Employee performance has become increasingly important due to increased competiveness and organisations are aiming to do more with less. IT Outsourcing is one of the options organisations use to reduce costs. However at the core of IT Outsourcing is the performance of the highly skilled knowledge worker. The IT Outsourced employees find themselves in a triangular relationship between the IT Outsourcing client company and the IT service provider company.The objective of this research was to empirically quantify the factors that drive or inhibit performance of IT Outsourced employees and compare the results between the IT Outsourcing stakeholders in a two phased research. The first phase of the research was a qualitative study that focused on the development of constructs which drive and inhibit performance of IT Outsourced employees. The second research phase had a quantitative focus. The sample consisted of 116 IT Outsource stakeholders.The study identified the key drivers and inhibitors of performance of IT Outsourced employees. The empirical evidence from this study shows that the key drivers of performance are intrinsic factors and leadership whilst the inhibiting factors are mainly related to poor leadership. Furthermore the study revealed that the IT Outsource stakeholders have misaligned perceptions on inhibitors and somewhat congruent perceptions with regards to drivers of performance. Moreover the study found that managers and poor performers’ perceptions of inhibiting factors of performance are significantly different, and that understanding the differences and reducing them could unlock outstanding performance. To this effect a model was developed to guide managers through this process. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / The real estate sector in Peru has been experiencing sustained growth during the last 10 years, however, due to the constant problems that occur during the development of a project, construction as an investment is increasingly far from being the best option in the market, generally reducing its opportunity cost compared to other more specific investments. To find out what these problems are, a survey was conducted of 25 real estate project managers in Lima, establishing that one of the most recurring problems in the construction sector is conflicts with external stakeholders, mainly with the neighbors surrounding the work, and how these tend to worsen due to inadequate management by project team members who are assigned to resolve the conflict situation.In this sense, this study focuses on knowing the competences that workers have within an organization and what they need to efficiently manage problems with neighbors, and then propose a management model by competences focused on improving the performance of workers of a construction company developing a set of strategies and activities that increase their competitiveness in the face of confrontation between both parts. The results obtained from a real estate construction project indicated that the proposed model manages to reduce or prevent conflicts with neighboring homes, improving the achievement indicators of the aforementioned project under analysis.

Abstract Introduction: Potable water is vital for human existence, but scarce in certain areas. Purpose: The research focused on exploring Kumbo potable water on the livelihood of the rural inhabitants of the Kumbo community in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. It also examined stakeholders' involvement in the project and the sustainability of the project. Methods: The research was a descriptive qualitative case study that used in-depth individual interviews, focus group discussions and document reviews as sources of data. 21 participants were involved and they included key informants, community leaders, households, focus groups, and staff of the Kumbo water project. Informant feedback or member checking was used to as a strategy to establish validity of data collected. The Nvivo software was used for data storage, management and to facilitate analysis. Results: The findings identified 4 major themes: participants’ perspectives of accessibility of water provided by the project, stakeholders and their roles in the management of the project, social and economic factors influencing the livelihood of the Kumbo population and the sustainability of the project. Majority of the interviewed participants reported that the water project has increased the accessibility of potable water in the Kumbo community. However, stakeholders involved in the management of the project has changed over time since its inception (from the Department of Public Works, Department of Urban Development, National Water Supply Company of Cameroon (commonly known as SNEC- a French acronym), Nso Development Association (NSODA), and currently Kumbo Water Authority (KWA) and Nso Community Water). Besides the KWA and Nso Community Water currently involved in the management of the project, the Governor of the Northwest region, the Senior Divisional Officer of Bui division, the Paramount Chief of Kumbo, and the Mayor of the Kumbo Urban Council are stakeholders involved in this project. Nevertheless, all these stakeholders have undefined roles and they often make conflicting decisions on how the project should be managed. The undefined roles of these stakeholders compounded by climate change and population expulsion threatens the sustainability of this water project. These setbacks have reduced the quantity of water supplied by the project to the community; resulting in the rationing of water. Conclusion: The findings of this study have revealed that the inhabitants of the Kumbo community perceived that the water project provides accessible and clean water needed for their livelihood. Nonetheless, conflicts between stakeholders has led to the poor management of the project, and this can potentially lead to waterborne diseases in the community. To protect the health of the population, stakeholders need to come to a compromise on how to better manage this project. Also, multiple case studies of similar projects in and around the region may further highlight best practices of water governance and its benefit to rural communities in Cameroon.

Thesis (M.M.) (Strategic marketing)). University of the Witwatersrand, Wits Business School, 2013. / Stakeholder theory has increasingly become an area of academic and management research. Every organisation has different stakeholders, upon which organisational outcomes are dependent on managerial decision making regarding the multiple relationships that exist, the various options and resources available to them, and the influence that corporate reputation has on the managers’ response to any given stakeholder claim. The purpose of this research is to offer a greater understanding of how executive managers of an emerging market company strategically identify and manage their stakeholders and consequently, the reputation of the firm. Various streams of literature were supported by the findings of the research conducted. This included the descriptive, instrumental, and normative aspects of managers’ behaviours and traits; stakeholder coalitions; and reciprocity. Areas of conflicting evidence stemming from the research included the classification of stakeholders through primary and secondary groups; stakeholder attributes of power and urgency; and “dangerous stakeholders” within stakeholder salience. There is a gap in the literature involving the effect of corporate reputation with regards to management salience and prioritising stakeholder demands. Sixteen semi-structured in-depth interviews were executed in a leading South African paint manufacturing company that forms part of a large global organisation. The respondents consisted of eight executive managers of the company, each from a different functional area, and eight stakeholders of the company comprising employees, suppliers, and customers. As a leading company within their industry, they frequently experience claims of various natures which the directors deal with on a regular basis, many of which have the potential to harm the corporate reputation. Real life cases are transcribed and reflected upon within this research report. The research findings show that the company’s corporate reputation has a direct influence on how managers prioritize and attend to stakeholder claims, mainly based on legitimacy as a core attribute. Furthermore, that managers identify their stakeholders differently to what the literature proposes, and that there are more learnings to be taken from reciprocity in stakeholder relationships.

Although many leaders in evaluation advise evaluators to balance the needs of the client and other stakeholders, very little is known about how or if practicing evaluators address this injunction. Understanding how practicing evaluators address the needs of multiple stakeholders could inform evaluator training. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe what practicing evaluators do when faced with conflicting stakeholder values. This study invited five evaluators to share their experiences working with multiple stakeholders while reflecting on how they deal with multiple and often conflicting values as they seek to serve the stakeholders. One implication from this study was the need for clarification of two documents covering evaluation standards: The Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation and the Guiding Principles for Evaluators. A second implication was the need for consistency among and expansion of evaluation training programs. Practical tips for evaluators included (a) selecting stakeholders with similar values, (b) working with stakeholders who shift evaluator thinking, (c) having early discussions of evaluation expectations, (d) reporting results objectively, and (e) dealing with the complex nature of conflicting values among stakeholders. The results presented in this study are intended to help evaluators better understand and thoughtfully use the many suggestions from theorists by providing concrete examples of evaluatorstakeholder interaction, specifically within the context of dealing with the conflicting values of multiple stakeholders. The results of this study may be used in curriculum development for helping evaluators in training and professional development environments.

No / The company, a market-leading language school chain with five schools in the UK, struggles in the successful provision of UK homestay accommodation for its students. Although a complex problem, it is caused mainly by the students’ pre-arrival expectations of their accommodation quality, and a complicated and only partially-adequate booking process, making for an inefficient process. A proposed solution to the problem is an accommodation internet portal. This paper describes a study that investigated stakeholder reaction to the proposed solution with the aim of enabling the company’s management to understand what is necessary to achieve stakeholder ‘buy in’ and thus benefit from the Portal’s efficiencies, and ultimately to decide on whether to sponsor the Portal’s development. Focus groups and interviews were used to investigate the participants’ understanding of stakeholder theory, to categorise them as stakeholders, to elicit their reactions to the proposed Portal idea, and to gather suggestions on its features and the potential issues its introduction might cause. Despite there being a range of views regarding the introduction of the Portal, the results showed that if correctly implemented the Portal’s radical transformation of the accommodation booking process would lead to significant organisational efficiencies. The conclusion recommends that for the company to benefit from the potential efficiencies of a portal, its management introduce a hybrid portal where users can select the level of engagement they have with it, that the company consults its stakeholders on the design of the Portal, and that the change process is managed carefully and effectively.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), prior to this study, knew little about stakeholder desires for wild turkeys, and had no modern means to assess turkey habitat. My objectives were to (1) identify stakeholders in management of wild turkeys in Virginia, assess their attitudes and opinions regarding turkey management, and incorporate that knowledge in developing a management plan for wild turkeys in Virginia; during this process, assess how involvement in a management planning process affects stakeholders and agency personnel, and (2) develop a preliminary habitat assessment for wild turkeys in Virginia. I employed collaborative planning techniques to develop the management plan. I utilized surveys to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and opinions by the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) and VDGIF staff. I performed a review of wild turkey habitat requirements and habitat assessments, and utilized surveys and the Delphi method to select variables and suitability values for the habitat assessment. The SAC improved their knowledge of wild turkeys, and the SAC and Wild Turkey Technical Committee, and became more accepting of public involvement in decision-making. Wildlife Bureau staff placed more importance on minority stakeholders' values, had more positive views of the agency and wild turkey management, and desired professional opinion in decision-making. I developed a 2-step comprehensive habitat assessment for wild turkeys. The first step examines habitat at the landscape-level (5,167 acres); the second step applies a rapid habitat appraisal tool that uses aerial imagery and data collected from on-site inspection to assess habitats of <1,000 acres. / Master of Science

No description available.

Mirko Astudillo. Gerente General de PepsiCo Alimentos Perú / Conexión entre misión, visión, valores y cultura organizacional de PepsiCo, con las acciones de la agenda sostenibilidad y ciudadanía corporativa, tocando temas relacionados al agro en nuestro país, el apoyo y trabajo junto a agricultores, los retos empresariales y el compromiso por incentivar el desarrollo social y económico del país a través de proyectos “win-win”. Se abordarán diversos programas que se atan con el “Ganar con Propósito” de la organización, así como la importancia de la comunicación para conectar con sus stakeholders

Corridor coalitions have been described by some as a model for the development of public-private partnerships to help finance and manage corridor wide traffic flow programs and construction projects (Vega & Penn, 2008). Others have suggested corridor coalitions could also be effective tools for the development of strategic growth planning in mega regions and possibly as part of a national infrastructure and economic growth strategy (Todorovich, 2009). Through a case study of the Interstate 81 Corridor Coalition, this dissertation describes the coalition’s characteristics, analyzes its evolutionary development and explores governance participation possibilities. This study based on data from a mixed methods research approach provides a framework for assessing conceptual characteristics, a responsiveness continuum for understanding contextual dynamics and a governance model of components for evaluating collaborations. The evidence suggests some planning, funding and coordination difficulties associated with the absence of governance entities with corridor wide authority are being addressed by various national transportation institutions and associations. Corridor coalitions that exhibit developmental characteristics such as competency, sustainability, diversity and commitments consistent with relevant public agencies may be appropriate for roles in governance. Likewise, the responsiveness of corridor coalitions to governance related contextual developments may be a primary determinant of their possible role in governance. This I-81 case study provides evidence of an evolving coalition, where the descriptive characteristics contribute to a type of responsiveness to corridor concerns that could lead to governance participation. / Ph. D.