published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Teachers' subject knowledge is a significant aspect of teachers' practice and worthy of further research. This research focuses on how 'expert' geography teachers use their subject knowledge and its relationship to their practice. The research consists of three over-arching themes: geography teachers' subject knowledge; other influences on teachers' practice and teacher 'expertise'. The research is based upon data collected on six examples of 'expert' geography teachers. Data were collected in two cohorts and focused on illuminating teachers' practice, personal motivations and relationships with academic and school geography. These data were coded, described and analysed using a framework, described as the 'cultures of influence' map. The research highlights new understandings about how these teachers used their subject knowledge. The six teachers were encouraged, at interview, to articulate individual philosophies and theories about geography and teaching geography. The research shows that the case teachers ascribed qualities to geography that they valued and wanted to emphasise in their teaching. It also shows that whilst a central influence on their practice, the case teachers' subject knowledge was not always the most significant influence. In examining their practice, analysis revealed three strategies used by these teachers to help students bridge the lesson content with their prior knowledge. The term 'synoptic capacity' is used to describe how teachers can link their lesson content with the subject as a whole. The research calls for policy to refocus on the subject and on teachers' professional practice, to enable teachers to develop and use their synoptic capacity. It also calls for a reemphasis on geography as a resource for teaching in ITE and CPO and for further research into how the subject can affect geography teachers' expertise.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (MBA. (Business Management)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Strategy implementation has always been a challenge in government departments. However, this study argues that strategy implementation should not be perceived as an obstacle in an organisation, but as a vehicle for realising organisational goals. Strategy implementation in the public sector has experienced a limited research, whereas, organisational cultures, organisational structures, resource allocation and processes of linking the strategy formulation and implementation all remain a key challenge. Therefore, a strategy implementation process in the Limpopo Department of Health (LDoH) was investigated. The purpose of the study was to probe the perceptions of senior managers concerning the implementation of the strategy in the Limpopo Department of Health. A qualitative research approach was used to collect data. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaires. The overall target population was 120 employees of the Limpopo Department of Health. The sample consisted of 30 respondents (N=30). The IBM SPSS statistics (Version 24) were used to interpret and analyse the data that was collected. Further, this study espoused non-probability purposive sampling and consequently research findings cannot be generalised to the government departments. The findings showed that respondents are aware of the factors influencing strategy implementation in the LDoH. The preliminary findings revealed that incompetence, devoting less time to the core business, and continual engagement in politics by senior managers have often lead to ineffective strategy implementation. This study therefore recommends that the appointment of competent senior management who are capable of staying away from party politics during working hours should be considered, so as to improve strategy implementation processes in the Limpopo Department of Health. The study recommended the enforcement of team-work and appropriate reward systems to ensure that the members engage enthusiastically. This study also recommended the regular communication between senior management and employees of the Limpopo Department of Health. This implies the employment of effective communication strategies and channels to accelerate the strategy implementation process, in order to achieve the long-term goals of the organisation and remain sustainable in the provision of service delivery to the citizens of Limpopo v | P a g e Province. The senior management’s ability to identify the internal capabilities (organisational structure, supportive culture, reward systems, alignment and appropriate leadership style) should be fundamental in overcoming the challenges arising from inside and outside the organisation. Finally, senior management should apply relevant tools and techniques to measure organisational performance within the Department. This involves gaining knowledge in terms of assessing and evaluating performance using the four perspectives of balanced scorecard which include financial, customer, internal business processes and learning and growth.

Patient satisfaction is a key outcome measure being examined by researchers exploring the relationships between patient outcomes and hospital structure and care processes. Only a few non-generalizable studies, however, have explored the relationship of nurse staffing and patient satisfaction with nursing care in emergency departments of hospitals. This dissertation aims to address that gap. Using more than 182,000 patient satisfaction surveys collected over a five-year period from 153 emergency departments (EDs) in 107 hospitals throughout Ontario, this study explores the relationship between nurse staffing and patient perceptions of nursing care in a range of Canadian ED settings, including urban and rural, community and academic, and small and large healthcare institutions with varying sizes and case mix. Using an established conceptual framework for investigating the relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes, nineteen nurse staffing variables were initially investigated. Ultimately, however, only five staffing variables were used in the multi-level regression analyzes. These five variables included registered nurse (RN) proportion, RN agency proportion, percent full-time nurse worked hours, RN worked hours per patient length of stay and registered practical nurse (RPN) worked hours per length of stay. Emergency department case mix index, patient age and gender, hospital peer group, size, wait times, cleanliness of the emergency department, physician courtesy, and year of measurement were controlled to account for their effect on the relationship between nursing staffing and patient satisfaction in the ED. The study revealed a subset of six patient satisfaction variables representing the overall variation in patient satisfaction with nursing care in the ED. Although RN proportion and RPN worked hours per length of stay were found to have a statistical association with patient satisfaction in the ED, the association was weak and not administratively actionable. Interpersonal and environmental factors such as physician and nurse courtesy, ED cleanliness and timeliness, however, were areas which hospital administrators should consider since they were highly associated with patient satisfaction in EDs.

Patient satisfaction is a key outcome measure being examined by researchers exploring the relationships between patient outcomes and hospital structure and care processes. Only a few non-generalizable studies, however, have explored the relationship of nurse staffing and patient satisfaction with nursing care in emergency departments of hospitals. This dissertation aims to address that gap. Using more than 182,000 patient satisfaction surveys collected over a five-year period from 153 emergency departments (EDs) in 107 hospitals throughout Ontario, this study explores the relationship between nurse staffing and patient perceptions of nursing care in a range of Canadian ED settings, including urban and rural, community and academic, and small and large healthcare institutions with varying sizes and case mix. Using an established conceptual framework for investigating the relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes, nineteen nurse staffing variables were initially investigated. Ultimately, however, only five staffing variables were used in the multi-level regression analyzes. These five variables included registered nurse (RN) proportion, RN agency proportion, percent full-time nurse worked hours, RN worked hours per patient length of stay and registered practical nurse (RPN) worked hours per length of stay. Emergency department case mix index, patient age and gender, hospital peer group, size, wait times, cleanliness of the emergency department, physician courtesy, and year of measurement were controlled to account for their effect on the relationship between nursing staffing and patient satisfaction in the ED. The study revealed a subset of six patient satisfaction variables representing the overall variation in patient satisfaction with nursing care in the ED. Although RN proportion and RPN worked hours per length of stay were found to have a statistical association with patient satisfaction in the ED, the association was weak and not administratively actionable. Interpersonal and environmental factors such as physician and nurse courtesy, ED cleanliness and timeliness, however, were areas which hospital administrators should consider since they were highly associated with patient satisfaction in EDs.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Gordon, Ellen. Second Reader: Bellavita, Chris. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 27, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Urban search and rescue (US&R), urban search and rescue systems, Florida Urban Search and Rescue (FLUSAR), search and rescue, US&R task force, technical rescue teams, state emergency response, States Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR), Florida State Fire Marshall, Marion County, FL Fire Rescue. Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-63). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1999. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2958. Typescript. Abstract precedes thesis as preliminary leaves ii-iii. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-65).

Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): William Hatch. AD-A418 534. Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-168). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): William Hatch, Bernard Ulozas, Benjamin Roberts. Includes bibliographical references (p. 165-168). Also available online.