Univ., Diss.--Zugl.: Tilburg, 2005. / Zsfassung in niederländ. Sprache.

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 54-74). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-92). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-97).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-92). Also available on the Internet.

Stuttgart, Univ., Fakultät Informatik, Diplomarb., 1998.

This qualitative study concerns the notion of being 'heard’, with a focus on the counselling relationship. The term ‘hearing’ is used as a metaphorical concept and its definition forms part of the investigation. The study initially focuses on the hard of hearing client and their position between the Deaf and hearing worlds. Hard of hearing people are viewed as an important client group whose needs are frequently overlooked. There is a review of the literature relevant to the hard of hearing individual and disability in the counselling relationship. This is followed by a broader consideration of the meaning of ‘hearing’. Included in this literature is ‘hearing’ from the perspective of developmental psychology relating to non-verbal communication, ‘hearing’ through language and ‘hearing’ the other. Following a methodological discussion, an adapted Foucauldian discourse analysis is applied to interview data from nine hard of hearing participants. The findings illustrate dominant discourses in action and also discourses of resistance. The dominant discourses suggest the power and politics involved in the counselling venture and the resistance shows the alternative subject positions the participants created and their agency in the process of being ‘heard’. Following this analysis, a discussion develops, which involves ideas around embodied and ethical 'hearing' in both the research process and within counselling. The study does not aim to provide any stability to the notion of ‘hearing’ in the counselling relationship, but contributes to the field of counselling psychology in creatively exploring the ambiguous term.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz Suarez / Optimum plant growth under field conditions requires adequate levels of essential nutrients. The objectives of this study were; i) to determine the effect of micronutrient fertilizer application on the concentration of macro and micronutrients in winter wheat plant tissue, and ii) investigate the relationship between soil test parameters and concentration of macro and micronutrients in plant tissue. The study was conducted at six locations in 2012 and 2013 in Kansas. The experimental design consisted of two treatments in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were applied in field-long strips approximately 364 meters (1,200 feet) long and a minimum of 12 meters (40 feet) wide. The treatments included a fertilized strip and a control strip. The study was initially established to evaluate micronutrients with no P, and K fertilizer applied. The fertilized strips included N, Zn, Mn, Cu (11.2 kgha⁻¹), and B (2.8 kgha⁻¹). Soil samples were collected at planting from points marked with flags located every 30 meters along each strip. Soil samples were collected at the 0 to 15-centimeter depth with 15-20 cores per sample from around each flag in about a five-meter radius. Tissue samples were also collected in a five-meter radius of each flag. Wheat flag leaves were collected at flowering with at least 30 leaves per sample. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, organic matter, soil test phosphorus, potassium, boron, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. Tissue samples were also analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. A complete analysis was done for each location as well as across all study locations using the Proc Mixed procedure in SAS. The micronutrient fertilizer application did not significantly (at P-value level <0.05) influenced tissue N, P, and K but increased S, Zn and Cu tissue concentration across all locations. Manganese tissue concentration was not affected by the application of Mn fertilizer application. Soil test Cu, Fe, and Mn showed good correlation with soil pH and soil test Zn with soil OM. However, only Cu and Mn in the wheat tissue show correlation to soil test for these nutrients. These results suggest that micronutrient concentration in the tissue is governed by multiple soil factors and only partially by DTPA extractable micronutrients. Results from this study also showed that tissue analysis could reflect fertilizer application and availability of micronutrients to the plant. However, there was significant variability in tissue analysis, likely affected by abiotic factors influencing plant nutrient uptake and concentration. While tissue analysis can help as diagnostic tool, producers should be aware of the limitations, and decisions on fertilizer recommendations cannot be based exclusively on tissue test.

M.Comm. / The primary objective of this dissertation is to perform an analysis of supplier relationship management practices in Eskom. Currently, Eskom is facing pertinent challenges such as a diminished reserve margin, increased unplanned generation plant outages as well as coal supply and quality constraints coupled with ever-rising primary energy costs. Since 1994, the demand for electricity has grown significantly on the back of robust economic growth. As a result, Eskom’s power system has an inadequate reserve margin which is at an all time low of around 8% and this does not compare well with the international standard of 15%. It is therefore evident that, as a national asset Eskom cannot overcome the current challenges successfully without strong partnerships with key suppliers. Impact of global expansion in the power sector has seen increased demand for utility specific commodities, and the resultant implication is the increased pressure on utilities to secure supply. Significant energy pressures are impacting on traditional procurement systems; as supply tightens it is vital for Eskom to intensify their efforts to build and sustain long-term collaborative relationships with key suppliers. With a more strategic view of procurement, companies are increasingly finding that different types of supplier relationships should be managed differently to achieve maximum value. Supplier relationship management has become increasingly sophisticated; buyer and supplier preferences are driven by circumstances in any relationship. The relationship portfolio analysis as explained by Cox, Sanderson and Watson (2000) demonstrates that buyer and supplier relationships centre on power, interdependence, and independence and they agree that relationships can be of an arms’ length, adversarial and collaborative nature depending on the power and style of management. Electricity is an important sector in the South African (SA) economy, despite its relatively small share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Eskom has a capital expenditure budget of R800-billion for the next 20 years (Venter, 2007). An overview of the electricity industry in SA covering key highlights on the evolution of thinking on energy developments in the country and the resultant implication for supplier relationship management is discussed. Eskom supplies about 95 percent of South i Africa's electricity, and the recent power crisis had far-reaching implications for the economy. Some economists say that Eskom’s power crisis could slice two percentage points off SA’s growth rate, sending it below 3% for the first time in a decade.

M.B.A. / Please refer to full text to view abstract