The success of international business depends on effective negotiations. Such negotiations do no happen in a vacuum, but usually in a specific environment that includes; time, surrounding, place, culture and people. The business environmental setting includes legal and political pluralism, currency fluctuations, foreign exchange, foreign government controls, bureaucracy, instability, change, ideological and cultural differences, as well as the influence of external stakeholders. These business negotiations environments can influence the behaviour of negotiation in global firms, impacting firms internationally. The reasons to negotiate on an international level may include considerations such as: choice of venue, culture to observe; and the outcome of the negotiation process. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the international marketing environment, awareness of negotiation skill, interest groups and negotiation atmosphere on behaviour of marketers in a global firm. The study assessed the impact of negotiation behaviour on business agreements based on trust and certainty and level of commitment. The purpose of the study was to gauge the impact of negotiations behaviour pertaining to failure of business negotiations in Tanzania. In addition, the study endeavoured to determine the impact of environmental variables on the negotiation behaviour of marketers. The questionnaires used in the study comprised seven variables with statements linked to a five-point Likert-type interval scale varying from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree. Self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection from global firms’ marketers and their management representatives; 323 questionnaires were collected from respondents. This study contributed to the literature on negotiation behaviour in a global firm and the perceptions of such global marketers in Tanzania. Many international companies in Tanzania find it difficult to formulate and implement a comprehensive business strategy; therefore, this study intends to equip international business managers with the leadership skills required. Based on the findings of this study, the negotiators and government are expected to play a major role in business negotiations to promote effective trade agreements despite limitations of political influence in the negotiation process. Political stability in a country enhances foreign business which in turn improves negotiation behaviour. A just legal system, with clear and unambiguous business guidelines and policies would benefit and promote local businesses and government representatives and negotiators in respect of international business negotiation behaviour. Reasonable tax and interest rates and fair business policies should improve international trade negotiations and business practices. In order to conduct successful international negotiations aspects such as culture, language differences, customs and traditions are important and should enjoy high priority. Aspects such as these mentioned influence the conducting and atmosphere and outcome of negotiations. The study reveals that the use of specialists and interpreters are imperative to guarantee understanding and successful outcomes. According to the findings negotiators should possess good negotiating skills to be able to steer the negotiation process through the different phases of negotiation that requires different negotiating skills at each stage of negotiation. It is clear that to have successful win-win negotiation outcomes the leading negotiator should put together a good team, with expert knowledge of product or conditions and negotiating skill, as well as possessing the attributes mentioned in the previous paragraph. The negotiator should also be able to determine authority limits, patience and observe negotiation ethics. No team disagreements concerning the business/project matters should be aired in front of counterparts during negotiations and professional conduct must prevail at all times. The findings of the study indicated that awareness of the practice of offering concessions regarding government tariff laws and price discounts that is in line with traditions in Tanzania. Concessions should not be made until all issues have been discussed, to avoid granting unnecessary benefits during negotiation that might be interpreted as bribery. This study concluded that it is important that marketers meet the requirements of business practices by sharing clear guidelines and policies regarding business practices, as this will lead to fruitful decisions. It was also found that negotiation behaviour improves when negotiators are willing to share information and agree that all communication must be in writing; marketers are more comfortable when there is a clear understanding of matters agreed upon, the choice of trading partners and that all trading agreements are written and a contract signed by all the parties, including governments where necessary. Marketers’ intentions are derived from the common interests of both parties and the negotiations should always take place in avenue that is suitable to both parties, conducted in fairness and offers must be reasonable and attainable with a positive outcome as the ultimate aim for both parties. This study reveals that negotiators insist on the use an agent or agents and sub-contractors to ensure mutually beneficial strategic business partnerships. However, when the role of the interest groups is explained to all participants, negotiation behaviour improves. It can also be concluded that negotiators allow interest groups to participate as team leaders and their number should be equal to the number of foreign negotiators, to ensure that marketers feel more at ease and comfortable to participate. An atmosphere based on bargaining power exerts a positive influence on the level of commitment among negotiating partners; and can be a predictor of the range of agreement as well as shape limits and priorities among dimensions of rivalry. However, it is important for marketers to express willingness to accept the terms of their counterpart’s bargaining zone regardless of non-profitable quotas at stake; identify areas of bargaining from foreign traders even if they are not attractive enough for local traders and are comfortable with the counterparts’ bargaining zone regarding fixed rates on exporting and importing quotas between trading partners to build trust among negotiators. In conclusion, it was found that negotiation behaviour has a positive influence on the level of commitment of trading partners. A positive business relationship is created on trust and a high-level of commitment which should be of great satisfaction to negotiating parties for future prospective negotiations.

No description available.

No description available.

There has recently been an increased pressure in all-healthcare disciplines to provide interventions that are scientific, safe, efficient and cost-effective. Evidence-based practice is said to be the current best approach to address these attributes. All healthcare professionals including physiotherapists need to adopt it. Numerous physiotherapy studies have been carried out to ascertain the attitudes towards, knowledge of, engagement in as well as the barriers of evidence-based practice. These studies were mostly carried out in the developed countries and almost none in the devloping African countries. By means of an exploratory cross-sectional study, deploying both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study investigated the Tanzanian physiotherapists attitudes towards the concept of evidence-absed practice. The study also examined the knowledge that they possess, that could enable them engage in evidence-based related activities. In addition, this study explored the barriers they experience while practicing evidence-based practice.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Universität Hamburg, 1981. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 273-288).

Despite being exposed to the Learner-Centred Approach (LCA) through traditional teacher professional development since 2000, teachers in Tanzania have generally failed to implement LCA in secondary schools. However, previous studies on the learning study in different parts of the world have shown encouraging results in developing teachers’ competencies. This study investigates how the learning study guided by the variation theory can enhance teachers’ competencies using the LCA in Tanzania secondary schools. It addresses two questions: what are the changes of teachers’ understanding of LCA through learning study rounds in a Tanzanian secondary school? And, what are the changes of teachers’ capability of implementing LCA through learning study rounds in bringing about student learning in a Tanzanian secondary school? A group of three teachers (John, Benja & Peter) in a school implemented learning studies for a period of one year. All forms two (N= 255) and three (N=240) students took part in three research lessons. The study adopted case study and phenomenographic research approaches. It used teachers’ interview protocols, lesson video recordings, lesson preparatory meetings, teacher’s journals, and students’ tests as research instruments. The teachers’ experiences and implemention of the LCA were studied before and during the three rounds of learning studies. Data were analysed using variation framework and SPSS version 16.0 for students’ tests. The study has two main findings. First, teachers involved in the three learning study rounds changed their understanding of LCA. They changed from seeing LCA as methodological (before the learning study) to treating it as subject content and even as far as seeing it as object of learning (during the learning studies) orientations. These changes were gradual and differed slightly, depending on the particular aspect(s) (the method, the content or the object of learning) a teacher focused more on than other aspects at a given time. Second, guided by the variation theory through learning studies, teachers’ capability to implement LCA improved progressively in slightly different ways, which in turn improved student learning. The teachers changed from simply making classroom pedagogical arrangements before the learning study to engaging the learners in either the content or the object of learning and enabling them to discern critical aspects of the objects of learning in terms of variation and invariance of those aspects during the learning studies. The study concludes that implementing learning study - guided by the variation theory - may be effective in enhancing teachers’ ways of conceiving and practicing LCA with a primary focus on student learning. In addition, as teachers increase their understanding of learning study and the use of variation theory they may advance their understandings in designing and teaching LCA lessons, thereby increasing possibilities for student learning. Such a conclusion lends credence to the variation theory which purports that powerful ways of acting originates from powerful ways of seeing. It also extends this theory to teacher learning of the LCA pedagogy. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The Batemi are an agropastoral group who inhabit a semi-arid area in Northwestern Tanzania. The group lives a traditional subsistence lifestyle and are therefore dependent on the resources that surround them. This study: (1) investigates their use of woody vegetation; (2) studies the abundance and distribution of woody vegetation in the area; and (3) experiments with assigning use values to species and with employing these use values to identify conservation priorities. The Batemi utilize over 100 woody species, in 37 families' and 58 genera, from the environment surrounding their villages for construction, fuel, implements, services, food and medicine. Random sampling and systematic inventories in the valley showed that the most abundant species are Croton dictygamous and Acacia tortilis. Land cover in the area can be classed into three main vegetation types using a polythetic divisive program, TWINSPAN and these types are linked to three habitat types: hillside, plain and riverine. A landcover map for the area was produced from Landsat TM digital data. Based on density of woody vegetation, four categories were chosen for the final map product: thicket, woodland, wooded grassland, and grassland. To establish conservation priorities, use values are assigned based on importance of a use, number of species that can fulfill that use, and the rate of consumption. These values, when compared to abundance, provide a framework for considering conservation priorities. Based on various methods, Acacia mellifera and Haplocoelum folioosum are identified as two species that may require special attention.

A new genus and five new species of fossil cichlid fishes (Perciformes: Labroidei) are described from Mahenge, Tanzania. These cichlids represent the oldest confirmed fossils of the family, dating from the middle of the Eocene. The specimens share many lepidological characters, and, from comparison with other members of the family, are identified as being a monophyletic group. Therefore, they are described as belonging to a single genus, Mahengechromis gen. nov., named for the type locality. Detailed anatomical study of the well-preserved specimens allows five species to be identified, M. plethos, M. rotundus, M. brachycranium , M. ellipticus, and M. curvifrons spp. nov. These species are distinguished on the basis of osteological characters, including the shape of the frontal bones, hyomandibulae and opercular bones. The species are believed to be endemic to the type locality, which, along with monophyly of the species, indicates that these fishes formed a species flock. This suggests that the capacity for cichlids to form species flocks arose early in the family's history. / Previously published phylogenetic analyses of the family Cichlidae have included few characters that can be used to incorporate fossil material. Osteological features that may be useful for determining relationships are identified and used in a phylogenetic analysis of the family. The results of this analysis are compared with the results of previous analyses to determine the usefulness of the characters. This comparison indicates that most osteological characters are homoplastic among cichlids, although some of the characters may prove to be phylogenetically useful. Although phylogenetic analysis of osteologic characters does not result in a well-resolved phylogeny, the most parsimonious placement of the fossil cichlids from Mahenge is in a relatively basal position among the African lineages, as the sister group to the hemichromine cichlids from West Africa. / The biogeographic relationships of members of the Cichlidae are examined based on information from the fossil record and the interrelationships of the lineages within the family. Two suggestions have been made for the age of the family; either the cichlids originated in the Early Cretaceous or they evolved near the end of the Mesozoic. The later time of origin would have required a trans-Atlantic dispersal. Based on the distribution of Recent and fossil cichlids, the latter hypothesis is accepted. A reconstruction of the dispersal patterns and possible means of dispersal are evaluated.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M. (School of Politics))-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.