotel REITs differ enonnously from their parent group in terms of their revenue & earnings which are more diverse in source and are generated from short-tenn leases. As such. Hotel REITs are also considered to be more management intensive. As with REITs there is no evidence to suggest an optimal capital structure and with the envisaged 50% debt ratio, the DHPF could be considered to be following international best practices. Several drawbacks with Hotel REITs include the lowest dividend yield among all RElT sectors, high volatility in income earnings, sensitivity to upswings and downturns in the tourism market, large capital investments and fixed operating expenses for staff and infrastructure. However despite these obstacles and in answer to the research problem, the prospects of the DHPF succeeding in South Africa are very high indeed. The REIT and Hotel REIT markets have proved successful throughout major capital markets, providing investors with a multitude of benefits. South Africa's economic and tourism climate is very favourable. The Property Unit Trust (PUT) sector has performed immensely well and investors can expect a healthy return which, as shown, is considerably higher than other investments. Finally, the fund is being spearheaded by a high calibre DHPF management team, which is key to the listing and management of the fund. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die moontlikheid om 'n Diverse Hotel Eiendomsfonds (DHEF) op die Johannesburgse Aandelebeurs te loods. Die huidige aanvangsfase sal in 2005/2006 wees, en sal bestaan uit 'n portfolio van verskillende hotelle wat reg oor Suid-Afrika versprei is. Die navorsing toon dat hoteleiendomsfondse tradisioneel die mees veranderlikste van die Eiendoms Beleggings Trusts (EBT) was en dat die aandeel waarde hoogs afhanklik is van die hotel se inkomste. Nieteenstaande, het investering in DHEFs en EBTs 'n verskeidenheid van voordele soos die voorgeskrewe 90% dividend uitbetalingspersentasie, 'n bestendige kontantvloei en geen korporatiewe inkomstebelasting nie. Die eiendomsbeleggingsfondse sektor in Suid-Afrika het gedurende 2003 'n jaarlikse groei van 39% getoon, en verder beloof die ekonomiese uitkyk in die hotel bedryf om tussen 4% en 5% gedurende 2004 en 2005 onderskeidelik te groei. Gegewe die inligting, is die vraag dus of 'n hoteleiendomsfonds sukses kan behaal in Suid-Afrika en watter opbrengs beleggers kan verwag. Deur na primere empiriese navorsing, sowel as lesse wat geleer is deur beste internasionale praktyke, te bestudeer, identifiseer hierdie verslag sleutel prestasie veranderlikes van EBTs en DHEFs plaas dit in konteks van Suid-Afrika. Hierdie veranderlikes sluit in: kapitaaistruktuur, beleggingsstrategie, risiko en terugkeer, Bruto Bate Waarde (Net Assest Value) (BBW) sowel as aanvanklike openbare aanbod (Initial Public Offering) (AOA). Daar is bevind dat daar geen optimale kapitaalstruktuur vir DHEFs bereken kan word nie. Verder word aangetoon dat daar slegs bepaal kan word of EBTs se struktuur voordelig is wanneer die mark reageer op nuwe skuld wat aangegaan is. Wat beleggingsstrategie betref, is beleggers oor die algemeen meer aangetrokke tot 'n diverse portefeulje van beleggings. Hierdie verslag bevind egter dat daar geen optimale strategie is om in EBTs te bele nie. Daar word verder bevind dat medium- tot langtermyn opbrengste goed vertoon, terwyl prestasie oor die korttermyn wisselvallig is wat gevolglik 'n invloed op beleggers se strategie het. In waardering van risiko en wins, is dit bepaal dat die insluiting van EBT aandele in 'n diverse portfeulje, die maksimum verwagte opbrengs vir elke vlak van risiko verhoog en dat die vlak van fisiko vir elke vlak van die verwagte opbrengs verlaag word. Verder is daar bevind dat die prestasie van EBTs nie noodwendig bepaal word deur batewaarde of -groote nie en klein EBTs kan beleggers vergelykende opbrengste bied. Eerstedag opbrengs vir industriele AOAs presteer beter as die van EBTs. Soortgelyk aan EBTs is daar verskeie voordele aan hotel EBTs wat die ontsluiting en herontplooiing van kapitaal, beleggingsverspreiding en risikoverlaging insluit. Empiriese navorsing dui aan dat hotel EBT's die mees onstabiele van die EBT sektor is. Hotel EBT's verskil wesenlik van ander EBTs in terme van opbrengs en verdienste wat meer divers is in oorsprong en gegenereer word deur korttermyn huurkontrakte. Hotel EBTs word ook gesien as meer bestuursintensief. Net soos met EBTs is daar geen bewyse dat daar 'n optimale kapitaalstruktuur bestaan nie en met die verwagte 50% skuld verhouding, volg DHEF wereldwye beste praktyk. Daar is verskeie nadele aan hotel EBTs, insluitend die laagste dividenduitkeer onder alle EBT sektore, hoe vlakke van onstabiliteit in verdienste, sensitiwiteit vir opswaai en afloop in die toerismemark, groot kapitaalbelegging en hoe vaste operasionele uitgawes op werknemers en infrastruktuur. Die gevolgtrekking is dat ten spyte van negatiewe faktore, die vooruitsig dat DHEF in Suid-Afrika sal slaag, hoog is. Die EBT en hotel EBT mark het bewys dat dit suksesvol is in talle ander groot kapitaalmarkte wat beleggers met 'n verskeidenheid van voordele kan voorsien. Suid-Afrika se ekonomiese- en toerismevooruitsig is baie positief. Die Eiendoms Eenheids Fonds (EEF) sektor het goed vertoon en beleggers kan 'n gesonde opbrengs verwag wat, soos aangedui word, aansienlik hoer is as ander beleggings. Die fonds word gedryf deur 'n hoe kaliber bestuurspan wat krities is tot die notering en die bestuur van fondse.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Energy of any form is of paramount importance in the development process of communities, regions and nations. It is a domestic necessity but also a factor of production whose cost directly affects prices of other goods and services, and the competitiveness of enterprises. Energy also plays a critical role in enabling social improvement and development: economies that are unable to provide access to modem energy for everyone at reasonable costs are left behind in a globalised world. Industrialised countries have proved that efficient energy production and distribution is a key factor for the generation of wealth. They have built there success on energy sources that are easily accessible and convertible into motion, heat or electricity. However, most of these sources are limited and not renewable in the literal meaning of the word. Huge infrastructure projects and trillion dollar investments are done in energy sources like fossil fuels that will in a not too distant future be exhausted. Additionally, these fuels lead to climate change with unpredictable consequences. Renewable energy on the other hand, has not been given enough political and financial attention that would make it competitive and provide a real alternative. Developing countries, and the African continent as a whole, have tried to imitate the economies of the first world when it comes to energy sourcing. They are very likely to fall into the same traps: large investments into projects that benefit a small number of people, over capacities on the supply side, energy generation that is closely connected to environmental pollution and last but not least: dependency on energy reserves that are located in politically unstable regions of the world. It is recommended that Africa as a continent should work on energy sourcing concepts that • reduce poverty and enable development, • give its scattered population access to modern energy at reasonable cost, • rely on socially and environmentally sustainable energy generation, • integrate regions to avoid conflicts, • lead to independency from external energy supply and • make the continent a competitive actor in the global market place. In the case of 3 African countries namely Algeria, Ghana and South Africa it is illustrated that there is an opportunity for Africa to do things differently and to learn from the mistakes in the history of modem energy. The focus on existing opportunities, the interest to learn from others and the readiness to work together with partners enable these nations to really fuel development and achieve above average social and economical growth. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Energie in alle vorme is van uiterste belang in die ontwikkeiingsproses van gemeenskappe, streke en nasies. Dit is beide 'n plaaslike vereiste, maar ook 'n produksiefaktor, waarvan die koste 'n direkte invloed het op pryse van ander goedere en dienste en die mededingendheid van ondernemings. Ekonomië wat nie die vermoe het om toegang na moderne energie vir almal teen redelike koste te gee nie, word agtergelaat in 'n geglobaliseerde wereld. Geindustrialiseerde lande het bewys dat effektiewe energieproduksie en -verspreiding 'n sleutelfaktor is vir welvaartskepping. Hulle sukses is gebou op energiebronne wat maklik, toeganklik en omskakelbaar is in beweging, hitte of elektrisiteit. Meeste van hierdie bronne is egter beperk en nie hernubaar nie. Enorme infrakstuktuurprojekte van biljoene dollar word investeer in energiebronne soos fossielbrandstof wat in die nie-soverre-toekoms uitgeput sal wees. Die gebruik van hierdie tipe brandstof lei tot klimaatsveranderinge met onvoorspelbare gevolge. Hernubare energie het egter nog nie genoegsame politieke en finansiele steun gekry wat dit 'n mededingende werklike alternatief maak nie. Ontwikkelende lande en Afrika as geheel, probeer eerste wereldse ekonomie navolg ten opsigte van energie verkryging. Die kanse is goed dat hulle in die volgende slaggate sal val: Groot investering wat min mense bevoordeel; oorvoorsiening ten opsigte van lewering; energie-opwekking wat omgewingsbesoedeling aan die hand werk; afhanklikheid van energie-reserwes wat in politiese onstabiele streke van die wereld gelee is. Dit word aanbeveel dat die Afrika-kontinent werk na energiebron konsepte wat: • Verminderde armoede aan die hand werk en ontwikkeling bevorder • 'n Verspreide bevolking toegang gee tot moderne energie teen billike pryse • Vertrou op sosiaal en omgewings volhoubare energie opwekking • Streke integreer ten einde konflik te vermy • Afhanklikheid van eksterne energie bronne vermy • Die kontinent 'n mededingende speler in die wereldmark, maak. In die gevalle van drie Afrika lande naamlik, Algerie, Ghana en Suid-Afrika, is dit geillustreer dat daar is 'n geleentheid vir Afrika om nie die foute van die verlede te herhaal nie. Die fokus op bestaande geleenthede, die belangstelling om te leer van andere en die bereidwilligheid om saam met vernote te werk, skep die geIeentheid vir hierdie lande om ontwikkeling te dryf en om bo-gemiddelde ekonomiese en sosiale groei aan te teken.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The National Payment System is currently dominated by uncompetitive banks and there is growing resistance by the South African public over the current fees being charged. The legislature is proposing a new Bill which aims at creating a new category of banks, namely Dedicated Banks. These Dedicated Banks will have lower capital requirements, thus making it more attractive to establish a Dedicated Bank. The aim of the Dedicated Banks Bill is to bring banking services to the masses. The Dedicated Banks may provide banking services to consumers at much more competitive fees. The aim of this study is to determine whether Dedicated Banks will be allowed to participate in the National Payment System as clearing and settlement banks. A detailed review is conducted of the current National Payment System, the framework in which it operates and incentives currently underway to guide the modernisation of the National Payment System. A critical analysis of the legal framework of the National Payment System in conjunction with the Dedicated Banks Bill is undertaken to determine whether there is any legislative scope for allowing Dedicated Banks to participate in the National Payment System. An assessment of the competitive environment of the National Payment System is given to determine whether regulators may consider allowing Dedicated Banks their participation as clearing and settlement banks. The arguments presented are confirmed by the Reserve Bank's 2010 vision for the National Payment System which confirms the conclusions reached that Dedicated Banks may indeed participate in the National Payment System as clearing and settlement banks. The risk which participants may introduce into the National Payment System is investigated in order to determine whether this may pose as an additional barrier to Dedicated Banks' participation as clearing and settlement banks. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Nasionale Betalingstelsel word huidiglik gedomineer deur onmededingende banke en daar is groeiende weerstand deur die Suid-Afrikaanse publiek oor die huidige fooie wat gevra word. Die wetgewer het 'n nuwe konsep wet voorlê wat daarop gemik is om 'n nuwe kategorie van banke daar te stel, naamlik Toegewyde Banke. Hierdie Toegewyde Banke sal laer kapitaal vereistes he, wat dit aantrekliker sal maak om 'n Toegewyde Bank op die been te bring. Die doel van die konsep wet is om bankdienste aan die massas te bring. Die Toegewyde Banke mag moontlik bankdienste aan kliente bied teen meer mededingende fooie. Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel of Toegewyde Banke toegelaat gaan word om deel te neem aan die Nasionale Betalinstelsel as verrekeningsbanke. 'n Omvattende ondersoek word onderneem van die huidige Nasionale Betalingstelsel, die raamwerk waarbinne dit werksaam is en huidige pogings wat onderweg is vir die modernisering van die Nasionale Betalingstelsel. 'n Kritiese analiese van die regsraamwerk saam met die konsep wet word vervat om sodoende vas te stel of daar enige wetlike weg is om Toegewyde Banke toe te laat om deel te neem aan die Nasionale Betalingstelsel. 'n Vasstelling van die mededingende omgewing van die Nasionale Betalingstelsel word weergegee om vas te stel of die regulatoriese instansies dit mag oorweeg om Toegewyde Banke toegang te verleen as verrekeningsbanke. Die argumente wat voorgele word, word ondersteun deur die Reserwebank se 2010 visie vir die Nasionale Betalingstelsel wat die konklusies wat gemaak word ondersteun, naamlik dat Toegewyde Banke wel mag deelneem aan die Nasionale Betalingstelsel as verrekeningsbanke. Die risiko wat deelnemers aan die Nasionale Betalingstesel mag bring word ondersoek om sodoende vas te stel of dit enige verdere hindernis vir Toegewyde Banke se deelname as verrekeningsbanke mag bring.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study addresses the question of whether there is a need for an expanded conceptual scanning framework that could benefit present-day business organisations. It addresses this question through the conceptualisation of such a framework, based on findings from the literature review executed during the secondary research phase of the study. Through the primary research phase, an attempt is made to reach conclusions pertaining to the research question. The extent to which businesses perform scanning and related activities as per the findings of the literature review is investigated by means of a Likert scale questionnaire presented to a sample of respondents. The study acknowledges that the imperative of environmental scanning for business organisations also holds true for non-business organisations, but focuses on business organisations that specifically drive sustainable competitiveness and increased business success. The study involves the conceptualisation of an expanded scanning framework through combining aspects and components of the ontological and epistemological dimensions prevalent in scanning and its derived activities. These derived activities include information gathering, scenario planning and strategy selection, and their impact on business performance. Furthermore, the conceptualisation of an expanded framework involves the application of a systems thinking approach in executing business environmental scanning. The inclusion of the ontological and epistemological dimensions are proposed as part of the a-priori design of an expanded conceptual scanning framework, offering the opportunity to present-day scanners to deal with matters of environmental dynamism more effectively through increased levels of understanding of the environment. The study aims to move beyond the empiricist mode of scanning and merely levels of knowledge that scanners have about the environment, to how they should approach, view, understand and manage it. The study expands on current conceptual scanning frameworks, methodologies and approaches applied by business organisations when scanning the business environment. It proposes an expanded conceptual scanning framework, which could increase the depth and width of current conceptual scanning frameworks. The aim is to provide a tool with which business organisations can increase the compound whole of information gleaned from the environment, and its integrity. The expanded framework includes a conceptualisation of the construct content of an emerging newness between two or more systems in the scanned environment. It is based on the analysis of the inter-relatedness, inter-dependence and relation between the co-contributing systems of the emerging newness and the interplay of the co-contributing systems’ aspects, characteristics, dimensions and qualities. This conceptualised inclusion of emergent newness is based on the methodological analysis of system complexities through the application of a systems thinking approach to create the expanded conceptual scanning framework. Strategy, as the juncture between environmental scanning and an organisation’s capacity, has an environment-strategy interface and an organisation-strategy interface. The proposed expanded conceptual scanning framework incorporates both the ontological environment-strategy interface and the epistemological organisation-strategy interface, which concerns a particular worldview. This worldview underpins their approach when business organisations scan the environment. The expanded conceptual scanning framework aims to enhance the understanding of environmental complexity in order to enhance the management thereof. In this regard, it deviates from the notion that enhanced management of the environment would depend on a more accurate prediction of future environmental changes. Rather, it highlights the notion of increasing the understanding of the environment, in order to manage the opportunities and threats embedded in the environment and its future dynamism better. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek die vraag of daar ‘n behoefte is aan ‘n breër konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk wat hedendaagse besigheidsorganisasies kan bevoordeel. Dit hanteer hierdie vraag deur middel van die konseptualisasie van so ‘n raamwerk, gegrond op die bevindings van die literatuuroorsig wat gedurende die sekondêre navorsingsfase van die studie uitgevoer is. Gedurende die primêre navorsingsfase word gepoog om gevolgtrekkings rakende die navorsingsvraag te maak. Die mate waarin besighede skandering en verwante bedrywighede onderneem, volgens die bevindings uit die literatuuroorsig, word ondersoek by wyse van ‘n Likert-skaal-vraelys wat aan ‘n steekproef van respondente voorgelê is. Die studie aanvaar dat die imperatief van omgewingskandering by besigheidsorganisasies ook vir nie-besigheidsorganisasies belangrik is, maar is spesifiek toegespits op besigheidsorganisasies wat handhaafbare mededingendheid en verhoogde besigheidsukses as dryfkragte het. Die studie behels die konseptualisasie van ‘n verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk deur die saamvoeging van aspekte en komponente van die ontologiese en epistemologiese dimensies wat by skandering en die daaruit voortvloeiende bedrywighede belangrik is. Hierdie voortspruitende bedrywighede sluit in inligtingsversameling, scenario-beplanning en strategieseleksie; en die impak daarvan op besigheidsprestasie. Verder behels die konseptualisasie van ‘n verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk dat ‘n stelselsdenke-benadering by die skandering van die besigheidsomgewing toegepas word. Die insluiting van die ontologiese en epistemologiese dimensies word voorgestel as deel van ‘n a-priori-ontwerp van ‘n verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk, wat die geleentheid bied aan hedendaagse skandeerders om meer doeltreffend te werk met aangeleenthede van omgewingsdinamika deur middel van hoër vlakke van insig in die omgewing. Die studie poog om wyer as slegs die empiriese skanderingsmodus en kennisvlakke, gegrond op wat skandeerders van die omgewing weet, te beweeg, na die wyse waarop hulle dit behoort te benader, te aanskou, te verstaan en te bestuur. Die studie verbreed huidige konseptuele skanderingsraamwerke – metodologieë en benaderings – soos toegepas deur besigheidsorganisasies in hul skandering van die besigheidsomgewing. ‘n Verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk word voorgestel, wat die diepte en breedte van huidige konseptuele skanderingsraamwerke sou kon verhoog. Sodoende is hierdie studie gerig op die bydrae tot ‘n werktuig waarmee besigheidsorganisasies die saamgestelde geheel van inligting wat uit die omgewing verkry is, en die integriteit daarvan, kan verhoog. Die verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk sluit in ‘n konseptualisasie van die konstruk-inhoud van ‘n ontluikende nuutheid tussen twee of meer stelsels in die geskandeerde omgewing. Dit is gebaseer op ‘n ontleding van die interverwantheid, interafhanklikheid en verwantskap tussen die mee-bydraende stelsels van hierdie ontluikende nuutheid en die tussenspel van die stelsels se aspekte, kenmerke, dimensies en eienskappe. Hierdie gekonseptualiseerde invoeging van ‘n ontluikende nuutheid is gegrond op die metodologiese ontleding van stelselkompleksiteite deur middel van die gebruik van stelselsdenke by die toepassing van die verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk. Strategie, as die kruispunt waar omgewingskandering en ‘n organisasie se kapasiteit ontmoet, het ‘n omgewing-strategie-koppelvlak en ‘n organisasie-strategie-koppelvlak. Die voorgestelde verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk behels beide die ontologiese omgewing-strategie-koppelvlak en die epistemologiese organisasie-strategie-koppelvlak, soos dit ‘n spesifieke wêreldbeskouing mag raak. Dit onderskraag die benadering waarmee besigheidsorganisasies die omgewing skandeer. Die verbreede konseptuele skanderingsraamwerk is gerig op die verstewiging van die begrip van omgewingskompleksiteit met die doel om die bestuur daarvan te verbeter. In hierdie sin verskil dit van die siening dat die verbeterde bestuur van die omgewing afhanklik is van ‘n meer akkurate voorspelling van toekomstige omgewingsveranderings. Dit plaas die kollig op die siening dat ‘n verhoogde begrip van die omgewing dit makliker maak om die geleenthede en bedreigings wat deel is van die omgewing, en die toekomstige dinamika daarvan, beter te bestuur.

Thesis advisor: Audrey Friedman / As increasing numbers of international students enroll at US universities, these institutions must consider how best to create inclusive campus environments that serve varied learning needs. While international student enrollment at schools of education remains low, some elite programs are drawing growing numbers, but there is a dearth of research regarding international students' transitions into this culturally-embedded field. These experiences warrant investigation so that faculty, administrators, and fellow students might better understand, accommodate, and empower the international students in their midst. The purpose of this dissertation is to describe how 7 female international students from China, South Korea, and India perceive their transition experiences in Master’s programs at an elite US graduate school of education. Three interviews were conducted with each woman, using questions based on Charmaz's (2006) life change protocol. Research sub-questions concerned: a) the decision to study in the US, b) the women’s personal characteristics and background experiences, c) challenges and changes, d) strategies, and e) forms of support. Grounded theory was paired with narrative methods to analyze and present findings, highlighting themes within and across participants’ transitions. Schlossberg’s transition model (Anderson et al., 2012) was used to interpret results, especially women's coping resources. Three main themes emerged: the complexity of self-determination, hard work and its limits, and marginalization and attempts to minimize it. Despite positive experiences, the women faced challenges. While most gained a sense of independence, some resented their new responsibilities and missed previous support networks. All women reported hard work as a key academic strategy, but their diligence was not always enough to transcend language and cultural barriers. Faced with segregation and/or marginalization in America, most women attempted to enrich their experience, surrounding themselves with caring people, volunteering, or seeking resources to achieve goals. The findings suggest that institutions of higher education should assess the social and academic needs of international Master's students and offer tailored support services that address language and cultural barriers inherent in their programs. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

Im Rahmen dieser Dissertationsschrift wird die Frage, wie Aufmerksamkeit die Verarbeitung von visueller Information beeinflusst, behandelt. Hierbei dient die hochentwickelte Fähigkeit von Primaten, visuelle Bewegungsinformation zu verarbeiten, als Modellsystem. Der Hauptteil dieser Arbeit besteht aus zwei aufeinander aufbauenden Studien, die Einzelzellableitung in dem Areal MT von wachen Rhesusaffen beinhalten und einem psychophysischen Experiment mit Humanprobanden. Alle drei Studien wurden mit dem Ziel entworfen, Aufmerksamkeitsmodulation bidirektionaler Bewegungsmuster zu untersuchen. Dieses Kapitel liefert eine generelle Einleitung zum visuellen System von Primaten mit einer Darstellung des Bewegungsverarbeitungspfades und von Aufmerksamkeitseinflüssen auf visuelle Verarbeitung. Einen Schwerpunkt des Einleitungsteils bildet die Übersicht der Verarbeitungsmechanismen bidirektionaler Bewegungsmuster im visuellen System und deren Aufmerksamkeitsmodulation. Das zweite Kapitel besteht aus drei Manuskripten, deren Zielsetzung und Haupterkenntnisse in kurzen Abschnitten zusammenfassend vorangestellt sind. Das dritte Kapitel bietet eine Zusammenfassung der Erkenntnisse, die im Rahmen dieser Dissertation gewonnen wurden.

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