The investigations which follow are exploratory in the sense that the topic is new and not that the methodology itself is innovatory. The new research topic relates to innovation in both in-service education and nursery practice with the starting point being that micro-based systems of database management and word-processing may contribute to nursery record-keeping in the 1990's. Such a micro-based system was introduced as part of an experimental intervention with a sample of classrooms. This could be seen as pre-feasibility work towards the development of an "expert system" to help nursery staff with future curriculum development, implementation, and record-keeping. The research question is: how might nursery record-keeping develop in the future, and in what conditions, and with what support? Factors associated with most successful outcomes in the experimental intervention were small nurseries, attendance of a full age-range of children, good quality curriculum, clearly differentiated staff roles, and prior record-keeping. (All classrooms were able to complete many procedures and were to some extent "successful".) A comparison was made of nursery records developed, by staff, during the micro experiment with those obtained from a national survey: there was a difference in that the micro-based records were more detailed. Analysis of individual participant responses also indicated that change in record-keeping practice took place during the intervention. A survey of the views of the experimental participants and a comparison group of nursery staff found that both groups expressed a willingness to work outside set hours to aid the introduction of micro-based record-keeping. However, the experimental group had given more thought to uses for micros in their classrooms. When the responses of nursery assistants and teachers were analysed separately, assistants were found to be less in favour of record-keeping and using micros in nurseries. Investigations, in the study as a whole, encompass a survey of under fives record-keeping throughout Britain and a detailed study of the keeping of official records in two contrasting LEA's. There are also critical reviews of relevant literature, the methods used for the investigations, and a final discussion of key themes.

Magister Curationis - MCur / Background: Complete recording of information is the foundation of continuity of care. However, the quality of patient information recording is a major problem being experienced by health services institutions in many countries. In Burundi there is a lack of accurate information recording and processing of patient information. The quality of patient information recorded is unreliable for decision making and management of healthcare delivery. Aim: This study investigated the quality of patient information record-keeping among nurses in selected hospitals in Burundi. The objectives were as follows: (a) to describe the knowledge of nurses on the benefits of the quality of patient record-keeping in selected hospitals in Burundi, (b) to describes nurses’ attitudes on the benefits of the quality of patient record-keeping in selected hospitals in Burundi, c) to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics and nurses’ knowledge and attitudes on the benefits of the quality of patient record-keeping in selected hospitals, and (d) to identify barriers influencing the quality of record-keeping in selected hospitals in Burundi. Methodology: The study employed a quantitative research approach using a descriptive survey design. The target population for this study was N=121 nurses; an all-inclusive sampling technique was used to include all 121 qualified nurses who were working in the selected hospitals. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were analysed using SPSS version 24. Statistical variables such as knowledge, attitudes and barriers were analysed using descriptive statistics to generate frequency, and cross tabulation using chi square test was also adopted to determine the association between sociodemographic characteristics and nurses’ knowledge and attitudes on the benefits of the quality of patient record-keeping. The reliability and validity of the instrument were established and a pre-test was conducted to validate the questions. All ethical principles regarding the study were adhered to. The findings from this study provide relevant information about the benefits of quality of patient record-keeping for the management of the hospitals and all relevant stakeholders in Burundi.

During the execution of a project constructed under the traditional contractual system, separate sets of site records are typically kept by each team of the two main parties on the construction site: the contractor, and the supervisor who looks after the client's interests. While the contractor's prime concern is to construct the project in accordance with the contract documents, one of the site supervisor's main functions is to keep a good record of what actually takes place during the construction process. Identifying the contractor's ability to complete the project on time, confirming that works are carried out correctly, and dealing with contractor's claims, are some instances where site records are likely to be used. It is therefore very important that the record-keeping system adopted by the supervising team provides detailed information in a readily-accessible format to ensure that facts can be established at any time during the construction period, or years later, when disputes may develop. This research programme studied the nature of existing site records kept by construction supervisors, to identify the types of records kept, the use made of them, and the problems and difficulties encountered in maintaining such records. It concentrated mainly on records of progress of construction works. The methodology adopted for undertaking this research, apart from reviewing the relevant literature, involved carrying out preliminary studies and conducting a national survey. The preliminary investigation comprised two studies as follows:• Studying site records kept on a project under construction. • Studying a set of site records kept on a completed project. The national survey, using mailed questionnaires, aimed at determining attitudes held and procedures currently adopted in the site record-keeping process in order that the present state of the art might be determined. The data gathered from the survey, in addition to resolving the research aims and objectives, has been used to investigate a number of assertions made regarding particular areas of construction supervisors' site records. The research findings revealed that the typical set of site records kept by construction supervisors is deficient in a number of respects. Various problems and difficulties relating to the procedures currently adopted by site staff have been identified which will typically affect the quality of these records and hence limit their value. If records are to be more useful, they must be more accessible and this suggests an increasing use of computers. With information held electronically in an organised system, the problems of accessibility should be reduced considerably. In addition to the general conclusions, a number of recommendations to improve site records have been made, including elements of quality procedures for record-keeping, and the potential use of an electronic diary software as a valuable tool for computerising one of the most important sources of site records.

Research Problem: The South African health system faces numerous challenges associated with its status as a middle-income developing nation. Wasteful expenditure and poor clinical outcomes arise from inefficient inter-organizational communication of patient information and the lack of a centralized health database. Research question: How does the experience of chronic disease patients with their health information inform the development of future health records in low income population groups? Proposition: Exploration of patient and health care workers experiences of medical records can inform their future development to enhance continuity of care. Objectives, methodology, procedures and outcome: Identification of an appropriate format, technological basis and functional design of a prototype medical record system by means of a phenomenological study conducted through in-depth interviews of patients and doctors in order to improve clinical care. Left and right hermeneutics were used to analyse the data and develop themes. Findings: Health records play a critical role in the clinics workflow processes, document the patients' management and clinical progress. They are an important intermediary in the relationship between the patient and the facility. Inefficiencies in the paper-based system lead to ineffective consultations, loss of continuity of care and discord between practitioners and patients. Improvement of the records format is required to provide ubiquitous access to health and improve patient health literacy.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / For written word to reach the public in hardcopy form, a manuscript is submitted to a publisher. After numerous review and modification cycles, the document is printed and distributed, often through intermediaries. Finally, it reaches the hands and eyes of perhaps thousands. This contrasts dramatically with the Internet where, within minutes of completion, text can be seen by millions. The Internet offers enormous research power. With a PC and a phone line, one can locate a recipe for delicious meringue or deadly ricin; can research a thesis or the step-by-step fabrication of a thermonuclear device. Recognizing the potential for misuse as well as for informing the public, the Department of Defense charged each of its agencies with the responsibility of policing content and form of that agency's publicly accessible websites. As the United States Navy command responsible for this daunting assignment, FIWC faces a job that grows in complexity and size by the day. Taking on this problem manually would result, at best, in unitary growth of dedicated resources and a similar increase in potential for error, both of oversight and of inappropriate action. This thesis provides one approach to automating FIWC's website monitoring and enforcement activities. The approach it advocates is focused on reducing manpower and increasing accuracy. This architecture - a generic model with a GUI database frontend - is presented, not as an ultimate solution, but rather as a solid first step. / Civilian, Department of Defense

This study intended to explore the effectiveness of finance committees at schools. A qualitative design, using interviews with purposely selected participants made up of fifteen school principals and ten finance officers in the Sedibeng Districts of the Gauteng Department of Education was used for data collection. This was aimed at exploring how effective school finance committees are and to recommend ways of improving their effectiveness in executing their financial management function. The literature study exposed the conceptual framework and essence of the functional effectiveness of school finance committees, which laid the basis for the empirical study. The empirical study was based on the social constructivist paradigm with the phenomenological approach as the strategy of enquiry. Findings of the study indicate that school finance committees are generally structured in line with policy directives. It was also found that the performance and attitudes of office-bearers of finance committees affected the effectiveness of finance committees. Firstly and for various reasons, principals as ex-officio members generally played a dominant role in finance committees. Reasons include their perceived ‘high‘ level of knowledge regarding financial management and the lack of knowledge and skills of other finance committee members to execute their responsibilities. Secondly, finance committee effectiveness was found to be negatively affected by poor budgetary processes – from the planning process to the implementation and monitoring, which include weaknesses in financial administration and reporting as well as evaluation of the budget implementation process. As a result, the management of funds was often characterised by budget variances and the need for virement. Recommendations of the study address the need for intensive capacity-building for finance committee members in specific areas of their roles and functionality. This must be accompanied by constant monitoring by Departmental development and support officers responsible for school governance. In this regard, there must be a feedback and system that enables corrective action to be taken as soon as signs of poor performance emerge. Finally, it is recommended that the structure of the finance committee be reviewed, especially as it concerns office-bearers. In this regard, it is recommended that finance officers be charged with the responsibility of financial administration and not double up as secretaries of school governing bodies. / MEd (Education Management)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

This study intended to explore the effectiveness of finance committees at schools. A qualitative design, using interviews with purposely selected participants made up of fifteen school principals and ten finance officers in the Sedibeng Districts of the Gauteng Department of Education was used for data collection. This was aimed at exploring how effective school finance committees are and to recommend ways of improving their effectiveness in executing their financial management function. The literature study exposed the conceptual framework and essence of the functional effectiveness of school finance committees, which laid the basis for the empirical study. The empirical study was based on the social constructivist paradigm with the phenomenological approach as the strategy of enquiry. Findings of the study indicate that school finance committees are generally structured in line with policy directives. It was also found that the performance and attitudes of office-bearers of finance committees affected the effectiveness of finance committees. Firstly and for various reasons, principals as ex-officio members generally played a dominant role in finance committees. Reasons include their perceived ‘high‘ level of knowledge regarding financial management and the lack of knowledge and skills of other finance committee members to execute their responsibilities. Secondly, finance committee effectiveness was found to be negatively affected by poor budgetary processes – from the planning process to the implementation and monitoring, which include weaknesses in financial administration and reporting as well as evaluation of the budget implementation process. As a result, the management of funds was often characterised by budget variances and the need for virement. Recommendations of the study address the need for intensive capacity-building for finance committee members in specific areas of their roles and functionality. This must be accompanied by constant monitoring by Departmental development and support officers responsible for school governance. In this regard, there must be a feedback and system that enables corrective action to be taken as soon as signs of poor performance emerge. Finally, it is recommended that the structure of the finance committee be reviewed, especially as it concerns office-bearers. In this regard, it is recommended that finance officers be charged with the responsibility of financial administration and not double up as secretaries of school governing bodies. / MEd (Education Management)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

This case study of the use of hospital accident and emergency records to safeguard children was triggered by Lord Laming’s inquiry into the care of Victoria Climbié, his follow up report, and government legislation since 1948. Research on the use of documentation for safeguarding children is limited, although serious case reviews consistently indicate, that across agencies, record keeping, and the sharing of pertinent information to identify patterns of maltreatment is poor. The social constructed meaning people place on hospital documentation relating to children’s safety and the perceived intentions of conveying that information within and between social environments are the focus of this research. A hermeneutic framework was used to identify how staff in A&E and other agencies perceive the use of A&E child records (birth -16 years). The investigation was in three stages (a) analysis of a purposive sample of 378 A&E children’s records, (b) a focus group with twelve A&E staff on the case study site and (c) another group with twelve members of the Local Operational Child Protection group. Colaizzi’s approach and the hermeneutic circle were the methods utilised to provide a rich description of the essential structure of the phenomenon. The results reveal that although written records are good tools for communication, records are not sufficiently child focused and risks factors are not always recognised. Consequently, the ability of the professional to provide information to safeguard children is limited. The data also highlights professional communication as the central theme, because this seemed to describe and unify the participants’ practices in a way that made sense. The findings of this study indicate that the behaviour of staff plays a crucial role in recording information. They are influenced by factors that are multi-faceted with the complexities of meanings that include social, economic, emotional, cultural, political and technical elements. A new theoretical framework to understand the complex interaction of professional perspectives within the varied situations that occur in clinical practice is proposed. This is underpinned by a constructivist epistemology. This provides an efficient method for evaluating the overall behaviour of the major components that affect documentation and communication, and highlights the recurring problems that arise from these areas when safeguarding children. Hence, this study provides an original contribution to knowledge concerning information sharing in the field of child protection. As a result of the findings of this study A&E records have been redesigned locally.

iv Abstract This research report compares what occupational therapists working at schools for learners with special educational needs (LSEN) think is important to record with what is recorded in the learners' occupational therapy files. Six clinical occupational therapists completed a questionnaire by grading items according to their level of importance in maintaining occupational therapy records. The researcher did an audit on 76 learners' occupational therapy files at four LSEN schools. The results indicated a vast discrepancy between what the occupational therapist viewed as important and what was actually recorded in the learners' files. The occupational therapists viewed most items as being very important to record (84.2%), yet the items were seldom recorded in the learners' files (33.3%). The researcher used the results to develop an adjusted checklist that could be used by occupational therapists at LSEN schools to audit their own records and as a guideline for record keeping.

Thesis (MBA.) --University of Limpopo, 2016 / This study mainly focuses on the negative factors that are affecting sound financial practices in the Greater Letaba Local municipality. Greater Letaba municipality fails to achieve a clean audit opinion because of a number of negative factors that affect its sound financial management practices. The municipality partially adheres to financial management policies and legislation which underpin good financial management practices, for example the Auditor General South Africa’s (AGSA) report reflects no adherence to Supply Chain Management (SCM) regulations and also to GRAP standards. These factors include poor record keeping, lack of accountability, none compliance to legislations and poor financial management activities and practices. Audit opinions are either regressing or remaining unchanged and a clean audit is still not achievable at this stage. The municipality’s audit opinion did not change in the past two financial years. The audit opinion remained qualified.The study employed a qualitative research approach whereby interviews wereconducted with Letaba Municipal Officials that are directly involved in financial management practices to collect data. Data were also collected through review of relevant and current literature in the topic under investigation. One of the major findings of the study is that there are a number of vacancies in the critical positions such as in the finance department. The other finding is that the employees do not implement the sound management practices that they are trained for.Therefore, this study recommends that strategies for effective financial management practices should be developed and implemented at Letaba Municipality. Furthermore it investigates the negative factors that are affecting sound financial management in the municipality.