This thesis explores the question of whether Performance Management Systems (PMS) contribute to the managing of Executive Agencies (EAs). Exploring this question empirically in the context of the Jamaican public sector, it develops a realist methodology with methods, which are applied to the study of four Jamaican Executive Agencies (JEAs). Primary research conducted in 2011 through semi-structured interviews is combined with secondary research that considers both official government and unofficial resources such as reports (official) and newspapers (unofficial). The thesis is one of very few studies to focus on JEAs, one of only two studies to explore PMS in JEAs, and the first to make a focus on PMS in JEAs the primary object of study. It therefore contributes to a very limited literature, which is, therefore, both a strength of the thesis insofar as it breaks new ground, and also a challenge. It is a challenge because the lack of available literature on JEAs with which to relate. In order to address this lack, drawing on Historical Institutionalism (HI), Path Dependency (PD) and Policy Transfer theories, it argues that it is reasonable to draw on British literature owing to the historical influences of Britain on Jamaica, their institutional and constitutional contexts and, particularly, because the agencification of the Jamaican public sector has been based on the British Next Steps Model. From reviewing the British literature an Integrative Conceptual Framework (ICF) is developed. This framework incorporates those factors deemed as critical to the development of PMS in the organisational performance management literature, (that is, both management and public management), in order to harness the structural, procedural, situational and behavioural aspects discussed in the existing literature into a single framework. The ICF is at the heart of the thesis because it influences the methods used in conducting the primary research, and the presentation of research findings. It is therefore a major contribution of the thesis, and it is recommended that this framework could be applied in other contexts (e.g. in the private sector) and locations (e.g. in countries other than Jamaica) to analyse the use of PMS for managing. By triangulating the primary research findings with secondary data, that is, existing literature on the four case studies, the ICF is applied to generate a longitudinal aspect to the study. It is also found that PMS do contribute to managing JEAs, and that the use of PMS in JEAs has evolved positively over time for managing JEAs. The research findings discuss how PMS contributes to managing the four JEAs in terms of the different components of the ICF. Based on this, the study is able to add to existing academic literature, and make recommendations to practitioners. The contribution of this thesis to literature therefore incorporates both a conceptual and theoretical aspect, and also has a practical element. Both of these, it claims, could form the basis for further research.

In the current global market, knowledge is viewed as a source of competitive advantage. In particular, it has become a crucial factor for Multinational Corporations (MNCs). MNCs are searching for appropriate ways to manage and use their knowledge effectively and efficiently. Their challenge is how to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and maximise the value from all available knowledge assets. In response to this, MNCs use Knowledge Management Systems (KMSs) for sharing, utilising and integrating knowledge as well as supporting Decision-making Processes. Therefore, the primary concern of this research is to examine knowledge sharing by using KMSs to support decision-making processes in MNCs. The study extends the existing literature on KMSs, knowledge sharing, and decision-making processes by proposing and empirically testing a new conceptual model in MNCs. For this purpose, a mixed-methods approach has been designed, combining semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire to collect data from MNCs participants from Europe and the Middle-East. In the first phase of this study, 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from 32 different MNCs in 12 countries to explore the main factors affecting knowledge sharing by using KMSs to support decision-making processes. A conceptual framework comprising four core dimensions was developed using thematic analysis. In the first dimension, Knowledge Management Systems, three themes were identified: technology acceptance, communication tools, and KMSs usage. In the second dimension, Knowledge Sharing Practices, the three themes were: content, willingness to share, and external factors. In Culture, the themes were: national culture, organisational culture, and information technology culture. In the fourth dimension, Decision-making Processes, extent of analysis and speed of decision-making were identified. This study went a step further than merely identifying the factors that affect KS. A conceptual model and twelve hypotheses were developed based on the findings of the thematic analysis, literature review, and the research objectives. The new model comprises seven constructs: organisational culture, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of using KMSs, KMSs usage, knowledge sharing, decision-making processes and organisational effectiveness. A survey was conducted to collect data on participants’ perceptions to test the model. Responses from 221 KMSs users were analysed. Structural equation modelling was conducted to test the hypothesised relationships. The results revealed that all hypotheses are statistically significant. KMSs usage and organisational culture have a positive and significant impact on knowledge sharing, with organisational culture having the largest impact. KMSs usage, knowledge sharing and organisational culture have a significant effect on decision-making processes; knowledge sharing has the biggest impact, followed by KMSs usage, and a marginally positive impact of organisational culture. Moreover, perceived ease of use has a strong and positive significant impact on the perceived usefulness of KMSs. Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and organisational culture have a positive and significant effect on KMSs usage, with organisational culture having the largest impact. Finally, organisational culture, decision-making processes and perceived usefulness have a positive and significant impact on organisational effectiveness, but decision-making processes have the biggest impact. This study has practical implications for different stakeholders in MNCs, including managers, decision makers, KMSs designers, IT specialists, and consultants, in linking KMSs usage and knowledge sharing with decision-making processes and organisational effectiveness, and by focusing on organisational culture in knowledge management.

The subject of this Master thesis is an application of fraud detection softwares. Except computer assisted audit tools and techniques and fraud management systems thesis deal with new methods like using neural network model or logistic regresion model.The thesis also contains comparison of the best softwares for fraud examinations.

Knowledge is said to be the actionable human quality gained from the capacity to derive mental insight from facts that have been placed in context, analyzed, and synthesized using references of past experience, mental comparison, and consideration of consequences. Knowledge, therefore, provides the key to understanding the world around us. Managing this knowledge can become a challenge for organizations that value the worth of the knowledge of its workers. Knowledge Management (KM) is the effective and accurate management of knowledge (acquisition, creation, storage, sharing, and use) used to promote and support organizational changes that enhance an organization's ability to effectively compete. This research was built on the foundational studies of others who provided empirical evidence of the constructs of KM success and Leadership Social Power (LSP). As many models of KM success have been identified and constructs empirically shown to have an impact on that success, the need for understanding the underlying influences on these constructs becomes increasingly important. This study investigated the constructs of LSP used by organizational leaders to influence KM workers to bring about KM success. This research revealed organizations wishing to secure, improved, or maintain KM success, should ensure their leaders: 1) are committed to KM, 2) encourage quality knowledge, and 3) promote knowledge use. With three fundamental goals in mind, it was empirically demonstrated that LSP was a factor of that success and was able to predict Leadership Commitment to KM, Knowledge Use, and Knowledge Content Quality. This research empirically demonstrated each of the LSP subconstructs influence the dimensions of KM success in different ways.

As cidades brasileiras enfrentam graves problemas na construção e manutenção de suas infraestruturas, que comprometem a qualidade de vida da população. Geralmente, como é o caso das obras viárias e, mais particularmente, dos pavimentos, tratam-se de obras e serviços que necessitam de investimentos vultosos e que deveriam, portanto, ser corretamente dimensionadas, executadas e mantidas ao longo da vida em serviço. Este trabalho trata dos Sistemas de Gerência de Pavimentos Urbanos (SGPU), relatando experiência de implantação em uma cidade de médio porte (Anápolis-GO), apresentando todas as etapas e fases de implantação, as barreiras institucionais que tiveram de ser vencidas, o entrelaçamento entre as áreas técnica, jurídica, administrativa, ambiental e política, os resultados e benefícios obtidos com a implantação do SGPU e as principais funções e utilidades, que incluem não só a otimização do planejamento das atividades de manutenção e reabilitação dos pavimentos, mas, também, o auxílio à prefeitura municipal na busca de recursos junto ao Governo Federal ou a outros órgãos de financiamento. Os resultados obtidos com a implantação do SGPU-Anápolis foram positivos, podendo-se destacar o auxílio em processo licitatório para contratação de obras de manutenção preventiva, sendo que, anteriormente, as opções se restringiam tão somente aos tapa-buracos e recapeamentos sem dimensionamento estrutural, o estímulo ao desenvolvimento da área de pavimentação junto aos cursos de Engenharia Civil existentes na cidade, com contratação de estagiários para atuação em todas as etapas, incentivo à implantação de uma gerência de infraestrutura urbana, com a compatibilização de todos os setores que se utilizam do sistema viário (transporte público, água, esgoto, drenagem, iluminação pública, telefonia, gás, energia elétrica, meio-fio, sarjetas, calçadas etc.), preparação de equipe para utilização de uma base comum de dados georreferenciados para a gerência da infraestrutura urbana, inclusive com contratação de estagiários de arquitetura de cursos existentes na cidade e região, formação e aperfeiçoamento técnico dos gestores públicos e tomadores de decisão em geral e, finalmente, desenvolvimento de um exemplo de processo sinérgico envolvendo a universidade, a iniciativa privada e a administração pública. / Brazilian cities face serious problems in the construction and maintenance of its infrastructure, which affect the quality of life. Generally, as in the case of road works and, more particularly, the pavements, these are works and services that require huge investments and should therefore be properly designed, built and maintained throughout the service life. This work deals with the Urban Pavements Management Systems, reporting deployment experience in a medium-sized city (Anapolis-GO), showing all the stages and phases of implementation, institutional barriers that had to be overcome, the entanglement between areas (technical, legal, administrative, environmental and political), the results and benefits obtained with the implementation and the main functions and utilities, which include not only the optimal planning of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation activities, but also aid to the municipal government in seeking funds from the federal government or other funding agencies. The results obtained three years after the implementation of SGPU-Anapolis are very positive, and it can be highlight the aid in the bidding process for preventive maintenance works, since the previous options were limited solely to patching and underdesigned overlays, stimulating the development of the paving area along the courses of Civil Engineering in the city, with hiring interns to work in all stages, encouraging the establishment of a management of urban infrastructures, with the compatibility of all sectors that use the roadway system (public transportation, water, sewage, drainage, street lighting, telephone, gas, electric, curbs, gutters, sidewalks etc.), preparation of staff for the use of a common set of georeferenced data for management of urban infrastructure, including hiring interns of architecture courses in the city and nearby town, training and technical improvement of public managers and decision makers in general, and finally, development of an example of synergistic process involving the university , the private sector and public administration.

With the use of the Internet and the emerging of e-commerce, new and improved technologies and modeling techniques have been used to design and implement web-based database management systems.

Communicating devices are on the rise. Fueled by the introduction of Internet-of-Thing (IoT) and Industry 4.0, more and more devices are capable of information sharing. There is a long history of communicating devices in industrial and building management contexts that previously relied on fieldbuses. One of these legacy fieldbuses is the Modbus protocol, originating in serial communication and now adapted for use with Ethernet. It has significant adoption in the fields of industrial automation systems (IAS) and building management systems (BMS) but carries many limitations. Industrial systems often have a long lifespan and fundamental changes are not introduced quickly. This leads to a need for legacy communication protocols to be able to function alongside the new paradigms for the foreseeable future. In order to facilitate this phase, an attempt to improve system integration in the Modbus context is performed in this thesis. By utilizing standardization and automation principles, additional functionality and definitions are proposed to the Modbus protocol to help improve system integration. By using interviews with system integrators and document reviews of available Modbus description documents three iterative development processes are performed to answer the research questions.  A proposed data model is presented, allowing for a standardized way to represent the contents of a Modbus register. Its attributes are clearly defined with descriptions and constraints. A new function code specification (0x47) is defined and presented in the same form as other function codes are described in the current Modbus specification. It allows for Modbus descriptors to be retrieved directly from the slave device. As a proof-of-concept the function code is developed in an existing Modbus implementation (Modbus4J). A client application is created to allow for fully functional demonstrations for a broader audience. The resulting communication is captured in Wireshark and presented as proof-of-concept.

Concerns over the negative impact of large-scale developments are becoming more prominent in an ever-evolving world. Linked to these concerns are the indigenous communities who continue to interact with their heritage present in the surrounding landscape, an interest that should be protected through the implementation of legislation that is truly representative of a country’s population. The comparative study presented in this dissertation was conducted at two locations; Dumezulu in South Africa and Jokkmokk in Sweden. I interviewed the relevant stakeholders in order to understand the impact each group had on the heritage resources present in the respective study areas. In South Africa, I assessed the relationship of key stakeholders (community members, Traditional Council, and the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality) involved in the construction and future management of the tourism centre. It became evident that there were a number of misunderstandings between these stakeholders. The Municipality, as a government structure, seemed to have an upper hand in terms of power. While the tourism development was the initiative of the Dumezulu community, the Municipality has the final say in decision-making because it raised and allocated part of the funding. Furthermore, South African heritage legislation does not seem to favour communities, giving more power to the state through its ownership of heritage resources. In Sweden, I interviewed and spoke to relevant authorities on Sami heritage issues. These were people who had worked closely with the Sami population. The heritage issues present in the South African case study did not differ drastically to the issues present in the Swedish case study. Inequality is not limited to South Africa, but Sweden too, where the Sami population does not command power over decisions linked to their cultural heritage resources. While the Sami have attracted interest for tourism purposes, a large number of these visitors are still mainly driven by stereotypes. As in the case of South Africa, the Swedish heritage legislation does not make special allowances for the Sami to manage their heritage resources in ways they consider appropriate for them. What I conclude is that there is the need for increased appreciation of Traditional Management Systems. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Anthropology and Archaeology / MA / Unrestricted

Environmental degradation is a burgeoning problem owing to the continual expansion of industrial production and high-levels of energy and material consumption world-wide. CP (CP) is a preventive environmental approach, aimed at increasing resource efficiency and reducing the generation of pollution and waste at source, which is being implemented globally and in South Africa. CP is not just an environmental initiative; it also supports other productivity-oriented programmes and strategies. This report deals with the development of an assessment model for CP to support the business process of a company using TM. A conceptual model for CP assessment including TM assessment of identified CP improvement options is derived. The research investigates the possibility of improving the understanding of CP by using TM frameworks. Through direct participation data was collected to compile case studies with in the South African automotive industry. Case studies identify CP focus areas and improvement techniques. Results from the CP assessments were used to forecast cost saving through the implementation of the CP techniques. The CP improvement options were assessed using three different TM methods. The main reason behind the TM assessment of CP technologies was to develop a better understating of CP from a TM perspective. Results derived from the TM assessment were used to suggest strategies to benefit managers of companies and other stake holders. The research provides a different approach towards the understanding of CP technologies and improvement options. The study attempts to link the CP process to the business process in a company using TM methods. The study contributes towards the understanding and growth of CP technologies in the South African automotive sector and states the challenges with regards to the implementation of CP in South Africa. Based on the TM assessment results, technologies strategies for CP implementation were proposed. / Dissertation (MEng (Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / MEng / unrestricted

Revenue Management (RM) is a process that is trying to understand, estimate and influence the behaviour of customers to maximize revenues. Constant development in the field of information and communication technology leads to the development of more efficient systems which boost decision-making in the revenue management. RM systems are based on 2 modules, prognostic and optimization. In order for both modules to provide the most accurate estimates and to find effective decisions on booking limits and prices, they need a huge amount of information on demand and other factors. The diploma thesis deals with the theory of income management, description of techniques used in RM, RM systems used in air transport and RM applications on selected airline.