The work environment in organizations has been associated with a number of factors that contribute to both their success and sustainability. Many researchers have identified the role, influence or the connection between the work environment and these factors such as productivity and creativity. However, it seems that business owners do not take their organization’s work environment into consideration when making major business decisions such as acquiring external funding. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of acquiring external funding on the different social factors influencing the work environment for self-funded firms. We have conducted a multiple case study in which we collected data through conducting interviews with eight employees from five different organizations located in the Middle East region. We analyzed the gathered data based on a theoretical model that connects eleven work environment dimensions with three aspects that are accompanied by acquiring external funding, which are: the changes in management and goals, financial resources and new networks and contacts. As a result, we concluded that the changes in management and goals have the most complex effect on work environment when compared to the other two aspects. In addition, we explored how would these aspects affect the work environment, either directly or indirectly, and found that the individual level changes in the work environment are mostly affected indirectly since the employees do not tend to attribute such changes to external funding directly. Finally, according to our results, it doesn’t seem that having the same funding type would trigger similar changes in the work environment. On the other hand, having a similar funding objective by the financing party would trigger more similarities especially when it comes to the changes in management and goals.

This diploma thesis deals with the managing grant funded project of “Renewal of the nature trail Baba“.

This study examines the role of tertiary education in the development of a knowledge based economy, with particular reference to developing countries and in the particular case of the University of Botswana (UB). It presents evidence to suggest that the commodification of knowledge is important to the fulfilment of this role and that if UB were to embrace this notion, it would help focus the fragmented approach of business practices in the University. The study also asks whether the resource allocation model at UB supports commodification of knowledge and examines what alternative approaches could be adopted, concluding that the adoption of a formulaic resource allocation model would better support this aim. A case study approach was adopted especially for its potential to capture explanatory and descriptive data. The three phases of study used were firstly the documentary research where reports were inspected and classified into categories. The second phase concentrated on the semi-structured interviews with members of the senior management staff at UB that served to clarify, confirm, refute and/or corroborate documentary research outcomes. The third phase of the study combined the data collected from the different sources. In combining both quantitative and qualitative data this thesis took advantage of data complementarity, facilitation and triangulation. The findings of the study show that UB embraces the notion of knowledge based economy through advancing the intellectual and human resource capacity of the nation and the international community. However the definition of commodification was not uniformly understood across UB faculties. The study also finds that UB did not seem to have a resource allocation model but had a budgeting system that did not support commodification of knowledge. While the human resource accounted for 67% of the total budget of the institution there was no staff allocations model to manage it. The inadequate database was found to be a major contributing factor which was exacerbated by lack of clear business processes in certain critical areas. The principles underpinning commodification of knowledge could be traced in UB policies even though there was a need to strengthen systems, processes and quality control mechanisms to facilitate and support data collection and establishment of database. A practical system which has the potential to help establish a systemic approach that would interrogate business process in UB is proposed.

The method of management accounting which was focused on detail accounting of costs which the organization is monitoring was analyzed in organization named ZS a MS Tabor, Helsinska 2732. Based on the latest theoretical knowledge was suggested the modification of the current system in the organization. The diploma work is focused on budgeting of the analyzed state-funded institution.

Objective: To identify principles and rules used by stakeholders in making limit-setting decisions for publicly funded dental care. Methods: A purposive sample, including administrators, academics, funders, clinicians and community representatives was surveyed using a 28-item questionnaire, in the first round of a proposed three-round modified Delphi study. Using open and closed-ended questions participants made and explained decisions on prioritizing populations and services. Open-ended text was analyzed with a thematic qualitative approach using open and axial coding. Results: Consensus emerged on two rationing principles; achieving equity and providing essential care. Rules for eligibility were defined as the inability to pay and/or assume full personal responsibility for securing dental care. Inclusion/exclusion of treatment categories rested on relieving pain/infection, preventing disease and maintaining/restoring function. Conclusions: Stakeholders presented principles and rules that suggest extending the distribution of publicly funded dental care to include, at a minimum, essential services for those unable to afford care.

Objective: To identify principles and rules used by stakeholders in making limit-setting decisions for publicly funded dental care. Methods: A purposive sample, including administrators, academics, funders, clinicians and community representatives was surveyed using a 28-item questionnaire, in the first round of a proposed three-round modified Delphi study. Using open and closed-ended questions participants made and explained decisions on prioritizing populations and services. Open-ended text was analyzed with a thematic qualitative approach using open and axial coding. Results: Consensus emerged on two rationing principles; achieving equity and providing essential care. Rules for eligibility were defined as the inability to pay and/or assume full personal responsibility for securing dental care. Inclusion/exclusion of treatment categories rested on relieving pain/infection, preventing disease and maintaining/restoring function. Conclusions: Stakeholders presented principles and rules that suggest extending the distribution of publicly funded dental care to include, at a minimum, essential services for those unable to afford care.

Objective: Many Canadian publicly funded recreation facilities have an obesogenic environment. Researchers recommend food and beverage policies to change these environments, however further research is needed to distinguish effective policy approaches. A promising, localized policy approach not yet well evidenced is the use of vending machine contracts with health stipulations to improve nutrition environments. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether a sample of Canadian publicly funded recreation facilities with healthy vending contracts had healthier vending machine nutrition profiles than those facilities with conventional contracts. A secondary research objective was to explore the additional influence of policy quality on the health profile of vending machines. Methods: This quantitative study used results from the baseline assessment done of the broader Eat, Play, Live (EPL) initiative. Vending machine audits and questionnaires were completed in participating publicly funded recreation facilities with vending machines (N=46). Vending product profiles were assessed using the Brand Name Food List which categorizes packaged foods according to the BC Guidelines for Vending in Public Buildings. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine if there were significant differences in the health profile of vending products between facilities with healthy vending contracts and those without. Results: Facilities with healthy vending contracts had significantly healthier vending product profiles compared to facilities with conventional contracts. On average, significantly less availability of unhealthy (DNS) products represented these healthier profiles. Vending profiles did not significantly differ based on higher quality contract health stipulations although sample size limited conclusions about this. Conclusion: Facilities with health stipulated in their contract differed from those without health stipulations. This suggests that healthy vending contracts (even with relatively generic stipulations) may be supportive of improved nutrition environments. / Graduate / 2019-03-29

The link between entrepreneurship and economic growth is well-established. Incubators aim to stimulate entrepreneurship, and one of the factors which contributes to effective incubation is networking. Previous research on the role of networking in entrepreneurship has not focused on how incubatees experience the incubator managers’ networking skills and how these skills contribute to the performance of the incubatees’ ventures while in incubation. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the contribution of the networking skills of government-funded incubator managers, as perceived by incubatees, to effective incubation. Networking skills were defined as the provision of access by incubator managers to their networks, to incubatees, as well as the facilitation of collaboration by incubator managers between their networks and incubatees. A quantitative study was performed, using a questionnaire to determine incubatees’ perceptions of the various networking skills of the relevant incubator managers, as well as the incubatees’ growth in sales. The population of the study consisted of 565 incubatees currently in incubation at government-funded incubators in South Africa who had access to the questionnaire, and a response rate of 18.4% was realised. The results indicated highly significant correlations, at the 1% level of significance between the networking skills of government-funded incubator managers, as perceived by incubatees, and effective incubation. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This dissertation examined the dimensions of food access and its effects on food selection for individuals enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); low-income senior citizens; and recipients of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefit. This study investigated the use of the Link Up Illinois Double Value SNAP Nutrition Incentives Program (DVCP), a coupon with which recipients can receive twice as much fresh produce when redeemed at a farmers market. In addition, this study measured the organizational scope of administering the Double Value Coupon Program in the 12th Congressional District of Illinois. This information allows for the development of appropriate location-specific intervention strategies to increase the use of the Link Up Illinois Double Value SNAP Nutrition Incentives Program and, consequently, the findings can lend themselves to strategies that improve upon consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables among low-income seniors, SNAP recipients, and WIC recipients.

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