M.Ed. (Education Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The aim of this research study was to conduct an investigation to establish whether a performance management system would facilitate the achievement of the organisation’s strategic goals and objectives. The organisation used as a case study in this research uses a performance appraisal process which is not effective in facilitating the organisation’s strategic goals and objectives. Hence, this study has been undertaken against the above background. The researcher has utilised a positivist paradigm in this research. This means that the researcher has used a quantitative methodology in the process of data collection. A random sampling technique was used with an aim of including critical elements of the population of this study. More particularly, 50 employees of the organisation were electronically presented with a questionnaire based on important key elements of performance management. Moreover, the questionnaire included a Likert type scale consisting of closed and opened-end questions. Questionnaires were received from 35 employees, of which one was from senior management, 13 project managers, 12 from supervisory staff and 9 from support staff. Statistica was used in this research as a software program for the quantification of the data. This study revealed that the transition to a performance management will help the selected company achieve their strategic goals and objectives. Recommendations are made for the role of line management and the role of human resources in performance management.

This graduation theses analyses typical financial products that families use in the Czech Republic. It is current account, saving account, fixed account, depositor's passbook, building savings, supplementary pension insurance, life insurance and shares funds. At the close of the thesis are case studies demonstrative possible family finance management.

Firms or organisations implement performance assessment to improve productivity but evaluating the performance of firms or organisations may be complex and complicated due to the existence of conflicting objectives. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a non-parametric approach utilized to evaluate the relative efficiencies of decision making units (DMUs) within firms or organizations that perform similar tasks. Although DEA measures the relative efficiency of a set of DMUs the efficiency scores generated do not consider the decision maker’s (DM’s) or expert preferences. DEA is used to measure efficiency and can be extended to include DM’s and expert preferences by incorporating value judgements. Value judgements can be implemented by two techniques: weight restrictions or constructing an equivalence Multiple Objective Linear Programming (MOLP) model. Weight restrictions require prior knowledge to be provided by the DM and moreover the DM cannot interfere during the assessment analysis. On the other hand, the second approach enables the DM to interfere during performance assessment without prior knowledge whilst providing alternative objectives that allow the DM to reach the most preferred decision subject to available resources. The main focus of this research was to establish interactive frameworks to allow the DM to set targets, according to his preferences, and to test alternatives that can realistically be measured through an interactive procedure. These frameworks are based on building an equivalence model between extended DEA and MOLP minimax formulation incorporating an interactive procedure. In this study two frameworks were established. The first is based on an equivalence model between DEA trade-off approach and MOLP minimax formulation which allows for incorporating DM’s and expert preferences. The second is based on an equivalence model between DEA bounded model and MOLP minimax formulation. This allows for integrating DM’s preferences through interactive steps to measure the whole efficiency score (i.e. best and worst efficiency) of individual DMU. In both approaches a gradient projection interactive approach is implemented to estimate, regionally, the most preferred solution along the efficient frontier. The second framework was further extended by including ranking based on the geometric average. All the frameworks developed and presented were tested through implementation on two real case studies.

M.Com. (Business Management) / This dissertation is a study of the theoretical basis of management by objectives compared with a modified system used by Technikon Southern Africa, an academic institution. According to management by objectives theory, certain elements should be present in any MBO system if the organization wishes to implement it successfully. The research was based on the hypothesis that the system (MBO) used by Technikon SA, although modified, would still lead to the effective and efficient management of the institution. The first part of this study describes the organizational climate of Technikon SA from its establishment to 1993. In particular, the discussion focuses on the need for an effective managerial system to manage the Technikon as an open system. The second part of the dissertation provides a theoretical framework, based on literature from many sources, which describes the underlyning philosophy of management by objectives. This discussion also comprises the elements of a management by objectives programme, as well as the possible benefits and pitfalls of such a system. The third part of the study refers to the implementation successes of management by objectives in tertiary institutions. This section essentially consists of a comparison of the management by objectives system used by the Technikon and the theoretical basis as it has developed since Drucker first introduced the concept. In the final chapter conclusions based on the comparison are made. The most important conclusion is the rejection of the hypothesis that the system used by the Technikon is effective. In the final analysis suggestions are made to improve the system used by the Technikon, the most important being the following: management must change from an autocratic management style to one of participation and self-control; academics must be seen as professionals who can be trusted to achieve their objectives by way of their own planning and actions; objectives must be determined from key performance areas; goal-setting must be a participative process; all objectives must meet certain criteria; action plans should be implemented; management must be competent to motivate, coach and persuade; continuous feedback should be given by management; and the most important of all, management by obj ectives should be implemented as an integrating system with the emphasis on its use for performance appraisal. Further research is suggested to determine an effective system for Technikon SA. Once again it was found that management by objectives, although an old concept, is effective, but only if management adheres to its basic principles

Sponsorship, and particularly sport sponsorship, continues to grow ahead of all other forms of marketing communication in stature and spend. As a result, there is a growing need for proper sponsorship management and accountability within organisations. The objective of the study was to evaluate how an organisation manages sponsorship to effectively enhance brand image, a long-term differentiator for brands. Focusing on the Energade brand, a qualitative case study method of research, using data from secondary sources and face-to-face interviews, was used to test the propositions developed through literature review. The study indicated that effective management of sponsorship entails setting of consistently aligned and prioritised objectives. In order for a sponsorship to enhance brand image, the sponsorship has to be leveraged at an optimal ratio; the sponsored property has to be congruent with the sponsoring brand at an intrinsic, positioning, and communication objective levels; and lastly, in order for sponsorship to effectively enhance shift brand image, its association with a sponsored property has to be long term. The Energade sponsorship fell short of enhancing the brand‟s Image. Whilst having some of the prescribed affective sponsorship management practices, a number of limitations were identified. Recommendations for managing sponsorship to enhance brand image, from planning, execution and evaluation were presented. Setting of objectives should be more rigorous, leverage activity and non-sponsorship messages should be complementary, sponsorship congruency should be beyond functional fit, and long-term sponsorship of a single property is more effective than sponsoring different properties over time. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, not only physical assets were eroded but more importantly, human capital were destroyed and left the country living hardly on qualified personnel at almost all levels of the economy to play a meaningful development role. While capacity building is needed in many sectors of the economy, it is especially important in the education sector. This study focuses on one particular issue namely to what extent sending academic staff for training in foreign countries can effectively contribute to capacity building in Rwandan higher education institutions (HEI). Various options exist to improve a strategy to build capacities in higher education institutions; amongst others is the training of human resource which is the most important of all. In order to investigate the above, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Techniques such as documentation, semi-structured interview, questionnaire and direct observation were also used in order to reach the research objectives. With regard to the main question of this study, findings reveal that funding academic staff for foreign training is believed to effectively contribute to capacity building in Rwandan higher education. As respondents explain, academic staff sent for training in foreign countries acquires new knowledge that is needed to build the country. This gained knowledge is spread all over the country through teaching at universities where most sectors of the country find their human resources. Being open minded, trained academic staff will be able to update his knowledge and therefore train in turn his students accordingly. However, findings inform also that Rwandan HEI are faced with multiple problems amongst others the problem of defining the real institutional needs for appropriate training. In this regard, findings suggest that for the training to be effective in Rwandan HEI there is a need of putting in place appropriate mechanisms and assessing institutional needs before training a person and training according to those specific needs in order to help the process of capacity building being more effective. / South Africa

The persistence of a 120 year-old mathematics curriculum despite dramatic changes in society (Dossey et al., 2016; NCTM, 2018) and the failure of the US mathematics education system to achieve many of its stated aims, especially for students from traditionally marginalized populations (Attridge & Inglis, 2013; Carnevale & Desrochers, 2003a; Ganter & Barker, 2004; Kastberg et al., 2016; Lei et al., 2015; Mullis et al., 2016) raises the question: “What aims, if any, actually shape the curriculum experienced by students?” This dissertation adds to what is known about curricular systems by building a theory of the role of aims for school mathematics in curriculum development, planning, and enactment. It does so by undertaking a qualitative analysis of ten lessons by four different teachers at two different high schools; tracking how the lessons are transformed from instructional materials into plans by the teacher and then enacted in classrooms and perceived by students. This dissertation analyzes these lessons through the lens of activity theory, enabling a deeper understanding of how aims can be described and how they permeate curricular systems. The data analysis produces a framework for how aims can be described and categorized, how aims permeate an individual stage of curriculum, and how aims permeate across stages of curriculum. It finds that aims can be conceptualized as having two parts, a central activity for which mathematical learning is designed to prepare students and the function that school mathematics plays in preparing students to participate in that central activity. The extent to which and how aims permeate a stage of curriculum can be described as the extent to which the mathematical goals for the lesson are connected to clear central aims. The aims found in particular stages of curriculum and the levels of permeation of those aims in those stages can be tracked across stages to determine whether the stages are reinforcing each other’s support for the achievement of aims or working at cross purposes. The application of this framework to the selected curricular systems reveals many lessons with low levels of aim permeation and extensive changes in the aims of lessons as the curriculum is transformed from intention to plan to enactment. This study suggests that aims are underutilized in curricular planning and provides evidence that the mathematics curriculum may be built following disciplinary logic with aims created to justify what is already in place. Further research must be done to explore this conjecture. If it is supported, then curriculum decision makers who seek to improve the extent to which they achieve their aims and eliminate racial and economic disparities in this achievement must begin by elevating the role of aims in their curricular work.

Context: Misalignment of stakeholder objectives generally takes place in any of the software company irrespective of the small, middle, large scale companies if the misalignment takes place then the goal the project doesn't reach and the objective changes. These misalignment's lead to project failure. Failures of the project in start-ups company some times lead to the shutdown of a company permanently. Minimizing the misalignment in a company means to avoid the risk. Mostly it is more critical for the software start-ups.  Objectives:  The main aim of our research is to know the factors responsible for the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives in software start-ups along with the significant challenges and possible solutions. Methods: In this qualitative research, we conducted the semi-structured interviews from the twelve start-up companies and collected the data for the research questions. The collected information is then thematically analyzed. We referred to many articles from the google scholar to find the significant challenges responsible for the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives. Results:  The main findings in our research are as follows RQ1 external sponsor with his focus on return on investment discussed by the ten out of twelve software start-ups. In the twelve companies, ten companies are dependent on the external sponsor. Human factor and the requirements prioritization are the factors discussed by the six and five interviewees of the start-up companies. The remote working, last-minute change of requirements, deadlines are discussed by two interviewees. The one interviewee discusses the technology factor. In the findings from RQ2, we observed that the challenges related to the humans, return on investment, the external sponsor is more dominant compared to others factors like technology factor, deadlines, remote working, a last-minute change of requirements. In the findings of RQ3, about the possible solutions for the challenges with the misalignment of stakeholder objectives. Conclusions: The results of this study may help the furthers researchers who can research on the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives in software start-ups. These solutions may help the software industry people to minimise the general challenges in future in a better way. This results also may use for the people who want to start a software start-up so that they can know the factors, challenges, solutions of the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives in software start-ups.

"Since education is a process of development and growth throughout all life, it is necessary for man to realize that its forms and purposes vary from one environmental and societal condition to another. However, education is also a process by which the individual is trained to conform to the behavior patterns of society. In this society with its many values, some confused and conflicting, two values are basic: a belief in the potential worth of each individual, and reliance upon the method of individual and group intelligence in the solution of problems. When either of these basic values is challenged, democracy is threatened. Research shows that the elementary school's basic function is the education of its children for life in a confused and changing society. Also that this function requires close co-operation between the school and community. How to bridge the gap between the small limited community life of the Remerton children, who of necessity must also live in a school and other societies outside their community, provides an impetus for skillful planning and consequently the primary purpose of this paper"--Introduction. / "August, 1953." / Typescript. / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Advisor: Virgil E. Strickland, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-68).