The business of logistics and transportation is increasing in demand and complexity and will do so into the future. As with many businesses in the digital age, large amounts of data is being generated at increasing speeds leading us all into the era of big data. A common result is that organizations are left data rich and information poor. At ABC Logistics, and many other third party logistics and transportation companies, the question is how to harness the data and create centers of excellence through business intelligence methodologies. This research project goes through the steps taken to identify an area where business intelligence and data transformation could be an advantageous prospect and how to present it in a way that would be of great benefit to the organization as a whole. Third party logistics companies, such as ABC Logistics, operate under a business model where they do not produce or own any of the product they manage through the supply chain process. What they sell is their expertise in logistics services from the inbound of product, processing of orders, and outbound shipping to and from the customer. This makes the third party logistics business very competitive. Competitive advantages are key to success in this type of business and one area that is underutilized is measuring and managing labor productivity. Currently, ABC Logistics utilizes an AS400 system for warehouse management and Kronos for timekeeping. The problem lies in how to get all the information together in one location where transactional master data is shared across the organization. Once we do that, then the second problem would be analysis and decision management i.e., how we analyze the data and present the information in a human readable format for frontline supervisors and middle management to be able to interpret the data and take action. The solution will be to create a data warehouse to normalize all the various data sources for timekeeping and warehouse production transactions. In order to build the data warehouse, we will utilize an SQL Database with SQL Server Integration Services to transform the data into our data warehouse. With the data transformed into a structured and consistent format, the data is analyzed and the results presented in a human readable format. This will be done through business intelligence tools such as Power BI that allows us to create custom dashboards. This solution will lead to a better understanding of our operation, increase profit, and give ABC Logistics a competitive advantage over their competitors.

Literature on performance management (PM) indicates that the concept has gained momentum in its use by organisations, with the ultimate goal of improving business performance. It is argued that PM makes significant contributions to individual employees and organisational performance by enabling expectations to be defined and agreed in terms of the role, responsibilities and accountabilities, and providing opportunities for individuals to identify their own goals and to develop their skills and competencies. However, there has been much debate as to whether PM optimises or leads to improved overall business performance as other factors other than human resources policies, such as personality, job role experiences, and structural factors, may have a detrimental influence on job performance. Moreover, several studies have shown that PM, and performance management systems (PMS) has resulted in unintended impacts, both positive and negative, in addition to those sought by organisations. This research is an investigation into the perception of managers and care assistants in private care of the elderly in care homes in Scotland on the impact of performance management systems. Use is made of both PM literature and empirical research to understand the perceived impact of the PMS with the ultimate aim of developing an enhanced PMS framework. In addition to documents review, twenty-four in-depth interviews were conducted, comprising of eight managers and sixteen care assistants drawn from eight different private care homes. The interviews focused on eight key PM elements, the PM concept, goal-setting, performance reviews, performance measurement, supporting performance, rewards system, training and development, and managing underperformance. The interview results from managers and care assistants were compared with the normative/ideal PM practice from the PM literature to determine how PMS is being implemented in the private care homes. The research findings reveal an overall positive perception towards PMS implementation by managers. However, the care assistants raised many of concerns which influenced a negative perception towards the PMS implementation. This was used as the basis for developing recommendations for an enhanced PMS framework. Therecommendations are centred around the identified two main problem areas: management/leadership style and the communication process. In addition to staff involvement in performance planning, and a fair underperformance management process, three other theories: power distance, vertical and horizontal trust, and the principal-agent problem were recommended to private care homes. This would help change the negative perception towards PMS implementation by care assistants.

Este trabalho propõe discutir o planejamento da execução instrumental (piano) na área de Práticas Interpretativas. Foram examinadas as diferentes abordagens e os posicionamentos de especialistas na área proposta através da reflexão crítica do conhecimento produzido pelas pesquisas empíricas. O objetivo foi examinar as temáticas, as estratégias de estudo, o campo teórico, os procedimentos metodológicos, a sistematização do processo de aprendizagem do repertório pianístico e as relações interatuantes ocorrentes nas pesquisas descritivas de delineamento experimental, nos estudos de caso, estudos com entrevista e levantamentos selecionados. Foi realizada uma análise crítica sobre as investigações que abordaram o comportamento da prática e as estratégias de estudo, além de uma reflexão sobre a construção dos referenciais dos trabalhos empíricos e os elementos envolvidos no processo de pesquisa. O presente trabalho estabeleceu seus pilares centrais no estudo crítico sobre as pesquisas empíricas na área do planejamento da execução instrumental (o pilar teórico) e a sua conexão com a experiência pessoal deste autor como sujeito de um estudo de caso durante seu Estágio de Doutorado no Exterior (o pilar prático, vivenciado). No estudo de caso, duas estratégias de estudo para resgatar as informações musicais da memória de longa duração foram elaboradas pelo sujeito para melhorar seu desempenho no Teste Experimental II. A partir da inter-relação entre os pilares e de seus reflexos na construção crítica sobre a estruturação dos processos investigativos, buscou-se discutir diversos pontos nevrálgicos nas pesquisas empíricas, como as relações hierárquicas entre pesquisador e sujeito e as possíveis lacunas investigativas. Foi sugerida uma proposta de modelo para maior interação entre as áreas da Psicologia da Música e da área de Práticas Interpretativas. Desse modo, buscouse examinar as implicações pedagógicas provenientes do profundo conhecimento das etapas do planejamento e do entendimento de como se constrói uma execução instrumental em nível de excelência. / The present thesis discusses the research line in piano performance planning. It examined different research approaches and points of view of specialists in the music field through a critical reflection about the knowledge produced by empirical research. The goal was to investigate the subjects, especially the strategies, the theoretical framework, methodological procedures, learning process and the relationship between experimental research, case studies, survey and studies with interview. A critical analysis of the research studies considering the behavior of the musicians during practice, their strategies, the construction of the theoretical references and the elements involved was undertaken. The present work established two pillars: (1) theoretical, focused on the empirical research, and (2) practical, related to the personal experience of the author as the subject in a case study during his doctoral internship. During that time, the present author elaborated two practice strategies to reinforce memory retrieval and to aid him in succeeding in the Experimental Test II. As a result of relationship between these two pillars of construction in the investigative processes, the present work discusses basic points relating to empirical research, such as the investigative problems and the hierarchy between the experimenter and the subject. The author proposed a model of interaction between the Psychology and Music areas. It is aimed at examining the pedagogical implications based on the profound understanding of performance planning, as well as how to construct an instrumental performance at a level of excellence.

Este trabalho propõe discutir o planejamento da execução instrumental (piano) na área de Práticas Interpretativas. Foram examinadas as diferentes abordagens e os posicionamentos de especialistas na área proposta através da reflexão crítica do conhecimento produzido pelas pesquisas empíricas. O objetivo foi examinar as temáticas, as estratégias de estudo, o campo teórico, os procedimentos metodológicos, a sistematização do processo de aprendizagem do repertório pianístico e as relações interatuantes ocorrentes nas pesquisas descritivas de delineamento experimental, nos estudos de caso, estudos com entrevista e levantamentos selecionados. Foi realizada uma análise crítica sobre as investigações que abordaram o comportamento da prática e as estratégias de estudo, além de uma reflexão sobre a construção dos referenciais dos trabalhos empíricos e os elementos envolvidos no processo de pesquisa. O presente trabalho estabeleceu seus pilares centrais no estudo crítico sobre as pesquisas empíricas na área do planejamento da execução instrumental (o pilar teórico) e a sua conexão com a experiência pessoal deste autor como sujeito de um estudo de caso durante seu Estágio de Doutorado no Exterior (o pilar prático, vivenciado). No estudo de caso, duas estratégias de estudo para resgatar as informações musicais da memória de longa duração foram elaboradas pelo sujeito para melhorar seu desempenho no Teste Experimental II. A partir da inter-relação entre os pilares e de seus reflexos na construção crítica sobre a estruturação dos processos investigativos, buscou-se discutir diversos pontos nevrálgicos nas pesquisas empíricas, como as relações hierárquicas entre pesquisador e sujeito e as possíveis lacunas investigativas. Foi sugerida uma proposta de modelo para maior interação entre as áreas da Psicologia da Música e da área de Práticas Interpretativas. Desse modo, buscouse examinar as implicações pedagógicas provenientes do profundo conhecimento das etapas do planejamento e do entendimento de como se constrói uma execução instrumental em nível de excelência. / The present thesis discusses the research line in piano performance planning. It examined different research approaches and points of view of specialists in the music field through a critical reflection about the knowledge produced by empirical research. The goal was to investigate the subjects, especially the strategies, the theoretical framework, methodological procedures, learning process and the relationship between experimental research, case studies, survey and studies with interview. A critical analysis of the research studies considering the behavior of the musicians during practice, their strategies, the construction of the theoretical references and the elements involved was undertaken. The present work established two pillars: (1) theoretical, focused on the empirical research, and (2) practical, related to the personal experience of the author as the subject in a case study during his doctoral internship. During that time, the present author elaborated two practice strategies to reinforce memory retrieval and to aid him in succeeding in the Experimental Test II. As a result of relationship between these two pillars of construction in the investigative processes, the present work discusses basic points relating to empirical research, such as the investigative problems and the hierarchy between the experimenter and the subject. The author proposed a model of interaction between the Psychology and Music areas. It is aimed at examining the pedagogical implications based on the profound understanding of performance planning, as well as how to construct an instrumental performance at a level of excellence.

Este trabalho propõe discutir o planejamento da execução instrumental (piano) na área de Práticas Interpretativas. Foram examinadas as diferentes abordagens e os posicionamentos de especialistas na área proposta através da reflexão crítica do conhecimento produzido pelas pesquisas empíricas. O objetivo foi examinar as temáticas, as estratégias de estudo, o campo teórico, os procedimentos metodológicos, a sistematização do processo de aprendizagem do repertório pianístico e as relações interatuantes ocorrentes nas pesquisas descritivas de delineamento experimental, nos estudos de caso, estudos com entrevista e levantamentos selecionados. Foi realizada uma análise crítica sobre as investigações que abordaram o comportamento da prática e as estratégias de estudo, além de uma reflexão sobre a construção dos referenciais dos trabalhos empíricos e os elementos envolvidos no processo de pesquisa. O presente trabalho estabeleceu seus pilares centrais no estudo crítico sobre as pesquisas empíricas na área do planejamento da execução instrumental (o pilar teórico) e a sua conexão com a experiência pessoal deste autor como sujeito de um estudo de caso durante seu Estágio de Doutorado no Exterior (o pilar prático, vivenciado). No estudo de caso, duas estratégias de estudo para resgatar as informações musicais da memória de longa duração foram elaboradas pelo sujeito para melhorar seu desempenho no Teste Experimental II. No estudo de caso, duas estratégias de estudo para resgatar as informações musicais da memória de longa duração foram elaboradas pelo sujeito para melhorar seu desempenho no Teste Experimental II. A partir da inter-relação entre os pilares e de seus reflexos na construção crítica sobre a estruturação dos processos investigativos, buscou-se discutir diversos pontos nevrálgicos nas pesquisas empíricas, como as relações hierárquicas entre pesquisador e sujeito e as possíveis lacunas investigativas. Foi sugerida uma proposta de modelo para maior interação entre as áreas da Psicologia da Música e da área de Práticas Interpretativas. Desse modo, buscouse examinar as implicações pedagógicas provenientes do profundo conhecimento das etapas do planejamento e do entendimento de como se constrói uma execução instrumental em nível de excelência. / The present thesis discusses the research line in piano performance planning. It examined different research approaches and points of view of specialists in the music field through a critical reflection about the knowledge produced by empirical research. The goal was to investigate the subjects, especially the strategies, the theoretical framework, methodological procedures, learning process and the relationship between experimental research, case studies, survey and studies with interview. A critical analysis of the research studies considering the behavior of the musicians during practice, their strategies, the construction of the theoretical references and the elements involved was undertaken. The present work established two pillars: (1) theoretical, focused on the empirical research, and (2) practical, related to the personal experience of the author as the subject in a case study during his doctoral internship. During that time, the present author elaborated two practice strategies to reinforce memory retrieval and to aid him in succeeding in the Experimental Test II. As a result of relationship between these two pillars of construction in the investigative processes, the present work discusses basic points relating to empirical research, such as the investigative problems and the hierarchy between the experimenter and the subject. The author proposed a model of interaction between the Psychology and Music areas. It is aimed at examining the pedagogical implications based on the profound understanding of performance planning, as well as how to construct an instrumental performance at a level of excellence.

Darbe keliama problema: yra tai, kad neretai vietos savivaldos institucijų ilgalaikiai planai tėra tik formalūs, samdomų ekspertų paruošti, dokumentai, neatspindintys tikrosios institucijos veiklos. Mokslinės problemos esmė – vietos savivaldos institucijos strateginio plano kokybė. Jo rengimo ir įgyvendinimo poveikis miesto plėtrai. Darbo objektas – Kauno miesto savivaldybės strateginis veiklos planavimas. Darbo tikslas – numatyti Kauno miesto savivaldybės veiklos strateginio planavimo tobulinimo gaires. Siekiant užsibrėžto tikslo, darbui keliami tokie uždaviniai: 1. išanalizuoti veiklos strateginio planavimo teorinius pagrindus; 2. aptarti savivaldos institucijų veiklos strateginio planavimo ypatumus, lyginant juos su verslo organizacijomis; 3. peržvelgti Lietuvos ir užsienio valstybių strateginio planavimo patirtį; 4. parengti Kauno miesto savivaldybės strateginio planavimo vertinimo metodiką; 5. atlikti Kauno miesto veiklos, grindžiamos strateginiu planavimu, analizę. Kauno miesto 2005 – 2015 m. strateginį planą palyginti su Vilniaus miesto 2002 – 2011 m. bei Dvimiesčio strateginiais planais; 6. pateikti Kauno miesto savivaldybės veiklos strateginio planavimo tobulinimo kryptis ir priemones. Tyrimo metodai. Analizuojant strateginį veiklos planavimą darbe naudojami: aprašomasis analitinis, sintezės ir lyginamosios analizės ir struktūrizuoto interviu metodai. Siekiant tinkamai atskleisti darbo temą, bus pasitelkta surinktų duomenų sisteminimu ir apibendrinimu. Lyginamosios... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The final work of MBA* studies consists of 81 pages, 3 figures, 16 tables, 48 reference sources, 1 appendix. It is written in Lithuanian language. Key words: municipality administration, public administration, performance planning, strategic planning, improvement. Research object: strategic planning of Kaunas city municipality. Research aim: to identify the improvement possibilities of strategic planning in Kaunas city municipality. Objectives: 1) To analyze theoretical bases of strategic planning; 2) To discuss the peculiarities of the strategic planning of public administration institution and to compare it with the performance planning of business organizations; 3) To analyze the conditions of Kaunas city municipality strategic planning; 4) To propose trends and means of improvement of strategic planning of Kaunas city municipality. Period analyzed: 2005 – 2015 m. The work theme is quite actual, because strategic planning of municipal institutions performance was started only in 2002. Often permanent plans of municipal institutions are only, documents prepared by hired experts and do not reflect the real situation of institutional performance. The analyses of Kaunas city municipality’s strategic planning helps evaluate the benefit of performance plans in Kaunas city municipality and interest of city development. Research methods: scientific literature analysis and syntheses, document analysis, comparative analysis and graphical presentation. Research ranges: • To analyze... [to full text]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing performance management system (PMS) in enhancing performance at this freight rail organisation (FRO). The focus of this study was to establish whether the performance management processes are effective in enhancing the individual performance level in this FRO. The performance management processes referred to in this study include conceptualising and exploring; performance management and its processes, the balanced scorecard (BSC) as a tool of performance management and explaining the relationship between performance management and a reward system within the FRO. A qualitative research design was used for this study to answer the research question. The research design consisted of a case study where thirty semi structured interviews were conducted with the first line managers, junior managers, middle managers and senior managers at this FRO. The interviews were transcribed, and research data was analysed using a content analysis method. This study yielded a number of benefits in terms of the research findings, conclusions and recommendations about the effectiveness of performance management processes, the BS and the relationship between individual performance and reward. As a result, the study will not only benefit management in dealing with a strategy and drive individual performance, but will also assist all levels of employees within the FRO and other organisations in understanding the day-to-day operational activities of performance management. It will also help human capital professionals, industrial psychologists at the FRO and other organisations in knowing and understanding the best practices to adopt, in managing their individual performance levels. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The advent of democracy in the Republic of South Africa has brought about fundamental changes in the spheres of governance. One of these changes is the implementation of the employee performance management and development system in the public service. One of the Constitutional imperatives of the country requires all government institutions to cultivate good human resource management and career development practices to maximise human potential. The Gauteng Department of Social Development and in particular, Father Smangaliso Mkhatswa Centre, is also expected to implement the employee performance management and development system. The study seeks to examine to what extent performance management can enhance employee‟s performance. To achieve this, a semi-structured interview was conducted with employees of Father Smangaliso Mkhatswa Centre. The findings indicate that managers use performance management as a tool to control and discipline subordinates, whilst subordinates use performance management as a means of getting extra money through performance bonuses. This could be the reason that performance assessment period is viewed as a period of high tension between supervisors and subordinates. / Public Administration & Management / M.P.A.

The advent of democracy in the Republic of South Africa has brought about fundamental changes in the spheres of governance. One of these changes is the implementation of the employee performance management and development system in the public service. One of the Constitutional imperatives of the country requires all government institutions to cultivate good human resource management and career development practices to maximise human potential. The Gauteng Department of Social Development and in particular, Father Smangaliso Mkhatswa Centre, is also expected to implement the employee performance management and development system. The study seeks to examine to what extent performance management can enhance employee‟s performance. To achieve this, a semi-structured interview was conducted with employees of Father Smangaliso Mkhatswa Centre. The findings indicate that managers use performance management as a tool to control and discipline subordinates, whilst subordinates use performance management as a means of getting extra money through performance bonuses. This could be the reason that performance assessment period is viewed as a period of high tension between supervisors and subordinates. / Public Administration and Management / M.P.A.