Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 271-280).

A computer simulation program which models the operation of a British Columbia coast dimension sawmill has been developed in FORTRAN IV. The model represents the initial log breakdown by a double cut, multi-pass band headrig, cant breakdown by a bulledger and the further processing on two resaws, pony edger and the double end trimsaw. Simulation of the headrig and bulledger operation is event oriented, whereas the piece flow through the other processing units is updated with 1-minute intervals. Flowcharts describe the routines briefly. The principal types of data input are sawlog population characteristics, machine characteristics, buffer storage capacities, and product output constraints. Information about the model operation is collected during the simulation runs, and the printed output includes productivity in Mbfm per 8-hour shift, the time each saw was operating, idle, busy or blocked, the time the bulledger queue contained a given number of cants and histograms showing the queue length distribution in 10-piece classes for subsequent saws. Validation of the model plays an important part in system simulation. The approach has been to attempt a verification of the piece flow arriving at trimmer, #l and #2 resaw, ponyedger and greenchain. Although the productivity figures obtained from simulation correspond to those experienced by the mill, the piece flow could not be verified. Irregular log shape, not reflected in the sawlog population characteristics and leading to more manufacturing of slabs in the real system, is considered to be the principal factor contributing to this. Preferably, further modelling should lead to the development of one general assembly-system, which regards sawmills as a collection of interconnected components, with increased input and output flexibility. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Human capital efficiency, as measured by Value-Added Human Capital (VAHU), refers to an employee's ability to create value-added for his employer. As a key resource which is not captured by conventional accounting, human capital and its value-creating ability may contribute to the premium to book value at which many companies trade. This study, therefore, sought to investigate trends in the divergence between book value and market value in South Africa, by analysing the median market-to-book ratios of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over time. The primary research objectives, however, were to empirically confirm whether corporate financial and market performance in South Africa can be explained as a contemporaneous and future outcome of human capital efficiency, and whether human capital efficiency is improving. In a largely industrialised emerging market, such as South Africa, there is some concern that companies which concentrate on efficient and productive management of their tangible assets may neglect the effective skills development and training of their human capital assets. Time-series cross-sectional multiple regressions were used to analyse the intra-industry and inter-industry relationships between VAHU and financial performance (as measured by return on assets, revenue growth and headline earnings per share) and market performance (as measured by market-to-book ratios and total share return) in companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Of the financial year-ends falling in the period 31 December 2001 to 30 June 2011, 1765 company years were covered, relating to 390 companies listed on the Main Board and ALT-X. Company size, leverage, industry and return on equity were held as control factors. The same financial data was used to assess the median growth in VAHU over the period under review. The market value-book value gap of listed companies in South Africa was found to have increased from 2001 to 2011, while human capital efficiency declined. Human capital efficiency has almost no effect on current or future market performance in South Africa. Higher human capital efficiency has a positive effect on current returns generated by any asset – tangible or intangible. Higher headline earnings per share is concurrently associated with higher human capital efficiency in almost every industry. Higher revenue growth is contemporaneously associated with higher human capital efficiency in all industries, except those which are consumer-driven. In consumer-driven industries, human capital efficiency is not a driver for revenue growth, but is still associated with higher profitability. The longer-term effect of human capital efficiency on corporate performance in South Africa is more unclear than its immediate effect. The findings of the study highlight the commercial implications of the degree of industrial action and poor basic education in South Africa – a working population that is poorly educated, with the paradox of wages that are low in relation to the cost of living, yet which are becoming too high in relation to the level of output the workers produce. The results pose a compelling argument for improving the quality of education in South Africa, as well as for employer-driven skills development and employee training. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid, soos gemeet deur Toegevoegde Waarde Menslike Kapitaal (TWMK), verwys na 'n werknemer se vermoë om toegevoegde waarde vir sy werkgewer te skep. As 'n sleutel-hulpbron wat nie deur konvensionele rekeningkunde vasgelê word nie, dra menslike kapitaal en die waardeskeppingsvermoë daarvan, dalk by tot die premie op boekwaarde waarteen baie maatskappye verhandel. Hierdie studie het dus nagestreef om tendense in die afwyking tussen boekwaarde en markwaarde in Suid-Afrika te ondersoek, deur die mediaan mark-tot-boekverhoudings van maatskappye genoteer op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs met tydverloop, te ontleed. Die hoof-navorsingsdoelwitte was egter om empiries te bevestig of korporatiewe finansiële en markprestasie in Suid-Afrika beskryf kan word as 'n gelyktydige en toekomstige gevolg van menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid en of daardie menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid verbeter. In 'n grootliks geïndustrialiseerde ontwikkelende mark, soos Suid-Afrika, is daar 'n mate van kommer dat die maatskappye wat konsentreer op die doeltreffende en produktiewe bestuur van hul tasbare bates, die doelmatige ontwikkeling van vaardighede en opleiding van hul menslike kapitaalbates mag verwaarloos. Tydreekse dwarsdeursnee meervoudige regressies is gebruik om die intra-industrie en inter-industrie verhoudings tussen TWMK en finansiële prestasie (soos gemeet deur die opbrengs op bates, inkomstegroei en wesensverdienste per aandeel) en markprestasie (soos gemeet deur mark-tot-boekverhoudings en die totale opbrengs op aandele) in maatskappye wat op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs genoteer is, te ontleed. Van die finansiële jaareindes in die tydperk 31 Desember 2001 tot 30 Junie 2011, is 1765 maatskappyjare gedek, rakende 390 maatskappye wat op die Hoofbord en Alt-X genoteer is. Die grootte van die maatskappye, hefboomfinansiering, industrie en opbrengs op ekwiteit dien as kontrolefaktore. Dieselfde finansiële data is gebruik om die mediaangroei in TWMK oor die tydperk onder oorsig te bepaal. Dit is bevind dat die markwaarde-boekwaardegaping van genoteerde maatskappye in Suid-Afrika vanaf 2001 tot 2011 toegeneem het, terwyl menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid gedaal het. Menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid het byna geen effek op die huidige of toekomstige markprestasies in Suid-Afrika nie. Hoër menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid het 'n positiewe uitwerking op die huidige opbrengste wat gegenereer word deur enige bate – tasbaar of ontasbaar. Hoër wesensverdienste per aandeel is samelopend met hoër menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid in byna elke industrie. Hoër groei in inkomste is gelyktydig geassosieer met hoër menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid in alle industrieë, behalwe dié wat verbruiker-gedrewe is. In verbruiker-gedrewe industrieë, is menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid nie 'n aandrywer van inkomstegroei nie, maar is nog steeds gelyktydig geassosieer met hoër winsgewendheid. Die langer-termyn uitwerking van menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid op korporatiewe prestasie in Suid-Afrika, is meer onduidelik as sy onmiddellike effek. Die bevindinge van die studie beklemtoon die kommersiële implikasies van die omvang van industriële aksie en swak basiese onderwys in Suid-Afrika – 'n werkende bevolking met swak opleiding, tesame met die paradoks van lone wat laag in vergelyking met bestaankoste is, maar wat te hoog styg met betrekking tot die vlak van uitset wat die werkers produseer. Die resultate bied 'n oortuigende argument vir die verbetering van die gehalte van onderwys in Suid-Afrika, sowel as vir werkgewer-gedrewe ontwikkeling van vaardighede en werknemersopleiding.

Proefskrif (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1972. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: no abstract available / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: geen opsomming

Personnel decisions have the potential to influence an entire organization. The effects of these decisions are more credible and relevant when quantified. Historically, benefits were defined in correlational statistics, i.e., validity coefficients. But the increasing demand is for a bottom-line or dollar-value definition. The utility concept presents a methodology for providing the dollar value impact on performance of a personnel intervention program. One parameter of a utility analysis model is the standard deviation of job performance in dollars (SDy). This research develops a SDy value for the yearly production contribution of a first level line accounting supervisor to be used in a utility model. It is the hypothesis of this paper that the resultant estimated dollar value of yearly productivity for accounting supervisors should be consistent across all organization types, indicating generalizability. Sixty Florida-­based organizations were surveyed to develop the SDy estimate. The resulting SDy estimates are presented for four organization types. The results support the conclusion that the type of organization does not affect the SDy estimate. Therefore, SDy estimates can be generalized across organization types.

A project report submitted to the faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of master of science in engineering / Industry in South Africa, and in particular the mining industry is faced with unprecedented challenges to remain profitable. [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / AC2017

Until recent developments, labor productivity had been analyzed manually requiring time-consuming work and the possibility of human error. Past research has shown the multitude of benefits obtained from implementing radio frequency identification technology within various construction sites including asset tracking, inventory management, and on-site security upgrades. Additional construction improvements can be identified in terms of productivity analysis of work crews, material transport, and the overall approach to a project to determine whether the construction process is operating at maximum efficiency or can be adjusted to improve its effectiveness. This paper presents the results of implementing radio-frequency identification technology and provides a study of labor productivity analysis for a window replacement project on a high-rise construction site. This extensive study tracks the efficiency of a buck hoist worker and material lift system for transportation and illustrates the applicability of the technology despite the presence of numerous signal impeding obstacles located throughout the site. These issues are resolved with an effective automated location and time tracking system that work in both an indoor and outdoor environment simultaneously with a data recording software and database. The in-house development of the database allows for timely information retrieval of various items of interest in this study and requires less The experimental results show that RFID technology has the capacity to work and produce useful data for labor productivity purposes in an ever-changing construction environment. The research further recognizes relevant information regarding system optimization and worker feedback for future use.

This empirical study is concerned with the extent to which news announcements affect the performance of common equity securities of oil and gas producing companies. The market effects of news announcements are considered to be of importance in resolving two issues. One concerns financial statement disclosure and the second concerns examination of prior oil and gas industry-related accounting research. This dissertation assumes capital market efficiency and addresses two research questions: do news announcements concerning activities of nonintegrated oil and gas producing companies affect the companies' common stock prices, and are announcements concerning nonintegrated oil and gas companies' financial, personnel, explorational, and developmental and operational activities used equally by investors in their decision-making?

This thesis studies the role accounting plays in the monitoring and reporting of soil quality in one sector of the agricultural industry, broadacre farming. A survey was conducted with broadacre farmers in the Loddon Catchment, Victoria, Australia. The primary aim was to determine the effectiveness accounting plays in providing information to decision makers relative to the productive capacity in soil quality and not just on profits. The capital asset in this study was defined as soil quality. Soils and soil quality in particular, are major elements in determining land value. The concern is decisions are being made by potential buyers and other decision makers, particularly policy makers, with regards to soil quality on the basis of incomplete and often misleading information. It is proposed that a major reason is due to the fact that different participants in the agricultural and accounting industries require and use different information. The accounting systems used by farmers are those that have been developed for the manufacturing sector which may not be appropriate for managing long-term, complex resources such as soil. The farmers themselves did not find formal accounting reports useful for decision making because these reports are based on uniform standards and market prices. The topic of soil quality and land degradation is viewed from two perspectives. In one perspective, the proprietary view; the accounting emphasis is on the ownership of assets and the change, both in income and capital, in these assets over time. In this case the accounting equation is seen as assets - liabilities = equities. The proprietor takes all the risk. A more recent perspective in accounting, the entity view, emphasises the assets whether financed from equity or debt and where the accounting equation is seen as assets = equities. The emphasis changes to the income flow from these assets and more interest is shown in current market prices as a reflection of the future value of these assets Profit is not necessarily a good indicator of what farmers are doing for their capital asset. There needs to be greater emphasis on costs undertaken for the conservation of soil. Those costs should be considered an investment and put into the balance sheet and not the profit and loss statement. The major finding of study demonstrates that decision making groups have different