Typescript. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This study investigated the effects of night work on performance efficiency. Night work is generally acknowledged to impair performance, yet much research has contradicted this assertion. The feasibility of including brief periods of physical activity to stimulate arousal within mentally demanding work shifts was also evaluated. Thirty six postgraduate volunteers were assigned to either the cognitive tasks (CT) or cognitive and motor tasks (CMT) group. All subjects performed three psycho-motor tests, using the Vienna Test System, at midday and midnight. The CMT group performed a short cycling activity before each test. Heart rate responses served as physiological measures, the Perceived Strain Scale was used to quantify individual perceptions of strain and performance efficiency was assessed in terms of speed and accuracy. Although several trends were apparent, no significant differences (p < 0.05) were revealed with respect to the three performance variables between the midday and midnight test sessions, or between the CT and CMT subjects, other than the higher heart rates recorded in the CMT group. In summary, neither time of day nor physical activity were found to affect performance within the controlled environment of this study.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The primary objective of this study is to establish a holistic view of performance managementsystem in the Provincial Government and to assess the extent of implementation and the application of performance management, together with the challenges facing the social work managers in this regard. Furthermore it sought to identify the gaps and key priorities required for effective and efficient performance management processes. The study was preceded by a comprehensive literature study whereby the necessisty and purpose of performance mananagement were identified. Furthermore the valuable aspects and the characteristics of performance management in social work have been described. The persons involved in the performance management system were investigated tot determine the nature and scope of the performance managegement system that are implemented. The importance of the participation of both the supervisor (manager) and the social worker was determined. The report highlights the importance of a process approach and uses it as a lens for understanding performance management system. It indicate the change in focus from performance evalution to performanance management, which focuses less on productivity or the input or physical activities applied in achieving the results or outputs as such, but rather on the extent to which predetermined objectives/goals are effectively and efficiently met through the measurement of outputs/results against agreed-upon performance standards. An empirical study wat undertaken where both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were applied to achieve the objective of the research. The quantitative methods comprised out of a questionnaires purely for and data collection and the qualitative approach entailed the open-ended questions in the questionnaire. It sought to identify the gaps and key priorities required for the implentation of an effective and efficient performance management processes. The report highlights the importance of a developmental approach in applying the performance management system.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Masters of Technology: Quality,Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2012. / This study examined the quality, employability and the competencies of graduates from the Department of Operations and Quality Management at Durban University of Technology (DUT). The objectives of the study included determining the relevance of the curriculum to the workplace; evaluating the views of graduates regarding employability; and assessing the views of organisations regarding graduate performance in the workplace. The study also proposes that with the knowledge and skills acquired in the field of Operations Management, graduates should be able to reach their full personal and professional potential. However, these graduates still experience difficulties in adjusting and coping with the realities of the labour market. Combinations of qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. The study was exploratory in nature. The study made use of questionnaires to obtain the respondent’s view. The pilot study composed a sample of ten graduates. For the main study, forty of the sixty graduates and employers completed and returned the questionnaires that were administered. The response rate was 67%. The Cronbach’s Alpha Reliability Analysis was used to measure the reliability of the questionnaires. Face validity was verified by the statistician for pre-administering of questionnaires. The results revealed that obtaining a qualification in operations management at DUT increases the employability of graduates. The study also showed that employers are content with the way in which these graduates are able to translate their theoretical knowledge into practice, and to identify and solve problems within organisations. However, the study shows that some employers did not provide adequate support and guidance in relation to their development. / M

In recent years there has been a growing literature that advocates various forms of participatory development. This is illustrated by the promotion of approaches/tools such as participatory rural appraisal (PRA), participatory technology development (PTD), and participatory process projects 1 These "new" approaches are fast taking on the form of a new generalised orthodoxy for solving development problems. It would seem from the perspective of some of the promoters of this orthodoxy that the problem of development is no longer one of not having the right approaches and methods, but one of getting recalcitrant policy makers, bureaucrats, academics to appreciate and adopt these new methods and techniques. My concerns with this new advocacy are that: i It does not relate to experience; ii It does not address issues of power structure and control over information and other resources in multiple and complex arenas of science and technology (S&T); iii By placing major emphasis on management approaches and tools, the new orthodoxy is cutting itself off from a critical reflective understanding of the deeper determinants of technical and social change. Unfortunately, I suspect that if this new orthodoxy does not develop a more critical reflective view of itself then, like previous dominant orthodoxies, it will soon have to develop a range of "escape hatches" to explain why these participatory approaches are not giving the results that their advocates promise. / AVOCADO series; v 06/95

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Marijampolės apskrities seniūnijų darbuotojų darbo organizavimo tobulinimas Magistratūros studijų baigiamasis darbas, 70 puslapių (be priedų), 15 paveikslų, 16 lentelių, 46 literatūros šaltiniai, 3 priedai, lietuvių kalba. RAKTINIAI ŽODŽIAI – darbo organizavimas, seniūnijos darbuotojai, darbo paskirstymas, normavimas, vertinimas, darbo metodai. Tyrimo objektas – Marijampolės apskrities seniūnijų darbuotojų darbo organizavimas. Darbo tikslas – parengti seniūnijos darbuotojų darbo organizavimo tobulinimo modelį. Uždaviniai: 1. Išanalizuoti darbo organizavimo sampratą teoriniu aspektu. 2. Nustatyti seniūnijos darbuotojų darbo organizavimo privalumus ir trūkumus. 3. Nustatyti seniūnijos darbuotojų darbo organizavimo tobulinimo kryptis. Tyrimo metodai: sisteminė mokslinės literatūros analizė, pirminių ir antrinių duomenų analizė, apklausos metodas (anketavimas ir nestruktūrizuotas interviu). Tyrimo problema: kurie darbo organizavimo veiksniai labiausiai įtakoja Marijampolės apskrities seniūnijų darbo organizavimą. Tyrimo rezultatai: • Pirmoje dalyje išnagrinėtas Marijampolės seniūnijų darbuotojų darbo organizavimas teoriniu aspektu. • Antroje dalyje išanalizuoti ir pateikti tyrimo rezultatai, nustatytos Marijampolės seniūnijų darbuotojų darbo organizavimo problemos. • Trečioje dalyje pateiktos Marijampolės seniūnijų darbuotojų darbo organizavimo tobulinimo kryptys ir modelis. • Straipsnis „Marijampolės apskrities seniūnijų darbuotojų darbo organizavimo tobulinimas teoriniu... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The final work of master studies consist of 70 pages of printed text (without apendixes), including 15 figures, 16 tables, 46 references, 3 apendixes (in Lithuanian language). KEYWORDS – organization of work, work distribution, normalization, evaluation, work methods. The object of investigation – work organization of employess` in sub-districts of Marijampole country. The aim of the work – formulate the improvement model of employess` work organization in sub-districts of Marijampole county. Tasks to be solved were as follow: 1. Analyse work organization conception in theoretical aspect. 2. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of employess` work organization in sub-districts of Marijampole county. 3. Identify the devepolement courses of employess` work organization in sub-districts of Marijampole. Methods of investigation were as follow: the system analysis of the literature on general science, the analysis of primary and secondary data, poll method (questionnaire and non-formal interview). Problem of the work: which elements of work organisation mostly influence work organization of employess` in sub-districts of Marijampole country. Results of investigation: • On the first part was investigated employess` work organization in sub-districts of Marijampole county in theoretical aspects. • On the second part was analysed results of research, confirmed problems of employess` work organization in sub-districts of Marijampole county. • On the thirth part was formulated the... [to full text]