This study entitled, "Effective Management Development Program Evaluation and Review Technique," examined Purdue University Engineering/Management Program for 1995. The purpose of the program was to offer management training to a population of ninety-eight engineering managers. From a quality assurance perspective the study attempted to measure those changes that occurred in the knowledge, skills and behaviors of the participants, from before to after the program, in four levels of program effect e.g., reaction, learning, behavior and results.Responses were gathered using qualitative interviews. Evidence was gathered using Learning Skills Inventory. Behavior was gathered using Leadership Effectiveness and Adaptability Description Questionnaire. Results were gathered using Managerial Skills Questionnaire of Importance and Competence over pretest, posttest and a three-month posttest on the job.Forty-two management skills criteria were collapsed to identify seven main leadership skills for reliable evidence on the hypotheses tested: Leadership/ Organization, Human Resource Management, Financial Management, Decision Making, Strategic Planning, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, and Managerial Communication. Important findings are summarized below. No significant differences were found in the Importance of each leadership skills:(a) by the type of company's business, (b) by the number of years of employment with the current employer, (c) by the number of years in the industry, and (d) by the type ofdegrees held by the manager (BS, MS, MBA).Significant Differences were found in the Importance of each leadership skills:by a broad range of titles, (b) by the size of company, and (c) by the number of years in current position.No significant differences were found in the Competence of each leadership skills:by the type of company's business, (b) by the size of company, (c) by the number of years in current position, (d) by the type of degrees held by the manager (BS, MS, MBA), and (e) by the number of years in the industry.Significant Differences were found in the Competence of each leadership skills:(a) by a broad range of titles and (b) by the number of years of employment with the current employer. / Department of Educational Leadership

Water is life and its provision is vital not only for purposes of sustaining life but also for convenience, health, sanitation and economic well being. The United Nations estimates that over one billion people living in developing countries lack access to safe water, with a substantialp roportion of thesel iving in Africa. As a consequenceo f urbanisation and rapid growth of cities, urban water utilities in developing countries face an enormous challenge in meeting the water requirements of urban dwellers. The challenge is even greater when the prevailing poverty, high levels of debt and declining funding (in form of official developmenta ssistance)a re taken into account. In particular, Sub-Saharan Africa is facing low levels of water services and water supply coverage. Under thesec ircumstancesa, key objective for water utilities in Sub-SaharanA frica is to provide services to the growing urban population, including the poor, in a financially sustainable manner. To achieve this objective, utility managers need innovative methods of financing and managing urban water services. A systematic approach consisting of market segmentation, service and price differentiation is proposed as a suitable method of managing urban water services in Sub-Saharan Africa. This approach is the subject under investigation in the research, which is reported in this thesis. Using primarily the case study research methodology but also incorporating surveys, interviews and f6cus group discussions within the case study, research was carried out to investigate the use of a systematic approach consisting of segmentation, service and price differentiation for managing urban water services in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. The detailed field research was carried out in Kenya and South Africa, and two case studies were prepared. Among the key findings was that this approach offers a framework for water utilities to structure their service delivery with appropriate pricing and serve more customers (including people living in informal settlements) at affordable cost, while achieving financial sustainability. The finding leads to the conclusion that segmentation, service and price differentiation is a suitable methodology that utilities can use to improve urban water servicesi n Sub-SaharanA frica.

For the last two decades, demand for poultry meat has been soared, since it is healthier and less costly than its substitutes. In order to meet this increasing demand, integrated poultry organizations have been established all over the world. Usually, an integrated poultry organization has the divisions of breeder coops, incubation house, broiler coops, feed mill, slaughterhouse and marketing. This complex structure makes production planning activities more difficult for integrated poultry organizations. The aim of this study is to propose a production and financial planning model for &Ouml / nder Integrated Poultry Incorporation using mathematical modelling techniques and statistical methods.

The present study was undertaken to indicate the differences and similarities in color determination process and color selection criteria of leading automobile manufacturers of the world. A comperative study was conducted in the light of relevant literature, interviews and questionnaires. A total number of 6 automobile company were selected for case study / Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Renault and Toyota. Total 19 respondents, the majority of whom were automobile designers and color specialists answered questions related with color design of automobiles and selection criteria. Later, a total of 18 representatives, including at least one Color and Trim designer, Product Engineer and Purchasing Manager from each company, completed the questionnaires. On the basis of findings, it can be said that each auto manufacturer has a particular color determination process. However, there are some similarities in color design process of Renault and Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota, Hyundai and Honda.

This thesis attempts to integrate the three supplier processes- supplier segmentation, supplier selection/evaluation and order allocation- based on a case study of a white goods manufacturer. These processes are dealt with in a hierarchical manner, where the decisions at an earlier stage (supplier segmentation) may affect on the results of later stages (supplier selection/evaluation and order allocation). Based on a wide set of variables gathered from the supplier segmentation literature and from the framework developed by the case company, a factor analysis is performed. The resulting eight factors (complexity and criticality, supply market dynamism, supplier&rsquo / s economic dependence, buyer&rsquo / s supplier dependence, uncertainty, supplier capabilities, supplier&rsquo / s specialization to white goods manufacturer and possibility of harm to user) are used for clustering analysis with the K-means method. Three different clustering schemes (4-clusters, 8-clusters, and 18-clusters) are analyzed to see the effect of number of clusters on the cluster means. A supplier selection model is constructed by the PROMETHEE method as was done in a former study at the same company. Two different scenarios are considered in the supplier selection phase: First, data from the former study are kept as they are. The second scenario considers a change of criteria weights. As a result, the qualified suppliers were found to be the same in both scenarios, but the rankings and net flows, which were inputs to the order allocation model, changed. The effects of these changes were discussed at a conceptual level, due to a lack of case data for the order allocation model.

[Truncated abstract] The primary tool for software process control is the project plan, with divergence from the schedule usually being the first indication that there are difficulties. Thus the estimation of the schedule, particularly the effort parameter, is a central element of software engineering management. Regrettably, estimation methods are poorly used within the software industry and accuracy is lacking when compared with other engineering disciplines. There are many reasons for this. However, the need to predict project effort remains, particularly in situations of tendering for contracts. The broad objective of this research is the improvement of project control by means of better estimation. . . The error in the prediction of a project parameter is investigated as the result of the variation in two distinct (estimation and actual development) processes. Improvement depends upon the understanding, control and then reduction of that variation. A strategy for the systematic identification of the sources of greatest variation is developed - so that it may be reduced by appropriate software engineering practices. The key to the success of the approach is the statistical partitioning of the Mean Square Error (of the estimate) in order to identify the weakest area of project control. The concept is proven with a set of student projects, where the estimation error is significantly reduced. The conditions for its transfer to industry are discussed and a systematic reduction in error is demonstrated on five sets of commercial project data. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the linking of the approach to current estimation methods. It should also have implications for the statistical process control of other projects involving small sample sizes and multiple correlated parameters.

M. Ing. / Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) is a technology that enables the reception of television services/programmes on a specific mobile handheld device. MultiChoice Subscriber Management Services (Propriety) Limited, in the year 2006, commenced a project in South Africa; to deploy a trial DVB-H network. The initial phase of the project included the major cities, namely Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The trial network deployed in South Africa assisted MultiChoice in optimizing the efficiency and reliability of the system. It was at this stage that MultiChoice decided to deploy the DVB-H network in other parts of Africa. MultiChoice soon applied for frequency licenses in Nigeria, Kenya and Namibia. These licenses would enable MultiChoice to operate the DVB-H networks on a commercial platform in those countries; and would also enable MultiChoice to start generating an income by providing this service. Shortly after being awarded a license to broadcast DVB-H, a commercial DVB-H network was launched in Kenya in April 2007. The network consisted of two broadcast sites, at the time. MultiChoice came to an agreement with one of the local Mobile Network Operators (MNO) in Kenya to assist MultiChoice in getting the mobile television handset to the Kenyan people. The MNO possessed the required customer base and also the correct billing infrastructure. An immediate concern was raised by the MNO, about the DVB-H network coverage. With DVB-H, portable outdoor network coverage is guaranteed; however, to obtain coverage inside a building, can be somewhat problematic, especially if that building consists of two or more walls. It will be difficult for the DVB-H signal to penetrate those walls. The MNO’s retail outlets were mostly situated in shopping centre type buildings, hence, the MNO put forward a request for coverage inside the outlets where the mobile handset will be sold. This means that network coverage inside these shopping centre type buildings was required. Therefore, an indoor broadcast system was required in order to obtain the required coverage inside the building. MultiChoice decided to undertake a project to design and build this type of system for the current trial DVB-H network deployed in South Africa. This project would be used as a case study for future projects to be implemented for the network in Kenya. In order to successfully implement an Engineering related project, it is essential to consider both the Project Management aspects and the Engineering Management aspects of that particular project. These two concepts are very closely linked and should not be considered individually when implementing an Engineering project. It is understood that all projects go through certain life cycle phases in some form or other. This document provides the background theory to the four commonly recognized phases of the Project Life Cycle, it is then further shown how various aspects of these life cycle phases were applied to the actual project; and how the implementation of these aspects could improve project performance in the future. Some Engineering Management principles are also discussed and shown how they were applied to the actual project. Elements of this case study shall provide useful information for the projects to be implemented in Kenya.

M.Ing. / Project cost control constitutes one of the three most important aspects in managing a project effectively. The other two items are time and quality. In order to control the cost aspect of a project as effectively as possible, up-to-date information is needed. This points to a properly integrated cost control system that simultaneously supports all the needs of project management. Fortunately in todays engineering environment, information systems have evolved to such a level that simultaneous support to all aspects of project management is achievable. It is the goal of this thesis to investigate how to do proper cost control and status reporting in the correct manner and as effectively as possible by making use of modern information systems in order to increase to productivity levels of organisations. Ways in which the cost controlling process can be integrated with the status reporting process will be investigated. A case study will be done in the author's own project engineering environment and improvements to the process will be made in order to increase productivity levels in the author's working environment.

M.Ing. (Engineering Management) / Capital intensive engineering projects involve the flow of large sums of money over the project life. During the pretender phase of the project, estimates of the forecast cash flow and associate return on investment are made based on certain assumptions which at the time are, at best, only informed guesses. As the project progresses, the uncertainty surrounding the magnitude and the timing of these cash flows and rate of return, diminishes. By recognising the time value of money and the importance of the synthesis of time and cash flow as well as the interdependence of project activities, it is desirable to obtain an estimate of the PROBABLE outcome of the return on investment~ should the bid be accepted. This outcome can only be 'guessed' at by means of a probabilistic analysis of the parameters that go to make up the nett cash flow. This study is an attempt to find a model suitable for use in the construction industry which accurately describes the construction process, and presents an overall analysis of the variation in the rate of return as a result of the probabilistic nature of the original parameters. Various models were investigated. All were found suitable under limited conditions.

This research reviews the challenges and obstacles confronting multinational civil engineering consulting and contracting companies seeking to conduct project developments within Emerging Markets, specifically with regard to the regions of Africa and the Middle East. With the increasing convergence of the global economy towards an interconnected and co-dependant system, the emerging economies of previously underdeveloped parts of the world are now capturing the focus of the civil engineering industry as the primary area of operation. Multinational companies that historically were restricted to construction of the developed world must now adapt and reposition themselves with a footprint in these emerging markets, if they are to take advantage of the changing conditions within the global infrastructure construction industry. For companies historically unfamiliar with operating in Africa and the Middle East, a plethora of potential risks are associated with project development. This research incorporated a substantial literature study that determined a number of critical issues that directly and indirectly influence a company’s ability to complete a project within time and under budget. The literature bank was then tested against the expert opinions of four selected respondents utilising a case study research methodology, as detailed by Yin (1994: 1-17). The respondents represented two selected civil engineering consulting firms, one based in a developed country with an extensive interest in the Middle East, and the other based in an emerging country itself, with operations throughout Africa. The outcome of the research ii highlighted several internal risk factors affecting development in Africa and the Middle East, such as capacity, staff experience, available resources and corporate culture. External factors were, however, the primary focus of respondents’ feedback, and included the reliability of energy supply in the target country, the condition of the built infrastructure such as roads and ports, tax rates and cost of finance, the prevalence of corruption as well as the risk of civil conflict and political instability. The Project Risk Guideline was the final output of this research process, which represented a synthesis between the literature review, the case study investigations as well as synthesis of various accepted risk evaluation techniques. The Guideline is a stage-gate sequential process, and may be utilised by civil engineering consulting or contracting firms with an interest in risk profiling and mitigation for project developments in emerging nations.