Essentially this study is founded upon the culture-specific thesis that organisational processes are influenced to a large extent by the cultural settings in which they operate. Hence management processes such as the management of innovations in organisations; ought to be culturally relative. The main objectives of this study are: i to identify, the major cultural values of the Sarawak Malays of relevance to the facilitation or inhibition of "innovatogenic" behaviour in an organisational context ii to identify, assess and evaluate active strategies used to nurture "innovatogenic" behaviour in some Malay organisations in response to these cultural influences, with due attention being paid to both thoses trategies which exploit any positive influence and those which aim to overcome any negative influence of such cultural values iii to highlight issues worthy of consideration in developing 'culturally' appropriate' strategies to nurture 'innovatogenic' behaviour (In particular, the study aims to demonstrate that (i) the innovation process is culture specific and (ii) any strategies employed must take a holistic approach and ensure that the both the structural aspects and ideational aspects of such strategies are congruent with each other). A qualitative research involving two phases of fieldwork was employed: Phase 1 . The Key Informant Interview. Unstructured interviews were conducted with twenty senior managers. These managers were purposely selected for their vast experience in managing Malay workers, both at managerial and operative levels. These interviews focused on two aspects: (a) their views and perspectives regarding Malay cultural values and beliefs and whether these values and beliefs had any impact on their 'innovation producing' behaviour. (b) The strategies used to incorporate these values and beliefs into their managerial philosophies and practices. Phase 2. Case studies of three selected organisations. A month was spent in each of three organisations; collecting information on eight key aspects of the organisations: strategic focus, management/leadership style; management attitude/orientation- . infrastructure, task structure, ideas management, performance management and orgarlisational climate. Both interview and survey methods of data collection were employed. The Ekvall's Creative Climate Questionnairew as then used to assesst he creative climate of the organisations. Data analysis was guided by a conceptual framework that linked the capability. means, and motivation of individuals to behave' innovatogenrically' with the structural and ideational features of the organisation. The main findings of the study indicate that (i) Malays are very concerned with maintaining harmonious relationship with superiors and peers. A tendency for collective behaviour, a need for personalised relationships, deference to leaders, loyalty to group and leader, and a focus on social benefit of an action to group and self were key features of this realtionship orientation Consequently, Malay organisations seem to be characterised by socially determined form of work relationship and priorities that are not conducive to the generation and exploitation of ideas. ii Organisational behaviour is culture specific: the social beliefs , values and customs of a society and the concomitant impact of these on organisational behaviour is significant and cannot be ignored. Subjective interpretations of strategies, procedures and practices by members of an organisation shapes their behaviour in relation to them. As such, an organisation cannot be made innovative through the introduction ( or imposition) of new strategies or mechanismws ithout due considerationsto the dominanti deationalm oder elating to theses trategiesa nd mechanism.

Benefits are measurable improvements that result from project outcomes. There is an emphasis in clinical trials literature that clinical trial benefits must always outweigh the risks yet there is limited clarity on processes to manage and ensure delivery of those benefits. With uncertainty around the delivery of clinical trial benefits, it is worth adopting a balanced management approach. This study looked to establish whether there were any comprehensive benefits management processes in HIV clinical trials and compared these practices to those described in the literature. Methods: To assess the current benefits management practices used to manage HIV clinical trials, a cross-sectional study used a critical review of clinical trials guidelines and publications as well as an online survey that was distributed to stakeholders in clinical trials management. Results: The critical review of the guidelines and literature revealed a high emphasis on risk benefit assessment, but very limited mention of the processes used for the assessment and management of those risks and benefits. The diverse group of clinical trials managers that responded to the online survey were involved at the strategic level of their respective clinical trials and 74% of them had never heard of Benefits Realization Management (BRM) and BRM processes. The respondents however, acknowledged that their lack of awareness did not necessarily mean lack of existence of BRM or BRM processes in HIV clinical trials. There were aspects of benefits management practices in clinical trials that were found to be similar to those in literature and other industries such as benefits planning, benefits identification, benefits review, setting time scale to benefits realization and allocating benefits champions. Even though there was confidence from the respondents in how clinical trial benefits were managed and in clinical trials delivering their promise, the respondents still believed there was room for improvement in the current BRM processes. Conclusion: BRM processes are not readily visible or documented in HIV clinical trials. There is a management bias towards safety and ethics in clinical trials which seems to have resulted in limited focus on benefits management. Compared to other industries, there appears to be more room and opportunity to implement published BRM processes. The findings from this study will serve as a starting point for future studies on how BRM can be incorporated into current management practices in order to achieve the most out of clinical trials.

This thesis focuses on the development of the Conservative Party's policy in respect of the form of the National Health Service in England between the general elections of 1964 and 1979. By form is meant the basic principles of the Service and the organisational arrangements (structure, management processes and financing) made to give effect to those principles. After an account of the form of the NHS in 1964, the thesis documents the development of Conservative Party policy on those aspects of form to which attention was given between 1964 and 1979. In doing so, it draws extensively on primary material, much of which (especially that relating to the Party's periods in Opposition) has not, as far as the author can discover, been brought together previously in an historical study. By examining this material in its appropriate context, it is hoped that the thesis makes intelligible a passage of history quite tightly circumscribed both in terms of subject and period. Insofar as an overall theme might be said to emerge, it is of a Party committed to the idea of a comprehensive health service, uncomfortable with the consequences of aspects of the form enacted in 1946 but, conscious of the popularity of the NHS, cautious about making radical changes.

Firm growth relies on launching new products and services. An interesting question is, what are those unique project management processes that firms need to know in order to implement growth strategies in the form of new products and services. This paper will aim to shed light on what are those specific project management processes that drive the realization of firm growth. There research propositions highlighted on chapter three have been investigated through a case analysis of two large banks. The case findings indicate the organization’s ability to prioritize projects, implement those projects using a simulation model and nurture a strong project culture are central towards achieving growth. The findings of this paper build on earlier project, portfolio and programme management disciplines and adds further understanding on competitive advantage. Further research is proposed on innovation project management. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Labour based technology has extensively been utilized in delivery of poverty alleviation programmes. Most of the projects implemented have been of construction in nature. In many cases, labour based works have been characterized with poor performance of not having projects completed within budget, in time and of good quality. Furthermore labour based works projects have been ad hoc in nature, lack spatial focus with no link to national development and sparingly involves engineering skills in its make shift administrative arrangements. Research has shown that most construction problems have been management process related and not product related. This research was initiated as a response to these challenges and represents an attempt to deliver sustainable improved performance of labour based works projects. The research identifies seven phases with various deliverables through the assessment and analysis of management processes of labour based works using the Process Protocol. The Process Protocol based phases consider the whole life cycle of a construction project whilst integrating the process elements under a common framework. To achieve a successful project and process execution, the findings indicate three operational levels of the participants of the activity zone. Several risk factors which need to receive special attention during planning and implementation of labour based works projects have been identified. The practical experiences in responding to, monitoring and controlling of the risk factors are also provided. The analysis of the key sequential phases and documentation of management of labour based works was based on a literature review of conference papers, reports, available project documents and limited interviews with officials involved in public works programmes. Best practices in management of labour based works have been used to follow and synthesise the Process Protocol approach to the management processes of labour based works. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Arbeid-baseerde tegnologie word algemeen gebruik in programme wat ontwerp is om armoede te verlig. Die meeste van die programme wat geïmplementeer is, het te make met konstruksie. In baie gevalle is hierdie arbeid-baseerde projekte gekenmerk deur swak prestasie en die projekte is nie betyds voltooi nie, daar is nie gehou by die begroting nie, of die gehalte van die werk was swak. Verder is hierdie projekte ad hoc van aard, is daar ’n gebrek aan ruimtelike fokus, is dit nie gekoppel aan nasionale ontwikkeling nie en word daar te min gebruik gemaak van ingenieursvernuf en is die administrasie gebrekkig. Navorsing het bewys dat die meeste konstruksie probleme te wyte is aan bestuurs-prosesses en dat dit nie produk-verwant is nie. Hierdie navorsing is gedoen as gevolg van hierdie probleme en is ’n poging om volhoubare verbeterde prestasie te lewer in arbeid-baseerde projekte. Tydens die navorsing is sewe fases geïdentifiseer d.m.v. die ontleding van bestuursprosesse. Die Proses Protokol is gebruik. Hierdie Proses Protokol gebaseerde fases behels die hele lewens-siklus van ’n konstruksie projek en integreer al die proses komponente in ’n enkel raamwerk. Die bevindinge toon dat daar drie operasionele vlakke van deelnemers in die aktiwiteit sone nodig is om die sukses van ’n projek te verseker. Daar is verskillenmde risiko faktore wat tydens die beplanning en implementering van projekte spesiale aandag moet geniet . Praktiese wenke betreffende die monitor van, reageer op en beheer van risiko faktore word ook verskaf. Die ontleding van sleutel fases en die dokumentasie van die bestuur van arbeid gebaseerde projekte is gebaseer op ’n literatuur oorsig van konferensie verslae, beskikbare projek dokumente en beperkte onderhoude met amptenare wat betrokke was in openbare programme. Daar is gebruik gemaak van beste praktyke in bestuur van arbeid gebaseerde projekte in die sintese van bestuurprosesse vir arbeid gebaseerde projekte.

As city governments and universities expand their roles in economic development, an opportunity is created to transform a university–city relationship from an operational one to a strategic one and from co-existence to collaboration. Impacted by history and context, there are many challenges to overcome. The goal of my thesis was to understand the “doing of collaboration” and the specific management processes in university–local government collaborations. I conducted a comparative case study of a Canadian University, Simon Fraser University, and two city governments, Burnaby and Surrey. A number of management processes are critical in building a successful collaboration. Two of the most important are the use of one or more liaison people with the appropriate skills, mandate and access to resources and the involvement of representatives at different organizational levels, particularly faculty who provide access to the university’s research capacity. Bilateral city–university committees and a good relationship between the university president and city mayor are useful but not sufficient to deepen the collaboration. The involvement of third-party organizations in the university–city relationship is beneficial. The importance of trust-building processes such as attribution and dispute resolution are heightened if there is a need to overcome a negative historical incident, an isolated geographic location, or tensions over transactional issues. While management processes are important, a shared strategic goal is paramount. This shared goal may not be evident at the start of a relationship. To identify the shared goal, it is necessary to have an understanding of the most valued university roles given the city’s context and aims. Each organization must have sufficient trust to enter into a deeper collaboration and an initial condition of openness, responsiveness, and commitment is necessary. The thesis provides practical advice to cities and universities and reveals how demonstration of value can build over increasingly ambitious projects.

A critical issue that faces the Saudi Arabia Oil and Gas Sector (OGS)'s projects is the high level of uncertainty in the successful delivery of those projects. That high level of uncertainty makes it vital to monitor and control project performance for limiting financial losses, avoiding cost overruns, and improving predictability. One of the fundamental tools that sets the framework for project performance is the project Scope of Work (SOW). Having an effective project SOW at the front end the project is challenging for project practitioners and is an issue that needs to be addressed; as its development process and output can significantly affect the later stages of the project life cycle. The aim of this study was to develop a clearer understanding of the project SOW role in a project development and to make practical recommendations for its improvement by investigating project team members' perceptions of the SOW development process in two Saudi Arabian Oil and Gas companies. This research adopts a qualitative approach, a case study strategy and focus group discussions to collect primary data. The results suggested that the project SOW development process is the foundation for another twelve key project management processes that need to be considered in order to successfully complete a project On Scope, On Time, On Cost and On Strategy. To be considered effective, the project SOW should have the following four characteristics of: formality, usefulness, effective content elements and effective language quality. In addition, the project SOW should support effective decision making, risk management, project planning and project monitoring and control. The results show that the project SOW in Saudi Arabia OGS is developed in several phases as part of Front-End Loading (FEL) development and final project SOW is developed and approved at the end of the 2nd phase of FEL (FEL-2). It was found that there are eleven key enablers, such as clear vision, targets, and objectives; effective stakeholders' engagement; and effective assurance review process, for producing an effective project SOW. While eleven key barriers for producing an effective SOW were identified such as: absence of reward system; insufficient training programs; and insufficient budget. Therefore, enhancing the key enablers and overcoming the barriers may facilitated improvements in the project SOW development process. This study recommends that companies need to pay closer attention to the design of the temporary organisation and accordingly set their strategy, structure, process, rewards and people. The researcher details some implications, acknowledges some limitations and provides recommendations for future research in this area.

The purpose of this thesis is to provide taxonomy of risk management (RM) in new product development (NPD) research and, based on that, to develop a research agenda for this field of study. The review was based on a systematic review which not only concentrates peer reviewed journal papers but also conferences and a book chapter. A total of 58 academic sources have been retrieved published within the period of 1980-2012 and were classified into various purposeful themes. The review reveals that research on RM in NPD is mostly theoretical in nature and lacks empirical foundations. It also argues that while there has been written a lot on how risk should be managed in NPD process (prescriptive type), the other aspect of how risk is being managed (descriptive type) is not very well addressed. Based on this, various research gaps are identified from different developed themes. The review is limited in several ways. First, research cannot be regarded as complete or comprehensive literature review in the field of RM in NPD, although every effort has been made to include the articles relevant to review question. The themes selected for classification of articles could have been structured in many different ways. The research accomplishes an identified need for exhaustive classification of literature. It identifies discrepancies among theoretical and empirical knowledge and thus tries to bridge a gap between both types of knowledge.

Increasingly Manufacturing Enterprises (MEs) need to perform competitively to survive in today s global markets. This thesis investigates the notion that competitive product realisation is not simply dependent on deploying state of the art operational and infrastructural support processes but also depends upon the adoption of management processes that ensure efficient and effective use of human and non human resources. Having an experience of more than two decades working in a public sector ME located in Pakistan the author has observed that improvements in timelines, quality and profit begins from measurement; followed by goal, problem & solution understanding, then planning and control of needed change. Therefore, a desire to enhance best practice qualitative and quantitative measurement of management processes triggered and focussed this research. Consequently the aim of this research has been to contribute to knowledge by using state of the art modelling techniques to structure and enable quantitative measurement of management processes within MEs. Subsequent research of the author has conceived, implemented and case tested a modelling methodology that is designed to measure the Level of Application of Management Process (LAMP) in pursuit of ME productivity improvement. In order to achieve the aim of this research, a semi generic model of management processes deployed in MEs was defined and explicitly modelled by using an ISO Enterprise Modelling technique. The definition of this semi-generic model was realised consequent upon (1) a literature review and (2) conducting semi-structured interviews with experts (n=42) in three public sector MEs located in Pakistan. Use of the Enterprise Modelling technique enabled decomposition and classification of management processes into so called Domain Processes, which subsequently were explicitly defined as Business Processes at a more detailed level of modelling abstraction. Then during subsequent research the author conceived and developed the use of a methodology to apply a LAMP scorecard the use of which was tested whilst conducting structured interviews with project managers (n=25) in three public sector MEs located in Pakistan that operate on project oriented management structures. The case study results partially validated the fitness for purpose of the model driven measurement methodology, identified opportunities for future methodological research and illustrated how LAMP identified and enabled measurements can help to define, quantify and direct potential opportunities for ME enhancement.

Kiekvienoje organizacijoje galima aptikti daugelį veiklos sričių, kuriose vyksta įvairūs žinių valdymo procesai: žinių identifikavimas, žinių įgijimas, žinių plėtojimas, dalijimasis žiniomis ir žinių platinimas, žinių panaudojimas, žinių išsaugojimas, apsauga (Probst ir kt., 2006, p. 40). Šis darbas yra skirtas savivaldybės darbuotojų neformaliam dalijimuisi žiniomis koordinavimo veiklos situacijoje. Savivaldybės, kaip ir visos kitos Lietuvos organizacijos, šiais laikais išgyvena įvairias, dažniausiai glaudžiai tarpusavyje susietas transformacijas: giluminę restruktūrizaciją, veiklos perorientavimą, personalo kaitą ir kt. Kad ir kuo besireikštų šios transformacijos, kad ir kokioje veiklos situacijoje, tenka konstatuoti faktą, kad savivaldybės susiduria su tam tikrais iššūkiais, pavyzdžiui, biudžeto mažinimu, veiklos fragmentiškumu, organizacijos žinių praradimu, pasitraukus iš veiklos ar pasikeitus kai kuriems darbuotojams. Tai atsiliepia teikiamų paslaugų kokybei. / Each organization can be found in many areas of activity , which hosts a variety of knowledge management processes : knowledge identification , knowledge acquisition, knowledge development , knowledge sharing and dissemination of knowledge , knowledge utilization , knowledge preservation , protection ( Probst et al . , 2006, p . 40) . This work is intended for municipal workers informal knowledge-sharing activities coordination situation. Municipalities , as well as all other Lithuanian organizations these days are going through various , often closely interconnected transformations : the deep restructuring, reorientation activities , personnel changes , etc. . Whatever you besireikštų this transformation , and the activities that situation have to state the fact that municipalities are faced with some challenges, such as budget cuts, fragmentary activity , the organization of knowledge loss , withdrawal from activity or changes in the staff. This affects the quality of services .