XXX Pharmacy is an independently-owned retail pharmacy in Johannesburg. Good Pharmacy Practice standards make it mandatory for pharmacists to provide “pharmaceutical care”, a highly patient-centred approach to providing pharmaceutical services. Since XXX Pharmacy has a high patient load, a shortage of dispensary staff and a strategic focus on operational efficiency, the question arose whether pharmacists comply fully with Good Pharmacy Practice standards for the provision of pharmaceutical care. Non-compliance poses operational risks that could undermine the business’s financial performance. The research statement was thus that the current performance management system undermines compliance with Good Pharmacy Practice standards for the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients. A triangulation approach was used. The quantitative research method, in which 200 patients completed a questionnaire, investigated two research objectives: (i) whether the pharmacy complies with Good Pharmacy Practice standards for pharmaceutical care; and (ii) whether there is a relationship between patients’ race or gender and their responses. The qualitative research method involved conducting individual semi-structured interviews with all four dispensary employees to achieve another two research objectives: (i) to determine whether the provision of pharmaceutical care is viewed as a key performance area by pharmacists; and (ii) to investigate what aspects of the implementation of the performance management system are viewed as enabling or undermining the provision of pharmaceutical care.

Thesis (MPA) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / While performance management is a widely used system in many countries, in South Africa the Public Service Regulations (2001) is a base for a Performance Management and Development System in the public service. The Public Service Regulation (2001) gives effect to performance management systems for purposes of managing performance of individual employees, framework for performance assessment, the outcome and communication of assessment results, and managing unsatisfactory performance, as well as providing a framework on incentives for good performance. Each province is therefore, required to adapt the Performance Management System to its environment to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Public Service Regulation, (2001). However, as cited by Letsoalo (2010), the introduction of a system of managing performance was received with different reactions, both positive and negative, by the vast majority of employees in the public sector. As a result, this study investigated the attitudes of individual employees towards performance management and development system. The main aim of this research is to present the conclusion drawn from the study, as well as make recommendations emanating from the analysis of information gathered in literature review and through questionnaires completed by departmental staff in the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation. In identifying different reactions by civil servants to Performance Management and Development System, the study placed an effort in probing different perceptions on Performance Management and Development System amongst employees in the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation in Mpumalanga Province. There are varying perceptions demonstrated by respondents regarding questions posed to them on the Performance Management and Development System as implemented in the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation in Mpumalanga Province. There is a perception that the Performance Management and Development System is a penalizing tool used by supervisors on their subordinates and that official’s performance is not duly acknowledged as is supposed to. There is persisting conflict between supervisors and their subordinates resulting from supervisors rating their subordinates without their input, submission of performance results is for compliance It is held in this that the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation must ensure that effective communication of the system to the rest of the employees of the provincial government is maintained so as to allow employees to understand the system and what is expected of them, the development of the implementation capacity internally through the Performance Management and Development System Champions will in any regard, and as such limit inconsistencies during application of performance management and development system which impacts negatively on the overall performance of the organization.

This study aimed at investigating the current practices and methods adopted by roads agencies around the world with regard to collection, analysis and utilization of the data elements pertaining to the main pavement condition indicators in pavement management systems (PMS). It also aimed at identifying the main predictors associated with each condition indicator and the factors that govern pavement structural and functional performance. Development of a new performance index that incorporates parameters or measures related to the main condition indicators (surface defects, roughness, deflection and skid resistance) and establishing the weight to be assigned to each indicator based on the relative impact on pavement condition was also one of the main objectives of this study. Thousands of pavement sections were subjected to thorough testing and inspection over the last few years to collect data pertaining to the main condition indicators. The collected data encompass visual distress survey, deflection measurements, roughness and skid resistance measurements. Collection of various condition indicators was accomplished according to well known international standards. The collected data were processed, tabulated and analyzed for the purpose of development of performance models and to prove certain theories or good practices. / Advanced tools and machines were utilized to collect these data with a high degree of accuracy. The Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) was used to collect deflection data for structural analysis. Two Non-contact laser roughness measuring devices mounted on vehicles were heavily used for collecting roughness, texture, and rutting data. Distress data were collected using a manual procedure adopted and standardized at the Pavement Management System Unit of Dubai Emirate. Powerful engineering and statistical softwares were used in the analysis for the purpose of processing the data, back calculating the main parameters pertaining to pavement response, establishing the correlation matrices between various dependent variables and their predictors, and finally, applying linear and non linear regression analysis to develop reliable and predictable deterioration models for the uses of pavement management system. The analysis procedure was supplemented by a vast literature review for the up to date information along within deep investigations and verifications for some of the current practices, theories and models used in pavement design and pavement evaluation with more emphasis on the inherent drawbacks associated to these models and procedures. The study confirmed that pavement condition deterioration and performance can be best predicted and evaluated based on four main condition indicators; First, surface distress to assess the physical condition of the pavements and detect the inherent problems and defects caused by various factors affecting pavement performance. Second; roughness measurements to evaluate the riding quality of the pavement. / Third; deflection to calculate pavement response (stress and strains) and to assess pavement structural capacity and calculating the remaining life, and finally, skid resistance measurement to assess the level of safety and surface texture properties. Thorough study and investigation of the physical condition indicators and the associated parameters, confirmed that pavement distress data are vital elements in each pavement management system. Distress data can be used effectively to identify the main problems associated with pavement performance, causes of deterioration, maintenance measures needed to prevent the acceleration of the distress, the rehabilitation schemes needed to improve the pavement condition and finally to prepare maintenance work programs and to estimate the annual maintenance needs under an open or limited budget. Alligator cracking was found to have the heaviest impact on pavement condition. Distress density, probable causes of deterioration and distress propagation rate are the required parameters in PMS. Roughness was found to have a basic influence on pavement condition and the type of selected treatment. The use of Roughness data in terms of International Roughness Index (IRI) can be optimized in PMS by using this indicator in the following forms: / Roughness, as an objective measure, can be used as a good performance predictor of the current riding quality of pavements in service and reflects the inherent imperfections and built-in irregularities embodied in the road pavement surface. Roughness measurement can be used as a reference to establish construction specifications and provides through the PMS system an organized feedback approach to correct the persistent design deficiencies detected after road construction. Roughness can be used effectively in the planning process for maintenance works and to select the candidate sections through calculating the functional remaining life based on the estimated terminal value using Roughness-Age, Roughness-ESAL, and Roughness-PSI models. Lane–IRI along with the Difference between the left and right wheel IRI values, termed as “ Yaw” are the most suitable forms to be used in PMS to report about roughness characteristics. Yaw term can be used effectively to report or feed back about geometric imperfections that exist on the road surface such as improper cross slope, shoving and the probable drainage problems. The roughness cumulative distribution curves can be used as a planning tool in PMS to report at the network level. These curves indicate the network health and the required funding at different level of risks, so proactive measures can be taken and the required budgets can be made available. / Deflection data were found to form a basic component of the PMS. It was found that these data can be used at both network and project levels. Direct deflection measurements were found Not to be the ideal form to report about structural capacity at the network level. It is rather can be used at project level to detect weak spots and critical pavements layers. At the network level, the back calculated parameters from deflection basin such as Pavement Modulus (Ep), Asphalt and Pavement Curvature (CUR), Cross Sectional Area and the other deflection basin characteristics are much more appropriate for reporting about pavement structural conditions and calculating the structural remaining life in PMS. The design deflection and curvature that characterize the pavement have been found to be calculated based on the mean along with the two times the standard deviation of the measured data. The Effective Structural Number (SNeff) was found to have good correlations with the Total Pavement Thickness (Ht), the value of the deflection measured at the center of the loading plate ( D0 ) and the difference between D0 and the deflection measured at 450mm from the center of the loading plate ( D0 - D450 ). The first two variables were found to account for more than 92% of the structural capacity prediction model. / Traffic variable in terms of the accumulated standard repetitions (ESAL) was found to account for more than 60% of the deflection model predictability. Other variables such as E value, asphalt and base layer thicknesses can improve the predictability of the model if included. The concept of the relative value of effective pavement modulus to the original pavement modulus (Eeff/E0) was found to gives a reliable representation about the exhausted and the remaining life of the in-service pavement structure. The study showed that the pavement is reported to be structurally failed, when the effective asphalt or pavement modulus is about 20 - 35 % of its original design value which is equal to the modulus of the unbound material. It was also found that when the area of the fatigue cracking and the patching distresses exceeds 17% of the total pavement section area, or the depth of rutting is more than 15mm, the pavement is reported to be structurally failed and major rehabilitation or reconstruction should be applied. Skid resistance can be reported in the form of International Friction Index (IFI), as a well defined universal index, along with other two numbers; F60 Friction (Microtexture) related number measured at 60 km/h velocity and Macrotexture related number and Vp, which constitute the IFI index can be used in Pavement management system applications to report about skid resistance characteristics and the network level of safety. These three figures can be used to report about pavement condition, accidents, airports operations, and maintenance management surveys. / In this study, new methods and models were developed and suggested to be used in PMS as an alternative to the current available methods which were found to be impractical in certain cases. Finally, further research efforts are recommended to explore the uses of other parameters in particular those related to deflection basin analysis, cross sectional area, curvature, and pavement moduli. Skid resistance testing and reporting method should be subjected to further research works for the purpose of standardizing reporting methods, identifying the relative impact of main predictors i.e. megatexture, macrotexture and microtexture components and to develop performance models.

<p>This paper gives an overview of workflow management systems (WfMSs) and their security requirements with focus on access mechanisms. It is a descriptive paper in which we examine the state of the art of workflow systems, describe what security risks affect WfMSs in particular, and how these can be diminiuished.</p><p>WfMSs manage, illustrate and support business processes. They contribute to the performance, automation and optimization of processes, which is important in the global economy today. The security of process flows is important, since the sensitive business data need to be protected to inhibit illegal activities, such as blackmailing, imitation and fraud and to provide for good customer service.</p><p>This paper focuses on access mechanisms, because they are basic security mechanisms used by WfMSs assuring that only authorized users are provided access to data and resources. Also because of the unsecurity of the Internet, which is commonly used as infrastructure of Workflow systems, additional security mechanisms, such as PKIs, digital signatures and SSL have to be used to provide secure workflows.</p><p>Depending on the particular requirements in workflow systems, different extensional access control (AC) mechanisms have been developed to maintain security. But when it comes to commercially used WfMSs, the availability of the system is of utmost importance. It is the prerequisite for the system to be employed by companies. The problem is that there is always a trade-off between availability of the system and security. Because this trade off is generally solved in favor of availability, a major part of the developed AC mechanisms are not used in commercially used WfMS.</p><p>After the first part of this paper which is rather theoretical, we examine a commercial WfMS, namely IBM's MQ Workflow , and its security mechanisms. We show vulnerabilities of the system that could be abused by attackers. Afterwards, we show which security mechanisms, in particular, AC mechanisms are provided to secure against threats. We conclude with a summary, which highlights the difference between security concepts developed in the research area and those really implemented by the commercially used WfMS.</p>

Since the 1990s, Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) has shifted to a more comprehensive approach with an emphasis on managing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) through the whole process from generation to disposal. Meanwhile, developing countries started to alter their ways of managing wastes and engage in more efforts on waste diversion. Due to their shortage of both resources and expertise, developing countries usually refer to and learn from developed countries’ experiences in MSWM to improve their own practices. How and to what extent these experiences are helpful for developing countries remains inconclusive because significant differences are present among MSWM systems in different countries. These differences do not simply reflect the variations in regulations and resource allocation; more importantly, they reflect the variations in the underlying connections between MSWM and other social, economic, demographic, and technological conditions. Therefore, a systematic examination is needed to enhance the understanding of these differences, the reasons for these differences, and the priorities that need to be stressed in order to improve waste diversion in a particular case. A systematic model, as the framework for the comparison in this thesis, is proposed to illustrate MSMW systems. Based on the model, this thesis compares and contrasts two cases, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (RMOW) in Canada and Dalian City in China, at multiple levels: overall stage, system components, system structures, and interactions. The results show that Dalian, compared with the RMOW, has less sufficient capacities for waste planning and implementation. Challenges in MSWM are associated with higher density of residences, difficulties in managing informal profit-driven recycling activities, insufficient and unreliable treatment capacity, insufficient multi-agent dialogues and cooperation both within the government and between the public and private sectors, and less specific, program-based public education. The majority of participants in the RMOW are more self-motivated as opposed to the majority in Dalian who are motivated more by compensations. Based on the comparison, implications and suggestions in several aspects concerning waste planning are discussed. From the systematic perspective, to improve waste diversion in Dalian requires collaborative efforts of multiple agents. The key aspect is to strengthen the relatively incompetent component in the system to improve the capacities for waste service and treatment, which are contingent on the development of waste industries. In Dalian, waste diversion should begin with limited types of wastes and gradually expand the scope, and new programs should be designed based on the existing system with cooperation of the informal sector. Meanwhile, cooperation among governmental divisions and between public and private sectors need to be promoted by encouraging multi-agent dialogues and improving information transparency. Program promotion also needs to be more specific in instructions and to address both pro- environmental attitudes and service quality and convenience. Finally, scavenging at landfill sites should be discouraged in order to protect scavengers from the detrimental working environment.

Since the 1990s, Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) has shifted to a more comprehensive approach with an emphasis on managing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) through the whole process from generation to disposal. Meanwhile, developing countries started to alter their ways of managing wastes and engage in more efforts on waste diversion. Due to their shortage of both resources and expertise, developing countries usually refer to and learn from developed countries’ experiences in MSWM to improve their own practices. How and to what extent these experiences are helpful for developing countries remains inconclusive because significant differences are present among MSWM systems in different countries. These differences do not simply reflect the variations in regulations and resource allocation; more importantly, they reflect the variations in the underlying connections between MSWM and other social, economic, demographic, and technological conditions. Therefore, a systematic examination is needed to enhance the understanding of these differences, the reasons for these differences, and the priorities that need to be stressed in order to improve waste diversion in a particular case. A systematic model, as the framework for the comparison in this thesis, is proposed to illustrate MSMW systems. Based on the model, this thesis compares and contrasts two cases, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (RMOW) in Canada and Dalian City in China, at multiple levels: overall stage, system components, system structures, and interactions. The results show that Dalian, compared with the RMOW, has less sufficient capacities for waste planning and implementation. Challenges in MSWM are associated with higher density of residences, difficulties in managing informal profit-driven recycling activities, insufficient and unreliable treatment capacity, insufficient multi-agent dialogues and cooperation both within the government and between the public and private sectors, and less specific, program-based public education. The majority of participants in the RMOW are more self-motivated as opposed to the majority in Dalian who are motivated more by compensations. Based on the comparison, implications and suggestions in several aspects concerning waste planning are discussed. From the systematic perspective, to improve waste diversion in Dalian requires collaborative efforts of multiple agents. The key aspect is to strengthen the relatively incompetent component in the system to improve the capacities for waste service and treatment, which are contingent on the development of waste industries. In Dalian, waste diversion should begin with limited types of wastes and gradually expand the scope, and new programs should be designed based on the existing system with cooperation of the informal sector. Meanwhile, cooperation among governmental divisions and between public and private sectors need to be promoted by encouraging multi-agent dialogues and improving information transparency. Program promotion also needs to be more specific in instructions and to address both pro- environmental attitudes and service quality and convenience. Finally, scavenging at landfill sites should be discouraged in order to protect scavengers from the detrimental working environment.

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<p>The help desk serves as the first support level for solving IT problems but sometimes they have their own problems. These problems can be linked to the lack of access to the right knowledge which could be solved by implementing knowledge management so that agents have all the knowledge they need available to them when they need it. There is statistical data available to confirm that, by implementing this knowledge management-centric approach, there is a significant improvement in throughput and reduced times spent on calls. Yet there seems to be that there is no research available to show us the cultural, process, resource and responsibility impact of knowledge management in this environment. This is the focus of this project and by creating a special knowledge management system prototype, for a working help desk, these aspects are analyzed. The results show a minimal culture barrier, more structured processes, better access to resources and increased responsibilities.</p>

In an infectious animal disease outbreak, effective management of the event requires timely and accurate information collection, processing, storage and distribution. This thesis focuses on the tools to assist information collection and management. The first study describes the comparison of questionnaire methodology for the information collection in the initial epidemiologic investigation of a Canadian federally reportable disease. The second study defines attributes of an animal disease outbreak information management system (IMS). The studies were performed within a one-year period (July 2013-July 2014). The first study performed two comparisons to determine differences in the information quality (completeness and accuracy) between differing questionnaire methodology and modes of completion (hard copy and electronic). The study was conducted with 24 Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspectors and veterinarians using a fictitious Canadian reportable disease scenario. The first comparison used a hard copy of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) questionnaire designed to be applicable (or generic) for all highly infectious reportable disease investigations with a supplementary disease specific section compared to an electronic disease specific reportable disease questionnaire. There was no significant difference in the information quality (N = 22; P = 0.09). The mean difference in completeness and accuracy scores was 3.5% (95% CI -0.6, 7.6). The second comparison focused on the hard copy disease questionnaire and assessed differences in information quality between using only the generic sections of the questionnaire compared to the supplementation of a disease specific section. A difference in information quality was determined (N = 24; P < 0.0001). The mean completeness and accuracy score for the generic only sections was 50.2% (95% CI 43.6, 57.2) compared to 80.2% (95% CI 76.2, 84.5) with the inclusion of the disease-specific section. The greatest difference in information quality occurred in the tracing specific information categories (P < 0.0001) with a mean difference of completeness and accuracy scores of 67.7% (95% CI 52.0, 83.4) for the trace-in (exposure history) category and 38.3% (95% CI 28.3, 48.3) for the trace-out (potential spread of disease) category. The absence of disease-specific questions were determined to be the primary factor in the difference in information quality. The second study determined a comprehensive list of user-defined attributes of an animal disease outbreak IMS and further identified the most important (key) attributes. A list of 34 attributes and associated definitions were determined through a series of focus group sessions and two surveys of Canadian animal health stakeholders. The animal health stakeholders included federal and provincial governments, veterinary academia and animal production industry representatives. The key attributes of an animal disease outbreak IMS identified were: ‘user friendly’, ‘effectiveness’, ‘accessibility’, ‘data accuracy’, ‘reliability’ and ‘timeliness’. ‘User friendly’ received the highest frequency of ranking as the most important attribute, followed by ‘effectiveness’. Information management was identified as the main purpose of an animal disease outbreak IMS with a median rating of 10 (rating scale of 0-10 with 10 = strongly agree). The occurrence of a federally reportable disease or a large-scale animal disease outbreak can have a great impact on the animal agriculture sector, regulatory government agencies and the economy. Information collection and management are essential to assist with the epidemiologic investigation and disease control measures. The study provided a novel opportunity to study information management for an animal disease outbreak from a Canadian perspective. The knowledge obtained will add value to the future development of tools and systems designed for information collection and management involving an animal disease outbreak.

Solid waste management (SWM) is a growing problem in developing countries around the world. In Guatemala, indigenous communities, which are predominantly rural and remote, are particularly hard hit by a lack of basic SWM services. Todos Santos, situated in the Cuchumatanes mountain range of northwestern Guatemala, is one such community. As projects developed, planned, and implemented from 'the top down' continue to be ineffective, the literature provides little insight about remote communities' perspectives on exactly what issues SWM creates, influences, and exacerbates, and how they might respond to these concerns themselves. Using a participatory systems approach, this study investigated the systemic structures and behaviours that maintain and exacerbate SWM challenges in Todos Santos, and where key places (leverage points) to intervene in the system may exist. The study presents a wide selection of locally appropriate SWM solutions to target these leverage points in the form of four future scenarios These scenarios act as a step-wise implementation plan for gradual implementation in the community, each building upon the previous, ultimately reaching a community-defined vision for SWM.