<p><p>This thesis describes, analyses and compares changes in the practice of human resource management (HRM), the roles of human resource departments (HRD) and management models in companies in Belgium, France (partially) and Chile by highlighting the similarities and differences. This is therefore an international comparative study.<p><p><p>The study is carried out using a contextualist analytical approach.<p><p><p>It answers the question: <b>what are the changes in HRM practice, the roles of HRD and the management models in social organisations in different contexts?</b><p><p><p>It uses theoretical models (“typical ideals”) to analyse reality, while drawing from writers such as Mintzberg, Pichault and Nizet, Crozier, Crouch, Ulrich, Pettigrew. With regard to management, the study resorts to classical, instrumental and political models. As regards human resource management (HRM), it is based on objective, conventionalist and individualised models. In the human resource department (HRD), the models are those of administrative officer, operational expert and strategic partner.<p><p><p>The changes do not only result from a decision-making process dictated mechanically by contextual factors but more particularly from complex interaction and the balance of power among the actors concerned who use the contextual elements to advance their own interests.<p><p><p>Amongst the most relevant developments which bear <b>similar</b> characteristics, one can cite:<p><p><p>1.- <b>a significant increase in the use of management methods specific to the instrumental or “Californian” model, </b><p><p><p>2.- <b>more extensive use of individual competencies in HRM practices</b>, and<p><p><p>3.- <b>a significant reduction in the size of the HRD and, notably, in the profile of administrative officer of the HRD. </b><p><p><p>As regards the <b>differences</b> found in the various contexts, one can highlight the fact that:<p><p><p>1.- <b>In the Belgian and French models, the dominant managerial model remains political management.</b> On the other hand, <b>in the Chilean model, the Californian management model has become clearly dominant. </b><p><p><p>2.- <b>In Belgium and France, the dominant HRM practices are those of the conventionalist model. On the other hand, in Chile, the dominant HRM practices are those of the individualised model. </b><p><p><p>3.- The evolution of the roles of HRD, <b>in the Belgian model, has been practically non-existent or appeared later since the dominant role has remained that of the administrative officer (AO). On the other hand, in the Chilean model, the dominant role has become that of operational expert (OE). </b> The role of strategic partner (SP) which was so recommended and desired by managers has been long in developing.<p><p><p>The professional relations model and the political system constitute one of the most important factors which explains the differences noted. In Belgium, the neo-corporate and social-democrat model of professional relations at the national level (with a strong trade unionist movement) functions as a socio-economic regulatory mechanism reflecting the forces and the agreements between social partners. In Chile, there exists neither social dialogue nor equivalent institutionalisation at the national level; what prevails here is the confrontational Latin model (with a weak trade unionist movement).<p><p><p>Similarly, in Belgium social legislation is more comprehensive, regulating the market more and protecting people’s interests. Furthermore, it offers greater social security coverage via, in addition, vast public expenditure by the State. In Chile on the other hand, social legislation is more incomplete and more flexible, favouring rather discretionary decisions by managers and allowing the interplay of market forces to regulate the labour market. The right to strike, the allocation of unemployment benefits, the procedures for hiring and firing, etc. testify to these differences.<p><p><p>The characteristics of the “hybrid” Belgo-Latin culture based on the traditional negotiation model increasingly influence, for example, the development of a political management model and conventionalist HRM practices, team work or coaching, etc. On the other hand, the characteristics of Chilean Latin culture, where authoritarianism and paternalism are still very present, stimulate a more classical management model and objective HRM practices.<p><p><p>The differences between the developments are evident. The social aspects (social security, education, workers’ rights, etc.) are better guaranteed in the Belgian model and the productivist logic stronger and damaging in the Chilean model. As long as the actors involved remain as they are, with their ideological, political and cultural particularities and their specific strengths, these models will remain different.<p><p><p><p><p>Cette thèse décrit, analyse et compare les changements des pratiques de la gestion des ressources humaines (GRH), les rôles des directions des ressources humaines (DRH) et les modèles de management, dans des entreprises situées en Belgique, en France (partiellement) et au Chili, en relevant les similitudes et les différences. Il s’agit donc d’une recherche internationale comparative.<p><p><p>La recherche s’inscrit dans une approche d’analyse contextualiste.<p><p><p>Elle répond à la question :<b>quels sont les changements des pratiques de GRH, des rôles des DRH et des modèles de management dans des organisations sociales situées dans des contextes différents ?</b><p>Elle utilise des modèles théoriques (des “ideaux types”) pour analyser la réalité, en s’inspirant des auteurs tels que Mintzberg, Pichault et Nizet, Crozier, Crouch, Ulrich, Pettigrew. Au niveau du management, l’étude a recourt aux modèles: classique, instrumental et politique. Au niveau de la gestion des ressources humaines (GRH), elle se base sur les modèles: objectivant, conventionnaliste et individualisant. Tandis qu’au niveau de la direction des ressources humaines (DRH), les modèles sont ceux d’agent administratif, d’expert opérationnel et de partenaire stratégique.<p><p><p>On constate que les changements ne résultent pas seulement d’un processus décisionnel dicté mécaniquement par les éléments du contexte mais surtout d’un jeu complexe d’interactions, d’un jeu de pouvoir des acteurs concernés, qui mobilisent les éléments du contexte pour faire prévaloir leurs intérêts.<p><p><p>Parmi les évolutions <b>similaires</b> les plus relevantes, on peut citer:<p><p><p>1.- <b>l’accroissement important de l’usage des méthodes de management propres au modèle instrumental ou « californien » ;</b><p><p><p>2.- <b>l’utilisation plus extensive des pratiques de GRH individualisantes</b> et, <p><p><p>3.- <b>la diminution importante de la taille de la DRH et, notamment, du profil d’agent administratif de la DRH. </b><p><p><p>Quant aux <b>différences</b> retrouvées dans ces contextes différents, on peut relever :<p><p><p>1.- <b>Dans les cas belge et français le modèle managérial dominant reste le management politique. </b> Par contre, <b>dans le cas chilien, le modèle de management « californien » est devenu clairement dominant. </b><p><p><p> 2.- <b>Les pratiques dominantes de GRH, en Belgique et en France, restent celles du modèle conventionnaliste. Par contre, au Chili, les pratiques dominantes de GRH sont celles du modèle individualisant. </b><p><p><p>3.- L’évolution des rôles de la DRH, <b>dans le cas belge, a été pratiquement nulle ou plus tardive puisque le rôle dominant est resté d’agent administratif (AA). </b> Par contre, <b>dans le cas chilien, le rôle dominant est devenu celui d’expert opérationnel (EO). </b> Le rôle du partenaire stratégique (PS), tant prôné et souhaité par les managers, tarde lourdement à se développer.<p><p><p>Le modèle de relations professionnelles et le système politique, constituent un des facteurs parmi les plus importants qui expliquent les différences constatées. En Belgique, le modèle de relations professionnelles néo-corporatiste et social-démocrate au niveau national (avec un syndicalisme fort) fonctionne comme un mécanisme de régulation socio-économique reflétant les forces et les accords entre les partenaires sociaux. Tandis qu’au Chili, il n’existe ni de concertation sociale ni d’institutionnalisation équivalente au niveau national ;il prévaut ici le modèle confrontationnel et latin (avec un syndicalisme faible).<p><p><p>De même, tandis qu’en Belgique il existe une législation sociale plus complète régulant davantage le marché et protégeant les intérêts des personnes, en offrant une sécurité sociale plus large avec, en plus, une forte participation de l’Etat dans les dépenses publiques, au Chili la une législation sociale est plus incomplète et plus souple, favorisant davantage les décisions discrétionnaires des managers amenant principalement une régulation par le libre jeu du marché du travail. Le droit de grève, l’assignation de chômage, les procédures de licenciements ou d’embauche, etc. témoignent de ces différences.<p><p><p>Les traits de la culture latine « hybride » belge, traditionnellement négociatrice, influencent davantage, par exemple, le développement d’un modèle de management politique et des pratiques de GRH conventionnalistes, un travail en équipe ou le coaching, etc. Par contre, les traits de la culture latine chilienne, où l’autoritarisme et le paternalisme sont encore forts présents, stimulent un modèle de management plutôt classique et des pratiques de GRH objectivantes.<p><p><p>La différence des évolutions est évidente. Les aspects sociaux (sécurité sociale, éducation, droits des travailleurs, etc.) sont mieux garantis dans le cas belge et la logique productiviste est plus forte et nuisible dans le cas chilien. Tant que les acteurs indiqués demeurent, avec leurs particularités idéologiques, politiques, culturelles et leurs forces spécifiques, ces modèles resteront différents. <p><p> / Doctorat en sciences politiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Banks play a pivotal role in the economic growth and development of countries, primarily through the diversification of risk for both themselves and other economic agents. Interest rate risk is regarded as one of the most prominent financial risks faced by a bank. A large portion of private banks’ revenue stems from net interest income that is generated from the difference between various assets and liabilities that are held on the balance sheet. Fluctuations in the interest rate can alter a bank’s interest income and value, making interest rate risk management vital to its success. The asset and liability committee of a bank is the internal committee charged with the duty of managing the bank’s interest rate risk exposure through the use of various hedging strategies and instruments. This thesis uses a case study methodology to analyse GBS Mutual Bank interest rate risk management. Its specific business circumstances, balance sheet structure and the market conditions over a specified period are used to comment on the practicality of a variety of balance sheet positioning strategies and derivative hedging instruments. The thesis also provides recommendations for the bank’s asset and liability committee in terms of its functions and organisation. It is elucidated that the most practical balance sheet hedging strategies are a volume strategy and immunisation, while the most practical derivative hedging instruments are interest rate futures and interest rate collars. It is found that the bank has a well functioning asset and liability committee whose only encumbrance to its functionality is the inadequacy of the informational technology used to measure, control and manage its interest rate risk position. This thesis concludes by summarising the practicality of the various interest rate risk hedging alternatives available to the GBS Mutual Bank. Implementing a particular strategy or instrument depends, of course, on its asset and liability committee’s decision.

Zambian copper mines have embraced the use of information technologies for strategic operations and competitive advantage. This dependence on these technologies has not only been seen in the physical aspects of business operations but also in the use of information systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPs) for strategic decision making and increased usage of Industrial Control Systems (ICS’) that are meant to enhance operational efficiency in production areas. A survey was conducted to explore leadership perceptions on information security practices in Zambian copper mines and an ISO/IEC 27002 Audit Tool was administered to middle management in a particular mine for an in-depth analysis of their information security practices. Results revealed that although information security controls may have been put in place in these organisations, there are still areas that require attention. Senior management and middle management have different perceptions as to the extent to which information security practices are conducted in these copper mines. This implies that management may not be fully involved in certain aspects of these organisations’ information security practices. The results concluded that management needs to be fully involved and provide support for information security programs. Furthermore, these information security programs should be standardised so as to effectively protect these organisations’ information assets. This should also include the involvement of personnel as key players in the information security process.

Business incubation is a concept that describes a business development process that is used to grow successful, sustainable entrepreneurial ventures that will contribute to the health and wealth of local, regional and national economies. Incubators provide a place for businesses to build their foundations. Business incubators use a combination of physical space, resources and services to facilitate and develop businesses, enhance their progress, break down barriers to success, reduce risks and increase the potential for successful survival of early stage ventures., their progress, break down barriers to success, reduce risks and increase the potential for successful survival of early stage ventures. Business incubators are part of a larger value chain that connects enterprises to a vital support system. Most incubators connect their clients to local service providers (such as lawyers, corporate service providers or accountants) and establish relationships that will last after the firm leaves the incubator. Once an enterprise is ready to leave the incubator environment, it will need space to move into, which in turn, boosts property development and leasing. Because of the enhanced credibility of the business incubation process, landlords would be more confident as a stable, growing business can be a reliable tenant. The empirical object of the study is the Seda NMB ICT Incubator in Port Elizabeth. Eastern Cape. Like any other business an incubator is created to deliver a service or product for as long as possible and in this process must create value because the ultimate objective of any profit seeking business is to create wealth for its owners with due consideration of all its stakeholders (Brigham & Ehrhardt 2005:7-12). A preliminary investigation of the Seda NMB ICT Incubator raised the question whether the operation of this incubator meets the performance standards as identified in the international literature. The purpose of this study is therefore to establish whether the performance of the Seda NMB ICT Incubator is in line with generally accepted performance standards. At this stage the standards can be identified as a strategic alliance of the business (vision, mission and strategy), financing principles, management principles and human resource development and growth opportunities. The SEDA NMB ICT Incubator is financed as follows: Partly by the Department of Trade and Industry (the SEDA technology programme) and partly by the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. It is recommended that public/private partnerships should be formed to ensure the continuity of the Port Elizabeth incubator. A second recommendation is that the SEDA NMB Incubator becomes more focussed in terms of its clients it is serving. At present it is serving a wide variety of ICT clients ranging from website design, graphic art to preparing business plans for ICT businesses. The period of incubation may be too extended as some incubatees have been on the premises for more than five years. It is recommended that the SEDA NMB Incubator pays attention to the length of stay of an incubatee. The vast majority of the incubatees on the SEDA NMB Incubator premises are not compliant with business acts and regulations. Seven incubatees reported during the personal interview that they were not compliant with all the acts and regulations.

The topic researched for this project will be foreigh exchange hedging; the available forms, the uses, the procedures, and the value. This project will expand beyond the typical research and examine the value of hedging through the use of different foreign exchang currency trading strategies to small multinationational corporations.

The objective of the technology assessment (TA) process is to understand problematic and undesirable consequences from the development and application of technology. TA advocates for the engagement of technology experts and stakeholders to understand the effects of technology. However, TA is often criticized that the decision-making process is not transparent - leaving stakeholders wondering if their contributions were heard. Furthermore, the methods have limited capability for conducting tradeoff analysis between the organizational objectives and conflicting stakeholder perspectives that can result in unintended consequences. Finally, these methods are static making it difficult to update and reassess decision alternatives when new information about issues becomes available. This dissertation research addresses these problems by developing a new technology assessment methodology using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (Fuzzy Cognitive TA - FCTA). This novel approach supports both stages of the process: capturing expert and stakeholder perspectives in cognitive maps, and then using FCM for assessment and decision-making. The methodology shows how experts and stakeholders perceive the value or harm of a technology alternative, which stakeholders share the same perspectives, and how these perspectives change over time. The methodology also shows the degree to which expert and stakeholder perspectives are in support or in conflict with the organizational objectives to help avoid the direct and indirect consequences associated with the decision. Finally, the methodology shows how new or changing perspectives by experts and stakeholders affect the outcome of the decision to improve system knowledge. The research applies the FCTA methodology with a real-world Environmental Impact Study conducted by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). BPA is a U.S. federal agency that provides about a third of the electric power and 75 percent of the high-voltage electric transmission in the Pacific Northwest.

Using case study methods, four crises that were reported in the past 36 months were examined to see if university officials modified established crisis communication plans to better respond to messages and rumors on social networking. Two of the crises dealt with safety issues and two were reputational crises designed to discredit the institution. Four communication professionals were also interviewed for their opinions about social networking use during crises. The study concludes that universities should adopt a social networking aspect into crisis communication plans, including preauthorizing specific types of messages to be released during the first few minutes of a crisis without review from higher administrators. A model of this new crisis communication plan is included. Social media use is also recommended during other stages of a crisis to better inform the community of what is happening on a campus.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of social media on crisis communication. To evaluate this impact, a case study method was utilized examining the crisis communication response of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on April 20, 2010. This study focused on the response of the responsible party, British Petroleum, and the general public over three social media: Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Through extensive analysis of both the company's and public response to the Gulf spill, nine implications were identified regarding social media's influence on crisis communication. These implications highlighted the potential for organizations to build interpersonal relationships with its publics. These relationships were found to be crucial in times of crises. The implications of this study also pointed to interactivity, using a "human voice," trust, and credibility as crucial factors in building these relationships and leading an effective crisis response across social media. This study also noted the new stress for organization's to respond quickly to crises as a result of instant news brought by social media. Implications of this study also highlighted social media's influence on individuals becoming contributing members of a crisis response. While social media has influenced the practice of crisis communication in many ways, this study found that the principles and ethics of the field have remained the same. In conclusion, analysis suggests that BP neglected using social media in its crisis response, a channel which has entered the mainstream of crisis communication. As a result, this study recommends the use of social media before, during, and after a crisis to ensure the welfare of a company and its relationship with its publics.

The present study identifies the dimensions and variables using prior research within each of the constructs under the management systems, fit and, organizational strategy, structure, lifecycle and performance. The constructs from the research model were defined with a combination of direct, calculated and coded measures. Context analysis for each case categorized management systems design into either prescriptive or descriptive. The selected performance measures have been extensively investigated in the research fields associated with organizational management. The study uses the multiple case study design with cross-sectional data spanning from 1991 to 2005 and involving 19 aerospace companies in the United States. A priori hypothesized relationships between the constructs were tested with Mann-Whitney procedures for differences between mean ranks associated with organizational performance measures. The results from Mann-Whitney tests suggest that there exist significant differences in organizational performance from fit factors between a management system design and the organization. Present study defined organizational performance measures for analysis in terms of Return on Assets, Return on Equity and Return on Investment. When compared to a prescriptive management system design, a descriptive management system design was associated with higher levels of organizational performance. Cases with a fit state were found to score significantly higher than cases with unfit state suggesting that a correct fit state is associated with higher levels of organizational performance. A fit state was associated with higher levels of performance when each of the organizational factors for strategy, structure and lifecycle were aligned to management system design. Study results suggest equifinality as cases reached a particular fit state with differing combinations of fit factors. The study contributes to the field with interpretation of a fit model and key relationship between management systems and performance providing the base for future research efforts associated with management systems, organizational factors and the fit between them.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-198) / The research explored the partnership of Namutamba Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Uganda with its main donor, the Neukirchener Mission (NM). The review of the literature focused on empowerment, NGO partnerships and organisational sustainability. The achievements and challenges of the partnership of the NRC with the NM regarding the organisational sustainability of the NRC were identified by evaluating documents of both partners, individual interviews and focus group discussions of stakeholders of NRC. In brief, the relationship of NRC with the NM was characterised as a dependent partnership due to the power imbalance between the partners and the resource dependency of NRC. It was recommended that the NRC and the NM focus on creating greater self-reliance of NRC while attempting to develop an authentic partnership. This might have wide reaching consequences not only for the sustainability of NRC but also for the services offered to persons with disabilities in Central Uganda. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)