Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (M Eng (Mining Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Mining Engineering / MEng / unrestricted

This study consists of literature research providing background and basic knowledge on layoff-related issues, and analysis of data obtained through a survey of human resources professionals in 30 mid-size Southern California cities. The survey provided information on the layoff experiences of respondents' cities and the current state of affairs pertaining to layoff policies, procedures and perceptions.

Thermal desorption (TD), a remediation method used to remove hydrocarbons from contaminated soils, may cause changes in soil properties that threaten soil function and plant productivity. The goal of this research is to better understand the effect that TD treatment has on soils intended for agricultural use. A series of soil phosphorus (P) sorption and desorption experiments were conducted on soils before and after TD treatment to determine P availability for plant uptake and risk for run-off. TD-treated soils retained more P, likely due to mineral transformations of Fe- and Al-oxides. In addition, a three-year field study using mixtures of topsoil (A), crude-contaminated soil (SP), and TD-treated soils (TDU) was conducted. Yields were significantly greater in plots that included A in the mixture compared to SP and TDU soils alone. TD-treated soils can be a replacement for topsoil, but the addition of topsoil will reduce the time to successful reclamation.

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Según Krugman (2011), en su libro La era de las expectativas limitadas: "La productividad no es todo, pero en el largo plazo es casi todo. La capacidad de un país para mejorar sus condiciones de vida depende mayormente de su habilidad para elevar la producción por trabajador" (p. 21). En este sentido, el coworking representa una oportunidad que fomenta mayor eficiencia, lo cual implica una valiosa contribución a la mejora de resultados. En primer lugar, en el Capítulo I, se desarrollará el marco teórico que empieza con definir los conceptos de Coworking y Productividad para luego hablar de su evolución, importancia, ventajas, así como los factores en donde se desarrolla cada variable. En segundo lugar, en el Capítulo II, se detallará el plan de trabajo especificando cual es el problema por investigar dentro del área abordada además de especificar la relevancia, objetivos e hipótesis de la investigación. En tercer lugar, en el Capítulo III, se desarrollará y especificará la metodología de investigación a utilizar definiendo el alcance, enfoque, diseño de investigación e instrumentos de medición para obtener información. En cuarto lugar, en el Capítulo IV, se desarrollará la metodología de investigación que posee enfoque mixto. En quinto lugar, en el Capítulo V, se presentará un análisis de los resultados obtenido en el capítulo anterior. Finalmente, se presentarán las conclusiones y recomendaciones que nos deja la investigación. / The thesis formulated by Krugman (2011), in his book The Age of Limited Expectations: "Productivity is not everything, but in the long term it is almost everything. Given the complexity of the analysis of the interrelationship between economic growth and employment, what is evident is the positive long-term relationship between employment growth and productivity; specially, the total productivity of the factors” (p. 21). Taking this into consideration, coworking represents an opportunity that improves networking and encourages open and frank discussion that leads to greater efficiency. First, in Chapter I, the theoretical framework that begins with defining the concepts of Coworking and Productivity to then narrated their evolutions, importance, advantages and the dimensions in which each variable is developed. Secondly, in Chapter II, the plan will be detailed specifying what the problem is to be investigated within the area addressed as well as specifying the relevance, objectives and hypothesis of the investigation. Thirdly, in Chapter III, the research methodology to be used will be developed and specified, defining the scope, focus, research design and measurement instruments to obtain information. Fourth, in Chapter IV, the research methodology will be developed with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative). Fifth, in Chapter V, an analysis of the results obtained in the previous chapter will be presented. Finally, the conclusions and recommendations that the investigation leaves us will be presented. / Tesis

This study was conducted to determine how much time would be saved in the homebuilding cycle when field superintendents received training. The study took place during the 2007 calendar year with a production homebuilder in southern Nevada. New technologies and techniques were introduced during weekly training meetings that were held at both the corporate office and construction job sites. A scheduling tool was introduced along with new procedures and policies. The superintendents were required to report daily on the tasks that had been completed. This gave the superintendent and upper management the ability to follow the home throughout the building process and track the results. Additionally, new policies were created to improve build quality and increase customer satisfaction. This study compared over 300 homes built in 2006 (untrained superintendents) versus nearly 300 homes built in 2007 (trained superintendents). A substantial reduction in cycle time was found when compared to the homes built before the training period, with some projects reducing their average cycle time by over 140 days. Superintendent satisfaction in regards to the training was found to be above average. Through the reduction in cycle time, the company reduced their daily interest costs by nearly 3 million dollars.

Temperate forests are an important global carbon sink. However, various environmental disturbances can impact carbon sequestration capabilities of these forests. In 2021, a record-breaking defoliation, caused by the spongy moth (Lymantria dispar L., formerly knows as the gypsy moth) occurred in eastern North America. In this study, we assess the impact of this spongy moth defoliation on carbon uptake in a mature oak-dominated temperate forest in the Great Lakes region in Canada, using eddy covariance flux data from 2012 to 2022. The forest is more than 90 years old and known as CA-TPD site in the AmeriFlux and global FLUXNET networks. Study results showed that prior to spongy moth defoliation the forest was a carbon sink with mean annual gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) of 1,367 ± 104, ecosystem respiration (RE) of 1,201 ± 145 and, net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of 197 ± 74 g C m−2 yr−1 over the 2012–2020 period. However, due the defoliation in the early growing season in 2021, GEP declined to 959 g C m-2 yr-1 and RE increased to 1,345 g C m-2 yr-1 causing the forest to became a large source of carbon with annual NEP of -351 g C m-2 yr−1. This large decline in annual NEP was a result of both reduced GEP (30%) and elevated RE (12%). However, in 2022, forest carbon fluxes recovered to pre-infestation levels, with a GEP value of 1,671 g C m-2 yr-1, an RE value of 1,287 g C m-2 yr-1, and an NEP value of 298 g C m-2 yr-1, indicating that the forest was once again a large carbon sink. This research demonstrates that major transient natural disturbances such as the 2021 spongy moth defoliation can have a significant impact on forest carbon dynamics in a future warmer climate. The extent to which North American temperate forests will remain a major carbon sink will depend on the severity and intensity of these disturbance events and rate of recovery of forests following the disturbance. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Temperate deciduous forests play an important role in carbon sequestration from the atmosphere. However, the impact of climate change, extreme weather, and disturbance events can alter the extent to which these forests sequester carbon, in some cases shifting their role from being a carbon sink to becoming a carbon source to the atmosphere. In 2021, a spongy moth infestation severely defoliated a mature oak-dominated temperate forest north of Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada, turning the forest from a carbon sink to a carbon source. Our analysis indicates that meteorological conditions during the early spring might have influenced the severity of this infestation. Specifically, the prevalence of dry and warm weather conditions enabled the moth to survive and thrive longer. This study shows the significant influence of natural disturbances on forest carbon dynamics as temperatures continue to rise due to climate change. The future role forests play in carbon sequestration will be determined by the severity of disturbance events and the effectiveness of forests to recover in the aftermath of these events.

The operations efficiency, service quality and resources productivity, are the core aspects of the call centres competitive advantage in massive market competition. Thus, subjective evaluation is the leniency, perception and bias in performance evaluation which impact the efficiency of the operations and leads to frustrated customers. The study aims to determine the subjective performance evaluation in call centres to get a more objective measurement. It can be achieved by identifying factors affecting resources performance evaluation through the development of a conceptual model to reduce or eliminate the effect of subjective factors contained in the performance evaluation. The research approach is based on quantitative methodology through cross-sectional self-reports for 224 participants’ work in eight outsource call centres located in Egypt. The research aims to determine the subjective evaluation factors biases the true performance. It is followed by a machine learning practical application using neural networks for auto-detection the subjective context in the recorded calls to be considered through the evaluation process. The key findings of the study are nine subjective factors out of fifteen that have a direct influence on subjective performance evaluation. The actual performance is the performance evaluation after eliminating the subjective performance. Two different methods have concluded the actual performance. The first method excludes the subjective factors from the resulting evaluation to determine the actual performance. The second method is a prediction model defining subjectivity percent as a call centre baseline for future performance evaluation. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential subjective variables and the degree of influence for each variable. The theoretical contribution is determining the subjective factor and proposing the model to measure and predict the subjectivity in the call centre. The study recommended a restatement for the resource-based theory considering the subjective evaluation effect on performance evaluation. The practical application contribution is based on automating the detection and prediction of subjectivity using a machine learning approach through cascaded Convolutional Neural Networks, which achieved 75% accuracy in classifying the subjectivity for two study constructs: agents and customer behaviour.

This study examined three broad areas which related to plant level productivity in two apparel manufacturing plants. First, external factors, specifically unemployment and seasonal cycles, were examined. Second, internal organizational factors involving the size of the organization over time and the absenteeism rate within the company were studied. Finally, after holding constant the effects of the above factors, this study examined the impact of two types of positive incentive programs on employee productivity. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between unemployment and plant productivity. Partial support was found in one plant. A relationship between productivity level and seasonal cycles was also hypothesized. Generally, season was related to productivity, although the patterns for these relationships were very plant specific. The hypothesis that there would be a negative relationship between productivity rate and absenteeism rate received support in one plant only. It was further hypothesized that there would be a negative relationship between productivity level and size of the plant over time. The results for both plants were very different; however neither were in support of the hypothesis in the predicted direction. To evaluate the impact of the two productivity improvement programs, mean differences (adjusted for covariates and autocorrelation) were compared for three time periods: before, during, and after program implementation. In the Salem plant the time periods before and during the program had significantly higher productivity rates when compared to the period after the program ended. In the Jefferson plant the productivity level was slightly higher during program implementation when compared to the time period before the program. No other significant differences were found. / M.S.

Interest in effectively publishing academic articles stems from involvement in statistical research support provided to academic researchers conducting their research. In the context of this study research output (RO) is defined as the publication of research findings (articles) in academic journals accredited with the South African Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET). The vantage point of this research is that of research support statisticians. New knowledge is continually required to drive decision making, policy formulation, industry, economies, regulation, development, innovation and progress (SESCES 2015:9; Pullinger 2014). Quality published research serves as a reliable source of new information. Therefore measures are globally and nationally implemented to stimulate article publication. Such measures and incentives include measurement of publication rate; journal impact ratings; government funding of research based on research output; acknowledgement as research-intensive institutions, promotion opportunities linked to publication rate and more. Although the literature reports on aspects of the production and publication of research findings, limited research is reported on research output productivity (ROP) viewed from the perspective of the statistical community that support research within the research process. Therefore a theoretical framework for ROP had to be developed. Classic grounded theory (GT) proved to be an appropriate methodology for this research based on its theory-develop properties. The literature, responses to an open- and closed-ended questionnaire, observational field notes of this researcher and informal discussion notes were inter alia used as data bases in the cycles of data-collection-analysis-and-comparison that characterise GT implementation. Theoretical components (‘categories’) that emerged in the research include the research process as central concept (the ‘core category’), a research practice component; role players in the research process; the attitude of researchers; knowledge of researchers; skills and attributes of researchers; research resources and research resource centres; and the research climate of the researcher environment. These components constitute the factors that impact ROP. Relational links - which forms the second leg of a developing theory - between these components are explained quantitatively in terms of multivariate linear regression equations; a profile of researcher-type (discriminant analysis) and qualitatively by means of the literature and field notes of this researcher. The emerged theoretical model indicates that knowledge and skills of academic researchers, as well as researcher-type directly impact on the research process and therefore on ROP. Furthermore attitude forms a discriminatory attribute of academic researchers. The objective with the development of the model of ROP was to identify important components of RO delivery and propose grassroots recommendations to promote ROP. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)