In South Africa there is a shortage of systems engineers which is being addressed by a systems engineering (SE) development program. The purpose of this research was to design a selection method that could be used to select candidate systems engineers with potential thus increasing the probability of successful development of SE competencies. Based on literature and practical considerations, the following research question was formulated: Can a candidate’s SE competence potential can be predicted from personality preferences, cognition, and values (the SE Profile)? Design science research was used as the research methodology. The 15 Factor Questionnaire Plus was used to assess personality, the Cognitive Process Profile for cognition, and the Value Orientations to assess values. The 21 SE competencies were assessed using the INCOSE Systems Engineering Competencies framework. Specific values (high or low) on a combination of psychological measures are useful for predicting high competence and these vary between SE competencies. Thus psychological measures for SE as a whole cannot be identified as has been done in the literature. The number of engineers with high SE competence is inversely proportional to the number of SE competencies. Cognition measures seem more useful in identifying risk, but do not strongly predict SE competence for the given sample. From this research, no evidence was found that values have been considered previously in the SE selection literature, but values are useful for predicting high competence on at least 11 SE competencies. Because the various SE competencies require different profiles, there are few “super systems engineers”. SE competence required for the project can be achieved through a team rather than a single systems engineer. Assessment can be used as a tool for SE development by detecting anomalies and selecting candidates which have the potential for faster successful development. / Thesis (PhD (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

South Africans leaving their country of birth is not a new phenomenon. South Africa currently has a large shortage of engineers and the fact that engineers are seeking better opportunities abroad is worsening the skills shortage in South Africa. Engineers form a vital part of any manufacturing, design, supply or production entity and leave a large setback if a skilled, experienced engineer decides to emigrate. Official statistics from self-declared emigrants showed that 601 engineers out of the total 16,165 self-declared emigrants left the country in 2003. This figure can be double the given number of 601 if the multiplication factor of 2.0 is taken into consideration for people that do not complete the emigration forms at the airports. The focus of this study was to investigate the emigration potential of the skilled engineer along with the factors that might lead to emigration, and were classified into three distinctive groups, namely, economic, political and social. These aspects are generally referred to as "push" factors that drive people out of the country such as racism, crime and violence; as well as "pull" factors that attract people such as better work opportunities, better salaries and better education. An electronic survey questionnaire was used to determine the emigration potential of the engineers within a large mining organisation. The respondents had to indicate their emigration potential as well as the major factors that would contribute to them leaving South Africa. The overall measured potential for emigration within the specific mining organisation was significantly low. Only twenty percent of respondents agreed that they are planning to emigrate within the next five years and only two percent within the next year. Forty-six percent of respondents agreed that they would rather like to work in another country for only a few years than to emigrate permanently. Various reasons could have lead to the contradicting low measured emigration potential within this specific organisation. Literature has proven that there is a significant relationship between intention to emigrate and organisational commitment. Results also showed that emigration potential tend to increase the better the engineer is qualified; with the emigration potential amongst electrical and mechanical engineers higher than all other disciplines. Crime and violence were the number one factor impacting the respondent in terms of potential emigration. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

South Africans leaving their country of birth is not a new phenomenon. South Africa currently has a large shortage of engineers and the fact that engineers are seeking better opportunities abroad is worsening the skills shortage in South Africa. Engineers form a vital part of any manufacturing, design, supply or production entity and leave a large setback if a skilled, experienced engineer decides to emigrate. Official statistics from self-declared emigrants showed that 601 engineers out of the total 16,165 self-declared emigrants left the country in 2003. This figure can be double the given number of 601 if the multiplication factor of 2.0 is taken into consideration for people that do not complete the emigration forms at the airports. The focus of this study was to investigate the emigration potential of the skilled engineer along with the factors that might lead to emigration, and were classified into three distinctive groups, namely, economic, political and social. These aspects are generally referred to as "push" factors that drive people out of the country such as racism, crime and violence; as well as "pull" factors that attract people such as better work opportunities, better salaries and better education. An electronic survey questionnaire was used to determine the emigration potential of the engineers within a large mining organisation. The respondents had to indicate their emigration potential as well as the major factors that would contribute to them leaving South Africa. The overall measured potential for emigration within the specific mining organisation was significantly low. Only twenty percent of respondents agreed that they are planning to emigrate within the next five years and only two percent within the next year. Forty-six percent of respondents agreed that they would rather like to work in another country for only a few years than to emigrate permanently. Various reasons could have lead to the contradicting low measured emigration potential within this specific organisation. Literature has proven that there is a significant relationship between intention to emigrate and organisational commitment. Results also showed that emigration potential tend to increase the better the engineer is qualified; with the emigration potential amongst electrical and mechanical engineers higher than all other disciplines. Crime and violence were the number one factor impacting the respondent in terms of potential emigration. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (MAppSc (Project Management))--University of South Australia

[Abstract]The bearing capacity of foundations is a fundamental problem in geotechnical engineering. For all structures placed on a soil foundation, geotechnical engineers must ensure that the soil has sufficient load carrying capacity so that the foundation does not collapse or become unstable under any conceivable loading. The ultimate bearing capacity is the magnitude of bearing pressure at which the supporting ground is expected to fail in shear, i.e. a collapse will take place.During the last fifty years various researchers have proposed approximate techniques to estimate the short term undrained bearing capacity of foundations. The majority of existing theories are not entirely rigorous and contain many underlying assumptions. As a consequence, current design practices include a great deal of empiricism. Throughout recent decades, there has also been a dramatic expansion in numerical techniques and analyses, however, very few rigorous numerical analyses have been performed todetermine the ultimate bearing capacity of undrained soils.In this study, finite element analysis has been used to analyse a range of bearing capacity problems in undrained soil. The numerical models account for a range of variablesincluding footing size, shape, embedment depth, soil layering and undrained bearing capacity of footings on slopes.By using the powerful ability of computers a comprehensive set of solutions have been obtained therefore reducing the uncertainties apparent in previous solutions.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Antioch University, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed March 19, 2009). Advisor: Jon Wergin, Ph.D. "A dissertation submitted to the Ph.D. in Leadership and Change program of Antioch University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy July 2008."--from the title page. Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-151).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 12, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 166-174). Also issued in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 283-295).

Thesis (M.S.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1994. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2713. Abstract precedes thesis as [2] preliminary leaves. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-43).

Thesis (M.S. in Information Technology Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): David F. Overton,Robert D. Broadston. Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-98). Also available online.