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The petroleum retailing industry in Malaysia has long been established since after World War two. The business environment of petroleum retailing industry is very much difficult with issues such as eroding real margins and rising costs that impact on the industry. The Malaysian petroleum retailing industry is a regulated industry and operating costs have been increasing for time to time. The automatic pricing mechanism was established in 1983 and the margins which were set by the government have never changed. However, the industry has grown and the market continues to be very competitive. The operators or dealers of service stations are required to do something in the market in order to survive in the industry. There are many factors can influencing the performance and/or productivity in this industry. The owners or managers should have to know and identify the external and internal environments which can dictate or affect their operations. Based on the external and internal environmental factors, two groups 0f variables were chosen from both factors to investigate the effect and impact of these factors on the industry. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase of the study, the researcher analyzed the common problems areas and the techniques used to approach these problems by service station owners and managers. With the initial stage completed, the researchers utilized this information in attempting to identify a methodology for analyzing performance and productivity of service stations. In the second phase of the study, the survey with structured questionnaire was done in southern part Of Peninsular Malaysia. The results of this research, mainly based on the study of the performance and productivity show that both internal (in this study represented by owner/manager and store characteristics) and external (represented by location and competitive characteristics) environmental variables played the significant roles in performance and productivity of service stations in Malaysia. Interestingly, while both internal and external environmental variables are significantly related to performance, only internal environmental variables can predict the productivity. In other words, internal environmental variables are better predictors of performance than productivity by service stations in this industry. Beside that, the study also found. that there is a differences between owner and manager regarding performance and productivity. As a conclusion, the researcher suggested that both measurement should be considered when any study need to be done on any industries especially in business and retailing in the future.

This dissertation examines Scottish involvement in the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), c.1779 to c.1821. It surveys the Company's recruitment practices, and the national and regional contribution of Scots to the HBC, demonstrating that Orkneymen were disproportionately numerous throughout the entire period under examination. This study explores their motivation for entry to the HBC, and the various routes (and obstacles) to advancement of salary and station. It also seeks to establish whether Scottish networks operated in the fur trade, and the utility of such connections. Although Scots encountered many opportunities for betterment in Rupert's Land, they were also confronted with the challenge of working in a commercially competitive and remote wilderness environment. Extreme climatic conditions, insufficient food/medicinal supplies, laborious work duties, and violent trade rivalry meant that illness, disability, and death were common occurrences. The extent to which the paternalistic directors endeavoured to mitigate such hardships, and tended to the welfare of employees and their dependents, is assessed. Finally, the social, cultural and economic impact of Scots on both their temporary and home residences is explored. This discussion includes the significance of 'Scottishness' in the fur trade and the importance of 'home' to temporary migrants. In addition, this study highlights the difficulties of remitting savings and domestic support money to dependents in Scotland, and the successes of employees who fulfilled their personal ambitions on their return to Orkney, and climbed onto the property ladder.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how investments in trade shows can be made more effective. The method was a descriptive study build on primary and secondary sources. The primary sources were collected in an anonymous survey where 204 respondents were asked about their experience of trade shows and what attracts them. The secondary sources were collected from previous research collected from scientific articles. The theory indicated that more effective investments in trade shows could be made upon what the visitor requires and attracts of. The implication of the paper was that inspiration is the primary factor to visit trade shows and that a spectacular stand and dedicated and inviting people in the stand are the factors that attract the visitors. Therefor exhibitors ought to prioritise their resources to improve these factors. Another significant factor is to develop the company´s Internet approach in a strategic way pre- and post-show. Above all, that the exhibitor chooses trade shows within their industry.

Despite the importance of the Slave Trade Question in European diplomacy from 1807-1822, historians of this period have neglected it in order to concentrate on Napoleon and the reconstruction of Europe. Scholars of Negro history generally have traced the slave trade up to 1807 and then have turned to the emancipation movement. This thesis represents an attempt to satisfy the need for a diplomatic study of this issue.

D.Com. (Economics) / For years the South African Economy emphasised the importance of the agricultural industry in the country. Only relatively recently it seems to have begun to acknowledge the importance of the industrial and manufacturing sectors. A part of the manufacturing sector is made up of the motor and related industries. It is the aim of this thesis to investigate the importance of this sector by developing regional input-output models for the South African motor vehicle and related industries. "The gap between elegant, but non-operational, theory and inadequately structured empirical research has always been serious in economics. Leontief's conception of input-output analysis proposed to eliminate this gap." It is therefore imperative that input-output analysis will be used. This thesis firstly explores input-output analysis and the theory behind it as developed by Polish economist Wassily Leontief; it then researches the current situation in the South African motor vehicle industry using data depicted in graphs and the elaboration of these graphs. Thirdly a comprehensive study of the South African motor vehicle industry follows exploring both its historical origin and recent developments in the field...

M.Comm. / The objective with this study was to analyse the South African import tax structure and by doing so to highlight the shortcomings of the system. Taxation is the main source of revenue for all levels of government. Import taxation as an income and fiscal policy instrument is used by government to protect local industries against foreign competition, to stimulate local industrial development and to protect the balance of payments against an uncontrolled flight of foreign exchange ...

M.Com. (Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Phil. / Coal forms an important role in the energy balance of the world economy. Despite having lost market share to gas in recent years, due to its vast reserves coal will continue to play a massive role in future energy markets. Up to now numerous studies have been completed on the major coal producing countries including South Africa, Australia and the United States. However no in-depth study of the smaller coal producing countries in Africa has been done. This dissertation would first identify the coal producing countries in Africa, estimate the possible reserves of each country and with the use of maps show the location of these reserves. Thereafter this dissertation will evaluate the infrastructure of the different coal producing countries to determine the possible coal export opportunities that exist in these countries. Factors influencing these export opportunities will also be investigated. The study will include South Africa but it will in no way be the focal point. A study of this nature will be extremely informative giving conclusions to the potential coal reserves that exist throughout Africa and will identify the possible export potential of this region.