The GP purchasing role is considered in the light of two market policy objectives which are explored within the broader context of the nature of the purchase-provider relationship in terms of both its content and process. The two policy objectives, outlined in the Government's White Paper "Working for Patients" (Department of Health 1989), are that GPs would stimulate: (1) improved efficiencies in secondary care services; and (2) a transfer of resources from secondary to primary care. The study adopts a qualitative approach, gaining insight into purchasing relationships by way of interviews and non-participant observation, and by interpreting the data both inductively and deductively. Economic and social theories, in particular transactions cost theory and network theory, are used as a framework for the fieldwork and to inform the analysis and discussion. This thesis argues that GPs have fulfilled the two original market policy objectives of stimulating secondary care efficiencies and resource transfer from secondary to primary care. The means by which they have achieved this, however, is not via neoclassical contracts negotiated in a competitive market context, as market proponents envisaged, but through economically efficient, relational contracts within ideologically/culturally and socially embedded networks, for which the market policy has been a catalyst. These networks have developed at an inter-GP practice and at a purchase provider level, and are characterised by knowledge creation, innovation, learning, service (re)design, partnering and the pursuit of economic and social goals, in particular the enhancement of professional autonomy. The study affirms the need for a socio-economic perspective in organisational studies, and suggests directions for theory development and future research which can follow from this study and which will further understanding and analysis of network relations and of the NHS context in particular.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) as business system integration evolves in the post-implementation phase due to the change in business requirements caused by competitive environments. Uncontrolled or poorly managed changes may lead to low quality, chaotic systems and data that are difficult to use and maintain. Constructivist approaches to effectively manage post-implementation change in ERP systems from the design-related standpoint are currently lacking. Research in this field mostly focuses on CSF (Critical Success Factors) of the post-implementation phase rather than providing a well-structured approach for managing the changes. Thus, this thesis is designed to close this gap by devising methods and tools for controlled ERP post-implementation change management to support stakeholders, such as business analysts and developers, in assessing the impact of the modification. Our methodology draws a parallel approach between ERP post-implementation change management and traditional engineering change management in product design and proposes a framework for impact analysis of ERP post-implementation modifications. The framework defines a meta-model of the dependencies among ERP entities such as business processes, functions, and data. Based on the identified dependencies, the framework allows to automatically analyse the impact of a proposed change through a set of impact analysis mechanisms. Then, evaluate the scope and depth of a proposed change through a set of impact assessment metrics. As part of the evaluation process, our framework has been embedded in a software tool i.e. decision support system to demonstrate the feasibility of our approach. Then, provides an empirical study to validate the research method and the tool through a panel of ERP experts and end users. The result confirms that our framework provides scientifically grounded method to manage ERP post-implementation modification in a controlled manner. The application of our approach improved change impact analysis and reduced the risk associated with post-implementation change management in future.

This thesis investigates the solving of routing problems using Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs). Routing problems are known to be hard and may possess complex search spaces. Evolutionary algorithms are potentially powerful tools for finding solutions within complex search spaces. The problem investigated is the routing of deliveries to households within an urban environment; the most common instance of this problem is that of daily postal deliveries. A representation known as Street Based Routing (SBR) is presented. This is a problem representation that makes use of the real world groupings of streets and houses. This representation is an indirect problem representation designed specifically for use with EAs. The SBR representation is incorporated within an EA and used to construct delivery routes around a variety of problem instances. The EA based system is compared against a Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) solver, and the results are presented. The EA based system produces routes that are on average slightly longer than those produced by the TSP solver. Real world problems may often involve the construction of a network of delivery routes that are subject to multiple hard and soft constraints. A Multi Agent System (MAS) based framework for building delivery networks is presented that makes use of the SBR based EA presented earlier. Each agent within the system uses an EA to construct a single route. Agents may exchange work (via auctions or by directly negotiated exchanges) allowing the optimisation of their route. It is demonstrated that this approach has much potential and is capable of constructing delivery networks meeting set constraints, over a range of problem instances and constraint values.

This thesis is concerned with predicting the costs of maintaining a computer program prior to the software being developed. The ubiquitous nature of software means that software maintenance is an important activity, and evidence exists to support the contention that it is the largest and most costly area of endeavour within the software domain. Given the levels of expenditure associated with software maintenance, an ability to quantify future costs and address the determinants of these costs can assist in the planning and allocation of resources. Despite the importance of this field only a limited understanding of the factors that determine future maintenance costs exists, and maintenance estimation is more frequently applied to existing software. A hypothesis has been postulated that suggests the inherent maintainability of the software, the scale of the activity and the degree of change that pertains will determine future software maintenance costs. The variables that contribute to the maintainability of the software have been explored through a survey of past projects, which was undertaken using a questionnaire. This was designed with assistance from three separate teams of professional software engineers. The questionnaire requires 69 numerical or ordinal responses to a series of questions pertaining to characteristics including program structure, computer architecture, software development methodology, project management processes and maintenance outcomes. Factor analysis methods were applied and five of the most powerful predictors are identified. A linear model capable of predicting maintainability has been developed. Validation was undertaken through a series of follow-up interviews with several survey respondents, and by further statistical analysis utilising hold-out samples and structural equation modelling. The model was subsequently used to develop predictive tools intended to provide management support by both providing a categorical assessment of future maintainability, and a quantitative estimate of probable maintenance costs. The distinction between essential corrective maintenance, and other elective forms of maintenance is considered. Conclusions are drawn regarding the efficacy and limitations of tools that can be developedt o supportm anagemendt ecisionm aking. Subjectt o further work with a largers ampleo f projects,p referablyf rom within a singleo rganisationi,t is concluded i that useful tools could be developed to make both categorical ('acceptable' versus 'not acceptable') and static (initial) quantitative predictions. The latter is dependent on the availability of a software development estimate. Some useful predictive methods have also been applied to dynamic (continuing) quantitative prediction in circumstances where a trend develops in successive forecasts. Recommendationfosr furtherw ork arep rovided.T hesei nclude: U Factor analysis and linear regression has been applied to a sample of past software projects from a variety of application areas to identify important input variables for use in a maintainability prediction model. Maintainability is regarded as an important determinant of maintenance resource requirements. The performance of these variables within a single organisation should be confirmed by undertaking a further factor analysis and linear regression on projects from within the target organisation. u The robustness of model design within this target organisation should be considered by applying a sensitivity analysis to the input variables. u This single organisation maintainability predictor model design should be validated by confirmatory interviews with specialists and users from within the target organisation. u Aggregate scale has been identified as another predictor of overall maintenance resource requirements, and the relationship between development and maintenance effort explored for the general case. It is desirable that development and corrective maintenance scale relationships should be explored within a single organisation. Within this environment the association between standardised effort and maintainability should be confirmed, and the value of the logistic model as a descriptor of the relationship verified. u The approacht o quantifying non-correctivem aintenanceth at has been outlined requiresf iirther developmentT. he relationshipb etweena nnualc hanget raffic and maintenancec ostss houldb e modelled,a ssuminga prior knowledgeo f the scale and maintainability determinants. uA sensitivity analysis should be applied to the predictive system that has been developed, recognising the potential for error in the values of the input variables that may pertain. uA goal of this further research should be the development of a suite of soft tools, designed to enable the user to develop a software maintenance estimation system.

The non-registered assistant workforce in the National Health Service Scotland (NHSS) has recently been afforded increased attention due, in part, to forecast changes in demographics and the NHSS workforce and reorganisation in delivery of healthcare. Government health papers pursue the strategic aims of developing the workforce to meet the changing needs of the Health Service. This thesis reports on research into workplace learning in the NHSS. It examines the NHSS in relation to the concepts of ‘The Learning Organisation', ‘Expansive/Restrictive Learning Environments' and the learning initiative of the Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) route, adopted by the NHSS for its nonregistered clinical employees. Participants in the research included non-registered clinical assistants to registered nurses and allied health professionals and learning facilitators and managers. A critical realist methodology was adopted and through an embedded case study, data collection methods included one-to-one semistructured interviews and secondary data from the NHS staff survey. This produced a rich source of data for analysis around the perceptions of the participants. Findings show that the NHSS has introduced the concept of a learning organisation to its strategic plans with no real rigour. Some elements of an expansive learning environment exist but these are evident in only some clinical areas. This means that for the assistant workforce, personal development and learning opportunities are dependent on the place of work and the profession they are employed by. The SVQ is embraced by those who are given the opportunity to undertake this initiative but disparities exist throughout the NHSS. Furthermore, the SVQ is perceived as validation of existing knowledge only that does not provide any new learning. This further curtails development opportunities for the assistant group of staff. This thesis has provided the NHSS with a basis to reconsider their strategic direction around learning and development opportunities at work for their nonregistered clinical staff.

Mergers are a fact of life in the private sector and are increasingly becoming a factor in the public sector. Organisations seek to merge in order to survive or grow by accruing benefits of scale, better or cheaper access to resources or by overcoming barriers to entry into existing or new markets. Financial shocks can play a part in increasing merger activity (Andrade et al., 2001; Harford, 2004) and the tertiary education sector in Scotland has witnessed a number of mergers in the last two decades, the most recent of which have been at least in part driven by the need to reduce public expenditure. This study considered the guidance afforded to tertiary education institutions in Scotland and highlighted the paucity of support offered in the important area of bringing human resources (of potentially disparate organisations) together in a merger situation. The cultures of organisations were a primary focus, since they are the embodiment of the assumptions, values and behaviours which form the ‘soul' of an organisation. The study acknowledged the prevalence of financial and legal due diligence in the pre-merger phase, arguing that there should also be an explicit consideration of 'cultural due diligence' (CDD). An exploratory case study method was used to examine whether cultural aspects were investigated in a particular merger involving two Scottish colleges. A number of respondents, drawn from the governance, executive, management and supervisory strata were interviewed in order to ascertain the level to which cultural issues had been addressed at the pre- and post-merger stages. The research identified some activity pertaining to culture identification in the pre-merger stage but found little evidence that values and behaviours had been a specific focus, thereby suggesting that detailed cultural issues were not a priority at that stage in the process. The post-merger phase was characterised by a breakdown in interaction between the college executive and the remainder of the organisation precisely at a time where increased leadership and communications and the rebuilding of trust were called for. Based on the research findings, CDD is explicitly defined and a set of principles to guide the conduct of a CDD exercise are offered as a contribution to existing practice. Enhancements to the existing merger guidance are made relating to CDD, continuous monitoring of progress towards a new culture by both governors and the executive and the selection and profile of leaders in a merger. Finally, a number of suggestions for future research are made in support of the premise that organisational culture and CDD in particular are important elements of any merger.

The United Kingdom Higher Education sector is undergoing a prolonged period of turbulence in its external environments. This is causing universities to seek to develop entrepreneurial activities to support the diversification of their traditional income streams, whilst also widening their societal and economic contribution at the Government's request. The researcher has worked within this field for twenty years and has witnessed perceived tensions and barriers that have emerged as university organizational cultures have been required to adapt to meet these new challenges. The purpose of this research is to explore perceptions of entrepreneurship and organizational culture within this context. The research has been undertaken using a social constructionist ontology and interpretivist epistemology, utilizing two complementary qualitative research methods to draw out an understanding of the key issues perceived by twelve participants within a single study organization. Thematic analysis has been utilized to explore the research data drawn from the semi-structured interviews and participant diagrams. The research has identified five key themes that are perceived by participants to be antecedents for entrepreneurship: time; resources; support; leadership & management; and a supportive culture. Analysis has further suggested that some antecedents to entrepreneurship are themselves precursors for others, with a matrix developed herein to outline these interactions. Participants have highlighted that all of the perceived antecedents to entrepreneurship may be considered to be elements of organizational culture, with a belief expressed that these may be amended over time to become more supportive of entrepreneurship. It has further been reported that a university has many, not a single, organizational culture with local cultures being perceived to be generally more supportive than those associated with larger organizational units. In light of this research and its findings, contributions are made to knowledge and practice, with specific recommendations also made to the study organization around these issues.

In practice, construction firms are in business to achieve profitability. Construction companies operate in a highly competitive business environment characterised by low profit margins and high failure rates. At times firms will seek to grow in an attempt to increase profitability. At other times, firms will be concerned with survival and avoiding failure. Often firms plagued by poor performance seek to take higher risks. This may lead especially where resources exist to increased diversification. Against this background, the research focuses on the twin areas of corporate financial performance and the effects of merger activity. Prior studies in economics and accounting provide evidence that financial statement analysis can be utilised by possible investors or strategic planners to aid in the future plans and direction of the firm or to classify economic events such as mergers or failures. The present study examines the financial performance of the UK construction industry and the Global construction industry, and investigates the financial characteristics of merging construction companies. This research examines the financial performance of UK firms in different sectors of the construction industry. This analysis involves the use of descriptive statistics, which provides a valuable aid in the visual presentation of the range of the possible outcomes. In addition a probabilistic analysis of the distribution of profitability has been undertaken. This involves the use of inferential statistics which concentrates on the role of significance testing. The profitability performance of the plant hire sector was found to exceed that of contracting and materials sector. An examination of the impact of the national environment on international competitive performance and an assessment and comparison of the performance of global construction is also provided in the study. The research also investigates the financial profile of UX failed and solvent firms. The use of statistical models and accounting ratios in an effort to predict company failure for up to five years is examined. The results for the univariate analysis indicate that failing construction firms during the 1996-2001 period have low profitability and are highly geared. The testing of previous statistical failure prediction models provide little evidence of compatibility to the construction industry. The analysis on mergers and acquisition investigates the performance of construction companies involved in the acquisition process and examines the motives behind the merger process. Analysis of the relation between measures of costs and firm size in over 100 UK construction companies indicates the usefulness of scale economies. However, the evidence suggests that beyond a certain size the cost benefits appear to become exhausted. Large companies have to re-examine scale to ensure that they are employing it to their company's greater advantage. Abnormal share returns are also examined throughout a period surrounding the announcement of both successful and unsuccessful acquisition and merger bids. The overall results indicate that mergers in the construction industry create wealth for shareholders. The evidence shows significant increases in the performance of the target firms' shareholders over a 40 day event window surrounding the announcement. The results also show that bidding firms' experience no significant abnormal returns in a short period surrounding the announcement date.

There is no doubt that in recent years Corporate Environmental Disclosure (CED) by corporations has received much attention among accounting academic researchers. However, reviewing previous studies has identified the following existing gaps which have given an impetus for this study and need to be bridged namely: (1) the need for a new approach of analysis namely, a three-dimensional analysis that includes the intra-country (external) factors, inter-organisational (internal) factors and content analysis; (2) the requirement for investigating other available means of CED such as internal reports and stand alone environmental reports; and (3) the call for examining CED practice in Libya where there was no previous attention given to this country. This study aims to examine the various aspects of CED in Libya with a view to testing the applicability of Environmental Determinism Theory. It did this initially by providing the first detailed and longitudinal description of the extent of practices of CED which were made by the all the largest industrial companies quoted on the Libyan Industrial Production Administration for the years 1998-2001. It then endeavoured to explain and understand this evidence of CED practice (or non-practice) by utilising (1) the perspectives of a sample of corporate managers of such companies regarding the nature of corporate environmental responsibility and CED; and (2) the political, economic and social contexts in which the CED is being made. To achieve this, three methods (triangulation approach) were utilised in this study, namely, content analysis, questionnaire and historiography. The results of content analysis showed that CED has yet to develop in Libya. There is no evidence of environmental disclosure either in terms of its quantity or quality, especially if the health and safety category is excluded. Libyan companies provide some statements in their annual reports, and, in some cases, other external reports (specific forms) or internal reports related to only one category of CED namely health and safety information. Apart from health and safety disclosed, the companies studied have disclosed no other environmental information. They still have a long way to go in order to reach the level reached by their counterparts in developed countries. An interesting point was that Libyan companies, by contrast with their counterparts even in developing countries, have given more attention to negative news. The perceptions of managers were investigated by using a questionnaire survey. Fifty three questionnaires were used with a rate of response of 62%. The results suggest that the vast majority of them accept that Libyan companies should recognise their environmental responsibility and provide environmental disclosure to the central authorities. However, most managers felt that a scarcity of legal and professional standards and guidelines, along with their lack of expertise, qualification and training in the field of CED have prevented them from engaging in CED. Therefore CED has not been put in the agenda of many Libyan companies. The analysis of the environmental influence on CED practice in Libya indicates that the social context including religion seems to be having to some extent an influence upon CED practice in Libya. However, the country's unique political and economic contexts along with the managers' attitudes and qualifications were the fundamental CED disclosure determinants. Therefore, this study has concluded that CED practices in Libya are shaped not only by one single factor but by the external and internal factors. The impact of the political, economic and social (external) factors reflects the indirect influence on the disclosure environment. Whereas, the internal factors (perception and cognition) reflect the direct impact of those involved in the disclosure process, namely the managers, as they are the ones who decide what information to be disclosed.

Performance measurement has the main aim of helping organizations to realize how decision-making processes can be harnessed to improve success rate in past activities and how the understanding from the current and past can lead to future improvements. Specifically, a comprehensive performance measurement practise must enhance the achievement of the key aim of the project stakeholders, the objectives of the project itself, and the needs of the users all of which should be capable of being represented in raw data to be manipulated and measured by a performance measurement tool. The performance of a project is directly related to its potential for success, and on the other hand, the CSFs of a project have a direct bearing on the project's performance. In essence, the efficiency and effectiveness measures of a project are essential yardsticks for assessing project performance and success. The stakeholders in a project have needs and expectations which the project is being conceived to satisfy, therefore, these needs and expectations must be held paramount during the conceptual design, development execution, and operation stages of a project. This is applicable to the general construction industry and in particular, in construction projects implemented by municipal organisations. However, municipal construction project have been fraught with delays, cost overruns and failure in operational performance. Hence, the overall aim of this research is to develop a framework within which municipal construction project performance can be measured in the SA at any stage of the project, and specifically to increase its effectiveness and efficiency of the project in order to improve the project's performance to the satisfaction of stakeholders. This study was implemented through the administration of a questionnaire survey based on a hypothesis that requires the identification of the challenges and obstacles that are facing the implementation of municipal construction project in SA. The collected data is based on responses from three major organisations; government, contractors and consultants that are involved in the delivery of municipal construction projects in SA. Mean and analysis of variance (ANOVA statistic) was used to manipulate the data from the questionnaire within the SPSS v.20 software environment. The resulting framework was subjected to a validation procedure which involved a structured interview process based on a focus group consisting of experts that were specially selected for the purpose establishing the extent to which the framework is practical, clear, applicable and comprehensive. Also, the focus group was used to determine the significance of the CSFs, PMs, and success (efficiency and effectiveness) measures. Overall, this study found that a total absence of performance measurement concept process permeates the management of construction projects in SA and in the municipality construction projects in particular. To close this gap, this study was embarked upon to investigate and identify the various performance measurement approaches and frameworks that are used to support the guidance of project performance toward success. Notably, this study emphasises the importance of stakeholder needs and expectation forming the bases of municipality construction projects in SA. Specifically, this study suggests that the measurement of project performance in municipality construction projects in SA should be integrated in a holistic framework containing several elements that will help to guide construction projects toward success.