The purpose of this study was to describe the level to which a target work culture based on core organizational values was shared in one lumber manufacturing plant. The organization under study perceived that their culture was a source of competitive advantage and was key to their success in safety, product quality, and labor-relations. The organization had actively managed their culture through operations management and human resource policies. The study addressed three research questions (1) to what extent were the core values of the organization shared, (2) were there any inconsistent values, and (3) did organizational members perceive their culture as helping or hurting their plant's performance outcomes. The study found eight of the nine values were shared across the organization. The values of safety and customer satisfaction were strongly shared. The value of environmental stewardship was not apparent in the organization. The organization perceived that its culture helped the mill success in key performance outcomes by promoting teamwork, participation, and communication. For the values of communication, involvement, trust, and respect there were perceptions of inconsistency between the target culture's definition of the value and its actual practice. The study provides support that culture may have an influence on organizational effectiveness. / Graduation date: 2002

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

The economic growth rapidly, the shopping behaviour and the preferences of the customer also change a lot, therefore the intensive competition among the shopping centre and more awareness of the importance of customer service and customer retention in shopping centre. The goal and objectives of this study is to evaluate the shopping centre management in Hong Kong and used a case study "APM" as an example to illustrate the success of shopping centers. Also identify the effectiveness of provision of planning, customer services, marketing and promotion strategy etc ... factors about the shopping centre management, which enhance the customer retention to the shopping centre. The scope of study of this dissertation is to investigate that the APM in Kwun Tong as a case study to illustrate the customer retention and shopping center management factors and the background information of Kwun Tong District and its future development. In this dissertation, data were collected through site visit and survey in order to find out the major component on shopping centers management. Site visits of shopping centers were carried out to observe the shopping centre management, customer services component provision of shopping centers in Hong Kong .A case studies of APM and a questionnaire survey were conducted to analysis the customer services behaviour and the management provision in the shopping centers to have an in depth study on the effect on customer retention and shopping centers management provision in Hong Kong. In this study, quantitative research method would be involved. Primary quantitative data will be collected from questionnaires surveys to identify the shopping center management factors. The structured questionnaires and non-probability samples will be carried out at the APM. Through this study, it was found that the different types of customers have different expectations on shopping center management. Shopping centre managers should also identifY their target customers, understand the customer shopping preference and their needs, and then provide the different marketing strategy to attract and satisfy their target customers. In conclusion, the successful shopping centre should provide good shopping centers management and comfortable shopping environment to attract and retain more customers, which can enhance the image and return of the shopping centre. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

How is it that some potentially strategic issues find themselves on a Rim's strategic agenda, while others do not? Why is a top manager more attentive to some aspects of his firm's strategic situation than to others? What shapes his interpretation of his firm's strategic reality? How does strategic issue diagnosis (SID) actually take place within a top management team? These are the types of questions that this thesis addresses. It contends that the way strategy formation in general and SID in particular have so far been studied in top management teams---through essentially cognitive lenses---has been inadequate, largely because these cognitive approaches, although concerned with the biases that affect thinking are themselves based on an incomplete and therefore biased and distorted view of people, their choices and their actions. / The findings of a single-case field study that explored strategy formation and SID in a medium-sized entrepreneurial family firm led by a still-active founder are presented. The study utilized an enlarged conceptual framework that combined the dominant cognitive approaches in this domain with certain concepts from dynamic psychology. Its findings show that the deeply-entrenched personal preoccupations of a CEO, shaped by developmental processes and formative experiences throughout his life, and of which his cognitions are only one manifestation, have the potential to profoundly influence his strategic orientations, the top management team (TMT) dynamics in his firm, and consequently SID and its outcomes. It concludes that enriching the dominant cognitive models of SID and strategy formation by incorporating concepts taken from psychodynamic theory (specifically, concepts dealing with the consistent manifestations of individual character in all aspects of an individual's life) can lead to a better understanding of the complex subjective phenomena involved.

Performance measurement in higher education is examined during this study, in particular university performance indicators are reviewed and discussed. The conclusion is made that appropriate input and output indicators require some form of combination in order to allow practical consideration to be made. The technique of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is reviewed and found to have a number of conceptual drawbacks. The model is considerably developed within the thesis, primarily by the introduction of weight restrictions on the variables. Taken as a whole the developments, coined the DEAPMAS process, create a technique which can be used to assess cost effectiveness rather than simply efficiency. Data for two examples of subject areas, defined by recognised accounting units, are applied to the program as inter-university comparison was felt to be impractical at institutional level; due to differing subject mixes. A considerable computer implementation of the developed theory was written and utilised to provide results over a number of data runs for the examples. It was concluded that the results obtained represented a considerable improvement over separate consideration of numerous performance indicators.

Thesis (M.Info.Sys.)--University of Wollongong, 2003. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 98-103.

Zugleich: Diss. Staatswiss. Basel, 2005. / Literaturverz.

Managing on the middle level of the academic environment has become an essential managerial competency, particularly in a large library of an Open Distance Learning (ODL) institution which serves 400,000 students with a diverse student profile. The research focus of this study in the ODL environment is thus on management and organisational theories that indicate what it takes to be a good manager. This is a positivist case study which triangulates data collection methods. Quantitative data and qualitative data were collected. The findings indicate a 94,7% response rate to the survey questionnaire and 100% participation of the invited ODL middle managers in interviews. Interviews were conducted with ODL Library middle managers who operate on the level of supervisor, manager, deputy director and director. Findings revealed ODL Library middle managers‟ perception of success and that they worked and planned for career progression that was facilitated by relevant qualifications and experience, that the external support received from their families and the use of develop ment strategies and various approaches, such as personal career planning; performing secondary management roles in the ODL Library; attendance at management short courses, all influenced their successful appointment as middle managers. It further indicates that an optimum career path is influenced by factors such as ability, communication, hard work and determination. Development strategies pertain to management and leadership development which enable ODL Library middle managers to perform the role of manager in both a Library and Information Science environment, ODL environment and management environment which foster an understanding of their role in strategic planning. The most important competencies to be acquired are planning and administration, emotional intelligence and self-management, communication and teamwork. The study reveals that a high premium was placed on the importance of the selected success definitions, strategies and competencies, but that own success measured against these was lower. The subsequent recommendation is to develop ODL Library middle managers in terms of factors and strategies that lead to career success and to ensure the use thereof. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

M.Ing. / This dissertation gives an understanding of principles that can be implemented in a projects department to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. This dissertation consists of a literature review and a case study. The literature review gives a background on principles that can be implemented to improve on the efficiency and effectiveness of a projects department. The effective design of projects and the importance of establishing specifications have been reviewed. Tools such as business process reengineering can be used to rethink and redesign processes in a projects department to improve its current way of working. Materials requirement planning is another tool that can be used in a projects department to calculate how many types of a specific product are required at any specific time. Just-in-time planning and control is a philosophy that can be implemented in a projects department to meet demands immediately, thus improving their effectiveness. Quality management tools and techniques can be implemented in a projects department. Total quality management, leadership and teamwork will help to convey good practises, generate interest, ideas and awareness in the department. The literature also explains the importance of ergonomics. Ergonomics in workplaces has an affect on the performance, fatigue and physical strain of the staff. Assessing the projects department and applying ergonomics to it will help the staff of the department to be more efficient and effective in their work. The literature further explains the stages involved in the risk management process. Developing an initial risk management plan is an effective and efficient way to identify and prevent risks at an early stage. The case study is about different principles brought together and implemented in a newly formed projects department to improve its way of work. Principles were identified through surveys that were given to various stakeholders. These principles guided the projects department to be more efficient and effective in their way of work.

This research addresses the problem of determining which managerial competencies first-line managers operating in a world class organisation should have. To achieve this objective a three-step method was followed. Firstly, an approach had to be found for the assessment of managerial competencies at the selected organisation involved in the research project. A comprehensive literature survey was conducted in an attempt to establish an approach and identify management competencies for first-line managers. Secondly, the recognition of prior learning (RPL) approaches appropriate to first-line managers were investigated and synthesized with the managerial competence approach of step one. Finally, the managerial competencies were assessed utilising the matrix of managerial competence instrument developed in accordance with the findings of the research. The information obtained from the literature study and from the candidates who were assessed resulted in various findings and recommendations. Using the matrix of managerial competence instrument, it was found that the majority of first-line managers at the organisation were competent. Notwithstanding this finding, a major recommendation is that the organisation should become more future and development orientated in its training strategy. Finally, the research project has created the foundation for the development of a managerial competency model at the selected organisation. Findings of the literature survey and development of the RPL instrument provide guidelines for future RPL initiatives, both at the selected organisation and at the Port Elizabeth Technikon.