M-Tech (Department of Logistics Management, Faculty of Management Sciences) Vaal University of Technology / One of the most significant changes in the paradigm of modern business management is that individual businesses no longer compete as solely autonomous entities, but rather as supply chains. In this emerging competitive environment, the ultimate success of the business will depend on management’s ability to integrate the company’s intricate network of business relationships. Effective supply chain management (SCM) has become a potentially valuable way of securing competitive advantage and improving organisational performance since competition is no longer between organisations, but among supply chains, which can be obtained through the sharing of appropriate information between supply chain partners and forming healthy inter-organisational relationships. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of supply chain dynamism, information sharing and inter-organisational relationships on supply chain performance in manufacturing, service and mining in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Data for the study were collected from 350 prominent organisations and the relationships proposed in the framework were tested using different statistical techniques. The results indicate that supply chain dynamism have a positive influence on both information sharing and inter-organisational relationships. They also indicate that higher levels of information sharing can lead to enhanced competitive advantage and improved supply chain performance, which further indicate that the more organisations have healthy inter-organisational relationships, the better the supply chain performance becomes. These results have value to both the academic and business worlds as they provide verification of the widely held belief of the value of effective supply chain management and performance.

Constraint programming is a paradigm wherein relations between variables are stated in the form of constraints. It is well-known that many real life problems can be modeled as Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSPs). Much effort has been spent to increase the efficiency of algorithms for solving CSPs. However, many of these techniques assume that the set of variables, domains and constraints involved in the CSP are known and fixed when the problem is modeled. This is a strong limitation because many problems come from uncertain and dynamic environments, where both the original problem may evolve because of the environment, the user or other agents. In such situations, a solution that holds for the original problem can become invalid after changes. There are two main approaches for dealing with these situations: reactive and proactive approaches. Using reactive approaches entails re-solving the CSP after each solution loss, which is a time consuming. That is a clear disadvantage, especially when we deal with short-term changes, where solution loss is frequent. In addition, in many applications, such as on-line planning and scheduling, the delivery time of a new solution may be too long for actions to be taken on time, so a solution loss can produce several negative effects in the modeled problem. For a task assignment production system with several machines, it could cause the shutdown of the production system, the breakage of machines, the loss of the material/object in production, etc. In a transport timetabling problem, the solution loss, due to some disruption at a point, may produce a delay that propagates through the entire schedule. In addition, all the negative effects stated above will probably entail an economic loss. In this thesis we develop several proactive approaches. Proactive approaches use knowledge about possible future changes in order to avoid or minimize their effects. These approaches are applied before the changes occur. Thus, our approaches search for robust solutions, which have a high probability to remain valid after changes. Furthermore, some of our approaches also consider that the solutions can be easily adapted when they did not resist the changes in the original problem. Thus, these approaches search for stable solutions, which have an alternative solution that is similar to the previous one and therefore can be used in case of a value breakage. In this context, sometimes there exists knowledge about the uncertain and dynamic environment. However in many cases, this information is unknown or hard to obtain. For this reason, for the majority of our approaches (specifically 3 of the 4 developed approaches), the only assumptions made about changes are those inherent in the structure of problems with ordered domains. Given this framework and therefore the existence of a significant order over domain values, it is reasonable to assume that the original bounds of the solution space may undergo restrictive or relaxed modifications. Note that the possibility of solution loss only exists when changes over the original bounds of the solution space are restrictive. Therefore, the main objective for searching robust solutions in this framework is to find solutions located as far away as possible from the bounds of the solution space. In order to meet this criterion, we propose several approaches that can be divided in enumeration-based techniques and a search algorithm. / Climent Aunés, LI. (2013). Robustness and stability in dynamic constraint satisfaction problems [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/34785 / TESIS

Thesis (M.Com. (Accountancy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Accountancy, 2015 / Many studies considering the effects CEOs‟ characteristics have on the companies they run have been carried out in America. This study considers if organisational outcomes and strategic choices are partially predicted by managerial background characteristics as put forward by Hambrick and Mason (1984). It attempts to determine if the personality traits of CEOs of JSE listed companies (which result in them being classified as a narcissist) have an impact on the financial performance on the company for which they work. As identified by Chatterjee and Hambrick (2007), prior research has explored how executive‟s characteristics are manifested in organisational outcomes, however very little research addresses the narcissistic aspect of CEOs personalities. This study explored whether a relationship exists between CEO narcissism and strategic dynamism in a nonprobability, convenience sample.. A 5-item narcissism index was used as a proxy for narcissism and financial leverage, overhead efficiency and plant and equipment newness, were used to measure strategic dynamism. Multiple regression was used to analyse the data by applying CEO narcissism as the independent variable, strategic dynamism as the dependents variable whilst including control variables, including the CEO tenure, the age of the CEO, the age of the company, and indicator variable for the presence of a COO, the phase of the economy during which the CEO served his tenure and an indicator variable for which industry the company is operating in. The results of this study revealed that there is a viii correlation between the level of narcissism, captured using unobtrusive measures, of a JSE listed company‟s CEO and the level of strategic dynamism of that company. The results of the regression models suggest that whilst there is no observable relationship between narcissism and strategic dynamism, there is a relationship between narcissism and two of the components of strategic dynamism, financial leverage and plant and equipment newness. This research contributes further to the study of the effect of narcissistic CEO‟s on the companies for which they work and suggests that the personality traits of CEOs should be considered by company boards and shareholders when deciding to elect a person as CEO as well as by investors when deciding which companies to invest in.

Cette thèse présente les résultats d’une recherche sur la dynamique des langues d’une part et l’expansion et la variation du français d’autre part dans la ville de Conakry. Dans ce contexte urbain et plurilingue, il est intéressant de voir la place qu’occupe chaque langue dans le paysage linguistique guinéen. D’autant plus que la question sur le rôle des langues dans le développent socio-économique de la Guinée en particulier et des pays africains en général se pose avec acuité dans les prises de décision politique. Dans une perspective sociolinguistique, les langues en présence sont observées sous un angle dynamique. Ce qui fait apparaître des variations dans les pratiques langagières des Conakrykas. Une analyse des représentations socio-langagières et identitaires des locuteurs a permis d’expliquer les raisons pour lesquelles le français tend progressivement à occuper le rôle de langue véhiculaire dans la ville de Conakry. Une analyse des particularités linguistiques du français parlé par les locuteurs, a permis de mettre en exergue la nécessité de prendre en compte les caractéristiques des langues guinéennes dans les choix pédagogiques de l’enseignement du français en Guinée. En définitive, l’objectif de cette recherche est de comprendre dynamique du français à Conakry, tant sur le plan sociolinguistique que sur le plan linguistique. / This thesis presents the results of a research on the dynamism of languages on one hand, and the expansions and variations of the French language in the city of Conakry on the other hand. In this urban and multilingual context, it is interesting to see the place of each language in the Guinean linguistic landscape. Especially because the question of the role of languages in the socio-economic development of Guinea in particular and the African countries in general rises with acuity in the political decision-making. In a sociolinguistic perspective, the languages in presence are observed under a dynamic angle. Which shows variations in languages practices of Conakry’s people. An analysis of sociolinguistic and identity representation of the speakers has enabled to explain the reason why the French language is progressively about to be the vehicular language in the city of Conakry. An analysis of the linguistics particularity of the French language spoken allowed to (bring) out the necessity of taking into account the features of the Guinean languages in the educational choices of the French teaching in Guinea. Eventually, the objective of this research is to understand the dynamism of the French language in Conakry both on the sociolinguistic and linguistic aspect.

La presente investigación analiza los factores determinantes que influyeron en las exportaciones peruanas de Palta Hass a Estados Unidos en los periodos 2010-2011 y 2013-2014, los cuales representan la mayor variación porcentual entre los años 2010 al 2017. Las exportaciones de palta hass peruana a Estados Unidos aumentaron de USD $316 miles en el 2010 a USD 30,174 miles en el 2011, con una variación de 9,499%. Seguido del periodo 2013-2014, donde las exportaciones aumentaron de USD 50,700 miles en el 2013 a USD 160,470 miles en el 2014, con un crecimiento porcentual de 228%. Al analizar estos dos momentos, se desea encontrar los factores determinantes que lograron este impacto en las exportaciones de palta hass y puedan ser retomadas o replicables a futuro. Como parte de la investigación, se realizaron entrevistas a los actores involucrados como entidades de El Estado, Académicos, ProHass y empresas exportadoras peruanas de palta hass a Estados Unidos durante ambos periodos. La información analizada indica que durante el primer periodo 2010-2011, existe una mayor relevancia de factores internos sobresaliendo el factor eliminación del tratamiento de frío. A diferencia del segundo periodo, donde los factores externos poseen más relevancia, resaltando el factor baja en la producción de la competencia, México y California. / The present investigation analyzes the determining factors that influenced the Peruvian exports of Palta Hass to the United States in the periods 2010-2011 and 2013-2014, which represent the highest percentage variation between 2010 and 2017. Peruvian avocado exports have The United States increased from USD $ 316 thousand in 2010 to USD 30,174 thousand in 2011, with a variation of 9.499%. Followed by the period 2013-2014, where exports increased from USD 50,700 thousand in 2013 to USD 160,470 thousand in 2014, with a percentage growth of 228%. When analyzing these two moments, we want to find the determining factors that have achieved this impact in avocado hass exports and can be resumed or replicated in the future. As part of the investigation, interviews were conducted with the actors involved such as the State, Academicians, ProHass and Peruvian companies exporting avocados to the United States during both periods. The analyzed information indicates that during the first period 2010-2011, there is a greater relevance of internal factors, excelling the factor of elimination of cold treatment as an outstanding factor. Unlike the second period, where external factors have more relevance, highlighting the factor of low in the production of the competition, Mexico and California. / Tesis

No description available.

Submitted by Deyse Queiroz (deysequeirozz@hotmail.com) on 2018-05-29T14:38:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FRANCISCO GERMANO LEITE FILHO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2017..pdf: 1652129 bytes, checksum: 6d87536363723d8e40ca6b871e768e9b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-29T14:38:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FRANCISCO GERMANO LEITE FILHO - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGSA PROFISSIONAL 2017..pdf: 1652129 bytes, checksum: 6d87536363723d8e40ca6b871e768e9b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-01 / Fruto de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, a produção acadêmica teve por objetivo mostrar a importância da agricultura familiar como uma alternativa viável ao desenvolvimento local sustentável. Diante dessa finalidade, entende-se por sustentabilidade aquilo que satisfaz às necessidades do presente sem comprometer a capacidade das futuras gerações de satisfazer as suas próprias. Pressupondo assim, a continuidade e a permanência da qualidade de vida e das oportunidades no tempo, incorporando perspectiva de longo prazo. Sua consolidação se dá a partir de um conjunto de ações voltadas para a solução ou, no mínimo, redução de grandes problemas de ordem econômica, ambiental e social, tais como esgotamento de recursos naturais, desigualdade social ascendente e crescimento econômico irresponsável. Dentro desse contexto, surge o desenvolvimento local, visto como um processo endógeno registrado em pequenas unidades territoriais e agrupamentos humanos, onde é capaz de promover o dinamismo econômico e a melhoria da qualidade de vida da população. Na atualidade, principalmente no nordeste brasileiro, a agricultura familiar é apresentada como uma das alternativas mais viáveis ao progresso local sustentável. No Brasil, a agricultura familiar não representa ainda uma real prioridade para as políticas públicas agrícolas. / Because of a bibliographical research, academic production aimed to show the importance of family farming as a viable alternative to sustainable local development. For this purpose, sustainability is understood as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Assuming, therefore, the continuity and permanence of quality of life and opportunities in time, incorporating a long-term perspective. Its consolidation comes from a set of actions aimed at solving or at least reducing major economic, environmental and social problems, such as depletion of natural resources, rising social inequality and irresponsible economic growth. Within this context, local development appears as an endogenous process registered in small territorial units and human groups, where it is capable of promoting economic dynamism and improving the quality of life of the population. At present, mainly in the Brazilian northeast, family farming is presented as one of the most viable alternatives to sustainable local progress. In Brazil family farming does not yet represent a real priority for agricultural public policies.

La presente investigación busca determinar los factores que influenciaron en la evolución de las exportaciones de arándanos peruanos a Países Bajos durante los años 2012 - 2017. En el primer capítulo, se abordarán conceptos relacionados al comercio exterior, desde teorías de liberalización hasta acuerdos comerciales; actores como Perú y Países Bajos; aspectos relacionados al arándano y además de revisar qué son los factores críticos de éxito, internos y externos. Asimismo, en el segundo capítulo se expondrá el planteamiento de la investigación tanto como el problema, hipótesis y objetivos principales y específicos. En el tercer capítulo se explicará el método de investigación utilizado a partir del cual se determinará la muestra, categorías, procedimiento, procesamiento de los resultados y la clasificación de las categorías. En el cuarto capítulo se presentan los hallazgos de la investigación en relación con las entrevistas realizadas a cada participante. Se analizó la información y se plasmó en tablas de acuerdo con el número de menciones por factor para determinar a los que tuvieron mayor influencia en la evolución de las exportaciones. Finalmente, en las conclusiones se presenta el factor que tuvo mayor impacto para luego determinar si se cumplieron los objetivos de la investigación y la hipótesis. / This research seeks to determine the factors that influenced the evolution of exports of Peruvian blueberries to the Netherlands during the years 2012 - 2017. In the first chapter, concepts related to foreign trade will be addressed, from liberalization theories to commercial agreements; actors such as Peru and the Netherlands; aspects related to blueberry and reviewing what are the critical success factors, internal and external. Likewise, in the second chapter, the research approach will be exposed as well as the main and specific problem, hypothesis and objectives. In the third chapter the research method used will be explained, from which the sample, categories, procedure, processing of the results and the classification of the categories. In the fourth chapter the findings of the research are presented in relation to the interviews made to each participant of the different segments. The information was analyzed and expressed in tables according to the number of mentions per factor to determine those that had the greatest influence on the evolution of exports. Finally, the conclusions show the factor that had the greatest impact and then determine if the objectives of the research and the hypothesis were met. / Tesis

De nos jours, de multiples travaux de recherches s’intéressent au secteur du logiciel libre (ou Open Source). Ceux-ci ont pour la plus part traité la question de la motivation des développeurs dans la dynamique de création collective de la valeur. Notre travail vient à la suite de la forte industrialisation de cette activité, qui attire des acteurs guidés principalement par la perspective de la captation de valeur économique, dans un contexte de faible degré d’appropriation de valeur puisque les droits de propriété sont proscrits pour les logiciels Open Source. Cette situation bouscule les principes de base et l’identité des projets Open Source remettant ainsi en cause la pérennité des Business Models (BM).Notre étude met en lumière le BM, non pas comme un outil, mais comme un ensemble de phases au cours desquelles la pérennité doit être analysée et anticipée. Nous avons aussi mis en avant la nécessité d’analyser la pérennité dans l’Open Source sur quatre dimensions ou niveaux (pérennité des logiciels, pérennité des entreprises éditrices de logiciel open source, pérennité des communautés Open Source et pérennité des données). Par la suite, grâce à notre démarche qualitative basée sur trois études de cas et sur 52 entretiens semi-directifs, nous avons pu identifier des points de tension et mis en évidence leurs impacts sur la pérennité des BM Open Source lors des phases de création, de captation et de partage de la valeur. C’est ainsi qu’il est ressorti comme risques, le détournement de la valeur et le comportement de free rider développé par les acteurs pour tenter de renforcer l’appropriabilité de la valeur. Cela passe d’une part par les tentatives de rétention de connaissances et d’autre part, par la nécessité de maintenir en interne les capacités intellectuelles détenues principalement par les développeurs. Cela pose les dilemmes entre ouverture/fermeture et rétention/diffusion. Nous exposons pour finir dans ce travail des éléments qui ressortent comme étant déterminants pour la pérennité des BM Open Source. / Nowadays, several research works are interested in the free software industry (or Open Source). Most of them have addressed the issue of developers’ motivation in a dynamic collective creation of value. Our work therefore comes as a result of the heavy industrialization of this activity, which attracts software developers primarily guided by the desire of creating economic value, in a context of low levels of ownership value, as property rights are prohibited for Open Source software. This disrupts the basic principles and identity of Open Source projects and therefore questions the sustainability of business models (BM).Our study highlights the BM, not as a tool, but as a series of steps in which sustainability should be analyzed and anticipated. We’ve also emphasized on the need to analyze the sustainability in Open Source in four dimensions or levels (the sustainability of open source software, sustainability of companies creating such freeware, Open Source communities and data’ sustainability). Subsequently, through our qualitative approach based on three case studies and 52 semi-structured interviews, we were able to identify some points of tension and highlighted their impact on the sustainability of Open Source BM during their phases of creation, capturing and sharing of value. Thus it has emerged some risks such as, the diversion of value and the free rider behavior developed by actors who try to strengthen appropriateness of value. This requires on one hand some knowledge retention efforts and on the other hand, the need to maintain internal intellectual capacity primarily held by developers. This creates dilemmas between opening and closing; retention and release. Finally we explain in this work element that stands out as critical to the sustainability of Open Source BM.

The aim of the present thesis is to analyze the Norwegian existential construction (presenteringskonstruksjonen) with regard to syntax, static semantics, dynamic semantics, and functional sentence perspective (FSP). The thesis first introduces the firbasian FSP theory in general, demonstrating the concepts on Norwegian examples. Then the theories most relevant for the study of the existential construction are summarized. The analysis is carried out on a sample of 1000 instances (500 taken from fiction and 500 excerpted from academic prose), and focuses mainly on the notional subject, the verb, and a possible adverbial. The syntactic analysis includes the position and the structure of the notional subject and adverbials. In addition, the lexical semantics of the head words and static semantics of adverbials were observed. The FSP analysis focused on the FSP functions of the individual clause elements and the FSP patterns the existential construction may realize. In addition, the dynamic semantic roles were studied in relation to the static semantic roles. The aim of the analyses is to find out in what circumstances the existential construction may realize the presentation scale or the quality scale, and what functions the construction may perform. The thesis observes the application of FSP on real...