A new model was developed to enhance the understanding of the full context of work associated hazards, to explore the connection between OHS performance and a systematic approach to safety, and to simplify approaches to OHS management. This Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems model was derived from the literature and used as the basis for the development of a framework, consisting of 60 elements which was transformed into an assessment tool. This assessment tool was trialled with a pilot study on a medium sized manufacturing plant in the plastics industry, and the tool and Preliminary Report peer reviewed by an expert panel using the Nominal Group Technique. After refinements were made to the assessment tool it was applied to eight case studies that were drawn from advertisements. This qualitative study consisted of two parts: firstly the assessment using the Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems framework; and secondly a controlled self assessment exercise to target improvements to three of the elements over a period of four months. The study illustrated that the Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems framework could be successfully applied in a range of industries to promote OHS improvements and to provide a systematic, planned approach to fulfilling OHS responsibilities. The application of this framework highlighted that: there is a need for further education on the correct application of the risk assessment process and the responsibilities owed to contractors; techniques such as dynamic risk assessments are more suitable where the place of work is variable and hazards are unpredictable; more focus is needed on the appropriate management of hazardous substances with long term health consequences; and that the level of formality invoked for treating hazards does not necessarily equate to improved risk reduction outcomes. The Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems framework was found to be applicable to small, medium and large organisations provided the assessment was scoped to a small division of relatively homogeneous activity to ensure a more representative hazard profile. This approach has provided a way forward to simplify OHS management and also offers practical direction for implementing a targeted OHS improvement program.

The title of the research is Sustainability Performance Evaluation Management Systems Model for Individual Organizations and Supply Chains. This research has achieved its aim to develop and demonstrate the practical implementation of a simple and objective sustainability performance evaluation management system model for individual organizations and supply chains. It has resulted in the recognition that a new concept – Network of Interested Partners – underpins the achievement of sustainability. The term acknowledges the interdependence and reflects the essential cooperation that must be achieved between business organisations, their commercially related entities and the local community if progress towards sustainability is to be achieved. It therefore encompasses and extends the concept of a supply chain as currently used. Sustainable Development is defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development as development, which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future societies to meet their own needs. Organizations, as part of human activities, also have to be sustainable. The sustainability of organizations is directly linked to the continual improvement of business performance. Many organizations have found a way to improve performance through the establishment of management systems. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards are recognized worldwide as reliable and efficient tools for the implementation of management systems. However, they do not always result in the desired improvement in outcomes. Therefore, if the required improvement of business performance is to be achieved, improved methodologies for development and implementation of performance evaluation (PE) processes are necessary. These methodologies must take into consideration sustainability principles. They also have to be applicable to individual entities and supply chains, with or without management systems in place. Supply chains are important because it is being increasingly recognized that overall supply chain performance is a means of adding value and competitive advantage to all businesses. In the first part of the research a performance evaluation model or PE (version 1 model) was developed. This was used as criteria to compare and evaluate existing performance evaluation processes and outcomes of individual organisations and their respective supply chain within the Gladstone region, Australia. Questionnaires have also been used to identify and evaluate the needs of the interested parties in relation to the organizations’ and supply chains’ business performance and processes of performance evaluation. All the information provided in the first part of the research was used by the researcher to develop the Sustainability Performance Evaluation Management Systems model or SPEMS (version 2 model). This incorporates the concepts of Network of Interested Parties/Partners. In particular, one of the outcomes is recognition that organizations need to establish partnerships if effective supply chain performance improvement is to be achieved. Therefore the establishment of partnerships has become a key requirement for the implementation of SPEMS. The establishment of partnership among participants of a supply chain of Gladstone and implementation of the eight first steps of the SPEMS (version 2 model) in this supply chain was commenced successfully through workshops. The supply chain was formed by commercial organizations, government entities and interested parties from the community. SPEMS requires that partners all have the same level of ownership and authority in the decisions of the supply chain. Some new terms and their definitions have been created within the research to support the new SPEMS model. They include: Network of Interested Partners, sustainability for organizations, sustainability KPI and sustainability friendly organizations. All of the above are encompassed within the final SPEMS (version 3 model).

海外派遣，一直存在高失敗率與高離職率的問題，並對企業的營運成本與員工的職業生涯及家庭生活上，造成相當大的衝擊上的衝擊與影響。然而，根據過去的研究文獻，大部分的學者致力於海外派遣制度層面之研究，鮮少對於海外派遣人員之工作態度，從事有系統的研究調查。因此，本研究的目的係為瞭解台商對外直接投資動機、海外派遣制度，及外派人員個人屬性差異，對海外派遣人員工作態度之影響，並驗證海外派遣人員工作態度與海外工作績效之間的相關性。期望本研究之結果，能使企業能更效協助並解決員工海外派遣可能面臨的問題；並同，透過本研究的觀察，瞭解企業多國籍化過程中，探討對勞資關係可能的發展與影響。 本研究的研究樣本特徵，係製造業中，目前任職企業在海外（含大陸）投資設廠或設立分公司、子公司，並曾被派遣至海外工作，且任期超過三個月以上的人員。 本研究調查，獲得59家目前正在進行對外直接投資的台商公司承諾協助，經發出200份問卷，回收有效問卷47份，有效回收率為23.5%，隨後，並進一步完成三個個人深度訪談。 本研究獲得下列數數結論： 一、整體而言，台商對外直接投資動機型態，對於海外派遣制度型態與海外派遣人員的工作態度並無顯著影響。而研究發現，台商由於受到對外投資地區集中於大陸及東南亞，策略選擇差異較小，或本身尚在國際化的初期階段所致，制度經驗與能力的不成熟造成其海外派遣制度的同質性高。 二、台商的海外派遣制度型態，雖然對於海外派遣人員的工作態度無顯影響。但是，海外派遣個別制度上的差異，如遴選政策、有無簽訂海外派遣契約、公司對單身赴任不同的主張、薪酬與福利的項目、海外派遣相關訓練的項目、回任辦法，以及在公司海外營運擔任的角色，確會對海外派遣人員之海外工作動機、組織承諾、海外工作承諾，與海外派遣滿足感構成不同程度的影響。 三、台商的海外派遣人員對於公司的認同與留職傾向，顯著高於對海外工作的認同與留職傾向；但是，在努力意願上卻是對於海外工作顯著高於對公司的努力意願。可能的解釋是來自員工多視海外工作為一跳板，特別是在海外工作期間，個人的職權擴大的與上司間關係緊密的情形下，希望努力爭取表現，便於獲得回國升遷的機會。 四、海外派遣人員的工作態度方面，包括海外工作動機、組織承諾、海外工作承諾，及海外派遣滿足感，皆與其海外工作績效呈顯著正相關。 五、企業國際化的趨勢下，工會力量將難與之抗衡，但人員的異動卻將更加頻繁，為使海外派遣人員的工作權益受到保障，應透過海外派遣關係的定義，將勞資雙方間應有的權利義務明確化。

Detta examensarbete är skrivet som en del i programmet industriell organisation och ekonomi, med inriktning logistik och ledning vid Tekniska Högskolan i Jönköping. Rapporten är skriven på uppdrag av Skövde flygplatsbolag AB, som är ett kommunalt flygplatsbolag. Skövde flygplats är belägen ett par mil utanför Skövde centrum. Flygplatsen trafikeras idag mestadels av transportflyg men även enstaka mindre passagerarflyg. Idag är Kinnarps, Volvo Powertrain, Räddningstjänsten och klubbverksamhet deras största aktörer.   Syftet med examensarbetet har varit att beskriva Skövde flygplats nuvarande verksamhet, samt att utreda flygplatsens miljöledningssystem (MLS). Flygplatsen har även efterfrågat en översyn av det nuvarande miljöledningssystemet på Skövdes flygplats. Rapporten avspegla därför den genomförda undersökningen, men även ge förslag på förbättringar som kan göras med avseende på flygplatsens miljö och verksamhet.   För att uppfylla examensarbetets syfte, har ett antal delmål skapats. Delmålen är till för att förbättra rapportens resultat och syfte. I studiens teoriavsnitt beskrivs därför vilka delar som ingår i ett MLS, standarder och förenklade MLS. Studien har även kartlagt Skövde flygplats verksamhet, eftersom verksamheten idag är otydlig och ofullständig.   Eftersom flygplatsens verksamhet idag saknar information och dokumentation kring flygplatsen, har ett antal studiebesök genomförts. Under studiebesöken har studenterna observerat och intervjuat personal, samt fått ta del av dokumentation kring flygplatsen. Därför har studien valt att genomföra en dokumentstudie. Resultatet av dokumentstudien redovisas sedan i rapportens kapitel 4, ”Nulägesbeskrivning”, 5 ”Nulägesanalys”.   Under arbetets gång har ett antal brister påträffats på Skövde flygplats. Idag saknar till exempel flygplatsen information och dokumentation om sin verksamhet och MLS. Flygplatsen är till exempel idag miljödiplomerad, men saknar samtidigt stöd från studiens teori att få kalla sig miljödiplomerad. Verksamheten är idag komplex och det finns många olika uppfattningar kring flygplatsens verksamhet. Resultatet är baserat på examensarbetets dokumentstudie tillsammans med studiens teoriunderlag. Resultatet presenteras i det avslutande kapitlet i form av förslag och rekommendationer till Skövde flygplats. / This report was written as a part of the bachelor program, Industrial Organization and Economics, focusing on logistics and management, at the School of Engineering in Jonkoping.  The report was written on behalf of Skövde Airport Company, which is a municipally owned airport company.  Skövde Airport is located within a few miles outside the city of Skövde, Sweden.   The airport serves mainly cargo planes but occasionally serves smaller passenger flights as well.  Today, companies like Kinnarps AB and Volvo Powertrain, are their biggest customers.  The airport also includes a fire station service and offices for these larger customers.   The purpose of this study is to provide an assessment of Skövde Airport’s surrounding issues. Our goal is to provide suggestions as to what the airport can implement as well as continue working on to improve the airport environment.  Therefore the study also examines other options in terms of ways to prepare to work with the environment; these systems are called “Environment Management Systems (EMS).”  Consequently, the study has taken parts of these EMS: s to identify and describe what parts are most critical from an environmental perspective.   The report includes a critical examination of the airport and explanation on how the airport works with the environment. The investigation portion of this thesis presents our mapping of the Skövde Airport Company’s current EMS.  The analysis describes everyday business activities and how these everyday activities are impacting the environment. Finally, the report concludes our reflection of the outcome of implementing these suggestions we have presented.   During this process the study found a number of deficiencies at Skövde airport. Today Skövde airport is missing vital information and documentation on its activities and the EMS. The airport currently holds a diploma for their EMS, but according to this study it’s missing vital information and documentation. Skövde airport is a complex organization to describe and even today there are many different opinions and views about its function and business.   The result of this study is therefore based on a document study. During the project time information had been collected from documentation, visits at the airport, interviews and communication with employees.  The result is presented in the final chapter in the form of proposals and recommendations to Skövde Airport.

Les systèmes de gestion intégrée en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail (SGI) sont un nouveau paradigme de gestion dans les organisations modernes. Ces systèmes sont construits à partir des normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001, basées sur la prévention des risques et le principe de précaution. La littérature sur les SGI témoigne d’un marasme conceptuel prédominant depuis plus de 10 ans; elle insiste sur l’urgence d’un consensus taxinomique et conceptuel afin de définir les systèmes de gestion intégrée et de différencier le mécanisme d’intégration de celui de l’implantation. Cette lacune conceptuelle enlise les connaissances dans un fossé épistémologique, retardant ainsi le débat dans ce nouveau champ d’études. Les rares connaissances dont nous disposons dans ce domaine proviennent de quelques études théoriques et de six études empiriques, toutes préoccupées par la compatibilité des multiples systèmes et des avantages économiques de leur intégration. Les évidences engendrées par ces études sont insuffisantes pour appréhender la dynamique du nouveau paradigme dont les effets demeurent peu connus. Cette situation révèle l’urgence d’agir dans un contexte où l’utilisation des SGI se multiplie, et où leur tendance à minimiser l’importance des risques devient de plus en plus préoccupante. Aucune étude ne s’est encore penchée sur l’implantation d’un SGI en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail construit uniquement à partir des normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001. Cette connaissance est importante pour expliquer les effets de tels systèmes. C’est dans cette perspective que nous avons réalisé cette première étude empirique d’un SGI selon les normes ISO 14001 et d’OHSAS 18001. Nos questions de recherche portent sur le mode, le degré d’implantation, les effets du SGI, ainsi que sur les facteurs contextuels qui interviennent pour expliquer les variations dans le degré d’implantation et les effets du SGI. Il s’agit d’une recherche à prélèvement qualitatif qui repose sur un devis d’étude de cas, avec des niveaux d’analyse imbriqués, et comportant une double visée descriptive et explicative. Notre échantillon, de type raisonné, regroupait trente-cinq intervenants provenant de différentes instances hiérarchiques ; il incluait également des représentants syndicaux. Notre échantillon était composé de 7 usines, accréditées aux normes ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, et dispersées dans différentes villes du Québec. Ces usines différaient tant par leur technologie, leur âge, leur taille, et leurs types de production. Nos données ont été recueillies en 2004; elles sont basées sur des entrevues semi dirigées, sur des observations directes lors de la visite des lieux; elles s’appuient aussi sur des consultations de documents internes et sur des outils électroniques implantés. La transcription des entrevues effectuée, le contenu des discours a été catégorisé selon les cinq dimensions du SGI: engagement, planification, mise en opération, contrôle et revue de la direction. Une condensation horizontale avait précédé l’analyse de chaque cas et l’analyse transversale des cas selon une approche à la fois inductive et déductive. Les résultats de notre recherche ont révélé deux modes d’implantation : le mode d’enrichissement et le mode de fusion. Ces modes dépendaient de la nature des structures fonctionnelles en place. La visée d’amélioration continue à la base du SGI n’avait pas réussi à concilier les approches traditionnelles bottom up et top down qui ont dominé cette implantation; son mécanisme était guidé par 4 types de stratégies : l’économie des ressources, le contrôle des forces d’influences, la stratégie des fruits faciles à cueillir et la stratégie à petits pas. Pour analyser le degré d’implantation, nous avons tenu compte de l’effort de structuration du SGI et de la force d’utilisation des processus implantés à chacune des cinq dimensions du SGI. Les résultats de notre recherche révèlent une variabilité certaine du degré d’implantation entre les usines d’une part, et entre les processus associés aux cinq dimensions du SGI d’autre part. L’analyse des discours a permis de produire cinq hypothèses qui soutiennent l’effort de structuration et la force d’utilisation du SGI: (i) l’hypothèse de la force de cohésion, (ii) l’hypothèse de la spécificité du processus, (iii) l’hypothèse de la portée du processus, (iv) l’hypothèse de la capacité organisationnelle, (v) l’hypothèse de l’acceptation du changement. L’implantation du SGI était soumise à l’influence de multiples facteurs; ils étaient de nature politique, structurelle et organisationnelle. Ces facteurs avaient agi sur le processus d’implantation en amorçant une cascade d’interactions au cours desquelles leurs forces d’influences se renforçaient, se neutralisaient ou s’additionnaient pour affecter le degré d’implantation. Les facteurs facilitant touchaient surtout l’effort de structuration ; ils incluaient : l’expérience des systèmes de gestion, l’implication de la direction, celle du syndicat ou du CSS, la structure organisationnelle, le niveau d’éducation, l’âge et la taille de l’usine. Quant aux facteurs contraignants, ils agissaient sur la force d’utilisation ; ils incluaient : la lourdeur procédurale, le manque de temps, le manque de formation, le manque de ressources, la culture organisationnelle, la structure organisationnelle, le fossé intergénérationnel, l’absence du syndicat et l’âge de l’usine. Trois effets proximaux escomptés par l’entreprise ont été observés. (i) La rigueur de la gestion était associée à l’application des exigences du SGI; elle touchait la gouvernance en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail, les mécanismes de gestion et les procédés de production. (ii) La standardisation était reliée au mode d’implantation du SGI; elle concernait les pratiques, les outils, les méthodes de travail et l’organisation des ressources. (iii) La rupture des silos est un effet relié au mode d’implantation du SGI; elle touchait les structures départementales, les frontières professionnelles, les relations et climat de travail. Ces effets proximaux avaient provoqué plusieurs effets émergents, plus distaux: une augmentation du pouvoir de contrôle syndical, un renforcement de la légitimité des recommandations soumises par les spécialistes professionnels, la création de réseaux inter organisationnels et le transfert du savoir. L’implantation du SGI avait transformé la gouvernance et les pratiques en environnement et en santé et sécurité du travail dans les sept usines. Toutefois, elle ne semblait pas garantir l’immunité du processus de gestion des risques à l’environnement ni à la santé et sécurité du travail. Sa capacité à diluer les risques devait retenir l’attention des politiques de santé publiques et des programmes de prévention des risques à l’environnement et à la santé et sécurité du travail. L’amélioration de la gestion des risques demeurait un effet attendu non observé et soumis à des facteurs contextuels qui pourraient l’empêcher de se concrétiser. À cet égard, le transfert du savoir, renforcé par l’émergence des réseaux inter organisationnels, semblait offrir une avenue beaucoup plus prometteuse et accessible. C’est l’une des contributions de cette recherche. Elle a aussi (i) proposé une typologie des modes d’implantation et des effets du SGI (ii) préconisé une méthode détaillée d’une meilleure appréciation du degré d’implantation (iii) précisé le rôle des facteurs contextuels dans l’explication des variations du degré d’implantation et dans la production des effets, (iv) proposé des hypothèses sur la structuration et l’utilisation du SGI (v) offert une perspective plurielle et approfondie de la dynamique de l’implantation du SGI grâce à la variété de l’échantillon des répondants et des usines. Il s’agit de la première étude de terrain dans le domaine. À notre connaissance, aucune autre étude n’a eu de tels résultats. Mots Clés : ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, gestion intégrée, environnement, santé et sécurité du travail, risques environnementaux, risques en santé et sécurité du travail, analyse d’implantation, degré d’implantation, SGI, transfert du savoir. / Integrated environmental, health and safety management systems (IMS) are a new management paradigm of modern organizations. These systems are built mainly from the ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 norms, which are based on risk prevention and the precautionary principles. For the past ten years, the literature on IMS has been governed by a conceptual stagnation, which is now begging for a taxonomic consensus in order to define IMS, clarify both integration and implementation processes, and to move beyond structures to address processes. As a result, the knowledge about IMS has been embroiled in an epistemological ditch, thus delaying debates in this emerging field of study. Scarce publications about IMS come from a few theoretical papers and six empirical investigations, all preoccupied by systems compatibility and the economic advantages of management systems integration. Evidence generated by these studies is not sufficient to apprehend the dynamics of the new paradigm, whose effects remain little known about until now. This situation is becoming alarming in a context where the use of integrated environmental health and safety management systems is increasing and where these IMS are raising concerns about their capacity to minimize risk in one domain or another. So far, no study has investigated the implementation of integrated environmental health and safety management systems built from ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 norms. Such knowledge is cardinal to help explain the effects of such IMS. It is in this perspective that we have undertaken this first empirical study of an IMS built from ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Our research questions address the mode of implementation, the degree of implementation and the effects of the IMS, as well as the contextual factors whose influence on the implementation help explain the variations in the degree of implementation and the effects of the IMS. This qualitative inquiry uses a single case study with multiple levels of analysis. Our purposeful sample of thirty five participants was drawn from different levels of hierarchy, including union executives and representatives. Our purposeful sample of plants consisted of seven ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certified plants located in different cities in Quebec, Canada. These plants differed by their technology, their age, their size and their types of production. Our data were collected in 2004 from semi-directed interviews, direct observation during site visits, and consultation of documentation and assessment of functionalities of implemented management tools. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and their content was categorized based on the five dimensions of the IMS: commitment policy, planning, deployment, control and management review. Horizontal condensation preceded within case and transversal analysis, using both inductive and deductive approaches. Our results indicate two implementation modes: the enrichment mode and the fusion mode, both related to the functional structures in place. Despite its aim of continuous improvement, the IMS was unable to reconcile the two traditional approaches of top down and bottom up, which have dominated this implementation which was supported by four strategies: economy of resources, control of influence, low hanging fruits and the small steps strategy. In order to analyze the degree of the IMS implementation, we have taken into consideration two aspects of the process: The effort of structuring the IMS and the scope of utilization of the implemented processes. Our results showed evidence of variation in the degree of IMS implementation; this variation was observed among the plants as well as among the processes implemented at each one of the five IMS steps. The analysis of discourses has allowed the production of five hypotheses that support IMS structuring and utilization (i) Cohesion forces hypothesis (ii) Process specificity hypothesis (iii) Scope of process hypothesis (iv) Organizational readiness hypothesis (v) Acceptance of change hypothesis. IMS implementation was influenced by political, structural and organizational factors. These factors have played their influence by catalyzing non -linear interactions, during which their influence could be neutralized, added or reinforced, hence generating variations in the degree of implementation. Facilitating factors have affected the effort of IMS structuring and included: experience working with management system, upper management commitment, implication of union or of health and safety committee representatives, organizational structure, level of education, plant age and plant size. Inhibiting factors have affected mainly the utilization of implemented processes. These factors included: procedural heaviness, lack of time, lack of training, lack of resource, organizational culture, organizational structure, intergeneration gap and lack of union implication. Three proximal effects anticipated by the organization under study were observed. (i) Increase in the rigor of management is an effect which was associated with the application of IMS requirements. It implied EHS governance, integrated management mechanisms and production processes (ii) Standardization is an effect which was associated rather with the implementation mode. It implied EHS practices, tools, work methods and organization of resources. (iii) Rupture of departmental silo is an effect associated with the mode of implementation. It involved organizational structures, professional boundaries and the working relations and climate. These proximal effects have induced several emerging effects, which were more distal. These were: increased control power of the union; increased legitimacy of recommendations by EHS professionals; creation of inter-organizational network and knowledge transfer. The implementation of an integrated management system in environment, occupational health and safety has transformed EHS governance and practice in all seven plants. However, this was not sufficient to grant immunity to EHS risk management processes. The potential of IMS to dilute risks should be of concern to public health policies, as well as to risk prevention programs on environment and on occupational health and safety. Improvement of EHS risk management was an expected effect but was not observed at the moment of our study. Several contextual factors may have intervened to alter its occurrence. To this regard, knowledge transfer, reinforced by the emergence of intra-organizational networks, seem to offer a very promising and affordable alternative. This is one of the contributions of our study research, which, in addition has (i) proposed a nomenclature to classify the modes of implementation and effects of IMS (ii) proposed a detailed method to appreciate the degree of implementation (iii) stated the roles played by contextual factors in explaining variations in the degree of IMS implementation and in the production of effects (iv) proposed a hypothesis on IMS structuring and utilization (v) through the diversity of our sample, offered a plural and sound perspective on the dynamics of IMS implementation. This is the first field study of this new paradigm. To our knowledge, no other study has produced such results. Keywords : ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, integrated management system, IMS, environment, Occupational Health and Safety, environmental risks, occupational health and safety risks, implementation analysis, implementation level, knowledge transfer.

A new model was developed to enhance the understanding of the full context of work associated hazards, to explore the connection between OHS performance and a systematic approach to safety, and to simplify approaches to OHS management. This Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems model was derived from the literature and used as the basis for the development of a framework, consisting of 60 elements which was transformed into an assessment tool. This assessment tool was trialled with a pilot study on a medium sized manufacturing plant in the plastics industry, and the tool and Preliminary Report peer reviewed by an expert panel using the Nominal Group Technique. After refinements were made to the assessment tool it was applied to eight case studies that were drawn from advertisements. This qualitative study consisted of two parts: firstly the assessment using the Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems framework; and secondly a controlled self assessment exercise to target improvements to three of the elements over a period of four months. The study illustrated that the Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems framework could be successfully applied in a range of industries to promote OHS improvements and to provide a systematic, planned approach to fulfilling OHS responsibilities. The application of this framework highlighted that: there is a need for further education on the correct application of the risk assessment process and the responsibilities owed to contractors; techniques such as dynamic risk assessments are more suitable where the place of work is variable and hazards are unpredictable; more focus is needed on the appropriate management of hazardous substances with long term health consequences; and that the level of formality invoked for treating hazards does not necessarily equate to improved risk reduction outcomes. The Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Systems framework was found to be applicable to small, medium and large organisations provided the assessment was scoped to a small division of relatively homogeneous activity to ensure a more representative hazard profile. This approach has provided a way forward to simplify OHS management and also offers practical direction for implementing a targeted OHS improvement program.

The teaching model in Open Distance Learning is moving towards fully integrated information and communication technology applications, therefore, academic lecturers need to have a strong comfort level with the use of technology tools. The academic lecturers are qualified and experienced subject matter experts but this does not translate to having the necessary technical competencies to do online teaching. They consequently could experience feelings of incompetency to facilitate courseware on a technology platform. The study identified the factors that influence the user experience when using a Learning Management System (LMS) in an academic institution. The research design comprises a convergent, parallel design mixed-method case study. A literature review was conducted to abstract the factors that influence the user experience into a conceptual framework. An expert review was conducted to validate the conceptual framework and then a questionnaire-driven survey was performed. The quantitative analysis of the survey results revealed that eight of the nine factors proposed in the conceptual framework do have an influence on the perceived user experience of the academic when using the LMS. The qualitative analysis revealed that all nine of the identified factors do have an influence on the perceived user experience of the academic when using the LMS. The contribution of this study is to present a conceptual framework of the factors that influence the user experience of the academic when using an LMS to improve our understanding of the experience of the academic and the practical challenges involved for academics that have to facilitate learning in an online environment The findings should be of interest to developers of LMSs and to institutions in support and training of academics that have to use the LMS. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

The emergence of Web 2.0 tools has transformed the operation of Knowledge Management (KM) practices in the academic libraries. This study has investigated the application of Web 2.0 tools to enhance KM practices in academic libraries in Tanzania. Eight out of twelve academic libraries located in public universities in Tanzania were purposively selected in this study. The study included two categories of respondents: ordinary library staff and senior library staff (directors, heads of libraries, library managers, and Information and Technology (IT) specialists in the library etc). The findings of the study were determined after applying methodological triangulation within quantitative and qualitative research contexts. This included the use of questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observations. In the first instance, questionnaires were used to collect data from 278 library staff selected using systematic sampling technique. Interviewing targeted 69 senior library staff was done using purposive sampling technique. In total, 254 (91.4%) ordinary library staff completed the questionnaire; while 57 (82.6%) senior librarians were interviewed. The study findings have indicated the low level of KM application in academic libraries. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS) Library showed the strongest application of KM practices, followed by State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) Library. Lack of KM enablers in academic libraries was indicated as one of the significant challenges that hinder the application of KM practices in academic libraries. It was noted that most of the academic libraries visited had websites. On the other hand, the majority of respondents acknowledged that they had personal accounts of the various Web 2.0 tools. The study findings imply that most library staff had some level of experience with a variety of Web 2.0 tools. It was further established that despite the high level of familiarity and use of Web 2.0 tools, respondents were not frequent users of their library websites. The study findings have also indicated a low level of access and use of Web 2.0 tools within academic libraries. Mzumbe University (MU) and SUZA Libraries were the main users of Web 2.0 tools; followed by University of Dar-es-Salaam (UDSM) Library. Knowledge Management System (KMS) Success Model was employed to investigate factors that affect the application of Web 2.0 tools to enhance KM practices. The study findings have demonstrated that the KMS Success Model is suitable for guiding the understanding of the contributing factors with respect to library staff‟s intention to reuse Web 2.0 tools. The study findings supported the KMS Success Model well, whereby seven of the twelve hypothesised relationships were found to be significant. The study recommends that academic libraries in Tanzania should promote and integrate KM practices in their daily operations as well as the use of KM enablers such as; reliable budget, Web 2.0 tools, reliable power supply, internet connectivity availability and adequate ICTs infrastructure. / Information Science / D. Litt. et. Phil. (Information Science)

Text in English / The study focused on the characterisation and management of non-formal solid waste disposal sites in Harare, the capital city of the Republic of Zimbabwe. In many developing countries, increasing urbanisation surpasses the development of urban infrastructure and this has led to the proliferation of informal settlements, illegal dumping sites and uncontrolled vending in cities like Harare. The researcher investigated the prevalence of non-formal dumping sites in Harare, including the composition, locational attributes and internal linkages of solid waste. Practices regarding the management of non-formal solid waste disposal sites were examined and areas of good practice and conformity to international standards were complemented while recommendations and suggestions were made on areas that were found wanting. An integrated management system was recommended for the sustainable management of solid waste. To support this recommendation, management window of responsibilities (EMWR) model was created so that the Harare City Council can enhance stakeholder participation. The research results show that most residents used non-conventional ways to store waste, like mealie-meal bags and sacks, and this posed a danger to human health. It also emerged that the city of Harare has not updated some of its by-laws, some of which were enacted about 33 years ago while others remained drafts for decades. This made it difficult for the city to effectively implement them. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management)

This research examined lecturers’ perspectives on the academic use of Facebook, specifically for teaching, in a higher education institution in Gauteng, South Africa. A survey research design was followed, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The study sought to fill the gap in the Social Networking Sites literature by focusing on lecturers’ perspectives, ascertaining how lecturers use Facebook as an academic teaching tool and determining the advantages and disadvantages thereof, and attempting to add to the debate on whether or not higher education settings could add the use of Facebook to their range of practices that may enhance teaching. The sample comprised fourteen respondents. It has emerged that lecturers are not, for the most part, utilising Facebook as an academic teaching tool. Based on the findings, a framework on how lecturers could integrate Facebook into academia is proposed. / Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)