This research aimed at identifying the teacher competencies of teachers teaching at an international school in Saudi Arabia. The research addressing the problems and sub-problems involved a literature review that conceptualised multicultural education and international schooling. The empirical investigation included the use of a questionnaire to gather data. The questionnaire aimed at determining the ability of teachers to function effectively within a multicultural environment. The findings, which were linked to the literature review, revealed areas of strength and weakness. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for school administrators for the design of appropriate staff development programmes to inculcate in teachers the competencies necessary to perform effectively in an international multicultural environment. / Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Educational psychology)

The objective of this study was to investigate what the critical elements were for an employee performance appraisal system (EPA) to be effective and successful and whether the latter would enhance employee engagement. The study hypothesised that three elements, namely the level of trust in the appraiser, communication by the appraiser and the level of training of the appraiser would be critical to achieve an effective EPA. Effective performance appraisal is known to benefit organisations by helping them measure performance, motivate employees and most commonly help to make HR related administrative decisions, such as promotions and rewards. The study was conducted in a national public entity, which is constituted and mandated in terms of the PPEC Act, No 9 of 1983, to perform cold chain services and also under the APS Act, No.119 of 1990. The organisation studied also delivers inspection and food safety services for perishable products as mandated by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The research adopts a survey approach where self-administered questionnaires were used to gather data from the employees to measure their opinions of the measured elements of the employee performance appraisal (EPA). The surveys were issued to a total of 150 employees within the organisation and a total of 82 usable surveys were returned. The findings of the study revealed that the employees were generally satisfied with the level of competency, training of, and trust in, the appraiser, but there was still work to be done in improving the system and making it more successful and rewarding. Communication by the appraiser was found to be not significantly related to the effectiveness of the current performance appraisal system.

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade e Gestão de Políticas Públicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Contábeis, 2017. / Submitted by Albânia Cézar de Melo (albania@bce.unb.br) on 2017-05-08T14:42:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_JoãoTupinambáGomesNeto.pdf: 1437972 bytes, checksum: 403bdfac78ec75bf8d18708a5537a185 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Raquel Viana (raquelviana@bce.unb.br) on 2017-05-08T18:31:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_JoãoTupinambáGomesNeto.pdf: 1437972 bytes, checksum: 403bdfac78ec75bf8d18708a5537a185 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-08T18:31:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_JoãoTupinambáGomesNeto.pdf: 1437972 bytes, checksum: 403bdfac78ec75bf8d18708a5537a185 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-08 / As instituições financeiras possuem como função principal a intermediação financeira, captando recursos de unidades superavitárias e emprestando para unidades deficitárias, estando sujeitas a diversos riscos, com destaque para o risco de crédito, associado à inadimplência dos tomadores de recursos. Os Acordos de Basileia visam mensurar o capital mínimo regulatório para as instituições financeiras suprirem eventuais perdas, mediante adequação aos ativos ponderados pelos riscos. Portanto, o rating de crédito das instituições financeiras atribuído pelas principais agências de rating passou a ser acompanhado por: acionistas, investidores, governos e reguladores, como um sinalizador da saúde financeira desse tipo de instituição. A partir do aumento da importância do rating para o setor bancário, surgem questionamentos sobre possíveis diferenças na atribuição de rating de instituições financeiras caso estas estejam sediadas em países emergentes ou não emergentes; e se o rating soberano de um país seria um teto limitador ao rating das instituições financeiras, conforme observado na literatura. Portanto, a pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar se há diferenças nos determinantes dos ratings de crédito das instituições financeiras, tendo como diferencial, em comparação a estudos anteriores, a segregação dos determinantes do rating das instituições financeiras caso estejam em países emergentes ou não emergentes. A partir das conclusões, também verifica-se que realmente existem diferenças nos determinantes do rating das referidas instituições, caso estejam sediadas em países emergentes ou não emergentes. O tamanho e a qualidade das operações de crédito são as variáveis que mais teriam influência na amostra de instituições financeiras (IF) de países não emergentes, seguidas do rating soberano. Nas instituições sediadas em países emergentes, fica mais evidente que o rating soberano seria o principal determinante do rating dessas instituições, juntamente com um indicador de qualidade dos ativos: participação dos empréstimos sobre os ativos totais. / Financial institutions have as their main function financial intermediation, capturing resources from surplus units and lending to deficit units, being subject to several risks, especially credit risk, that are related to default. The Basel Accords aim to measure regulatory minimum capital for banks to supply possible losses, by adjusting the capital to risk-weighted assets. Therefore, the credit rating of the financial institution attributed by the main rating agencies came to be accompanied by: shareholders, investors, governments and regulators, as a sign of the financial health of this type of institution. From the increasing importance of the rating to the banking sector, questions arise about possible differences in the attribution of rating of financial institutions if they are based in emerging or non-emerging countries; And whether the sovereign rating of a country would be a limiting ceiling on the rating of financial institutions, as observed in the literature. Therefore, the research aims to assess whether there are differences in the determinants of the credit ratings of financial institutions, as opposed to previous studies, the segregation of the determinants of the rating of financial institutions if they are in emerging or non-emerging countries. From the conclusions, it is also verified that there really are differences in the determinants of the rating of these institutions, if they are based in emerging or non-emerging countries. The size and quality of credit operations are the variables that would most influence the sample of financial institutions (FIs) of non-emerging countries, followed by the sovereign rating. In institutions based in emerging countries, it is more evident that the sovereign rating would be the main determinant of the rating of these institutions, together with an indicator of asset quality: share of loans over total assets.

abstract: While credit rating agencies use both forward-looking and historical information in evaluating a firm's credit risk, the role of forward-looking information in their rating decisions is not well understood. In this study, I examine the association between management earnings guidance news and future credit rating changes. While upward earnings guidance is not informative for credit rating changes, downward earnings guidance is significantly and positively associated with both the likelihood and speed of rating downgrades. In cross-sectional analyses, I find that downward guidance is especially informative in two important circumstances: (i) when a firm's current credit rating is overly optimistic compared to a model predicted rating, and (ii) when the relevance or reliability of alternative information sources is lower. In addition, I find that downward guidance is associated with lower future cash flows, as well as a higher volatility of future cash flows. Overall, the results are consistent with credit rating agencies incorporating voluntary bad news disclosures into their decisions about whether and when to downgrade a firm. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Accountancy 2015

Thesis (MTech(Human Resources Management))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 1996 / Even though performance appraisal is used in most South African organisations, the information acquired is often not used for the purpose to which it pertains, i.e. improving work performance and identifying career, promotion and development opportunities. The former, together with the lack of formal post structures and goal orientated career plans when appointments are made, often results in secretarial personnel (especially executive secretaries and personal assistants) never receiving the necessary acknowledgement in spite of their training, competence and experience. This group of employees plays a very important support- , ing role at all levels of management; yet they are often overlooked for promotion to lower and middle management levels, despite the crucial shortage of people with high level skills. Since the largest percentage of these employees are women, they experience even more discrimination because of their gender. In the first place this investigation attempted to establish to what degree secretarial personnel's performance is appraised and to what end the results are employed. Secondly, an attempt was made to determine the degree to which the enterprises involved in the investigation have established career programmes and whether the results obtained from performance appraisals are used as criterion for promotion and career planning. Furthermore, the obstacles in the way of the development and promotion of secretarial personnel were investigated. At the same time the degree of discrimination against women in management positions was surveyed. As background to the investigation, a comprehensive literature review was conducted.

O tema segurança das instalações elétricas não é novo no Brasil, porém sempre foi dependente de iniciativas particulares de empresas, entidades de classe e outros atores que incentivaram a educação, a adoção séria das Normas Técnicas desde o projeto da instalação, especificação e uso de materiais adequados e conformes a seus requisitos técnicos e a montagem correta. Somente essas ações não se mostraram totalmente eficazes ao longo do tempo, uma vez que o caráter voluntário para o cumprimento das Normas Técnicas não tem sido suficiente para conscientizar o mercado para a importância do tema. Este cenário se mostra adequado para a adoção do conceito de avaliação da conformidade de produtos e serviços, envolvendo ou não uma terceira parte independente, a exemplo do que vem sendo feita em outros países. Esta dissertação apresenta os conceitos principais adotados nos processos de avaliação da conformidade no âmbito internacional e sua correspondência direta com aqueles definidos pelo Inmetro no Brasil, pela situação privilegiada do país em participar diretamente dessa comunidade, tanto com o reconhecimento mútuo de programas e laboratórios. Nesse tema, o trabalho mostra os resultados positivos conseguidos nas áreas de produtos em geral e, particularmente, nos produtos elétricos, cuja quase totalidade é objeto de certificação compulsória pelo Inmetro. É descrita também a seqüência de fatos e ações tomadas no Brasil para o diagnóstico do nível de segurança das instalações elétricas de baixa tensão por meio de programas particulares, os resultados obtidos por programas diferentes, o envolvimento inicial dos órgãos reguladores e a parada das atividades no âmbito federal. Ações complementares às tentativas de discussão sobre o tema e de encaminhamento e aprovação de processos junto aos órgãos regulamentadores, a dissertação também mostra e discute as legislações municipais, estaduais existentes no país e do Corpo de Bombeiros da Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo, as quais, com sua efetiva implementação, poderão contribuir com a melhoria da segurança dos usuários das instalações elétricas, a exemplo do que é realizado em mais de 30 países do mundo. viii Também é descrito um modelo alternativo de caráter voluntário, resultado de iniciativa independente de alguns atores do mercado, baseado nas experiências de vários países e que está sendo implementado pela primeira vez no país, com as vantagens para todos os atores, distribuidoras de energia elétrica, administração pública, fabricantes de materiais, projetistas, proprietários e, principalmente, usuários. / The safety of electrical installations is not a new theme in Brazil, but it has always been dependent on private initiatives of companies, unions and other stakeholders, with great sacrifice, education encouraged the adoption of serious technical standards from the design, specification and use of materials and correct assembly line. Only those actions were not fully effective, as the voluntary aspect to comply with the Standards has not been enough to guarantee awareness about the importance of the subject. This scenario is suitable for the adoption of the conformity assessment concept applied to products and services, whether or not involving an independent third party, as been done in other countries This work presents the main concepts adopted in the process of conformity assessment in the international arena and its direct correspondence with those defined by Inmetro in Brazil, the situation inside the country to participate directly in this community, both with the recognition of programs and laboratories. In this theme, the work shows the positive results have been achieved in the areas of commodities in general and particularly in electrical products, virtually all of which are subject to Inmetro mandatory certification. It also described the sequence of events and actions taken in Brazil for the diagnosis of the safety level through special programs, the results obtained by different programs, the initial involvement of regulators and end of the activities at the federal level. Concerning additional actions to discuss the issue and to approve process with the competent regulators, the work also shows the municipal and state laws and the Technical Instruction of Fire Department of Military Police of State of São Paulo, which, with its effective implementation will contribute to improve the safety of users of electrical installations, similar to that in over 30 countries worldwide. The work also describes an alternative voluntary model based on the experiences of several countries and that it is being first implemented in the country as an initiative of several market players, with benefits for all actors, electric energy distribution companies, public administration, manufacturers of materials, designers, installers, builders, owners and users.

M. Ed. (Tertiary Didactics) / This study is part of a more extensive research project undertaken by a number of M.Ed.-students. The Bureau for University Education at the Rand Afrikaans University has accepted the question of the development of selection mechanisms with a view to accepting students for a university course as part of its assignment. The problem concerning a selection process for students can have dire repercussions, not only for those students who fail as a result of inadequate or erroneous selection, but also for the university as well as for the community. Individual members of the research team have devoted their attention to the evaluation of the existing selection criterium currently being implemented in order to select first-year students for further study in the various faculties. The objective of this research effort is particularly to determine whether the current selection programme, according to which first year students are selected for the Faculty of Education, is effective. An extensive literature study on existing selection procedures at universities abroad as well as at South African universities has been undertaken. At South African universities, and in particular at the Rand Afrikaans University, a variation of the Swedish Formula, the M-Score, is used as a selection mechanism. This M-Score has also been used as the research instrument in this research study. The M-Score comprises the allocation of different numerical values to the symbols attained in matriculation subjects, The research group consisted of full-time first-year students who registered at the RAU in the Faculty of Education for the degrees or diploma B.Prim.Ed., B.Cur., and H.E.D. in 1990. During the empirical research a cross-reference table on which the entire research group's final results of each first-year subject was entered in· certain intervals opposite the student's various M-Scores, was compiled. Likewise a crossreference table for each different field of study was compiled, in order to compare each field of study with the findings of the total research group. An additional table containing the frequencies, cumulative frequencies, and the percentages of both the successful as well as the unsuccessful courses as regards the total research group, has also been compiled. The percentage of successful courses per M-Score for the total research group has also been graphically indicated.

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Apprentices in South Africa must attend a technical college for their theory training. A major problem is that technical colleges experience difficulty in attracting suitable people to be appointed as lecturers in their technical departments. The majority of technical lecturers are artisans who are drawn from industry as they are needed to teach trade theory to apprentices. In most cases the young lecturer who teaches technical subjects does not have the necessary professional qualifications. One cannot assume that someone who is suitably qualified in a technical field of study is necessarily capable of successfully passing on his knowledge to the students. , The functions and tasks of the lecturer must be examined. Once these have been defined, one can concentrate on the recruitment of lecturers. The following factors must be considered: admission requirements, evaluation and acknowledgement of qualifications, promotion and conditions of service. It is not only important to recruit the most suitably qualified person but just as important to ensure that this person remains in the teaching profession. The problem is that salaries and benefits are determined by the education department and colleges cannot compete with industry. In most cases the suitable lecturers, as well as those with a few years teaching experience, are offered well-paid jobs with excellent benefits in the industrial sector. The technical lecturer is a member of the college staff. As many lecturers have the required professional qualifications, it is imperative that all lecturers fulfil the requirements set by the teaching profession. This means that most of the newly appointed technical lecturers must be professionally developed. The principal of the college plays a vital role in the professional training and development of the lecturer. He can promote this by adopting the correct managerial attitude and by creating the appropriate college climate. A good evaluation system is also important...

D.Comm. / The market orientation construct describes the behaviours and activities necessary for an organisation to become market oriented - in other words reflect its adoption of the marketing concept. In this study an organisation's perceived level of market orientation was determined using salespeople to assess the extent to which their organisations exhibited market oriented behaviours. The results obtained revealed that on the whole salespeople tend to see their organisation as having above average levels of market orientation. Market oriented organisations provide salespeople with a support system that enable them to provide their customers with optimal satisfaction since everyone in the organisation is focused on this objective. Salespeople operating in market oriented organisations will tend to experience less role stress than those salespeople operating in organisations with lower levels of market orientation. Salespeople with certain personality traits are better able to cope with role stress and therefore these individuals would probably be found in organisations with low levels of market orientation. In this study the personality trait profiles of salespeople working for organisations with different perceived levels of market orientation were determined and the results obtained were correlated with their perceptions of their organisations level of market orientation. The results obtained revealed that there was a correlation between two of the salesperson's personality traits namely, gregarious and energies and their organisation's perceived level of market orientation. The personality dimensions measured in this study were also used to develop a model whereby one could predict 68% ofthe overall respondents correctly in terms of their customer or competitor orientations. Two factors namely apprehensive and conservative, with a negative loading entered into the model in this order, would enable one to predict the salesperson's dominant orientation.