Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-07-25T20:48:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 kelsondamasceno.pdf: 1266651 bytes, checksum: 77c75dc7c507f2832883bddcabfc3f2f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-25T20:53:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 kelsondamasceno.pdf: 1266651 bytes, checksum: 77c75dc7c507f2832883bddcabfc3f2f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-25T20:53:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 kelsondamasceno.pdf: 1266651 bytes, checksum: 77c75dc7c507f2832883bddcabfc3f2f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-14 / O presente trabalho investigou o desempenho em matemática de um grupo de alunos matriculados em escolas municipais de Belo Horizonte, no decorrer de sua passagem pelos três anos finais do Ensino Fundamental (7º, 8º e 9º anos), os quais compreendem o chamado terceiro ciclo de formação. Avaliados com desempenho Avançado em matemática, de acordo com o Avalia-BH (edição de 2010), quando estavam matriculados no 6º ano, esses alunos iniciaram o 7º ano sem defasagem na aprendizagem, aptos a prosseguirem nos estudos em matemática. Ao final do período de três anos, ao serem avaliados na edição de 2013 do Avalia-BH, foi constatado que cerca de 13% desses alunos apresentaram o mesmo desempenho favorável. Os dados de desempenho dos alunos das escolas municipais de Belo Horizonte, em 2014, mostraram que, enquanto no primeiro e segundo ciclos havia, respectivamente, 16,2% e 7,2% de alunos no padrão de desempenho Avançado, no terceiro ciclo, havia apenas 1,6%. Esta pesquisa foi motivada pela constatação do baixo percentual de alunos no padrão de desempenho Avançado no terceiro ciclo. Foram analisados os dados de desempenho em matemática de 5.401 alunos do terceiro ciclo das escolas municipais de educação de Belo Horizonte, juntamente com os dados dos questionários de contexto respondidos pelos mesmos alunos. Os primeiros foram coletados em quatro ondas de avaliação e os dados dos questionários de contexto foram coletados à época da última onda, em 2013. A metodologia utilizada foi a análise do banco de dados de desempenho dos alunos e dos dados dos questionários contextuais do Avalia-BH. Para realizar a análise dos dados levantados para esta pesquisa, foram buscados fundamentos em autores na literatura pertinente, como Brooke, Soares, Oliveira, Lee, Bonamino e outros. Constatou-se que aqueles alunos que possuíam maior autonomia nos estudos, isto é, que dependiam menos do professor para aprender a matéria, se desenvolveram melhor, ao contrário dos outros que afirmaram depender mais do professor para que aprendessem a matéria. Quanto aos alunos que atingiram o desempenho Avançado nessa etapa, é possível dizer que foi resultante, mais por méritos próprios, que pela capacidade da escola em oferecer um ensino de melhor qualidade. Outra conclusão é que são poucas as ações da Secretaria Municipal de Educação de Belo Horizonte voltadas para os alunos de melhor desempenho e que, nas escolas, esses alunos não se sentem motivados a estudar. / This study sought to investigate Math performance in a group of students enrolled in city-run schools in Belo Horizonte, during the last three Elementary School years (7th, 8th, and 9th grades), which stand for the third cycle of education background. The students were ranked Advanced Performance, according to Avalia-BH - assessment tool developed by Belo Horizonte Secretary of Education – (2010 edition), when they were enrolled on the 6th grade. Those students started the 7th grade with no learning gap, they were ready to build on knowledge on Math. At the end of the three-year period, when they were assessed at the 2013 Avalia-BH edition, nearly 13% of them showed the same favorable performance. In 2014, performance data of students from Belo Horizonte city-run schools showed that, while on the first and second cycles, respectively,16,2% and 7,2% of students reached Advanced Performance Standard; on the third cycle, only 1,6% achieved such performance. The current study was conducted due to the low percentage of third cycle students ranked in the Advanced Performance Standard. Data relevant to 5,401 third cycle, Belo Horizonte city-run students on Math performance together with context questionnaire data, the questionnaires were answered by the students. The first were collected over four assessment waves and context questionnaire data were collected in 2013 during the last wave. The methodology used was analysis of student performance data base and Avalia-BH context questionnaire data. Fundamentals by authors, such as Brooke, Soares, Oliveira, Lee, Bonamino, and others were paramount to analyze the data collected for this study. The results proved that students who were more autonomous, i.e., that relied less on their teachers for learning had better performance than students who needed more teacher support for learning. Therefore, students who achieved Advanced Performance Standard on this stage did so due to their own merits, in detriment of school’s capacity to offer good quality teaching. Another result is that there are few actions targeted at high performance students conducted by the Belo Horizonte Secretary of Education; also, those students showed no motivation to study.

This dissertation work focuses on evaluation of the performance and credibility of domestic pension funds. It includes information about pension systems in six selected countries in the world, specifically Chile, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, Sweden and Slovakia, and culminates with a proposal for pension reform in the Czech Republic. The evaluation of the performance of pension funds is based on experience with measuring performance in twenty-three countries of the world processed for the OECD and cites original basis materials for proposals for the regulation of pension funds in the Czech Republic. Setting of indicators is preceded by an analysis of measurements of performance by the Association of Pension Funds in the Czech Republic and the Research Institute of Labour and Social Affairs. The most important proposed indicators include the actual result in relation to the participants' funds, which captures the influence of changes in the market values of financial assets, and the indicator of competence covers obligations, reflecting the influence of changes in costs during subsequent periods, which include yet undistributed commission for mediators of pension insurance. For a comparison of benefits and risks, mutual funds denominated in CZK were selected, which were verified as a suitable alternative to long-term saving. The method of evaluation of pension funds itself is based on explanation, evaluation and selection of favourable indicators for determining the rating of domestic pension funds, which clients of pension funds could use as a method for evaluating the credibility and benefits of a specific domestic pension fund for the purpose of securing it in retirement age.

This study explored the improvement of individual performance outcomes within the administrative units of UNISA. The study aimed, in particular, to explore, analyse and interpret individual performance management practices. It should be noted that this study did not attempt to cover all the areas of effective and efficient performance management. The focus was to investigate the processes and approaches for continuously managing the improvement of individual performance outcomes, which could lead towards improved institutional performance. The main aim of the study was to investigate how the performance management system at the University of South Africa can be approved. The study adopted qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, thus a combination of inductive and deductive approaches, sampling and analyses, data collection and interpretations were used. However, the research design and methodology in this study primarily focused on a case study design and a mixedmethod approach to reach valid and reliable conclusions. The first part of the thesis focused on the analysis of literature and empirical documents relating to performance management approaches and the research design and methodology applied. The second part focused on the performance management practices at UNISA, the implementation of surveys/questionnaires, interviews and group-discussions. Lastly, ideas and themes were identified from the collected data that should answer the research questions. The study found that performance management should focus on the identification of an individual’s strengths and weaknesses in order to enable improved individual performance outcomes. Therefore, if managers want to manage individuals effectively and improve individual performance, all related factors, which include motivation, coaching and monitoring, as well as influencing positive behaviours by individuals, should form part of the effective performance management system. Far too often, managers neglect objectively analysing performance appraisals’ outcomes, and compromise by allocating undeserved percentage ratings, mainly to avoid possible conflict situations. The study’s findings provided valuable insights that could improve the performance management system at Unisa. - v - Some of the recommendations include: that effective performance management entails co-analysis, co-decision, co-design and co-evaluation, which could lead to the clear objective setting of targets for implementation by individuals; the implementation of quarterly appraisals; the implementation of ‘crowdsourcing’ or 360° evaluations; continuous self-development and training. This study’s outcomes could make a significant contribution to the body of existing literature in the discipline of Public Administration. More specifically, in respect of the survey/questionnaires within three prominent constructs, the triangulation and mixed-methods approach used for this study; and the case study model applied in the research of the University of South Africa, as an institution of higher education. / Public Administration and Management / D. Phil. (Public Administration)