This study investigates the challenges of implementing a performance management development system (PMDS) in the Department of Transport as a learning organisation. The objectives were: * To evaluate the PMDS that is currently utilised to motivate employees and to determine problems encountered in the implementation thereof with a view to employing a learning organisation approach. * To determine new approaches to the implementation of the PMDS. * To uncover problems encountered in the implementation of the PMDS. The study focused on managers and supervisors as the main role-players in the assessment of the PMDS. Supervisors were given questionnaires concerning issues pertaining to PMDS and learning organisations. Respondents were asked whether the role of trainers is visible in strengthening communication structures allowing employees to participate meaningfully in the decision-making processes of their organisation. The following research questions were asked: * What challenges do the Department of Transport in KZN, Pietermaritzburg faces concerning the PDMS and in becoming a mature learning organisation? * Is the PMDS compatible with a learning organisation? * How has the PMDS been utilised to motivate employees and to uncover problems encountered in the implementation of the PMDS? * How does the Department of Transport identify new approaches required for the implementation of the PMDS? / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The absolute measurement of acoustic particle velocity using Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) provides the basis for a method of microphone calibration. In this thesis, after the current standardized calibration method (called reciprocity) is explained, the application of LDA to the determination of sound pressure acting on a microphone is discussed. From a measurement of the output voltage for a given sound pressure, the sensitivity of the microphone can be calculated. In LDA, there are two different techniques for detecting and analysing the Doppler signal generated by acoustic particle motion: continuous detection followed by frequency or time domain analysis, and photon correlation. After a brief discussion of the theory of both methods, their application to measurements within a standing-wave tube is investigated. Velocity measurements extracted from Doppler signals are used to derive values of sound pressure, which are compared with probe microphone measurements. The continuous detection and photon correlation LDA systems are used to measure particle velocity amplitude in a standing wave for frequencies between 660 Hz and 4kHz and velocities between 1 mms⁻¹ and 18 mms⁻¹. LDA is applied to the measurement of microphone sensitivity. The frequency response of the probe microphone is characterized relative to the response of a reference microphone. From the frequency response information, the output voltage of the probe microphone, and the LDA derived sound pressure in a standing wave the sensitivity of the reference microphone is established. Using the continuous detection system, the microphone sensitivity is measured to within ±0.1 dB of the sensitivity obtained by reciprocity calibration for frequencies between 660 Hz and 2 kHz. Using the photon correlation system, the sensitivity is measured to within ±0.2 dB for the same frequency range. Initial measurements were performed in a free field environment, using the photon correlation system, to demonstrate the potential for further development of the LDA calibration technique.

Access to abstract restricted until December 2014. / Acess to thesis restricted until December 2014. / Department of Biology

This study presents a comprehensive overview of the significance and results of implementing a data analysis for the calibration of an iodine neutrino detector. Previous neutrino detectors have failed to confirm the standard solar model or settle the question of a massive neutrino. An iodine detector, which was proposed in 1988, is being constructed to hopefully resolve these issues. Before the iodine detector can give conclusive results, it must first be calibrated. Because there is no standard neutrino source, these calibrations must be done indirectly. The method for calibrating the 127-Iodine detector is by using a (p,n) reaction at 0' on an iodine target and a proton beam provided by the Indiana University Cyclotron FacHity (IUCF). When a neutrino is captured by 127-Iodine, the nucleus becomes an excited state of 127-Xenon at an energy of 125 keV. By measuring the Gwnow Teller strength fimction of the transition from the ground state in 127-Iodine to the 125 keV excited state in 127-Xenon, the iodine detector can be suitably calibrated. / Department of Physics and Astronomy

There are many views about the meaning and importance of performance measurement of employees and of organizations. This thesis is concerned with many of these views but is most concerned with performance contracts and quality management and the relationship between them. The whole concept of the measurement of performance is sometimes questioned and in some cases regarded as being both subjective and futile. Van de Ven and Ferry (1980) argued that: "Whether the difficulties associated with assessing the performance of complex organizations can be met by a single set of measurement instruments and process guidelines has still to be proven." Glover and Kelly (1987) contended that measuring the performance of individual jobs can also be difficult: "Performance is hard or impossible to measure with many jobs and occupations, think for example of the differences between the work of architects, surgical appliance fitters, design engineers, criminals, politicians, street traders and musicians. There is often a conflict between volume and quantity of output in the long-term and the short-term such as when profits come before investment and vice-versa." Similarly, Van De Yen and Morgan (1980) argued with regard to organizational performance that: "Performance is a complex construct that reflects the criteria and standards used by decision makers to assess the functioning of an organization. As this definition suggests, performance is a value judgement on the results desired from the organization at different levels of analysis--and--often change over time." However, the demand for measurement of performance, whether it comes from the first level of supervision or from a shareholders' meeting, does tend to mean that attempts be made to measure performance (Talley, 1991).

Effective management of saline soils requires rapid, reliable methods of monitoring both soil water content (theta) and salt concentration, the latter measured in terms of electrical conductivity (sigma). This thesis examines estimation of theta, and bulk soil sigma (sigmaa) and soil water sigma (sigmaw), using time domain reflectometry (TDR). Calibration experiments were conducted in soil columns and in a vineyard that were irrigated with saline water. Within a theta range of 0.025--0.490 m3/m3, the correlation between TDR theta (thetaTDR) and gravimetrically determined theta (theta g) was high (r2 = 0.979 in soil columns, r2 = 0.836 in the field). The error of estimate of thetaTDR was 0.020 m3/m3 or less. Field thetaTDR estimates were sensitive to high salinity (sigmaw > 10 dS/m). Using a dual pathway parallel conductance (DPPC) model, sigma a was derived from sigmaw of saturated paste extracts and theta g. The correlation of TDR sigmaa to DPPC sigmaa was good in the laboratory (r2 = 0.915), and moderate in the field (r2 = 0.791), indicating a functional relationship between sigmaw and theta and TDR sigmaa. Models, to estimate sigmaw, were built by regression between paste extract sigma w and TDR sigmaa and thetaTDR. In a sigma w range of 3.0--23.4 dS/m in the columns, error of estimate of sigma w was small at 1.50 dS/m (+/-12.4% relative error range). In a sigma w range of 2.2--25.2 dS/m in the field, error of estimate of sigma w was 3.37 dS/m (+/-37% relative error range), which was significantly higher than the acceptable error range of +/-10%. ANOVA tests indicated that both TDR sigmaa and sigmaw·theta changed significantly with respect to the same sources of variance. Error in field estimates of sigmaw was associated with effects of salinity on thetaTDR and variability of soil conditions, particularly with respect to depth and time of sampling.

No description available.