The primary purpose of the research is data generation relating to management perceptions of staff development provision in Welsh FE institutions, with the subsidiary aim of identifying weaknesses and omissions in provision and suggesting methods for effecting improvements. After presenting an overview of factors contributing to the growth of staff development provision in FE (chapter 1), the current 'state of the art' is determined by an examination of relevant literature,(chapter 2). Four major themes are identified and employed as research guides and parameters - staff development policies, methods of needs analysis, approaches to provision and evaluation. The research methodology generates data of both a nomothetic and ideographic nature by means of pilot studies, questionnaire survey, case studies involving interviews and repertory grids and the design and testing of a staff development model, (Chapter 3). The investigation proceeds in four stages - a preliminary survey which assesses the accuracy of perceptions derived from the literature survey; a general survey of Welsh FE colleges by means of questionnaire analysis; the conducting of case studies in which college managers' perceptions are examined by interview and completion of repertory grids; the design and testing of a practical effective staff development model which focuses on specific weaknesses and omissions identified by the research, (Chapters 4,5,6,7 and 8). It is found, (Chapter 9), that current provision shows only modest advances when compared with staff development theory and practice highlighted in the literature. In particular college policies, needs analysis systems, approaches to provision are quite rudimentary and inappropriate, with systematic evaluation of provision non-existent. It is also found that deficiencies in practice are matched by similar deficiences in the manner in which current staff development provision is perceived by managers, as indicated by the interviews and repertory grid analyses. It is further found that a staff development model can be a useful tool for improving the understanding and planning of staff development and that it is possible to conduct a meaningful and productive evaluation of a college's provision by means of a practical effective model, having as its focus the principle of holistic evaluation.

This qualitative case study seeks to explore and understand how managers work with and perceive the sustainability engagement of a large multinational corporation. The analytical framework used was based on the techniques and procedures of grounded theory as described by Corbin and Strauss (2008), following the key concepts of theoretical sampling and constant comparison of findings. The findings of this study show that engaging in sustainability is a complex process where clear targets and communication is perceived to be crucial for the sustainability performance of the corporation. However, if sustainability is driven by business and becomes a natural part of the everyday work of managers it is perceived as profitability work and a ticket to play. By describing the work, stories, and perceptions of managers working in a corporation, the findings of this study can contribute to contemporary research on sustainability that is often normative in its nature, only telling corporations what to do, but not how this can be done and how it can be perceived. This study also helps inform practitioners, managers as other stakeholders, of how a sustainability engagement affects everyday work.

The purpose of this thesis was to explore senior managers' perceptions of strategic management, with the specific context being the National Oil Corporation in Libya. As such it represents a ground-breaking study at PhD level. An extensive literature identified key themes and models of strategy formulation and strategic management, in particular Karami's model of strategic management (Karami, 2007) together with key factors influencing the processes involved. This led to a study of the Libyan NOC based on a two-stage research design, the first a survey involving two hundred and fifty two senior managers of whom seventy returned completed questionnaires and the second conducting twelve semi-structured follow up interviews to deepen the findings from the questionnaire with qualitative data. The findings of this thesis suggest that the Libyan NOC may have relied too heavily in the past on strategy formulation and strategic management as the preserve of a very few individuals at the very top of the organisation, as the role of the great majority of senior managers was limited to monitoring and high level supervision. It was found that although political directives set the strategy for the whole organisation, there was a gap in knowledge and understanding between the senior business managers and the political appointments to the Board. Recommendations for improving practice therefore concerned steps in the strategic management process and senior managers' effectiveness especially in the Board as a team. Recommendations for reflecting the Libyan NOC as an example of a state-owned enterprise in Karami's model were to include Board effectiveness as the first step, to add medium-term objectives and to include social responsibility in environmental scanning under external factors.

The purpose of this thesis was to explore senior managers¿ perceptions of strategic management, with the specific context being the National Oil Corporation in Libya. As such it represents a ground-breaking study at PhD level. An extensive literature identified key themes and models of strategy formulation and strategic management, in particular Karami¿s model of strategic management (Karami, 2007) together with key factors influencing the processes involved. This led to a study of the Libyan NOC based on a two-stage research design, the first a survey involving two hundred and fifty two senior managers of whom seventy returned completed questionnaires and the second conducting twelve semi-structured follow up interviews to deepen the findings from the questionnaire with qualitative data. The findings of this thesis suggest that the Libyan NOC may have relied too heavily in the past on strategy formulation and strategic management as the preserve of a very few individuals at the very top of the organisation, as the role of the great majority of senior managers was limited to monitoring and high level supervision. It was found that although political directives set the strategy for the whole organisation, there was a gap in knowledge and understanding between the senior business managers and the political appointments to the Board. Recommendations for improving practice therefore concerned steps in the strategic management process and senior managers¿ effectiveness especially in the Board as a team. Recommendations for reflecting the Libyan NOC as an example of a state-owned enterprise in Karami¿s model were to include Board effectiveness as the first step, to add medium-term objectives and to include social responsibility in environmental scanning under external factors.