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Fossil fuel–intensive companies are coming under increasing pressure to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The political environment surrounding climate change and the evolution of the carbon market are complex and in a fluid state of play. Uncertainty exists with respect to government policy, greenhouse (GH) accounting standards, interaction with stakeholders and the capacity to ‘commoditise’ carbon emissions, making it difficult for companies to determine exactly how to build their internal capacity to deal with a shifting external situation. In Australia and the United States in particular, companies are receiving mixed messages from government about the necessity of reducing GHGs and the role of emissions trading. While market-based approaches to GHG reduction are being promoted, the governments of both countries have refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and failed to establish domestic emissions trading schemes. Finally, few companies have substantial experience in managing GHGs or in market-based approaches to GHG abatement, such as emissions trading. This research aims to provide guidance for industry capacity building with respect to market-based approaches to GHG reduction, recognising that generally this would require significant organisational learning and change to corporate systems. The proposed Framework facilitates organisational learning that goes beyond the detection and correction of errors to questioning and modifying existing norms and procedures and, further, to reflecting on past experience and creating new strategies. The research included participants as integral to the study, giving their ‘emic’ (insider) viewpoints centrality while allowing ‘etic’ (outsider / researcher) interpretation. Within the organisational learning literature, the approach that best describes this research is that of Action Research and Appreciative Inquiry. The principles of environmental management, cleaner production, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development inform the research. Surveys, focus groups and a literature review are employed as the data collection methods, which are compared and contrasted. The data suggest that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to industry capacity building with respect to market-based approaches to GHG reduction is not optimal or possible. This is due to the differing strategic objectives, varying assessment of risk and disparate circumstances and starting points of the companies involved. Thus, rather than a prescriptive model, this research has identified and prioritised the key themes and issues that currently influence corporate capacity building. Precursors to action have been specified and a ‘menu’ of choices provided. Lastly, a step-by-step Framework has been proposed to build companies’ capacity to participate in GHG emissions trading. It was also observed that the majority of the key themes and issues that influence companies and the preparatory actions they need to take are the same, whether a market-based system or a command-and-control system of GHG reduction is introduced. The thesis includes some suggestions for further research in the application and evaluation of this approach with companies in the field.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

The building of a democratic developmental state has dominated discourse in South Africa recently, resulting in the establishment of the National Planning Commission that has adopted the National Development Plan 2030 as a blueprint for the country’s development plans. Acknowledging the strategic role that the state is set to play in building and enhancing the institutional and technical human capacity, this expectation has been compounded by challenges such as a lack of appropriate institutional capital, a human capital that lacks capacity, and relevant technical skills. These challenges have brought the discourse on the developmental role of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to primacy. During Apartheid, the SOEs were utilised as tools that drove the country’s industrialization efforts. In South Africa, SOEs also stimulated economic activity in strategic sectors such as energy generation, synthetic fuel development, rail and road development and management. Fortunately, the political economy that guided the SOEs during Apartheid was developmental. The 21st Century developmental states such as South Africa have to contend with the reality that this century has ushered in a new frontier of opportunities and challenges. In this context, the SOEs should be viewed as fundamental pillars for the achievement of the national development agenda. A developmental state without the active participation of SOEs in innovation, research and development, building of institutional and technical capacity, building of economic infrastructure, it is bound not to succeed in its plans for national development. The 21st Century has ushered in a world anchored around information and communication and technological innovations, the SOEs should be at the cutting edge of technological innovation benefitting the country through its capacity building efforts. Consistent with the National Development Plan, a highly competent human capital ought to be developed over time. At the centre of National Development Plan 2030, should be the collaboration between educational institutions from the basic level to tertiary institutions with SOEs – this will sustain the country’s development plans in the long run.

No description available.

Daily production data were obtained from 22 independent contractors. The collected information included the contractors' estimates of their maximum production capacity and the actual production achieved. Explanations were requested to explain any difference between actual and achieved production. Most frequent causes of lost production were: 1) adverse weather, 2) quotas,3) moving. Other reasons for delays included mechanical problems, and labor problems. Median capacity utilization for the study period was 70%. The region of operation had a significant influence on capacity utilization: Contractors from the Piedmont had the highest capacity utilization (median of 81%), Coastal Plain (70%), and southern Appalachian (63%). Rain had the most impact on contractors. Above average rainfall occurred over much of the region during the study period. Stricter environmental regulations are suspected to have increased the impact of rain on harvesting operations. Production quotas affected a number of loggers during the study, especially in the southern Appalachians. Capacity losses accounted for six to nineteen percent for these contractors. Overall, weather proved much more significant than quota. A model was developed to estimate the cumulative cost of extra capacity in relation to the risk of wood outage at the consuming mill. The model could serve as a starting point for a better understanding of stump to mill wood flow. Quality control statistical methods were adapted to analyze logging operations systems. Run charts, control charts, and cusum charts were used to measure variability in systems' production. Variation in production levels appear to be increasing with increased regulation. Elasticity has become essential for contractors to maintain profitability. High production during the relatively short periods of good weather and no quotas generated the margin necessary to sustain the contractors during periods of little or no production. Findings suggested that long term production record should be maintained for a selected group of contractors. Better knowledge on the southern wood supply system sustain ability and adaptability could be developed for use in operation and inventory management planning. An increased knowledge and a broader use of quality management tools should be considered in wood procurement. / Master of Science

Thesis (Ph.D)--Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Co-Chair: John H. Vande Vate; Committee Co-Chair: Shi-Jie Deng; Committee Member: Anton J. Kleywegt; Committee Member: Hayriye Ayhan; Committee Member: Mark E. Ferguson. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

The construction industry is an important role player in any country. Past research has shown that the industry suffers from a poor image which, inter alia, resulted in a lack of new entrants. A quarterly survey conducted by the Construction Industry Development board (CIDB) showed that over 50% of survey respondents recorded a severe shortage in skilled labour. The objective of this study was to determine how young people viewed the construction industry, how employers and employees within the industry viewed construction, whether companies were involved in promoting the industry, and if the industry was attractive as a career choice to high school students. The literature reviewed stated that the construction industry was globally suffering from a poor image and critical shortage of skills. The literature provided the researcher with a number of factors which contributed to the industry’s poor image. These factors were empirically tested against the opinions of high school students and employers and employees in construction via questionnaires. Interviews were conducted with industry professionals who had over 20 years of industry experience. The interviews allowed insight into the image and what has made it poor. It also indicated that there was little being done to promote careers in the industry. The industry did have a poor image from the perceptions of high school students, employers and employees. Very few students indicated a willingness to work in construction. The lack of new entrants, shortage of skilled labour and lack of promotion were not conducive to a sustainable industry. The dissertation ends with recommendations for addressing the issue of the image from the perspective of high school students and recommendations for further research. / Thesis (M.Sc.Const.Man)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-128).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.