Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1992. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-43).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Bremen, 2008.

Zugl.: Wien, Wirtschaftsuniv., Diss., 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Purdue University, 1988. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 251-261).

Proefschrift Maastricht. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The implementation of policy reforms in developing countries continues to be negatively influenced by factors such as difficulties with resource mobilization, the dominance of technocratic policy management advocated by donors, and the persistence of state centralism. Tax system reforms in Rwanda constitute institutional and policy reforms aimed at improving tax compliance and ultimately the contribution of tax revenue to the national GDP. But, because of implementation flaws, including among others the scant flow of technical and financial resources; the dominance of a narrow technocratic approach in implementation; and indeed the failure of the implementers to mobilize political resources and constituent support, the realization of the above objective became a less attainable goal. This research examines the institutional and policy reforms in the tax system and the dynamics of their implementation, through the manipulation of secondary, numerical and textual information/ data on tax system administration in Rwanda. Chapter one of the research deals with the development of the idea to research tax system reform and the formulation of the research problem, hypothesis and methodology. In addition to that, chapter one provides an overview of the tax system reform in Rwanda, a comparative insight into the implementation of reform policies in developing countries, and contemporary experiences in tax system reforms. Chapters two and three, which are formative chapters, focus respectively on the background situations that either influenced or affected tax system reform in Rwanda, and the normative requirements for tax systems. Chapter four evaluates the implementation of reform and how it concurs with problem situations and normatives. Chapter five is summative in that it provides an interpretation and recommendations, as well as a summary of the research findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van beleidshervorming in ontwikkelende lande word negatief beïnvloed deur faktore soos probleme met die mobilisering van hulpbronne, die oorheersing van die tipe tegnokratiese beleidsbestuur wat deur donateurs voorgestaan word, en 'n voortgesette sentralistiese staatsbestel. Belastinghervorming in Rwanda omsluit institusionele en beleidshervorming met die oog op verbeterde belastingbetaling, wat tot 'n uiteindelike verbetering in die bydrae van belastinginkomste tot die BNP moet lei. Teenspoed tydens die implementering van die hervormingspoging, onder meer as gevolg van 'n gebrek aan tegniese en finansiële hulpbronne, die bekrompenheid van die tegnokratiese benadering waardeur die implementeringspoging oorheers is, en inderdaad die feit dat die implementeerders nie die nodige politieke middele of die publiek se ondersteuning kon mobiliseer nie, het egter veroorsaak dat hierdie doelwitte moeilik bereikbaar geraak het. Hierdie navorsing stel ondersoek in na institusionele en beleidshervorming ten opsigte van die belastingstelsel, en kyk ook na die implementeringsdinamiek daarvan. Die ondersoek is gegrond op 'n ontleding van sekondêre numeriese en tekstuele inligting/data oor die administrasie van die belastingstelsel in Rwanda. Hoofstuk een dui aan hoe die gedagte ontstaan het om navorsing oor die hervorming van die belastingstelsel in Rwanda te doen, en stel die navorsingsprobleem, die -hipotese en -metodologie bekend. Hierbenewens bied hoofstuk een 'n oorsig oor die hervorming van die belastingstelsel in Rwanda, en vergelykende insigte in die implementering van hervormingsbeleid in ontwikkelende lande asook onlangse ervaring wat die hervorming van belastingstelsels betref. Hoofstuk twee en drie is formatief van aard. Hulle fokus onderskeidelik op die agtergrondomstandighede wat 'n invloed op belastinghervorming in Rwanda gehad het, en op die normatiewe vereistes wat aan belastingsisteme gestel word. Hoofstuk vier evalueer die implementering van hervorming en hoe dit met probleemsituasies en hervormingsnorme verband hou. Hoofstuk vyf is summatief van aard en bevat 'n vertolking en aanbevelings, sowel as 'n samevatting van die navorsingsbevindinge.

No description available.

This thesis describes investigations into the phenomenon of time estimation in mechanical engineering design. Time estimating in this context refers to estimating in advance the approximate duration of a new design project, for the purpose of preparing schedules. The thesis describes background to the estimation problem, including practical and theoretical aspects of design, design management and market conditions. The research presented is based on data gathered from industrial collaborators, therefore detailed descriptions of the collaborating firms are included. A quantitative study is described which demonstrates that current estimation techniques are not infallible; and that there can be a statistically significant link between the estimated and actual completion times. A process of grounded theorising, based on expert interviews, is presented. Models of the design estimation task were generated by this process, and are included. Differences were found in the models for the estimation of times in an Engineer to Order (ETO) environment, and estimation in a Volume Manufacturing environment. The models were corroborated firstly by checking if they could be recognised and endorsed by the experts from which they were generated, and. secondly by checking if they could be recognised and endorsed by an expert not involved in the original model generation. Correspondence was found to be good. A modified model of time estimation is presented, taking into account the findings of the corroboration exercise. Finally, an example of a simple tool for assisting the estimation process is included.

The price of industrial progress is the potential for exposure of an increasingly informed public to chemical hazards in the environment. Of particular concern are acute exposures to chemical incidents, where problematic health risk assessments have highlighted the lack of expertise and resources available to support public health professionals in Wales responsible for protecting the health of populations. A systematic literature review of chemical incident databases, public health surveillance systems and major chemical incidents worldwide was used to guide the development of the first active, multi-agency community-based public health surveillance system for acute chemical incidents to be undertaken in Europe. A total of 642 acute chemical incidents were reported in Wales from all sources over a three year period. Of the 270 incidents reported by the primary source, chemical spills were the most frequently reported type of incident (28%) and operational industrial sites the most common location (25%). Of the estimated 238,000 people exposed, 528 reported symptoms in a total of 57 incidents. A single chemical was implicated in 86% of the incidents. Shortfalls were identified in the current expertise and resources available to public health professionals in Wales, leading to the development of a public health management model for acute chemical incidents. Model development took place in the context of United Kingdom - wide initiatives and involved the conduct of structured interviews with 41 organisations with interests in the field. The model selected for Wales was implemented on 1 February 1997 and comprised three levels of operation: (a) accountability for the protection of public health vested in health authorities at the local level; (b) a subscription-based front-line advisory and support unit to those authorities; (c) and a centrally funded national co-ordinating centre to provide the necessary evidence-base through programmes of surveillance, training, and emergency planning.

Situated within the interpretive and critical traditions, this study aims to contribute to one of the continuing primary themes in urban preservation: how to interpret and preserve the intangible values of built environments. A comprehensive analysis of dominant theories of urban preservation forms the conceptual framework within which this dissertation takes place. It starts by locating the intellectual context of preservation in North America, and examines its basic premises and core issues. It identifies three limits to the traditional approach to preservation planning. The complexity and fragility of history, its narrative quality and its particularities, its emotional content and economic values, all connect urban preservation with public history. Therefore, in the spirit of communicative democracy and “a shared authority”, the study incorporates collective memory as an essential construct in urban landscapes, and suggests a culturally sensitive narrative approach (CSNA). The study employs an in-depth case study. The setting is Kensington Market in Toronto, Canada. It examines retrospectively the urban renewal planning of Kensington Market in the 1960s, identifies the pivotal events that prompted the change of urban renewal policies, and demonstrates, through the interpretive policy analysis, that sometimes urban renewal plans that fail to be implemented can become success stories in how to preserve urban neighborhoods as a kind of public history. To probe deeper into the sources of conflict between the professionals and the public, the study further explores the mutual relationship between collective memory and urban landscapes. It takes a selective look at some significant sites of memory, and connects them into a narrative path. Through oral history interviewing, field observation, and material cultural analysis, this part of the analysis constitutes an empirical study of CSNA. A proposition is derived from this critical case study. The study concludes with seven steps of CSNA, a guide for urban landscape preservation and planning.