This thesis chronicles my experiences with developing a panelized wall system for use by Habitat for Humanity and with testing that system in the design and construction of a house. Presented as a series of narratives, it follows the progress of the project from August 2003 to December 2005. Described is my motivation to test my theories through design and construction, the applicability of prefabrication to Habitat for Humanity’s use of unskilled volunteer labour, the incorporation of panelization into the design of a house for the Waterloo Region affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, the prefabrication of preclad wood framed wall panels for this house by students at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the erection of these wall panels on-site, and the completion of the house to a weathertight state. The thesis concludes with discussions of the understanding I gained through my experiences, the necessity for further development and testing of the panelized wall system, and the future use of prefabrication by Habitat for Humanity.

This thesis chronicles my experiences with developing a panelized wall system for use by Habitat for Humanity and with testing that system in the design and construction of a house. Presented as a series of narratives, it follows the progress of the project from August 2003 to December 2005. Described is my motivation to test my theories through design and construction, the applicability of prefabrication to Habitat for Humanity’s use of unskilled volunteer labour, the incorporation of panelization into the design of a house for the Waterloo Region affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, the prefabrication of preclad wood framed wall panels for this house by students at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the erection of these wall panels on-site, and the completion of the house to a weathertight state. The thesis concludes with discussions of the understanding I gained through my experiences, the necessity for further development and testing of the panelized wall system, and the future use of prefabrication by Habitat for Humanity.

This study examines the worsening position of jobless blue-collar workers in an increasingly meritocratic economy, and uses an innovative crossnational comparative approach to gauge how much the social safety net improves their well-being. I take pairs of unemployed autoworkers who did the same job in the same or similar firms—with the only difference being the country they live in—and compare their outcomes to measure policy effects. My analysis is based on in-depth interviews with seventy-one former autoworkers (divided among American and Canadian workers, and Detroit Three and parts factories) and thirty-six industry and community experts in Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, two metropolitan areas right across the river from one another. It also draws from ethnographic observation within households and the larger Detroit and Windsor areas, which allowed me to put my interviews in context and assemble a rich narrative portrait of unemployment and economic distress. Whereas one school of thought stresses the powerlessness of government in the face of globalization and related economic shifts, and another tends to see an expanded welfare state as a panacea for social ills, I stake out a view somewhere in the middle, arguing that the stronger supports in Canada help unemployed workers cope better with job retraining challenges, health problems, financial difficulties, and fragile family structures, but are limited in their ability to overcome relative inequalities: large gaps in education, family stability, and resources that exist between blue-collar workers and other segments of the labor force. I offer a theoretical and historical framework for understanding the evolution of the labor market and its consequences for less-educated workers, conceiving of the current iteration of capitalism as meritocratic in its focus on human capital as the just arbiter of status, and differentiating this meritocratic orientation from other egalitarian and fraternal approaches to policy and morality in past historical periods. Finally, I examine the meritocratic ideology that blunts political responses to rising inequality, finding that such views, long associated with white-collar professionals, have come to affect the thinking of even unionized blue-collar workers. / Sociology

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-87). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / The human resource department in the hospitality industry has a reputation for high staff turnover and labour instability due to various reasons, such as staff members who are not motivated and are not recognised for hard work. Another problem is employing unskilled staff, low staff remuneration, staff members not being trained and long working hours. The main research problem was: What were the reasons for the high staff turnover in the selected hotels of this research study? From the main research problem three sub-problems emerged the first being, Why does the selected hotels not understand what actually motivates their employees to stay on in positions? The other two sub-problems are stated in chapter 1. The main objective was to research the reasons why the selected hotels were experiencing such high staff turnover. According to Amos, Ristow and Pearse (2008:172), staff turnover can be from a combination of factors such as what the organisation pays, the working conditions, opportunities for promotion, the quality of supervision, and poor group relations, which makes it more or less appealing as an employer. The research design utilised a multi-strategy approach whereby both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered. The questionnaires were a quantitative data-gathering tool that provided the researcher with information relating to why staff turnover is so high in the selected hotels. Questionnaires were completed by human resource managers, senior managers, managers, supervisors and staff members. The qualitative data were obtained from the interviews and the literature review. Interviews were conducted with human resource managers (HRM) in the selected hotels to find out what problems they face and to find solutions to reduce staff turnover. The main findings were that many of those associated with the selected hotels maintain that hotel positions do not offer creative and intellectual development. Once people have understood the needs and demands of their particular job, their cultural learning and intellectual stimulation comes to an end quickly, causing people to lose interest in their jobs and look elsewhere. The main recommendations were that management styles and human resource practices should be applied to stimulate, communicate with and recognise staff potential. Money was not the main reason why staff resigned from their positions; rather it was the fact that managers were not acknowledging them for their hard work and that there was no growth within the selected hotels.

Notre thèse porte sur le rôle de la libéralisation des échanges extérieurs dans les mutations qui ont eu lieu sur le marché du travail dans les pays en développement, cas de la Tunisie. Notre analyse se décompose en deux parties, la première étudie les fondements théoriques et leurs validations empiriques de la relation entre l’ouverture commerciale et le marché de l’emploi. La deuxième étudie les effets de l’ouverture commerciale sur le marché du travail tunisien. Nous présentons le degré d’intégration de la Tunisie dans l’économie mondiale ainsi que les différentes réformes du marché du travail qui ont eu lieu après l’adoption du programme d’ajustement structurel et la mise en œuvre des accords de libre-échange. Dans notre étude nous estimons un modèle à deux équations portant sur l’emploi et le salaire. Notre estimation se base sur deux approches, l’une à deux dimensions, temps et secteurs, et l’autre portant seulement sur le temps. Les principaux résultats sont:- Les importations et les exportations sont les variables les moins signifiantes car elles ont un effet marginal sur la demande de travail. À l’inverse, la production et l’emploi retardé sont les variables les plus explicatives et cela sans spécificité sectorielle. - La détermination du salaire réel dépend des importations et des exportations qui ont des effets différents à court ou à long terme selon le type de secteur (exportable, importable et non échangeable). Par ailleurs, l’emploi ainsi que la productivité des travailleurs qualifiés et non qualifiés sont des variables explicatives qui peuvent avoir une spécification sectorielle. Quant à la production, elle intervient différemment selon les secteurs. / Our thesis focuses on the role of liberalization of foreign trade in the changes that have taken place in the labor market in developing countries, notably the case of Tunisia. Our analysis is divided into two parts, the first looks at the theoretical foundations of the link between trade liberalization and labor market and their empirical validation, and the second looks at the effects of trade opening on the Tunisian labor market. We present the degree of integration of Tunisia in the global economy and the various reforms of the labor market that occurred after the adoption of the structural adjustment program and the implementation of free trade agreements, particularly with the European Union. In our study we estimate a two-equation model on employment and salary. Our estimate is based on two approaches, one in two dimensions, time and sectors, and the other only looking at the time dimension. The main results may be summarized as follows:- Imports and exports are the least meaningful variables because they have a marginal effect on labor demand. Conversely, production and employment with a time lag are the more explanatory variables without sectoral specificity.- The determination of the salary level adjusted for inflation depends on imports and exports which have different effects in the short or long term depending on the sector (exportable, importable and non-tradable). Moreover, employment and productivity of skilled and unskilled workers are explanatory variables and may have a sectoral specification. As for production, it operates differently in different sectors.

M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.A. (Clinical Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Over the past decades, Lesotho has been a source of, primarily, unskilled migrant labour entering South Africa, with Basotho men working on the South African mines and Basotho women restricted to domestic work. This dissertation examines the experiences of both ‘skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ Lesotho migrants currently living in South Africa. The study aims to establish those factors that are influential in prompting Lesotho citizens to leave Lesotho for South Africa. Moreover, it probes differences and similarities with regard to the work patterns encountered by skilled and unskilled workers as well as establishes the impact which migration has had on the lives of migrants. The literature tends to suggest that skilled workers face fewer restrictions and receive better treatment from management and colleagues in companies, while unskilled workers, on the other hand, may be exposed to considerable harassment, exploitation and poor treatment. This study concurs with the evidence in the literature in finding that unskilled workers are at a greater disadvantage when entering the South African labour market as compared to skilled workers. Moreover, it would appear that skilled workers are benefiting more in terms of their jobs, and in having their expectations met than unskilled workers. For the research participants in this study, xenophobia did not appear to be a serious factor, despite the fact that much public attention has been focused on the situation of foreign workers in South Africa. However, these workers from Lesotho highlighted racism as more of an obstacle than xenophobia. In addition, the study reiterates the popular findings that it is better job opportunities that remain the main motivation behind both skilled and unskilled workers migrating to South Africa with development, growth, training opportunities, mentoring, and interaction with more experienced colleagues also emerging as motivating factors. The discourse of the research participants also revealed social networks to be influential in the acquiring and maintaining of jobs. The study illustrates the relevance of ‘dependency’ theory for building understanding of the reasons why ‘skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ workers persist in migrating to South Africa. Finally, migration remains the ‘coming of age’ for Lesotho migrants, impacting positively on both their lives as well as the lives of their families. AFRIKAANS : Lesotho was tydens die afgelope paar dekades ʼn bron van ongeskoolde arbeid vir Suid-Afrika, waar manlike trekarbeiders gewoonlik in die mynwese werk en die vroulike trekarbeiders beperk is om betaalde huishoudsters te word. Hierdie dissertasie bestudeer die ervarings van ‘geskoolde’ en ‘ongeskoolde’ Lesotho trekarbeiders wat in Suid-Afrika woon. Die studie stel die faktore vas wat besluite rondom trekarbeid beïnvloed, veral díe wat die inwoners van Lesotho motiveer om hul land te verlaat om in Suid-Afrika te gaan werk. Die studie ondersoek boonop die verskille en ooreenkomste ten opsigte van werkspatrone wat geskoolde en ongeskoolde werkers teëkom. Dit stel ook vas wat die impak van trekarbeid op hierdie mense se lewens het. Die literatuur is geneig om voor te stel dat geskoolde arbeiders minder beperkinge ondervind en binne maatskappye beter behandel word deur bestuur en kollegas, terwyl ongeskoolde arbeiders aansienlike teistering en uitbuiting ervaar gepaard met swak behandeling. My studie stem ooreen met die literatuur – ek het gevind dat ongeskoolde arbeiders meer benadeel word as geskoolde arbeiders wat na Suid-Afrika migreer. Geskoolde arbeiders ervaar ook meer voordele ten opsigte van werk en hulle verwagtinge word verwesenlik. Deelnemers van hierdie navorsingsprojek het aangedui dat xenofobie nie ʼn ernstige faktoor was nie, al was daar baie publieke aandag gevestig op buitelandse arbeiders in Suid-Afrika. Vir die Lesotho arbeiders was rasisme ʼn groter struikelblok as xenofobie. Hierdie studie herhaal populêre bevindings dat daar beter werksmoontlikhede in Suid-Afrika is as in Lesotho, en dít is steeds die hoof motivering waarom geskoolde en ongeskoolde arbeiders daarheen migreer. Verdere motiverende redes was geïdentifiseer, naamlik: ontwikkeling, groei, opleidingsmoontlikhede, mentors, en interaksie met meer ervare kollegas. Die Lesotho arbeiders se besprekings het dit duidelik gemaak dat sosiale netwerke ‘n groot rol het in verband met werkwerwing en behouding daarvan. Hierdie studie illustreer die toepaslikheid van ‘afhanklikheidsteorie’ wat bydrae tot die begrip waarom geskoolde en ongeskoolde arbeiders na Suid-Afrika migreer. Laastens is migrasie steeds ʼn soort mylpaal vir Lesotho trekarbeiders en dit het ‘n positiewe impak op hul, en hul families se lewens. Copyright / Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Sociology / unrestricted

A descriptive study of the Escuela Cenpritec school was carried out between September 15, 1969 and November 15, 1969 in La Paz, Bolivia. All pertinent literature was reviewed and interviews were conducted with school and government personnel. A fine physical plant has been constructed that is well lighted and equipped. It is adequately protected by a perimeter wall and by the services of a night watchman. Classes were being conducted in the four areas of electricity, plumbing, masonry and carpentry. Few of the objectives set forth in the organizational documents were met. Classes in the construction trades were offered but subsequent employment of the graduate in his specialty was very low. Coordination of on-the-job training, or, for that matter, any other kind of construction training in the city by Cenpritec did not exist. Only one class in training for the rural worker was held and efforts to encourage his return to the rural areas were unsuccessful because job opportunities were better in the city. Training for the student was at the very basic level and no classes for specialists were ever held. Basic literacy courses did not materialize even though widespread illiteracy among the study body hindered efforts to teach the building trades. No classes in management and supervision training were held. Difficulties which surround the school were myriad. The initial feasibility study apparently was not accurate and was based upon subjective evaluation rather than statistical data. Many promises of support, financial aid and help were never fulfilled. The Board of Directors often failed to discharge its duty in the direction and administration of Cenpritec. The Peace Corps advisors failed to ensure total operation of the school in accordance with its legal documents. A breakdown in communications between USAID/Bolivia and the Peace Corps/Bolivia led to confusion regarding responsibility for the school, conditions necessary for continued financial aid, and extent of authority of the volunteer instructors. Inability or unwillingness of the Government of Bolivia to accept readily its financial responsibility for the school suggests that future funding may reach crisis proportions. A policy for the continued evaluation and observation of Cenpritec does not exist and the rapid exchange of American personnel in Bolivia has led to the responsibility for its operation being placed primarily in the hands of the Peace Corps volunteer instructors. Future successful operation of Cenpritec will depend upon a careful reassessment of its role with respect to the construction industry, a reactivation of the Board of Directors, a pledge of support from the Bolivian Government and a commitment by American officials for continued, long term supervision.