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Segmentation is one of the most fundamental corner stones in the theory of marketing. It has been a subject for research for over 60 years. The subject has been actualised because of the lack of research within the practice of segmentation. There is an obvious gap between how the theories are recommending the companies to practice segmentation and how the companies actually do it. Attempts have been made to cover the gaps between theory and practice through providing implementation strategies, but still the gap remains. We will in our degree project focus on the gap between theoretical segmentation and practical segmentation within the service sector. Our conclusions from this degree project have the aim to provide information regarding 'how' companies practise segmentation within this setting. Therefore the research question we have conducted is: How are Swedish service companies practicing segmentation in their business? Our research question is answered through three main objectives, which together creates our conceptual framework that is tied to theories regarding business-to-business segmentation, CRM and the service setting. The data collected were done by the use of a qualitative method, through semi-structured i nterviews with seven companies from the service sector. The respondents from the companies were mostly marketing managers with insight regarding their company’s segmentation strategy. The empirical findings were analysed in comparison to our theoretical framework, to establish the difference between theory and practise. Main conclusions drawn from our degree project were that the companies understood the importance of segmentation. However the difference between theory and practise were large, companies adapted the basics but rather than creating a strategy of which customer to pursue, the majority acted retroactively trying to capture every customer as an initial step, to later focus on a specific group. The reasons found for this behaviour was that the companies applied a short-term focus rather than a long term, not having enough time to spend on segmenting and the fear that by using segmentation they might miss other customers in the process. Recommendations to the practitioners of segmentation, is to have a more long-term focus, as well as to be decisive in their segmentation. Future studies are recommended to focus on where within an organization the responsibility for segmentation should lie and the relationship between CRM and Segmentation in the service industry.

In this thesis, we propose architecture for a SaaS model in Cloud that would provide service to the financial investors who are not familiar with various mathematical models. Such finance models are used to evaluate financial instruments, for example, to price a derivative that is currently being traded before entering into a contact. An investor may approach CSP to price a particular derivative and specify the time, budget and accuracy constraints. Based on these constraints specified by investors, the service provider will compute the option value using our proposed FSM. To evaluate our proposed model, we compared pricing results with the classical model that provides a closed-form solution for option pricing to meet the accuracy constraints. After establishing the accuracy of our pricing results, we further ensured that the SLA between the FSP and the investors is honoured by meeting the constraints put forth by the investor who uses the Cloud service.

There is no abstract available for this dissertation.

The purpose of this study was to develop a training program for civil service employees in the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The intent was to investigate the effectiveness of recent training programs and to discover the training needs upon which a new and possibly stronger training program for civil service employees could be developed to be used by the Institute of Public Administration in Jamahiriya.Five research questions provided direction for this study which had as its sample 120 civil service employees of various educational, professional, and training backgrounds in Libya. Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the raw data obtained from questionnaire responses. The questionnaire consisted of fifteen questions pertaining to the nature and importance of employee training, the elements of an effective training program, the role and responsibilities of a trainer, types of training programs, and evaluation methods of civil service employee training programs. A Likert Scale was utilized to determine the degree of agreement or disagreement with each statement included in the questionnaire.The results of the study indicated that:1. a master plan for organizing and supervising training programs is needed2. training programs should be built after identifying the training needs3. training should relate to job responsibilities4. trainees should be employed in the areas in which they received training5. management and supervisors need to develop further skills and increase their knowledge to assist employees6. the development of a central training unit for planning, organizing, supervising and controlling training policies on the national level is neededA review of the data led to the following conclusions with regard to the development of effective training programs:Effective training programs must include skillful and knowledgeable trainers, proper trainee selection, proper implementation of on-the-job and off-the-job training, sufficient planning and time scheduling, use of effective training methods/techniques, up-to-date materials, a proper learning environment, and an evaluation tool to assess program and trainer/trainee strengths and weaknesses.

The purpose of the study was to describe perceptions of Indiana public school teachers regarding:1. existing in-service program practices and2. effective practices for in-service programs.A questionnaire was mailed to randomly selected Indiana public school teachers employed during the 19751976 school year. Usable questionnaires were returned by 243 teachers, eighty-one percent.Data reported represented a description of the perceptions of teachers in the study as tabulated by number and percent.The following conclusions were formulated from the summary of the findings based upon teacher perceptions of effective elements for in-service programs:1. School corporations should provide teachers with in-service programs.2. In-service programs should be based upon the needs of teachers.3.Teacher needs should be determined through surveys or questionnaires.4. Teachers and administrators should have equal input in planning in-service programs.5. In-service programs should be planned for each semester as determined by the needs of the teachers.6. The duration of each session should be determined by the needs of the program.7. The most desirable time for an in-service program should be during the normal school day with released time for those attending.8. Only a qualified expert should conduct the in-service program.9. Teachers should be grouped by grade or subject interest or a combination of both.10. The in-service program should include a workshop-type session providing for teacher involvement and participation.11. Following the in-service program an evaluation of the session should be made.12. A "follow-up" program should be established to determine if in-service objectives were implemented in the classroom.

The main assumption that is inherent in the present study is that better utilization of volunteers will add value to the quality of life of all South Africans. The social welfare service delivery is the responsibility of the professional social workers who are either employed by the Government department of Social Development, other Government departments with related responsibilities or well established Non-Governmental organizations who are referred to as voluntary organizations in this study. The problem at hand that is being addressed by the study is : The nature and extent of volunteering which is unknown; The prevailing need for the use of volunteers and how those that are actively participating are being acknowledged and utilized; and There are no recruitment strategies to facilitate the selection, training, structuring of volunteers and supervision as well as evaluation of volunteers' service. Voluntary work is an old phenomenon, which is older than social work profession itself. It is an ancient exercise enshrined within the African cultural heritage of Botho/Ubuntu, which is within some people and need to be cultivated. There are many people who are, or would be interested and enthusiastic to be involved in voluntary work is approved and properly motivated. The present study was designed to investigate the indepth practice and extent of volunteering in the North West Province, establishing the cooperation between professional social workers and volunteers. An attempt has been made in the study to determine the areas where volunteers can be legitimately utilized and the effective measures of how to recruit, select, train and place volunteers. The study sample was drawn from four units of analysis listed below and different instruments for data collection were used in the process : Questionnaires were administered to 130 voluntary organizations drawn from the total population of North West Province; Mailed questionnaires were sent to professional social workers registered with the council, from North West and 54 responded; Telephonic interview schedule was administered to 102 respondent community members in the Province; and An experience survey was conducted which involved three case studies of organizations which are well established and known for utilizing volunteers. The descriptive research design as well as exploratory design were used in the study. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used when collecting data through administered questionnaires and during case studies. The findings indicated that there are a great number of volunteers that are unknown and those known by professional social workers but not acknowledged. Also, that there are no purposeful recruiting measures in place to facilitate the selection, training and placement of volunteers. Whilst there is an oversight of identifying and acknowledging volunteers on the side by authorities and professionals, volunteers have been discovered to be playing a major role in the sustainability of economic development in the country. Towards the end of the Apartheid era, there were non-governmental organizations established in great numbers characterized by funding of their projects and programmes from foreign institutions or local government departments. However the study revealed that there is need for more organized support and training of both volunteers and professionals empowerment and capacity-building by structures that utilize volunteers. The most significant measure for recruitment identified through the study is the establishment of a Bureau for Volunteers, a center which will recruit, select, train, place volunteers and coordinate their services. It is recommended that the Bureau should operate from National level under the Department of Social Development whilst its branches cascade down to the provincial departments of social services. Advanced training of both volunteers and professionals is recommended as a most powerful machinery for sustaining voluntary service. Community Liaison Officers presently responsible for Provincial Social development departmental programmes would serve as link between volunteers and professionals, to add value to the present noble service of volunteers. Recommendations and suggestions for further research are made. / (Ph.D.) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2005

In this thesis, we propose architecture for a SaaS model in Cloud that would provide service to the financial investors who are not familiar with various mathematical models. Such finance models are used to evaluate financial instruments, for example, to price a derivative that is currently being traded before entering into a contact. An investor may approach CSP to price a particular derivative and specify the time, budget and accuracy constraints. Based on these constraints specified by investors, the service provider will compute the option value using our proposed FSM. To evaluate our proposed model, we compared pricing results with the classical model that provides a closed-form solution for option pricing to meet the accuracy constraints. After establishing the accuracy of our pricing results, we further ensured that the SLA between the FSP and the investors is honoured by meeting the constraints put forth by the investor who uses the Cloud service.

Empirical data indicates that work satisfaction has an effect on work attendance, decisions regarding retirement, general behavioural syndromes indicating a positive organizational orientation, attempts to influence work situations by means of trade union activities as well as psychological withdrawal. In the past work satisfaction has been coupled with individual, group and organizational factors. Increasing attention is currently paid to the hypothesis that factors within the individual (dispositional factors) rather than merely the characteristics of the position, affect individuals' work satisfaction. If locus of control does indeed show a relationship with work satisfaction, it could be of significant value for any organization, especially with regard to the selection and development of personnel. Die objectives of this research are to determine whether there is a connection between locus of control and work satisfaction. The literature study focussed on conteptualizing work satisfaction and the relationship thereof with locus of control. A survey design (correlation design) was used to test the hypotheses of the research. Each individual in the subject group was tested on two variables simultaneously and the connection between the measurements that were obtained, was established. The survey group consisted of 101 senior police personnel of the South African Police Service (SAPD) in the Marico area. An availability sample was used. Two questionnaires were used in this research, namely the Locus of Control Questionnaire (LCQ) and the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Index (Weiss et al., 1976). Statistical analyses were done by means of the SAS programme. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, product moment correlations, multiple correlations and canonical correlations were used to analyze information. With regard to the level of satisfaction of senior police personnel, they indicated dissatisfaction with regard to the remuneration that they receive, as well as physical working conditions, opportunities for promotion, acknowledgement, social status, supervision-human, as well as supervision-technical. More work satisfaction is experienced with regard to performance, authority, independence and responsibility. The results of the empirical survey indicate that there is a moderately negative relationship between the external locus of control and work satisfaction of senior police personnel. The canonical correlations indicate that there is a practically significant connection (large effect) between locus of control and work satisfaction. In conclusion recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.A.)--Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, 1999.