The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a positive relationship between environmental responsibility and financial performance of South African listed companies. For the purposes of this study annual financial statements for the periods ending from 1994 to 1998 were investigated. Only companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) during the calendar years 1994 to 1998 were included. The investigation was not limited to certain sectors of the JSE in order to include all possible environmentally responsible companies. In the review of the related literature the theoretical foundation of environmental reporting was investigated based on fundamental accounting principles. The stakeholders interested in environmental reporting were identified and their influence on the environmental information presented in annual financial statements was examined. The costs or disadvantages versus the benefits or advantages of environmental responsibility were explored. The findings of previous studies that examined the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance were investigated. Environmental responsibility was defined, taking previous researchers' definitions into consideration. Pressures towards environmental responsibility that companies experience and progress made by companies were discussed. Previous studies were used to identify the most appropriate measures to use when measuring environmental responsibility. A control list and a judgement scale developed from previous research were selected for use in this study to determine environmentally responsible companies. Profitability, as a key component of financial performance, was defined. Elements of financial performance were discussed under the profit zone and causal factors. Financial performance measures most often used were identified from relevant literature. These measures were considered as well as measures used in previous research before selecting return on equity, return on assets, return on capital and economic value added for purposes of this study. Correlation analyses were performed for the following groups of companies for every year from 1994 to 1998: · Total qualifying population of companies; · total population excluding wild points regarding environmental reporting percentages; and · companies reporting on environmental matters during four to five years of the period examined. The financial performance measures ROE, ROA and ROC were individually correlated with the environmental reporting percentages for all the companies, regardless of the JSE sector of the companies. The correlation of EVA with the environmental reporting percentages was limited to industrial companies. Analyses per sector were performed by way of the following trend analyses for every year from 1994 to 1998: · Environmental responsibility per sector; · average financial performance for environmentally responsible companies in comparison to average financial performance for companies without a environmental responsibility measure per sector; and · data plots. There is a positive relationship between the environmental responsibility and the financial performance of South African listed companies; i.e. the higher the environmental responsibility of a company is, the higher is the financial performance of that company. However, it is important to note that this conclusion is based on the results in total and that causality could not be addressed. There are still many sectors with no or very little evidence of environmental responsibility. / Dissertation (DComm(Accounting Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Accounting / unrestricted

Thesis (M.A. Agricultural Management (Agricultural Extension)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The aim of the study was to investigate the perceptions of AEPs towards ICT tools to understand why AEPs are not using the ICT tools for their work as expected by the department of agriculture. The data was collected from AEPs by means of selfadministered, semi-structured questionnaire in the Tshebela and Mankweng service centres of Polokwane Local Agricultural Office. The findings firstly, indicate that less than half of the respondents are unaware of the advantages of the ICT tools for their work. This means more than half of the respondents are aware of the advantages of using ICT tools for their extension work. Secondly, the results show that less than half of respondents are aware of the disadvantage of the ICT tools for their extension work. This also implies that more than half of the respondents are not aware of any disadvantages of the tools for their extension work. Furthermore, with regard to the research question about the prominence of four ICT tools used together, the findings indicate that respondents believe that the combined use of four ICT tools (laptop, smart phone, smart pen technology and ESO) is helping them to achieve their extension career goals compared with the use of smart phone and laptop only. The hypothesis test of the influence of selected variables on the number of ICT tools used by AEPs show that the socio-economic characteristics of AEPs such as age, lower income, lack of training in the use of laptop (compatibility), and relative advantages issues such as awareness of disadvantages of the ICT tools have a negative influence on the number of ICT tools used as expected. The test also shows that the other variables such as sex, education, ESO training, SPT training, Smartphone training, unawareness of advantages and prominence positively correlate with the dependent variable. These positive relationships notwithstanding, the test indicates that only training received in the use of smart phone makes a significant contribution to the number of ICT tools used by AEPs. There is evidence from the study findings to suggest that most AEPs are aware of the advantages compared with the disadvantages of ICT tools for their extension work. Furthermore, the positive views expressed by AEPs about the prominence of the use of the four ICT tools together in helping them to achieve their extension career goals over the use of two tools shows that AEPs are motivated to use these four tools together. The department of agriculture should invest more in training AEPs in the use of the four ICT tools because they influence their use. AEPs however, highlighted challenges which hinder their use of the four ICT tools together and which need to be addressed by the department of agriculture to ensure that the four tools are used together. These include access to internet, non-supply of some of the tools by the employer, non-replacement of damaged ICT tools, inconvenient reimbursement structure which requires AEPs to use their own money upfront to purchase data bundle. Keywords: Information Communication Technology, Agricultural Extension Practitioners, awareness of disadvantages, unawareness of advantages, prominence.

Direct democracy in the 21st century: challenges and pitfalls Abstract The thesis deals with the position of direct democracy in the 21st century, what are its advantages and disadvantages and problem areas. Before that, it briefly presents why such strong voices calling for direct democracy have been heard in recent years. The first part of the thesis describes the emergence of representative democracy and how this process was influenced by opinions on direct democracy. Furthermore, the reasons for the existence of representative democracy are outlined and the theory behind it is briefly introduced. In its second part, the thesis discusses, in greater detail, the present of representative democracy, what are its advantages and disadvantages and what problems it faces, which quite possibly threaten its very existence. In this part the thesis is based, among other things, on sociological findings, especially in Czech society. These problems largely explain frequent considerations about the implementation of direct democracy. The third part turns its attention to direct democracy exclusively and describes its history, more precisely, important passages from it. It also describes the theoretical foundations of direct democracy, in which the defense of direct democracy by its promoters is hidden to some extent....

Syftet med studien är att bidra till kunskap om elevers syn på vardagsanknytninginom matematikundervisningen i årskurserna 2 och 3. Metoden vi antog i studien ären kvalitativ ansats som har sin utgångspunkt i semistrukturerade personligaintervjuer. Studiens informanter är 14 elever som genomför sin grundskoleutbildningpå två olika skolor i Mellansverige. Kategorier som belyser vardagsanknutenmatematik har skapats och analyserats med utgångspunkt i studiens syfte,frågeställningar och pragmatisk lärandeteori. Det framkommer i resultatet attvardagsanknuten skolmatematik, fördelar med vardagsanknytning, nackdelar medvardagsanknytning, matematikens syfte och matematik i vardagslivet är väsentligaaspekter i elevernas syn på en vardagsanknuten matematikundervisning. I resultatetsynliggörs det att matematikundervisningens textuppgifter, muntliga exempel ochlekar till viss del inrymmer en koppling till elevernas vardagsliv. I resultatetframkommer det att eleverna är medvetna om kopplingen mellan deras vardagslivoch matematiken såväl som i undervisningens sammanhang som i ett vidareperspektiv utanför skolan. En vardagsanknuten matematikundervisning inrymmerpositiva såväl som negativa aspekter för elevers inlärningsförmåga. De positivaaspekterna beskrivs främja elevernas lustfyllda lärande och stödja derasinlärningsprocess medan de negativa aspekterna beskrivs hämma ettmatematiklärande. I studien drar vi slutsatsen att elevernas vardagsliv kan nyttjas ihögre grad än vad det beskrivs göras av lärarna i dagens matematikundervisning.Vidare drar vi slutsatsen att eleverna har en tvådelad mening kringvardagsanknytningen i skolans matematikundervisning. Vardagsanknytningenlämpar sig bättre för elever som besitter erfarenhet om matematik i vardagsnärasammanhang än elever som saknar erfarenheter eller besitter erfarenheter somskiljer sig från ämnesinnehållet. / The purpose of the study is to contribute knowledge of pupils' views on an everyday connection in mathematics teaching in years 2 and 3. The method we used in the study is a qualitative approach based on semi-structured personal interviews. The study's informants are 14 pupils who are currently completing their primary school education at two different schools in Central Sweden. Categories that illustrate everyday mathematics have been created and analyzed based on the study's purpose, issues, and pragmatic learning theory. The results highlight that everyday school mathematics, advantages of everyday connection, disadvantages of everyday connection, the purpose of mathematics and mathematics in everyday life are essential aspects in pupils' views on an everyday mathematics teaching. The result shows that text assignments, verbal examples, and games in math lessons contain to a certain degree a connection to the pupils' everyday life. The results shows that the pupils are aware of the connection between their everyday life and mathematics as well as in the context of teaching and in a broader perspective outside school. An everyday-related mathematics lesson contains positive as well as negative aspects for pupils' learning ability. The positive aspects are described as promoting pupils' fun-filled learning and supporting their learning process, while the negative aspects are described as inhibiting mathematical learning. In the study, we consequently conclude that the pupils' everyday life can be used to a greater degree than what is described by the teachers in today's mathematics teaching. Furthermore, we conclude that the pupils have a two-part opinion about the everyday connection in the school's mathematics teaching. The everyday connection is better suited for pupils who have experience of mathematics in everyday contexts than pupils who lacks experience or have experience that differs from the subject content.

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Telehealth and telemedicine have revolutionized the healthcare system in terms of access to information and remote medical treatment. While there is a great deal of literature on current perceptions of telehealth care systems, relatively little is known about perceived user needs and acceptance of future telehealth systems. One way to assess future attitudes is to evaluate anticipated usage of telehealth devices through perceived advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, this study seeks to assess the reliability of a new measure of technology acceptance that capitalizes on human motivation using self-determination theory. An online survey consisted of an original 40-item measure of motivation to use telehealth technology, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS; Jutai & Day, 1996), questions adapted from Edwards et al. (2014) about perceived advantages and disadvantages of telehealth devices, and open-ended questions about advantages, disadvantages, and concerns of interacting with telehealth devices in the future. The open-ended questions were coded for themes. Results also indicated that there was a high reliability between the MUTT and the PIADS, however the MUTT was slightly more reliable. Significant correlations were found between the overall MUTT and subscales of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and goals, as well as moderate correlations between the subscales of the PIADS (i.e., competence, adaptability, self-esteem) and the MUTT. The results of this research will be discussed further.

Samhället utvecklas snabbt med avseende på teknik där patent utgör en viktig del. Att söka patent på en uppfinning eller inte, är ett strategiskt beslut. Det krävs ett omfattande analysarbete för att uppnå ett effektivt patent och för att undvika misstag. Idag är kunskapen om patent bland innovatörer inte tillräckligt hög och en högskoleutbildning för patentingenjörer saknas. I denna rapport undersöks produktframtagning med avseende på patent. Arbetet utgör en analys och jämförelse mellan litteratur och praktik där intervjustudie med intervjuguide och kodning tillämpats. Deltagare i studien har varit stora företag med omfattande och lång erfarenhet inom patent. De motiv och fördelar med att söka patent som framkom är följande: ● Uppnå ensamrätt till försäljning och tillverkning ● Förhindra kopiering och imitation ● Alstra kompetensutbyte med konkurrenter ● Öka inkomster genom monopol på marknaden samt licensiering eller försäljning av patentportföljer ● Möjliggöra samarbeten ● Uppmuntra intern utveckling genom målsättningar kring antal patent per år ● Uppnå förbättrad image och möjlighet att attrahera kompetent personal Till skillnad från dessa fördelar finns även två genomgående nackdelar: enkelhet att kringgå patent, liksom förändringar i vår omvärld, vilka kan vara svårt att förutse vid ansökningsdatumet och kan därmed påverka framtida inkomster. Ytterligare nackdelar finns och kan sammanfattas under rubriken kostnader. Dessa gäller både stora och små företag, men de mindre påverkas mer procentuellt sett och misstag kan resultera i mer allvarliga ekonomiska konsekvenser. Slutligen belyser rapporten ett antal aspekter som bör beaktas innan man ansöker om patent för att uppnå en hög effektivitet hos patentet som verktyg inom produktframtagning. / Society is developing rapidly in terms of technology, where patents are an important part. Applying for a patent on an invention or not, is a strategic decision. Extensive analytical work is required to achieve an effective patent and to avoid mistakes. Today knowledge about patents among innovators is not high enough and a university degree for patent engineers is lacking. This report examines product development regarding patents. The work is an analysis and comparison between literature and practice, where an interview study with an interview guide and coding has been applied. Participants in the study are large companies that have deep and long experience in patents. A number of motives and benefits of applying for a patent are to: ● Achieve exclusive sales and manufacturing rights ● Prevent copying and imitation ● Generate skills exchange with competitors ● Increase income through monopoly on the market as well as licensing or selling patent portfolios ● Enable collaborations ● Encourage internal development through targets for the number of patent applications per year ● Achieve an increased image and the opportunity to attract competent staff In contrast to these advantages, there are also two general disadvantages: simplicity in circumventing patents, as well as changes in our environment, which can be difficult to predict on the application date and can thus affect future income. Additional disadvantages exist and they can be gathered under the headline costs. These apply to both large and small companies, but for the smaller companies high costs have a greater impact and mistakes can lead to more severe financial consequences.

The first part is focused on the development of relations between Czech Republic and the European Union from beginning of the Community till the CR entry into the EU. Integration project itself has undergone during the fifty-year history of dramatic development. The aim is to summarize the facts of recent years before the Czech Republic into the European Union in 2004. The second part of the thesis is devoted to the advantages and disadvantages of EU membership. This issue is examined in several politico-economic levels. This section complements the interactive part in the form of research to respondents, the advantages and disadvantages of EU membership. The third part deals with the Czech presidency in general terms. The final part is called the EU's future - the role of CR. I aimed to set the Europe 2020 and its objectives.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:46:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ARICIO VIEIRA DA SILVA.pdf: 9343790 bytes, checksum: a52a22b96e75fe5535b57868d3ee4f73 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-12-20 / This study hás the aim to research which reasons the State of Goiás effectively did not installed its Public Defender although the Federal Constitution was proclaimed in 1988, even more 22 years ago. This has required the stablishment of this institution to provide legal assistance to full and free to the needy, and the investigation of cases of omission of the state violating the principle of human dignity. Problem: Why Public Defender was not set in Goiás` State? Which interests are involved with it that isn`t legally setting? Which social agents? Which are the consequences brought in the area of criminal law to people of low income? Is the legal aid model provided by the Attorney General`s Office is consistent with constitutional determinations? Is this federal default the struck the principle of human dignity in the criminal law area? Hypothesis: The non-implementation of the Public Defender in the State of Goiás gave up for lack of political will of public authorities who were in charge of government actions that State. Methodology: The method chosen to search the literature and also included newspaper as sources. Resulting statements were also used semi-structured interviews and questionnaires answered by operators of right and people who received the services of Legal Aid Attorney of the State of Goiás, as well as analysis of official dada released by the Attorney General State and the Order of Lawyers of Brazil Sectional of Goiás. Conclusion: The non-implementation of the Public Defender in the State of Goiás gave up for lack of political interest, omission of organized civil society movements lay claimed, resulting as a consequence, the difficulty of access to justice and affront to human dignity in disadvantage. / Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar as razões pelas quais o Estado de Goiás não implantou, efetivamente, a Defensoria Pública, mesmo decorridos mais de 22 anos da promulgação da Constituição Federal de 1988. Esta tornou obrigatório o estabelecimento dessa instituição para prestar assistência jurídica integral e gratuita às pessoas carentes; bem como a averiguação de casos de omissão estatal violando o princípio da dignidade da pessoa humana. Problematização: Porque a Defensoria Pública não foi estabelecida em Goiás? O não estabelecimento atende a quais interesses? De quais sujeitos? Na área do direito penal para as pessoas de baixa renda, quais conseqüências trouxeram? O modelo de assistência judiciária prestado pela Procuradoria Geral do Estado é condizente com as determinações constitucionais? Essa omissão estatal feriu o princípio da dignidade da pessoa humana na área penal? Hipótese: A não implantação da Defensoria Pública no Estado de Goiás deu-se por falta de vontade política das autoridades públicas que estiveram no comando das ações governamentais desse Estado. A metodologia privilegiou a pesquisa bibliográfica e, ainda, contou com jornais enquanto fontes. Também, foram utilizados depoimentos resultantes de entrevistas semi estruturadas e questionários aplicados aos operadores de direito e de pessoas que receberam os serviços da Procuradoria de Assistência Judiciária do Estado de Goiás, bem como, análise de dados oficiais divulgados pela Procuradoria-Geral do Estado e Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil Seccional de Goiás. Conclusão: A não implantação da Defensoria Pública no Estado de Goiás ocorreu por falta de interesse político, omissão da sociedade civil organizada em movimentos reivindicatórios resultado, como conseqüência, na dificuldade do acesso à justiça e a ofensa à dignidade da pessoa humana hipossuficiente.

The objective of this program of research was to listen to parents voices on homework with a focus on what homework means for their children, themselves and their families. While, within this body of literature, there is consensus on a definition of homework, a multitude of studies on homework and its effect on academic achievement and the development of work habits, and an extensive body of literature on types of homework assignments, there are no known qualitative studies on homework from parents perspectives. Within schools, teachers are positioned as knowing professionals and parents are positioned as helpers, who know less about the learning process. Power and authority rest with educators who make decisions important to teaching and learning decisions about homework policies and practices, for example often with little or no parent input or participation. Because teachers ask for little input from parents, parents rarely feel they can talk to teachers about their childrens experiences with homework and the resulting impact on their family.<p> Determining what knowledge parents of elementary school children (pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8) hold about homework, how they feel about homework, how homework impacts their children, how homework impacts them as parents, and how homework impacts their families was the focus of this narrative inquiry. The parents stories highlight the non-academic benefits the parents believe exist for their children through their engagement with homework. They also bring to the fore the many reasons homework can be problematic for their children and for them as they attend to the individuality of their children and the complexity of their family lives. They raise important issues for educators to consider in relation to homework: the implications variations within families, schools, teachers, parents and students may have for homework policies and practices; the need for reciprocity in home/school communications and the development of equitable rather than hierarchical relationships between parents and educators. Possibilities for changes in teacher education, both preservice and inservice; for a rethinking of policy and practice for both parents and educators; and for the direction of future research all emerge in this work.