Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The main goal of this research is to develop and test a groundwater recharge estimation method that can address some of the key research priorities in groundwater. In this context use is made of various modelling tools including ArcGIS, field data (in situ observations of soil temperature and soil moisture), and soil physics as represented by a physically based vadose zone hydrologic model (HYDRUS-1D). The research is conducted in a pilot watershed in north Okanagan, Canada. The public version of HYDUS-1D and another version with detailed freezing and thawing module are first used to investigate seasonal distribution of heat and water movement in the vadose zone. Model performance is evaluated in different scales by using field data, the gradient-based optimization algorithm of HYDRUS-1D, and ROSETTA derived prior information about soil hydraulic parameters. The latter are fitted to statistical distributions and used in Monte-Carlo experiments to assess the potential uncertainty in groundwater recharge due to model parameters. Next, the significance of the recharge estimation method for catchment scale transient groundwater modelling is demonstrated by applying uniform and variable flux boundary condition to a saturated zone transient groundwater model, MIKESHE. The results showed that the traditional uniform recharge assumption can lead to misleading decisions related to water resources management and pumping well network design. The effect of pumping well network and the provincial Water Act on water resources sustainability are further examined in an evolving climate. The results suggest potential water resource problem in the basin, which can possibly be attributed to the previously installed pumping well network (depth and screen level), and the provincial water use policy. The findings of this study demonstrate that such problems related to inappropriate well network and water resource management can greatly be minimised with the use of the recharge estimation method developed in this study.

This study examines the relationship between investments in human capital and financial performance among U.S. profit-seeking firms. Specifically, it examines whether companies with greater emphasis in human capital are associated with higher profitability later on. The literature covers material ranging from accumulated information on the economy, organizational psychology, academic papers, national surveys, management literature, and workforce studies. The methodology tests a sample of companies from the Fortune 100’s Best Companies to Work For rank. Using correlations, regression analyses, and an analysis of further tests on Fortune 100 firms, the study provides evidence of a positive relationship between higher rankings and higher accounting ratios of NPM, ROE, and ROA. The paper has implications for managers to use human capital as a profit lever. Proper investments can be made using accounting and finance tools to better assess and invest in their employees.

Land degradation is a national concern that needs to be redressed and prevented by the government and its agencies as it has a significant impact on agricultural productivity and food security. The National Department of Agriculture is in the process of reforming the sustainable resource use policy to deal with the causes of land degradation and to promote the sustainable use of natural resources, particularly in povertystricken areas. Prior to 1994, this policy was only applied in areas where commercial agriculture was practised. The researcher has explored the struggles encountered during the implementation of the sustainable resource use policy through a case study approach within the Enkumane region of KwaZulu-Natal. The research followed a cross-sectional approach drawing from methods such as typology techniques, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, which were employed at various stages in the policy process, from the levels of policy-makers to the intended beneficiaries. A literature review emphasized the importance of applying inte~ated and participatory approaches in implementing a public policy. The results highlighted significant differences of opinion concerning the implementation of the sustainable resource use policy within and between the different stages of the process from policy to implementation. This was partly attributed to the inadequacy in terms of clear roles, direction and guidelines, and also in terms of the institutionalisation of experience, knowledge and skills. It was recommended that a more co-ordinated and integrated effort is required to reform the policy. This calls for the establishment of mechanisms to ensure that people at all stages in the policy process are involved in a participatory manner, towards the continual improvement of the sustainable resource use policy. The significance of this study is twofold, firstly the financial burden of ineffective policies is unacceptable to our society. Secondly, the research has a potential to enhance the policy to implementation process, which may provide a platform for improving the sustainable resource use policy. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Successful and convincing examples where local peoples' development needs have been effectively reconciled with biodiversity conservation remain difficult to find. One important reason for this is that little progress has been made in researching critical new areas such as developing indices to monitor qualitative concepts such as local participation. In this study, current approaches to the problems with measuring participation in Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) are reviewed. A theoretical framework combining the works of several practitioners is used to monitor the Nsonga Valley Forum (NVF), in the Hlatikulu Valley, Kwazulu-Natal as an example of an emerging ICDP. The NVF was formed in 1997 after a visit by the provincial parliamentary committee on Conservation and Environment. The Forum aims to act as a mouthpiece for the local Nsonga community and as a capacity building structure, while maintaining the ecological integrity of the Hlatikulu Vlei and adjacent Afromontane Hlatikulu Forest. Two sets of indicators are used in this framework. The prevalence indicators trace the nature of participation in the various stages of the development of the NVF's operation - i.e. in decision making and implementation, in benefit sharing and evaluation. The opportunity indicators refer to the level of opportunity or access available to the local people through the implementation of the Forum by analyzing its organisation and access to resources. According to this framework, the NVF would currently be classified as falling into the 'participation by consultation' category of an assumed legitimate typology of participation. Ultimately, empowerment properly defined, would be the goal of community development in the Hlatikulu Valley but would require a much greater participation of the community than is evident as present. In order to prevent biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development from becoming no more than an attractive slogan, participatory development research needs to be replicable, cost-effective and realistic. Recommendations are accordingly made for the future assessment, monitoring and evaluation of the progress of the NVF and other similar ICDP projects. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

1. BACKGROUND Mhlathuze Water (MW) is a public sector water utility created in terms of Water Act 54 of 1954, MW has legislative mandate to provide support services to DWAF and other government institutions such as municipalities and Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs). The objective of the CMA is to manage and coordinate water resources management functions at local level. This includes the power to manage, monitor, conserve and protect water resources and to implement catchment management strategies (NWA, 1998). Because of shortage of water resources specialist skills such as water resources monitoring, water resources assessment, flood prevention, and resource protection to mention few, the Usuthu-Mhlathuze CMA will have to outsource some of the specialist functions to private and public institutions like Mhlathuze Water on a competitive basis (DWAF, 2003). 2. PURPOSE The primary purpose of the dissertation is to analyze and understand the needs of the Usuthu-Mhlathuze CMA as well as MW's competencies so as to develop positioning strategy for MW. To achieve the primary purpose of the dissertation the following research objectives have been identified: • Identification of the needs of the target CMA. • Identification ofMW's strengths and weaknesses to see ifMW can satisfy the needs of the target CMA. • Analysis of competitors' strengths and weaknesses to measure MW against competitors. The three analyses will provide a base essential for developing and recommending a positioning strategy to MW. 3. METHODOLOGY The customer needs analysis information of the Usuthu-Mhlathuze CMA was mainly sourced from the following documents: • Usuthu-Mhlathuze Situation assessment (Appendix 1). • Proposal to establish the Usuthu-Mhlathuze CMA (Appendix 2). • Legal review on CMAs (Appendix 3). • Australian documentation on catchment management institutions (Appendix 4). For the competitor analysis, a profile of most organizations m the water sector operating in the area of the CMA was sourced from MW's consultants panel for various disciplines (Appendix 5). The internal analysis was compiled using information from reports produced by MW in the last five years and was also informed MW's participation in various studies and projects in the catchment management area (Appendix 6). Strategic employees from various MW's departments were contacted with the view of authenticating the analysis findings. 4. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION A number of areas of need for the imminent Usuthu to Mhlathuze CMA were identified. These included water quality management, flood management, construction and operation of waterworks, monitoring the performance of water users, monitoring the condition of water resources, alien vegetation management, education on water resource management, promotion of community participation, ensuring access to information regarding water resource management, development of a Catchment Management Strategy, provision of water to meet environmental needs, ensuring sustainable water sharing and efficient water use, and pursuing opportunities for productive use of alternative the water source. The competitor analysis (Appendix 7) provided the strengths and weaknesses of competitors likely to target the CMA as service providers. The likely major competitors of MW are: Scott Wilson, BKS, Jeffares and Green Consulting Engineers, Water Resource Planning and Conservation Consulting Engineers and Ninham Shand Consulting Engineers. Scott Wilson and DMM partnership have major strengths that MW would need to be aware of in developing a positioning strategy. The other competitors do not offer a suite of water resource management service. They are therefore not expected to be MW's major rivalries. 5. RECCOMENDATIONS MW should position itself as the low cost service provider because the imminent CMA will be very price sensitive. Apart from positioning itself as a low cost provider, MW should also position itself as a deliver good quality services. MW's strengths in terms of experience, expertise, knowledge and understating of the water resource dynamics demonstrate that MW can safely position itself as a deliver good quality services. MW is the only water resources management services provider that provides a suite of water resources management functions (Table 5.1, p. 49). The organization is also the only service provider that acts as an implementing agent that already provides water resource management services for DWAF (de facto CMA). Based on this, and the fact that MW is well known (DWAF, 2003), it is appropriate for MW to also position itself as leader in water resources management in the CMA area of operation (Thompson and Strickland, 2003). The most appropriate promotional tool that will solicit immediate response and cultivate lasting customer relationship for MW is direct marketing (Kotler, 2000). This means that MW must package their service offerings and go and sell them directly to the de fact CMA and later to the CMA. The benefits of using this tool is that the message will be specifically directed to the prospect specifically prepared to appeal to CMA and can be immediately changed depending on the response (Kotler, 2000). / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Social-ecological systems of traditional pastoralists are adapted to deal with shocks and stresses such as droughts and livestock disease that characterize their environment. However, inappropriate policies have undermined the resilience of pastoralist social-ecological systems at a time when stresses from new challenges, such as growth in the human population and global climate change are increasing. Many pastoralist groups such as the Gabra of north-central Kenya now regularly require emergency relief. There is an urgent need to take deliberate steps to rebuild the resilience of pastoralist social-ecological systems. One lever that external actors such as NGOs and government agencies have that could help them to do so relates to structures and processes of participation and decision-making. The purpose of this research, therefore, was to examine ways in which the approaches to public participation used by agencies involved in water resources management can affect the collective capacity of pastoralist institutions and communities to influence social-ecological resilience. The research revolved around a single case study: the Kenyan NGO Pastoralist Integrated Support Programme (PISP) together with the Gabra communities where PISP works. The research found that the capacity to influence resilience resides in the network of vertical and horizontal institutional linkages as much as it does in any particular organization or institution. This implies the need for a radical paradigm shift in the way that NGOs and other formal sector actors think of participation and of their role. An examination of the Gabra approach to decision-making and PISP's approach to participation point to an alternative way of thinking about participation. This alternative rationale for participation would call on formal sector actors to promote participation and inclusivity of decision-making at multiple levels of social organization through an array of interconnected processes and institutions, to foster deliberation processes that are nested across levels, and to help create and strengthen vertical institutional linkages for their beneficiary communities. These proposed strategies relate to a key contribution of this research, which is to suggest building a resilience-based theory of participation and to provide a glimpse of what such a theory might entail.

A McDonald’s training program for the positions of grill and counter was evaluated in order to identify recommendations for curriculum refinement or enhancements. The methodological approaches developed by Ford and Wroten (1984) and Bownas, Bosshardt, and Donnelly (1985) were applied. Three evaluation assessment inventories were developed: The Job task Inventory, The training Emphasis Inventory, and The Training Effectiveness Inventory. These inventories were constructed with the assistance of 49 managers, trainers, and employees with six or more months of service. Four managers, seven trainers, and 22 recent training graduates responded to the appropriate inventory and these ratings were used in the content validity evaluation. Scale reliability was evaluated for each inventory using Cronbach’s coefficient alpha and Kuder-Richardson 21. Descriptive statistics were calculated for training requirements, training emphasis and training effectiveness measures. A plotting matrix was developed and correlation analyses were performed to assess content validity. Results of the analyses indicate: (a) that the three inventories are reliable, (b) that the overall grill training program reflects job tasks needed for successful job performance with the exception of a single content domain, (c) that counter managers and trainers differ in their perception of the importance of job tasks and the training emphasis needed, (d) that recent grill graduates find the training curriculum effective while counter graduates do not, and (e) that managers and trainers for both positions perceive task importance differently. The results call for slight grill training enhancements for the Secondary Duties content domain. Additionally it is indicated that the counter training program needs significant adjustments in terms of curriculum content and training emphasis.

A survey of the Upper White River Valley located 76 new sites additional information on 6 previously recorded sites. After a preliminary literature review, artifacts from the Ball State University Archaeology Laboratory were reanalyzed and local artifact collectors were contacted to obtain additional knowledge survey area. The fieldwork focused on the floodplain and the location of Woodland sites in regards to Ross soil. Surface manifestations of Woodland-affiliated sites indicated that 33% of the sites in the project area were located in the floodplain and all Woodland components were represented on or adjacent to Ross soil. Results from the fieldwork indicate a positive correlation between Woodland sites and Ross soil in the Upper White River Valley of east-central Indiana. / Department of Anthropology