Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis focuses on the problem of knowledge retention and transfer in the face of the imminent retirement of experts, who are hard to replace for demographic or skill shortage reasons. Distinctions between technical, social and structural knowledge are made, and the theory on what makes knowledge “sticky” for transfer between generations of workers is reviewed. Thereafter, a case study of the knowledge retention situation at a public water utility is presented. In this regard, a large number of technical experts are due to retire within the next five years. Knowledge audit interviews were conducted with fifteen experts that have been with the organisation for most of their career and are due to retire soon. They were asked about what they considered to be their ‘hard to replace’ knowledge and professional networks, to what extent this could be captured or transferred, and what they considered to be the difficulties in terms of retaining this knowledge and these networks after their retirement. It was found that the motivation of experts to contribute to knowledge transfer and retention was low. This had to do with the perception that more junior members of the organisation are in any case likely to leave and with an organisational culture that was not supportive of knowledge transfer and retention activities. Moreover, a lack of knowledge leadership and formal knowledge management systems hindered knowledge transfer and retention practices. This study concludes that as far as the case in question is concerned, there is a need for a formal knowledge management system and strategy, and that top management commitment is critical for the success of knowledge transfer and retention. With regard to the theory of the stickiness of knowledge, the case study highlighted the importance of organisational culture and trust when it comes to the motivation of retiring experts to transfer their knowledge. It also emphasised that a silo-type organisational structure limits absorptive capacity, and that the social knowledge of professional networks, rather than technical knowledge, are the most difficult to retain. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis fokus op die problem van kennisbehoud en –oordrag teen die agtergrond van diensverlatende spesialiste wat moeilik vervangbaar is vanweë redes van demografie of vaardigheidtekort. Onderskeidinge word getref tussen tegniese, sosiale en strukturele kennis en ʼn oorsig word gegee van die teorie oor “klewende kennis” in die oordrag van kennis tussen generasies van werkers. Daarna word ʼ n gevallestudie van die kennisbehoudsituasie in ʼ n publieke waterverskaffer ondersoek. In hierdie geval sal ʼn groot getal tegniese spesialiste binne die volgende vyf jaar die organisasie se diens verlaat. ʼ n Kennis-oudit is met behulp van onderhoude met vyftien sulke spesialiste, wat die grootste deel van hulle loopbane by die onderneming werksaam was, onderneem. Hulle is uitgevra oor wat hulle sien as die kennis wat met hulle diensverlating vir die organisasie verlore sou gaan en omtrent die professionele netwerke wat hulle onderhou. Hulle is gevra tot watter mate hierdie twee kategorieë van kennis oordraagbaar is om so vir die organisasie behou te kan word en wat hulle reken die probleme is wat in die pad van kennisbehoud na hulle aftrede staan. Daar is bevind dat die spesialiste se motivering om by te dra tot kennisbehoud en –oordrag laag was. Dit het te make met die siening dat die jonger lede van die organisasie in elk geval die organisasie sou verlaat en met ʼn organisasie-kultuur wat nie kennisbehoud en –oordrag ondersteun nie. Verder is dit toe te skryf aan ʼn gebrek aan kennisleierskap en formele kennisbestuursisteme. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat sover dit die gevallestudie aangaan, ʼn formele kennisbestuurstelsel en –strategie krities is vir die sukses van kennisbehoud en –oordrag. Met betrekking tot die teorie oor klewende kennis het die gevallestudie die belang van organisasie kultuur en vertroue wanneer dit kom by die motivering van spesialiste om hulle kennis te deel belig. Dit het ook beklemtoon dat ʼn silo-gebaseerde organisasie kultuur die kennis absorpsie vermoë verlaag en dat die sosiale kennis van professionele netwerke moeiliker is as tegniese kennis om te behou.

Background: Occupational stress is a global and complex phenomenon, and workers in developing countries can be affected by it (International Labour Organisation 2001). Staff within maternity settings have been identified as being at risk of suffering from stress, resulting in adverse health outcomes (Evenden and Sharpe, 2002). However, MWAs’ perceptions of stress have not been captured and are not reflected in the literature. Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore MWAs’ perceptions of occupational stress, possible cause(s), the impact and support available and the coping methods they adopted within maternity care settings (hospital) in Nigeria. Methodology: This study adopted a qualitative methodology. Husserl’s (1962) phenomenological approach was chosen as it enabled the researcher to collect rich, in-depth, descriptive accounts of the MWAs’ perceptions of the phenomenon under study through the use of semi-structured interviews. Findings: The major sources of stress for MWAs included work overload, long working hours, staff shortages, work exploitation and intensification and lack of support from senior staff. The stress levels MWAs experienced impacted on their health and well-being and resulted in related behavioural and physical reactions. Conclusion: This study confirmed that MWAs were exposed to similar stress factors experienced by other health workers and reported in the research literature. Additionally, it demonstrated the need for more qualitative studies to explore the perceptions of occupational stress among under-represented groups of healthcare workers. Importantly, this study created an opportunity to explore the experience of dedicated women facing challenging employment practices in hospital settings in Nigeria. Equally, it gave a voice to these unrecognised, almost invisible women, who were the MWAs that played a key role within the maternity services.

As principais incapacidades funcionais que se observam após o Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE), sob o ponto de vista clínico, decorrem da hemiparesia, da incoordenação, da hipertonia espástica dos membros superior e inferior contralaterais à lesão e da fraqueza ipsilateral e contralateral ao hemisfério lesado. Evidências sugerem que o aprendizado e a realização de tarefas motoras de habilidade podem induzir mudanças comportamentais e neurofisiológicas, o que ocorre tanto em animais intactos quanto naqueles submetidos às lesões do SNC. Nesse sentido, alguns trabalhos evidenciam a participação da atividade dendrítica, observada pelo aumento da imunorreatividade a MAP2, induzida por experiências comportamentais. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o desempenho motor e a expressão da MAP2 no córtex motor primário, em ratos sham ou submetidos à HIC e aos treinamentos de habilidade do alcance (TH) ou ao treinamento de não-habilidade (TNH). Para tanto, ratos Wistar adultos foram inicialmente adaptados às diferentes tarefas motoras empregadas ao longo de três semanas, sendo, posteriormente, submetidos à cirurgia de indução da hemorragia intracerebral (HIC) por meio da administração intra-estriatal de colagenase tipo IV ou de veículo (animais Sham) (S). Em seguida, os animais dos grupos S_TH e HIC_TH foram submetidos ao treinamento da tarefa de habilidade do alcance e preensão, os animais dos grupos S_TNH e HIC_TNH foram submetidos ao treinamento da tarefa de não-habilidade e os animais S_ST e HIC_ST não receberam nenhum tipo de treinamento durante 4 semanas. Ao longo desse período, os animais foram testados pelo teste do Staircase quanto ao desempenho motor ao final da 2° e 4° semana de treinamento. Encerrado o período de treinamento, os animais foram profundamente anestesiados, perfundidos e tiveram seus encéfalos processados para a análise imunoistoquímica. Os resultados mostram que a realização da tarefa de habilidade do alcance e preensão foi capaz de aumentar a imunorreatividade da MAP2 no córtex motor primário (M1) em ambos os hemisférios, tanto em animais lesados quanto em animais não-lesados. Além disso, os animais HIC e HIC_TNH apresentaram também aumento da imunorreatividade à MAP2 em ambos os hemisférios. Porém, apenas os animais HIC_TH apresentaram recuperação funcional dos movimentos do membro anterior afetado, avaliados pelo teste comportamental. Concluindo, o presente estudo demonstra que o treino de habilidade induz plasticidade dendrítica no M1 em condições normalidade e lesão e, como estratégia de reabilitação, mostra-se superior ao treino de não-habilidade, na recuperação funcional do membro anterior após a HIC experimental. / Under clinical view, the main functional impairment observed after stroke is resulting from the hemiparesis, incoordination, spastic hypertonia and from ipsilateral and contralateral weakness . Evidences suggest that learning and achievement of motor tasks ability may induce behavioral and neurophysiological changes, which occur in both intact and injured animals. Accordingly, some studies reveal the participation of dendritic activity, observed by increasing the immunoreactivity to MAP2, induced by behavioral experiences. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the motor performance and the expression of MAP2 in primary motor cortex (M1), in rats submitted or not to the IHC and rehabilitation using skilled (SK) or unskilled (US) training. Animals were initially adapted to different motor tasks employed over three weeks, and, subsequently, submitted to surgery for the induction of intracerebral hemorrhage (IHC) by means of administration of bacterial collagenase type IV or vehicle (animals Sham) (S) into the striatum . Then, animals in groups S_SK and IHC_SK were submitted to the training skilled forelimb reaching, animals in groups S_US and IHC_US were submitted to the training unskilled and animals S and HIC received no type of training during 4 weeks. Throughout that period, the reaching ability was tested using the Staircase test at the end of 2nd and 4thweek of training. At the end of the rehabilitation period, animals were deeply anesthetized, perfused and the immunohistochemistry was processed. Results show that the achievement of the task skilled forelimb reaching was able to increase the MAP2 immunoreactivity in primary motor cortex (M1) in both hemispheres, both in injured animals as in intact animals. In addition, animals form IHC and IHC_US groups also presented increased immunoreactivity to MAP2 in both cerebral hemispheres. However, only IHC_SK animals presented functional recovery of movements of the forelimb, evaluated by test behavioral. In conclusion, this study shows that training of skills tasks can induce modifications in M1 under conditions of normality and lesion and, as a strategy of rehabilitation, induced higher plasticity than the unskilled training correlated with functional recovery of the forelimb after IHC experimental.

O presente estudo insere-se no debate sobre a formação, atração e retenção de trabalhadores qualificados, tomando-se como referências as contribuições da Nova Sociologia Econômica (NSE) e do Neoinstitucionalismo Sociológico. Com a prospecção de petróleo na camada do pré-sal, o Polo Naval de Rio Grande tornou-se uma fonte de análise da adequação do Brasil ao novo paradigma econômico. A fabricação e montagem de plataformas para a extração de petróleo e a produção de embarcações requerem um novo conjunto de fornecedores de bens e serviços de alta tecnologia e recursos humanos qualificados. A partir do aumento da demanda por esses trabalhadores e dos incentivos governamentais para qualificação profissional, o estudo propõe-se a analisar como essas oportunidades repercutem nos interesses e expectativas de engenheiros (graduados e em formação) do Polo Naval de Rio Grande. Foi realizado um esforço de integração entre as análises quantitativa e qualitativa. Os dados da RAIS/MTE mostraram que a implementação de um Polo Naval no município de Rio Grande criou oportunidades para os trabalhadores vinculados ao setor de construção naval, especialmente aos engenheiros. As 12 entrevistas realizadas com engenheiros localizados em empresas inseridas na cadeia da construção naval demonstraram que, embora as oportunidades profissionais surgidas no Polo Naval exerçam grande importância nas decisões profissionais desses trabalhadores, não são suficientes para determinar sua ida e permanência em Rio Grande. As decisões desses profissionais são fortemente influenciadas por fatores não econômicos, como a idade, qualidade de vida e proximidade da família. / This present study composes the debate about formation, attraction and retention of skilled workers, taking as references the contributions of the New Economic Sociology and of the Sociological New Institutionalism. With the prospecting of oil in the Pre-salt layer, the Naval Pole of Rio Grande has become a source for analysis regarding the adaptation of Brazil in the new economic paradigm. The manufacturing and assembly of platforms for the extraction of oil and the production of vessels require a new set of providers of goods and high-technology services and skilled human resources. Based on the increasing of demand for these type of workers and for government incentives, this paper intends to analyze how these opportunities reflect on the interests and expectations of engineers (graduate and undergraduate) from the Naval Pole of Rio Grande. It was taken an effort to integrate the qualitative and the quantitative analysis. Data from RAIS/MTE show that the implementation of a Naval Pole in the city of Rio Grande originated opportunities for the workers linked to the shipbuilding industry, specially engineers. The 12 interviews made with engineers from the companies that are part of the shipbuilding chain expressed that, tough the professional opportunities emerged from the Naval Pole have great importance on their decisions, they are not enough to determine their moving and stay in Rio Grande. The decisions of these professionals are strongly influenced by non-economical factors, such as age, welfare, and family ties.

Nowadays, no successful organization can do without effective human resource management. Proper selection of employees, their evaluation, motivation, remuneration and care of them increases the competitiveness of the entire organizations, so it is very important to pay attention to all personnel activities in the organization. The aim of my thesis is to evaluate individual areas of human resource management in a selected organization and based on the analysis and evaluation of the current situation of the organization to suggest changes to improve the current state of human resource management. For the practical part I chose the joint-stock company Zemědělské služby Dynín. I used the form of a structured interview with the human resources officer. In the practical part, I first characterized the entire organization Zemědělské služby Dynín a.s., then I described the specific human resource management areas of the selected organization on the basis of the data from interviews with the human resources officer of the organization. Then, a questionnaire survey was carried out to gain the necessary views of employees on all areas of human resource management in the selected organization. After processing and analyzing the obtained information, I finally evaluated the state of human resource management in the organization and suggested several solutions to improve the current state that could be put into practice.

As principais incapacidades funcionais que se observam após o Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE), sob o ponto de vista clínico, decorrem da hemiparesia, da incoordenação, da hipertonia espástica dos membros superior e inferior contralaterais à lesão e da fraqueza ipsilateral e contralateral ao hemisfério lesado. Evidências sugerem que o aprendizado e a realização de tarefas motoras de habilidade podem induzir mudanças comportamentais e neurofisiológicas, o que ocorre tanto em animais intactos quanto naqueles submetidos às lesões do SNC. Nesse sentido, alguns trabalhos evidenciam a participação da atividade dendrítica, observada pelo aumento da imunorreatividade a MAP2, induzida por experiências comportamentais. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o desempenho motor e a expressão da MAP2 no córtex motor primário, em ratos sham ou submetidos à HIC e aos treinamentos de habilidade do alcance (TH) ou ao treinamento de não-habilidade (TNH). Para tanto, ratos Wistar adultos foram inicialmente adaptados às diferentes tarefas motoras empregadas ao longo de três semanas, sendo, posteriormente, submetidos à cirurgia de indução da hemorragia intracerebral (HIC) por meio da administração intra-estriatal de colagenase tipo IV ou de veículo (animais Sham) (S). Em seguida, os animais dos grupos S_TH e HIC_TH foram submetidos ao treinamento da tarefa de habilidade do alcance e preensão, os animais dos grupos S_TNH e HIC_TNH foram submetidos ao treinamento da tarefa de não-habilidade e os animais S_ST e HIC_ST não receberam nenhum tipo de treinamento durante 4 semanas. Ao longo desse período, os animais foram testados pelo teste do Staircase quanto ao desempenho motor ao final da 2° e 4° semana de treinamento. Encerrado o período de treinamento, os animais foram profundamente anestesiados, perfundidos e tiveram seus encéfalos processados para a análise imunoistoquímica. Os resultados mostram que a realização da tarefa de habilidade do alcance e preensão foi capaz de aumentar a imunorreatividade da MAP2 no córtex motor primário (M1) em ambos os hemisférios, tanto em animais lesados quanto em animais não-lesados. Além disso, os animais HIC e HIC_TNH apresentaram também aumento da imunorreatividade à MAP2 em ambos os hemisférios. Porém, apenas os animais HIC_TH apresentaram recuperação funcional dos movimentos do membro anterior afetado, avaliados pelo teste comportamental. Concluindo, o presente estudo demonstra que o treino de habilidade induz plasticidade dendrítica no M1 em condições normalidade e lesão e, como estratégia de reabilitação, mostra-se superior ao treino de não-habilidade, na recuperação funcional do membro anterior após a HIC experimental. / Under clinical view, the main functional impairment observed after stroke is resulting from the hemiparesis, incoordination, spastic hypertonia and from ipsilateral and contralateral weakness . Evidences suggest that learning and achievement of motor tasks ability may induce behavioral and neurophysiological changes, which occur in both intact and injured animals. Accordingly, some studies reveal the participation of dendritic activity, observed by increasing the immunoreactivity to MAP2, induced by behavioral experiences. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the motor performance and the expression of MAP2 in primary motor cortex (M1), in rats submitted or not to the IHC and rehabilitation using skilled (SK) or unskilled (US) training. Animals were initially adapted to different motor tasks employed over three weeks, and, subsequently, submitted to surgery for the induction of intracerebral hemorrhage (IHC) by means of administration of bacterial collagenase type IV or vehicle (animals Sham) (S) into the striatum . Then, animals in groups S_SK and IHC_SK were submitted to the training skilled forelimb reaching, animals in groups S_US and IHC_US were submitted to the training unskilled and animals S and HIC received no type of training during 4 weeks. Throughout that period, the reaching ability was tested using the Staircase test at the end of 2nd and 4thweek of training. At the end of the rehabilitation period, animals were deeply anesthetized, perfused and the immunohistochemistry was processed. Results show that the achievement of the task skilled forelimb reaching was able to increase the MAP2 immunoreactivity in primary motor cortex (M1) in both hemispheres, both in injured animals as in intact animals. In addition, animals form IHC and IHC_US groups also presented increased immunoreactivity to MAP2 in both cerebral hemispheres. However, only IHC_SK animals presented functional recovery of movements of the forelimb, evaluated by test behavioral. In conclusion, this study shows that training of skills tasks can induce modifications in M1 under conditions of normality and lesion and, as a strategy of rehabilitation, induced higher plasticity than the unskilled training correlated with functional recovery of the forelimb after IHC experimental.

abstract: Engagement as a concept and emerging theory has been explored, but key elements have not been clearly described, and as such, work has not been comprehensive in nature. Research was needed to explore the concept and theory of engagement in general, as well its application to the study of volunteer tourism. Additional research was also needed to incorporate youth perspectives of a volunteer tourism program, along with exploration of engagement impacts on program youth. The purpose of this case study was to explore participant engagement in a volunteer tourism youth education program and impacts on program youth as perceived by program participants (volunteer tourist teachers, adult residents, and program youth). Confined within the Engagement Theoretical Framework, data were retrieved from nonprofit documents and websites, researcher observations, individual interviews, and focus groups (two focus groups used participant generated photo elicitation method). Findings suggest participant engagement in a volunteer tourism program is related to the themes of connection, communication, and hope. The primary reason participant engagement in this program is due to the Mpingo (tree), the symbolic bridge between community members and volunteer tourist teachers. This culturally relevant symbol has linkages to the study of signs (or symbols) called semiotics. Through volunteers traveling to this area to teach, this culturally relevant symbol helps to connect, aids in the communication between, and gives hope to, participants. Significant contributions of this study to literature include: volunteer tourist and community member engagement plays an important role in the planning, and the sustaining, of volunteer tourism community development programs today; program youth perspectives about program impacts may result in prospective youth leadership and future adult civic engagement; program skill matched volunteers are likely to be repeat volunteers which leads to group cohesion and program sustainability; and the major theme of hope appears to be a significant motive for program participation in a community development project. In terms of deep meaning ascribed to culturally relevant symbols, this unique finding contributes to engagement research by understanding there are multiple dimensions involved in a diverse group of participants engaged in a specific community program. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Community Resources and Development 2018

L'économie mondiale actuelle est marquée par une forte rivalité entre États. Ces derniers se doivent ainsi d'être le plus compétitifs possible. Dans ce contexte, l'immigration économique a indéniablement un rôle à jouer. Elle peut en effet donner au marché du travail le personnel dont il a besoin, que ce soit en matière de travailleurs hautement qualifiés ou uniquement pour faire face à des pénuries de main-d'œuvre. Par conséquent, l'Union européenne et ses États membres se doivent d'agir afin de se montrer attractifs en matière de recrutement de travailleurs extracommunautaires. À la suite du livre vert de 2005 sur la gestion des migrations économiques, l'Union a fait le choix de se focaliser sur des directives sectorielles relatives à l'admission de certaines catégories de travailleurs extracommunautaires. La directive majeure qui en est ressortie est celle relative à l'admission des travailleurs hautement qualifiés. En agissant de la sorte, l'Union a souhaité rivaliser avec les autres pôles d'attraction de main-d'œuvre que sont notamment les États-Unis. Dans cette perspective, l'Union a-t-elle réussi son pari ? En outre, la question de l'immigration économique renvoie immanquablement au statut des travailleurs extracommunautaires. Ces deux notions sont d'ailleurs étroitement liées. Il ne saurait être question de statut s'il n'y avait pas eu immigration. À l'inverse, il ne pourrait y avoir d'immigration en l'absence d'un statut avantageux pour le migrant. Les États souhaitant développer l'immigration du travail se doivent ainsi de garantir un ensemble de droits protecteurs aux travailleurs extracommunautaires. Le statut revêt en effet une importance capitale dans le choix d'une destination. Partant de là, quel est le statut réservé aux travailleurs extracommunautaires au sein de l'Union ? / The present global economy is characterized by a strong rivalry between States. Therefore they have to be the most competitive they can be. In this context, there is no doubt the economic immigration has a role to play. It can indeed give needed workers to the labour market, whether concerning highly qualified workers or only in order to answer labour shortage. As a result, European Union and its Members States must behave in order to seem attractive regarding the recruitment of extra community workers. After the 2005 green paper on an approach to managing economic migration, the Union chose to focus itself on sectoral directives regarding the admission of some categories of extra community workers. The major directive that came out is the one dealing with the admission of highly skilled workers. By doing so, the Union wished to compete with the other attracting labour poles such as the United States for example. From this point of view, did the Union succeed ? Furthermore, the question of economic immigration inevitably refers to the extra community workers status. In fact, these two notions are highly connected. We would not talk about status if there were no immigration. On the contrary, immigration could not be possible without a favourable status for the migrant. The States which want to encourage economic immigration must guarantee a package of rights protecting extra community workers. This is why the status is really important in choosing a destination. Hence, what is the status reserved for extra community workers within the Union ?

Thesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / As global and national markets become more competitive, businesses are forced to become more adaptable and the public service is by no means exempt from this phenomenon. Owing to a dynamic and ever-changing work environment, it is necessary for public servant employees to continuously update their knowledge and skills. However, in most organisations, the impact of training and development programmes are undermined. The value placed on increasing knowledge and skills is limited to attending a training programme. As a result, the newly acquired information and competencies are very seldom transferred from the classroom to the workplace and without a definite increase in performance and in service delivery; the contribution of actual learning is questionable. This research study therefore uses the Integrated Integrated Human Resource Administration and Persal (IHRAP) Programme (presented by the Western Cape Provincial Training Institute) to gauge the importance of post training evaluation and the benefits that can be derived from it, both for the department and the employee. In addition, the study evaluates whether the participants of the training programme are able to apply concepts and techniques learned in the classroom. It focuses specifically on human resource employees employed within the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, who is responsible for performing a number of different human resource functions. A survey was conducted amongst the participants of the IHRAP programme using a research questionnaire. After the results of the survey were collected and analysed, the researcher was able to determine where there were gaps in the post training evaluation process. Several recommendations are made to bridge these gaps and in doing so, enable the training programme to have a greater impact on the participants and in the workplace. In addition to evaluating the IHRAP programme, the need for continuous improvement in skills will always be essential, but departments must create the opportunities for participants to exercise these acquired skills effectively.

O presente estudo insere-se no debate sobre a formação, atração e retenção de trabalhadores qualificados, tomando-se como referências as contribuições da Nova Sociologia Econômica (NSE) e do Neoinstitucionalismo Sociológico. Com a prospecção de petróleo na camada do pré-sal, o Polo Naval de Rio Grande tornou-se uma fonte de análise da adequação do Brasil ao novo paradigma econômico. A fabricação e montagem de plataformas para a extração de petróleo e a produção de embarcações requerem um novo conjunto de fornecedores de bens e serviços de alta tecnologia e recursos humanos qualificados. A partir do aumento da demanda por esses trabalhadores e dos incentivos governamentais para qualificação profissional, o estudo propõe-se a analisar como essas oportunidades repercutem nos interesses e expectativas de engenheiros (graduados e em formação) do Polo Naval de Rio Grande. Foi realizado um esforço de integração entre as análises quantitativa e qualitativa. Os dados da RAIS/MTE mostraram que a implementação de um Polo Naval no município de Rio Grande criou oportunidades para os trabalhadores vinculados ao setor de construção naval, especialmente aos engenheiros. As 12 entrevistas realizadas com engenheiros localizados em empresas inseridas na cadeia da construção naval demonstraram que, embora as oportunidades profissionais surgidas no Polo Naval exerçam grande importância nas decisões profissionais desses trabalhadores, não são suficientes para determinar sua ida e permanência em Rio Grande. As decisões desses profissionais são fortemente influenciadas por fatores não econômicos, como a idade, qualidade de vida e proximidade da família. / This present study composes the debate about formation, attraction and retention of skilled workers, taking as references the contributions of the New Economic Sociology and of the Sociological New Institutionalism. With the prospecting of oil in the Pre-salt layer, the Naval Pole of Rio Grande has become a source for analysis regarding the adaptation of Brazil in the new economic paradigm. The manufacturing and assembly of platforms for the extraction of oil and the production of vessels require a new set of providers of goods and high-technology services and skilled human resources. Based on the increasing of demand for these type of workers and for government incentives, this paper intends to analyze how these opportunities reflect on the interests and expectations of engineers (graduate and undergraduate) from the Naval Pole of Rio Grande. It was taken an effort to integrate the qualitative and the quantitative analysis. Data from RAIS/MTE show that the implementation of a Naval Pole in the city of Rio Grande originated opportunities for the workers linked to the shipbuilding industry, specially engineers. The 12 interviews made with engineers from the companies that are part of the shipbuilding chain expressed that, tough the professional opportunities emerged from the Naval Pole have great importance on their decisions, they are not enough to determine their moving and stay in Rio Grande. The decisions of these professionals are strongly influenced by non-economical factors, such as age, welfare, and family ties.