The time-averaged Navier-Stokes' partial differential equations have been used in the mathematical modelling of fluid flow for steady, incompressible non-cavitating, high Reynolds number turbulence through an orifice plate. The model developed for orifice plates was based on a particular closed form turbulent model: the k-ε two equation model developed at Imperial College, London and embodied in the TEACH-T finite difference computer code. A basic model for axisymmetric flow through an orifice meter was developed by appropriate modification of the TEACH-T program to incorporate orifice plate geometry, upstream/downstream distances, Reynolds number, inlet velocity profile and the calculation of output quantities of interest such as discharge and pressure loss coefficients. The model vas tested for convergence and general adequacy on an orifice of diameter ratio β= .7 in a 4 inch pipe line and at a Reynolds number of 105. Quantitative tests were then conducted on thin orifice plates in the range .3 β .7. Results were compared with those from BSI 1042 for discharge coefficients (flange, D-D/2 and corner tappings) and published results for pressure loss coefficients. The results show that the discharge coefficients predictions are within 3% of experiment with very close agreement in the mid-range (β = .45). The pressure loss coefficients predictions are within 15" of experiment. Sensitivity tests were then conducted to see how these coefficients varied with such quantities as inlet velocity I profile, turbulence levels and orifice plate thickness. These results indicated that the orifice is relatively insensitive to velocity profiles (1/12 power law and uniform) and. turbulence levels. Also below a certain orifice plate thickness ratio the discharge coefficient is almost constant. It is concluded that such modelling can be a most valuable aid in understanding the behaviour of the orifice meter and similar devices. In particular this would aid in the design of novel flow meters based on the differential pressure principle. Extensive mathematical and computational details including the derivation of the k-t model equations from first principles are relegated to appendices. A source listing of the developed model is also provided in appendix G.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Information and Communications Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The selection of an appropriate vendor from a set of competing vendors in information technology outsourcing is an essential decision for the effective and efficient management of supply chain management in a fiercely competitive environment. Given the growing and intensive applications of information technology resources to improve process efficiency, achieve growth, foster innovation and transform service delivery, the need arises to outsource the major information technology operations of an organisation, as a strategy for organisations to concentrate on their core businesses. Information technology outsourcing is an important constituent in supply chain management, because it demands effective selection of an appropriate vendor, based on multiple conflicting criteria. Supply chain management places strong emphasis on effective evaluation and selection of vendors against usually conflicting multiple criteria, rather than on cost as a single criterion upon which to base a decision. Multiple criteria generally include both qualitative and quantitative attributes, some of which can be fuzzy in nature. The overarching purpose of this research is to screen the most important criteria of information technology outsourcing for vendor selection based on expert opinions. The experts are from institutions of higher education, health, inspection and testing, property, shipping, state own enterprise, local government and transportation, who share their views regarding criteria that influence their vendor selection decision. Since the vendor selection decision is characterised by a high degree of subjectivity, interdependency and conflicting criteria, the analytic hierarchy process is applied to determine the weights of the identified criteria, evaluate and rank the potential vendors that provide information technology outsourcing services to the sampled institutions. The sample size for this research comprises 16 respondents and the 11 criteria which are cost, quality, commitment, additional resources, additional expertise, prior work, contract terms, confidentiality, location, on supplier database and black economic empowerment. Results show that quality of product is the most important attribute for vendor selection in information technology outsourcing. In addition, the study found that the sampled institutions can categorise their information technology outsourcing vendors more effectively and select a more effective supply chain partner. Moreover, the sampled institutions can provide unsatisfactory vendors with valuable feedback that will help them improve and become good partners in the future. / M

M.A. / The evolution of the Internet has led to the establishment of various value-adding products and services such as Internet banking (IB). Internet banking has changed the formal banking landscape forever. Some may argue that Internet banking has positively affected the lives of many, through providing services in a more convenient, efficient and effective manner, 365 days a year. However, the growth of the Internet has lead to the increase of various Information Technology (IT) problems and challenges. Today, individuals and organisations are faced with an increasing number of attacks via computer and Internet viruses, phishing scams and Internet hackers. Individuals and organisations must place greater emphasis on ensuring that their financial well-being is protected. The investment in adequate software and hardware has become critical to conduct financial transactions securely via the Internet. The level of security awareness should also be increased and established at various levels through comprehensive educational programmes. Extensive Internet banking awareness campaigns have been launched, but the level to which these campaigns are successful is uncertain. The main focus of this dissertation is to understand Internet banking customers’ perceptions on information protection when using Internet banking services and products, as various factors influence the perceptions of trust with regards to Internet banking. Trust is formed through a variety of factors from the influence of others on our own beliefs and values, to the experiences gained by using specific technology or processes over a particular period of time. An in-depth literature review forms the basic framework for the dissertation and is followed by an empirical component. The main goal of the literature review is to provide a solid theoretical framework and basis from which to conduct the empirical research. Chapters 2 to 4 delve into the evolution and development of the Internet and provide a perspective on the South African banking landscape. The various challenges the Internet banking domain is faced with, is explored, and the various opportunities that exist are extensively discussed. Trust, the major factor influencing the adoption of Internet banking services and products, is explored, and the factors that shape and diminish trust are discussed. The empirical study consisted of a close-ended questionnaire that was completed by a sample of University of Johannesburg (UJ) alumni. The study included 138 individuals who completed the close-ended questionnaire and the results were analysed by Statistical Consultation Services (StatCon), a statistical research unit within UJ. The results indicate that more should be done to ensure that individuals and businesses are well-versed on issues pertaining to Internet banking security and safety. The results further highlight that the quality of most of the individuals’ relationships with their formal bank branch diminished due to Internet banking. An interesting finding was that 80.7% of the respondents indicated that they would make use of Internet banking services and products, even though they are aware of fraudulent activities that take place via this Internet medium. The research findings provide financial institutions with valuable guidelines on how to plan and implement effective and efficient Internet banking education and awareness strategies.

The primary objective of the research is to develop a methodology for monitoring and measuring IT risks, strictly focusing on internal controls. The research delivers a methodology whereby an organization can measure its system of internal controls, providing assurance that the risks are at an acceptable level. To achieve the primary objective a number of secondary objectives were addressed: What are the drivers forcing organizations to better corporate governance in managing risk? What is IT risk management, specifically focusing on operational risk. What is internal control and specifically focusing on COSO’s internal control process. Investigation of measurement methods, such as, Balance Scorecards, Critical Success Factors, Maturity Models, Key Performance Indicators and Key Goal Indicators. Investigation of various frameworks such as CobiT, COSO and ISO 17799, ITIL and BS 7799 as to how they manage IT risk relating to internal control.

The aim of this thesis is to assess the present communication strategy of the Prague 8th municipal district and the relevant data collected in the questionnaire in order to recommend a set of amendments. Following methods were used in the thesis: synthesis, description, analysis and a field research. The theoretical part provides definitions of basic concepts connected to the subject of this research, practical part provides the assessment of a current communication strategy of the municipal district Prague 8th. The thesis includes a custom designed questionnaire the outcomes of which will help to answer the research question, will verify or refute the hypotheses posed in this research, and will facilitate amendments to the present communication strategy.

The content of this thesis is the introduction of Competitive Intelligence and its methods to companies in the chemical industry. The main objective of this work is to create particular solution of Competitive Intelligence for Lovochemie, a.s., i.e. to propose competent employee who will be periodically monitor the selected information resources using Competitive Intelligence software tools. The analyses were used to achieve this objective. At first analysis of the chemical industry was conducted in the Czech Republic and also in the world and analysis of the selected company has been created. Information resources that the company should follow through Competitive Intelligence tools were selected on the basis of this information. The first part deals with the introduction of Competitive Intelligence, intelligence cycle CI, strategic analysis methods and Competitive Intelligence tools for searching and monitoring of information on the Internet. The second part is devoted to the aforementioned analysis. At first the chemical industry is analysed and the world's biggest fertilizers producers are described. This section also introduces the company called Lovochemie, a.s., its competitors, suppliers and customers. In the last part of this thesis, the information resources available to the company and selected Competitive Intelligence tools are described. Finally, the particular solution for Lovochemie is created.

No description available.

Data warehousing provides organizations with strategic tools to achieve the competitive advantage that organazations are constantly seeking. The use of tools such as data mining, indexing and summaries enables management to retrieve information and perform thorough analysis, planning and forcasting to meet the changes in the market environment. in addition, The data warehouse is providing security measures that, if properly implemented and planned, are helping organizations ensure that their data quality and validity remain intact.

This project examines online learning tools and software that are applicable to K-12 and post-secondary distance learning environments. Powerpoint, Webquest and Inspiration 7 have been utilized to develop a lesson plan and storyboard that incorporate the constructivist theory of learning. An accompanying Web site, "Learning Tools for the On-Line Student," serves as a resource for instructional technology educators and includes information on designing lesson plans and evaluating students. The site also provides links to online tools and software that are useful in online learning environments.

The labor force is aging globally. It is projected that the number of older workers will increase in the workforce in the near future. At the same time, it is estimated that workplaces will grow more age-diverse, where younger and older workers will work side-by-side more often than they used to. These demographic shifts in the workforce necessitate a further understanding of the differences between the values, needs and motivation, and work outcomes of employees of different ages. To this end, few studies to date have investigated whether job-related resources are differentially useful for the work and non-work outcomes of younger and older workers. Guided by Conservation of Resources (COR) theory and two lifespan development theories (Selection-Optimization-Compensation, SOC; Socio-emotional Selectivity Theory, SST), this dissertation suggests that the utility of resources is age-dependent. Specifically, this dissertation includes three studies that expand our knowledge of age-based differences in the usefulness of job-specific, social, and personal resources, and how they relate to various job attitudes, different forms of job performance, and employee well-being. Study 1, which was published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior, examines the moderating role of age in the relationship between baseline resources (skill discretion, leader-member exchange, and procedural fairness) and perceived stress after one year in a sample of U.S. construction workers (N = 243). As hypothesized, the findings of this study showed that these autonomy and support resources were more important for older workers: When resources were high in the workplace, all employees reported lower levels of stress. However, when resources were low, older workers experienced greater stress compared to their younger colleagues. In Study 2, multi-source data from Turkish manufacturing employees (N = 156) are utilized to investigate the age-based differences in the link between social support resources (leader-member exchange, perceived organizational support) and supervisory ratings of in-role performance and organizational citizenship behaviors in a cultural context other than the U.S. It was hypothesized that these social support resources would be more important for older workers' performance. However, the findings showed that both leader-member exchange and perceived organizational support were considered as equally important by older and younger workers to perform well at work. Finally, Study 3 explores whether resource from job (decision-making autonomy) and personal resources (optimism, perceived work ability) differentially relate to work attitudes (job satisfaction, work engagement) and well-being (perceived stress, emotional exhaustion) of older and younger nurses (N = 111) working in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. The findings of this study supported that the usefulness of decision-making autonomy and optimism were more pronounced for older workers. Overall, the results suggested that, when these resources were low, all employees had lower job satisfaction and work engagement, and greater emotional exhaustion and perceived stress independent of their ages. However, under high resource conditions, older employees shined at work and in life: When resourceful, they enjoyed their job more and felt strong and vigorous at work, and they perceived an overall sense of control over life as well as had an ease of mind at and outside of their work environments. Taken together, the findings of these three studies suggest several implications for theory and practice, particularly those pertaining to the key role that age may play in understanding different workers' needs for job-related resources and how this may affect their work attitudes, behavior, and well-being. Theoretical implications suggest that COR theory can be integrated with lifespan development theories to address the age-related differences in the resource utility. In addition, the findings of this dissertation highlight the need to examine employee age as a main study variable to explore the boundary conditions of various resources -- work and non-work outcomes. Implications for practice include recommendations such as facilitating job crafting and job redesigns for older workers, developing managerial trainings on relationship building with subordinates, creating a fair work environment through transparent organizational policies and practices, and improving personal capacities through stress management interventions. Avenues for future research are discussed as well, including identifying additional resources (e.g., overqualification, support from coworkers and family), and work and well-being outcomes (e.g., objective health measures such as sleep, sick days, and injuries) that may show age-based differences based on lifespan development theories. Finally, this dissertation highlights the need to replicate these study findings across industries, job types, gender, and culture as the usefulness of resources may be context-specific.