Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The primary objective of this thesis was to critically assess the Productive Unite Resourcing (PUR) system as it is outlined in NAVSUP INSTRUCTION 7000,21A and as it being used at Navy Field Contracting Activities (NFCAs). The research was conducted by a review of current literature and extensive interviews with headquarters and field activity personnel. The research contains a review of PUR's predecessor system, the fixed workyear-cost funding methodology, an explanation of the PUR process and Procurement Cost Center algorithms, and summaries of the positive and negative impacts of PUR. Conclusions and recommendations are made concerning PUR's applicability to Navy Field Contracting Activities. Where specific problems were identified with either the process or algorithms, possible corrective actions are proposed. / http://archive.org/details/assessmentofnavy00fink / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Purpose- It is well-known that small businesses play a pivotal role in creating jobs and this is especially true in the economy of South Africa today. Enough cannot be said concerning the high unemployment rate prevalent in the country which if the right interventions are not put in place, this negative trend will continue. This unfavourable situation inspired the researcher to begin to consider the critical factors that drive entrepreneurship globally and discovered that funding is a major factor to be considered for the sustainability of any business whether the business is large or small. This study investigates the impact, the following funding streams; personal funds, Venture capital, Government funding and Bank loans exert on job creation in small businesses in Gauteng. Methodology- A mixed method approach was implemented with two interviews with experts in the financial sector for the qualitative component and the survey with questionnaires completed by entrepreneurs of start-up enterprises for the quantitative part of the report. Results-From the research findings, the researcher should have a clearer picture of how these funding streams impact the growth of the businesses in terms of job creation.,/p>Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This thesis explains the issues of crowdfunding. It focuses on Czech Republic, its development, present situation a future potential of crowdfunding. The aim is to identify the parameters that help to ensure the success of financing projects through crowdfunding. In the first part of the thesis, the crowdfunding, its principle and process are analysed from the theoretical point of view. The second part presents the development in the world and in the Czech Republic and includes analysis of successful and unsuccessful projects on the selected czech portal. The last section discusses conclusions from the analysis in order to help understanding the important parameters of successful financing. All the pieces of knowledge are reviewed at the end of the work.

What are the thoughts of individuals regarding the proposed retirement fund reform? Has rising levels of debt in South African households begun to eat into our future retirement savings? This paper walks through South Africa’s retirement fund history, taking us to the present day’s retirement fund reform proposals, notably compulsory preservation funding, before describing the low savings and high debt environment which also provides challenges for policy makers.The high cost of not preserving retirement benefits is shown and contrasted to retirement fund costs. Stakeholders are considered before the description of individual attitudes, views and opinions takes place. Finally the association between the presence of debt and past actions and future desires relating to the use of retirement fund monies when changing jobs is shown. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This thesis measures the degree to which the Federal Government has assisted formal education for children in the united States.

Investment in physical infrastructure - roads, bridges, power plants, hospitals, schools, airports, sea ports, water ports, railways etc. - is a fundamental ingredient in the growth and economic development of a country. Compared to countries like Singapore, South Korea and China, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have significantly underinvested in infrastructure over the years, resulting in stunted growth. Kenya has a large infrastructure funding gap, and with ballooning government debt, the country cannot solely rely on the government to meet its infrastructure funding needs. This study looks at the two predominant infrastructure funding models in Kenya, government funded procurement and public-private partnerships, to understand the salient features of each of the models and the causal relationships between them, before embarking on a process of creating a new model that results in the benefits of both. This systematic combining method emancipates the researcher, allowing the study to make use of Roger Martin’s process of integrative thinking to innovate new models for funding transport megaprojects in Kenya.

This was a study of the development of an objective funding method for public higher education institutions in Tennessee. The review covers the history of higher education funding from the early 1800s through the beginning of the twenty-first century with emphasis on the early 1960s through the year 2000. The study describes and analyzes the efforts made in Tennessee to provide adequate and equitable funding to public higher education institutions. Minutes of meetings of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, reports on studies commissioned by state officials, accountability reports prepared by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee, and official budget-related documents and annual financial reports of the colleges and universities were examined for this study. Fifteen personal interviews were conducted with individuals identified on the basis of their longevity in Tennessee higher education and/or the timeframe of their service, and because they represented a cross-section of state officials, officials of governing boards, and university and community college officials. A financial analysis of state appropriations, revenues and expenditures is included for 1993 through 2002. This study found that Tennessee’s formula contains most of the elements that have been brought forward in the literature over the years as indications of a good formula, and it addresses several of the disadvantages of formula funding. The funding formula has moved Tennessee higher education institutions closer to “equitable and fair” funding among the institutions since its application in the early 1970s. A provision for performance funding and implementation of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Emphasis programs addressed quality issues relative to funding. However, use of a formula has not solved the problem of insufficient funding. The complexity of college and university financial reporting has contributed to misunderstandings and distrust between higher education and state officials. This study combines lessons from the past with recommendations for future modifications to the funding formula used by Tennessee’s higher education institutions.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB; 2002) requires student assessment to be reported by school districts based on certain demographic variables. Research indicated that other variables may relate to student achievement. This study calculated the relationship between average school district scores and the demographic variables required by NCLB (ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, special needs, migrant status and English language learners) as well as literature identified variables (source of district funding, pupil-to-teacher ratio, average teacher salary, per-pupil-expenditure, school district population size.) The subject area tests used for this study were Algebra I, Biology I, English II and United States History tests for all districts in the state of Mississippi. The study found that there was a relationship between ethnicity, and socio-economic status of students and the district?s average scores on the subject area tests, and the gender of students showed a very weak relationship. Source of funding and per-pupil-expenditure returned a significant relationship, and population size and teacher salary was significant, but weaker and more sporadic. Further research is suggested for some of the variables.

Financing technology is an expensive and ongoing process due to constant upgrades and advancements that make yesterday's innovations obsolete. How Catholic elementary schools attempt to meet the financial challenge to provide necessary technological tools to their students is a concern expressed throughout the Catholic education community. The questions addressed in this study include: (1) how are Catholic elementary schools in the middle Atlantic states financing technology in their schools? (2) to what extent has technology been integrated into these schools? and (3) what are some of the factors, combined with funding, that have enabled or hindered technology integration within these schools? This study of middle Atlantic Catholic elementary schools was planned to include a survey of approximately two hundred sixty-four (264) schools within the Dioceses of Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond, Arlington, Wilmington, and the Archdioceses of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. However, only superintendents for the Dioceses of Charlotte, Richmond, and Arlington approved of the survey distribution in their systems. As a result, seventy-two (72) schools were surveyed in these three systems. The survey instrument contained questions designed to identify the methods of funding technology programs; the extent of technology use in the schools; any factors in addition to funding that have enabled technology integration; and any factors that have affected cost of technology in the school. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted as needed. Candidates selected for interview were based on any notable survey responses. Descriptive statistics were obtained from the survey and telephone interview data and were placed on the Demographics, Technology Use and Integration, and Budget and Acquisition data collection charts. School demographics, staff development programs, percentage of budget designated for technology, and primary sources of technology funding were a few of the areas investigated. Although general references are available to Catholic school administrators regarding technology funding, this information is time consuming to read for application to locality and specifically to Catholic education. The data collected from this study will be sent to each school principal who returned a survey and will reveal technology trends and methods of funding that are specific to the middle Atlantic Catholic elementary schools. In addition, conclusions drawn from this study relative to funding methods, extent of technology integration, and factors that have enabled technology programs within the schools, provide the basis for future study. / Ed. D.

The focus of this case study was to explore the strategies small restaurant business owners used to acquire capital funding to sustain their business through the first 5 years of business. The participants for this study included 4 purposefully selected small restaurateurs in New York State who have been in business for a minimum of 5 years. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the organizational life cycle theory supported by working capital management theory and the liability of newness. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with each restaurant owner, and archived data. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis of the interviews and content analysis of the documents. Five themes emerged that small business owners might benefit in acquiring financing to assist in sustaining the business longer than 5 years. The themes included education, third party auditor, economic conditions, banking track record, and a solid professional team. The results of this research may contribute to social change by identifying strategies needed to be successful in the financing process. The findings of this research may improve upon the knowledge of entrepreneurs and, consequently, strengthen the U.S. economy by educating America's job creators.