Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'An appraiser'

The purpose of this study was to determine if there are personal and demographic characteristics which can predict the most accurate teacher appraisers. The demographics were limited to the following: campus-level job assignment, employing district size, sex, race, number of years of experience as an administrator, previous level of teaching experience, and curriculum area taught by the appraiser. The 622 subjects were school administrators trained to utilize the Texas Teacher Appraisal System. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Where an independent variable was significant (.05), a follow-up ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison were employed. Based on the findings of this study the following conclusions were drawn: 1. A summary data set indicated there was little evidence that any of the demographic variables was a significant predictor of accuracy in the evaluation process. 2. Six different data sets indicated that varying instructional settings and methodologies can influence evaluator accuracy. The campus assignment, years of experience, content area taught, race, and sex of the appraisers were all identified in at least one of the exercise sets as having significance. Except for sex and race, none of the variables was found to be significant when the overall prediction equation with all demographic variables was evaluated. 3. In the prediction equations of this study the percent of variance was so minute that social significance could not be established. 4. The Texas Teacher Appraisal System can be used by appraisers with various backgrounds and experiences without a reduction of accuracy. 5. School boards can appoint appraisers with various backgrounds and experiences without a reduction of accuracy in the process.

Mestrado em Contabilidade, Fiscalidade e Finanças Empresariais
Este estudo foca-se na relação entre gestores e avaliadores no sector nacional, de fundos de investimento imobiliário, com o objetivo de desenvolver um quadro teórico de como a independência dos avaliadores é percebida por ambos os agentes. Sobre a metodologia, o estudo combina uma pesquisa qualitativa através de entrevistas com especialistas para entender quais são os principais conceitos relacionados com a independência do avaliador e uma pesquisa quantitativa com base num questionário distribuído individualmente a vários gestores de fundos imobiliários e avaliadores. Podemos concluir que o conceito de independência do avaliador não tem uma definição simples e que os fatores mais citados na definição são a pressão, os conflitos de interesses, ter ética de trabalho e ser qualificado. A pesquisa qualitativa trouxe grande valor acrescentado a este estudo permitindo entender os fatores que influenciam a independência dos avaliadores. Os resultados estatísticos mostram que os cinco fatores mais correlacionados com a independência do avaliador são a dimensão do cliente, o risco de sanções disciplinares impostas por autoridades reguladoras ou de associações profissionais, o acesso a trabalhos anteriores do mesmo imóvel, forma de remuneração das avaliações e a experiência do avaliador. Além disso, também concluiu que os avaliadores e os gestores de fundos têm as mesmas perceções sobre a importância de cada fator para a independência das avaliações. Algumas limitações deste estudo são a falta de controlo direto sobre os inquiridos ao responder ao questionário e o fato dos fatores terem sido todos tratados da mesma forma.
This study focuses on the relationship between fund managers and appraisers in the national sector, of real estate investment funds, with the aim of developing a theoretical framework of how the independence of the appraisers is perceived by both agents. Regarding the methodology, this study combines a qualitative interview survey with experts to understand which are the main concepts related to the appraiser´s independence and a quantitative survey based on a questionnaire distributed individually to several real estate fund managers and appraisers. We can conclude that the concept of appraiser independence does not have a simple definition and that the factors more mentioned in the definition are the pressure, the conflicts of interests, work ethic, and be qualified. The qualitative research brought great added value to this study allowing us to understand the factors that influence the appraisers? independence. The statistic results show that the five factors more correlated with the appraiser´s independence are client dimension, risk of disciplinary sanctions imposed by regulatory authorities or professional associations, access to the previous works of the same real estate, form of remuneration of the appraisals, and appraiser´s experience. Additionally, we also found that appraisers and other agents have the same perceptions about the importance of each factor to the appraisals independence. Some limitations of this study are the lack of direct control over respondents while answering the questionnaire and the fact we have handled all factors the same way.

Problem: Problemet som legat till grund för intresset och inriktningen med denna magisteruppsats är då tidigare kontorsfastigheten Skatteskrapan skulle byta ägare och användningsområde. En planerad ombyggnad ställde till problem med avseende på uppskattningen av ombyggnadskostnader. I slutändan handlar problemet om ett värderingsproblem. Detta problem tillsammans med andra ex-empel där fastigheter bytt användningsområden har väckt ett intresse att göra en ingående undersökning av det svenska fastighetsvärderingsområdet. Denna uppsats är indelad i fem olika delundersökningar. Initialt sker en presentation av svenska metoder för fastighetsvärdering. Vidare under-söks olika faktorer som har olika värdepåverkande effekter på fastighetsvärdet. Därefter genomförs en undersökning av hur nya användningssituationer kan vålla värderingsproblem samt hur ett värde fastställs i en sådan situation. Nästa steg består utav en undersökning av internationella värderingsmetoder. Studien avslutas sedan med en undersökning av nya trender som utvecklats inom fastighetsvärderingen.

Syfte: Syftet med denna magisteruppsats är att studera fenomenet fastighetsvärdering via svenska fastighetsvärderare för att erhålla en förståelse för hur de resonerar vid valet av värderingsmetod och bestämmer det slutliga värdet. Dessutom är syftet också att belysa relationen mellan svenska och internationella värderingsmetoder för att utröna likheter och skillnader.

Metod: Vi har valt en kvalitativ metod i form av åtta intervjuer. En förstudie, i form av en intervju, görs med professor Stellan Lundström, vilken ämnar till att ge en uppdaterad bild av forskningen inom området. Därefter hålls sju intervjuer med auktoriserade fastighetsvärderare. Värderarnas synpunkter analyseras sedan tillsammans med resultat från förstudien, teoretiskt ramverk samt tidigare studier. Analysen är baserad på en modifierad tankemodell som är skapad av forskaren Jan Matts-son. Genom denna modell har sedan fem viktiga nivåer, knutna till uppsatsens problemområde, analyserats.

Slutsats: Vi fann att de svenska värderingsmetoderna i stort sett utgörs av tre olika metoder. Dessa är avkastningsmetod, ortsprismetod samt produktionskostnadsmetod. De viktigaste värdepåverkande faktorerna var fastighetens läge samt dess skick och standard. Även hyreskontrakten och vakanser påverker till stor del. Beslut om ny användningssituation kan tas av olika anledningar. Det största problemet relaterat till denna förändring är uppskattningen av framtida kostnader, där ombyggnadskostnader utgör den största svårigheten. De internationella värderingsmetoderna är överlag de samma som de svenska. Kulturella skillnader föreligger i vilka metoder som används i olika situationer. De viktigaste nya trenderna är effekten av de internationella redovisningsstandarderna. En annan trend är det ökade användandet av automatiska analysverktyg.

Problem: The underlying problem within this Master of Science thesis is the emanating issues from the changed owner and usage situation of the former Tax Department. A planned reconstruction led to difficulties in estimating the reconstruction costs. In the end this problem is an appraisal issue. This problem led to an interest to make a thorough investigation of the area of Swedish real estate appraisal. The thesis is constituted by five different subinvestigations. Initially an exploration is made concerning Swedish real estate appraisal methods. Further, factors affecting the real estate value are examined. This is followed by an investigation of what appraisal issues that might occur in a new usage situation and how the value is estimated in such a situation. The relation between Swedish and International appraisal methods is then illuminated. The final investigation is concerning what new trends that have occurred on the Swedish real estate appraisal market.

Purpose: The purpose of this Master of Science thesis is to study the phenomenon real estate appraisal via Swedish real estate appraisers to gain an understanding of how they reason when choosing appraisal method and determine the real estate value. Additionally, the aim is also to highlight the relation between Swedish and International real estate methods to reveal differences and similarities.

Method: We have chosen a qualitative method taking the form of eight interviews. A total of eight interviews are performed. The study is offset by a pre-study with a professor at RIT, Stellan Lundström. The aim with this interview is to get an updated view of the latest research within real estate appraisal. This is followed by seven interviews with certified real estate appraisers. The results from the interviews with the appraisers are analysed together with the pre-study, theoretical framework and previous studies. The analysing process is based upon a modified thought model, originally developed by the researcher Jan Mattsson. The analysing process is presented in five steps that all are connected to the modified thought model and related to the problem area of this Master of Science thesis.

Conclusion: We found that the Swedish appraisal methods generally are constituted by three methods. These are the avkastnings method, the ortspris method and production cost method. The most influent factors on the real estate value are the location as well as the condition and standard. Also the rent contracts and vacancies to some extent affect the value. A rather large problem originates in the estimation of future costs, where the estimation of reconstruction costs is referred to as the largest issue. The international appraisal methods are equivalent to the Swedish methods. The largest differences are of cultural kind mostly caused by differences in legislation. New trends that are presented are the impact of the international accounting standards (IAS). Another significant trend is the increased use of automatic real estate analysis tools.

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Esta investigação está inserida na linha de pesquisa “Políticas Públicas, Organização Escolar e Formação de Professores” com intenção de conhecer as questões relativas à elaboração das políticas de avaliação educacional. A intervenção de organismos internacionais na elaboração das reformas educacionais brasileiras, trazendo consigo seus pressupostos e conceitos educacionais. Grande parte dessas indicações e proposições está presente no documento intitulado “Educação para o Futuro” (UNESCO). Portanto, será pertinente refletir sobre as intencionalidades das avaliações externas como Programa Internacional de Avaliação de Alunos (PISA), Sistema de Avaliação da Educação Básica (SAEB), Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM), Sistema de Avaliação da Educação do Rendimento Escolar do Estado de São Paulo (SARESP) e Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação do Estado de São Paulo (IDESP), como instrumentos que preconizam a melhoria da qualidade da educação ou apenas a regulação do Estado e a mercadorização da educação. Assim, pressupõe identificar as estratégias e intencionalidades da avaliação externa da educação brasileira, a necessidade do Estado em criar índices de desempenho, sob a lógica do Estado-avaliador com modelos de responsabilização dos resultados educacionais, sendo esses desenvolvidos pela política de educação do Estado de São Paulo. Esta pesquisa baseou-se numa investigação, do tipo estudo de caso, através da análise documental, com informações sobre as características significativas que estabelecem uma conexão sólida entre a avaliação da política educacional, as tendências mundiais, a política educacional brasileira e a do Estado de São Paulo...
This investigation is inserted in the research line of the Public Policies, School organization and teachers formation, with intentions to know the relative questions to politics‟ elaboration of educational evaluation. The intervention of internationals organisms in the elaboration of Brazilian educational reforms, bringing with it its assumptions and educational concepts. Most of these instructions propositions are in the document titled “Education for the Future” (UNESCO, 2001). So, it will be pertinent to reflect about the external evaluations (PISA, SAEB, ENEM, SARESP e IDESP), as instruments that recommend the improvement of education‟s quality or just the State‟s regulation and education‟s commodification. In this manner, we intend to identify the strategies and intentions of the Brazilian education‟s external evaluation, the state‟s necessity to create performance indexes, under the State-appraiser logic with accountability models of the educational results, these models been developed by the education policy of the State of São Paulo ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

This Master’s thesis deal with process of employee appraisal in a companies. Theoretical part of the thesis focuses on description of the appraisers, methods and evaluate criteria used in the appraisal systems. The practical part contains the proposal of the employee appraisal system in the company ApS Brno s.r.o.

Orientador: Alberto Albuquerque Gomes
Banca: Claudio Roberto Brocanelli
Banca: Ana Maria da Costa Santos Menin
Resumo: Esta investigação está inserida na linha de pesquisa "Políticas Públicas, Organização Escolar e Formação de Professores" com intenção de conhecer as questões relativas à elaboração das políticas de avaliação educacional. A intervenção de organismos internacionais na elaboração das reformas educacionais brasileiras, trazendo consigo seus pressupostos e conceitos educacionais. Grande parte dessas indicações e proposições está presente no documento intitulado "Educação para o Futuro" (UNESCO). Portanto, será pertinente refletir sobre as intencionalidades das avaliações externas como Programa Internacional de Avaliação de Alunos (PISA), Sistema de Avaliação da Educação Básica (SAEB), Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM), Sistema de Avaliação da Educação do Rendimento Escolar do Estado de São Paulo (SARESP) e Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação do Estado de São Paulo (IDESP), como instrumentos que preconizam a melhoria da qualidade da educação ou apenas a regulação do Estado e a mercadorização da educação. Assim, pressupõe identificar as estratégias e intencionalidades da avaliação externa da educação brasileira, a necessidade do Estado em criar índices de desempenho, sob a lógica do Estado-avaliador com modelos de responsabilização dos resultados educacionais, sendo esses desenvolvidos pela política de educação do Estado de São Paulo. Esta pesquisa baseou-se numa investigação, do tipo estudo de caso, através da análise documental, com informações sobre as características significativas que estabelecem uma conexão sólida entre a avaliação da política educacional, as tendências mundiais, a política educacional brasileira e a do Estado de São Paulo ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: This investigation is inserted in the research line of the Public Policies, School organization and teachers formation, with intentions to know the relative questions to politics‟ elaboration of educational evaluation. The intervention of internationals organisms in the elaboration of Brazilian educational reforms, bringing with it its assumptions and educational concepts. Most of these instructions propositions are in the document titled "Education for the Future" (UNESCO, 2001). So, it will be pertinent to reflect about the external evaluations (PISA, SAEB, ENEM, SARESP e IDESP), as instruments that recommend the improvement of education‟s quality or just the State‟s regulation and education‟s commodification. In this manner, we intend to identify the strategies and intentions of the Brazilian education‟s external evaluation, the state‟s necessity to create performance indexes, under the State-appraiser logic with accountability models of the educational results, these models been developed by the education policy of the State of São Paulo ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Mestre

In view of the potential for controversy associated with performance appraisal (PA), the study considers it as the object of controversy worthy of rhetorical attention. However, being the object of controversy, which attracts rhetoric, PA becomes a less significant focus for the thesis. Instead, the argumentative and persuasive dimensions of rhetoric in the talk of appraisees and appraisers regarding the PA practiced in their banks becomes the primary subject of the research, particularly with regard to understanding how they construct the reality of their PA. Accordingly, the rhetorical framework of the study is drawn from the ideas of Aristotle (1991) and the contemporary authors, Billig (1987; 1991; 1996) and Potter (1996). The study contributes towards understanding the importance of rhetoric in an organisational context characterised by the controversy or the potential for controversy. For example, the evidence of the presence of the argumentative and persuasive dimensions of rhetoric in the talk of appraisees and appraisers throughout the analysis represents rhetoric not only as an important aspect of PA, but also demonstrates it as a valuable persuasive skill used by them. Respectively, this contributes towards building a theory of PA from the perspective of rhetoric. Hence, as a practical implication of the study, rhetoric should be regarded as an important skill to be mastered by appraisees and appraisers. Moreover, the application of the rhetorical framework for the analysis contributes towards testing the theory, which constitutes the rhetorical framework, on the talk of appraisees and appraisers. Similarly, the rhetorical framework used in the study provides an important methodological contribution and implication for future studies For example, it may be used in the future studies which are based on organisational practices characterised by the controversy or potential for controversy. Another important contribution of the study involves the ‘argumentative context’ and ‘justification process’ as the analysis demonstrates how people anticipate the arguments of absent audiences, and use rhetorical devices to justify their own arguments, regarding a potentially controversial matter. In this regard, an interesting phenomenon observed in the analysis is the code-switching of the appraisees and appraisers, from English to Urdu, when they discussed the sensitive or taboo subjects, which suggests their preference for their native language for the potency in their expressions.

Esta dissertação tem como finalidade caracterizar as melhores experiências de avaliação de desempenho, percecionadas pelos avaliados, no pressuposto que as mesmas são processes de interação social, envolvendo significados e expectativas entre os atores. Por conseguinte, a ênfase da abordagem que realizamos não está no modelo de avaliação mas nas práticas e consequentemente nos processes de interação, durante os quais os atores envolvidos na avaliação de desempenho constroem e reconstroem significados sobre a mesma. Assim, recorrendo a metodologias compreensivas e à técnica de análise de conteúdo, com apoio do software N6, analisámos o conteúdo de 14 entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas a funcionários avaliados pelo Sistema Integrado de Avaliação de Desempenho da Administração Pública e efetuadas num hospital do sector público administrativo do estado. Com este estudo, verificámos que os avaliados constroem significados (valorativos e qualificativos) sobre a avaliação em que a informação, a formação, o envolvimento do avaliador e as oportunidades de participação, assumem um papel central na legitimação social da avaliação de desempenho e consequentemente na aceitação da cotação, o que por sua vez condiciona as perceções qualitativas da avaliação de desempenho. Perante os resultados concluímos que a consecução dos objetivos da avaliação do desempenho só serão efetivos se os avaliados percecionarem as experiências de avaliação válidas e positivas e não como uma ameaça. Na sequência da interpretação dos resultados emergem um conjunto de hipóteses, as quais carecem ser testadas em estudos posteriores de maior dimensão. Por fim, foram delineadas as linhas orientadoras de um plano de intervenção que visam a consecução das boas práticas de avaliação de desempenho. /ABSTRACT - The purpose of this study is to characterize the best experiences of performance appraisal, perceived by appraised with the assumption that they are processes of social interaction, involving meanings and expectations between the actors. Therefore, the emphasis of the approach that we carry out is not in the evaluation model but in the practice and in the interaction processes, during which the involved actors in the performance appraisal construct and reconstruct meanings on the same. Thus, appealing to comprehensive methodologies and to the technique of content analysis, along with the support of N6 software, we study the content of 14 interviews, made to employees, who are assessed according to performance appraisal system used in Public Administration in Portugal (SIADAP). These interviews took place in a hospital of the public administrative sector, of the state. With this study, we verify that appraised create meanings (valuable and qualifying) of the appraisal where, information, training, appraisal involvement and chances for participation, consequently takes a central role in the social legitimacy of the performance appraisal, and, in the acceptance of the quotation, that will affect the qualitative perceptions of the performance evaluation. Studying the results we conclude that, the goal achievement of the performance appraisal will only be effective if the appraised perceive experiences of appraisal as valid and positive, and not as a threat. With the interpretation of these results, several hypotheses emerge which could be tested in future research, with a larger dimension. Finally, the guide lines of an intervention plan had been delineated, with a prior aim, the achievement of good practical of performance appraisal.

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The present study aims to identify possible relationships among evaluative processes developed at the school and the establishment of professional teaching identities. Specifically aims to identify evaluative practices that produce a greater degree of legitimacy and recognition by the subject teacher, which, in turn, may contribute to the processes of identity negotiation. The work of data analysis is oriented in a qualitative perspective. The data collection was done in two private institutions in the city of São Paulo. The selected institutions have formalized their practices work of institutional assessment, which has three pillars: the evaluation of the structure and school functioning, the evaluation of the performance of the educators (teachers, managers and employees) and the assessment of the student s learning. Six subjects were interviewed, with, two coordinators and four professors of Basic Education. Individual interviews with teachers and for the coordinators for later transcription were performed. The interview scripts are characterized as semi - structured and were formulated for the teachers, who put themselves in a position of reviews and coordinators, which are those that, usually, generally assume the role of appraisers. The data collection was as follows: the coordinator stated, in his opinion, two teachers from the same institution for the interview, one that was most closely identified with the school s proposal and other that was less identified with the proposed school. Six categories were used for the data collection. They are: choice of subjects, evaluation practices developed at the institution X practices that contributed to the teacher s professional growth; evaluation s criterion, criteria for the allocation of judgments; refusals and trading strategies ; legitimacy degree. The data results pointed to some aspects: the formative assessment was indicated by the teachers as the a contributor to the professional growth , the surveyed schools do not reverted the data obtained in the evaluations of teachers in their training processes , the lack of participation of the teachers in defining the evaluation criteria interfered with clarity as to what is expected by the institution as " teacher quality ", the relationship that teachers have established with the reviewer favored the acceptance of delivered judgments in situations of evaluation, a partnership established that the evaluated subject reported to the evaluator ensured greater legitimacy to the evaluation processes . This work highlights the importance of the evaluative processes of an educational nature in the constitution of professional teaching identities and the relevance of the reported link between subject and evaluator subject to processes of identity negotiation
O presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar possíveis relações entre processos avaliativos desenvolvidos no espaço escolar e a constituição de identidades profissionais docentes. Tem como objetivo específico identificar práticas avaliativas que produzam maior grau de legitimidade e reconhecimento por parte do sujeito professor, o que, por sua vez, pode contribuir com os processos de negociação identitária. O trabalho de análise dos dados orienta-se em uma perspectiva qualitativa. A coleta de dados foi feita em duas instituições particulares da cidade de São Paulo. As instituições escolhidas têm formalizado em suas práticas um trabalho de avaliação institucional, que contempla três pilares: o da avaliação da estrutura e funcionamento escolar, o da avaliação de desempenho dos educadores (docentes, gestores e funcionários) e o da avaliação da aprendizagem dos alunos. Seis sujeitos foram entrevistados, sendo: dois coordenadores pedagógicos e quatro docentes da Educação Básica. Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais com os professores e coordenadores pedagógicos, para posterior transcrição. Os roteiros de entrevista se caracterizaram como semi-estruturados e foram formulados para os professores, que se colocaram numa posição de avaliados e para os coordenadores, que são aqueles que, nessa relação, geralmente, assumem o papel de avaliadores. O trabalho de coleta ocorreu da seguinte forma: o coordenador indicou, a seu juízo, dois professores da mesma instituição para a realização da entrevista, um que mais se identificou com a proposta da escola e outro que menos se identificou com a proposta da escola. Para o trabalho de análise dos dados foram utilizadas seis categorias. São elas: escolha dos sujeitos; práticas avaliativas desenvolvidas na instituição X práticas que contribuiram com o crescimento profissional docente; critérios de avaliação; critérios para a atribuição dos julgamentos; recusas e estratégias de negociação; grau de legitimidade. Os resultados da pesquisa apontaram para alguns aspectos: a avaliação de caráter formativo foi indicada pelos professores como aquela que mais contribuiu com o crescimento profissional; as escolas pesquisadas não reverteram os dados obtidos nas avaliações de professores em processos de formação; a falta de participação dos professores na definição dos critérios de avaliação interferiu na clareza dos mesmos em relação ao que é esperado pela instituição como qualidade docente ; o vínculo que os professores estabeleceram com o avaliador favoreceu a aceitação dos julgamentos proferidos em situações de avaliação; a relação de parceria que o sujeito avaliado estabeleceu com o sujeito avaliador garantiu maior legitimidade aos processos avaliativos. O presente trabalho evidencia a importância dos processos avaliativos de natureza educativa no processo de constituição das identidades profissionais docentes e a relevância do vínculo entre sujeito avaliado e sujeito avaliador para os processos de negociação identitária

A Entrevista na Avaliação de Desempenho em Enfermagem A avaliação de desempenho, enquanto ferramenta de gestão dos recursos humanos, pode contribuir para o desenvolvimento das organizações, sendo atualmente visível esta preocupação nos órgãos de gestão dos serviços de saúde. No processo de avaliação de desempenho, a entrevista assume destaque pela sua componente relacional, considerada como um momento crucial de análise do avaliador e avaliado numa perspetiva de desenvolvimento e alcance dos objetivos pessoais, profissionais e organizacionais. No presente trabalho, fizemos uma caracterização das entrevistas no processo de avaliação de desempenho, do ponto de vista dos avaliados, no quadro do Sistema de Avaliação de Desempenho em Enfermagem em vigor no ano de 2007, ano da realização da investigação empírica. Através de uma abordagem quantitativa, pretendeu-se a realização de um estudo exploratório/descritivo com recurso à técnica do inquérito por questionário aplicado a 136 enfermeiros de uma instituição hospitalar. De uma forma geral, os dados obtidos nesta investigação permitiram verificar que a maioria das entrevistas de avaliação de desempenho realizadas no Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário, E.P.E. caracterizam-se por serem bem preparadas e bem conduzidas mas os seus resultados não se encontram bem definidos. Estes devem-se à pouca disponibilidade dos avaliadores para um acompanhamento e orientação constantes do desempenho do avaliado, inexistindo uma verdadeira cultura de avaliação de desempenho. Neste sentido, foi elaborada uma proposta de intervenção sócio organizacional que visa o desenvolvimento de competências de avaliação de desempenho, onde a formação e a interação avaliador avaliado assumem especial importância. /ABSTRACT - Performance Evaluation in Nursing: the Interview Performance evaluation is a tool used on human resources management contributing to the organizational development, namely in the health sector. In the performance evaluation process, the interview has special importance, due to its relational component. That component is crucial to the development of personal, professional and organizational objectives. In the present study, we have characterized the interviews in the performance evaluation process, from the standpoint of the appraised, within the frame of the Performance Evaluation System in Nursing in effect in 2007, when the empirical research was carried out. The research was a survey-type applied to 136 nurses from a hospital. Generally, the data obtained shows that the majority of the interviews are being well prepared and well conducted, but the results of performance appraisal interviews are not well defined. This is viewed as the consequence of lack of availability from the appraisers for the follow up and constant monitoring of the performance of appraises, and non-existence of a true culture of performance evaluation. Therefore, we set up a social and organizational intervention proposal, which aims to develop performance evaluation skills, mainly related with interview and interaction between appraiser-appraised.

The first part of the diploma thesis defines the terms used in relation to real estate appraisal, description of the appraised localities, and description of the individual appraisal methods. The practical part of the diploma thesis provides a description and an appraisal of six family houses situated in various urban areas with different public facilities. It regards appraisal by the cost method, comparative method according to regulations and non-regulation comparative method. The aim of the thesis is to compare the impact of accessibility of services on the marketability of family houses in urban areas with different public facilities.

This Master’s thesis deals with the process of employee evaluation in the company GEOtest, a.s. In the first part of the thesis are defined all the necessary theoretical findings needed to formulate proposals for the society. Practical part includes particular information about the company GEOtest, a.s. and the analysis of the current state of evaluation. Furthermore, the new concept of the system of evaluation in accordance with the corporate needs is presented, including the link up of the system and recommendation for its implementation.

Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka svenska och amerikanska företagsmäklares inställning till kundkapitalet och dess värderingsmodeller. Studien syftar även till att finna konsekvenser som en explicit redovisning av kundkapitalet skulle ha på företagsvärderingar.   Tidigare forskning: Centrala modeller i studien är Customer Lifetime Value, Customer Equity, Customer Profitability och Multi-Period Excess Earnings Model. Tidigare forskning hittas i Edvinsson och Malone (1997), Gupta et al (2004), Villanueva och Hanssens (2007), Wiesel et al., (2006) samt Hofstedes forskning om nationella dimensioner.    Metod: Studien använder metodtriangulering. Huvudsaklig primärdata genereras ur webbaserade enkäter som skickas till svenska och amerikanska företagsmäklare. Vidare utförs tre semi-strukturerade intervjuer med representanter från KPMG, Deloitte och UC. Ett chi-tvåtest utformas för att se om det finns ett samband mellan nationalitet och företagsmäklares inställning till att beakta kundkapitalet.   Slutsats: 72 procent av de deltagande företagsmäklarna och samtliga intervjupersoner anser att det är viktigt att värdera kundkapitalet. Trots detta är det endast 38 procent av enkätrespondenterna som svarar att de beaktar kundkapitalet vid värdering av kundbaserade företag. En jämförelse mellan nationaliteterna visar att svenska företagsmäklare är mer positiva till de ”nya” kundvärderingsmodellerna, främst Customer Equity och Customer Profitability. De är också mer benägna att använda dessa. Amerikanska företagsmäklare tenderar istället att använda den traditionella Multi-Period Excess Earnings Method.
Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Swedish and American business appraisers’ attitude towards customer capital and its valuation models. This thesis also aims to find consequences that an explicit accounting of customer capital would have on business valuations.  Previous Research: Central models in this study are Customer Lifetime Value, Customer Equity, Customer Profitability and Multi-Period Excess Earnings Method. Previous research is found in Edvinsson and Malone (1997), Gupta et al., (2004), Villanueva and Hanssens (2007), Wiesel et al., (2006) and Hofstedes research regarding cultural dimensions. Method: This study uses a triangulation of methods. The main primary data is generated through internet-based questionnaires which was sent to Swedish and American business appraisers. Furthermore, three semi-structured interviews are conducted with representatives from KPMG, Deloitte and UC. A chi-Squared test is made to see if there is any relationship between nationality and business appraisers’ attitude towards taking heed of the customer capital. Conclusion:  72 per cent of the participated business appraisers and all interviewees think that it is important to value customer capital. Despite this, there are only 38 per cent of the survey respondents who say that they account for customer capital when valuing customer-based companies. A comparison between the nationalities show that Swedish business appraisers are more positive towards the “new” customer valuation models such as Customer Equity and Customer Profitability. They are also more inclined to use these. American business appraisers tend to use the more traditional Multi-Period Excess Earnings Method.

This is an academic dissertation submitted in partialfulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor ofTechnology. The dissertation consists of a short summary anddiscussion of seven enclosed essays. All seven papers aredevoted to central issues within real estate appraisal andvaluation, with emphasis on the market for income property.

Essay Ianalyses the market prices for mixed-use incomeproperties, with mainly residential use. A hedonic priceequation is estimated based on market transactions. The timeperiod under study is 1992—1994. The geographicalsub-market analysed is the city of Stockholm. The hedonictechnique is also used for estimating an assessment equation.Certain types of properties were found to be systematicallyunder-assessed.

Essay IIis an inquiry into the topic of choosing arelevant functional form for the hedonic equation applied toincome property. Certain characteristics of two common modelspecifications are identified. The shortcomings and advantagesare illustrated through the application of the two models toempirical data.

Essay IIIinvestigates if the distance to CBD affectsthe property prices, i.e. if there are (negative) distancegradients. The sub-market analysed is that of mainlyresidential income properties, though the residential market issubject to a rent control system. The distance gradient onrents was insignificant. However, there is a significantnegative price gradient. With one exception (direction east),there is also a significant negative assessment gradient.

Essay IVdeals with cycles on the market for incomeproperty. The time-period under study is 1979—1992, whichincludes the Swedish property crisis. The use of the grossincome multiplier (GIM) as an indicator of the phases of theproperty cycle is suggested. The analyses indicate that theproperty boom during the late 1980s may have been partly drivenby a speculative price bubble.

Essay Vanalyses the determinants of the rent level andthe rent drift on the residential rental market, which issubject to rent control. Furthermore, the rate of return oninvestment, as well as maintenance input (for increasing thequality of the property) is estimated. The micro-location isfound to affect the rent level, but not the age of thebuilding. The return on quality-improving investments andmaintenance was found to be reasonable. The rent increases wereslightly larger than what was agreed upon in officialnegotiations.

Essay VIanalyses the total rate of return (TRR) overthe time-period 1979—1997 within a portfolio of mixed-useincome property. Different definitions of TRR were estimated.The results do not vary over definitions used. The determinantsof the TRR are identified in regressions using panel datamodels. The TRR may be separated into a commercial and aresidential component, respectively. The average values forthese two components are found to be almost equal for the wholetime-period under study, however, the evolution over time isfound to follow patterns that show important differences.

Essay VIIpresents a literature review of studies whereprice equations on the property market are estimated byregression analysis. In all, 145 papers are investigated. Theessay analyses how the methodological procedures, andparticularly those related to econometrics, are presented inthe papers.

Keywords: property, real estate, real estate economics,appraisal, assessment, income property, hedonic technique,model specification, distance gradients, property crises,speculative bubble, gross income multiplier, GIM, rent control,total rate of return, Sweden.

Thesis (B.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009.
Project advisor: Wayne Howard. Title from PDF title page; viewed on Mar. 10, 2010. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on microfiche.

AbstractThe grandEthiopianRenaissanceDam,amajorhydropowerprojectlocatedintheBlueNilein Ethiopia,isprojectedtobecomeoneofthebiggestsourcesofhydroelectricpowerinAfricaby2022.Thescaleoftheprojectisburdenedwithaconsiderableenvironmentalandsocialload,the magnitudeofitsimpactdependingonafewkeydecisionsmadeduringtheinauguralstages.The viabilityofGERDintheNileBasinisassessed.Keyconsiderationstobearinmindduringthe initialfillingofthemainreservoirarediscussed.Anumberofmodelsandsimulationsarecited andanalysed,mostlydealingwithhydrologicaldataintheregionandpredictionsofGERD’simpact onannualflowrates.Recommendationsforanenvironmentallyconsciousfillingstageandsubsequentoperationareincludedintheclosingstatements.Key words: GERD, NileBasin,hydroelectric,gravitydam,biodiversity,energymanagement,civil infrastructure,powersystems,sustainability,environmentalmanagement.
Sammanfattning The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam studeras vid dammens slutgiltiga fullbordande.Den hi-storiska utvecklingen av projektet, samt de politiska och ekonomiska procedurer och dess implikationer för projektet och hur detta påverkat och kommer påverka regionens utveckling presenteras och kontextualiseras. Olika scenarier för påfyllnad av huvudreservoarens vattentillförsel studeras genom analys av liknande fall samt teknisklitteratur, slutsatser dras utifrån beslutsfattandes rekommendationer och observationer. Möjliga scenarier för invigning av dammen med ambitionen att minimera ansträngningen för nationer som befinner sig nedströms längst Nilens flöde belyses utifrån analysmetoden. Potentiella strategier för en hållbar framtid med minimal skada för den biologiska mångfalden i Nilbäckenet diskuteras utifrån analysmetoden. Nyckelord: GERD, Nilbäcken,Vattenkraft,Gravitationsdam,biologiskmångfald,energihan-tering, Civilinfrastruktur,Clkraftsystem,Hållbarhet,Miljöhantering.

The principle of encoding specificity states that effective information retrieval relies upon consistency of encoding and retrieval cues. The present study generalized this principle to a complex social interaction in order to investigate the relation between certain combinations of pre- and post-observational cues and their effects on information categorization, recognition accuracy, and judgment accuracy. It was hypothesized that two experimental factors, appraisal purpose and rating format categorization, would influence organization, retrieval, and judgment of performance information. Specifically, consistent encoding (purpose) and retrieval (format) cues were expected to result in the most efficient retrieval of information, and consequently in more accurate performance ratings.

Master of Science

Salivary IgA is the primary antibody of mucosal immunity. It has been suggested that chronic stress may lower levels of IgA and lead to an increased susceptibility to respiratory illness. It is also suggested that acute stress increases IgA during active coping (that involves mental effort or controllability, such as time-based mathematics or memory tests) and decreases it during passive coping tasks (with no mental effort required or uncontrollable, such as the passive viewing of disgust images). However, tasks often classed as stressors have produced consistent IgA effects in areas of passive coping and chronic stress. These inconsistencies might be a consequence of methodological issues, such as sampling procedures, or may reflect individual differences, for example how a task is appraised. This thesis examined appraisal effects with focus on control over a stressful event and a potential relationship with salivary IgA. Three different study designs were used to examine stress, appraised control and salivary IgA. To alter appraisal during passive coping, disgust images were presented as either real pictures or as fake effects from fictional films to change the participant's perception of control during the image presentations. The role of appraised control during a chronic stress situation was explored in caregivers, and finally, appraised control and subjective stress were investigated in relation to IgA daily for a week in undergraduates, alongside perceived stress and hassles from the prior month. Viewing disgusting images increased perceived stress, irrespective of whether the images were presented as real or fake. Crucially, control was lower and salivary IgA increased only in the group that were told the images were real. Appraised control over a chronic stressor of caregiving did not affect IgA, but neither did perceived stress. Finally, in undergraduates, stress measured at the same time as sampling showed a lower level of IgA on days rated the highest compared to lowest on stress, and appraised control had a negative correlation with IgA when averages were used over the week, but only in a sub-group of participants. Perceived stress or hassles from the prior month did not relate to IgA. The main conclusions are that a participant's appraisal of passive coping tasks can be altered and that this may lead to a change in their IgA response. The overall results challenge the view that IgA is a stress marker, as the only consistent effect of stress on IgA was its consistency. Yet inconsistent IgA responses are likely to be a recurring issue in research due to the sensitivity of IgA to a number of different methodological practices that may cause a direct effect, or may alter appraisals.

Diploma thesis deals with the procedures for valuation of property according to the methodologies used by banks UniCredit Bank and ČSOB. This diploma thesis describes the principles of valuation of assets. In this thesis there are mentioned basic concepts of banking. It carries out a detailed analysis, description and comparison of selected valuation methodologies used by banks and methodologies used in appraiser´s work, who prepares evaluations for banking institutions. Based on the findings an analysis of the different methodologies is made.

Teacher appraisal is one of the key educational issues of the 1980s and 1990s. Developments have been-taking place at both national and local levels, and in the near future, many schools will be obliged to adopt some form of appraisal system. In setting the context for this research, attention is drawn to the purposes and types of appraisal, its major benefits and drawbacks, and the common features of existing schemes. Most teacher appraisal schemes maýe the appraisal "interview" the focal activity, and therefore the effectiveness of the system, is dependent upon the quality of the interaction during the interview itself. Thus, the central aim of this research is to find out more about what goes on in such meetings. In one school eleven case-study appraisal interviews were audio-taped, and intensive analysis of both "content" and "process" was applied. The methodology employed is primarily qualitative and interpretive in nature. Each interview is described in detail, making extensive use of quotations where necessary. The evaluation of each encounter provides valuable insights into the behaviour of participants. Semi-structured interviews with staff from the study school afford additional data. A number of generalities and issues emerge, in relation to both interview content and process. The results are enhanced by making use of certain theoretical concepts from the science of social psychology, including role theory, social psychological orientations, and interactionist perspectives. The implications of this research are considered, in particular the need to train staff in the skills of appraisal interviewing. The characteristics of 'good practice' in a teacher appraisal interview are also discussed. It is concluded that the behaviour of participants in a teacher appraisal interview is a function of role, relationship, personality, and the intricacies of transactional processes. A dramaturgical perspective provides an appropriate language for describing typical interview behaviour. A typology of teacher appraisal interviews is also developed.

Appraisers receive feedback from a variety of sources such as other appraisers, clients and the real estate market. Previous studies find client feedback to introduce an upward bias into commercial and residential appraisal judgments. Hansz and Diaz (2001) find that the provision of transaction price (market) feedback for a previously valued property biases commercial appraisers upwardly in subsequent valuations. The authors provide market optimism, client feedback and a reduced conservatism bias as explanations for their findings. However, previous client and market feedback studies were conducted in upward-trending or booming real estate markets. The identified upward bias in valuation judgments may have been the result of positive real estate market conditions. This study investigates the impact of transaction price feedback on residential appraisal judgment in a changed appraisal task environment, characterized by a depressed housing market, market pessimism, conservative lenders and a changed residential appraisal industry. As Hansz and Diaz (2001) find an upward appraisal bias in an upward-trending market, I expect market feedback to introduce a downward bias into residential appraisal judgments in a depressed market. Compared to a “no feedback” control group, residential appraisers receiving the feedback that their previous value estimates were too high, compared to the realized transaction price, are expected to make significantly lower subsequent value judgments for an unrelated property. The “too low” feedback is not expected to have an impact on subsequent value judgments. I test the hypotheses with a controlled experiment using a pre-posttest design. The experimental design has one factor (transaction price feedback) fixed at three different levels (“too low”, “too high”, “no feedback”). A posttest-only validity control group is added to test for a potential testing bias in the pre-posttest design. This study uses residential expert appraisers, defined as active Oregon State certified residential appraisers, from the Portland metropolitan statistical area (MSA) as subjects. Experimental subjects are randomly selected from a list of all certified residential appraisers in the Portland MSA. Experimental subjects are randomly assigned to the control and treatment groups (10 subjects per group; N=40). Subjects in the treatment groups and pre-posttest “no feedback” control group are asked to value a lot of vacant residential land in the geographically unfamiliar Roswell, Georgia. After they provide their value estimates for this first valuation case, subjects in the treatment groups are given a note from a seller’s broker stating the transaction price for the previously valued property. Subjects in the “too high” feedback group receive a transaction price that is 15% below their estimates and subjects in the “too low” feedback group receive a transaction price that is 15% above their value estimates. The control group receives no feedback. All treatment and control groups are then given a second (unrelated) valuation case of vacant residential land in Newnan, Georgia and asked for their value estimate. The experiment is concluded with an exit questionnaire containing demographic and professional questions as well as manipulation checks. The experimental data are analyzed using the parametric independent samples t-test. The assumptions of normality and equal variances are not violated by the dataset. A one-way ANOVA and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test are used as robustness checks. All statistical tests conclude that neither the mean of the “too high” feedback group nor the mean of the “too low” feedback group are statistically different at the 5% level from the mean of the “no feedback” control group. Thus, no evidence is found that transaction price feedback biases residential appraisal judgments in a depressed market. The insignificant results are further analyzed to assess whether they are due to a non-reception of the treatment by subjects, low statistical power or a non-existing relationship: The explanation that subjects did not read the treatment note can be excluded. A power analysis reveals low statistical power and very small effect sizes for both treatments. An alternative explanation for the insignificant results is the absence of the hypothesized relationship. The main client group of experimental subjects is appraisal management companies, which due to legislation passed after 2007, work with appraisers on behalf of lenders. As a consequence, residential appraisers do not receive direct client feedback anymore (compared to Hansz and Diaz, 2001) and may not respond subconsciously to the “too high” feedback.

The purpose of this study is to explore the performance appraisal practice in Qidi, and suggest in what way Qidi should go in performance appraisal in the future. The result shows that there are some problems in Qidi’s performance appraisal, management. Thereby, the suggestions are that Qidi should establish a standard performance appraisal system, create a formal control system, and keep the process transparent in appraisal.

The objective of this thesis is to examine the role of conceptual problems in scientific change, especially in the processes of theory appraisal. In the thesis I begin with a review of Buchdahl's, Toulmin's, and Laudan's works on conceptual problems. In the review I show that, although all these writers emphasize the importance of conceptual problems as a criterion of theory appraisal, their works on conceptual problems are not complete. The basis of this thesis is a case study of the nineteenth-century optical revolution. Traditionally, the victory of the wave theory in the revolution was supposed to be due to its empirical successes. However, historical research, presented here, does not support this opinion. I present a different view of the optical revolution, comparing the conceptual problems of wave and particle optics, and identifying the appraisal criteria that historical figures actually employed. I argue that the inferior status of the particle theory in dealing with conceptual problems was the primary cause of the optical revolution. Based on a generalization of a variety of historical cases of conceptual problems, I offer a new account of conceptual problems. First, conceptual problems are the characteristics of conceptual structures rather than theories. Second, the sources of conceptual problems are the processes of concept application, especially in identifying the existence of a concept's referent, in specifying the properties of its referent, and in explicating the procedure of its application. Third, the primary symptom of conceptual problems is that a conceptual structure becomes meaningless. In conclusion, I present a comprehensive set of categories for classifying conceptual problems.
Master of Science

This thesis contains an assessment and discussion of the sustainability of design for deconstruction. As a basis for the work, existing literature was reviewed and the gaps in existing knowledge highlighted. Environmental assessment methods were identified as a way to incentivise design for deconstruction. An analysis of LEED demonstrated minimal achievement of reuse credits, likely due to limited availability of reused materials. The supply chain can be developed in the future through the design for deconstruction of all new buildings. Quantifying the environmental benefits of design for deconstruction was underlined as a key strategy to encourage designers to consider the incorporation of design for deconstruction. A methodology was developed to account for designed-in future reuse at the initial design stage. This is based on a PAS2050 methodology (2008) which shares the environmental impact of an element over the number of predicted lives. In the course of this work it has been assumed that the typical building has a fifty year life span, a conservative estimate. Studies in this thesis limit analysis to a hundred year period, giving a possible two lives for the majority of elements. The methodology was used as a basis for the calculation of savings that occur by designing for deconstruction. Initial feasibility studies estimated that a 49% saving in embodied carbon is accomplished by designing for deconstruction. Having demonstrated the potential scope of savings, a tool, Sakura, was developed to enable designers to investigate the savings in embodied energy and carbon for their own schemes. Sakura was used to assess the savings that could be achieved for a range of case studies. Steel and timber frame structures demonstrated the greatest potential savings from design for deconstruction. School projects exhibited the highest savings when the building types were compared.

The proper implementation of an appraisal system in an educational institution could enhance the growth and development of its faculty members, which will positively reflect on the whole institution. This study aims at laying the ground for a better appraisal practice at the Lebanese American University (LAU). The study also attempts to identify trends and areas for further development, and to provide consolidated practical advice for universities in Lebanon. 80 faculty members filled semi-structured questionnaires at the Lebanese American University. Furthermore, 40 faculty members were interviewed using purposive sampling. The response rate was low (36.86%), for 80 out of the 217 responded to the distributed questionnaire. The interviews with faculty members acknowledged the importance of mentoring and professional development at LAU. The results showed that no formal appraisal scheme was implemented at LAU. The majority of the respondents acknowledged that 360-degree appraisal is the most comprehensive appraisal practice. Based on the literature review and the suggestions of interviewed faculty members, a communication model for the performance appraisal scheme was developed to be further tested and adopted by the university, if it yielded satisfactory results. The researcher finally recommended the formal adoption of a performance appraisal process at LAU.

Three principal forms of structural realism are distinguished in this thesis: weak epistemic structural realism (WESR), strong epistemic structural realism (SESR) and ontic structural realism (OSR). In chapter 1, it is argued that the positive argument in favour of WESR, i.e. the claim that it can accommodate the no miracles argument and the pessimistic induction is unconvincing, because (i) the no miracles argument is flawed, so it is no particular virtue of WESR that it can accommodate it and (ii) it is not clear that WESR really can accommodate the pessimistic induction. In chapter 2, it is argued that there are unresolved difficulties in drawing the observable/unobservable distinction (or an appropriate alternative distinction) in a way that is suitable for the WESRist's purposes. In chapter 3, it is argued that the main argument for SESR is unconvincing, because it is based on Russell's principle of acquaintance (or a modern variant of this principle), a principle for which no substantial argument has been given and which has absurd consequences (as shown in appendix 2). In chapter 4, it is argued that neither the WESRist nor the SESRist has provided a convincing response to Newman's objection. In chapter 5, it is argued that, depending on how one interprets the doctrine, OSR is either (i) wholly untenable or (ii) conventional scientific realism (or antirealism) combined with the traditional metaphysical view that objects are bundles of properties and that in the latter case the doctrine has some plausibility, but the arguments that have been adduced in favour of it are inconclusive. The thesis is concluded with a sketch of the sort of position in the scientific realism debate that I find more attractive.

The program of research reported here was concerned with what makes difficult face-to-face communication in work settings difficult. A framework for analysing this problem was developed by bringing together the disparate literatures of communications theory and cognitive appraisal theory. The framework identified the outcome of an instance of face-to-face communication at work as a function of features of the situation, the appraisal that the worker makes in the situation, and the response strategies selected for dealing with the situation. The research program was directed to operationalising these constructs and studying their interrelationship. The first two studies reported in the thesis (Studies 1 and 2) revealed the types of communication encounters that are most difficult to manage at work, and offered insight into why these situations are difficult. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered and the quantitative data analysed using multidimensional scaling techniques. The results provided a taxonomy of difficult communication situations in the workplace. The next two studies (Studies 3 and 4) focused on the development of measures of primary and secondary appraisal, and on a taxonomy of response strategies applicable to work settings. A new measure of primary appraisal was developed from qualitative data pertaining specifically to the domain of difficult communication contexts. Principal components analysis was used in the development of the response strategies instrument. Study 5, the final study, reported the results of the application of cognitive appraisal theory to the context of difficult communication at work. In this study, the theory was applied to four difficult communication situations identified in Study 1, and the relationships among appraisal, response strategy, and outcome were investigated using principal components analysis and, subsequently, hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicated that, as the appraisal of the context varies, so too does the choice of response strategy, lending support to the transactional model. Appraisal contributes significantly to response strategy choice and to the outcome of the situation over and above that offered by response strategies alone. In addition, the findings revealed that appraisal of the situation differ across situations and according to the status of the other person in the encounter. The findings of the series of studies reported here point to the value of viewing difficult communication situations in the workplace in terms of the interrelated constructs of situations, appraisals, strategies rather than, as more commonly, in terms of characteristics of ‘difficult’ persons. Some situations are inherently more difficult than others, appraisals alter the difficulty level of situations, and the availability of response strategies influence outcome. Appraisal is, however, a construct of central importance, in much the same way it is in the research context from which it was appropriated, viz stress research. Appraisal contributes significantly to choice of response strategy and directly to outcome over an above the contribution of response strategy. The research program was not without its shortcomings, among them the reliance on retrospective reports of participants about their behaviour, and these need to be addressed in future research. The findings as they stand do, however, point to more useful ways of conceptualising difficult situations at work and devising methods of intervention that will ensure better outcomes, in a significant area of life in the modern workplace.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die huidige prestasiebestuurstelsel van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch te evalueer en om verbeterings aan te beveel. Die volgende navorsingsdoelwitte is dus bespreek: bepaal of uitsonderlike prestasie beloon word; stel vas of personeellede in die huidige prestasiebestuursproses glo en dit ondersteun; identifiseer die knelpunte in die prestasiebestuurstelsel van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch; bepaal die kenmerke van en vereistes vir doeltreffende prestasiebestuurstelsels; ontwerp ‘n model wat toesighouers in die toekoms as wegspringblok kan gebruik om prestasie as deel van hul daaglikse aktiwiteite te meet; bepaal die potensiële verwantskap tussen prestasie en vergoedingsvlakke; en bemagtig Menslike Hulpbronne om die vergoedingsbeleid konsekwent toe te pas. Eerstens word eietydse literatuur bestudeer om die verskil tussen prestasiebeoordeling en prestasiebestuur te bepaal. Beste praktyk vir prestasiebestuur word deur die literatuuroorsig geïdentifiseer sodat die Universiteit van Stellenbosch dit in die toekoms kan implementeer en sodat die slaggate waarin ander instansies getrap het, vermy kan word. Ander hoër onderwysinstansies word geëvalueer om bestaande stelsels ten volle te begryp en te bepaal waar die Universiteit van Stellenbosch kan verbeter. Data van die 2006-2007 en 2007-2008 prestasie-evalueringstydperke is gebruik om te bepaal of daar ‘n korrelasie is tussen individuele prestasiepunte en bonusse wat ontvang is. Laastens word ‘n elektroniese vraeboog aan alle permanente personeellede aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch versprei word om te bepaal wat die huidige persepsie van prestasiebestuur by bogenoemde instansie is. Die resultate (verwys Tabel 4.4) toon aan dat die Universiteit van Stellenbosch as geheel nie aan die vasgestelde prestasiebestuurbeleid voldoen nie. Sommige personeellede wat ‘n prestasiepunt van 3 en laer behaal het, het ook bonusse ontvang. ‘n Bonus vir ‘n prestasiepunt van 3 kan nog regverdig word as ‘n erkenning vir harde werk. Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch streef ooreenkomstig sy vergoedingsbeleid daarna om ‘n verwantskap tussen prestasie en vergoeding te bewerkstelling deur tussen uitsonderlike, gemiddelde en ondergemiddelde presteerders te onderskei. Dit is duidelik dat die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se beleidsdokumente (vergoeding en prestasiebestuur) uitgevoer word en weldeurdag is. Opleiding, wat saam met opvoeding bevorder word, verseker ‘n hoë vlak van begrip vir prestasiebestuur, die ontwikkeling van die nodige vaardighede en waardering vir die waarde wat prestasiebestuur tot ‘n organisasie kan toevoeg. Die voorgestelde prestasiebestuursmodel (verwys Tabel 5.2) sal verseker dat behoorlike voorbereiding gedoen word (standaard werkprosedures en opleiding) met opvolgaksies (kritiek en hersiening) om te verseker dat die model saam met die organisasie groei. Die huidige prestasiebestuurproses (die hoe) is onsuksesvol. Aandag kan egter aan die proses geskenk word deur opleiding en heropleiding en deur meer finansiële hulpbronne beskikbaar te stel om te verseker dat gepaste verwantskap tussen prestasie en vergoeding geskep word. Verskeie prestasiebestuurprogramme (elektroniese weergawes) is beskikbaar. Dit is vir die toekoms uiters belangrik om elektroniese bestuursmetingsprogramme te implementeer en om die proses hierby aan te pas. Gereelde kommunikasie hou personeel ingelig en verseker dat die verskillende stadiums van prestasiebestuur plaasvind. Die idee dat prestasiebestuur alledaags en tydrowend is moet in ‘n kultuur van maklike en doeltreffende prestasiebestuur omskep word.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to critically examine the current situation regarding the performance management system at Stellenbosch University and make recommendations for improvement. This was done by looking at the following research objectives: determine whether outstanding performance is rewarded; investigate whether staff members believe in and support the current performance process; identify barriers to the performance management system at Stellenbosch University; determine characteristics and requirements of effective performance management systems; design a model that can be used in future as a starting point for supervisors to measure performance as part of their daily activities; determine the potential link between performance and remuneration levels; and empower Human Resources to consistently enforce the remuneration policy. Firstly, contemporary literature was reviewed to understand the difference between performance appraisal and performance management. Best practices for performance management were identified through the literature review to ensure that Stellenbosch University implements those in future and to steer away from the pitfalls other institutions have experienced. Other higher education institutions were evaluated to fully understand what is in place and where Stellenbosch University can improve. Data from the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 performance evaluation periods were used to determine whether a correlation exists between an individual’s performance mark and receiving a bonus. Lastly, an electronic questionnaire was distributed to all permanent employees of Stellenbosch University to determine the current perception of performance management at this institution. The results (refer Table 4.4) indicate that Stellenbosch University as a whole does not comply with the set policy regarding performance appraisal. There were employees who received performance v marks of 3 and below who also received bonuses. Performance marks of 3 can be justified and seen as a “thank you for your hard work”. In terms of Stellenbosch University’s remuneration policy, the University strives to establish a link between performance and remuneration by differentiating between outstanding, average and below average performers. It is clear that Stellenbosch University’s policies (remuneration and performance management) are in place and well thought through. Training, running concurrently with education, ensures a high level of understanding of performance management, the development of the required skills and an appreciation of the value that performance management can add to an organisation. The proposed performance management model (refer Table 5.2) will ensure that thorough preparation is done (standard working procedures and training), with a follow-up action (critique and revision), to allow this model to evolve with the organisation. The current performance management process (how) is not successful. However, it can be fully addressed through training and re-training, and by making more financial resources available to ensure an appropriate linkage between performance and remuneration. Several performance management programmes (electronic versions) do exist. Moving forward, it is vital to implement electronic measuring programmes in conjunction with the re-alignment of the process. Regular communication will keep employees informed and will ensure that the different stages of performance management take place. The idea that performance management is mundane and time-consuming must be changed to a culture of easy-to-do and effective performance management.

The primary aim of this thesis is to detail and evaluate the appraisal frameworks and techniques employed on river restoration projects in the UK. This research evaluates the extent to which restoration projects have implemented the appraisal frameworks and techniques proposed in the practical restoration literature, and examines barriers to the incorporation of appraisal into river restoration projects. An ideal type appraisal framework is developed in this thesis and is used as a tool against which to evaluate the nature and extent of UK river restoration project appraisal. This research was undertaken through a national and a regional investigation of appraisal procedures. The national investigation is designed to be extensive and aims to draw out the basic dimensions of river restoration projects and appraisal. The regional investigation, in contrast, intensive adopting a case study approach which examines in detail how appraisal has and has not been implemented. The national investigation involved a questionnaire survey, sent to 161 people involved in 440 river restoration projects (80% response rate achieved). The regional investigation of the Thames region of the Environment Agency (EA) focused in detail on three case study sites (River Ravensbourne, River Cole and Upper River Kennet) undertaking twenty-five in-depth interviews with restoration practitioners. This enabled the appraisal and decision-making structures of these three projects to be evaluated. This thesis argues that it is not only the structure of a project's appraisal which influences a project's trajectory but also the nature and composition of the decision-making structure. The influence of scientific and lay knowledge in decision making is also explored. This thesis concludes by drawing together key empirical, theoretical and practical findings from these investigations. The results of this research are discussed and evaluated against how effectively UK river restoration projects incorporate the ideal type appraisal framework proposed in Chapter 2. The results of this research are further evaluated in the light of a workshop on river restoration appraisal (undertaken in November 2002) where appraisal frameworks are discussed and ways of including appraisals in river restoration projects are put forward.

The purpose of this study was to explore the causal relationship between purpose of appraisal and leniency in performance ratings. A model in which rater self-efficacy mediated the relationship between appraisal purpose and leniency was tested. In addition, behavioral recognition accuracy was hypothesized to affect rater leniency. In a laboratory setting, 109 undergraduate raters judged the videotaped performance of a graduate teaching assistant. Results of the study showed that (a) leniency was positively related to task-specific self-efficacy, and (b) behavioral recognition accuracy was positively related to general rating self-efficacy. A purpose of appraisal effect was not observed and the proposed mediational model was not supported. These results were discussed in relation to rater affect, accountability in performance ratings, and information processing.
Master of Science

A wide variety of tools exists for appraisal in general. There are, however, very few widely accepted guidelines governing their specific application in industrial projects. It would be useful to a practicing project appraiser to be able to discern which appraisal methods are most applicable to a particular situation. This research has therefore undertaken to investigate the relationship between the appraisal methods available and their application to industrial projects. As such, a number of specific objectives have been discerned. The first of these was to analyse the literature in order to determine the general views held. The second was to corroborate the views of literature with actual industrial trends. The final objective was to compare theory and practice in order to develop broad guidelines for future project appraisers. The procedure adopted to meet these objectives firstly involved conducting a survey of the literature. This yielded a number of conclusions which suggest a preferred approach to appraisal. To evaluate this approach an appropriate questionnaire was compiled. This questionnaire was then circulated to a representative target area, namely the industrial sector of the South Western Cape. The response to this survey provided a database of actual industrial projects. From this database trends were extracted using a number of statistical techniques, such as Analysis of Variance, Contingency Analysis and Log-linear Modelling. The results of this analysis were then used to complement the conclusions of literature and to confirm the preferred approach to project appraisal. The conclusions from the literature where consensus was found to exist involve the following issues: The chronological position of appraisal in the project life-cycle. The types of study that should be included in project appraisal. The chronological order of these studies. The extent to which formal techniques should be used. The background that the appraisers should have. The extent to which project characteristics influence the appraisal approach. The database provided by the industrial survey consisted of 173 projects conducted in 33 different organisations. Analysis conducted on this database yielded a number of simple one-to-one relationships between project success, appraisal method used and project characteristics. From these relationships a picture of the reality experienced in the South Western Cape could be formed. Such a picture was compared with literature in order to form an overall set of guidelines for use by the practising project appraiser. As a result of the analysis and the subsequent comparison between literature and practice, conclusions were drawn concerning a number of aspects in the research. Such aspects include the success of the research method, uncertainties of the industrial survey, consensus between literature and practice on appraisal procedures and the existence of a preferred approach to project appraisal. A number of recommendations could also be made with regard to two areas of interest. The first concerns recommendations for further research in the field of project appraisal. These include extending the database so as to accommodate multi-variate analysis, researching the formal techniques available for operational suitability and technical feasibility studies and adopting a different mode of survey to that of a posted questionnaire. The second area of interest recommends a set of broad guidelines to the practising project appraiser. These guidelines rationalise such issues as the influence of project characteristics on the use of appraisal methods, the chronological position of appraisal within the project life-cycle, the type and chronological order of studies that should be conducted in the appraisal procedure and the techniques and expertise that should be utilised within each study.

The use of performance appraisal (PA) schemes is now almost ubiquitous in modem organizations, yet the academic literature on the subject must contend with a number of empirical studies which suggest that those who implement appraisal systems consider them to have failed. This suggests a need for more comprehensive examination of what happens when PA is implemented in practice. Taking a broadly realist approach, this thesis argues that such an examination must give a more comprehensive picture of how each of the different groups involved in PA participate in such schemes, with such participation seen not as determined by appraisal systems, but as meaningful choices taken by agents, which are influenced by such systems. This thesis focuses on the understandings (or 'theorizations') of PA held by different groups, arguing that these are the basis of the choices they make about how to participate. Employees at two local authorities in England were interviewed about their understandings and experiences of PA, and connections were drawn from the distinctive rationalities of each group about the organization in general, through their understandings of PA in particular, to the way they actually participate in appraisal. The latter topic is not a major focus of the thesis, but was studied by examining how PA forms at the two authorities had been designed to produce certain outcomes, and how some appraisers and appraisees had completed those forms. From this examination, two main conclusions are drawn. Firstly, the studied schemes reflected their designers' wish for them to perform multiple and contradictory functions. Secondly, appraisers and appraisees participated in PA enthusiastically, but often in ways against the design of the PA scheme, reflecting the fact that, whilst they accepted the legitimacy of their organization's PA schemes, their understandings of PA were very different to those of the designers.

The Master's Thesis is focused on the analysis of the employee performance appraisal system in the selected company. The aim of the thesis is to identify a strengths and weaknesses of the performance appraisal system and based on the discovered facts to suggest suitable solutions for increasing the efficiency of the evaluation system. The theoretical part deals with fundamental theoretical concepts and also with personal activities related to the employee performance appraisal. In the practical part is found out how the system of the employee performance appraisal is perceived through the questionnaire survey. Based on the survey results are identified shortcomings of the current system and proposed the measures for streamline the performance system.

This thesis explores the possibility of using both miniature reflection (MSR-IE) and Ultrasonic (PUNDIT) techniques for the appraisal of paste backfill.
The use of paste backfill is gaining popularity, however various technical, environmental and regulatory constraints complexify the study of its behaviour. There are various laboratory experiments available for the appraisal of this material; however the results do not necessarily correspond to its in-situ response. The main objective of this experimentation is to evaluate the quality of the fill by the study of its P-wave velocity, hence establish a relationship between the curing-time, strength and P-wave velocity of the material. This preliminary analysis in the field of mining demonstrates the possibility of finding an easy, reliable and cost effective in-situ method of appraising paste backfill.
Given the complexity of the research project, the work focuses on correlating the quality of the paste fill, with the MSR-IE and PUNDIT systems, in a laboratory environment. The results demonstrate the potential of the MSR-IE investigation on Paste backfill and the near future possibility of in-situ testing with this method.