Image generating system is usually considered as a noncausal system. The Kalman filter and the Wiener filter are two important linear filters for signal estimation. They are developed for the causal signal and noncausal signal respectively. However, the Kalman filter can also be applied to the noncausal system by rewriting the signal generating equation. In this thesis, we study the performance of the Wiener filter and the Kalman filter applied to image restoration. Our experiments have demonstrated that the rank of list for error performance is: the full order Winner filter, the Kalman filter, the reduced Kalman filter, the three-order Wiener filter. This performance is consisted with the amount of data used in the linear estimation. On the other hand the list for computation performance is as following: the reduced Kalman filter, the three-order Wiener filter, the Kalman filter, the full order Wiener filter. The efficiency of the reduced Kalman filter can be understood by the computation saving of huge updating procedures. It should be noted that the efficiency of applying the regular Kalman filter in this thesis is achieved by fully employed the special form of system matrix involved. In addition to the above noncausal image model, a causal image model can also be built if the central pixel is assumed to be affected only by the left and the upper pixels. The second model is not natural but is obviously advantageous in computation efficiency compared to the first model. However, the first model is much better than the second model error performance. Therefore, it is suggested that the natural image should be modeled as a noncausal model.

In stochastic representation an image is a sample function of an array of random variables which is called a random field. For characterizing an ensemble of images, we choose an autoregressive model as our image model. An image model often applies to image processing such as image data compression and image restoration. Therefore the validity of the image model affect it¡¦s performance of image processing. The output of the AR model depends on its parameters ¡V system transition matrix and generating noise. Hence the validity of this model is related to these two parameters. How to seek the standard of the validity of the image model is a problem. We exploit performance of image model¡¦s application ¡V image restoration - to find a method of determining the validity of the image model. In our paper we find a relation between image restoration performance and image model¡¦s parameters by the Kalman filtering equations. An image model with lower generating noise power and system transition matrix is better for image restoration and is considered a good image model. In the analysis of the parameters of the image model, we can meet the requirements of the parameters by image segmentation method, residual image method and normalized image method. In addition it also helps us understand the Kalman filter much more and know how to find the solution of similar problems.

<p>The internationalization of firms, especially among SMEs, represents big challenges that must be addressed. For this thesis, the internationalization process of the Swedish company Big Image Systems AB is studied. The purpose of the thesis is to generate a theoretical model to satisfactorily describe and explain the internationalization process of Big Image Systems AB. The case study methodology is our research strategy for this qualitative study. Based on theories about SMEs and internationalization, and after exhaustive analysis and selection, we developed an internationalization model for Big Image. The so called Big Image Model considers the dimensions of internationalization developed by Welch and Luostarinen (1998) and the entrepreneurial perspective by Andersson (2001) to satisfactorily describe and explain the important factors involved in the process. We observe that the entrepreneur plays a central role towards internationalization, and that theoretical guidance can make SMEs learn from their own experiences and, as a consequence, progress.</p>

The internationalization of firms, especially among SMEs, represents big challenges that must be addressed. For this thesis, the internationalization process of the Swedish company Big Image Systems AB is studied. The purpose of the thesis is to generate a theoretical model to satisfactorily describe and explain the internationalization process of Big Image Systems AB. The case study methodology is our research strategy for this qualitative study. Based on theories about SMEs and internationalization, and after exhaustive analysis and selection, we developed an internationalization model for Big Image. The so called Big Image Model considers the dimensions of internationalization developed by Welch and Luostarinen (1998) and the entrepreneurial perspective by Andersson (2001) to satisfactorily describe and explain the important factors involved in the process. We observe that the entrepreneur plays a central role towards internationalization, and that theoretical guidance can make SMEs learn from their own experiences and, as a consequence, progress.

The image of a school is mechanism that defines a certain school amongst other schools in the vicinity, as well as the country. The image model developed in this study, can be used as a management tool through which the school can evaluate all the different facets contributing to the image of a school, and identify positive and negative factors requiring action plans for maintenance or development. Transvalia High School has been one of the top 100 schools in South-Africa since 2009. The evaluation done by Perry (2009) does, however, only focus on the academic side of the school and not on the other factors as defined by Howard (1998:15) that contributes to the image of a school. The question thus is how the image of Transvalia presents itself, and what could possibly be done to enhance it and strengthen its position between the top 100 schools in South-Africa. It was decided to research die possible factors as identified by the literature study, that supports the image of the school and the measure of their impact. Through prioritization of the factors, management actions were derived to enhance the image of the school. Research was done through a quantitative questionnaire with a sample size of 450 students, parents and teachers randomly selected from each class in the school. The design of the questionnaire stemmed from the literature study done. The results from the questionnaires were used to: • test the validity, reliability and comparative fit of the questionnaire; and • identify critical, development and maintenance areas of the image of the school. Only 345 valid questionnaires could be used in the study. Additional comments from the questionnaires were divided into positive and negative areas, with several main focus points. The qualitative data were then sorted into these focus areas and quantified. The results of the questionnaire as a measuring instrument showed beyond doubt, that the questionnaire was sufficiently valid and reliable to measure the image of a school. A structural equation model was developed through factor analysis and the statistical department of the North-West University to determine the exact influence of each of the pillars onto the image as well as onto each other. The following results were obtained: • Only 79% of the environment contributes to the image of the school where the environment consists of the parents, the Department of Education and the school governing body; • The school culture consists of the history of the school, the climate within the school, recognition, appearance, discipline, safety and religion. Only 82% of the school culture contributes to the image. • Approximately 85% of Product Catalogue supports the image. The Product Catalogue is supported by academics, sport, leadership and tertiary alignment. • Lastly, the image is supported by 84% of delivery mechanisms that consists of the principal, teachers, infrastructure and technology of the school. From the study and the conclusions drawn, the following recommendations were made: • Parent involvement in supporting their children with homework and with sport and fundraising activities, is insufficient and requires development; • The selection of teachers, especially in the lower grades, has to have stricter requirements in line with subject needs; • Safety at school and in particular evacuation plans, requires attention and drills; • Discipline application between the teacher core has to be standardized and focused on reducing smoking students, intensified; • The perception of an imbalance between sport and academics requires proper information distribution; • Formal leadership courses have to be introduced in to the product catalogue; • Performance appraisal for teachers through a Balanced Scorecard and individual development plans have to be introduced; and • A visible marketing plan utilising the various media available have to be developed. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The image of a school is mechanism that defines a certain school amongst other schools in the vicinity, as well as the country. The image model developed in this study, can be used as a management tool through which the school can evaluate all the different facets contributing to the image of a school, and identify positive and negative factors requiring action plans for maintenance or development. Transvalia High School has been one of the top 100 schools in South-Africa since 2009. The evaluation done by Perry (2009) does, however, only focus on the academic side of the school and not on the other factors as defined by Howard (1998:15) that contributes to the image of a school. The question thus is how the image of Transvalia presents itself, and what could possibly be done to enhance it and strengthen its position between the top 100 schools in South-Africa. It was decided to research die possible factors as identified by the literature study, that supports the image of the school and the measure of their impact. Through prioritization of the factors, management actions were derived to enhance the image of the school. Research was done through a quantitative questionnaire with a sample size of 450 students, parents and teachers randomly selected from each class in the school. The design of the questionnaire stemmed from the literature study done. The results from the questionnaires were used to: • test the validity, reliability and comparative fit of the questionnaire; and • identify critical, development and maintenance areas of the image of the school. Only 345 valid questionnaires could be used in the study. Additional comments from the questionnaires were divided into positive and negative areas, with several main focus points. The qualitative data were then sorted into these focus areas and quantified. The results of the questionnaire as a measuring instrument showed beyond doubt, that the questionnaire was sufficiently valid and reliable to measure the image of a school. A structural equation model was developed through factor analysis and the statistical department of the North-West University to determine the exact influence of each of the pillars onto the image as well as onto each other. The following results were obtained: • Only 79% of the environment contributes to the image of the school where the environment consists of the parents, the Department of Education and the school governing body; • The school culture consists of the history of the school, the climate within the school, recognition, appearance, discipline, safety and religion. Only 82% of the school culture contributes to the image. • Approximately 85% of Product Catalogue supports the image. The Product Catalogue is supported by academics, sport, leadership and tertiary alignment. • Lastly, the image is supported by 84% of delivery mechanisms that consists of the principal, teachers, infrastructure and technology of the school. From the study and the conclusions drawn, the following recommendations were made: • Parent involvement in supporting their children with homework and with sport and fundraising activities, is insufficient and requires development; • The selection of teachers, especially in the lower grades, has to have stricter requirements in line with subject needs; • Safety at school and in particular evacuation plans, requires attention and drills; • Discipline application between the teacher core has to be standardized and focused on reducing smoking students, intensified; • The perception of an imbalance between sport and academics requires proper information distribution; • Formal leadership courses have to be introduced in to the product catalogue; • Performance appraisal for teachers through a Balanced Scorecard and individual development plans have to be introduced; and • A visible marketing plan utilising the various media available have to be developed. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Bibliography: leaves 441-459 / The shepherd metaphor is a prominent and significant one in the Old Testament. However, it has shifted from an agrarian context, of shepherd and sheep in the literal sense, to a socio-political context, of rulers and people in the political sense: a king is a shepherd to the people. A careful review of the given metaphor raises the question whether the metaphor should be the basis of the pastoral and leadership models that are derived from the image of the shepherd, and whether such models can be enriched by the analysis of the said metaphor as applied to the implementation of the shepherding responsibility described in the Old Testament. This research aims to examine various pastoral and leadership models and their use of the shepherd metaphor in the light of the significance of the said metaphor in the Old Testament. It utilises rhetorical criticism in consultation with metaphorical theory to examine the given metaphor used in the models of pastoral and leadership roles and their relationship with the shepherd metaphor in the New Testament. The objective is threefold: (1) exploring the use of the shepherd metaphor in the Old Testament; (2) examining the use of the shepherd metaphor in pastoral and leadership models, which could include pointing out that some of these models rely heavily on their understanding of New Testament uses of this metaphor; and (3) comparing the Old Testament and pastoral/leadership models’ uses of the shepherd metaphor and drawing conclusions based on this comparison. To achieve that end, the discussion also includes the ancient Near Eastern literature and deuterocanonical texts. The thesis shows that a careful analysis of the uses of the shepherd metaphor in the Old Testament could enrich the literature on Christian leadership as well as pastoral models that use this metaphor as their point of departure. / Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies / D. Phil. (Old Testament)