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Introduction to public health preparedness for disaster and emergency response.Winkler, Anita J. Herbold, John R., Shipp, Eva Monique January 2008 (has links)
Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, page: 0349. Adviser: John R. Herbold. Includes bibliographical references.
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Attitudes about alternate financial planning for churchesHammon, Mat. January 2001 (has links)
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oxford Graduate School, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [128]-137).
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In remembrance of me a narrative approach to strategic planning /Plunkett, Kathy L., January 2003 (has links)
Thesis (M. Div.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tenn., 2003. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-119).
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Towards understanding stakeholder relationship during strategic planning : the case of an airline companyAl Katheeri, Mohamed January 2016 (has links)
This research investigates the relationship among the stakeholders during the strategic planning process in an airline company. The concept of involving stakeholders in strategic planning is based on the assumption that engaging stakeholders in a meaningful way will increase the benefits for both the organization and the stakeholders. The growth trend of the company investigated has resulted in complexity due to the growth of its internal and external stakeholders and the influence that their relationships can have on strategic planning. Whereas studies have identified a number of factors that can influence stakeholder relations, it has also been suggested that relationships could further be influenced by host of other stakeholder-related attributes. It is in this context that the study answers the following research questions: (1) how do stakeholders understand their responsibilities in strategic planning?; (2) how do they perceive the importance of communication and coordination to their relationship during the planning process?; and (3) how do the stakeholders‘ expectations shape the challenges faced by the company and their relationship during strategic planning? The study employs the qualitative method of research using the interview technique to collect data to gain insights into how the participants perceive and make sense of their relationships during strategic planning in their company. The conceptual dimension of the study is premised on the two streams of meaning of relationships and the dynamics of stakeholder relations during strategic planning projected in the literature. The methodological dimension is premised on the importance of lived experience as a significant source of knowledge. In this respect, the study draws on phenomenology using narrative analysis and inductive content analysis in the treatment of data. Accordingly, the study found that stakeholders bring to the table a plethora of responsibilities which have significant upward and downward influences during strategic planning. There is a consensus among stakeholders on the general importance of the relational benefits of coordination and communication. Real time coordination and communication with external stakeholders is differentially perceived within the range of poor to excellent. Likewise, there is differential perception of the relational importance of communication in terms of organizational context. Whether the coordination among stakeholders is perceived as excellent or poor, the bottom line is that stakeholder relations in the company remains a challenge. Stakeholders have multiple expectations of the company strategic plan and the strategic planning process which further raises multi-faceted challenges to the company. Based on the findings the study came up with a model that highlights the streams of thought pursued in the study. The findings affirm the view that relationships result from what transpires, happens, or occurs during strategic planning. Likewise, the inherent connectivity that results from the social nature of individuals involved in the planning process is affirmed. The former is on account of the responsibilities of the stakeholders and the latter on account of the inherent value that stakeholders place on strategic planning. The quality and extent of stakeholder relations however is moderated by extent and quality of coordination and communication before and during the planning process.
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Transportation and dynamic networks: Models, theory, and applications to supply chains, electric power, and financial networksLiu, Zugang 01 January 2008 (has links)
Network systems, including transportation and logistic systems, electric power generation and distribution networks as well as financial networks, provide the critical infrastructure for the functioning of our societies and economies. The understanding of the dynamic behavior of such systems is also crucial to national security and prosperity. The identification of new connections between distinct network systems is the inspiration for the research in this dissertation. In particular, I answer two questions raised by Beckmann, McGuire, and Winsten (1956) and Copeland (1952) over half a century ago, which are, respectively, how are electric power flows related to transportation flows and does money flow like water or electricity? In addition, in this dissertation, I achieve the following: (1) I establish the relationships between transportation networks and three other classes of complex network systems: supply chain networks, electric power generation and transmission networks, and financial networks with intermediation. The establishment of such connections provides novel theoretical insights as well as new pricing mechanisms, and efficient computational methods. (2) I develop new modeling frameworks based on evolutionary variational inequality theory that capture the dynamics of such network systems in terms of the time-varying flows and incurred costs, prices, and, where applicable, profits. This dissertation studies the dynamics of such network systems by addressing both internal competition and/or cooperation, and external changes, such as varying costs and demands. (3) I focus, in depth, on electric power supply chains. By exploiting the relationships between transportation networks and electric power supply chains, I develop a large-scale network model that integrates electric power supply chains and fuel supply markets. The model captures both the economic transactions as well as the physical transmission constraints. The model is then applied to the New England electric power supply chain consisting of 6 states, 5 fuel types, 82 power generators, with a total of 573 generating units, and 10 demand markets. The empirical case study demonstrates that the regional electricity prices simulated by the model match very well the actual electricity prices in New England. I also utilize the model to study interactions between electric power supply chains and energy fuel markets.
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Using social capital to promote and improve community preparedness for wildfiresBihari, Menka 01 January 2010 (has links)
Across the country, government agencies, NGOs and communities are coming together to manage their forests to reduce the risk of wildfire in the wildland urban interface. However, to have long-term impacts, communities must have the foundation necessary to continue these efforts after special programs have moved on or outside funding has been exhausted. Social capital may be one important component in sustaining wildfire preparedness as actions to increase wildfire preparedness are affected by decisions made at the individual and the community level. This study focuses on the essential components of social capital that are crucial in affecting community participation in wildfire preparedness and mitigation. In order to understand these relationships, a pilot study was developed to explore how perceptions of community preparedness efforts vary geographically in different ecosystems, forest types and USDA Forest Service regions at the national scale. Additionally, the study explores differences in perceptions of community preparedness between stakeholder groups, such as residents, fire officials, land managers, business/community leaders, and environmental advocates. Since preparedness involves both individual actions at the residential scale, as well as community actions such as planning and zoning, separate survey instruments were developed for local residents and community and government agency leaders. The study also analyzed the effect of variables like place attachment, past experience and previous involvement with wildfires, length and type of stay in the community, and affiliation with local organizations on creation or enhancement social capital as well as wildfire preparedness in the community in terms of change in defensible space actions, and change in people’ attitudes, understanding and outlook towards mitigation efforts over the years. This research has incorporated a mixed methods approach integrating both quantitative and qualitative research techniques because of the dual aspect of the research questions regarding the measure of social capital as well as the level of preparedness in the communities. Results from the pilot study conducted in six communities across the United States are discussed as the final outcome of this larger national scale project. Ultimately, the study provides insights about the underlying community variables that influence community preparedness actions and awareness about wildfire.
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The transition into teaching : a study of the major problems of beginning teachers in three Cape Town high schools and induction programmes to address themMalatji, Sydney M January 1999 (has links)
Bibliography: pages 96-108. / The period immediately after entering the teaching profession is of the utmost importance to beginner teachers. This is a moment when beginner teachers learn how to become competent in the classroom. More often than not, beginning teachers are generally expected to assume full responsibility of professional teachers from the first day they report to school. In this regard, the transition from being student teachers to qualified teachers is seen as unproblematic. The beginner teacher is seen as totally prepared to face the reality of teaching. However, literature on professional development indicates that beginner teachers experience a kind of "reality shock" in their first professional year. This research study explored the concerns and problems experienced by beginner teachers during their first years of teaching, at three historically different high schools in Cape Town. A literature survey investigating the realities and conditions of beginner teachers in their workplaces - both local and international was conducted. Furthermore, existing research concerning beginner teachers' professional growth was reviewed to shed light on the research area. A qualitative methodology was adopted in order to facilitate an in-depth understanding of the beginners' experience. Given the qualitative nature of my research topic, which dwells in-depth with people experiences, I found it convenient to use unstructured interviews as a means of collecting data. Unstructured later discussed.
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Human resource development strategy in the provincial government of the Western CapeDu Toit Goussard, Carien 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning
))—Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This study focuses on the determinants for the development of a human resource strategy
in the Provincial Government Western Cape (PGWC).The context is that a new regulatory
framework for human resource development in South Africa, namely the National Human
Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS) was developed by the National Ministries of
Education and Labour in 2001. The purpose of the NHRDS was to provide a plan to ensure
that people in South Africa are equipped to fully participate in society, to be able to find or
create work, and to benefit fairly from it. At the heart of the NHRDS is the belief that
enhancing the general and specific abilities of all citizens is a necessary response to the
current situation in South Africa.
The hypothetical point of departure of this study is formulated in such a way that
acceptance of it constitutes support for the findings obtained from the literature and
observations on HRD strategies as well as the implementation of the NHRDS in the PGWC.
The problem for the purpose of this dissertation focuses on the research question: What is
the role and context of HRD in the South African public service and does the
implementation of the NHRDS justify the need and development of a HRD strategy in the
PGWC?
The qualitative research method that was chosen for this dissertation is the triangulation
of grounded theory and a specific case study (mixed method). In this case, data used to
provisionally assess the extent of implementation of the NHRDS in the PGWC, are specific
key documents.
To facilitate the research, to identify the core theoretical concepts and to investigate the
problems identified in this study, the focus was subdivided into five research objectives
which are analysed in chapters two to six of the dissertation. These are:
· To provide an analysis of the nature, development, scope and concepts of Human
Resource Management, Human Resource Development (HRD), training, and education,
in order to examine the influence of these important external variables on the process of HRD in a public sector organisational setting and to provide context to the need for
a NHRDS in South Africa.
· To provide an overview of the relevant trends of transformation in South Africa with a
focus on the origin, nature and implications of the transformation of South Africa after
1994 as well as the impact of the public service transformation HRD interventions in
general.
· To provide a systemic exploration of the scope and legislative and policy framework for
HRD in the public sector in South Africa in general through an overview of the NHRDS
and other HRD education and training strategies in order to provide an exposition of
the rationale of the NHRDS and to get clarity on the conceptualisation of HRD in terms
of skills for service delivery in the public sector.
· To provide an exploration of conceptual knowledge of the variables influencing HRD
through the application of a literature and documentary study of the present strategies
(both internal and external) of the PGWC to develop its human resources, in order to
describe and analyse the outcomes of the NHRDS process in the PGWC as well as the
strategies and procedures employed to implement the NHRDS in the PGWC.
· To develop a set of indicators against which the interaction of the variables influencing
a successful strategy for HRD can be measured through the implementation of the
NHRDS in the PGWC.
The last chapter presents a synthesis of the study, taking into account the key findings.
This dissertation is an attempt to make a contribution, in general, to the understanding of
the role of the development of human resources through the NHRDS and is completed in
the trust that the findings recorded here and the proposals made will be useful for future
research.
The potential benefits that can arise from the implementation of the NHRDS in the PGWC
are significant. It could create a virtuous circle of increased economic growth and
employment, an improved standard of living, and a more educated and trained citizenry.
In conclusion, it can be stated that the hypothetical point of departure that were
formulated for this study, was proven to be correct in theory and practice.
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Integrated risk management : a mechanism to minimise risks for local government : a critical perspectiveGeldenhuys, L. 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning
))—University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The absence of an integrated risk management programme in local government in South
Africa creates the danger that these risks are not identified, which could be catastrophic,
and opportunities to minimise losses are not utilised. A further problem is that common
risk-management terminology is lacking and management are dependent on diverse
legislation as a guide to developing and implementing risk management.
In order to achieve the strategic and operational objectives of local government in an
effective and efficient manner, a pro-active identification and evaluation of potential risks
should be established to minimise their impact. Officials on every level need to be
informed about processes and techniques for managing risks and recalibrating activities
to enable management to operate more effectively in risk-filled environments.
Problems were identified that prevent management from providing reasonable assurance
to stakeholders that the most significant risks are being addressed. These problems are as
follows: the lack of applying risk management in an integrated manner; the enforcement
of integrated risk management due to the lack of relevant legislation; a lack of training in
risk management, ethics and risk response plans; a lack of practical techniques to assist
officials in taking remedial action to prevent recurrence of risks; the absence of a risksensitive
organisational culture; and a lack of commitment and leadership from
politicians and management.
Relevant legislation on integrated risk management should assist in embedding a culture
where everyone in local government is obliged to adhere thereto and to conduct their dayto-
day activities accordingly. A mission and vision statement needs to be developed and
implemented with the consent of all stakeholders. Integrated risk-management processes,
which are generally lacking or incomplete in local government, should be aligned with
generic public management functions.
An integrated risk-management programme can be enhanced by establishing a risk
organisational structure within local government. The establishment of a risk management department and risk committee is essential to the enhancement of corporate
governance and the management of risks that might have a negative impact on local
government.
Internal and external controls should be evaluated regularly to facilitate the riskmanagement
programme. An Integrated Risk Monitoring Technique is proposed as a
technique to assist stakeholders in identifying root causes of risks and the management
thereof. A model of integrated risk management was designed to assist academics and
practitioners to get a holistic perspective on integrated risk management and to assist in
the management of risks.
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A critical assessment of institutions, roles and leverage in public policymaking : Ethiopia, 1974-2004Abebe Wolde, Mulugeta 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning
))—University of Stellenbosch,
2005. / This dissertation critically assesses and analyzes the institutional and political settings of
public policymaking in Ethiopia in a space of three decades, from circa 1974. Based on data
and/or information generated through a range of sources and instruments, it attempts to
uncover the prominent actors in public policymaking in Ethiopia far beyond the official
assertions that have formally been claimed in the statutory provisions. It appraises the
institutions, their roles and leverage in the policymaking process, and the extent to which the
profound institutional and political changes that have transpired over the past thirty years
impacted on public policymaking, and with what effect. It examines the emergence and
ascendance of a couple of closely linked institutions, namely the ruling party and the top
echelon of the executive leadership, and the disproportionate influence they have on
government, non-government institutions and overall public policymaking.
The supremacy of the executive and its claims on policymaking had been pervasive
during Haileselassie’s years, with absolute executive powers vested in the monarchy and the
person of the emperor. The combined forces of party and executive leadership and their
overwhelming dominance in public policymaking are relatively new conventions, phenomena
and constructs which featured prominently in the aftermath of 1974. Ideology (Marxism-
Leninism and revolutionary democracy) has since been a critical element guiding and as well
as justifying policy elites’ claims on the choice of public policies and the institutional and
structural mechanisms of implementing them. Wedged between staggering financial,
managerial and organizational capacity, on the one hand, and an inhospitable politicoadministrative
and legal milieu on the other, the civil society, a network of civil society
institutions and the public over three decades appeared to have remained at the peripheral end
in the continuum of public policymaking.
The most formidable challenges that the Ethiopian public policymaking process has over
the past thirty years experienced can therefore be thematically crystallized into three issues.
Firstly, the emergence and consolidation of party and executive leadership (policy elites) has
been the dominant phenomena over the last thirty years, with the ruling party institutions
invariably overlapping with the formally constituted policymaking government structures.
Secondly, not only ideology played a critical role in the choice of public policies and
institutional instruments for implementing them, but also provided policy elites with the
latitude to justify their claims on policy actions, although ideological values served to
preclude the non-state players from making legitimate claims on policymaking. Lastly, the expansion of the powers of the party and the executive seemed to have taken place without a
corresponding development of extra-bureaucratic institutions (i.e. elections and functioning
legislatures) and civil societal associations, and which in turn boils down to the exclusion of
the bulk of the Ethiopian public from playing its legitimate role in the policymaking process.
The public policymaking process in Ethiopia has, therefore, witnessed imbalances at two
levels: first, between the executive and the legislature, and second, between policy elites (the
party-fused-with-executive structures/institutions), on the one hand, and ordinary citizens and
civil society organizations (CSOs) representing various interests, on the other. At both levels
the party and the executive exact enormous power leverage. On the other hand, the ordinary
citizens are highly disorganized, and tied up with attending to daily survival needs. Hence,
they have little time to become fully and actively involved in holding government institutions
accountable and responsive, articulating policy demands to policymaking institutions aside.
The legislatures appear to have become a façade of legitimacy for party and executive
decisions and are detached from the society. `
Finally, the dissertation puts forward proposals for more opportunities to give
Ethiopian citizens of all walks of life a chance to influence policies and implementation
outcomes. It suggests a range of options for greater and genuine public participation in the
policymaking process, which would result in as much representative policy-making as
enhancing the quality of services provided by policies and actual control of decisions by
citizens. It also indicates Ethiopian academics’ charge in the new endeavor to launch
independent think-tank and policy study institutions to foster professionalizing policymaking
in Ethiopia.
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