The focus of this thesis is on labour-management relations in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria. The study explores current managerial practices in the corporation and their effects on the intensification of work, and how the management sought to control workers and the labour process. The study explores the experiences of workers and their perception of managerial practices. Evidence suggests that managerial practices and their impacts on workplace relations in NNPC have become more subtle, with wider implications for workers’ experience and the labour process. Using primary data obtained through interviews, participant observation, and documentary sources, the thesis assesses how managerial practices are varieties of controls of labour in which workers’ consent is also embedded. This embeddedness of the labour process generates new types of worker subjectivity and identity, with significant implications for labour relations. The study suggests that multiple dimensions of workers’ sense-making reflect the structural and subjective dimensions of the labour process. In NNPC, the consequence of managerial practices has been an emergence of a new type of subjectivity; one that has closely identified with the corporate values and is not overtly disposed towards resistance or dissent. While workers consent at NNPC continues to be an outcome of managerial practices, the thesis examined its implications. The thesis seeks to explain the effects of managerial control mechanisms in shaping workers’ experience and identity. However, the thesis shows that while workers remain susceptible to these forms of managerial influence, an erasure or closure of oppositions or recalcitrance will not adequately account for workers’ identity-formation. The thesis shows that while managerial control remains significant, workers inhabit domains that are ‘unmanaged’ and ‘unmanageable’ where ‘resistance’ and ‘misbehaviour’ reside. Without a conceptual and empirical interrogation, evidence of normative and mutual benefits of managerial practices or a submissive image of workers will produce images of workers that obscure their covert opposition and resistance. Workers ‘collude’ with the ‘hubris’ of management in order to invert and subvert managerial practices and intentions. Through theoretical reconceptualization, the thesis demonstrates the specific dimensions of these inversions and subversions. The thesis therefore seeks to re-insert “worker-agency” back into the analysis of power-relations in the workplace; agency that is not overtly under the absolute grip of managerial control, but with a multiplicity of identities and multilevel manifestations.

The researcher’s interest in this study is in teachers’ perceptions and principals of the Integrated Quality Management System (IQMS). This study examines teachers’ understandings of this quality management and performance appraisal system, how teachers perceive the instrument used to manage and monitor their performance and the performance of their schools, and what lessons may be learnt regarding the implementation process of the IQMS. The investigation was carried out in three Butterworth District schools in the Eastern Cape. The researcher made use of qualitative methodology to obtain data from a sample of 3 principals, 9 teachers and 1 district official. Data were collected from these respondents by means of in-depth, semi-structured interviews and through document analysis. The study found that some of the teachers and principals felt that they did not understand the IQMS, and they complained that the system is fraught with many obstacles that need to be addressed in order to promote the effectiveness of teaching and learning. The participants also spoke of multiple factors that contribute negatively to this phenomenon, which include the fact that the teachers’ workload is increased by the IQMS, time constraints, inadequate training, vague and unfamiliar language, the financial incentive that is attached to the instrument, and the many structures in the implementation process. In addition, the system seems to encourage a bureaucratic style of management. Teachers and principals also suggested ways in which the IQMS could be structured by the Department of Education for greater efficiency in education.

The Department of Basic Education introduced the Integrated Quality Management system in 2003. This was an integration of the three systems, Developmental Appraisal System, Whole School Evaluation System and Performance Measurement System. The system was seen as to be the one that would allow teachers to play a vital role in assessing their own progress, and would integrate this with the necessary evaluation strategy for the professional development of teachers and monitoring of the quality of teaching and learning in schools. The purpose of this study was to research an evaluation of the Integrated Quality Management System impact in schools of the Mdantsane Area. The objective of the study was to establish whether the IQMS has addressed the concerns and needs of the educators and also establish their views on IQMS. The literature was reviewed to get more information on the key concepts of the IQMS and get to understand how the system should be implemented. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods have been used to get to probe the views of the educators and how the system impacts in schools. The data collected was analyzed by means of frequency tables and charts using statistical methods. It was concluded that educators still do not understand the policy document of IQMS and more training on the implementation of IQMS was recommended. The support and monitoring from the District Office needs to be strengthened.

I det här examensarbetet har vi studerat Trafikverkets huvudprocess Planera åtgärder och gått på djupet i delprocessen Tidig planering med andra. Syftet med studien var att kartlägga hur arbetet utförs i verkligheten kopplat till processen Tidig planering med andra. Utifrån kartläggningen av problemet är studien ämnad att ta fram ett lösningsförslag till Trafikverket. Genom tio intervjuer, två observationer och 35 mottagna frågeformulär har vi kunnat skapa oss en djupare bild och förståelse över förbättringsområdet För omfattande process. För omfattande process innebär att processen i sig beskriver i stora drag hur en samhällsplanerare arbetar men lämnar utrymme till egen tolkning, vilket i sin tur leder till att kommuner får olika bemötanden. Med hjälp av verktygen paretodiagram, histogram och korrelationsmatris kunde vi tydliggöra nuläget. I analysen framkom det att grundorsaken till att förbättringsområdet För omfattande process uppstått är på grund av avsaknad av kunskap om ämnena process och processledning. Genom teorikoppling har vi tagit fram ett lämpligt lösningsförslag för att ta tag i grundorsaken. Lösningsförslaget innefattar kompetensutveckling inom offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Till lösningsförslaget tillkommer en implementeringsplan för att underlätta framtida förbättringar i Trafikverket. Slutsatsen som tagits är att Trafikverket har svaga kunskaper om processer och för att kunna arbeta med processer samt ständigt utveckla processerna behöver de genomgå en utbildning. Utbildningen kan lägga grunden för att Trafikverket i framtiden ska kunna ta fram en önskvärd process som alla i enheterna Samhällsplanering kan arbeta efter och känner för. / In this examination paper we have studied the Swedish Transport Administrations main process Plan measures and thoroughly analysed the subprocess Early planning with other stakeholders. The purpose with this study was to chart how the work is conducted in real life connected to the process Early planning with other stakeholders. From the mapping of the improvement area is the study meant to propose a solution to the Swedish Transport Administration. By conducting ten interviews, two observations and 35 received questionnaires we have created a more in depth knowledge and understanding about the improvement area Too extensive process. Too extensive process means that the process describes generally how a planner works but leaves space for interpretation, which leads to that different municipalities gets different refutation. Using the tools, pareto charts, histogram and correlation matrix we where able to clarify the present situation. In the analysis it appeared he improvement area Too extensive process emerged by a lack of knowledge within the subject of process and process management. Through theory linking we are presenting a suitable solution proposition to handle the main reason for development. The solution contains capacity building through a total quality management. To the solution proposition resides an implementation plan to facilitate future improvements within the Swedish Transport Administration. The conclusion is that the Swedish Transport Administration has flickering knowledge about processes. To be able to work with processes and constantly improvements the processes do they need to conduct a capacity building. The capacity building can lay the foundation for the Swedish Transport Administration to in the future be able to present a desired process which all in The infrastructural planners division can work with and work for.

This diploma thesis focuses on the process improvements and selection of appropriate ERP system in terms of small companies. In the theoretical part it explains the concept of process and methods of its analysis, management and business process improvements. There are also characterized the basic types of ERP systems and their potential acquisition process. The practical part is divided into two functional units, where the first one is the analysis of processes and proposals for their improvement in a specific company. The second part deals with the analysis and selection methods of specific ERP system for the specific company.

The business performance management (BPM) framework helps an organization continuously adjust and successfully execute its strategies. BPM helps increase flexibility by providing managers with an early alert about changes and, as a result, allows faster response to such changes. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) framework provides a basis for self-assessment and a systems perspective for managing an organization's key processes for achieving business results. The MBNQA framework is a more comprehensive framework and encapsulates the underlying constructs in the BPM framework. The objectives of this dissertation are fourfold: (1) to validate the underlying relationships presented in the 2008 MBNQA framework, (2) to explore the MBNQA framework at the dimension level, and develop and test constructs measured at that level in a causal model, (3) to validate and create a common general framework for the business performance model by integrating the practitioner literature with basic theory including existing MBNQA theory, and (4) to integrate the BPM framework and the MBNQA framework into a new framework (BPM-MBNQA framework) that can guide organizations in their journey toward achieving and sustaining competitive and strategic advantages. The purpose of this study is to achieve these objectives by means of a combination of methodologies including literature reviews, expert opinions, interviews, presentation feedbacks, content analysis, and latent semantic analysis. An initial BPM framework was developed based on the reviews of literature and expert opinions. There is a paucity of academic research on business performance management. Therefore, this study reviewed the practitioner literature on BPM and from the numerous organization-specific BPM models developed a generic, conceptual BPM framework. With the intent of obtaining valuable feedback, this initial BPM framework was presented to Baldrige Award recipients (BARs) and selected academicians from across the United States who participated in the Fall Summit 2007 held at Caterpillar Financial Headquarter in Nashville, TN on October 1 and 2, 2007. Incorporating the feedback from that group allowed refining and improving the proposed BPM framework. This study developed a variant of the traditional latent semantic analysis (LSA) called causal latent semantic analysis (cLSA) that enables us to test causal models using textual data. This method was used to validate the 2008 MBNQA framework based on article abstracts on the Baldrige Award and program published in both practitioner and academic journals from 1987 to 2009. The cLSA was also used to validate the BPM framework using the full body text data from all articles published in the practitioner journal entitled the Business Performance Management Magazine since its inception in 2003. The results provide the first cLSA study of these frameworks. This is also the first study to examine all the causal relationships within the MBNQA and BPM frameworks.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T17:57:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Priori_confromtado.pdf: 2070486 bytes, checksum: d059288a8443e522139d1d9403121997 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-04-04 / This dissertation has as its object of study quality of life and safety at work on building sites and aims to analyze the commitment of civil construction companies who have a system of quality management set up and certificated in accordance with NBR ISO 9001:2000 with safety and quality of life in the work of their employees on building-sites. Specifically, an investigation is made, based on the Policy and Quality Objectives adopted by construction companies who engage in the sector of vertical buildings, in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, whatever may be the determining data for this enterprise and the types of objectives which include each of the sectors researched, namely Safety at Work and Quality of Life at Work. The methodology used, based on case studies, initially considered the analysis of the recognizably successful experience of one civil construction company which implemented actions for improving quality of life on its building sites. Thereafter, using the data collected in selected companies, pieces of information were obtained which pointed to features lacking in the objectives of the system of quality management which contemplated the object of this study. Therefore, as a practical suggestion arising from this study, ten actions have been proposed for improving the conditions of life and/or safety of workers on building-sites, set out step-by-step, in such a way as to guide and facilitate their implementation by building firms. / Esta dissertação tem como objeto de estudo a qualidade de vida e segurança do trabalho em canteiros de obra e objetiva analisar o comprometimento de empresas da construção civil que possuem um sistema de gestão da qualidade implantado e certificado de acordo com a NBR ISO 9001:2000, com a segurança e a qualidade de vida no trabalho dos seus funcionários em canteiros de obra. Investiga-se, especificamente, a partir da Política e dos Objetivos da Qualidade adotados por construtoras que atuam no setor de edificações verticais, na Região Metropolitana do Recife, quais os dados determinantes para esse empenho e os tipos de objetivos que contemplam cada um dos setores pesquisados, quais sejam, a Segurança do Trabalho e a Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho. A metodologia utilizada, baseada em estudos de casos, inicialmente contemplou a análise da experiência reconhecidamente bem sucedida, de uma empresa da construção civil que implantou ações de melhoria da qualidade de vida em seus canteiros de obra. Em seguida, a partir dos dados coletados em empresas selecionadas, obtiveram-se informações que apontaram para carências de objetivos do sistema de gestão da qualidade que contemplassem o objeto de estudo. Neste sentido, como sugestão prática deste trabalho, foram propostas dez ações de melhoria das condições de vida e/ou segurança dos trabalhadores em canteiros de obra, conduzidas passo a passo, de modo a direcionar e facilitar a sua implantação por empresas construtoras.

The purpose of this thesis is to implement Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) in Nigeria Plastics Manufacturing Company. Manufacturing companies round the world pay huge amount of money for purchasing new equipments to boost their production however nothing or little is done to achieve or obtain full output from the machine for which it is intended to do. Small losses in time or deviations from planned or calculated capability are taken as usual machine performance. But currently as a result of improved capability levels and demand of quality product at lower prices, purchasing latest machine/equipment is not a way out unless it is completely used. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a method that involve everybody totally, from high management to all workers to implement a complete maintenance program for all machine/equipment during its life. This method ends up in most effectiveness of tools, equipment, virtuously improved workers, tidy up working area, neat and clean working environment. A structure is going to be developed with the potential of evaluating the impact of implementing total productive maintenance within. By evaluating the result or outcome of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), manufacturing companies can create sensible/smart decisions to improve the potency and standard of the machine, equipment and also the product on XYZ Plastics Manufacturing Company in Nigerian.

The graduation theses are elaborated in compliance with the assignment formulated by the VUT Brno FP from 19/2007. A company's strategy, taking into account the mainstreams and trends in the sphere of QMS/EMS and HSMS, has been proposed on the basis of the analysis of the present state of B-projekting, spol.s.r.o. Zlín, with utilization of the latest knowledge, trends, experiences, klient requirements and corporate practise. The strategy solves, above all, the questions connected with the work safety and health protection at work implementation and certification systém according to OHSAS 18001:1999, hereafter the information safety management systém and a conception of the project preparation and implemantation integreated systém.

A case study has been conducted in a municipal child and educationadministration. The aim was to develop a management system for thesystematic quality work at an overall level and identify what isimportant to think about to make the system work in theorganization. The studied organization has low student results and alarge proportion of the students do not gain admission to the uppersecondary school. The study is based on theories of systematicquality work and laws within the school and theories about offensivequality development. Surveys, interviews, document reviews, processmapping and literature studies have been used in the study. Theprocess mapping shows that the current systematic quality work has atop-down perspective. The results of surveys, interviews anddocument review indicate that there is a lack of commitment at theunit level. The current systematic quality work doesn´t lead to anydevelopment, partly because the follow-ups and analyzes, that arecarried out in the units, do not constitute a sufficient basis forthe top management to prioritize what is needed to do to develop thebusiness. The current top-down perspective is challenged and abottom-up perspective is proposed to gain greater involvement andparticipation. A new process, a management system as well as aproposal for implementation is suggested for the organization. Themanagement system is based on total quality management (TQM). / En fallstudie har genomförts i en kommunal barn- och utbildningsförvaltning i syfte att ta fram ett ledningssystem för det systematiska kvalitetsarbetet på en övergripande nivå och identifiera vad som är viktigt att tänka på för att få systemet att fungera i organisationen. Den studerade organisationen har låga elevresultat och en stor andel av eleverna uppnår inte behörighet till gymnasiet. Studien baseras på teorier och lagstiftning om systematiskt kvalitetsarbete inom skolan och teorier om offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Enkäter, intervjuer, dokumentgranskningar, processkartläggning och litteraturstudier har använts i studien. Processkartläggningen visar att det nuvarande systematiska kvalitetsarbetet har ett top-downperspektiv och resultatet av enkäter, intervjuer och dokumentgranskningen tyder på att det finns ett bristande engagemang på enhetsnivå. Det nuvarande systematiska kvalitetsarbetet medför inte att verksamheterna utvecklas, bland annat beroende på att de uppföljningar och utvärderingar som genomförs på enheterna inte utgör ett tillräckligt underlag för att huvudmannen skall kunna prioritera insatser som leder till att verksamheten utvecklas. Det nuvarande top-down-perspektivet ifrågasätts och ett bottom-up-perspektiv föreslås för att få ett större engagemang och delaktighet på enhetsnivå. Ett förslag på ny process, ett ledningssystem baserat på offensiv kvalitetsutveckling samt ett implementeringsförslag redovisas i studien.