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A wide range of applications currently utilize conventional optical elements to individually transform the phase, polarization, and spectral transmission/reflection of the incident radiation to realize the desired system level function. The material properties and the feasibility of fabrication primarily impact the device and system functionality that can be realized. With the advancement in micro/nano patterning, growth, deposition and etching technology, devices with novel and multiplexed optical functionalities have become feasible. As a result, it has become possible to engineer the device response in the near and far field by controlling the phase, polarization or spectral response at the micro scale. One of the methods that have been explored to realize unique optical functionalities is by varying the structural properties of the device as a function of spatial location at the sub-micron scale across the device aperture. Spatially varying the structural parameters of these devices is analogous to local modifications of the material properties. In this dissertation, the optical response of interference transmission filters, guided mode resonance reflection filters, and diffraction gratings operated in Littrow condition with strategically introduced spatial variation have been investigated. Spatial variations in optical interference filters were used to demonstrate wavelength tunable spatial filters. The effect was realized by integrating diffractive and continuous phase functions on the defect layer of a one-dimensional photonic crystal structure. Guided mode resonance filters are free space optical filters that provide narrow spectral reflection by combining grating and waveguide dispersion effects. Frequency dependent spatial reflection profiles were achieved by spatially varying the grating fill fraction in designed contours. Diffraction gratings with space variant fill fractions operating in Littrow condition were used to provide graded feedback profiles to improve the beam quality and spatial brightness of broad area diode lasers. The fabrication of space variant structures is challenging and has been accomplished primarily by techniques such as ruling, electron beam writing or complex deposition methods. In order to vary the desired structural parameter in a designed manner, a novel technique for the fabrication of space variant structures using projection lithography with a fidelity that rivals any of the current technologies was also developed as a part of this work. The devices exhibit wavelength dependent beam shaping properties in addition to spatial and spectral filtering and have potential applications in advanced imaging systems, graded reflectivity laser mirrors, and engineered illumination. The design, modeling, microfabrication and experimental characterization of space variant micro optical elements with novel optical functionalities are presented.

The processes to develop community plans share certain standard activities and stages while remaining distinctive and without pre-scripted procedures. This study documents the process that yielded the South Broad Street Corridor Plan June 2012 draft. The objective is to present the decision-making processes and their connections to the final plan document along with the plan document itself.

M. Tech. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The influence of measuring Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) is becoming a vital issue in organisations simply because it affects the organisation in different ways. Organisations seek ways to improve their B-BBEE status level in order to be conducive when conducting business and they believe that B-BBEE is necessary. The B-BBEE verification agencies are responsible for carrying out a factual, thorough evaluation of a measured entity’s B-BBEE status and, based on the result, for determining a B-BBEE score. The overall aim of conducting verification is to give confidence to all parties that rely upon the score set out in the verification certificate that the information on which the certificate is based has been tested for validity and accuracy. The study provided more information on how verification agencies can improve their competencies and how this affects the Department of Trade and Industry and the verification agencies. The study focused on educating the verification agencies and the Department of Trade and Industry about the importance and processes of developing a competency framework. Its purpose was to develop a competency framework for verification agencies. A survey consisted of about 300 verification practitioners employed by 80 verification agencies. Data was collected using the consensus sampling technique. All of these practitioners constituted a ‘universe’ or ‘population’ and 87 respondents were utilised. The Social Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and AMOS software packages were used for descriptive and factor analysis. Finally, the findings for the study are highlighted and the conclusions, implications and recommendations drawn.

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The purpose of this study is to examine how elite sports clubs and broad sports clubs inSweden, have been affected and managed the covid-19 pandemic. Also to do a comparative study in how broad-versus-elite sports clubs have been affected and handled the pandemic. The empirics were collected with the help from eight qualitative, semi-structured, digital interviews with various high-ranking people in eight different sports clubs. The essay is based on three different theories and models, namely Pettigrews model, the contingency theory and the situation-adapted leadership.  The study shows a number of differences in how broad-versus-elite sports clubs have been affected and handled the pandemic. Elite sports clubs have been allowed to carry out their activities to a greater extent than the broad sports clubs. Financially, the broad sports clubs have performed better than the elite sports clubs. The motivation among the employees has been lower among the broad sports clubs during the pandemic. The management of the pandemic´s various effects has mainly been handled through an increased digitization process.  In summary, it is possible to distinguish that the broad and elite sports clubs have been affected and handled the pandemic and the restrictions in different ways. / Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur elitidrottsklubbar och breddidrottsklubbar i Sverige, har påverkats och hanterat covid-19 pandemin. Samt att göra en komparativ studie i hur bredd- kontra elitidrottsklubbarna har påverkats och hanterat covid-19 pandemin. Empirin samlades in med hjälp av åtta stycken kvalitativa, semi-strukturerade och digitala intervjuer med diverse högt uppsatta personer i åtta olika idrottsklubbar.  Uppsatsen utgick ifrån tre olika teorier och modeller, nämligen Pettigrews modell, kontingensteorin och det situationsanpassade ledarskapet.  Studie visar på ett antal skillnader i hur bredd- kontra elitidrottsklubbarna har påverkats och hanterat pandemin. Elitidrottsklubbarna har fått utöva sin verksamhet i större utsträckning än breddidrottsklubbarna. Ekonomiskt har breddidrottsklubbarna klarat sig bättre än elitidrottsklubbarna. Motivationen bland medarbetarna har varit lägre hos breddidrottsklubbarna under pandemin. Hantering av pandemins olika effekter har främst hanterats via en ökad digitaliseringsprocess.  Sammanfattningsvis går det att urskilja att bredd- och elitidrottsklubbarna har påverkats och hanterat covid-19 pandemin och restriktionerna på olika sätt.