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Dimitrova, Maia Tzokova. "Instructional multimedia : comparison and enhancement of expert evaluation methods." Thesis, City University London, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.268952.
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Chinyamakobvu, Mutsa Carole. "Eliciting and combining expert opinion : an overview and comparison of methods." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017827.
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Decision makers have long relied on experts to inform their decision making. Expert judgment analysis is a way to elicit and combine the opinions of a group of experts to facilitate decision making. The use of expert judgment is most appropriate when there is a lack of data for obtaining reasonable statistical results. The experts are asked for advice by one or more decision makers who face a specific real decision problem. The decision makers are outside the group of experts and are jointly responsible and accountable for the decision and committed to finding solutions that everyone can live with. The emphasis is on the decision makers learning from the experts. The focus of this thesis is an overview and comparison of the various elicitation and combination methods available. These include the traditional committee method, the Delphi method, the paired comparisons method, the negative exponential model, Cooke’s classical model, the histogram technique, using the Dirichlet distribution in the case of a set of uncertain proportions which must sum to one, and the employment of overfitting. The supra Bayes approach, the determination of weights for the experts, and combining the opinions of experts where each opinion is associated with a confidence level that represents the expert’s conviction of his own judgment are also considered.
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Tsui, Chung-kwan Paul. "An evaluation of classroom management through expert-novice comparison : a case study /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1996. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B17947455.
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Zahainov, Vassyl M. "Comparison of expert judgment methods used for modernization decision the case of MiG-29 /." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2000. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA380847.
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Thesis (M.S. in International Resource Planning and Management) Naval Postgraduate School, June 2000.Thesis advisor(s): Hildebrandt, Gregory; Franck, Raymond. "June 2000." Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-112). Also available in print.
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Smith, Barbara S. "Uncertainty reasoning and representation: a comparison of several alternative approaches /." Online version of thesis, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1850/10580.
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Lee, Soo Ho. "Comparison and Application of Probabilistic Clustering Methods for System Improvement Prioritization." The Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1339766563.
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Goldstein, Lizabeth Alexandra. "Cognitive Therapy for Depression Provided by Novice and Expert Therapists: Comparison of Skill Acquisition and Patient Outcomes." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1432225327.
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Toumanidis, Theofilactos. "Analysis and comparison of target selection models for market segmentation and development of a new approach based on fuzzy expert systems." Thesis, Aberystwyth University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2160/9a5b53dc-fb2c-4894-a6a3-010f61247501.
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Target selection models play an important role in business practice. They are the data-mining methods that enable firms to conduct market segmentation. Marketers apply them to customer databases to identify the profiles of consumers who are most interested in a particular offer or marketing proposition. However, both the marketing and data-mining literature indicate that there is inadequate research that compares target selection models in order to help practitioners understand how to apply them. With respect to this, the focus of this study is to provide guidance on the implementation of a collection of target selection models and to assess their comparative performance with regard to their practical usefulness. This study assesses the relative performance of the methods cluster analysis alongside multiple dicsriminant analysis (MDA), Chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) and expert systems in predicting the weekly expenditure of grocery products of 9,854 consumers in the UK and develops a new approach based on fuzzy expert systems. The comparison of these methods is conducted by using three criteria (parity test, hit rate and lift charts) and one validation method (M-fold cross-validation). The results suggest that these methods vary in performance across different criteria. Overall, CHAID and fuzzy expert systems outperformed cluster analysis alongside MDA in terms of classification accuracy (parity test and the hit rate), moreover, as far as practical applicability is concerned (lift charts), no clear conclusions could be drawn between CHAID and cluster analysis alongside MDA on which of the two is best, while expert systems performed last. Furthermore, from the findings mentioned and from the empirical application of the methods examined, conclusions are derived on the features of their processes that affect their practical usefulness and on the way they should be implemented.
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Martel, Guillaume. "Evaluating Surgical Outcomes: A Systematic Comparison of Evidence from Randomized Trials and Observational Studies in Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/20534.
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Background: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is a novel healthcare technology, for which much research evidence has been published. The objectives of this work were to compare the oncologic outcomes of this technology across different study types, and to define patterns of adoption on the basis of the literature.
Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was conducted using 1) existing systematic reviews, 2) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 3) observational studies. Outcomes of interest were overall survival, and total lymph node harvest. Outcomes were compared for congruence. Adoption was evaluated by means of summary expert opinions in the literature.
Results: 1) Existing systematic reviews were of low to moderate quality and displayed evidence of overlap and duplication. 2) Laparoscopy was not inferior to open surgery in terms of oncologic outcomes in any study type. 3) Oncologic outcomes from RCTs and observational studies were congruent. 4) Expert opinion in the literature has been supportive of this technology, paralleling the publication of large RCTs.
Conclusions: The evaluation of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in RCTs and observational studies suggests that it is not inferior to open surgery. Adoption of this technology has paralleled RCT evidence.
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Korifi, Rabia. "Développement de nouvelles méthodologies de traitement des signaux analytiques : application aux signaux chromatographiques. Analyse de mélanges complexes." Thesis, Aix-Marseille, 2013. http://www.theses.fr/2013AIXM4323.
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Cette thèse porte sur la création d'un système expert d'alignement automatique des signaux chromatographiques répondant à une problématique de dérives et de décalages de signaux rencontrée dans l'inter-comparaison de données en milieu évolutif. Après un état de l'art des différentes méthodes d'alignement qui existent dans la littérature, les performances des méthodes librement disponibles ont été testées sur des jeux de données chromatographiques simulées et réelles. A l'issu de ce travail méthodique, il s'est avéré qu'aucune des méthodes n'apportait pleinement satisfaction en matière de performances définies dans le cahier des charges. Ainsi, une optimisation de la meilleure de ces méthodes d'alignement a été développée afin qu'elle puisse être annexée à un logiciel d'acquisition et de traitement de données chromatographiques. La dernière partie de ce manuscrit traite d'une problématique complémentaire, la conformité des échantillons en terme de contrôle qualité. La similitude des pics est évaluée selon des critères développés et validés par une exploitation manuelle des donnéesThis thesis focuses on the creation of an expert system for automatic alignment of chromatographic signals in response to a problem of drifts and shifts of signals encountered in the inter-comparison of data in evolving environment. After a state of the art of the different alignment methods that exist in the literature, the performances of freely available methods were tested on sets of simulated and real chromatographic data. At the end of this methodical work, it turned out that none of the methods did not provide fully satisfactory in terms of performance defined in the specification. Thus, an optimization of the best alignment method has been developed so that it can be attached to a software acquisition and processing of chromatographic data. The last part of this thesis deals with a complementary problem, the conformity of the samples in terms of quality control. The similarity of the peaks is evaluated according to criteria developed and validated by manual operation data
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Hrubá, Marie. "Srovnání systémů podpory exportu v České republice a v Německu." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2008. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-9423.
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First part deals with different schools of economics, their characteristics and approaches towards international trade and export support. Second part deals with the system of international trade, its organization and related obligations. Third part deals with the Czech Republic, its foreign trade, history of export support and current system of export support. Fourth part deals with Germany, its foreign trade, history of export support and current system of export support. In last part is conducted comparison of both systems of export supports.
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Salga, Jan. "Analýza forem a nástrojů proexportní politiky ČR v komparaci s vybranou zemí EU." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2012. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-191492.
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For the creation of the foreign trade relations, and in particular for the development of export is a key position of the State expressed in its export promotion policy. This diploma thesis deals with the comparison of the export promotion policy of the Czech Republic with the selected EU country - Austria, which is in many ways comparable to the Czech Republic. Subject of comparison is the export performance of the Czech Republic and Austria, the conceptual framework of both export promotion policies, their institutional arrangement and export promoting financial and non-financial services.
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Oteniya, Lloyd. "Bayesian belief networks for dementia diagnosis and other applications : a comparison of hand-crafting and construction using a novel data driven technique." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/497.
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The Bayesian network (BN) formalism is a powerful representation for encoding domains characterised by uncertainty. However, before it can be used it must first be constructed, which is a major challenge for any real-life problem. There are two broad approaches, namely the hand-crafted approach, which relies on a human expert, and the data-driven approach, which relies on data. The former approach is useful, however issues such as human bias can introduce errors into the model. We have conducted a literature review of the expert-driven approach, and we have cherry-picked a number of common methods, and engineered a framework to assist non-BN experts with expert-driven construction of BNs. The latter construction approach uses algorithms to construct the model from a data set. However, construction from data is provably NP-hard. To solve this problem, approximate, heuristic algorithms have been proposed; in particular, algorithms that assume an order between the nodes, therefore reducing the search space. However, traditionally, this approach relies on an expert providing the order among the variables --- an expert may not always be available, or may be unable to provide the order. Nevertheless, if a good order is available, these order-based algorithms have demonstrated good performance. More recent approaches attempt to ''learn'' a good order then use the order-based algorithm to discover the structure. To eliminate the need for order information during construction, we propose a search in the entire space of Bayesian network structures --- we present a novel approach for carrying out this task, and we demonstrate its performance against existing algorithms that search in the entire space and the space of orders. Finally, we employ the hand-crafting framework to construct models for the task of diagnosis in a ''real-life'' medical domain, dementia diagnosis. We collect real dementia data from clinical practice, and we apply the data-driven algorithms developed to assess the concordance between the reference models developed by hand and the models derived from real clinical data.
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Prouty, James R. "Displaying uncertainty a comparison between submarine subject matter experts." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Naval Postgraduate School, 2007. http://bosun.nps.edu/uhtbin/hyperion.exe/07Mar%5FProuty.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2007.Thesis Advisor(s): Susan G. Hutchins, Susan S. Kirschenbaum. "March 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-120). Also available in print.
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Prokešová, Lucie. "Posouzení vlivu stavby bytového nebo polyfunkčního domu na cenu sousedního rodinného domu v lokalitě Žabovřesky, obec Brno." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Ústav soudního inženýrství, 2010. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-232504.
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The thesis focuses on the assessment of the impact of the construction of a multi-functional building on the value of a neighbouring family house in Brno – Žabovřesky. The theoretical part includes the description of the direct comparison method. The second practical part consists of the determination of the price upon the valid valuation regulation and the usual price. The aim of the work is to assess the negative and positive influences impacting the family house that would occur upon the construction of the neighbouring multi-functional building. The thesis is processed as a case study.
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Mathur, Lynette L. "Foreign-trade zones and U.S. export manufacturing : a comparison of zone and non-zone export manufacturers." Connect to resource, 1990. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view.cgi?acc%5Fnum=osu1265633374.
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Mathur, Lynette L. "Foreign-trade zones and U.S. export manufacturing : a comparison of zone and non-zone export manufacturers /." The Ohio State University, 1991. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487685204969138.
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Zbranková, Lenka. "Srovnání systému podpory exportu v Rakousku a ČR." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2011. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-162203.
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This master's thesis deals with the comparison of export support systems in the Czech Republic and Austria. In the first chapter, the terms "export support" and "export credit agencies" are defined and instruments of export supporting policies as well as their positive and negative aspects are listed and EU regulation and policies in this field are briefly described. A short description of the Czech Republic and Austria follows. Special attention is paid to the following analysis of export strategies and export credit agencies in both economies. This descriptive theoretical part is complemented by a practical case study carried out in cooperation with TOSHULIN, a.s. -- a successful producer and exporter of machinery. Both systems of export support are evaluated from the point of view of the company's sales department. The thesis concludes with an evaluation of the topic, a comparison of the effectiveness of both export support systems, and the author's suggestions for potential innovation and improvement in this area.
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Spence, James Michael. "A Comparison of Major Factors that Affect Hospital Formulary Decision-Making by Three Groups of Prescribers." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2018. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1157518/.
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The exponential growth in medical pharmaceuticals and related clinical trials have created a need to better understand the decision-making factors in the processes for developing hospital medication formularies. The purpose of the study was to identify, rank, and compare major factors impacting hospital formulary decision-making among three prescriber groups serving on a hospital's pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committee. Prescribers were selected from the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center which is a large, multi-facility, academic oncology hospital. Specifically, the prescriber groups studied were comprised of physicians, midlevel providers, and pharmacists. A self-administered online survey was disseminated to participants. Seven major hospital formulary decision-making factors were identified in the scientific literature. Study participants were asked to respond to questions about each of the hospital formulary decision-making factors and to rank the various formulary decision-making factors from the factor deemed most important to the factor deemed least important. There are five major conclusions drawn from the study including three similarities and two significant differences among the prescriber groups and factors. Similarities include: (1) the factor "pharmacy staff's evaluation of medical evidence including formulary recommendations" was ranked highest for all three prescriber groups; (2) "evaluation of medications by expert physicians" was ranked second for physicians and midlevel providers while pharmacists ranked it third; and (3) the factor, "financial impact of the treatment to the patient" was fifth in terms of hospital formulary decision-making statement and ranking by all three prescriber groups. Two significant differences include: (1) for the hospital-formulary decision making statement, "I consider the number of patients affected by adding, removing, or modifying a drug on the formulary when making hospital medication formulary decisions," midlevel providers considered this factor of significantly greater importance than did physicians; and (2) for the ranked hospital formulary decision-making factor, "financial impact of treatment to the institution," pharmacists ranked this factor significantly higher than did physicians. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the three prescriber groups serving on a P&T committee. Also, the study contributes to the body of literature regarding decision-making processes in medicine and specifically factors impacting hospital formulary decision-making. Furthermore, this study has the potential to impact the operational guidelines for the P&T committee at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center as well as other hospitals.
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Israeloff, Alanna. "Comparison of feedback generated by experts and learners during formative evaluation." Thesis, McGill University, 1992. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=61293.
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Despite the recommendation to use both expert and learner feedback during formative evaluation, little research has compared the differences in data produced by these two sources. The presents study examines the differences in feedback produced by experts and learners. Six sessions with experts and six sessions with learners were conducted to obtain feedback about a six page instructional unit. The think-aloud method was used to gather data from experts and the talk-aloud method was used with learners. Comments from experts and learners were transcribed, segmented, and coded according to two coding system which addressed both the amount and type of feedback. Results indicated that when compared to learners, experts identify a higher percentage of problems, make more comments related to their knowledge of the subject matter, provide more revision suggestions, and summarize their comments and actions more often. Learners elaborate more about each problem and focus on issues related to instructional design and language. The findings support the use of both experts and learners to evaluate instruction.
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Taggart, Jennifer. "The impact of exchange rate uncertainty on the competitiveness of firms in the UK and Ireland : a comparison." Thesis, University of the West of Scotland, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.388211.
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Bates, Dan J. "Economic Comparison of Selected Processing Alternatives for Alfalfa." DigitalCommons@USU, 1992. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4094.
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Processing alfalfa for export is of significant interest to areas like Millard County, the largest hay-producing county in Utah. In the past year there have ix been significant reductions in the price of hay as a result of increased supplies in the central and western United States. This thesis analyzes the benefits and costs of processing alfalfa into cubes and recompressed bales in order to enter the export market.
Costs of production were estimated through the use of enterprise budgets first for the farmer to establish the costs and returns for raising the hay, and secondly for cubing and recompressing the alfalfa at different levels of production and different prices based on those levels of production. The cash flows from these different enterprises were then analyzed using benefit cost ratios, net benefit investment ratios, and internal rates of return.
The general conclusion reached is that it is feasible to process alfalfa for export. Profits are sensitive to the price spread between raw and finished products more so than to production efficiencies.
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Tremblay, Diana. "Comparison of feedback generated by subject matter and learner experts during formative evaluation." Thesis, McGill University, 1994. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=26344.
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The literature on formative evaluation advocates the use of both subject matter and learner experts to review instructional materials, yet there has been little research to support this recommendation. The present study investigates the distinguishing characteristics of these two expert reviewers, in particular the type and amount of oral feedback they produced and the cognitive processes they engaged in. The think-aloud method was employed to obtain feedback about a six page instructional unit from eight experts; four subject matter and four learner experts. Comments from the experts were transcribed, segmented and coded according to three coding systems. Results indicated that the two groups produced similar data. In addition, the findings showed that both groups referred to similar domains of knowledge, evoked or constructed similar plans and identified their task as detecting problems. These findings contradict the use of both types of experts during formative evaluation. Some practical recommendations for practitioners are offered.
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Rieckmann, Johannes P. "Two dynamic export sectors (diamonds, tourism) in Namibia and Botswana : comparison of developmental strategies." Bremen IWIM - Inst. für Weltwirtschaft und Internationales Management, Univ. Bremen, Fachbereich Wirtschaftswiss, 2008. http://www.iwim.uni-bremen.de/publikationen/pdf/b112.pdf.
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Flesher, Paul Michael. "Proof validation in Euclidean geometry: a comparison of novices and experts using eye tracking." Diss., Kansas State University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/38778.
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Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Mathematics
Andrew G. Bennett
This dissertation investigates and compares the methods of proof validation utilized by novice and expert mathematicians within the realm of Euclidean geometry. With the use of eye tracking technology, our study presents empirical evidence supporting claims previously studied only through the use of verbal protocols. Our investigation settles a series of contentious results surrounding the practical implementation of the generalized validation strategy called zooming out (Inglis and Alcock, 2012; Weber, Mejia-Ramos, Inglis, and Alcock, 2013). This strategy analyzes the overall structure of a proof as an application of methods or logical chunks. Settling the debate through use of longer and more complicated proofs devoid of blatant errors, we found that validators do not initially skim-read proofs to gain structural insight. We did however confirm the practical implementation of zooming out strategies. The literature identifies within the proof validation process specific differences between novices and experts. We are interested in a holistic understanding of novice and expert validations. We therefore present the direct comparison of entire validation processes that assess the similarity of novice and expert overall validation attempts. We found that the validation processes of novices and experts share a certain degree of similarity. In fact novices tend to be closer to experts than to other novices. And when validations are clustered, the groups are heterogeneous with regard to mathematical maturity. Our investigation expands the proof validation literature by including diagrams in the proof validation process. We found that experts tend to spend more time proportionally on the diagram than novices and that novices spend more time on the text. Furthermore, experts tend to draw more connections within the diagram than novices as indicated by a higher proportion of attentional changes within the diagrams. Experts seem to draw on the power of visualizations within the mathematics itself, spending more time on conceptual understanding and intended connections.
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Mosoma, Khutsi Peace Wellington. "International comparison of agricultural exports : South Africa and the Cairns Groups." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49994.
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Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study addresses two important research questions which are in essence motivated by the trade policy reform that took effect in the 1990s to reverse decades of inward industrialisation strategies towards outward industrialisation strategies to promote economic growth and development. This raised the expectation that a movement away from low-demand growth products towards commodities with stronger demand growth and buoyant price trends would be encouraged. The first central question that this study addresses is the extent to which South African agricultural exports are moving up the value chain relative to the agricultural exports of the other members of the Cairns Group. The second research question that the study addresses is to determine whether South Africa's movement up the value chain (value adding activities) in agricultural exports is more competitive than the other members of the Cairns Group. To adequately address the first research question data from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) databases were used to examine their trade perspectives. The second research question was addressed by applying Relative Comparative Advantage (RTA) using data from the FAOSTAT 2002 to determine each country's competitive status in selected agro- food chains. The results show that South Africa managed to surpass all other members of the Cairns Group, except Chile, Philippines and Bolivia, whose export structures are highly dominated by high-value products relative to South Africa in terms of the movement up the value chain in agricultural exports. This is the case despite the fact that countries such as Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand and Uruguay have managed to increase their percentage export value of high-value agricultural products and that South Africa has experienced a decrease in the percentage export value of high-value products. The results also clearly show that the food chains in Costa Rica, Paraguay, Thailand and South Africa are generally marginally competitive, whilst the food chains in Canada, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia and Uruguay are only just marginally competitive as many of their RTA values are situated around zero. The food chains in Guatemala, Malaysia, New Zealand and Philippines are internationally uncompetitive. And the food chains in Argentina,Australia and Brazil are internationally competitive. The analysis also reveals that competitiveness decreases in all these countries when moving from primary to processed products in the agro-food chains which implies that value-adding opportunities are constrained.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie spreek twee belangrike navorsingvraagstukke aan wat in wese gemotiveer is deur die handelsbeleidshervormingsproses wat in die 1990s 'n aanvang geneem het. Dekades van intern-gerigte industrialisasiestrategieë is na ekstern-gerigte industrialisasiestrategieë omgeskakel om sodoende groei en ontwikkeling aan te moedig. Hierdie proses het die verwagting geskep dat 'n beweging weg van produkte met lae groei in vraag, na goedere met 'n sterker groei in vraag en veerkragtige prystendense sal aanmoedig. Die eerste sentrale probleem waarop in hierdie studie gefokus word is die mate waartoe Suid- Afrikaanse landbou-uitvoere in die waarde-ketting op beweeg het relatief tot die landbouuitvoere van die ander lede van die Cairns Groep. Die tweede vraag wat die narvorsig aanspreek is an vas te stelof Suid Afrika se waardeletting oktiwiteite in landbou uitvore meer kompeterend is as die van onder lede van die Cairns Groep. Om die eerste navorsingsprobleem voldoende aan te spreek, is data van die Voedsel en Landbou Organisasie, Handel en Industriële Beleidstrategieë en die Wêreldhandelsorganisasie gebruik. Hierdie organisasies se databasisse is gebruik om handelsperspektiewe te bepaal. Die tweede navorsingsprobleem is aangespreek deur die toepassing van die Relatiewe Vergelykende Voordeel (RVV) op die data bekom van die FAOSTAT 2002. Hierdeur is elke land se mededingende status in sekere geselekteerde agri-voedselkettings bepaal. Die resultate wys dat Suid Afrika daarin geslaag het om die ander lede van die Cairns Groep verby te steek, met die uitsondering van Chilli, die Filippyne en Bolivië, waar uitvoerstrukture gedomineer word deur hoë waarde produkte relatief tot Suid Afrika. Hierdie tendens is ten spyte daarvan dat lande soos Argentinië, Australië, Brasilië, Colombië, Costa Rica, Indonesië, New Zealand, Thailand en Uruguay daarin geslaag het om hul persentasie uitvoerwaarde van hoë waarde landbouprodukte op te stoot, en dat Suid Afrika, daarenteen, ervaar het dat die uitvoere van hierdie produkte afgeneem het. Die resultate toon duidelik dat die voedselkettings in Costa Rica, Paraguay, Thailand en Suid-Afrika oor die algemeen marginaal kompeterend is, terwyl die voedselkettings in Kanada, Chile, Colombië, Indonesië en Uruguay tot 'n mindere mate marginaal kompeterend is aangesien hul RVV-waardes rondom nul lê. Die voedselkettings in Guatemala, Maleisië, Nieu-Seeland en die Filippyne is internasionaal nie-kompeterend, met die voedselkettings in Argentinië, Australië en Brasilië wel internasionaal kompeterend. Die analise wys ook dat die mededingendheid afneem in al hierdie lande wanneer hulle van primêre na geprosesseerde produkte beweeg in agri-voedselkettings, dit impliseer dat waarde toevoeging geleenthede tot produkte beperk is.
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Zaar, Emil. "Photovoltaic power potential on Gotland: A comparison with load, wind power and power export possibilities." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-295997.
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The Swedish Island of Gotland provides an interesting case of how renewable energy technologies can be combined and integrated into the electricity system. The study simulates the load, wind power production and PV power production to estimate the PV power potential for existing buildings on Gotland. The theoretical PV power potential on Gotland is calculated to be 667 MW. The PV power potential is split between 28% for dwelling buildings, 9% for multi-dwelling buildings, 7% for industry and 56% for other buildings. The current limit for wind power on Gotland is 195 MW. With the installed capacity of 194 MW wind power, an additional of 22 MW of PV power is possible to integrate without increasing the hours of overload on the power cable. With the prospected submarine power cable, a total of 529 MW PV power is possible to integrate with the existing 194 MW of wind power.
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Matthysen, Carlo. "A comparison of export processing zones and industrial development zones in Africa : key factors for success." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50555.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: 'Our industrial development zones have not performed as we have expected - we need to revisit the incentives that we give in these zones', says the deputy president of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Business Report, 2005: http://www.ecdc.co.za/media/article.asp?pageid=929). This statement raises 2 important questions. Firstly, how was the deputy president able to conclude that these zones have underperformed and secondly, which incentives must South Africa offer potential investors to turn around the fortunes of their programme? To determine how performance can be measured, two investigations were consulted to come up with a list of ten criteria against which export processing zones can be measured to determine whether they have performed successfully or not. As experts are of the opinion that industrial development zones run along similar lines to export processing zones, these criteria could very easily be applied to measuring the success of the former as well. The list includes: • Location • A politically and socially stable host country • High business confidence • Adequate infrastructure • Incentives on offer and administrative set-up • Employment creation • Backward linkages and technology transfer • Foreign exchange eamings • The availability of a competitive labour force • Market accessibility By assessing the zones in Mauritius and Namibia in terms of these criteria, it becomes clear why Schulze (1999: 182) states that Mauritius has become the shining star on the horizon of successful export processing zones and why Tabby Moyo (1999: 1), deputy news editor at The Namibian, is of the opinion that Namibia has so far achieved dismal results. The South African industrial development zone programme was started in the late 1990's and the zones - which are located at Coega, East London, Richards Bay and the Johannesburg International airport - have been in operation for too short a period to allow accurate conclusions to be made about their performance in terms of the ten criteria listed above. However, since their inception, these zones have attrac1ed less than R3.5-billion in planned investments despite the government spending more than R4-billion on infrastructure (www.eedc.co.zalmedia/article.asp?pageid=929). To make these investment-starved zones more attractive to foreign investors, the South African government and the National Treasury, in particular, will have to offer potential investors a much more comprehensive incentive package. They need to: • Review the tax incentives they offer; • Maintain the country's general business; • Make the country's labour laws more flexible; • Increase the literacy rate of the labour force; • Lower the cost of transport, energy and telecoms; • Articulate a vision, build consensus around It and move to action this vision. South Africa needs a world class industrial development zone programme as Schulze (1999: 170) sums it up nicely when he says that free trade zones can indeed contribute to domestic economic growth which will thereby help to alleviate the country's dramatic unemployment rate in addition to enhancing foreign commerce, generating additional foreign exchange and attracting foreign investment. Improvements that South Africa can greatly benefit from.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'Our industrial development zones have not performed as we have expected - we need to revisit the incentives that we give in these zones', verklaar die adjunkpresident van Suid-Afrika, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Business Report, 2005: hltp:/lwww.ecdc.co.za/media/article.asp?pageid=929). Hierdie stelling wek twee belangrike vrae. Eerstens, hoe was dit vir die adjunk-president moontlik om tot die slotsom te kom dat hierdie sones onderpresteer en tweedens, watter tipe aanmoedigingsmaatreels moet Suid Afrika aan potensiele beleggers bied om 'n ommekeer in die voorspoed van die programme te bewerkstellig? Twee ondersoeke is geraadpleeg ten einde vas te stel hoe prestasie gemeet kan word. Hieruit is 'n Iys van tien kriteria bepaal waarteen uitvoerproseseringssones gemeet kan word om vas te stel of hulle suksesvol presteer of nie. Aangesien deskundiges van mening is dat nywerheidsontwikkelingssones op soortgelyke basis as die van uitvoerproseseringssones funksioneer, kan hierdie kriteria ewe maklik toegepas word om die sukses van die eersgenoemde te bepaal. Die Iys sluit die volgende in: • Ligging; • 'n Politieke en sosiaal standvastige gasheerland; • Hoe handelsvertroue; • 'n Bevredigende infrastruktuur; • Die aanbieding van aanmoedigingsmaatreels en 'n administratiewe opset; • Werkskepping; • Terugskakeling en tegnologiese oordrag; • Buitelandse valuta inkomste; • Die beskikbaarheid van 'n kompeterende werksmag; • Toegang tot die mark. Deur die sones in Mauritius en Namibia te evalueer na aanleiding van hierdie kriteria, word dit duidelik waarom Schulze (1999:182) verklaar dat Mauritius die skynende ster op die horison geword het van suksesvolle uitvoerproseseringssones en waarom Tabby Moyo (1999:1), adjunk-redakteur vir The Namibian, van mening is dat Namibia tot dusver uiters swak resultate behaal het. Die Suid Afrikaanse nyweheidsontwikkelingssone program het in die laat 1990's begin en die sones - Coega, Oos Londen, Richardsbaai en die Johannesburgse Internasionale Lughawe - is nog vir te kort 'n periode in werking om 'n akkurate gevolgtrekking te maak van hulle prestasie in terme van die voorafgenoemde tien kriteria. Nogtans, sedert hul begin, het hierdie sones minder as R3.5b in beplande investering gelok ten spyte daarvan dat die regering meer as R4b op infrastruktuur spandeer het (www.eedc.co.za/media/article.asp?pageid=929). Om hierdie beleggingshonger sones meer aanloklik te maak vir buitelandse beleggers, sal veral die Suid Afrikaanse Regering en die Nasionale Tesourie 'n meer omvattende aanmoedigingspakket aan potensiele beleggers moet bied. Hulle sal die volgende moet doen: • Die belastingsaanmoedigings wat hulle tans bied, te hersien; • Die land se algemene sakebedryf te ondersteun; • Arbiedswetgewing meer buigbaar maak; • Die geletterdheid onder die ambagsmag te verhoog; • Vervoer-, energie- en telekommunikasie koste te verlaag; • 'n Visie artikuleer, konsensus daar random bou en hierdie visie tot aksie te transformeer. Suid Afrika benodig 'n wereld-gehalte industriele ontwikkelingssone-program soos wat Schulze (1999:170) goed opsom wanneer hy sê dat vrye handelsones inderdaad kan bydra tot binnelandse ekonomies groei wat kan help om die land se dramatiese werkloosheid syfer te verlaag asook om buitelandse handel te bevorder. Hierdeur kan addisionele buitelandse valuta gegenereer word en buitelandse beleggings gelok word. Suid-Afrika kan baie baat vind by hierdie verbeterings.
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Rolle, Christian. "What can we expect from international comparison in the field of music education?: Opportunities and challenges." Georg Olms Verlag, 2018. https://slub.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A34630.
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Analysing the conversations at the conference the chapter addresses fundamental issues of cultural comparison in music education. There is a disciplinary bias that can tempt the researcher to overestimate cultural conditions. This could lead to cultural relativism that keeps us from critically addressing normative issues associated with aims and contents of music education.
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Hanchey, Cindy Meyer. "A Comparison of Ethical Attitudes of University Students With Those of Experts Using Computer-Related Scenarios." NSUWorks, 1995. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/564.
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Many studies exist that examine ethical beliefs and attitudes of university students attending medium or large institutions. There are also many studies which examine ethical attitudes and beliefs of computer science and information systems majors. None, however, examines ethical attitudes of university students (regardless of undergraduate major) at a small, Christian, liberal arts institution (Oklahoma Baptist University) regarding computer related situations. This study evaluates and compares students at a small, Christian, liberal arts school with those from neighboring state schools as well as compares those students' ethical attitudes with those of experts (thoughtful, responsible people in computer science, technology, and business). All of the situations presented involved some aspect of computing technology.
Findings tend to indicate that school size (small versus large) may be more of an influence on ethical beliefs rather than type of school (state versus private, Christian) Likewise, students attending OBU were more likely to exhibit significant differences in attitudes when age, expertise were used as predictor work experience, variables rather or computer than using gender, major, or completion of a prior course in ethics. Finally, OBU students' attitudes differed significantly from those of experts in almost half of the questions presented.
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Klimentová, Lenka. "Srovnání systému podpory vývozu v ČR a v Irské republice." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2008. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-9337.
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This diploma thesis compares the system of export support in the Czech Republic with the system of export support in Ireland. Both countries are characterized in the first two chapters from the economic view, especially from the view of international trade. The core of this thesis is devoted to the systems of support of export in each country with a view to the institutions, which help to exercise the support of export, and with a view to the instruments, that these institutions use to achieve their goals. The thesis contains the evaluation of efficiency of these systems of export support and mutual comparison of these systems.
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Hunt, Robin. "A comparison between export processing zones and industrial development zones with special reference to Walvis Bay and Coega." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50240.
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Theses (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In order to survive in a global economy, developing nations can no longer rely on their own resources if they wish to prosper, they require outside assistance. Various economic policies and strategies have been adopted over the years in order to encourage foreign capital to contribute to the growth of developing nations. One of the most common of these is the concept of an export promotion zone. This is a dedicated area inside the host country where the host tries to lure foreign investors - usually by providing a range of financial and labour concessions. Namibia instituted an export promotion zone in the mid nineties in Walvis Bay but has met with limited success, as indeed have many of the other countries which have tried this approach. Namibia's immediate neighbour - South Africa - reviewed this and other economic zones with the intent of adopting a policy better suited to the needs of foreign capital. The result was the development of an industrial development zone in Coega outside Port Elizabeth. This study contrasts these two concepts in order to ascertain similarities and differences both in terms of their respective legislation and in terms of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies ten criteria for a successful investment environment. The conclusion was that these two policy frameworks are different more in name than in substance, with one crucial exception: South Africa has effectively waived most of the tax concessions generally found in this type of area. It is argued that if the South Africa concept does succeed it will probably be more a function of the country's relative economic size in Africa rather than because of policy differences. Beyond that there is little reason to believe that South Africa will meet with any more success than Namibia barring the acquisition of a major anchor tenant to draw other affiliate industries.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontwikkelende lande het buitelandse bystand nodig om in 'n wêreld ekonomie te bestaan omdat hulle nie meer op hulle eie reserwe bronne kan staat maak nie. Verskeie strategieë en ekonomiese beleidstoepassings is in die verlede aangewend om buitelandse beleggings te lok ten einde by te dra tot die groei van ontwikkelende nasies. 'n Algemene strategie is die daarstelling van 'n uitvoersone waardeur die land probeer om buitelandse beleggers te lok deur die daarstelling van 'n reeks finansiële- en arbeidstoegewings. Namibië het so 'n uitvoersone in die middel negentigs in Walvis Baai tot stand gebring, met min sukses. Verskeie ander lande het ook nie bevredigende resultate met hierdie metode gehad nie. Suid-Afrika, 'n direkte buurland van Namibië, het hierdie ekonomiese sone en soortgelyke implementerings ondersoek met die doel om die beleid aan te pas en te verbeter om sodoende meer buitelandse kapitaal te lok. Die resultaat was die ontwikkeling en totstandkoming van die industriële ontwikkelingsarea in Coega buite Port Elizabeth. In hierdie studie word die twee konsepte met mekaar vergelyk ten einde die ooreenkomste en verskille uit te lig, beide in terme van wetgewing asook in terme van die Wereld Assosiasie van Bellegingsbevorderings Agentskappe se tien kriterieë vir 'n suksesvolle beleggingsomgewing. Die gevolgtrekking was dat die twee beleidsraamwerke baie min verskil, met die uitsondering dat daar min of geen belasting toegewings gemaak word ten opsigte van implementering van hierdie sones in Suid-Afrika nie. Daar word aangevoer dat indien die Suid-Afrikaanse konsep suksesvol is, dit meer waarskyknlik die gevolg sal wees van die land se relatiewe ekonomiese stand in Afrika, as die gevolg van beleidstoepassing. Behalwe hierdie faktor is daar min rede om te glo dat Suid-Afrika meer suksesvol sal wees as Namibië, tensy 'n industrie gevestig kan word wat as hoeksteen van die ontwikkeling kan dien, wat om die beurt ander verwante industrieë kan lok en ontwikkel.
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Ahlkvist, Linda. "Perceptions of usability - a comparisonof the expert's perception with the end user's perception for improving navigations guidelines." Thesis, Malmö högskola, Fakulteten för teknik och samhälle (TS), 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-20856.
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Användbarhet är ett centralt begrepp i webbutveckling vid utvecklandet avtillgängliga och användbara webbsidor. Användbarhet strävar efter effektivitet ochtillfredställelse. Webbsidans användare ska kunna utföra ärende utan ansträngningeller större tidsåtgång för att slutligen känna en tillfredställelse med sig själv ochdet framgångsrikt utförda ärendet.I detta examensarbete kommer användbarhet på world wide web behandlas ur tvåinfallsvinklar, experters uppfattning respektive vardaglig användares uppfattning påbegreppet. Arbetet ämnar lyfta fram tolkningar för begreppet användbarhet och hurstort värde det har vid webbutveckling, i synnerhet en global navigations värde somverktyg för orientering på en webbsida.Frågeställningen besvaras genom en analys och likhetsgranskning först mellanmålgrupperna, sedan mot tidigare studier i sektion 5.Examensarbetet kommer främst baseras på en tidigare studie som även denifrågasätter riktlinjer för användbarhet i en intervjustudie med utvecklare inomwebbutveckling.Genom intervjuer kommer vardagliga användare och experters tolkningar jämförasmot tidigare studier och forskning för att betona det värde som användbarhet harför en välutvecklad och funktionellt framgångsrik webbsida med fokus på globalnavigation. Resultatet av undersökningen ämnar styrka eller sänka hypotesen omatt satta riktlinjer för användbarhet behöver uppdateras och korrigeras efteraktuella uppfattningar hos så väl experter så väl som vardagliga användare idag.Det finns idag ingen känd forskning inom ämnet där användarens tolkning avanvändbarhet involveras vilket öppnar nya möjligheter till att förbättra existeranderiktlinjer ytterligare.Resultatet av studien visar att målgruppernas uppfattningar kompletterar varandramen tolkas på olika sätt. Medan experter, målgrupp 1, definierar användbarhet someffektivt, tillförståeligt och tillgängligt beskriver användarna, målgrupp 2, begreppetsom något enkelt och något som finns lättillgängligt och brett. Studiens främsta ochmest användbara resultat är att målgrupp 1 utvecklar efter normer framförriktlinjer, och målgrupp 2 vill ha produkter byggda på standarder och normer.Usability is a central and common concept in the process of developing a usableand easily understood website for world wide web’s users. Usability strives förefficiency and satisfaction, the website’s users should be able to perform their taskswith minimum effort and within a reasonable time limit.This bachelor thesis will review the need of usability and how experts and usersinterprete the concept. How can the different interpretations of usability affect theneed of usability online on the world wide web, and how important is a navigationdesigned with usability in mind?This thesis will be based on a former study within the subject usability, aninterview study that is questioning the guidelines of usability today.The understandings on usability will be determined through interviews with eightinterviewees, four experts and four users. The examination aims to strength orlower the hypotes “Existing guidelines for usability needs an update andreformulation to fit the understandings from experts and users of world wide webtoday.”There is no earlier studies on the matter where users are asked to define usability,it is more common to ask users what they think of the usability on a specificproduct.The results of this study shows that the two audiences understandings completeseach other but are interpreted differently. Audience 1, the experts, defines usabilityas something efficient and easily learnable, while audience 2, the end-users, definesthe concept as something simple that is easily accessible and widely spreadthroughout the world wide web. The most interesting result of the study is theresults that shows how the experts develop with norms and standards in mindinstead of guidelines and the end-users wants products built on standards thatthey recognize.
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Choi, Eun-Jung. "Comparison of the effects of a processing sequence and a nuclear export element on ribozyme activity in transfected cells." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2004. http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0007401.
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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2004.Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 68 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.
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Nawawi, Abdul Hadi. "Knowledge elicitation methodology from multiple experts for rating valuation by the comparison method for commercial and industrial properties in Malaysia." Thesis, University of South Wales, 1998. https://pure.southwales.ac.uk/en/studentthesis/knowledge-elicitation-methodology-from-multiple-experts-for-rating-valuation-by-the-comparison-method-for-commercial-and-industrial-properties-in-malaysia(c951d970-fa41-4012-8450-ab08934d969c).html.
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A methodology for eliciting knowledge from several experts in the valuation of commercial and industrial properties for rating purposes in Malaysia using the rental comparison method was investigated by empirical research. The methodology comprised a conceptual approach (experts and their functions), selection of knowledge sources and techniques of knowledge elicitation. The objective of the methodology was to make explicit enriched knowledge ultimately for the development of a comprehensive system. Knowledge was elicited from selected experts mainly by interviews and observation. Several core valuers acted as a panel to provide core domain knowledge. The knowledge was augmented by knowledge from complementary valuers: valuers from six local authorities; a private valuer and an academic to contribute local contextual, market and legal knowledge respectively. Supporting specialists provided building technology, spatial and macro-economic knowledge. Secondary sources of knowledge were provided by documented materials, supporting staff from the local authorities and objection hearings. The pooling of experts' market opinions using the Delphi technique was investigated. A simple regression analysis to find the weightings of the main attributes was also incorporated in the knowledge-base. The knowledge-base was analysed, represented and evaluated in a prototype. It has been empirically established that the methodology has led to the elicitation of enriched knowledge. It has been shown that it is possible to represent this knowledge in a prototype iteratively with other means of knowledge elicitation. Limitations regarding communications between the experts and the potential of computer facilitated collaborative work have been highlighted. Issues in the development of a comprehensive system have been discussed namely, the accommodation of meta knowledge between different local authority valuers and database interface with the knowledge base. The research represents a novel enquiry into a methodology for eliciting knowledge from multiple experts in the valuation domain, specifically in the area of commercial and industrial properties for rating purposes in Malaysia.
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Cser, Melinda. "Comparison of South Africa's automotive investment scheme to similar trade, export and investment financial assistance regimes (incentives) of Nigeria and Kenya." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19737.
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Comparison of South Africa 's Automotive Investment Scheme to similar trade, export and investment financial assistance (incentives) regimes of Nigeria and Kenya The AIS is a South African government investment incentive offered within South Africa's Automotive Production and Development Program. The intention of the AIS is to grow and develop the automotive sector through investment in the production of new and/or replacement models and components. The overall aim of the research is to analyse whether the manner in which the AIS incentives seek to achieve the above objectives , and the objectives themselves are aligned and furthermore to indicate the potential weakness of the AIS . The analysis of the weaknesses focuses in particular on potential inconsistencies amongst the provisions of the AIS or amongst the provisions of the AIS and the provisions of its sub - components. Furthermore, the research will review whether the economic benefit criteria of the AIS to be fulfilled by applicants are sufficiently detailed or the lack of details creates uncertainty with the interpretation and implementation. Lastly, the paper will review the transparency elements of the AIS. To obtain an answer to this question, the AIS will be analysed and will be compared against the policies and/or legislation of Nigeria and Kenya, where applicable, to determine whether the policies of these two countries could inform the AIS in achieving its objectives. The analysis will be executed in six chapters. The first chapter is an introduction. Chapter two will cover the policy reasons for the introduction of automotive (and manufacturing related) policies in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Chapter three will provide an overview of the policies and, where applicable, the relevant legislation in the three countries that deal with the automotive industries. As the policies of the three countries are very differently construed , the intention of this paper is not to undertake a full and comprehensive overview of all the relevant South African legislation dealing with tax, customs duties or investment protection to investors in the automotive sector because such legislation is currently one of the key pillars of the Nigerian and Kenyan policies . Therefore, the focus will be on comparing the structure, objectives and operation of the policies of Nigeria and Kenya where it is comparable with the AIS or the APDP. The fourth chapter will deal with the investment specific incentives and benefits provided in the three countries , in particular in relation to cash grants and t heir availability (or not) for investors in Nigeria and Kenya. In relation to Nigeria and Kenya the legislation and policies having similar objectives or structure will be discussed. For South Africa the achievements of the AIS will also be analysed briefly to understand how it has performed against its objectives up until 2015. Chapter five will discuss the institutions and government agencies which are authorized and responsible for handling funding applications, for negotiating funding/investment agreements , and approving and monitoring investment projects related to the automotive industry. The final chapter shall conclude on the findings, and highlight the potential weaknesses of the AIS by providing proposals for improvement based on the lessons learnt from Kenya and/or Nigeria, where or if possible.
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Lamprecht, Jacobus Lodewicus du Plessis. "A comparison of the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in South Africa and the BRIC countries / Lamprecht J.L.D." Thesis, North-West University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/7322.
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SMEs are important for a country's economy, since they provide benefits such as entrepreneurship, employment, exports and productivity to an economy. An economy that shows substantial growth is usually characterised by a strong and growing SME sector. South African SMEs need to grow to create jobs and benefit the South African economy. One way that SMEs can become strong and grow is through internationalisation. Firms are internationalising faster than ever before (because of advances in telecommunications and transportation) and internationalisation theories that can provide practical guidance to firms are more important today than in the past.
The motivation of the study was to identify the areas that the South African government can develop in order to transform the economy into an emerging economy that can be on par with the BRIC countries. SMEs make up a large part of the BRICS economies and they grow through exports. In order to be on par with the BRIC countries, it is necessary to compare South African exporting and non–exporting SMEs with those in the BRIC countries. This will help to identify areas where South African SMEs' competitiveness can improve, especially in South–South trade. The competitiveness of SMEs involved in exporting also tends to improve. Therefore, if SMEs' competitiveness improves, it may be less risky for them to internationalise, which can lead to them being able to export more successfully, grow as a result of exporting and so contribute to employment.
The primary objective of the study was to make a comparison between the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in South Africa and the BRICS countries. Data was obtained from the World Bank Enterprise surveys to conduct an empirical analysis on firms in the BRICS countries. The empirical analysis provided descriptive statistics on internationalising firms and SMEs in the BRICS countries. The descriptive statistics was used to make a comparison between the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in the BRICS countries (primary objective). South Africa has the highest percentage of
exporting SMEs, followed by India, Brazil, Russia and China. China had the most exporting SMEs with an internationally recognised certification. The top managers of Chinese exporting SMEs are higher educated than those in India and South Africa. SMEs in Russia internationalise at by far the youngest age and thus are likely to follow the rapid international theories. South African SMEs had the highest average age, meaning that SMEs first are established in the domestic market before they internationalise through exports.
Internationalisation has become an important strategy for firms that want to achieve further growth, but it is also very tough to survive in the international market. An interesting finding of this study was that the two obstacles South Africa had in the top 5 namely, crime, theft and disorder, and electricity were not a top 5 obstacle for any of the other BRIC countries.
Another objective of the study was to empirically determine the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in South Africa. SMEs in South Africa are more likely to internationalise through exports if they are, amongst others, older (longer established in the domestic market), have a larger market share in the South African domestic market, have a top manager with experience and a higher education level (some university training minimum) and have less competitors in the South African domestic market.
The comparison between the characteristics of internationalising SMEs of the BRICS countries provided several lessons for the South African government and exporting SMEs. The areas or aspects that the South African government need to develop in order to transform the economy into an emerging economy that can compete with the BRIC countries, include assisting SMEs in exporting at an earlier age, improving the education levels of top managers in SMEs, increasing the national market share of SMEs and lessening, or even eliminating, obstacles like crime, theft and disorder as well as electricity. These aspects, together with the characteristics of internationalising SMEs in South Africa, are vital to improve SME competitiveness. Therefore, if SMEs' competitiveness improves, then it may be less risky for them to internationalise, which
can lead to them being able to export more successfully, grow as a result of exporting and so contribute to employment.Thesis (M.Com. (International Trade))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
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Dupin, Séverine. "Développement d'une méthode de comparaison de données asynchrones en vue de la formalisation d'un raisonnement par analogies : application à l'aide à la décision en viticulture." Thesis, Montpellier, SupAgro, 2012. http://www.theses.fr/2012NSAM0011/document.
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L'objectif initial de ce travail de thèse est de valoriser les informations relatives au suivi temporel de la vigne, du raisin et de l'environnement de la plante et enregistrées dans des bases de données (BD) de traçabilité pour permettre la comparaison entre parcelles et millésimes, en vue de décisions par analogies.Les travaux réalisés durant cette thèse ont permis de proposer une méthode de transformation qui permet de représenter des ensembles de données asynchrones dans un espace commun afin de les comparer. Cette méthode s'appuie sur l'expertise du système de production. Dans ce travail de thèse, cette méthode a été appliquée à la comparaison de couples parcelle×millésime.L'expertise du système de production viticole permet, dans une première phase, de définir (i) la forme générale de la cinétique d'évolution de grandeurs de mesures évaluées sur la vigne, le raisin ou l'environnement de la plante et (ii) l'effet du climat sur la plante. Cette expertise est utilisée, dans une seconde phase, pour proposer des modèles paramétriques de l'évolution de chaque grandeur. Les données de suivi de chaque couple parcelle×millésime permettent d'ajuster les paramètres du modèle. Un vecteur de paramètres est défini par couple parcelle×millésime. Ce vecteur représente l'espace commun qui rend les couples parcelle×millésime comparables. Deux stratégies de comparaison sontalors possibles : (i) les comparaisons sont réalisées à partir des paramètres (méthode intensive), ou (ii) les comparaisons sont réalisées à partir de l'estimation de la valeur de la grandeur pour chaque couple parcelle×millésime et chaque unité de temps, commune à tous les couples (méthode extensive).Cette méthode a été appliquée à trois exemples différents.Dans une première application, les climats de différents millésimes intervenus sur différents cépages, entre la floraison et la véraison, ont été comparés entre eux après modélisation des grandeurs de mesure climatiques, à l'aide de modèles très simples.Dans une seconde puis une troisième application, la cinétique d'augmentation du pH et d'accumulation des sucres dans les baies de raisin pendant la maturation a été modélisée sous la forme d'une sigmoïde. Les comparaisons ont ensuite été réalisées en travaillant sur (i) la courbe représentative de chaque cinétique (pH), (ii) les paramètres du modèle (sucres) et (iii) une estimation journalière de la concentration en sucres dans les baies.Les bases de données utilisées dans ces applications proviennent de deux régions très différentes. Des données issues du suivi de la station expérimentale INRA Pech Rouge en Languedoc-Roussillon, dans le sud de la France, ont été utilisées pour l'application 1 et une partie de l'application 3. Des données de suivi de différents domaines de la Napa Valley en Californie ont servi pour l'application 2 et une partie de l'application 3.Le changement d'espace de représentation des données apporte une connaissance nouvelle pour décrire les individus et les phénomènes temporels de la vigne. Cette connaissance pourrait permettre de formaliser un raisonnement par analogies utilisant et valorisant l'expérience passée pour la gestion du millésime en coursThe initial objective of this thesis is to enhance the in-time follow-up information of the vine, the grape and the environment of the plant stored in traceability databases (BD) traceability to allow comparison between plots and vintages, to a future analogy-based decision support.The work done during this thesis allowed to propose a transformation method for representing sets of asynchronous data in a common space for comparison. This method relies on the expertise of the production system. In this thesis, this method was applied to the comparison of pairs of plot×vintage.The expert knowledge of the vineyard production system allows, in a first phase, to define (i) the general shape of the kinetics of on the vine, the grapes or the plant environment measured grandeurs, and (ii) the effect of the climate on the plant.This expertise is used in a second phase, to propose parametrical models that represent each grandeur kinetic. Monitoring data of each pair plot×vintage are used to adjust the model parameters. A vector of parameters is defined for each pair plot×vintage. This vector represents the common space that makes pairs of plot×vintage comparable. Two comparison strategies are possible: (i) comparisons are made from the parameters (intensive method), or (ii) comparisons are made from the estimation of the value of the quantity for each pair plot×vintage and each time unit, common to all pairs (extensive method).This method was applied to three different examples.In a first application, the climate of different vintages occurred on different grape varieties, between flowering and veraison, were compared with each other after modeling of the measured climate grandeurs, with very simple models.In a second and a third application, the kinetics of the increase of pH and accumulation of sugars in grape berries during ripening was modeled using a sigmoid. Comparisons were then made by working on (i) the graph of each kinetic (pH), (ii) parameters (sugars) and (iii) an estimation of the daily sugar concentration in berries.The databases used in these applications come from two very different winegrowing regions. Data from the monitoring of the INRA Pech Rouge Experimental Station, in Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France, were used for the application 1 and part of the application 3. Monitoring data from different estates of Napa Valley in California were used for the application 2 and part of the application 3.The change of space where data are represented constitutes a new knowledge that permit one to describe individuals and temporal phenomena of the vine. This knowledge could allow to formalize an analogy-based reasoning that uses and promotes past experience to manage the current vintage
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Kirst, Maritt. "The social construction of 'bad girls' as a social problem: A comparison of the claims-making activity of social problems experts and print journalists." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape15/PQDD_0002/MQ36708.pdf.
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Graham, Yao. "Law, state and the internationalisation of agricultural capital in Ghana : a comparison of colonial export production and post-colonial production for the home market." Thesis, University of Warwick, 1993. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/2310/.
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Law and State, especially forms of landed property and contract, have played an important mediatory role in the internationalisation of agricultural capital in Ghana. The establishment of cocoa production in Ghana in the late nineteenth and the early part of the twentieth century established the predominance of small holder peasant production in Ghanaian agriculture. The production and export of cocoa also established a specific form of internationalisation of agricultural capital in Ghana. This involved the subsumption of peasant commodity producers within the circuit of international capital. Because capital did not directly control production its relations with the peasantry centred around struggles over both the conditions of labour. in the sphere of production and over the realisation of the value of the peasants' product, in the sphere of circulation. These struggles were moulded by legal forms of landed property controlled by the direct producer and the character of the contractual relationship between peasant and the representatives of capital. The transformation induced by cocoa production included changes in forms of landed property, a process in which the colonial state played an important role. These changes have been a significant influence on the subsequent forms of internationalisation of agricultural capital in the post colonial period. The thesis shows through an analysis of the post colonial sugar and oil palm industries the nature of this influence. It also shows ho«- the shift in the proclaimed objectives of the state from the colonial concern with export agriculture to the "nationalist" post colonial goal of seif reliance came to be co-opted by new forms of international capital and the mediatory role of legal forms, especially contract, in this process of co-optation. This work is based mainly on written primary and secondary sources, complemented by intcrviews with some officials of the some of the institutions covered in the thesis. My secondary sources include unpublished essays and thesis, books, articles, reports, studies by companies, government bodies and similar such published material. Most of the primary material used in the parts of the work that deal with the colonial period conic from the British Public Records Office and the Ghana National Archives in Accra. For the post colonial period a substantial part of the primary information was gathered using personal contacts in various state institutions, particularly the Ministry of finance and Economic Planning, the Attorney General Department and the Ghana Investment Centre.
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Rikardson, Konrad. "Trends in arms trade since the end of the Cold War : a comparison of Czech and Swedish arms exports in the years 1993-2012." Thesis, Försvarshögskolan, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-3997.
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The Czech Republic and Sweden have historically been prominent producers and exporters of arms. The end of the Cold War has, however, changed the global patterns of arms trade. The aim of this thesis is to compare the trends in arms exports of the two countries in the years 1993-2012. The method involves a combination of a quantitative analysis aimed at examining how arms exports correlate to national product and military expenditure, and a qualitative analysis for an in-depth examination of the different sectors that the exports were composed of. The results show weak or non-existent correlations between the arms exports and the mentioned macroeconomic variables, with a general upward-pointing trend for Sweden and a general downward-pointing trend for the Czech Republic. Analysis by sector suggests that the Czech defense industry suffered greatly from the turbulent period that followed the end of the Cold War, thus also negatively affecting the country’s exports. The Swedish defense industry has not been affected to the same extent and the exports seem actually to have benefitted from reductions in the size of the armed forces. The fact that the export trends have been very volatile and do not show much correlation to economic variables suggests a certain degree of unpredictability, both due to external events and to the inconsistency of defense policy.
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Jörgensen, Hans. "Continuity or not? : Family farming and agricultural transformation in 20th century Estonia." Doctoral thesis, Umeå universitet, Ekonomisk historia, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-382.
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This doctoral thesis explores the agrarian development in 20th Estonia and the role of family farming during three major agricultural transformations. It consists of four papers and an introductory chapter for which the common departure are the situation appearing in the Estonian farming landscape after the regained independence in 1991. The first three studies analyse comparative aspects on Estonia's interwar experiences with focus on land reform, agricultural co-operation, and agricultural export development. The fourth study focuses on the role of private plots during the Soviet period and the conversion of these into subsistence holdings after 1991. By merging the perspectives in these papers, the introductory chapter explores the impacts and legacies of previous transformations on the post-Soviet agricultural transformation up to 2004. The thesis specifically analyses the long-term effects of perceptions of markets and the role of agricultural production, changes in the agrarian property relations, organisation of agricultural production and co-operation. In analytical terms, this is discussed from the perspectives of continuity and discontinuity. Besides the several societal changes affecting the agrarian property relations in 20th century Estonia, the radical and decisive shifts have also affected markets, trade and economic integration. Since the end of the First World War, Estonia has been quickly thrown between different economic-political systems and legal environments. From the perspective of the small state’s dependence on trade and reliance on a few markets, the upheavals in the early 1920s, after World War II, and not least the fall of the Soviet Union, Estonia’s long-term economic development has been significantly affected. In this context the role of agriculture has changed. Most important, however, this dissertation shows how the idea of small-scale family farming survived throughout the planned economic period and became an indispensable production unit, even though it turned out to be a myth as soon as the Soviet system was dissolved and the exposure to international competition began after 1991.
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Šimo, Peter. "Problematika přiměřeného protiplnění při výkupu akcií v právních systémech České a Slovenské republiky." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2008. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-10980.
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In the first chapter I define the concept of reasonable consideration by squeeze out on the basis of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the European Union. In the second chapter are compared basis laws which regulate the purchase of participating securities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, together with the EU legislation. The third chapter deals with the legislation for the surveys in compared countries. The fifth chapter deals with economic aspects of the determination of adequate consideration in connection with the views of experts in the field. The sixth chapter provides concrete examples of the determination of reasonable consideration in the Czech and Slovak Republic, including the major differences. The final chapter compares legislation in the Czech and Slovak Republics, and proposes ways to eliminate existing deficiencies.
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Cestr, Jan. "Sjednocení procesu testování v bankovní instituci." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2015. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-204887.
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In the present, there are several programmes used for testing in this company. This may lead to a certain mutual inconsistency of the data within the system, as well as to the decrease of orientation and efficiency among the employees, that are in charge of the quality of the developed applications. There is approximately 200 employees in the IT department who focus on the development of the software. The biggest percentage has, though, the position of the tester. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the situation and the testing process in the selected bank company. Simultaneously, we would like to reach certain possibilities to unify the process of testing.
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Demeyer, Séverine. "Approche bayésienne de l'évaluation de l'incertitude de mesure : application aux comparaisons interlaboratoires." Phd thesis, Conservatoire national des arts et metiers - CNAM, 2011. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00585727.
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La modélisation par équations structurelles est très répandue dans des domaines très variés et nous l'appliquons pour la première fois en métrologie dans le traitement de données de comparaisons interlaboratoires. Les modèles à équations structurelles à variables latentes sont des modèles multivariés utilisés pour modéliser des relations de causalité entre des variables observées (les données). Le modèle s'applique dans le cas où les données peuvent être regroupées dans des blocs disjoints où chaque bloc définit un concept modélisé par une variable latente. La structure de corrélation des variables observées est ainsi résumée dans la structure de corrélation des variables latentes. Nous proposons une approche bayésienne des modèles à équations structurelles centrée sur l'analyse de la matrice de corrélation des variables latentes. Nous appliquons une expansion paramétrique à la matrice de corrélation des variables latentes afin de surmonter l'indétermination de l'échelle des variables latentes et d'améliorer la convergence de l'algorithme de Gibbs utilisé. La puissance de l'approche structurelle nous permet de proposer une modélisation riche et flexible des biais de mesure qui vient enrichir le calcul de la valeur de consensus et de son incertitude associée dans un cadre entièrement bayésien. Sous certaines hypothèses l'approche permet de manière innovante de calculer les contributions des variables de biais au biais des laboratoires. Plus généralement nous proposons un cadre bayésien pour l'amélioration de la qualité des mesures. Nous illustrons et montrons l'intérêt d'une modélisation structurelle des biais de mesure sur des comparaisons interlaboratoires en environnement.
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Webster, Collin Andrew. "A comparison of expert and novice golf instructors from a communication perspective." 2006. http://purl.galileo.usg.edu/uga%5Fetd/webster%5Fcollin%5Fa%5F200608%5Fphd.
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Lin, Xing-Xiang, and 林星翔. "Mentalization Ability Involve in Counseling —The Comparison Between Expert and Novice Counselors." Thesis, 2019. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/r8sz23.
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碩士淡江大學
教育心理與諮商研究所碩士班
107
The purpose of this study is to explore how mentalize ability involve in counseling situation, and further analyze the differences between expert and novice counselors in counseling situation, their mentalize ability, the differences they use mentalize ability to improve the development of counseling and relationship with client. Through quality research based on in-depth interviewing, this research uses semi-structured as guideline to interview expert and novice counselors. The analyses base-on mentalization-base therapy’s seven principles. Furthermore, we can summarize to provide advice to counseling education, counselors training, self-efficiency improve. The research result consists of eight points: 1.Experts focus on counseling development, novice counselors focus on performance. 2.Experts focus on relationship, novice counselors focus on problem solving. 3.Experts use mentalize ability in counseling situation immediately, novice counselors need more experiences. 4.Novice counselors learn mentalize ability through supervisor, Experts learning through experience and introspection. 5.Experts are more accurate in counseling situation and adjust their intervention and strategy in counseling situation. 6.There are differences between experts and novice counselors of awareness the depth of client’s problem. 7.Experts are more flexible and humor in counseling situation. 8.Mentalization ability is important to counselors’ profession improve. The research finally provide suggestion based on the results, which assist expert and novice counselors training or learning and guild to further research.
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Khalil, Khalimahtul Akasah Idereena. "Expert-novice differences : visual and verbal responses in a two-group comparison task." 2005. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/2428.
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Wilson, Derek Alan. "A Dredging Knowledge-Base Expert System for Pipeline Dredges with Comparison to Field Data." 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2010-12-8653.
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A Pipeline Analytical Program and Dredging Knowledge{Base Expert{System
(DKBES) determines a pipeline dredge's production and resulting cost and schedule.
Pipeline dredge engineering presents a complex and dynamic process necessary to
maintain navigable waterways. Dredge engineers use pipeline engineering and slurry
transport principles to determine the production rate of a pipeline dredge system.
Engineers then use cost engineering factors to determine the expense of the dredge
project.
Previous work in engineering incorporated an object{oriented expert{system to
determine cost and scheduling of mid{rise building construction where data objects
represent the fundamental elements of the construction process within the program
execution. A previously developed dredge cost estimating spreadsheet program which
uses hydraulic engineering and slurry transport principles determines the performance
metrics of a dredge pump and pipeline system. This study focuses on combining
hydraulic analysis with the functionality of an expert{system to determine the performance
metrics of a dredge pump and pipeline system and its resulting schedule.
Field data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pipeline dredge, Goetz, and
several contract daily dredge reports show how accurately the DKBES can predict
pipeline dredge production. Real{time dredge instrumentation data from the Goetz compares the accuracy of the Pipeline Analytical Program to actual dredge operation.
Comparison of the Pipeline Analytical Program to pipeline daily dredge reports
shows how accurately the Pipeline Analytical Program can predict a dredge project's
schedule over several months. Both of these comparisons determine the accuracy
and validity of the Pipeline Analytical Program and DKBES as they calculate the
performance metrics of the pipeline dredge project.
The results of the study determined that the Pipeline Analytical Program compared
closely to the Goetz eld data where only pump and pipeline hydraulics a ected
the dredge production. Results from the dredge projects determined the Pipeline Analytical
Program underestimated actual long{term dredge production. Study results
identi ed key similarities and di erences between the DKBES and spreadsheet program
in terms of cost and scheduling. The study then draws conclusions based on
these ndings and o ers recommendations for further use.
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CHEN, Li-wen, and 陳禮文. "Design Thinking Based on the Problem-solving Approach__A Comparison Study Between Expert and Novice." Thesis, 1998. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/42411077478710629021.
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碩士淡江大學
建築學系研究所
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The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the differences in the ability sho wn by between a novice and an expert in their thinking behavior of architectur e design. generally speaking, experts have more knowledge in design to help pr oblem faced with them. In the same respect, their strategies and thinking ways are also developed in their thinking behavior. What distinguishes between a n ovice and an expert in their ability of solving design problems is the key poi nt of this thesis. The thesis is an introduction to t he relevant knowledge field forwarded by the study on the process of design th inking, which is directed by the field of recognition science. The introductio n includes the following four parts: (a) Problem-solving; (b) Knowledge Repres entation; (c) hierarchical System and (d) Protocol analysis. To understand the design ability of novice and expert, three topics are developed through document study: schema condition, thinking approach, and problem structure. They are also analyzed, compared, and discussed through de signed experiments in the research of the thesis. The experiments are followin g: (a) test on architecture design; (b) test on interior room design and (c) t est on furnishing. The experiment questions in Experiment A are in the most co mplicated condition, which is gradually simplified andresents the simplest in Experiment C. For developing the experiments, "Think Aloud" from the protocol analysis is applied as a method to obtain experimental information, and the de signed process is recorded and then analyzed. Accordingly, from the above proc edure, a designer''s thinking model in his/her designing process is expected to be well worked out. In the experiment, three situations are shown as follows: (a) The gap in the thinking ability shown by between a novice and an expert is subject to th e complication of structure problems. (b) Due to the synthetic and complicated essence existing in problems of architecture deign, the differences between a novice and expert are obviously shown not only in their outer behavior, but also in t heir inner thinking. The approach of expert''s thinking tends to be Top-down; i n reverse, that of novice''s thinking to be Bottom-up. (c) In the expert''s thinking model, there exists the schema concept which helps so lve design problems. However, a novice performs less in this respect.