The literature on industrial policy and managing economic development, typically, has focused on the role of the federal government, and more recently, on that of state governments. However, policies of the federal government and the specific development initiatives of state governments are not the whole story of economic management. Throughout the country, local government officials, working jointly with business and citizen groups, are actively engaged in local economic development, some more successfully than others. The hypothesis of this dissertation is that industrial policies at the national and state level have limited direct impact on local economic development in New England. The research is essentially exploratory in nature. The dissertation begins by examining the theoretical framework for the industrial policy debate at both the national and state levels. Industrial policies, implicit and explicit, are analyzed at the national, state and local levels. The case-study approach, involving one industrial community in each of the six New England states, formed the basis of the research. Each of the six communities chosen exhibited a similar industrial heritage as well as socio-economic characteristics. The expectation was that communities with like conditions, population growth, employment characteristics, industrial mix, education, skill levels and income characteristics, would react similarly to opportunities and change. This, however, was not the case. The principal research findings are that there are disconnections between industrial policies at the national, state and local levels. Although national and state industrial policies tend to address similar issues they approach them from very different perspectives, thereby achieving varied results. Furthermore, state and local policy makers are particularly conscious of political boundaries often leading to insular and parochial policies. Measurable indicators, such as unemployment rates, tax revenue, and income levels, offer only a limited explanation for economic strength within a community. Qualitative factors such as leadership, motivation, timely institutional responsiveness, local development capacity, sensitivity to labor force dynamics, positive attitudes toward development efforts and sensitivity to community history, and political and social culture, appear to play a more significant role in local economic development than do "top-down" industrial policies.

Thesis (MScAgric (Horticulture))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Most nectarine orchards in South Africa are currently planted at a distance of 4 x 1.5 m (2 500 trees/ha). These trees are mainly sylleptically trained to a central leader, although many producers also use the proleptic route. The former produces relatively high yields early in the lifetime of the orchard. A problem with nectarine production in South Africa is the lack of efficient rootstocks in terms of aspects such as size-control and the use of nematode-resistant rootstocks. The aim of this study is to evaluate different training systems for nectarine production and to investigate the role of three rootstocks that play a dominant role in the peach industry in South Africa. ‘Alpine’ nectarines were planted in the winter of 2002 at Lushof near Ceres, Western Cape, South Africa (33º18’S, 19º20’E). The trees were trained according to four different training systems: a four-leader system (5 x 3 m; 667 trees/ha), a two-leader system (5 x 1.5 m; 1 333 trees/ha), a proleptically trained central leader (5 x 1 m; 2 000 trees/ha), and a sylleptically trained central leader (5 x 1 m; 2 000 trees/ha). The trees were planted on three different rootstocks: GF 667; SAPO 778; Kakamas seedling. The time spent per tree on pruning, thinning and picking was recorded. During harvest, the number of fruit and fruit mass per tree were recorded. Light measurements were recorded annually after summer pruning. The measurements were taken at different heights and at different depths in the canopy. To compare the training systems on an economic basis, the data from the trial together with projected data gathered from farmers and advisors were used to calculate the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) for each training system. The results showed that rootstock only played a significant role when it came to fruit mass (fruit size). Fruit from trees on SAPO 778 were heavier, indicating bigger fruit, than fruit from trees on Kakamas seedling rootstocks and this can play a role in packout percentage and income. In terms of the training system, the four-leader system took the most time to manage per tree. However, this system took the least time to manage per hectare during the initial years. No differences were found between the two central leaders. They both took the longest time to manage per hectare. The four-leader system produced significantly less fruit than any of the other systems during the first two years of production. In the third year of production, there was no significant difference found between the systems. Light penetration seemed to be the poorest at the middle and bottom of the canopy for trees trained to a central leader. Because of the open centre of the four-leader system, light penetration into the middle of these trees was good, but poor light penetration occurred in the upper and outer parts of the canopy underneath the scaffold branches. Poor light penetration occurred in the parts lower than 1.5 m from the ground for all the systems. This was the area that was measured in this study. The result of an economic comparison showed that according to the IRR rating, the fourleader system should be preferred. The final decision should however be made according to the NPV rating. Results obtained from NPV calculations did not lead to the same conclusions as could be made from the IRR calculations. According to the rating of the NPV at five percent discounting rate, the two-leader should be the preferred system, while the proleptically trained central leader system should be preferred at a ten percent discounting rate. This implies that when the opportunity cost is low, the two-leader system should be preferred, and when the opportunity cost is high, the proleptically trained central leader system should be preferred.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:50:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GERSON FERNANDO DA SILVA.pdf: 1673371 bytes, checksum: 95b0db2e5490ac2c7d75a9d06bb203ff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-24 / This study demonstrates the close link between agribusiness and tourism business in Goias, from his capital. Thus, it was revisited the economic formation of the state, emphasizing the emerging sector of agriculture, as well as their sources since the nineteenth century. Have discussed the changes with agricultural modernization, with emphasis on grains and meat sector. The research objective is to show that the concept of agribusiness is very broad and involves, in practice, not only agriculture but also industry and services. We conducted a revisit to theoretical principles, emphasizing the complexity and variety of supply chains. Addressed the diversification of the State economy that has propelled each day, new businesses within the region. The work covers the entire process of reflection on business tourism, highlighting the capital's tourist infrastructure, as well as the profile of tourism, emphasizing its links with the diversification of agribusiness. The research showed that agribusiness in Goiás is a complex activity, with many ramifications and that its expansion has boosted tourism in the state capital. / O presente trabalho evidencia a estreita ligação entre o agronegócio e o turismo de negócios em Goiás, a partir de sua capital. Assim, foi revisitada a formação econômica do Estado, enfatizando-se o setor emergente da agropecuária, bem como suas origens desde o Século XIX. Foram abordadas as transformações ocorridas com a modernização agropecuária, com ênfase para o setor de grãos e carnes. O objetivo da pesquisa é mostrar que o conceito de agronegócio é bastante amplo e envolve, na prática, não só a agropecuária, mas também a indústria e os serviços. Foi feita uma revisita aos fundamentos teóricos, ressaltando-se a complexidade e variedade das cadeias produtivas. Abordou-se a diversificação da economia goiana que tem propulsionado, a cada dia, novos negócios no âmbito regional. O trabalho aborda o reflexo de todo esse processo no turismo de negócios, evidenciando a estrutura turística da capital, bem como o perfil do turismo, com ênfase para suas ligações com a diversificação do agronegócio. As pesquisas apontaram que o agronegócio em Goiás é uma atividade complexa, com inúmeras ramificações e que a sua expansão tem fomentado o turismo na capital do Estado.

Research in training and development at organisations has produced important results in the previous two decades. The results indicate that higher motivation and satisfaction levels of employees are the result of training and development effectiveness with relation to work and employees’ productivity. The aim and purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of training and development in enhancing organisational productivity. The researcher wanted to determine whether training and development did in fact enhance the productivity of employees. A non-probability sampling method was employed when conducting the research. The research methods used were a combination of observations, a questionnaire, a workshop, a survey and interviews with participants. A qualitative research approach guided this process in order to accomplish the aim and purpose of the study and was based on data collection and analysis of information, documents and interviews to determine training and development for performance improvement. / Human Resources Development / NM. Tech. (Human Resources Development)

Research in training and development at organisations has produced important results in the previous two decades. The results indicate that higher motivation and satisfaction levels of employees are the result of training and development effectiveness with relation to work and employees’ productivity. The aim and purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of training and development in enhancing organisational productivity. The researcher wanted to determine whether training and development did in fact enhance the productivity of employees. A non-probability sampling method was employed when conducting the research. The research methods used were a combination of observations, a questionnaire, a workshop, a survey and interviews with participants. A qualitative research approach guided this process in order to accomplish the aim and purpose of the study and was based on data collection and analysis of information, documents and interviews to determine training and development for performance improvement. / Human Resources Development / NM. Tech. (Human Resources Development)