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The main aim of the study was to investigate the Career Orientation profiles of first year and second year MBA students at the University of Natal in order to establish what particular profiles were prevalent amongst students with the view of using those as the diagnostic schedule of those that are likely to succeed in their careers. The first aim of the study was to compile the profile of first and second year MBA students. The second aim of the study was to determine MBA students' career orientation profiles. A standardized Schein's Career Orientation Inventory Scale was used in the study in order to achieve the objectives of the second aim. The researcher constructed a biographic questionnaire in order to achieve the objectives of the first aim. The measuring instrument was administered to groups of first and second year students. One hundred questionnaires were analysed, seventy for the first years and thirty for second year students. The sample consisted of 42 first year male students and 28 first year female students, and 18 second year male and 12 second year female students. The findings according to the first aim of the study, i.e., the compiling of the profiles of the first and second year MBA students, revealed that there was no significant difference in terms of age, marital status, level of education, employment sector and salary range between the two groups of MBA students. The findings based on aim two, i.e., determining the career orientation profiles revealed that the most dominant career anchor for both groups of MBA students was the Pure Challenge followed by Autonomy / Independence. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

At present, raw aqueous textile effluent produced by textile mills in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu- Natal is reticulated voluntarily to the Hammarsdale Wastewater Works owned by the eThekwini Municipality and operated by Ethekwini Water and Sanitation. Thereafter the treated effluent is discharged into the Sterkspruit River which flows into the Shongweni impoundment. The cost to these textile mills of treating this effluent is calculated using a trade tariff formula administered by Ethekwini Water and Sanitation. In principle this arrangement is governed as follows; • in the case of the textile mills, by Sewage Disposal Bylaws set by Ethekwini Water and Sanitation, and • in the case of Ethekwini Water and Sanitation by a licence issued by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in terms of the National Water Act 36 of 1998. This Act prescribes a General Effluent Standard which specifies the quantity, quality and temperature of treated effluent which may enter a defined water resource such as the Sterkspruit River. In practice however, the Hammarsdale Wastewater Works is not licensed by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and operates temporarily according to an Exemption Permit issued to Umgeni Water who owned and operated the Hammarsdale Wastewater Works until 2003. It is thus incumbent upon Ethekwini Water and Sanitation to obtain a licence from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in order to comply with the requirements of the National Water Act and be allowed to operate the Hammarsdale Wastewater Works on a permanent basis. However, because of design limitations, the Hammarsdale Wastewater Works cannot remove the visible colour continuously and reliably from incoming raw textile effluent. The consequence of this is that the Sterkspruit River is often contaminated by coloured discharges from the Hammarsdale Wastewater Works. In terms of the National Water Act this situation is illegal and must be remedied. The approach adopted by Ethekwini Water and Sanitation has been to amend the Sewage Disposal Bylaws to oblige the textile mills (by the use of permits), by certain dates, to remove all, or most of the colour (to specified levels according to the test method used) from their effluent before it will be admitted to the Hammarsdale Wastewater Works for disposal. The costs of compliance will have to be borne by the individual textile mills. This business case study explores the impact of this obligation on the business of Textile Mill A and examines solutions to the problem. After a review of the efforts of that company to conform with the concept of Cleaner Production, it was decided to perform an end-of-pipe effluent treatment trial using a skid mounted pilot-plant utilising an adsorption and flocculation mechanism followed by cold soda ash softening, 'polishing' through a column of granular activated carbon and the removal of calcium and magnesium through a cation exchange softening column. The results obtained were; • that the permit requirements of Ethekwini Water and Sanitation could be met, • that a financial 'break-even' point could be achieved at the start of the project in 2005 should 43% of the treated effluent be recovered for reuse, • that a realistic rate of water recovery would be 50% resulting in a positive contribution in present day terms (2004) of R65 000 in 2005 increasing to Rl 377 000 in 2014, • that this rate of recovery could be increased should a demineraliser be introduced into the treatment train, and • that the project could be financed by a vendor on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer basis with transfer of ownership to Textile Mill A occurring after 5 years. The results of that trial showed that end-of-pipe effluent treatment is a viable option, technically and commercially, for Textile Mill A considering the current inclement trading conditions being experienced by the South African textile industry. It is also a means of assisting Ethekwini Water and Sanitation to comply with the requirements of the National Water Act. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The purpose of the study was to determine the degree of relationships among GRE scores, undergraduate GPA (UGPA), and success in graduate school, as measured by first year graduate GPA (FGPA), cumulative graduate GPA, and degree attainment status. A second aim of the study was to determine whether the relationships between the composite predictor (GRE scores and UGPA) and the three success measures differed by race/ethnicity and sex. A total of 7,367 graduate student records (masters, 5,990; doctoral: 1,377) from 2000 to 2010 were used to evaluate the relationships among GRE scores, UGPA and the three success measures. Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear and logistic regression, and hierarchical multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to answer the research questions. The results of the correlational analyses differed by degree level. For master’s students, the ETS proposed prediction that GRE scores are valid predictors of first year graduate GPA was supported by the findings from the present study; however, for doctoral students, the proposed prediction was only partially supported. Regression and correlational analyses indicated that UGPA was the variable that consistently predicted all three success measures for both degree levels. The hierarchical multiple linear and logistic regression analyses indicated that at master’s degree level, White students with higher GRE Quantitative Reasoning Test scores were more likely to attain a degree than Asian Americans, while International students with higher UGPA were more likely to attain a degree than White students. The relationships between the three predictors and the three success measures were not significantly different between men and women for either degree level. Findings have implications both for practice and research. They will provide graduate school administrators with institution-specific validity data for UGPA and the GRE scores, which can be referenced in making admission decisions, while they will provide empirical and professionally defensible evidence to support the current practice of using UGPA and GRE scores for admission considerations. In addition, new evidence relating to differential predictions will be useful as a resource reference for future GRE validation researchers.

Diploma thesis analyzes the process of school-to-work transition in theory and practice. The practical part focuses on the specifics in the Czech Republic and the Karlovy Vary region. The aim is to assess the links between high schools and their students / graduates and employers in the region and the environment in which they interact. The main contribution of this work is to analyze the problem on the example of the Karlovy Vary region through pilot verification and define the main characteristics and deficiencies in the school-to-work transtition process. The main weaknesses of this process are insufficient work habits and working experiences of graduates, improperly selected field of study, lack of interest in studying and low motivation to work. To improve the situation should help to strengthen the links between secondary schools, students / graduates and employers and increasing the involvement of employers in education as is the case in the dual education system.

This study concerns the difficulties encountered by Nigerian students in pursuing graduate degrees in the North Texas area of the United States. The purposes of this study were: (a) to determine the extent to which the perceived difficulties are a result of financial difficulties, (b) to determine the extent to which language is perceived as an inhibiting factor during their period of study, (c) to determine the extent to which family problems contributed to the difficulties, (d) to determine the extent to which normal pressures in graduate school contributed to the difficulties, (e) to determine the extent to which time management contributed to the difficulties, (f) to determine the extent to which changes of schools/colleges within the United States contributed to the difficulties, (g) to determine the extent to which lack of advisement contributed to the difficulties, (h) to determine the extent to which health problems contributed to the difficulties, and (i) to determine the extent to which employment contributed to the difficulties.

This qualitative study explored motivational factors informing the choice to pursue graduate study among 14 first-generation Liberal Arts, college graduates from Striver, a large, urban, public university. As a graduate degree has increasingly become the common gateway for upward social mobility in U.S. society, identifying the source of this population's post-baccalaureate motivations and value assessments of an advanced degree will contribute to a broader understanding of college student aspirations and potential barriers to academic and professional success for students from first-generation backgrounds. Analysis of student narratives through the respective lenses of Eccles' et al., (1983) Expectancy-Value and Bandura's (1986) Self-Efficacy Theories yielded four major themes. The first identified the role of critical socializers in co-creating expectations for high achievement (even within lower attainment environments). The second demonstrated the prevalence of incongruous appraisals of ability (as defined by GPA and self-reported past performances) in assessments of efficacy for graduate study. The latter themes identified perceived values and costs associated with the choice process and raised further questions about access to timely and reliable information to inform these value assessments. These four emergent themes were relatively consistent with Battle and Wigfield's (2003) finding on the role of intrinsic, attainment and utility value in graduate choice, but offered a slightly nuanced understanding of what is termed here as "social impact values" and subsequent costs to post-baccalaureate choice. With institutions of higher education serving key roles in student progression from the undergraduate to graduate level, this research sought to inform future institutional approaches toward engaging and supporting first-generation college students seeking advanced degrees. Research on the choice process of graduate degree-seekers has been primarily quantitative in nature, so the present study adds a missing qualitative voice to this growing body of work. / Educational Administration

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The political relationship between "The People's Republic of China (PRC) and South Africa has grown from strength to strength since the end of the apartheid era. As a result of this cooperation, the importing and exporting between the two have grown significantly. With the Chinese markets now open to South Africans, manufactured goods are being imported. The manufacturing capabilities found in the PRC are very far advanced to those found in South Africa. As a result, many South African businesses have found that they can import their product far cheaper than they can buy or manufacture in South Africa, regardless of the challenges of importing between the two countries i.e. language barriers, culture differences, geographical location, etc. The last few years has seen more and more businesses importing from the PRC, which has effectively led to many business owners looking at the option of importing from the PRC in order to be competitive. This research study addresses the reasons and necessity to import manufactured goods from the PRC to South Africa. It also shows how a business actually goes about importing from the PRC. In essence, this study is to help the local entrepreneur become more competitive, by understanding what their competitors mayor may not be doing. If the competitors are importing themselves, then this will help them to be competitive. If they are not importing, then this study will give them the opportunity to get the competitive edge. In conclusion and in summary, importing goods from the PRC to South Africa can have a positive impact on the competitiveness of a business. Even though the concept of importing from the PRC to South Africa is often dismissed due to the apparent complexities of the importing process, it is hoped this study will allay such fears. This study will hopefully help those entrepreneurs to understand that it is not that complicated a task to make one's business competitive via Chinese imports. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die politieke verhouding tussen die People's Republic of China (PRC) en Suid Afrika het sedert die einde van die apartheidsera van krag tot krag gegroei. As gevolg van die samewerking tussen die twee het invoere en uitvoere aansienlik gegroei. Met die Sjinese markte nou oop vir Suid Afrikaners, word vervaardigde goedere ingevoer. Die vervaardigings-aanlegte vaardighede in die PRC is baie meer gevorderd as dit in Suid Afrika. Ongeag die struikelblokke vir invoer tussen die twee lande bv. taal, kultuur verskille, geografiese ligging ens., het baie Suid Afrikaanse besighede gevind dat produkte goedkoper ingevoer kan word as wat hulle dit plaaslik kan koop of vervaardig. In die laaste paar jaar het meer en meer besighede vanaf die PRC ingevoer wat daartoe gelei het dat baie beigheidseienaars die opsie oorweeg om vanaf die PRC in te voer om sodoende meer kompeterend te wees. Die navorsing spreek redes en noodsaaklikheid aan vir die invoer van vervaadigde goedere vanaf die PRC na Suid Afrika. Die prosedure van invoer van die PRC word ook deur die navorsing aangespreek. In geheel is die studie om die plaaslike entrepreneur te help om meer kompeterend te word deur markneigings te verstaan. As die kompeteerders self invoer, sal dit help om hulle meer kompeterend te maak. Indien nie, sal die studie hulle die geleentheid gee om meer kompeterend te wees. Ter afsluiting en om op te som, die invoer van goedere van die PRC na Suid Afrika kan 'n positiewe uitwerking op die kompetisie tussen besighede he. Alhoewel die idee van invoere van die PRC na Suid Afrika reeds baie afgewys is as gevolg van die duidelike ingewikkelde invoerproses, sal die studie hopelik sulke vrese uit die weg ruim. Die studie sal ook hopelik help om vir die entrepreneurs te laat verstaan dat so 'n gekompliseerde taak is om hul besigheid via Sjinese invoere kompeterend te maak nie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study shows that a close relationship exists between the South African wine industry and South African financial institutions. Research indicated a need to understand the characteristics and complexity of the wine industry, as well as that of credit assessment. This is important for both industries to further develop and strengthen their relationships. SA WIS provides statistics about various aspects of the South African wine industry. The wine industry is characterised by a fragmented basis. To strategically focus the industry, the South African Wine and Brandy Company (SAWB) was established in 2002. In the application for finance it is important for the applicant to know how credit is evaluated by financial institutions, and which aspects are of importance in the application. One cannot predict the future. The credit assessor therefore bases his credit decision on historical financial data, with the assumption that the trend will continue unless there are indications to the contrary. A specific wine industry credit application and evaluation process is discussed in the study. The final decision is only as good as the analysis, and the analysis is only as good as the information gathered. This study thus provides evidence that with a better understanding of the South African wine industry, financial institutions will be able to assess credit risks better. Similarly, the wine industry will benefit by a better understanding of credit assessment when applying for finance. A detail SWOT analysis was done on this industry. A summary was done of the most important finance needs of the South Afican wine industry, compared to the financial products offered by the South African banking industry and the information required to do the credit assessment. The additional information that the wine industry can supply to help the assessor to assess the application, is also listed. The study closes with proposals to the South African wine and banking industries on what to implement, in an effort to achieve a better relationship. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie toon dat 'n verwantskap bestaan tussen die Suid-Afrikaanse wynindustrie en Suid-Afrikaanse finansiele instellings. Navorsing toon aan dat daar 'n behoefte bestaan om die karaktereienskappe en kompleksiteit van die wynindustrie te verstaan, sowel as die van krediet keuring. 'n Beter verstandhouding is nodig om die twee industriee se verwantskap te versterk. SAWIS verskaf statistieke oor 'n verskeidenheid van die wynindustrie se aktiwiteite. Die wynindustrie het 'n gefragmenteerde basis. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Wyn en Brandewyn Maatskappy (SAWB) is in 2002 gestig, juis ten doel om die bedryf strategies te fokus. Dit is belangrik vir 'n aansoeker van krediet om te verstaan hoe die finansiele instelling kredietaansoeke evalueer, asook watter aspekte belangrik is om aan te spreek in 'n kredietaansoek. Die toekoms kan nie met sekerheid bepaal word nie. Die kredietkeurder baseer dus sy kredietkeuring op historiese data, met die aanname dat die tendens sal aanhou, tensy daar aanduidings is van die teendeel. 'n Spesifieke wynindustrie kredietaansoek en evaluasieproses word bespreek in die studie. Die finale krediet besluit is slegs soos goed soos die analise en die analise op sy beurt is weer net so goed soos die inligting wat versamel is. Die studie bewys dus dat met 'n beter begrip van die Suid-Afrikaanse wynindustrie, finansiele instellings 'n beter kredietanalise evaluasie sal kan doen. Terselfdertyd sal die wynindustrie bevoordeel word deur beter te verstaan hoe kredietaansoeke geevalueer word wanneer vir finansiering aansoek gedoen word. 'n Detail SWOT-analise is op die bedryf gedoen. 'n Opsomming word gedoen van die mees algemene finansieringsbehoeftes in die wynbedryf, gemeet teenoor die finansiele produkte aangebied en inligting vereis deur die finansiele instellings. Addisionele inligting wat die wynbedryf kan bied ten einde die kredietkeurder te help om die aansoek beter te kan evalueer, word ook gelys. Die studie sluit af met voorstelle aan die Suid Afrikaanse wyn- en bank industriee wat geimplimenteer kan word teneinde 'n beter verhouding te bewerkstellig.