<p>There have been few efforts to evaluate the actual and perceived effectiveness of environmental management programs created by consensus-based, multi-stakeholder negotiation or negotiated rulemaking. Previous evaluations have used perceived success among participants as a proxy for actual effectiveness, but seldom have investigated the ecological outcomes of these negotiations. Fewer still, if any, have compared the actual and perceived outcomes. Here I evaluate and compare the social and ecological outcomes of the negotiated rulemaking process of marine mammal take reduction planning. Take reduction planning is mandated by the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to reduce the fisheries-related serious injuries and mortalities of marine mammals (bycatch) in U.S. waters to below statutory thresholds. Teams of fishermen, environmentalists, researchers, state and federal managers, and members of Regional Fisheries Management Councils and Commissions create consensus-based rules to mitigate bycatch, called Take Reduction Plans. There are six active Take Reduction Plans, one Take Reduction Strategy consisting of voluntary measures, and one plan that was never implemented. It has been 20 years since marine mammal take reduction planning was incorporated into the MMPA. Early evaluations were promising, but identified several challenges. In the past decade or more, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has implemented measures to set up the teams for success.</p><p>I used data from formal Stock Assessment Reports to assess and rank the actual ecological success of five Take Reduction Plans (Harbor Porpoise, Bottlenose Dolphin, Atlantic Large Whale, Pelagic Longline, and Pacific Offshore Cetacean) in mitigating the bycatch of 17 marine mammal stocks. In addition, I employed social science data collection and analytical methods to evaluate Take Reduction Team participants' opinions of the take reduction negotiation process, outputs, and outcomes with respect to the ingredients required for successful multi-stakeholder, consensus-based negotiation (team membership, shared learning, repeated interactions, facilitated meetings, and consensus-based outputs). These methods included surveying and interviewing current and former Take Reduction Team participants; using Structural Equation Models (SEMs) and qualitative methods to characterize participant perceptions across teams and stakeholder groups; and identifying and exploring the reasons for similarities and differences among respondents, teams, and stakeholder groups. I also employed SEMs to quantitatively examine the relationship between actual and perceived ecological success, and contrasted actual and perceived outcomes by comparing their qualitative rankings.</p><p>Structural Equation Models provided a valid framework in which to quantitatively examine social and ecological data, in which the actual ecological outcomes were used as independent predictors of the perceived outcomes. Actual improvements in marine mammal bycatch enhanced stakeholder opinions about the effectiveness of marine mammal Take Reduction Plans. The marine mammal take reduction planning process has all of the ingredients necessary for effective consensus-based, multi-stakeholder negotiations (Chapter 2). It is likely that the emphasis that the National Marine Fisheries Service places on empirical information and keeping stakeholders informed about bycatch, marine mammal stocks, and fisheries facilitated this relationship. Informed stakeholders also had relatively accurate perceptions of the actual ecological effectiveness of the Take Reduction Plans (Chapter 3). The long timeframes over which the teams have been meeting generally have increased cooperation. The professionally trained, neutral facilitators have produced fair negotiations, in which most individuals felt they had an opportunity to contribute. Participant views of fairness significantly influenced their satisfaction with Take Reduction Plans, which significantly affected their perceptions about the effectiveness of those plans (Chapter 2). The mandate to create a consensus-based output has, for the most part, minimized defections from the negotiations and facilitated stakeholder buy-in. </p><p>In general, marine mammal take reduction planning is a good negotiated rulemaking process, but has produced mixed results (Chapters 1 and 2). Successful plans were characterized by straightforward regulations and high rates of compliance. Unsuccessful plans had low compliance with complex regulations and sometimes focused on very small stocks. Large teams and those in the northeastern U.S. (Maine to North Carolina) were least successful at reducing bycatch, which was reflected in stakeholder views of the effectiveness of these teams. Take Reduction Team negotiations have not always produced practical or enforceable regulations. Implementation of take reduction regulations is critical in determining plan success and identifying effective mitigation measures, but because of a lack of monitoring, has not been characterized consistently across most teams. Additionally, elements like the "Other Special Measures Provision" in the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan have undermined the negotiation process by allowing the National Marine Fisheries Service to alter consensus-based elements without consensus from the team, which has led to hostility, mistrust, and frustration among stakeholders. </p><p>The final chapter of this dissertation provides recommendations to improve the outcomes and make them more consistent across teams. I based these recommendations on the information gathered and analyzed in the first three chapters. They are grouped into four broad categories - team membership, social capital, fairness, and plan implementation. If the National Marine Fisheries Service implements these suggestions, both perceived and actual ecological effectiveness of marine mammal Take Reduction Teams should improve, allowing these teams to fulfill their maximum potential.</p> / Dissertation

A comprehensive set of experimental and numerical comparisons of the performance of two self-reacting point absorber wave energy converter (WEC) designs is undertaken in typical operating conditions. The designs are either currently, or have recently been, under development for commercialization. The experiments consist of a series of 1:25 scale model tests to quantify hydrodynamic parameters, motion dynamics, and power conversion. Each WEC is given a uniquely optimized power take off damping level. For hydrodynamic parameter identification, an optimization based method to simultaneously extract Morison drag and Coulomb friction coefficients from decay tests of under-damped, floating bodies is developed. The physical model features a re-configurable reacting body shape, a feedback controlled power take-off, a heave motion constraint system, and a mooring apparatus. A theoretical upper bound on power conversion for single body WECs, called Budal's upper bound, is extended to two body WECs. The numerical analyses are done in three phases. In the first phase, the WECs are constrained to heave motion and subjected to monochromatic waves. Quantitative comparisons are made of the WEC designs in terms of heave motion dynamics and power conversion with reference to theoretical upper bounds. Design implications of a reactive power take-off control scheme and relative motion constraints on the wave energy converters are investigated using an experimentally validated, frequency domain, numerical dynamics model. In the second phase, the WECs are constrained to heave motion and subjected to panchromatic waves. A time domain numerical model, validated by the experimental results, is used to compare the WECs in terms of power matrices, capture width matrices, and mean annual energy production. Results indicate that the second WEC design can convert 30% more energy, on average, than the first design given the conditions at a representative location near the West coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. In the last phase, the WECs are held with three legged, horizontal, moorings and subjected to monochromatic waves. Numerical simulations using panelized body geometries for calculations of Froude-Krylov, Morison drag, and hydrostatic loads are developed in ProteusDS. The simulation results---mechanical power, mooring forces, and dynamic motions---are compared to model test results. The moored WEC designs exhibit power conversion consistent with heave motion constrained results in some wave conditions. However, large pitch and roll motions severely degrade the power conversion of each WEC at wave frequencies equal to twice the pitch natural frequency. Using simulations, vertical stabilizing strakes, attached to the reacting bodies of the WECs are shown to increase the average power conversion up to 190% compared to the average power conversion of the WECs without strakes. / Graduate / scottb@uvic.ca

In this thesis, we explore determinants of Canadian workers’ job-related education and training take-ups by using the 2008 Access and Support to Education and Training Survey (ASETS). We implement three models, OLS, probit and logit. Regression results show that the three models produce similar and generally consistent estimates. We find systematic patterns across demographic groups in relation to job-related education and training. Most of our findings, such as the e?ect of age and education, are consistent with previous research. We also find two new influential factors, namely, individuals’ computer ability and their information search behavior, which are critical in determining job-related education and training take-ups. This new finding not only further completes the image of job-related education or training take-ups, but also suggests that government, educational institutions and employers invest more resources into internet to e?ectively promote job-related education and training.

För att Swepart Transmission AB ska fortsätta att hålla en hög standard på produkter som levereras till kunder, ska monteringslinan för Power Take-Off säkras. Budgeten som är avsatt till att kvalitetssäkra monteringslinan är 500 000 kr. Pick-to-Light och Pick-to-Voice är system som kan användas för att kvalitetssäkra monteringen av Power Take-Off. Systemen jämfördes med systemet med monteringskort som används i nuläget. Det mest lämpliga att införa har visat sig vara Pick-to-Light. I samband med införandet av detta system måste utredningar göras för vilka komponenter som behöver sensorer och vilka som kan säkras på andra sätt. Detta arbete innefattar också att utreda placeringen av komponenter som är optimalt för monteringen.

The research study departs from the, angle that heads of department occupy an important position at the interface of management and delivery of education. Their functions range from teaching to managing the school's departments in a diligent way. It was assumed that failure for heads of department to be part of the leadership in the school and at the same time manage their department and engage in teaching duties would result in a school becoming dysfunctional. A literature study was conducted to explore the leadership and management functions of the heads of department and to investigate the specific challenges facing heads of department in technical high schools. The empirical research consisted of a questionnaire survey to determine the views of the heads of department on their management and leadership functions and the challenges they experience in executing their tasks. It involved 75 heads of department in 13 Technical High School in the North West Province. The major findings of the research study reveal that heads of department experience challenges with a heavy workload, find it difficult to strike a balance between teaching duties and management duties and also face challenges in executing their functions even if a job description exists. It was also revealed that respondents strongly agree with the African cultural perspective concerning the ideal leadership characteristics of heads of department. Generally the study indicated that heads of department require training aimed at meeting the specific needs of middle managers. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The research study departs from the, angle that heads of department occupy an important position at the interface of management and delivery of education. Their functions range from teaching to managing the school's departments in a diligent way. It was assumed that failure for heads of department to be part of the leadership in the school and at the same time manage their department and engage in teaching duties would result in a school becoming dysfunctional. A literature study was conducted to explore the leadership and management functions of the heads of department and to investigate the specific challenges facing heads of department in technical high schools. The empirical research consisted of a questionnaire survey to determine the views of the heads of department on their management and leadership functions and the challenges they experience in executing their tasks. It involved 75 heads of department in 13 Technical High School in the North West Province. The major findings of the research study reveal that heads of department experience challenges with a heavy workload, find it difficult to strike a balance between teaching duties and management duties and also face challenges in executing their functions even if a job description exists. It was also revealed that respondents strongly agree with the African cultural perspective concerning the ideal leadership characteristics of heads of department. Generally the study indicated that heads of department require training aimed at meeting the specific needs of middle managers. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The performance of the power take-off (PTO) system for a wave energy converter (WEC) depends largely on its control algorithm. This paper presents an adaptive damping control algorithm that improves power capture across a range of sea states. Validation for the numerical model was performed using data from two sources; sea trail data of a 1:7 scaled model and tank testing data from a 1:33 scaled model. The comparison between this control algorithm and other active control approaches such as linear damping is presented. Short term wave elevation forecasting methods and wave period determination methods are also discussed as requirements for this method. This research is conducted for a novel point absorber WEC, developed by Columbia Power Technologies (COLUMBIA POWER). / Graduation date: 2012

Bibliography: leaves 141-145 / vii, 145 leaves, [4] leaves of plates : ill. (4 col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Plant Pathology and Agronomy, 1986

This thesis studies the development of the decision-making style at Thailand’s Siam City Cement Public Company Limited (SCCC). The research reviewed the literature, including parent and immediate disciplines. The parent discipline was divided into disciplines 1, 2 and 3. Discipline 1 covered the concept of decision-making and its process. It also assessed types of decisions and summarised the model of decision-making. Discipline 2 looked at organisational structure, decision-making and the locus of decision-making. Finally, discipline 3 focused on group decision-making, group consideration in decision-making and enhancing the group decision-making process. In the immediate discipline, the key elements that influence Thai’s decision-making styles were discussed. This encompassed Thai societal and cultural characteristics, Hierarchy, organisational characteristics and decision-making. Moreover, research gaps were also explored and the study then proposed four research propositions. The propositions included directing SCCC to develop an appropriate decision-making style based on the group decision-making strategy. The analysis undertaken was qualitative and employed a case study methodology. The data was collected in SCCC’s Bangkok office between May and September 2002. Data collection was carried out using the Triangulation method. This method employs multiple sources of evidence, including personal interviews, direct and participant observations, documentation and obtaining archival records. The findings confirmed that group decisionmaking should be adopted to enhance the effectiveness of decision-making and efficiency within the firm. Recommendations were also provided for improving practices at the individual, department and organisational level. Finally, contributions to the knowledge, research limitations and areas for further research were discussed.

This thesis studies the development of the decision-making style at Thailand’s Siam City Cement Public Company Limited (SCCC). The research reviewed the literature, including parent and immediate disciplines. The parent discipline was divided into disciplines 1, 2 and 3. Discipline 1 covered the concept of decision-making and its process. It also assessed types of decisions and summarised the model of decision-making. Discipline 2 looked at organisational structure, decision-making and the locus of decision-making. Finally, discipline 3 focused on group decision-making, group consideration in decision-making and enhancing the group decision-making process. In the immediate discipline, the key elements that influence Thai’s decision-making styles were discussed. This encompassed Thai societal and cultural characteristics, Hierarchy, organisational characteristics and decision-making. Moreover, research gaps were also explored and the study then proposed four research propositions. The propositions included directing SCCC to develop an appropriate decision-making style based on the group decision-making strategy. The analysis undertaken was qualitative and employed a case study methodology. The data was collected in SCCC’s Bangkok office between May and September 2002. Data collection was carried out using the Triangulation method. This method employs multiple sources of evidence, including personal interviews, direct and participant observations, documentation and obtaining archival records. The findings confirmed that group decisionmaking should be adopted to enhance the effectiveness of decision-making and efficiency within the firm. Recommendations were also provided for improving practices at the individual, department and organisational level. Finally, contributions to the knowledge, research limitations and areas for further research were discussed.