This thesis is based on an industry project with Teekay Shipping Co ., which is an international transportation service provider for oil companies, refiners and traders. Teekay is interested in knowing which factors contribute most to its operating incidents and accidents. Based on available data, namely vessel name, team, type, hull, and age, as well as incident and accident records, we quantified in this thesis the effects of these factors on the incident and accident frequency. The thesis presented the technical details of the Poisson regression analysis, which we used for quantifying the risk factors. Teekay is also interested in having a consistent method to present Teekay's overall risk picture, and to indicate best investment areas for its risk reducing purpose. Teekay has already implemented an Online Root Cause Analyses (ORCA) system, which collects the direct cause and root cause soon after an incident happens. We reviewed the ORCA system and made suggestions about certain parts of the system which were subsequently revised. Furthermore, we designed a bubble chart tool to present the overall risk faced by Teekay. The bubble chart tool has the capacity to indicate best investment areas clearly, and it is consistent over time, thereby enabling Teekay to evaluate easily the risk mitigation effect of its earlier investment in risk management. Finally, we designed a continuous monitoring tool, which allows Teekay managers to interactively explore the relationships among near misses, incidents and accidents, and to compare event frequencies of various vessel groups, such as vessel team, age, type and hull structure. The powerful continuous monitoring tool provides Teekay managers a full- range view of the risks the company faces. The design and the sample usage of this continuous monitoring tool are discussed in this thesis.

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The primary aim of the research study was to analyse the implementation of the Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme within the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. The Zibambele Programme is one of South African government attempts to respond to social problems of poverty and unemployment. The Zibambele Programme identifies with the principles of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The research study identifies and discusses the obstacles to and challenges of the implementation of the Zibambele Road Maintenance Programme. Programme monitoring or process evaluation is used as an analytical framework of the study. The study employs Rossi and Freemans (1989) approach by examining the admission of the contractors into the programme, their progression and exit strategies. In order to best accomplish the objectives of the study and to provide an informed and critical analysis on the implementation of the Zibambele Programme, the study used both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies i.e. triangulation. For the quantitative method data was collected using in depth interview questions (i.e. face-to-face interviews) with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport officials. The officials that were interviewed fall under the development directorate within the Department and they are directly responsible for the implementation of the Zibambele Programme. Four officials participated in the interviews and purposive sampling was used. For the quantitative method, the survey data collection method was employed to collect data from the Zibambele contractors. The contractors were randomly collected from the Pietermaritzburg and Empangeni regions. The results of the interviews were not generalised to all Zibambele contractors. However, the findings collected were useful as far as the implementation process of the Zibambele Programme is concerned. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data and descriptive statistics using the SPSS programme was used to analyse the quantitative data. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

In researching Capital Budgeting, special emphasis is employed to the Decision Making proposal presented by Maintenance Management. This study attempts to reveal the Capital Budgeting Techniques used by Toyota South Africa's Maintenance Departments. It interrogates if these techniques are correctly administered, and whether or not an appropriate decision is made. An indepth study of Capital Budgeting theory is done where among others, the following topics are discussed: The Capital Budgeting Process; The Techniques used in Capital Budgeting; Types of Projects; Funding and Risk. The detail of the theory is intended to be as an educator to those oblivious to the standards set out by scholars on these relevant topics. A questionnaire type survey was conducted, where the respondents answered pertinent questions, that adds value to this study. The unique feature of this study is that the sample size of thirty-five, is equivalent to the population of respondents within the company. A holistic picture of only the relevant information is gathered and interpreted, where both graphical and tabular representation is used to explain the findings. What is evident from the survey is that there is a lack of knowledge in the Maintenance Departments with regards to the usage of Capital Budgeting Techniques. The results prove that much guesswork goes into the proposal, as Gut-Feel and Discretion are key components of the decision. This anomaly is due to the finding that the Maintenance Management has not received relevant type training for this facet of their jobs. The recommendation to Management is that training and education be made available to these relevant people. Furthermore, it is proposed that the human resource department maps out the future career path opportunity and expectations that the employer has from the employee. In doing this type of succession planning, the company is assured of the best quality management at all times. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

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United States Lighthouses are being decommissioned by the United States Coast Guard because they are no longer needed as navigational aids. Government agencies and non-profit groups untrained in preservation are assuming control of these aids. These groups need assistance to adequately maintain the lighthouse and prevent major deterioration problems. About 300 managers of lighthouses were contacted for information on how they maintain their lighthouse, including information on shoreline erosion. About 120 replies were received containing maintenance and restoration information, drawings and photographs. The lighthouse system was divided into six geographic regions with similar climatic conditions for closer examination. The replies from the lighthouses regarding common deterioration problems in the construction materials and environmental conditions were used to develop general maintenance guidelines for each geographic region. Lighthouse managers can use these maintenance guidelines to assist them in preserving their lighthouse.Shoreline erosion was examined closely because of its destructive capability. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina was used as a Case Study in combatting erosion. / Department of Architecture

The major purpose of the study was directed toward improvement of administration of public school custodial programs. The study was designed to: (1) provide Indiana custodial administrators with an overview of perceptions of Indiana custodial administrators generally regarding use and soundness of selected custodial management practices; (2) provide information that would be beneficial in developing or revising custodial program policies and administrative procedures; (3) provide information about custodial management practices employed in school corporations of comparable size; (4) provide information concerning the impact of employee union affiliation on the use and soundness of custodial management practices; and (5) provide institutions which prepare administrative personnel with information regarding current custodial management practices.The literature was reviewed concerning the management functions of planning, organizing, controlling, coordinating, directing, staffing, and evaluating. Literature was also reviewed concerning custodial management practices and then integrated under appropriate management functions. A list of selected custodial management practices was developed, validated, modified, and finally placed in questionnaire format.The questionnaire was distributed to sixty-selected Indiana school corporations categorized as large, medium, and small. Respondents reported use, non-use, or questioned use to each of eighty-five practices. Secondly, respondents reported each practice to be sound, unsound, or of questioned soundness. Thirdly, respondents reported reasons for non-use of practices judged to be sound but not used.Major conclusions drawn from the study included:1. Broad usage of custodial management practices described in the questionnaire was observed.2. Over 75 per cent of the selected custodial management practices were judged to be sound by school administrators.3. There was a strong relationship between size of school districts and the degree to which custodial management practices were used.4. There was a strong relationship between size of school districts and the degree to which custodial management practices were judged to be sound.5. Large school districts used more selected practices and judged more practices to be sound than medium and small school districts.6. Lack of time to implement practices was the reason reported most often for practices not used but judged to be sound.7. There was a significant relationship between union affiliation and use and soundness of selected custodial management practices.Several implications were suggested:1. Careful assignment of time priorities can improve the managerial process related to custodial programs.2. Small and medium school districts might improve custodial programs by adopting practices used by large school districts.3. Efficiency of custodial programs might be increased by utilizing cost control measures.4. Institutions that prepare administrators might improve long-range administration of custodial programs by devoting instructional efforts to management theory, organizational behavior, and business management functions.Several recommendations were made:1. Appropriate state agencies should provide leadership in procuring and disseminating information concerning the need for providing efficiency in operation of custodial programs.2. Appropriate state agencies should provide leadership in developing methods, techniques, and procedures to facilitate the improvement of custodialprograms.3. College and university professors of educational administration should provide leadership in designing programs aimed at preparing administrators who can dealeffectively and efficiently with management of custodial programs.4. The inquiry instrument should be refined and improved for use in further research at local, state, and national levels to enhance the improvement of the administration of custodial programs in educational institutions.