Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Master's Degree in Technology: Quality in the Department of Operations and Quality Management, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / Over the past ten years, intense global competition, changing customer needs and the changing business environment have forced many organisations to examine their organisational goals and to re-evaluate how to meet their challenges. Extreme global competition has forced many organisations to develop action plans to respond to an increasingly competitive market. One such action plan identified was the integration of quality practices and principles with strategic planning of the organisation. This research investigated the importance and usefulness of integrating quality practices in the strategic management process of organisations in the Printing and Packaging industry in the Ethekweni Municipality. This study included a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods. The review of literature represented the qualitative research method, acknowledged the importance of, and advantages and disadvantages of integrating quality practices with the strategic management process. It also identified selected quality practices that can improve the strategic planning process. The quantitative method included a preliminary study and a main study. The preliminary study was conducted using questionnaires and interviews consisting of 10 and 5 organisations respectively. The main study consisted of questionnaires administered to 30 organisations. The results of the pilot study showed that although many organisations were aware of the integration, they did not have the support from employees, nor the time to implement it. The main study indicated that the majority of the organisations integrated the two practices. 97% of the organisations found that this integration was difficult initially, but with some perseverance achieved success, while 3% of the organisations did not implement the integration. The latter are now considering the integration process. Hence, it can be accepted that the integration of quality practices within the strategic management process has directed the organisation toward continuous improvement, a competitive advantage, a greater market share and sustainability, greater customer satisfaction and increased profitability and sales.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

The use of a Nazarov cyclization for the diastereoselective synthesis of rocaglamide was studied. Chapter 1 discusses the biological activity of the rocaglamide family of natural products and details the previous synthetic work on these compounds. Chapter 2 discusses the approaches taken in the Magnus group for the total synthesis of rocaglamide. Several approaches to the natural product were undertaken. Using a novel acid bromide induced Nazarov cyclization, construction of the C-ring of the natural product was achieved. Attempts to construct the remainder of rocaglamide were ultimately unsuccessful. / text

The hasubanan alkaloid cepharatine A, was efficiently synthesized in 8 steps from commercially available starting materials in overall 16% yield. Highlighted in this synthesis, is a tandem phenolic alkylation – annulation which formed both a quaternary center as well as an unsaturated ring. This key step allowed for rapid construction of the core of the molecule. Subsequent reductive amination and acid catalyzed cyclization afforded the title compound. / text

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Strategies to synthesize the natural product maoecrystal V have been investigated. The initial strategy involved a tandem Michael-aldol reaction to form the [2.2.2] bicyclic core of maoecrystal V. This proposed route was not successful. A modified route to maoecrystal V, inspired by studies on the aldol ring closure reactions, enabled the synthesis of a complex intermediate that allowed for the formation of the core structure. Further elaboration of this key intermediate afforded the methodology to form four of the five rings in maoecrystal V. Additionally, this key intermediate allowed for further modifications that can potentially be an entry point toward an enantioselective synthesis of maoecrystal V that intersects with the initial synthesis of the racemic compound.

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