Due to the loss and degradation of wetland habitat it has become accepted that active management of remaining habitat is needed to provide sufficient resources for migrating and wintering waterfowl. Numerous studies have documented increased seed production and waterfowl use on actively managed wetlands; however, no studies have evaluated the cost of active management or compared the cost effectiveness of actively and passively managed wetlands. I surveyed a random sample of restored wetlands in southern Illinois in 2005 and 2006 to compare the cost effectiveness of actively and passively managed wetlands. Actively managed wetlands had a greater percent cover of common waterfowl foods, Echinochloa spp. and Panicum spp., but also tended to have a greater percent cover of Xanthium strumarium, a common nuisance species. Actively managed wetlands also had greater waterfowl densities in 2005 and 2006. Duck energy-days were calculated from fall 2005 and fall 2006 seed biomass data and used as an effectiveness measure in the cost effectiveness analysis. In 2005, actively managed wetlands tended to provide more "duck energy-days" than passively managed wetlands, however, no difference was observed in 2006. Actively managed wetlands cost nearly 7 times more to restore per hectare, and nearly 3 times more to manage per hectare, than passively managed wetlands. My results suggest that although actively managed wetlands have the potential to provide more foraging resources for waterfowl, the cost effectiveness of actively and passively managed wetlands is similar. Choosing passive management as the typical restoration option would allow for more acres restored and may therefore be more beneficial to waterfowl, as well as other wildlife groups. When managers are faced with fixed budgets, management effectiveness could be enhanced if costs were considered in addition to the benefits of each management alternative.

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abstract: Individuals with high levels of neighborhood attachment provide a multitude of positive factors to neighborhoods. Research has demonstrated that increases in informal social controls, maintaining a well-kept area, and positive social ties are improved with higher levels of neighborhood attachment. Identifying the factors that lead to higher levels of neighborhood attachment has thus become an area in the literature that scholars have frequently studied. One aspect of neighborhood life that has been neglected in research is the role of police on neighborhood attachment. This study addresses the gap by exploring the role of police in influencing levels of neighborhood attachment. Data from the Seattle Neighborhood and Crime Survey are used to examine perceptions of police effectiveness on overall levels of neighborhood attachment, and the three different sub-concepts of neighborhood attachment. Results demonstrated that perceptions of police effectiveness had a positive relationship on all forms of neighborhood attachment. Suggestions for the roles of police in developing neighborhood attachment will be discussed, as well as the theoretical applications for future testing of neighborhood attachment. This study demonstrates the influence of police on daily neighborhood life. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2016

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D.Phil. / The importance of entrepreneurship in economic development is hardly disputed since entrepreneurs launch successful businesses, which create employment, expand markets, and increase production and services, which can revitalize social and productive networks to bring vigour into communities (Luiz, 2007). Recently, empirical studies were conducted that provided evidence that supports the common understanding that Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) leads to superior Firm Performance (FP) (Covin & Zahra, 1995). EO as a topic in the entrepreneurship literature is much debated and deliberated. A plea has been made to explore the antecedents External Environment (EE), Internal Organisation (IO), firm demographics, and founder/owner/manager biographical data of EO. The key focus of this study is to provide research evidence for the predictive model EO - FP and the relationship(s) of the antecedent’s: Owner/Manager Biographics, Firm Demographics, EE, and IO factors might have with a firm’s EO – FP.

Orientation: In theory, effective remuneration contracts will link executive remuneration with organisation financial performance and provide strong incentives for executives to operate organisations and behave in ways that will be in the shareholders’ best interests. Many proclaim that this is not happening as CEOs continue to be rewarded even when their respective organisations are performing poorly. Research purpose: The purpose of this research study was to take advantage of the available information on executive remuneration data and establish the best link (correlation) between executive remuneration and organisation financial performance between 2008 and 2012. Motivation for the study: The motivation for the research study was due to the acknowledged challenge encountered by organisations in finding a balance between executive remuneration that will be enticing enough to keep executives in the employ of the organisation and not overpaying them, especially when organisation’s performance is not favourable. Research design approach and method: The research was a quantitative, archival study, conducted over a seven year time period. The primary statistical techniques used in the study included: multiple correlation analysis, bivariate regression analysis, multiple regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis. Main findings/results: The primary finding was that the relationship between executive remuneration and organisation financial performance has been experiencing a decline since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. The decline has predominantly been due to a move by executives away from performance related elements of the remuneration contracts, creating disconnect between what executives are being paid and the performance of the organisation. The findings point out to the fact that, to a large extent, remuneration contracts for executives are predominantly no longer shaped by what would be optimal for an organisation and its shareholders, but are also influenced by the natural propensity of executives to influence their own remuneration contracts. Practical managerial implications: The results suggest that there is a need for superior organisation performance measures and innovative remuneration policies that need to be developed which will be in synchronism with the longterm strategic plans of an organisation. Contribution/value add: The study provides a key insight with regard to the fact that without any performance based elements with the executive’s remuneration, it is going to be difficult to justify the high remuneration packages of executives. In the long run, a dilemma arises for board of directors as they become reluctant to either reward executives for superior performance or punish them for poor performance. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

M.Comm. / The importance of motivation for organisational success is recognised by organisations of various sizes and functions the world over. One of thebiggest challenges for organisations is to establish the motivational levels of their employees with a greater degree of certainty. The multi-dimensional nature of an individual’s motivation complicates matters, requiring in depth analysis. The objective of the research is to determine the motivating factors, from an appreciative inquiry perspective, of the lower-managerial employees in a steel manufacturing company in South Africa. Appreciative inquiry reframes relationships around the positive and the possible and is grounded on the positive organisational behaviour philosophy. This philosophy suggests that focusing on the positive rather than the negative aspects of a situation will improve organisational success and individual well-being (McShane & Travaglione, 2007). The study on motivational factors was deemed important as the company has gone through a number of organisational changes without establishing the impact thereof on the employees. Owing to the multi-dimensional nature of motivation, the literature review showed that there is no single theory or integrated model for motivation studies. The evident lack of research integration in this area presented an opportunity for the researcher to study motivation from an appreciative inquiry perspective, of which the data collection stage began with the posing of questions that are unconditionally positive. The questions were analysed using the first-level factors framework presented in the two-factor theory of motivation by Frederick Herzberg.

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / The findings in this study demonstrate that the Child Support Grant is only effective if it is incorporated into the household income, that recipients of the grant mainly spend it on food and in paying school fees for their children. Although the recipients share the same sentiments with regards to the amount of the grant, they all agree that it does have a positive impact on the lives of the children, especially when it is combined with the household income

Globalisation has increased competition; hence organisations are required to look within, at their capabilities to create a competitive advantage. The purpose of the study is to firstly investigate the association between ambidexterity and firm performance in the banking sector, and secondly, to investigate the association between ambidextrous capabilities in this sector and their strategic orientation in respect of Miles and Snow’s (1978) typology. This research will take on the form of a quantitative study, which will proceed in the form of a sample survey questionnaire. The target population refers to the banking organisations that make up the financial services sector in South Africa. Results of the study confirmed that the greater the ambidextrous capability (structural and contextual combined) present in the banking sector, the greater the performance. Further, the greater the structural ambidexterity is in this sector, the greater the performance. However the latter showed a weak correlation. It was concluded that innovation is greater in prospectors than defenders. It was further shown that the prospector-combined ambidexterity combination yields the greatest performance when compared to any other combination of strategy and capability. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

In last decade or so, e-learning seems to be emerging as the dominant model of learning but questions are being raised about the trade-offs in switching from traditional classroom based learning to e-learning; for example, e-learning is cost effective, round the clock accessible and convenient but there are questions raised about its quality and effectiveness. In last decade Saudi government has undertaken several steps for reforming the education system in the Kingdom including provision of education for all. E-learning can play a vital role in helping Saudi government reach its ambitious targets but despite its obvious benefits the overall adoption of e-learning in the Kingdom has remained low. The key problem in this regard is lo perceived effectiveness of e-learning. E-learning is quite beneficial in that it can help individuals not only acquire knowledge but also skills which allows them to learn independently without constraints using the vast amount of education resources available online. However, the main focus of the e-learning community in the Kingdom has remained restricted to teaching specific subjects. This research argues that the true potential of e-learning is much broader and useful than currently perceived by the e-learning community in the Kingdom. E-learning has the potential of producing lifelong learners. Hence the focus of e-learning community should be on overall skills development. This research thus defines e-learning effectiveness in terms of both short term goals (that is, learning about the subject) and long term goals (improving skills and motivations for being lifelong and independent learner). This research investigates impact of four kinds of interactivity (Student-Student, Student-teacher, Student-content, Student-System) on effectiveness of e-learning. This is a mixed methods research. Data was collected using focus groups and questionnaire surveys. This research finds that all four kinds of interactivity play a role in improving effectiveness of e -learning All four kinds of interactivities were found significant for improving course learning. Student-teacher, Student-Student and Student-Content interactivities were found critical for improving independent learning skills. Student-Student an Student-Content interactivity was found critical for improving motivation for being lifelong e-learner.