The strategic alignment and reengineering of business processes is critical for institutions across sectors worldwide to achieve performance improvement and subsequently, competitive advantage. Competition within higher education forces higher education institutions, such as TUT, towards management approaches such as business process reengineering to improve effectiveness and efficiency. This research was triggered by an observation of a lack of a framework, within TUT, to guide the manner in which business processes could be strategically reengineered in a uniform, coordinated, and focused fashion. The main focus of the research was to identify core elements which could be included in a comprehensive framework to assist higher education institutions, specifically TUT, to strategically align and reengineer their core business processes in order to achieve performance improvement, which is a prerequisite for higher education institutions across sectors to achieve competitive advantage. The findings of the research were based on the triangulation of data from a robust literature survey to uncover the theoretical underpinnings and to pinpoint core elements of business process reengineering and strategic planning, prescripts from legislation and the regulatory framework governing higher education in South Africa, an analysis of relevant strategic documents within TUT, and opinions and perceptions of sampled respondents within TUT to compare and contrast the data gathered. The findings of the empirical exploration confirmed the problem that triggered the research, namely, that TUT lacks a framework to guide the manner in which it could strategically align and reengineer business processes. An analysis of documents within TUT and consistent with the results of the empirical exploration revealed that although various strategic documents allude to the strategic alignment and reengineering of business processes, lack of a standardised methodology hampers the uniform, coordinated, and focused operationalisation of this noble intent which is critical for the enhancement of strategic planning across sectors worldwide. Consequently, the main contribution of the research was to develop a comprehensive framework to guide the manner in which TUT and other similar higher education institutions could strategically reengineer business processes. The proposed framework advocates an incremental approach to business process reengineering to allow for the continuous improvement of reengineered business processes. At the core of the proposed business process reengineering framework is strategy alignment and stakeholder focus. The framework suggests that when higher education institutions, such as TUT, embark on business process reengineering, they should realise that they are engaging in a strategic endeavour and that business processes targeted for reengineering should be of critical importance to the enhancement of a strategic orientation. It is imperative that higher education institutions, such as TUT, should prioritise the strategic alignment and reengineering of business processes that provide stakeholder satisfaction to create competitive advantage and survival. Considering that TUT and other similar higher education institutions operate as an open system, the proposed framework is based on the systems approach to management. Given the dynamic nature of the South African higher education sector, the proposed framework promotes a business process reengineering methodology which, amongst others, involves the reengineering of business processes with due consideration of the national higher education imperatives and legislative requirements. Consideration of the external environment should cover an analysis of critical developments within higher education, including changes to national legislation and other national strategic imperatives. TUT and other similar higher education institutions should continuously monitor changes that might have an impact on their business processes to ensure timeous and strategic alignment and reengineering of core business processes in accordance with the changing environment. Due cognisance of the internal factors and acknowledgement of a need for internal interaction of various departments and operational units within higher education institutions, such as TUT, should also form the basis of all business process reengineering efforts. Given the theoretical underpinning that business process reengineering is a strategic endeavour and that the strategic alignment of business processes is critical for institutions across sectors to improve institutional performance so as to achieve competitive advantage and survival, proposing a comprehensive business process reengineering framework and advocating the strategic reengineering of business processes within a South African public higher education institution constitute an advancement of knowledge within the Public Administration field of study. / PhD (Public Management and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The strategic alignment and reengineering of business processes is critical for institutions across sectors worldwide to achieve performance improvement and subsequently, competitive advantage. Competition within higher education forces higher education institutions, such as TUT, towards management approaches such as business process reengineering to improve effectiveness and efficiency. This research was triggered by an observation of a lack of a framework, within TUT, to guide the manner in which business processes could be strategically reengineered in a uniform, coordinated, and focused fashion. The main focus of the research was to identify core elements which could be included in a comprehensive framework to assist higher education institutions, specifically TUT, to strategically align and reengineer their core business processes in order to achieve performance improvement, which is a prerequisite for higher education institutions across sectors to achieve competitive advantage. The findings of the research were based on the triangulation of data from a robust literature survey to uncover the theoretical underpinnings and to pinpoint core elements of business process reengineering and strategic planning, prescripts from legislation and the regulatory framework governing higher education in South Africa, an analysis of relevant strategic documents within TUT, and opinions and perceptions of sampled respondents within TUT to compare and contrast the data gathered. The findings of the empirical exploration confirmed the problem that triggered the research, namely, that TUT lacks a framework to guide the manner in which it could strategically align and reengineer business processes. An analysis of documents within TUT and consistent with the results of the empirical exploration revealed that although various strategic documents allude to the strategic alignment and reengineering of business processes, lack of a standardised methodology hampers the uniform, coordinated, and focused operationalisation of this noble intent which is critical for the enhancement of strategic planning across sectors worldwide. Consequently, the main contribution of the research was to develop a comprehensive framework to guide the manner in which TUT and other similar higher education institutions could strategically reengineer business processes. The proposed framework advocates an incremental approach to business process reengineering to allow for the continuous improvement of reengineered business processes. At the core of the proposed business process reengineering framework is strategy alignment and stakeholder focus. The framework suggests that when higher education institutions, such as TUT, embark on business process reengineering, they should realise that they are engaging in a strategic endeavour and that business processes targeted for reengineering should be of critical importance to the enhancement of a strategic orientation. It is imperative that higher education institutions, such as TUT, should prioritise the strategic alignment and reengineering of business processes that provide stakeholder satisfaction to create competitive advantage and survival. Considering that TUT and other similar higher education institutions operate as an open system, the proposed framework is based on the systems approach to management. Given the dynamic nature of the South African higher education sector, the proposed framework promotes a business process reengineering methodology which, amongst others, involves the reengineering of business processes with due consideration of the national higher education imperatives and legislative requirements. Consideration of the external environment should cover an analysis of critical developments within higher education, including changes to national legislation and other national strategic imperatives. TUT and other similar higher education institutions should continuously monitor changes that might have an impact on their business processes to ensure timeous and strategic alignment and reengineering of core business processes in accordance with the changing environment. Due cognisance of the internal factors and acknowledgement of a need for internal interaction of various departments and operational units within higher education institutions, such as TUT, should also form the basis of all business process reengineering efforts. Given the theoretical underpinning that business process reengineering is a strategic endeavour and that the strategic alignment of business processes is critical for institutions across sectors to improve institutional performance so as to achieve competitive advantage and survival, proposing a comprehensive business process reengineering framework and advocating the strategic reengineering of business processes within a South African public higher education institution constitute an advancement of knowledge within the Public Administration field of study. / PhD (Public Management and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The purpose of this research was to explore employees’ experiences of performance management appraisals. There is an increasing need to ensure that performance appraisals realise performance improvement and professional development goals while safeguarding the dignity of employees. This study followed a qualitative research design and was conducted in a South African banking organisation with five participants at varying employment levels. Purposive, non-probability sampling was used to select the participants and a semi-structured interview was conducted with each participant. The interviews were transcribed and the data was analysed using the discourse analysis method in keeping with social constructivism. Various insights about the employees’ experiences of performance management appraisals can be drawn from the overall research findings, which are likely to benefit the field of industrial and organisational psychology and managers in various organisations in conducting more effective performance appraisals by ensuring that they are fair and ethical, and can facilitate professional growth. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial & Organisational Psychology)

The case study described in this thesis involves a process improvement project in the Tax Department of a Certified Public Accounting firm. A process map was created by interviewing employees involved in the process. A process analysis identified problems and possible solutions. The Partners in the firm decided to streamline the process for simple tax returns in order to make them more profitable. This study examined what impact, if any, the process improvement intervention had on key financial and operational measures. Results indicated that the tax returns prepared in the new process were faster, cheaper, and more profitable. This study indicates that organizations conducting process improvement interventions can beneficially affect key financial and operational measures.

Orientador: Eduardo Guilherme Satolo / Coorientador: Timóteo Ramos Queiroz / Banca: Robisom Damasceno Calado / Banca: Wagner Luiz Lourenzani / Resumo: O segmento de piscicultura e aquicultura possui um importante papel na contribuição do desenvolvimento econômico do Brasil. Destaca-se, sobretudo, o estado de São Paulo que realiza 70% do beneficiamento das tilápias produzidas em seus frigoríficos. Neste processo ocorre o beneficiamento dos peixes que são repassados aos supermercados na forma de filés. Estas organizações, denominadas de agroindústrias processadoras de filé de peixes, competem entre si, na busca por uma gestão de produção eficiente no que tange à redução de custos e à eliminação de desperdícios, gerando dessa forma desenvolvimento e acesso a outros mercados. Diante da carência de estudos verificados, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar como as organizações agroindustriais que processam o filé de tilápia do estado de São Paulo estão trabalhando as questões envolvidas ao sistema Lean Production para alcance da Manufatura de Classe Mundial. O método World Class Manufacturing e o sistema Lean Production denotam ser favorecedores das organizações que buscam atingir a competitividade a nível global, podendo gerar padrões eficientes quando bem utilizados. Para atender ao objetivo da pesquisa, empregou-se como método de pesquisa o estudo de caso do tipo múltiplo, com a condução de visitas in loco, a solicitação de documentos e aplicação em três Unidades de Pesquisa de questionário de modo a caracterizar as organizações, verificar as ações dos níveis organizacionais e relatar os benefícios, dificuldade... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The fish farming and aquaculture segment is very important for the contribution of Brazil's economic development. Of particular note is the state of São Paulo, which produces 70% of the tilapia production in its slaughterhouses. In this process the beneficiation of the fish that are transferred to supermarkets in the form of fillets takes place. These organizations, called fish fillet processing industries, compete with each other in the search for an efficient production management in terms of cost reduction and waste elimination, thus generating development and access to other markets. Given the lack of verified studies, the present research has as general objective to analyze how the agroindustries processing the fillet of tilapia of the state of São Paulo are working the issues involved to the Lean Production system for reach of the World-Class Manufacturing. The World Class Manufacturing method and the Lean Production system are great proponents of organizations that seek to achieve global competitiveness and can generate efficient standards when well used. In order to meet the research objective, a multiple-case study was conducted as a research method, with the conduction of on-site visits, request of documents and application in three questionnaires in order to characterize the organizations, To verify the actions of the organizational levels and to report the benefits, difficulties and critical factors for the success when in the execution of improvements in its manu... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Corporate governance is a leading factor in organizational performance, financial reporting, and stakeholder satisfaction. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that senior managers in the accounting industry implement to enforce corporate governance and improve organizational performance. The conceptual framework for the study was stakeholder theory. The population for this study included 3 senior managers of 3 different organizations in the accounting industry located in western United States. Data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews and from review of documented corporate governance strategies. The data analysis consisted of the following steps: compiling the data, disassembling the data, reassembling the data, interpreting the data, and drawing conclusions. Three themes emerged from this study: corporate governance, laws, rules, and regulations; the role of corporate governance in organizational performance; and effective corporate governance strategies. The results of this study may contribute to social change by improving the quality of employees' work lives. With improved quality of employee work life, employers may benefit from higher productivity, and consumers may experience improved services.

Pedestrian crowd simulation explores crowd behaviors in virtual environments. It is extensively studied in many areas, such as safety and civil engineering, transportation, social science, entertainment industry and so on. As a common phenomenon in pedestrian crowds, grouping can play important roles in crowd behaviors. To achieve more realistic simulations, it is important to support group modeling in crowd behaviors. Nevertheless, group modeling is still an open and challenging problem. The influence of groups on the dynamics of crowd movement has not been incorporated into most existing crowd models because of the complexity nature of social groups. This research develops a framework for group modeling in agent-based pedestrian crowd simulations. The framework includes multiple layers that support a systematic approach for modeling social groups in pedestrian crowd simulations. These layers include a simulation engine layer that provides efficient simulation engines to simulate the crowd model; a behavior-based agent modeling layers that supports developing agent models using the developed BehaviorSim simulation software; a group modeling layer that provides a well-defined way to model inter-group relationships and intra-group connections among pedestrian agents in a crowd; and finally a context modeling layer that allows users to incorporate various social and psychological models into the study of social groups in pedestrian crowd. Each layer utilizes the layer below it to fulfill its functionality, and together these layers provide an integrated framework for supporting group modeling in pedestrian crowd simulations. To our knowledge this work is the first one to focus on a systematic group modeling approach for pedestrian crowd simulations. This systematic modeling approach allows users to create social group simulation models in a well-defined way for studying the effect of social and psychological factors on crowd’s grouping behavior. To demonstrate the capability of the group modeling framework, we developed an application of dynamic grouping for pedestrian crowd simulations.

This research investigates ways to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from the cement industry. Cement is one of the largest sources of man-made greenhouse gases, contributing ~5% of the global total. 40% of emissions from cement come from the fuel used in the process, while the electricity used contributes a further 5%. The focus of the research is to find operational changes that can reduce emissions without the need for large capital investment. Three cement plants in the UK were investigated using four different mathematical models based on real data from the plants. A new metric for assessing the environmental impact of the fuel mix of a plant was proposed, and evidence indicates that it may be a better predictor of environmental performance than the metrics currently used in industry. The research found that consistently improving this fuel metric to best-observed levels, as well as reducing the excess air ratio to industry-standard levels had the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 7%, and fuel derived CO2 emissions by up to 12%. Increasing use of biomass to best-observed levels had the potential to reduce the net fuel derived CO2 emissions by up to 20%. Comparing the proposed improvements to the historic range of plant performance showed that this level of performance is within the normal operating range of the plants. A reduction of 2-4% in electricity costs and electricity derived emissions was also possible from operational changes. These savings would reduce operating costs as well as emissions, and require little to no capital investment, meaning they could be implemented directly. If successfully implemented in the near future the total savings by 2050 would be on a similar scale to those expected from much more expensive technology changes, such as upgrading to new cement plants, or installing carbon capture and storage technology.

Submitted by Gustavo Antiqueira Goes null (gustavogoes26@gmail.com) on 2017-04-03T12:03:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GustavoGoes_PGAD_TUPA_Fevereiro2017.pdf: 2959127 bytes, checksum: 510f7cd30669e8eb8602f239610070eb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-04-10T17:33:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 goes_ga_me_tupa.pdf: 2959127 bytes, checksum: 510f7cd30669e8eb8602f239610070eb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-10T17:33:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 goes_ga_me_tupa.pdf: 2959127 bytes, checksum: 510f7cd30669e8eb8602f239610070eb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O segmento de piscicultura e aquicultura possui um importante papel na contribuição do desenvolvimento econômico do Brasil. Destaca-se, sobretudo, o estado de São Paulo que realiza 70% do beneficiamento das tilápias produzidas em seus frigoríficos. Neste processo ocorre o beneficiamento dos peixes que são repassados aos supermercados na forma de filés. Estas organizações, denominadas de agroindústrias processadoras de filé de peixes, competem entre si, na busca por uma gestão de produção eficiente no que tange à redução de custos e à eliminação de desperdícios, gerando dessa forma desenvolvimento e acesso a outros mercados. Diante da carência de estudos verificados, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo geral analisar como as organizações agroindustriais que processam o filé de tilápia do estado de São Paulo estão trabalhando as questões envolvidas ao sistema Lean Production para alcance da Manufatura de Classe Mundial. O método World Class Manufacturing e o sistema Lean Production denotam ser favorecedores das organizações que buscam atingir a competitividade a nível global, podendo gerar padrões eficientes quando bem utilizados. Para atender ao objetivo da pesquisa, empregou-se como método de pesquisa o estudo de caso do tipo múltiplo, com a condução de visitas in loco, a solicitação de documentos e aplicação em três Unidades de Pesquisa de questionário de modo a caracterizar as organizações, verificar as ações dos níveis organizacionais e relatar os benefícios, dificuldades e fatores críticos para o sucesso quando na execução de melhorias em seus processos de manufatura. Com relação aos resultados é possível afirmar que para as Unidades de Pesquisa investigadas há um direcionamento das práticas do sistema Lean Production para que seus processos produtivos possam atingir uma Manufatura de Classe Mundial. Entretanto, as Unidades de Pesquisa ainda carecem de um maior conhecimento e difusão dos conceitos relativos a estas duas estratégias administrativas de modo que conduzir seu uso de modo formalizado em seus ambientes organizacionais. / The fish farming and aquaculture segment is very important for the contribution of Brazil's economic development. Of particular note is the state of São Paulo, which produces 70% of the tilapia production in its slaughterhouses. In this process the beneficiation of the fish that are transferred to supermarkets in the form of fillets takes place. These organizations, called fish fillet processing industries, compete with each other in the search for an efficient production management in terms of cost reduction and waste elimination, thus generating development and access to other markets. Given the lack of verified studies, the present research has as general objective to analyze how the agroindustries processing the fillet of tilapia of the state of São Paulo are working the issues involved to the Lean Production system for reach of the World-Class Manufacturing. The World Class Manufacturing method and the Lean Production system are great proponents of organizations that seek to achieve global competitiveness and can generate efficient standards when well used. In order to meet the research objective, a multiple-case study was conducted as a research method, with the conduction of on-site visits, request of documents and application in three questionnaires in order to characterize the organizations, To verify the actions of the organizational levels and to report the benefits, difficulties and critical factors for the success when in the execution of improvements in its manufacturing processes. Regarding the results, it is possible to state that for the Research Units investigated there is a direction of the practices of the Lean Production system so that its productive processes can reach a World-Class Manufacturing. However, the Research Units still lack a greater knowledge and diffusion of the concepts related to these two administrative strategies so as to conduct their use formally in their organizational environments.

著作権、出典、利用制限の表示を出版社より求められている。 / 京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第19824号 / エネ博第330号 / 新制||エネ||66(附属図書館) / 32860 / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー基礎科学専攻 / (主査)准教授 高井 茂臣, 教授 萩原 理加, 教授 佐川 尚 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DGAM