This work has a single aim, focusing on developing a political risk model relevant for tourism organisations, which are operating in an increasingly complex and turbulent international environment. It pays particular attention to the language of risk (how risks are articulated and described), the culture of risk (how risks are viewed), and the risk process (how they are analysed and assessed). The work critically evaluates a variety of methods that can be utilised to scan, analyse and assess political hazards and risks. It finds that many of the existing methods of political and country risk assessment are limited and not sufficiently contextualised to the needs of the tourism industry. Whilst many models can have an attractive façade of using positivistic methods to calculate political risks, in practice these are fraught with problems. The study also highlights a more complex relationship between tourism and political instability, whereby tourism can be characterised as much by its robustness, as its sensitivity. A model is developed which primarily adapts a systems theory approach, whereby a language, culture and practical process is developed through which the analysis of various factors and indicators can take place. The approach adopted has a number of stages, which vary in the amount of data necessary for the analysis and assessment of political risks. The model begins by utilising existing travel advice databases, moving onto an analysis of the frequency of past events, then to the nature of the political system itself, finishing with an analysis and assessment of more complex input factors and indicators which relate to notions of causation. One of the more provocative features of the model is the argument that it is more than possible to make an assessment of the risks that the political environment can pose to a tourism organisation, without necessarily understanding theories of causation.

This work has a single aim, focusing on developing a political risk model relevant for tourism organisations, which are operating in an increasingly complex and turbulent international environment. It pays particular attention to the language of risk (how risks are articulated and described), the culture of risk (how risks are viewed), and the risk process (how they are analysed and assessed). The work critically evaluates a variety of methods that can be utilised to scan, analyse and assess political hazards and risks. It finds that many of the existing methods of political and country risk assessment are limited and not sufficiently contextualised to the needs of the tourism industry. Whilst many models can have an attractive façade of using positivistic methods to calculate political risks, in practice these are fraught with problems. The study also highlights a more complex relationship between tourism and political instability, whereby tourism can be characterised as much by its robustness, as its sensitivity. A model is developed which primarily adapts a systems theory approach, whereby a language, culture and practical process is developed through which the analysis of various factors and indicators can take place. The approach adopted has a number of stages, which vary in the amount of data necessary for the analysis and assessment of political risks. The model begins by utilising existing travel advice databases, moving onto an analysis of the frequency of past events, then to the nature of the political system itself, finishing with an analysis and assessment of more complex input factors and indicators which relate to notions of causation. One of the more provocative features of the model is the argument that it is more than possible to make an assessment of the risks that the political environment can pose to a tourism organisation, without necessarily understanding theories of causation.

M.A. (Social Work) / In terms of recent changes in Government policy, the posts of social workers are currently being subsidised on the basis of the effectiveness of the service programmes conducted by welfare organisations. Consequently, programme evaluation has lately become the subject of increasing attention. An increased sense of responsibility and an awareness of a need for greater efficiency and cost effectiveness is emerging. This suggests a need for a scientifically based evaluation process i.e. programme evaluation with a view to improving existing programmes or developing new programmes. However uncertainty prevails in welfare organisations with regard to the nature and content of programmes and consequently where and when programme evaluation should be applied. In order to verify this impression, questionnaires were mailed to welfare organisations in Johannesburg who are members of the Family care Liason Committee. A sampling group of five directors, seven supervisors and ten social workers, based on nonprobability quota sampling, were identified. A response of three directors, four supervisors and seven social workers were received and after the results were analysed a verification of the impression, that uncertainty prevails in welfare organisations with regard to programme evaluation, could be noted. Programme evaluation would therefore be less likely utilised in social work as a method and model in rendering services unless the uncertainty is minimised and an atmosphere is created in which social workers will want to apply programme evaluation.

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Both the theory of sequential analysis developed by Wald and that developed by Rao may be applied to binomial distributions and may be used to select judges for taste testing experiments. The duo-trio or triangle test may both be used as the fundamental test in either sequential process. Wald has applied his sequential analysis to binomial distributions and it was only necessary to associate duo trio and triangle trials with his examples on industrial sampling inspection. This was done by associating incorrect tasting decisions with defectives in industrial sampling. It has been noted Ghat choice of α and β, the risks of type I and type II errors, may depend on the availability of potential judges and on the time and material available to the experimenter. / Master of Science

Doctorat en sciences psychologiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This research introduces a new design of a converter modified from SEPIC converter (Single end primary inductive converter), capable of generating desired voltage levels and polarities. The new switching converter topology allows for boost and buck of the input voltage theoretically achieving infinite positive and negative voltage levels. The proposed topology utilizes single high frequency switch to perform the power conversion which simplifies the design of the gate driver, but meanwhile, it still retains the ability to provide a wide range of output voltage. Mathematical modeling of the converter and computer simulations are validated by experimental data. To verify its performance a prototype was designed and built. It is experimentally proven that the circuit can generate a desired voltage in the range of voltages up to ±170 V, delivering 480 Watts of power to a resistive load.

After nine years of working in the field of social work, this including counselling, training and supervision, the researcher became aware of the need to develop a tool by which social workers could identify how they work. This study is for the social workers. It will review theory and techniques and then will go one step further. It will offer a new product to the social worker, a product whereby he or she can internally reflect on, investigate, argue about, integrate and finally, within the relationship the social worker has with his or her own working self, developed a personal practice model. Developmental research was selected as the research design. The tool to achieve the goal of developing a personal practice model was a workshop. A pilot study was undertaken at Family Life Centre. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work