Inaug.-Diss.--Bern.

M.Com. (Business Mangement) / Die grootste enkele uitdaging van bestuurders van ontwikkelende lande vandag is om die produktiwiteit van "kenniswerkers" en "dienste werkers" te verhoog. Volgens Drucker (1991:69) sal hierdie uitdaging 'n belangrike punt op die agenda van bestuurders wees vir die volgende dekade en sal dit deurslaggewend wees vir die mededingende prestasies van diensondernemings. Drucker (1991: 70) beweer verder dat produktiwiteitsverhoging die hoof ekonomiese prioriteit van ontwikkelende lande behoort te wees. Produktiwiteitsverbetering is een van die metodes wat aangewend kan word om ekonomiese groei en stabilitiet te bevorder. Die winsmotief in die private sektor dien as 'n aansporing vir bestuur om produktiwiteit te verhoog. Die strewe na produktiwiteitsverhoging is egter volgens Kruger (1991:3) nie 'n einddoel opsig self nie, maar eerder 'n middel tot die doel. Produktiwiteit is 'n bestuursverantwoordelikheid en 'n ondernemingsdoelwit. Die bestuur van ondernemings het verskillende hulpbronne, naamlik mense, tegnologie, grondstowwe en kapitaal tot hulle beskikking. Dit is bestuur se plig om hierdie hulpbronne so produktief moontlik te laat ontvorm tot gevraagde produkte en dienste (De Clerk, 1983:12)...

This dissertation proposes to develop a functional specification of the cost function which can be used to discriminate among the alternative flexible functional forms and to analyze productivity growth. The problem of choosing among alternative functional forms is tackled by developing a nested representation which takes as special cases several well known forms. Productivity growth is analyzed by considering input price effects, non-neutral scale effects and biased technical change. Total factor productivity (TFP) is used as an index of technical change. Traditionally, the rate of TFP growth has been computed, assuming constant returns to scale, as the residual of the rate of growth of real output minus the rate of growth of aggregate real input. The parametric approach to productivity analysis adopted here allows estimation of the TFP growth rate without requiring constant returns to scale. The stochastic specification of the model incorporates errors arising out of imperfect cost minimizing behaviour. The resulting likelihood function is continuous in all the parameters. A four input version of the model has been used to estimate the total U.S. Manufacturing Technology, 1947-71. The inputs are capital, labour, energy and other intermediate materials. The parameters of the model have been estimated by utilizing the maximum likelihood method. The main hypotheses tested are neutrality of technical change and homotheticity. This investigation suggests that total U.S. Manufacturing, 1947-71 may be characterized by non-neutral scale effects and biased technical change. The scale effects have been capital, labour and energy saving while technical progress has been capital and energy using and labour neutral. The elasticity results indicate that capital and labour are substitutes as are labour and energy while capital and energy are complements. Capital and energy are more own price elastic than labour. Scale economies seem to have contributed considerably to productivi growth in total U.S. Manufacturing, 1947-71. The contribution of total factor productivity is, however, uncertain and perhaps small. / Arts, Faculty of / Vancouver School of Economics / Unknown

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on February 27, 2008) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 137 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-137). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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M.Com. (Business Management) / A high level of productivity is of utmost importance to any nation seeking economical growth and stability. However, South Africa has fallen behind its most important trading partners regarding levels of productivity. This decline in productivity started during the late 1960's and has resulted in a subsequent decline in competitiveness. Even more alarming is the fact that some third world countries have overtaken South Africa regarding productivity, and are currently maintaining economical growth rates in excess of five percent per annum. Another trend of modern times is the rapid growth in the number of white-collar workers (including knowledge workers). This rise of the knowledge worker is a result of the swing towards technology- and service organizations. It is thus clear that. the importance of knowledge worker productivity cannot be underestimated. There are however a number of problems regarding the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity. Most of these problems have their origin in the unique characteristics of knowledge work. The aim of this study is thus to investigate the problems regarding the measurement of knowledge work, methods of improving productivity in general as well as improving knowledge worker productivity specifically, and finally to develop a guideline for the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity. The study begins with a thorough literature study regarding productivity, knowledge workers and productivity improvement techniques. Following this is an empirical study to investigate certain specific factors which influence productivity. Finally a conclusion is made, resulting in a guideline for the management and improvement of knowledge worker productivity.

The aim of the methodological part of the Master's Thesis is to built up theoretical knowledge of total productivity and factor productivity and to define various approaches to productivity growth. The aim of the practical part is to analyse productivity of the company TATRASVIT SVIT - SOCKS, a.s. Consequently, the chosen indicators of the company, which are described in the theoretical part, are compared to those of the whole textile and clothing industry. A specific part is focused on the influence of the exchange rate on exporters. The specific conclusions and recommendations to the company management are drawn at the end of the Master's Thesis.