L’objectif de la présente thèse est d’identifier les pratiques relevant de la gestion fiscale au sein des groupes de sociétés en Tunisie afin d’évaluer l’impact de ces pratiques sur la performance fiscale de ces acteurs majeurs de l’économie Tunisienne. Pour ce faire, le premier chapitre est consacré à la définition de la notion de groupe de sociétés en Tunisie en mettant en exergue leur poids économique et en soulignant leur réalité juridique. Le deuxième chapitre est axé sur l’identification des différentes pratiques de gestion fiscale, auxquelles ont recours ces groupes à travers une analyse de la jurisprudence fiscale représentée par 17 arrêts rendus en cassation de 2005 à 2011. Un questionnaire réalisé auprès de responsables des sociétés mères cotées à la BVMT est également mobilisé au cours de ce chapitre afin de sonder les raisons de la non application du régime d’intégration fiscale pourtant sensé être un outil efficace d’optimisation fiscale. Le troisième chapitre introduit la théorie des coûts de transaction qui semble adéquate pour déceler la relation entre pratiques de gestion fiscale et performance fiscale. Cette relation est développée au prisme de trois hypothèses de recherche qui pronostiquent le type de corrélation entre le nombre de transactions intra-groupe, le volume de la dette intra-groupe et le dégrèvement financier d’un coté et le taux d’imposition effectif de l’autre (respectivement H1, H2 et H3). Ces hypothèses sont vérifiées dans un quatrième et dernier chapitre à travers une analyse statistique multi variée menée sur des données financières d’un échantillon de 36 groupes de sociétés (21 non financiers et 15 groupes de sociétés financiers), dont la société mère est cotée à la BVMT sur une période allant de 2007 et 2011. Ainsi, cette analyse statistique a permis de valider deux des trois hypothèses de recherche (H1 et H3) dans la totalité de l’échantillon et dans le secteur financier et une seule hypothèse dans le secteur non financier (H3). Il s’avère alors que les groupes de sociétés tunisiens opèrent essentiellement par deux pratiques afin de diminuer leur taux d’imposition effectif : les techniques de dégrèvement de bénéfice et les transactions internes au groupe (cette technique n’a été vérifiée que pour le secteur financier). / The purpose of this thesis is to identify practices of fiscal management within corporate groups in Tunisia to assess the impact of these practices on fiscal performance of these major players in the Tunisian economy. Thus, the first chapter is devoted to the definition of the concept of group of companies in Tunisia highlighting their economic weight and emphasizing their legal reality. The second chapter focuses on the identification of different fiscal management practices that use these groups through an analysis of fiscal jurisprudence represented by 17 judgments of the Court of Cassation from 2005 to 2011. A survey conducted among managers of parent companies listed on the TSE is also mobilized during this chapter to sound the reasons for the non-application of the tax consolidation regime however supposed to be an effective tax planning tool. The third chapter introduces the theory of transaction costs that seems adequate to detect the relationship between fiscal management practices and fiscal performance. This relationship is developed through three research hypotheses that are forecasting the type of correlation between intra-group transactions, intra-group debt and financial relief on one side, and the effective tax rate on the other (respectively H1, H2 et H3). These hypotheses are tested in a fourth and last chapter through a multivariate statistical analysis conducted on financial data from a sample of 36 groups of companies (21 non-financial groups and 15 financial companies), whose parent company is listed on the TSE over a period from 2007 to 2011. So this statistical analysis led to confirm two of the three research hypotheses (H1 and H3) in the whole sample and in the financial sector and a single hypothesis in the non-financial sector (H3). It was then found that Tunisian groups of companies operate mainly through two practices to reduce their effective tax rate: financial relief and intra-group transactions practices (this last practice has been verified only in the financial sector).

M.Phil (Sport Management) / Physical Education and sport has a natural place in education whether the approach is formal or informal. Providing learners with the opportunity to play sport at school and to participate in Physical Education ensure that they receive education that addresses the body, mind and spirit. Participation in sport and physical activities in the education environment involves, next to enjoyment, a range of risks. Unfortunately, incidents of injuries and accidents that could have been prevented do occur. These may lead to allegations ofnegligence on the part of a coach, official or even a spectator. It is an educator's duty to ensure that in all matters pertaining to children, including participation in sport and physical activities, the principle of acting in the best interests of the child must take precedence. Proper safety practices and procedures should be implemented by the educator and the school in order to prevent injuries. Risk management is one of the methods by which sport educators can provide the safest possible environment for their participants. This is necessary not only to comply with legal requirements but also to demonstrate sound educational principles that support learnercentered education. This study sought to identify the key problems surrounding the safety of learners engaged in physical activities in the context of sport, Physical Education and recreation in South African independent schools. It analyzed the .qualifications and experience of sport and Physical Education teachers as well as educators' knowledge of risk management practices. An assessment was made about the extent to which risk management procedures were implemented in various schools in order to prevent injuries from occurring.. The study was conducted from a positivistic paradigm and the design comprised a survey. The primary data was gathered by the use of a questionnaire. Secondary data was obtained using literature studies describing risk management, the law in sport and education as well as the management ofsport in schools. The study has established that in general, safety practices and procedures at independent schools in Gauteng are implemented in a prudent and responsible manner. In some schools and with some aspects improvements can still be made but the overall status appears professional and promising. It has been established that independent schools demonstrate good practice with regard to the aspects of insurance, safety measures, supervision of staff members and learners, instruction, equipment, facilities, policies and procedures...

Submitted by Ricardo Cedraz Duque Moliterno (ricardo.moliterno@uefs.br) on 2016-10-04T21:15:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 carolinactg.pdf: 1825671 bytes, checksum: 240fecd0c706da1635555c608ae4db08 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-04T21:15:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 carolinactg.pdf: 1825671 bytes, checksum: 240fecd0c706da1635555c608ae4db08 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-27 / Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia - FAPEB / Research on the practices of SUS management in Primary Care in the city of Alagoinhas-BA, whose aims were understand the sense and/or the meaning on the care management in Primary Heath Care, considering the participation of managers, health workers and users in Primary Care in the city of Alagoinhas ?BA; analyze the practice of the SUS management in Primary Care and discuss the competence and attribution of the municipal government (managers, health workers and householders), policies and 'new' models of health in Primary Care. Qualitative research, with family health units as investigation field. The participant subjects in the study were divided into four groups: Group I, managers; Group II, health workers; Group III, users; Group IV, key informants, in total 26 participants. We used systematic observation, semi-structured interviews and document analysis as data collection techniques. The method of data analysis was an approximation with Hermeneutics-dialectical, from which were drawn three categories of analysis: categorical-Practice of management in Primary Health Care: sense and meaning; category 2-A orchestra-'ideal' of rationality, hegemonic order and productive and category 3-social Control: in search of democracy. According to the survey results, the SUS management practices in Primary Care of Alagoinhas-BA municipality occur disjointed among user subjects, health workers and managers, characterized by the centralization of decision-making power of managers to the detriment of the interests of users and workers, reflecting the fragility of the citizenship exercise. Thus, social control, permanent education and health planning as a tool for sharing of power among subjects has only been theorized, reproducing one centralized management, since the senses and meanings for the management sometimes approach, sometimes depart from the practices of the involved participants. In the subject understanding, the management practices should be established in the user-centered model of health to provide the best service to users. However, these manager practices are still rooted in the hegemonic model, focused in normative planning. Regarding to the workers, there is a double understanding: the planning owns features of normative focus and a small part in the situational-local strategic focus. However, the workers practices have been developed in care model of Programmatic Actions, welcome and user participation in the work process. The social participation occurs in the county through the Municipal Health Council and community neighborhood Association. Faced with such reality, the practices of health management in the county of Alagoinhas are stuck to the model of a Taylorist management, although of starting hearing the echo of co-management in family health Units. / Estudo sobre as pr?ticas de gest?o do SUS na Aten??o B?sica no munic?pio de Alagoinhas-BA, cujos os objetivos foram Compreender o(s) sentido(s) e/ou significado(s) sobre a gest?o do cuidado na Aten??o B?sica de Sa?de, considerando-se a participa??o dos gestores, trabalhadores de sa?de e usu?rios da Aten??o B?sica no munic?pio de Alagoinhas-BA; analisar a pr?tica de gest?o do SUS na Aten??o B?sica e discutir a(s) compet?ncia(s) e a(s) atribui??o(?es) do governo municipal (gestores, trabalhadores de sa?de e mun?cipes) as pol?ticas e ?novos? modelos de sa?de na Aten??o B?sica. Pesquisa qualitativa, tendo como campo de investiga??o as unidades sa?de da fam?lia. Os sujeitos participantes do estudo foram divididos em quatro grupos: Grupo I, gestores; Grupo II, trabalhadores de sa?de; Grupo III, usu?rios; Grupo IV, informantes-chave, no total 26 participantes. Como t?cnicas de coleta dos dados utilizamos observa??o sistem?tica, entrevista semi-estruturada e an?lise de documentos. O m?todo de an?lise de dados foi uma aproxima??o com a Hermen?utica-dial?tica, a partir do qual foram elaboradas tr?s categorias de an?lise: categoria1-Pr?tica da Gest?o na Aten??o B?sica de Sa?de: sentidos e significados; categoria 2-A orquestra ?ideal? da racionalidade, ordem hegem?nica e produtiva e categoria 3-Controle social: em busca da democracia. De acordo com os resultados da pesquisa, as pr?ticas de gest?o do SUS na Aten??o B?sica do munic?pio de Alagoinhas-BA ocorrem desarticuladas entre os sujeitos usu?rios, trabalhadores de sa?de e gestores, caracterizada pela centraliza??o do poder de decis?o dos gestores em detrimento dos interesses dos usu?rios e trabalhadores, traduzindo a fragilidade do exerc?cio da cidadania. Desse modo, o controle social, a educa??o permanente e o planejamento em sa?de como instrumentos de partilhamento do poder entre sujeitos tem sido apenas teorizado, reproduzindo uma gest?o centralizada, j? que os sentidos e significados para gest?o ora aproximam, ora se afastam das pr?ticas dos sujeitos envolvidos. Na compreens?o dos sujeitos, as pr?ticas de gest?o devem ser baseadas no modelo de sa?de usu?rio-centrado para proporcionar o melhor atendimento aos usu?rios. No entanto, as pr?ticas dos gestores ainda continuam arraigadas no modelo hegem?nico, focado no planejamento normativo. Quanto aos trabalhadores h? um entendimento duplo: o planejamento possui caracter?sticas do enfoque normativo e uma pequena parte no enfoque estrat?gico situacional local. Contudo, as pr?ticas dos trabalhadores tem sido desenvolvidas no modelo de aten??o das A??es Program?ticas, acolhimento e participa??o dos usu?rios no processo de trabalho. A participa??o social ocorre no munic?pio atrav?s do Conselho Municipal de Sa?de e Associa??o comunit?ria de bairro. Diante de tal realidade, as pr?ticas de gest?o em sa?de no munic?pio de Alagoinhas encontram-se presas ao modelo de uma gest?o Taylorista, apesar de come?ar a ouvir o eco da co-gest?o nas Unidades de sa?de da fam?lia.

Orientation: Perceived Talent Management Practices, Perceived Organizational Support and Perceived Supervisor Support are distinct but related constructs, and all of them appear to influence an employee’s intention to quit an organization. Research Purpose – The objective of this study was to investigate Generation Y’s perception of an organization’s talent management practices and to determine how it relates to their intention to quit the organization. In essence, the study aims to establish possible relationships of four constructs: Perceived Talent Management Practices, Perceived Organizational Support (POS), Perceived Supervisor Support (PSS) and Intention to Quit. The mediating/moderating characteristics of POS and PSS on the relationship between Perceived Talent Management Practices and Intention to Quit are also investigated. Motivation for the study – Talent is the new tipping point in corporate success. It has the potential to be the origin of an organisation’s demise or the reason for its continuous success. A concept that exuberates this much potential for both disaster and prosperity validates some examination into its protection. Research design, approach and method – Four Instruments (HCI Assessment of Talent Practices (HCI), Survey of Perceived Organizational Support (SPOS), Survey of Perceived Supervisor Support and an Intention to Quit Scale) was administered to a convenience sample of 135 employees from a population of 450 employees working in three provinces in which the organization was operational. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and Multiple Regression analysis were used to investigate the structure of the integrated conceptual model on Perceived Talent Management Practices, POS, PSS and Intention to Quit. Main findings - The findings of this study indicates a strong practically significant positive correlation (r(df = 135; p < 0.001) = 0.724, large effect). between Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and Perceived Supervisor Support (PSS). A strong practically significant positive relationship (r(df = 135; p < 0.001) = 0.640, large effect) was found between Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and the employee’s perception of the organization’s Talent Practices. The study confirmed a strong practically significant negative relationship (r(df = 135; p < 0.001) =-0.569, large effect) between Perceived Organizational Support (POS) and the employee’s Intention to Quit. A medium practically significant negative relationship (r(df = 135; p < 0.001) = -0.436, medium effect) was established between Intention to Quit and Perceived Supervisor Support (PSS). This study determined a medium practically significant positive correlation (r(df = 135; p < 0.001) = 0.471, medium effect) between Perceived Supervisor Support (PSS) and the employee’s perception of the organization’s Talent Practices. The findings also establishes a medium practically significant negative relationship (r(df = 135; p < 0.001) = -0.477, medium effect) exists between employees’ perception of the organization’s Talent Practices and their intention to quit the organization. Multiple regression confirmed that neither POS nor PSS mediates/moderates the relationship between Perceived Talent Management Practices and Intention to Quit. Practical/Managerial Implications - Cappelli (2008) stated that paradigms only come undone when they ”encounter problems that they cannot address. But before the old paradigm is overthrown, there must be an alternative, one that describes new developments better than the old one does” (Cappelli, 2008). This study provides evidence that management can use paradigm shifts as a talent retention strategy where the creation of a high perception of talent management practices will result in a lower intent to leave the organization. Contribution: The findings of this study indicate a positive relationship between perceived talent management practices, POS and PSS. The study also established a positive relationship between POS and PSS. A negative relationship was confirmed between POS, PSS and Perceived Talent Management Practices in relation to Intention to Quit. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

Les fossés agricoles sont des lieux préférentiels d’écoulement des pesticides à l’échelle du bassin versant depuis les parcelles agricoles vers les masses d’eau avales de surface et souterraines. Du fait de leur capacité de rétention ils sont réputés pouvoir exercer un pouvoir tampon pour limiter la dispersion des pesticides dans l’environnement. Les opérations d’entretien des fossés sont identifiées comme un moyen d’améliorer ce pouvoir tampon. Cependant, la connaissance du pouvoir tampon des fossés en fonction de leurs caractéristiques et de leur entretien est très limitée. L’objectif de ce travail est ainsi de quantifier l’impact des principales pratiques d’entretien sur l’évolution du pouvoir tampon d’une gamme de fossés infiltrants.La démarche suivie repose sur i) une caractérisation expérimentale de l’effet des principales pratiques d’entretien sur l’évolution des propriétés des fossés, ii) une analyse de l’influence de ces propriétés sur deux processus clé modulant la rétention des herbicides : la sorption et l’infiltration, iii) une exploration numérique, conçue sur la base des expérimentations, de l’effet de chaque pratique sur l’évolution annuelle du pouvoir tampon des fossés. Le dispositif expérimental a combiné des observations in situ à l’échelle du fossé élémentaire sur 3 bassins versants et des expérimentations au laboratoire et a concerné l’étude du comportement de 3 herbicides, glyphosate, diuron et isoproturon.Les résultats de ce travail ont mis en évidence que les opérations de brûlis, fauche et désherbage chimique améliorent le pouvoir tampon des fossés par rapport à un fossé non-entretenu alors que le curage le détériore. Ils ont aussi permis d’améliorer notre connaissance des propriétés et de la variabilité des matériaux formant les fossés, de proposer un nouvel indicateur de la capacité de rétention des fossés et d’évaluer des approches de modélisation de la rétention des pesticides par un bief de fossé infiltrant. / By linking cropped fields to downstream groundwater and surface water bodies, farm ditches constitute preferential pathways for pesticide dispersal at the catchment scale. But thanks to their pesticide retention capacity ditches are known for buffering pesticide non-point source pollutions. Ditch management operations were identified as mean to improve ditch buffering capacities. However, little is known about how pesticide retention capacities of ditches vary as a function of ditch properties and management. Accordingly, the objective of this work is to quantify how pesticide retention capacity in a range of infiltrating ditches evolves subsequently to the main management operations.The methodology relies on i) an experimental characterization of the main management operation effects on the evolution of ditch properties, ii) an analysis of how these properties influence two key processes regulating herbicides retention: sorption and infiltration, iii) a numerical exploration, based on the previously mentioned experimentations, of each operation effects on the yearly evolution of pesticide retention capacity of ditches. The experimental design combined in situ observations at the reach scale on 3 catchments as well as laboratory experimentations and concerned the behavior of 3 herbicides, glyphosate, diuron and isoproturon.The results of this works highlighted the fact that burning, mowing and chemical weeding operations increase pesticide retention capacities of the ditches as compared to an unmanaged ditch while dredging deteriorates it. They also allowed us to improve our knowledge on ditch materials properties and variability, to propose a new indicator of ditch retention capacity and to evaluate different modelling approaches of pesticide retention by infiltrating ditches.

[ES] Los equipos de diseño de los proyectos de construcción están compuestos por diferentes interesados; esto podría dificultar las interacciones. Las metodologías BIM y Lean tienen un impacto positivo en los proyectos de construcción. Además, hay pruebas de la aplicación conjunta de BIM y Lean; sin embargo, se desconoce la relación empírica entre las prácticas Lean y los usos de BIM en la fase de diseño. Tampoco existe una comprensión más profunda de los fenómenos sociales que se generan entre los equipos de diseño cuando se aplican las metodologías de gestión BIM-Lean. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de esta investigación es entender el impacto de las prácticas de gestión de diseño Lean (LDM) y los usos BIM en la interacción de los equipos de diseño de los proyectos de construcción. El método de investigación tiene dos fases: 1) la creación de herramientas para evaluar el nivel de aplicación de las prácticas LDM y los usos BIM, y para comprender las interacciones en un equipo de diseño; y 2) el análisis de las relaciones entre BIM, Lean y la interacción, basado en información empírica de proyectos de construcción en fase de diseño. Los resultados presentan un instrumento de evaluación de usos del BIM y un cuestionario de prácticas de LDM para medir la gestión del diseño, y un método para comprender los diferentes tipos de interacción en un equipo de diseño. Basados en los datos de 64 proyectos, un análisis chi cuadrado reveló 33 relaciones empíricas entre los usos del BIM y las prácticas LDM; además, la aplicación de los usos del BIM implica una mayor aplicación de las prácticas LDM. El proyecto que aplica la gestión BIM-Lean logra numerosas interacciones en su equipo de diseño; flujos de información transparentes, ordenados y estandarizados; un entorno de colaboración, confianza y aprendizaje; y una gestión del compromiso. Todos estos elementos de interacción no son visibles en el proyecto, en el que no se aplicó la gestión BIM-lean. / [CAT] Els equips de diseny dels projectes de construcción están compostos per diferents interesats; açó podría dificultar les interaccions. Les metodologies BIM i Lean tenen un impacte positiu en els projectes de construcció. A més, ni hi ha proves de l'aplicació conjunta de BIM i Lean; no obstant, es desconeix la relació empírica entre practiques Lean i els usos de BIM en fase de diseny. Tampoc existix una comprensió mes profunda dels fenómens socials que es generen entre els equips de diseny quan s'apliquen les metodologies de gestió BIM-Lean. Per tant, l'objectiu d'esta investigació es entendre l'impacte de les practiques de gestió de diseny Lean (LDM) i els usos BIM en l'interacció dels equips de diseny dels projectes de construcción. El métode de investigació te dos fases: 1) la creació de ferramentes per a evaluar el nivell d'aplicació de les practiques LDM i els usos BIM, i per a comprendre les interaccions en un equip de diseny; i 2) l'análisis de les relacions entre BIM, Lean i la interacció, basades en informació empírica de projectes de construcció en fase de diseny. Els resultats presenten un instrument d'evaluació d'usos del BIM i un questionari de practiques de LDM per a mesurar la gestió del diseny, i un método per a comprendre els diferents tipos d'interacció en un equip de diseny. Basades en les dades de 64 projectes, un análisis chi cuadrado va revelar 33 relacions empíricas entre els usos del BIM i les práctiques LDM; a més, l¿aplicació dels usos del BIM implica una major aplicació de les práctiques LDM. El projecte que aplica la gestió BIM-Lean obté nombroses interaccions en el seu equip de diseny; fluxes d'informació transparents, ordenats i estandarizats; un entorn de colaboració, confiança i aprenentatge; i una gestió del compromis. Tots estos elements d'interacció no son visibles en el projecte, en el que no es va aplicar la gestió BIM-lean. / [EN] Design teams of construction projects are composed of different stakeholders; this fact could make the interactions difficult. BIM and Lean methodologies have a positive impact on construction projects. Besides, there is evidence of the combined implementation of BIM and Lean; however, it is not known the empirical relationship between Lean practices and BIM uses in the design phase. Also, there is not a deeper understanding of the social phenomena that are generated among design teams when BIM-Lean management methodologies are implemented. Therefore, the objective of this research is to understand the impact of Lean design management (LDM) practices, and BIM uses in the interaction of construction project design teams. The research method has two phases: (1) the creation of tools to assess the level of implementation of LDM practices and BIM uses and to understand the interactions in a design team; and (2) the relationship analyses between BIM, Lean, and interaction, based on empirical information from construction projects in the design phase. The results present a BIM uses assessment tool and an LDM practices questionnaire to measure the design management and a method to understand the different types of interaction in a design team. Based on data from 64 projects, a chi-square analysis revealed 33 empirical relationships between BIM uses and LDM practices; also, the application of BIM uses implies a greater application of LDM practices. The project that applies BIM-Lean management achieves many interactions among its design team; transparent, orderly, and standardized information flows; a collaborative, trust, and learning environment; and commitment management. All these interaction elements are not visible in the project, where BIM-lean management was not applied. / Herrera Valencia, RF. (2020). Impact of BIM/LEAN on the interaction of construction project design teams [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/158718 / TESIS

No description available.

<p>Land use change is a major cause of degradation to freshwater ecosystems. Excess nutrients and toxins, physical infrastructure, and habitat removal can lead to deleterious impacts on water quality, flooding, and biological integrity. The overarching inquiry of this dissertation was to assess how social and ecological dimensions of stormwater interact to influence stormwater and its management. A three-part study was conducted to investigate the ecological and social dynamics of aquatic ecosystems. In part one, I investigated the impacts of urbanization on stream metabolism— a fundamental ecological process. The proliferation of inexpensive water quality sensors has allowed researchers to investigate stream functional processes at a high temporal resolution. I used high-resolution dissolved oxygen data to estimate gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) across 12 urban creeks in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. I used descriptive statistics and regression models to investigate the influence of light, temperature, and hydrological disturbances on GPP and ER. The results demonstrate that urbanization shifts metabolic regimes towards highly productive summers with substantial declines in GPP following summer storm events. My research shows that ER is associated with water temperature and is resistant to hydrological disturbances. These findings have management implications because as summer heat and storms intensify with climate change, my work suggests that stream organisms will become more vulnerable to scour and hypoxia.</p><p> </p><p>In part two, I conducted a systematic literature review to identify salient social norms impacting water quality best management practice (BMP) adoption across urban and rural lands. Furthermore, I synthesized situational factors that mobilize and reproduce social norms associated with BMP adoption. The results demonstrate that social norms create expectations for conventional farming practices and manicured residential lawns, as well as a social responsibility for neighborly cohesion and environmental stewardship. Social norms supporting water quality BMPs were fostered during times of management uncertainty and in response to social sanctions and benefits. I found that social norms supporting water quality BMPs were more readily mobilized when supported by key community leaders, knowledge brokers, and institutional actors.</p><p> </p><p>In part three, I examined if and how an individual’s race, gender, and education level shape one’s concern about and willingness to participate in stormwater management. Stormwater risks can be immediate burdens and at times life-threatening for marginalized people because environmental injustices based on race, gender, and class can dictate exposure to and recovery from environmental risks like flooding and water pollution. Although marginalized groups bear the brunt of environmental risks, they are not likely to be perceived by others as highly concerned about the environment. I investigated differences, if any, in peoples’ willingness to participate in stormwater management based on their race, gender, and educational level by analyzing community opinion surveys in Charlotte, North Carolina. Results suggest that socially marginalized individuals are more concerned about creek flooding than others and subsequently more likely to participate in conservation behaviors. This analysis calls attention to how adverse environmental conditions may shape the perspectives of those experiencing them and facilitate a greater willingness to engage in conservation practices. Collectively, this dissertation highlights the interconnectedness of human and ecological drivers of function and resilience in aquatic freshwater ecosystems with implications for future directions of freshwater management that prioritize social equity and sustain social infrastructures.</p>

Soil and agricultural management practices (AMP) that are able to provide for an increasing population while meeting environmental existential challenges have gained considerable attention in recent times. Such AMP influence the soil profile and hydrological components for varying depths and patterns, depending on site-specific and environmental conditions. Though it is well known that management-induced changes of soil structure have consequences on soil hydraulic properties (SHP) and water fluxes, their dynamics through a season or on a long-term basis are hardly studied. Typically, an invariant soil pore system is assumed when modeling the transport of water and solutes in the soil system which leads to incorrect predictions of the dynamics of water balance components. Ultimately, this may lead to poor decision making and mismanagement of environmental resources. Hence, the present study quantifies the dynamics of SHP from existing studies and evaluates a model that is able to capture soil pore space dynamics following tillage. The objectives were to (1) investigate the quantitative effects of agricultural practices on soil structure and hydraulic properties and the subsequent response of the water balance components (2) evaluate a pore space evolution model for its capability in predicting the evolution of soil pore size distribution (PSD) for two cases: a) when there is a change in the tillage regime and/or land-use change b) in the months following tillage (3) derive corresponding soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity functions to incorporate them in hydrological models To achieve these objectives, first, a review of contemporary literature was undertaken to analyze the impacts of anthropogenic and environmental influences on SHP. The analysis indicated the relevance of studying temporal alterations of soil structure and SHP. Thereafter, a numerical model was evaluated for its ability to capture the dynamics of soil pore space with respect to time and pore radius using water retention parameter data sets from different parts of the world. The physically based coefficients of the model simulated the processes that were expected to occur after tillage. Furthermore, saturated hydraulic conductivity was obtained from the initial and final pore size distributions. Using the final pore size distribution curve and water retention function, the hydraulic conductivity function was also derived. The resulting water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves can directly be used as input in hydrological modeling studies. The results of the literature review indicate that, generally, soils show an abundance of large pores immediately after tillage. Those pores are not stable with time mainly due to precipitation and biological activity. Saturated hydraulic conductivity decreases in periods of rainfall along with the number of macropores and the overall porosity. Thus, the infiltration rates and capacities also decrease. However, the results of existing studies cannot be generalized owing to discrepancies in the dynamics of SHP, infiltration rates and soil moisture dynamics for soils under similar agricultural management practices. They are attributed mainly to a lack of standardization of research methodology as well as to site-specific conditions. Furthermore, it was also seen that incorporating the temporal dynamics of SHP in hydrological models produce more reliable and accurate modeling outcomes in comparison to studies with constant SHP as model input. The evaluation of the pore evolution model illustrated its suitability in capturing the temporal dynamics of soil pore space in response to tillage and environmental influences. High effective rainfalls and plant growth stages at which measurements were done affected the model performance. The use of sink/source terms and providing new initial conditions after high intensity rainfall events were provided as a means to improve the modeling outcomes. Though the model performed quite well in obtaining the water retention function as well as the saturated hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic conductivity functions, the high spatial variability in the sampling sites hampered with the model output. However, the main limitation lay in the lack of availability of sufficient data sets to calibrate and validate the model and its coefficients as well as for the derivation of SHP from the model. Overall, this study is a forerunner in predicting the temporal dynamics of soil structure and hydraulic properties. The established dynamics in the water retention and hydraulic conductivity functions can be used in hydrological simulations for planning land-use and management measures. The current study also reveals the need for more measurements and data sets that capture the alterations in soil hydraulic properties on a long-term basis.

D. Tech (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Globalisation is creating profound and substantial changes for businesses and industries throughout the world. These changes have forced businesses to re-evaluate their organisational philosophy and strategic approaches to become more competitive. Businesses in general have to deal with internal and external challenges. To address these challenges, there is a significant amount of written consensus internationally, which denotes that established businesses should encourage entrepreneurial activity throughout their operations to compete successfully on a continuous basis. Therefore, businesses should identify and implement entrepreneurial actions such as developing new products and ideas or adapt their internal processes to new situations. Corporate level entrepreneurship plays an indispensable role in improving productivity and promoting economic growth. Entrepreneurial activities can result from individual creativity or pursuit of self-interest and some of these activities could eventually receive the business’s formal recognition and thus become an integral part of the business concept. Entrepreneurial activities are often initiated by individuals within an organisation. Therefore, one way in which organisations can remain competitive in today’s rapidly changing environment is to address the issue of achieving productivity through their employees. Human resources can either hinder or encourage corporate entrepreneurship. This study addresses the relationship between human resource management practices, corporate entrepreneurship and business performance in medium and large businesses. Four hypotheses were put forward for testing. A quantitative, formal and cross-sectional approach was used. Data were collected using a survey and self-administered questionnaires were emailed to 744 human resource managers in medium and large businesses in Gauteng. A response rate of 47.6 percent was achieved as 351 usable questionnaires were received. Items in the questionnaire were adapted from previous studies. Factor analysis was conducted to test the validity and reliability of the research instrument. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to test the hypotheses. The empirical evidence indicated that corporate entrepreneurship is stimulated by better employee relations, selection practices, compensation, high levels of employee development and skills training. Selection and staffing are the most significant drivers of corporate entrepreneurship. The evidence further shows that human resource management practices influence business performance as well as that a positive relationship exists between innovation intensity and risk propensity, and business performance. The results also show that corporate entrepreneurship is a mediator between human resource management practices and business performance. As this was the first formal study conducted, which aimed to determine the influence of human resource management practices on corporate entrepreneurship and how it affects businesses performance, it can serve as a guideline for businesses in South Africa to assess their entrepreneurial intensity and corporate entrepreneurial climate.