Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Payment and risk management services'

This thesis presents a study of risk management within records management that focuses on small to medium enterprises(SMEs)in the UK. Cases tudies of three SMEs based in the north of England, ranging from micro-businesses to large scale, were undertaken in a two year period. The aims of the study were to investigate risk in the context of electronic information and records management within SMEs, and to develop a working conceptual model or theory for risk management of electronic information and records. This thesis aims to characterise the approaches to risk and electronic information and records management taken by SMEs throughc case studies, narrative analysis and corpus linguistics. Attitudes and drivers for risk management of electronic information and records management in SMEs were investigated and analysed. The history and historiography of risk management and records management were investigated as part of the preliminary research for the project. The objectives included critically evaluating the vocabulary of risk and risk management, and identifying the use of a common vocabulary of risk in records management within the SME context. This was carried out by a transdisciplinary use of the techniques of computer corpus linguistics (CCL). The creation of a corpus from material collected from interview and questionnaire format contributes to a greater linguistic and semiotic comprehension of the ideas and thoughts behind risk management of records management by different levels of employees in an SME. he corpus was used to identify a vocabulary of terms used by the SMEEs in describing their own risk management in terms of records management, and their experience of risk events in their records management. The outcome of the research will inform the practice of managing risks associated with electronic information and records management in SMEs by distribution of results to relevant small businesses working groups.

Ecosystem services (ES), payments for ecosystem services (PES), and the development of markets for PES are transformational concepts and practices that emerged from environmental and ecological economics. Although the establishment of regulatory markets tends to be “top down,” there is evidence that more locally acceptable and successful markets tend to come from the community, from the “bottom up.” This meta-analysis analyzes 20 recent articles that examined approximately 454 PES cases from around the world, most organized from the bottom up. Cross-case analysis reveals possible best practices. Involving communities in design, decision-making, governance, and operation of local PES programs is found in many cases to contribute to improvements in both ecosystems and community livelihoods. Devolving project administration and ES provision monitoring to the local level is found to lower costs, increase project legitimacy, community equity, and leaves efficiency and fairness tradeoff decision-making in the hands of local communities. This in turn adds to feelings of competence, autonomy, and control. The experience of cooperative learning, skill acquisition, and enhanced individual and community capacities that results from participation in PES program design is found to positively influence social, cultural, economic, and multilevel political dynamics, allowing local sustainable resource use and management to emerge. In several cases, there are indications that this leads to a changed local and regional political economy due to successful value capture of enhanced ES resulting from restored ecosystems, as well as indications of other transformative changes in communities. These findings are used to provide recommendations to a watershed restoration initiative in the borderlands of Southern Arizona.

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores
Risk management and response to unforeseen events are nowadays seen as assets in construction projects. Unforeseen events and communication failures often cause delays and increased costs, so there is the need to solve them swiftly. The development of information and communication technologies, promoted the emergence of new ways of risk management, i.e., management support software connected to the internet. The use of the internet allows for communication speed between distant participants on a construction project to have a drastic increase. Therefore the purpose of this work is to design and implement a computational infrastructure to manage risks, events and to plan construction projects. It intends to improve communication between participants on site (foremen) and the office workers (contractors and project managers). There is also the goal to provide better visibility and control over the works’ progress, as well as to speed up the ability to decide in view of unforeseen events and, by consequence, potentiate the increase of productivity and quality in construction projects.

The Mara River in East Africa is currently experiencing poor water quality and increased fluctuations in seasonal flow. This study investigated technically effective and economically viable Best Management Practices for adoption in the Mara River Basin of Kenya that can stop further water resources degradation. A survey of 155 farmers was conducted in the upper catchment of the Kenyan side of the river basin. Farmers provided their assessment of BMPs that would best suit their farm in terms of water quality improvement, economic feasibility, and technicalsuitability. Cost data on different practices from farmers and published literature was collected. The results indicated that erosion control structures and runoff management practices were most suitable for adoption. The study estimated the total area that would be improved to restore water quality and reduce further water resources degradation. Farmers were found to incur losses from adopting new practices and would therefore require monetary support.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019
The outsourcing of facility management services has become increasingly competitive and success now depends on companies’ ability to assess and manage risks of low employee morale, intellectual property right, legal, increased costs, unrealistic savings projections and reputational damage successfully. This paper examined outsourcing risks at selected facility management companies in Cape Town. Previous study identifies loss of control, cost and life cycle impact and time inefficiency as anecdotal evidence of outsourcing risks. In the facility management sector, the identification and management of risks have begun to shift progressively from external to internal – like resource and capability management and the strengthening of internal control mechanism. This quantitative study utilised self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 142 randomly selected respondents; employees of participating facility management companies in Cape Town. The paper found that top 6 risks ranked from the highest are information security, legal, ethics/compliance, contractual, financial and economic. The higher end of the mean scoring indicates a greater emphasis on controllable (internal) risks, with 4 out of the top 6 ranked items identified within the internal risks’ category. This research provides insight to understand outsourcing, risks of outsourcing and risk assessment techniques with emphasis on internal risk management. The examination of outsourcing risks enables companies to understand risk assessment, evaluation and mitigation requirements and categorisation for successful management of risks associated with the outsourcing of facility management services.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2009.
""Submitted to College of Business in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-117)

This dissertation links human and ecological systems research to analyze resource management decisions for elodea, Alaska’s first submerged aquatic invasive plant. The plant likely made it to Alaska through the aquarium trade. It was first discovered in urban parts of the state but is being introduced to remote water bodies by floatplanes and other pathways. Once introduced, elodea changes freshwater systems in ways that can threaten salmon and make floatplane destinations inaccessible. The analysis integrates multiple social and ecological data to estimate the potential future economic loss associated with its introduction to salmon fisheries and floatplane pilots. For estimating the effects on commercial sockeye fisheries, multiple methods of expert elicitation are used to quantify and validate expert opinion about elodea’s ecological effects on salmon. These effects are believed to most likely be negative, but can in some instances be positive. Combined with market-based economic valuation, the approach accounts for the full range of potential ecological and economic effects. For analyzing the lost trip values to floatplane pilots, the analysis uses contingent valuation to estimate recreation demand for landing spots. A spatially-explicit model consisting of seven regions simulates elodea’s spread across Alaska and its erratic population dynamics. This simulation model accounts for the change in region-specific colonization rates as elodea populations are eradicated. The most probable economic loss to commercial fisheries and recreational floatplane pilots is $97 million per year, with a 5% chance that combined losses exceed $456 million annually. The analysis describes how loss varies among stakeholders and regions, with more than half of statewide loss accruing to commercial sockeye salmon fisheries in Bristol Bay. Upfront management of all existing invasions is found to be the optimal management strategy for minimizing long-term loss. Even though the range of future economic loss is large, the certainty of long-term damage favors investments to eradicate current invasions and prevent new arrivals. The study serves as a step toward risk management aimed at protecting productive ecosystems of national and global significance.

Background: Development of technologies and worldwide reductions of trade barriers during the last decades increased competition and the need to offer high-quality prod-ucts and services for a reasonable price. Particularly, the service sector increased in size and variety of outputs. The development of the information technology segment has de-termined the market environment. To be able to compete in this global market offshore outsourcing of IT functions can be a valuable tool if handled in the right way. Small and medium sized enterprises can profit from service offshore outsourcing although studies show that this type of organizations fail in their outsourcing initiatives in an above aver-age rate as a result of deficits in risk management, precisely in risk identification. Aim: The aim of this Master Thesis is to analyse the specific characteristics of small and medium sized enterprises in order to find out how they impact the different stages of the service offshore outsourcing process. Theory and empirical data helps to spot strengths and weaknesses of these organizations in order to find a solution to a better risk identification process which then might lead to increased success in offshore out-sourcing of services. Definitions: Service offshore outsourcing refers to the purchase of a service (which may have been produced in-house before) by a firm from a supplier located in a differ-ent country while the supplier and buyer keep their respective initial locations. Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity leads to an undesirable outcome. Risk iden-tification, the first part of risk management (followed by risk assessment and prioritiza-tion), is defined as an analysis of potential risk factors to the success of an endeavour. Completion and results: Specific characteristics of small and medium sized enterprises play a significant role in the risk identification process of service offshore outsourcing. By being aware of these risks and acting according to minimize them, harm can be pre-vented. Especially, a well-designed service offshore outsourcing contract, regular com-munication and personal relationships could be an advantage to overcome the draw-backs of small size, high dependency, need for flexibility and lack of resources.

Cities must go further and further away to find new, more costly sources of water for human consumption while industries and agriculture continue to compete for increasingly scarce water resources. This may already be seen occurring within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro where the severe drought being experienced during the past 18 months has severely depleted water supply dams. One of the main supply dams to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is situated within the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site. The potential of funding the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site with payments for ecosystem services (water) obtained for water services supplied to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipalities and agriculture in the Gamtoos River Valley will ensure financial sustainable for the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site in the long term. This ability to become financially independent and generate its own income will place the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and World Heritage Site in a unique position within the conservation community in South Africa as only a very few protected areas are self sustaining through payment for an ecosystem service.

According to research, the risks of adopting new technology and the technological and organizational factors that influence adopting it are not clear. Thus, many financial institutions have hesitated to adopt cloud-computing. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to evaluate the cyber-risk implications of cloud-computing adoption in the U.S. financial services sector. The study examined 6 technological and organizational factors: organization size, relative advantage, compliance, security, compatibility, and complexity within the context of cyber-risk. Using a combination of diffusion of innovation theory and technology-organization-environment framework as the foundation, a predictive cybersecurity model was developed to determine the factors that influence the intent to adopt cloud-computing in this sector. A random sample of 118 IT and business leaders from the U.S. financial services sector was used. Multiple regression analysis indicated that there were significant relationships between the intent to adopt cloud-computing by the leaders of financial organizations and only 2 of the 6 independent variables: compliance risk and compatibility risk. The predictive cybersecurity model proposed in this study could help close the gaps in understanding the factors that influence decisions to adopt cloud-computing. Once the rate of cloud-computing adoption increases, this study could yield social change in operational efficiency and cost improvement for both U.S. financial organizations and their consumers.

Kontanter har använts i flera århundranden och är ett sedvanligt betalningsmedel mellan privatpersoner och på inköpsstället. I takt med teknikens framfart har alltfler betalningsmedel utvecklats och anpassats till marknaden. Idag sker cirka 70 procent av alla köp i butik med kort. Detta gör att kontanternas användning plötsligt ifrågasätts och därmed väljer majoriteten av Sveriges storbanker att succesivt avveckla den manuella kontanthanteringen. Tanken är att försöka lära konsumenter och företag att använda alternativa lösningar som utgör substitut till kontanter. Dock beror efterfrågan på kontanter utav en demografisk utveckling. Kontantanvändningen är högre bland äldre och de har också format sina vanor under längre tid. För andra grupper såsom landsbygdsföretag, funktionshindrade, papperslösa och turister är kontanter essentiella, vilket gör att de hamnat i kläm vid avvecklandet. Andra har personliga preferenser till kontanters nytta såsom integritet, förtroende, tid, vana eller andra värderingar. Problemet blir således en demokratisk fråga där alla skall ha rätt till grundläggande betaltjänster. Studiens syfte är därför att förstå denna process och vilka effekter som uppstår när de flesta storbanker väljer att avveckla den manuella kontanthanteringen. Syftet har delats in i tre huvudproblem:      Vems ansvar är det när en av de grundläggande betaltjänsterna försvinner i samhället?      Vilka blir konsekvenserna med en minskad kontanthantering?      Vilka alternativa lösningar finns det för problemen? Sammanfattningsvis kom studien fram till att bankernas avveckling av kontanthantering har skett snabbare än nya lösningar har introducerats i samhället. Effekterna av denna avveckling har medfört problem för flera grupper. Resultaten visar även att bankerna kunde ha effektiviserat och avgiftsbelagt kontanter innan avvecklingen skedde.
Cash has been used for centuries and is a customary mean of payment between individuals and on the place of purchase. As technology progresses, a growing number of different payment services has developed and been adapted to the market. Today, approximately 70 percentages of all purchases in the stores is made by card. This has suddenly challenged the use of cash and therefore the majority of Sweden’s major banks have chosen to gradually phase out the manual cash management. The idea is to try to get consumers and businesses to use alternative solutions, which are substitutes for cash. However, the demand for cash depends on demographical conditions. The use of cash is more frequent among eldest and they have also shaped their habits over a longer time. For other groups, such as small firms on the countryside, disabled, undocumented migrants and tourists, cash is essential, so they are left in a jam. Others have personal preferences related to the use of cash such as integrity, trust, time, habits, or other values. Everyone is entitled to basic payment services, thus becomes the problem a question of democracy. The purpose of the study is to understand this process and to be aware of the effects that arise when most of the major banks will interrupt their manual cash management. The purpose has been divided into three main parts:  Whose responsibility is it when one of the basic payment services disappears in the society?  What are the consequences when there is a reduction of cash?  What are the alternative solutions? Overall, the study concluded that the banks' reduction of cash has been faster than the introductions of new solutions have been introduced into society. The effect of this decision has caused problems for several groups. The results of the study show that the banks could have improved the efficiency and they could also have introduced a fee on cash before the settlement was made.

Latin America has pioneered the concept of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) as a strategy to improve the management of ecosystem services. Ecuador is not an exception, where many PES schemes have been implemented to protect the tropical mountain ecosystem “páramo” and the water resources these areas are generating for downstream societies. A successful PES scheme needs to achieve both targeted bio-physical objectives and at the same time benefit local conditions while not risking to sacrifice the local demand for ecosystem services. This balance is explored here in a case study focusing on the Río Grande watershed in the highlands in the northern parts of Ecuador by exemplifying community participation in the public PES scheme Socio Bosque (PSB) starting in 2009. The water resource distribution (precipitation, discharge, actual evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration) in the watershed was evaluated over the last decades. The local perception of the PSB and its impacts on local and regional water resources were also studied and characterized. The results showed that the annual discharge in the Río Grande watershed has decreased significantly from 1967-2014 and that the annual discharge was significantly lower between 1997-2015 compared to 1979-1997. Since precipitation did not decrease significantly during this period, the changes of the annual discharge are more likely depended on factors controlling the seasonal distribution of discharge and evapotranspiration in the watershed. For example, large scale land use changes coupled with a significantly warmer climate in the region could be a possible driver. Of course, this would not exclude other important factors such as changes in water demand and the supply of freshwater from the Río Grande watershed to downstream societies. The results of this case study showed that it is likely too early to see any impacts in the water balance components as a direct response to the implemented PSB scheme. Clearly, this motivates a need for continued evaluation of the local perception and the water resources to ensure that the need and demand for ecosystem services in a long-term perspective are maintained.
Latinoamérica ha sido pionera en el concepto de Pago por Servicios Ecosistémicos (PSE o PES en lassiglas en inglés) como estrategia para mejorar la gestión de servicios ecosistémicos. En Ecuador, se han implementado muchos PSE para proteger el ecosistema montañoso tropical de El Páramo así como los recursos acuíferos que dichas áreas generan para las sociedades que habitan cuenca abajo. Un esquema de PSE exitoso requiere alcanzar los objetivos biofísicos y respetar las necesidades locales de servicios ambientales. Este equilibrio se ha analizado tomando como objeto de estudio la cuenca hidrográfica del Río Grande en las tierras altas del norte de Ecuador y la participación comunitaria en el programa de PSE denominado Socio Bosque (PSB) iniciado en 2009. Se estudiaron la distribución del agua (precipitación, descarga del agua, evapotranspiración actual y evapotranspiración potencial) en la cuenca hidrográfica durante las últimas décadas. También se estudiaron los impactos locales y regionales del PSB en los recursos hídricos y los percepción local con respecto a la implementación de PSB. Los resultados muestran que la descarga anual de la cuenca hidrográfica ha decrecido significativamente durante el período comprendido entre 1967 y 2014, particularmente, señalan un decrecimiento considerablemente mayor entre 1997 y 2015 con respecto al período 1979-1997. La precipitación no se redujo durante el período estudiado y, en consecuencia, los cambios en la descarga anual dependen presumiblemente de factores que controlan la distribución estacional de la descarga y la evapotranspiración en la cuenca. Como ejemplo, los intensos cambios en el uso del suelo junto a un clima regional marcadamente más cálido pueden ser dos condicionantes del fenómeno. Esto no excluye otros factores como los cambios en la demanda y abastecimiento de agua potable en la cuenca del Río Grande en las comunidades que se encuentran distribuidas a lo largo del río. Los resultados muestran que es aún temprano para observar impactos en los componentes del balance hídrico como resultado directo de la implementación de un esquema de PSB. Esto motiva la necesidad de una evaluación continua de la percepción local y un monitoreo los recursos hídricos para garantizar que las necesidades y demandas de servicios ecosistémicos en la región se mantengan a largo plazo.

To ensure the safety for both patients and personnel using medical equipment there are several regulations. The regulations differ between countries and the largest markets are the US and Europe. There are regulations regarding both risk and requirement management and for a digitized signature process. This report shows a way of digitizing parts of the quality management system and workflows that fulfills these requirements, including both an approval process and a requirement hierarchy. For the development of a digitized system several workshops and interviews were performed to understand the workflow used. This to reduce the changes in the new system where the existing processes worked, but at the same time make changes possible where the users noticed problems in the workflow earlier used. The main advantage of a digitized quality management system is that the linking between the different objects are easier to follow which gives a perspicuous traceability. A digitized system can generate reports, e.g. for traceability and requirement without a test, automatically that will decrease the manual work and by that both increase efficiency and reduce the risk of human errors.

This thesis examines the way legal space risks are managed in commercial space transportation provided by major carriers, such as, NASA, the US private launch sector, and Arianespace, as well as in the system envisaged for Australia. Its purpose is to show that even if all systems tend to provide a favorable risk allocation scheme to the space launch industry, there are several alternatives for the telecommunications satellite operators. It also attempts to show that, even if all these risk sharing regimes have been modeled after NASA's, there are certain important differences, which stem from the different political objectives of each of the countries where these carriers are inserted.

This qualitative study aims to explore how risk management practice impacts upon the implementation of recovery-oriented care within community mental health services. Semi-structured interviews using vignettes were conducted with 8 mental health worker and service user dyads in order to explore understandings, perspectives and attitudes on how risk management practice impacts upon service users' recovery within the community. Data analysis took part in two phases. In the first phase, data were coded into categories using a framework and grounded analysis approach. 8 overarching categories emerged from the data. In the second phase, queries were run on the data in order to explore how: 1) RMP issues impacts upon perceived responsibility for recovery; 2) tensions in responsibility for recovery in the context of RMP impacts upon the mental health worker and service user relationship; 3) attitudes towards service users' exposure to risk impacts upon service users' opportunities for social inclusion; 4) mental health workers' own working environment impacts upon the way RMP was addressed within a ROC context. The findings suggest an absence of RMP in ROC policies result in mental health workers describing how they would ideally use a positive risk taking approach to support ROC, this over-rides considerations of managing risk. However, in real life situations mental health workers and service users were uncertain about who should hold responsibility for recovery. Mental health workers and service users expressed a mutually perceived need to manage risk of relapse resulting in a more traditional concept of 'recovering from' contaminating discourses of 'recovering in' a mental illness. Mental health workers retain responsibility for recovery in the context of RMP and as such, service users comply with conditions set by mental health workers to gain some responsibility for recovery. It is a diluted 'risk-contaminated' form of recovery that is implemented in to practice. The thesis concludes by considering implications and making recommendations for future policy, practice and training.

The Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast (RRAF) provides Wisconsin's farmers with an innovative decision support tool which communicates the threat of undesirable conditions for manure and nutrient spreading for up to 10 days in advance. The RRAF is a pioneering example of applying the National Weather Service's hydrologic forecasting abilities towards the Nation's water quality challenges. Relying on the North Central River Forecast Center's (NCRFC) operational Snow17 and Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting Models, runoff risk is predicted for 216 modeled watersheds in Wisconsin. The RRAF is the first-of-its-kind real-time forecast tool to incorporate 5-days of future precipitation as well as 10-days of forecast temperatures to generate runoff risk guidance. The forecast product is updated three times daily and hosted on the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) website. Developed with inter-agency collaboration, the RRAF model was validated against both edge-of-field observed runoff as well as small USGS gauged basin response. This analysis indicated promising results with a Bias Score of 0.93 and a False Alarm Ratio (FAR) of only 0.34 after applying a threshold method. Although the threshold process did dampen the Probability of Detection (POD) from 0.71 to 0.53, it was found that the magnitude of the events categorized as hits was 10-times larger than those classified as misses. The encouraging results from this first generation tool are aiding State of Wisconsin officials in increasing awareness of risky runoff conditions to help minimize contaminated agriculture runoff from entering the State's water bodies.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the intervention of the Competition Commission and the abolition of the mandatory use of the government gazetted Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) fees scale, engineering services consultants in South Africa have been competing based on price for engineering contracts in both the public and private sectors. Discounts benchmarked against ECSA professional fees scale demanded by clients have resulted in declines in professional fees over the years. The capacity to deliver professional services that are of such high quality that it meets the client’s expectation, professional and ethical standards when working at low fees is one of the biggest challenges facing consulting professionals today. This research studied the risks encountered by civil and structural engineering services consultants and the impact of discounted professional fees on their risk exposure. The study included a review of literature, discussions with practicing engineers and a questionnaire based survey. A total of 23 practicing consulting engineers representing small, medium and large consulting engineering firms participated as respondents in the questionnaire survey. The literature review identified project and organisational level risks particular to civil and structural engineering services consultants. The study compiled information on the discounting practices of civil and structural engineering services consultants in South Africa. It is found that the practice of discounting is widespread, affecting small, medium and large consulting firms. The range of discounts offered in the industry results in a significant decrease in the fee scale recommended by ECSA for various engineering project types. Respondents identified the primary reasons why they are forced to offer discounts and identified project and organisational risks most impacted by discounted fees in an order of perceived importance to them. Financial loss on the project, inadequate supervision and quality control on site and inability to perform value engineering were identified as project risks with the most impact on respondents’ organisation. At the organisational level human resource issues such as training and mentoring of young engineers, ability to attract and retain quality/experienced staff and overall business sustenance were identified as risks most impacted by discounted fees. Measures adopted by respondents to mitigate risk associated with discounted fees on project were also identified and recommended.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die ingryping van die Kompetisie Kommissie en die afskaffing van verpligte fooie soos gepubliseer deur die regerings koerant en Ingenieurs Raad van Suid Afrika (IRSA), het ingenieurs konsultante in Suid Afrika meegeding gebaseer op die prys van ingenieurs kontrakte in beide die publieke en private sektore. Afslag wat gemeet word teen professionele skale van ECSA word vereis deur kliënte. Onetiese tender gedrag deur kliënte en raadgewers het gelei tot ʼn daling in professionele fooie oor die jare. Die kapasiteit om professionele dienste te verskaf, wat van ʼn hoë kwaliteit is, kliënte se verwagtinge bereik en professionele en etiese standaarde bereik teen lae koste is een van die grootste uitdagings vir professionele raadgewende ingenieurs in vandag se mark. Hierdie tesis bestudeer die risiko’s wat siviele en strukturele raadgewende ingenieurs ondervind, asook die impak wat afslag van professionele fooie het in terme van die blootstelling van risiko’s. Hierdie studie behels ʼn literatuur studie, gesprekke met ingenieurs in die praktyk en ʼn vraelys opname. ʼn Totaal van 23 raadgewende ingenieurs wat klein, medium en groot raadgewende ingenieurs instansies verteenwoordig het deelgeneem aan die vraelys opname. Die literatuur studie het projek risiko’s en risiko’s op die organisasie vlak geïdentifiseer wat veral verband hou met siviele en strukturele raadgewende dienste. Die studie het informasie gegenereer oor die dalende uitvoering van siviele en strukturele raadgewende dienste in Suid-Afrika. Dit is bevind dat die beginsel van afslag in die algemeen klein, medium en groot raadgewende firmas beïnvloed. Die omvang van die afslag wat aangebied word in die ingenieurs bedryf het gelei tot ʼn beduidende afname in die fooi skaal wat aanbeveel word deur ECSA vir die verskeie ingenieurs projek tipes. Die verskeie deelnemers van die studie het gedui dat die primêre rede hoekom hulle gedwing word om afslag aan te bied en projek en organisasie risiko’s identifiseer, is omdat afslag fooie ʼn voorafgestelde belang is vir hulle. Finansiële verliese op ʼn projek, onvoldoende toesig, kwaliteitsbeheer en die onvermoë om hoë gehalte ingenieurswese toe te pas was geïdentifiseer as die projek risiko’s wat die meeste invloed het op die deelnemers se organisasies. By die organisasie vlak was menslike hulpbronne, soos opleiding en die mentorskap van jong ingenieurs, die vermoë om kwaliteit of ervare personeel te trek en te behou, en die algehele besigheid lewensmiddele geïdentifiseer as risiko’s wat die meeste beïnvloed word deur afslag fooie. Maatreëls wat aangeneem is deur deelnemers aan die studie om risiko’s wat verband hou met afslag fooie van ʼn projek te versag is geïdentifiseer en aanbeveel.

The main objective is to analyze various possibilities in credit risk management from a perspective of a domestic company dealing mainly with foreign customers. The thesis contains both theoretical and practical part and includes general characteristics of risk and different types of risk in international business. It puts emphasis on credit risk, its origin and types of credit defaults. Furthermore there are included various methods used for counterparty risk estimation, credit risk valuation anf its elimination in form of setting up credit limits based of rating agencies recommendations or financial analysis, choise of relevant payment terms etc. The thesis contains several classic and multifactor models used in credit analysis. Main topic is credit risk management and methods for the risk elimination such as factoring,forfaiting, guarantees, collaterals or insurance. The last part demonstrates a practical case using the knowledge from the theoretical parts.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
Fixed investment is a prerequisite to economic growth and sustainable development. Such investment includes large and focused capital spending on the expansion and maintenance of major integrated economic infrastructure. South Africa‘s municipal environment is characterised by extensive infrastructure backlogs, an apparent lack of available funding to eradicate these backlogs as well as incapacities to unlock the required funding. This study proposes a mechanism to successfully unlock available funds and to optimally gear large infrastructure projects. The proposed mechanism focuses on reducing and mitigating project and unsystematic risk evaluations of private financiers. As part of the solution the two concepts of Security Risk Deposit and Limited Risk Deposit are introduced. The solution is based on the principle of associated risk transferral and a type of financial insurance related to remaining perceived levels of project and unsystematic risk. The key dilemma relating to the approach to infrastructure development in South Africa, is presented and is systematically resolved over the course of the study. The proposed solution is simulated and it confirms that it is indeed a valid way of ensuring that government attains more value from the limited available grant funding. Private financiers, government departments and the citizens of South Africa will be able to benefit from the proposed approach.

The use of various forms of contraception in Ghana gained prominence after the government resorted to investing more in family planning programs when maternal mortality was declared an emergency in the country. In Ghana, the intention to use and actual usage of contraceptives is influenced by many factors, which may lead to non-usage or discontinuation. This quantitative study was conducted to determine risk and protective factors impacting on the intention and usage of contraceptives. Survey data from the Ghana 2014 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) (n = 9396) was used. A sub-sample of 7661 women in their reproductive age were included in this study, who reported being sexually active within the last year. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to test the association between a broad range of risk and protective factors including religion, early sexual intercourse, frequency of sex, number of lifetime sexual partners with intention to use contraception. We controlled for income, educational attainment, and age. Overall (n = 3661; 47.8%) reported no intention of contraception use. Logistic regression analysis revealed that no formal education (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.29–1.72; p < 0.001), and primary school as highest educational level (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.04–1.25; p < 0.001), Islamic religion (OR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59–0.90; p < 0.001), not currently employed (OR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.34–1.69; p < 0.001), husband opposing contraception use (OR = 2.19; 95% CI, 1.42–3.46; p < 0.001), and currently pregnant (OR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09–1.54; p < 0.001) were also positively associated with no intention of use. Engaging religious leaders for advocacy in the community was identified as an approach to address barriers and increase awareness on contraceptive use. Targeted family planning programs should intensify public education on safe sex behaviors.

The primary research problem addressed in this thesis is the development of a conceptual framework for a novel ecological economics risk measure called “ecosystem services value at risk” to guide sustainability, efficiency and fairness in the human use of natural ecosystems. Ecosystem services value at risk integrates ecosystem services valuation with financial value at risk to provide an estimate of a “worst likely loss” in ecosystem services under alternative policies. This new approach estimates the uncertainty around ecosystem services values from human activities. By framing the risk to ecosystem services in terms of loss, this risk measure conveys a more powerful message about the need to protect nature. The core elements of an ecosystem services value at risk framework are: ecosystem services valuation; total economic value; stochastic ecological resource use models; financial value at risk; intergenerational discounting; society’s time frame for evaluation; and decision rules. This research is multidisciplinary, drawing insights from ecological economics, finance, fisheries economics, ecological modeling and decision analysis. Ecosystem services value at risk is illustrated with marine examples, which are timely and critical. Marine ecosystems, which provide valuable and essential benefits to humankind, are being severely altered all over the world from overfishing, climate change, marine pollution and habitat destruction. The risk measure is shown to be meaningful by applying a stochastic Schaefer surplus production model to a well-studied marine example, Namibian hake. A case study of the collapsed Georges Bank yellowtail flounder further demonstrates its usefulness to marine policy evaluation. A simple risk measure based on the market values of catch provisioning services leads to selecting conservative harvest policies, ruling out high levels of fishing intensity. The non-market values of a second type of ecosystem service, the regulating services from conserved biomass, are next considered. Both values provide a distribution for a lower bound estimate of the ecosystem services value at risk for the marine ecosystem. Including regulating services allows even more precautionary strategies that favor conservation. The ecosystem services value at risk framework thus supports sustainability and ecosystem resilience, promising to help protect the flow of benefits from nature for current and future generations.

The concept of urban poverty has developed from a static income-based absolute approach to a holistic dynamic and complex state, embedded in livelihood assets and a vulnerability context. A variety of livelihood assets including labour, housing, intra-household, human and social capital are important for risk management strategies. Microfinance has been seen as a key panacea for livelihood development. Using the livelihoods framework this research analyses the nature of livelihoods and financial services within Bwaise, Kampala, Uganda, a poor, densely populated area with a mixture of residential and commercial activities. Financial services available in the area at the time of the research were diverse, ranging from formal banks and donor-led microfinance to cash rounds and informal loans. These financial services, mainly developed by the poor, were used to secure livelihoods with a cumulative nesting of use by the poor. The influence of external factors was high and significantly affected how the poor managed their livelihoods and impeded livelihood development. Theft, ill health and unstable employment were key factors contributing to a highly vulnerable environment. The complexity of urban livelihoods created the need for diverse financial services because expenditure requirements often outstripped income flows. A diverse range of financial services became a vital part of income and consumption smoothing risk management strategies, and these were key for protecting and managing livelihoods.

Currently, there is a great rampage among conservationists looking for useful approaches that can be used to bring efficiency towards conservation of global natural ecosystems. But which approach can be really effective to halt destruction of a particular natural ecosystem where the local people depend on the same ecosystem resources for their livelihoods? Do the local communities accept to refrain themselves from using natural ecosystem resources (loss of free access), which they believe is under their local territory since they are born, without having alternatives that will replace and improve economic gain of their livelihoods? Are the consumers who benefited from the ecosystem services always willing to compensate local communities around natural ecosystem as a means of replacing what they lose?

This study looks at the reliability of Payment for Water Environmental Services (PWES) approach at Kiwengwa-Pongwe Forest Reserve (KPFR) as a device aimed at promoting the sustainable management of KPFR watershed resources without undermining livelihoods of the Kiwengwa-Pongwe local communities. Hoteliers along the Kiwengwa-Pongwe Tourist Area (KPTA) are the potential customers benefiting from water resources found in the KPFR, which is claimed to be deteriorated by the intensity of the livelihood activities of Kiwengwa-Pongwe (KP) local communities. Based on Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), KPTA hoteliers were asked about the amount they would be willing to pay as maximum (WTP) for improvement of water services through sustainable management of watershed areas in KPFR. On the other hand, KP communities were asked what level of compensation they would be willing to accept as minimum amount (WTA) for a loss of free access to KPFR.

Both hoteliers (75 %) and KP communities (91 %) agreed on the establishment of the PWES system. However, there were differences between amount accepted by KP communities (10 US$ per 200 litres) and the amount claimed to be paid by hoteliers (1US$ per 200 litres), thus giving a gap of 9US$. Based on the overall study findings and experiences from other parts of the world where similar systems have been implemented, this issue is negotiable. It is upon existing KPFR management team and proposed board from Zanzibar water authority to launch a constructive dialogue between stakeholders to reach the amount that can be used as compensation causing no harm to both parts and without compromising the sustainable management of KPFR.

Comparative analysis is crucial to academic studies of public administration because it provides understanding of the nature of different types of public service institution: in particular, it helps to show what they do and don’t have in common, what kinds of institution they are, and what kinds of problems they face. However, in order to effectively conduct comparative research of public service institutions it is important that some thought is given to how they can best be compared. Accordingly, it is argued in this study that the differences between public service institutions can be appropriately analysed by examining their respective risk control cultures. This study makes use of the grid and group cultural theory, as developed by Mary Douglas, Aaron Wildavsky and Christopher Hood, to analyse the risk control cultures of the English and Japanese prison services in regard to two specific types of risk, namely suicide and violence. The results show that particular patterns of organizational behaviour within the English and Japanese prison services can be identified with their respective risk control cultures. More specifically, the English prison service tends to try to control risk by using formal rules and granting strong leadership roles to governors. By contrast, the Japanese prison service tends to use informal rules and group pressures to control risk. Furthermore, the peculiar organizational patterns of risk control within both organizations are often not recognised by their members. As a result, the strengths and weaknesses of organizations can be identified by analysing the patterns of risk control behaviour within them.

Thesis (DPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African local government literature suggests a historical problem of municipal non-consultation in services identification and provision that goes hand-in-hand with community non-participation in municipal activities, coupled by a ‘culture of non-payment’ for these services. This research, which was conducted between 2002 and 2005 in the city of Johannesburg municipality, had the central purpose of ascertaining the manner and ways in which the city of Johannesburg provides its basic services to the Soweto communities and, in turn, of understanding if communities participate in municipal activities and hold possible attitudes of non-payment for municipal services. In order to attain the research purpose, six research questions were identified through local government theories and literature and advanced. The first set of four questions was aimed at the Soweto communities: How affordable are the basic municipal services to the Soweto communities? What are community’s perceptions of the importance of the various municipal services? Are the communities participating in the services identification and provision? How satisfied are the communities with the service delivery? The second set of two questions was aimed at service providers or the municipal services managers and councillors: What methods does the municipality use in identifying and delivering service? What does the municipality perceive to be their application and enforcement of service quality management standards? The original methodological intent was to interview the Soweto communities and the city of Johannesburg municipal services managers and councillors. 200 Soweto households were indeed interviewed from the eight townships of Chiawelo, Diepkloof, Dobsonville, Dube, Jabulani, Meadowlands, Naledi and Orlando, which were randomly selected. The survey amongst the heads of these 200 households was followed by four focus group meetings at Chiawelo, Dobsonville, Dube and Meadowlands and between five and eleven households participated in the discussions in clarifying survey outcomes. It was only possible, however, to interview three service managers from the city of Johannesburg services utilities Pikitup, Johannesburg Water and the Contract Management Unit. Frustrated attempts to interview municipal councillors in the city of Johannesburg led to obtaining permission for proxy interviews from the MEC of Local Government and Traffic Safety in Mpumalanga municipalities of Govan Mbeki and Emalahleni and the inclusion of the KwaZulu-Natal municipality of Emnambithi. The usage of proxy interviews is thought to be relevant since the perceptions on service provision relate to the application and implementation of the uniform countrywide local government structures and systems. A total of 24 interviews were conducted with the Mpumalanga MEC, the city of Johannesburg service managers (3), councillors (9) and senior municipal administrators (11). In order to confirm or repudiate service provider findings from the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, supplementary interviews were held with persons knowledgeable about service delivery in Soweto between 2002 and 2005. A total of four additional interviews were thus conducted. In the analysis of the community survey data, townships were classified as well-off and worse-off on the basis of household incomes and thus participation in municipal activities, payment of services and other attitudes were compared between the two strata. The findings of the research reveal low levels of ability to pay for municipal services by communities in terms of household incomes. However, the household possessions of the living standard measurement (LSM) utilities indicated otherwise. The use of income as a measure of affordability to pay is suspect in methodological reliability; hence income related findings should be interpreted with caution. The worse-off townships preferred state provision of the basic municipal services. There was less inclination to participate in municipal structures such as ward committees and Integrated Development Plans (IDP) processes by the well-off townships, although they were the least satisfied with service provision and municipal performance. The city of Johannesburg municipality was found to be addressing service backlogs as a method for service identification and prioritisation. The municipality has semi-privatised basic municipal services such as water, electricity and garbage collection through section 21 companies in order to overcome service provision inefficiencies and ineffectiveness. This has devastating effects in terms of the community’s inability to pay, leading to services disconnection. Communities in general, however, believed that service provision has improved through these utilities even though the municipality has not finalised its performance management contracts with the utilities. Whereas the service provider interviews were conducted in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, additional telephone interviews with service provision experts for Soweto agreed that municipal challenges throughout the country are generally the same since they operate within relatively new policy frameworks. It is acknowledged, however, that metropolitan municipalities and specifically the city of Johannesburg face some unique challenges too. It is concluded that the central role of the local government as the custodian of basic municipal services cannot be disputed; however, the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the market forces require private-public partnerships. It can also be concluded that non-participation is an outcome of, among other things, poor participative capacity within communities, apathy, feelings of distrust of both the municipal institutions and municipal councillors and the lack of information regarding community obligations to municipal institutions. The research recommends the use of similar service utilities in both townships and former white suburban areas in order to overcome the perceptions of the municipal services level disparities that are formed on the basis of townships versus white suburban areas; an overhaul of the municipality’s billing system to overcome its debt and service charges collection problems; ward committee participation capacity improvement for both the municipal councillors and communities and the development and communication of clear guidelines on the roles of regional services management centres. Further research is recommended on, among other things, whether privatisation of municipal services results in better access by all and improves efficiency and payments, and on the functionality and effectiveness of ward committees as vehicles for community participation and in developing new and more reliable socio-economic modelling for assessing community ability to pay for government services.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Uit ’n literatuuroorsig van plaaslike regering in Suid-Afrika het dit geblyk dat daar ’n historiese probleem van nie-oorlegpleging by die identifisering en lewering van dienste deur munisipaliteite bestaan. Hierdie probleem gaan hand aan hand met niedeelname aan munisipale aktiwiteite deur gemeenskappe en ’n kultuur van “geenbetaling” vir dienste gelewer. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsing, wat tussen 2002 en 2005 in die stad Johannesburg gedoen is, was om vas te stel hoe die stad se munisipaliteit basiese dienste aan Soweto lewer en of daar enige gemeenskapsdeelname aan aktiwiteite is en of gemeenskappe ’n geenbetaling-houding inneem. Om die navorsingsdoel te bereik is ses vrae deur middel van literatuur en teorieë oor plaaslike regering geïdentifiseer. Die eerste vier vrae is gemik op gemeenskappe in Soweto: Hoe bekostigbaar is die basiese munisipale dienste aan die gemeenskappe in Soweto? Wat is die gemeenskap se mening oor die belangrikheid van die onderskeie munisipale dienste? Het gemeenskappe deel aan die identifisering en lewering van dienste? Hoe tevrede is die gemeenskappe met dienslewering? Die laaste twee vrae is gemik op die diensleweraars of munisipaledienstebestuurders en raadslede: Watter metodes gebruik die munisipaliteit om dienste te identifiseer en te lewer? Wat beskou die munisipaliteit as op hulle van toepassing sover dit die afdwingbaarheid van kwaliteitstandaarde in die lewering van dienste en bestuur betref? Oorspronklik was die doel om onderhoude te voer met gemeenskappe in Soweto sowel as munisipaledienste-bestuurders en raadslede van Johannesburg. Onderhoude met hoofde van 200 huishoudings in Soweto is wel gevoer. Hierdie huishoudings is ewekansig uit Chiawelo, Diepkloof, Dobsonville, Dube, Jabulani, Meadowlands, Naledi en Orlando gekies. Die onderhoude is gevolg deur vier fokusgroepvergaderings te Chiawelo, Dobsonville, Dube en Meadowlands, en tussen vyf en elf huishoudings het aan besprekings deelgeneem ten einde duidelikheid te verkry oor bevindinge van die ondersoek. Dit was egter net moontlik om onderhoude met drie dienstebestuurders van die stad Johannesburg te voer, naamlik Pikitup, Johannesburg Water en die Kontrak Bestuursgroep. Verskeie vrugtelose pogings om onderhoude met raadslede te bekom het uiteindelik gelei tot die verkryging van toestemming vir plaasvervangende onderhoude met die LUR vir die Plaaslike Regering sowel as Verkeersveiligheid in die volgende munisipaliteite: Govan Mbeki en Emalahleni in Mpumalanga en Emnambithi in KwaZulu-Natal. Hierdie plaasvervangende onderhoude is as toepaslik beskou, aangesien die menings oor dienslewering te doen het met die toepassing en implementering van die uniforme landswye plaaslikeregering-strukture en -stelsels wat dus op Soweto ook van toepassing is. ’n Totaal van 24 onderhoude is gevoer met die Mpumalanga-LUR (1), die dienstebestuurders van die stad Johannesburg (3), raadslede (9) en senior munisipale administrateurs (11). Om die bevindinge van die Mpumulanga- en KwaZulu-Natal-munisipaliteite te bevestig of te weerlê, is aanvullende onderhoude met persone wat kennis van dienslewering in Soweto het tussen 2002 en 2005 gevoer. Altesaam vier addisionele onderhoude is dus gevoer. Tydens die ontleding van die gemeenskapsdata is gemeenskappe as gegoed of minder gegoed geklassifiseer op grond van huishoudelike inkomste en dus is deelname aan munisipale aktiwiteite, betaling vir dienste en ander gesindhede tussen die twee strata vergelyk. Daar is bevind dat min mense munisipale dienste kan bekostig in terme van huishoudelike inkomste, maar dat huishoudelike besittings wat lewenstandaard bepaal op die teenoorgestelde dui. Die gebruik van huishoudelike inkomste as ’n maatstaf van die vermoë om te betaal is ’n aanvaarbare metode, maar moet tog met omsigtigheid benader word. Die gemeenskap wat die slegste daaraan toe was, verkies dat die staat basiese munisipale dienste voorsien. ’n Laer geneigdheid tot deelname aan munisipale strukture soos wykskomitees en geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsplanne is by die meer gegoede gemeenskappe aangetref, hoewel hulle die grootste ontevredenheid toon met dienslewering en munisipale werkverrigting. Daar is gevind dat die munisipaliteit van die stad Johannesburg die agterstand in dienste aangespreek het as metode om dienste te identifiseer en te prioritiseer. Om die probleem van oneffektiewe en ondoeltreffende dienste te oorkom, maak die munisipaliteit gebruik van artikel 21- maatskappye vir dienste soos water, elektrisiteit en vullisverwydering. Dit lei tot die beëindiging van die dienste van gemeenskappe wat nie kan betaal nie. Oor die algemeen is inwoners egter van mening dat dienste deur hierdie maatskappye verbeter is, hoewel die munisipaliteit nog nie sy prestasiebestuurkontrakte met hierdie maatskappye gefinaliseer het nie. Terwyl die onderhoude met diensverskaffers in Mpumalanga en KwaZulu- Natal gevoer is, is verdere telefoniese onderhoude met kundiges op die gebied van dienslewering in Soweto gevoer. Laasgenoemde het saamgestem dat munisipaliteite regoor die land oor die algemeen voor dieselfde uitdagings te staan kom, omdat hulle binne relatief nuwe beleidsraamwerke funksioneer. Daar word egter toegegee dat stedelike (metropolitaanse) munisipaliteite, en spesifiek die stad Johannesburg, ook met sekere unieke uitdagings te kampe het. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe gekom is, is dat die rol van plaaslike regering as die toesighouer oor basiese munisipale dienste nie betwis kan word nie, hoewel oneffektiwiteit en ondoeltreffendheid privaat vennootskappe vereis. ’n Verdere gevolgtrekking is dat niedeelname onder andere ’n gevolg is van ’n gebrek aan deelnemende kapasiteit binne gemeenskappe, apatie, wantroue in munisipale instellings en raadslede, en ’n gebrek aan inligting rakende gemeenskappe se verpligtinge jeens munisipale instellings. Die navorsing beveel aan dat gelyke dienste gelewer word in swart gemeenskappe en in tradisioneel wit gemeenskappe ten einde die siening dat daar onderskeid getref word, te verander. Daar behoort ook ’n hersiening van die munisipaliteit se rekeningestelsel te wees ten einde die skuldinvorderingsprobleme uit die weg te ruim. Deelnemende kapasiteit vir raadslede en gemeenskappe binne wyke moet verbeter word. Duidelike riglyne oor die rol van streeksdienstebestuursentrums moet ontwikkel en aan gemeenskappe oorgedra word. Verdere navorsing word aanbeveel om te bepaal of die privatisering van dienste tot beter toegang vir almal sal lei en of dit doeltreffendheid en betaling sal verbeter. Die funksionaliteit en effektiwiteit van wykskomitees as meganisme vir gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid sowel as die ontwikkeling van nuwe en meer betroubare sosio-ekonomiese modelle vir die bepaling van gemeenskapsvermoë om vir dienste te betaal, behoort ook ondersoek te word.

In New Zealand, the highest incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) is found in meat processing, accounting for over half the injury compensation costs for the sector. This thesis reports on a two-year study of MSD in the New Zealand meat processing industry, with the aims of identifying MSD risk factors and interventions using an industry-level participative ergonomics approach. A review of the literature on occupational musculoskeletal disorders and participatory ergonomics identified gaps in knowledge, notably contextual factors for MSD and a limited scope for participatory ergonomics. The studies described in this thesis contribute to addressing these knowledge gaps. The first stage of the study established a profile of MSD injury data in the industry. Data were collected from four injury data sources for meat processing. A number of priority tasks were identified for beef and sheep processing, based on triangulation of these data, and findings were approved by the industry stakeholders, the Meat Industry Health and Safety Forum (MIHSF). The second stage of the study was the assessment of these tasks in a representative sample of processing plants, with the purpose of identifying risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of MSD, implementation barriers and MSD interventions. The study involved interviews with 237 workers, management, union and safety personnel in 28 meat processing sites. MSD risk factor data were separated into those concerning the high MSD-risk tasks (task-specific), and the wider work system (task-independent). From these data a list of contextual factors was developed which it is proposed may create conditions under which greater exposure to physical and psychosocial factors can occur in meat processing. Some 276 interventions were also identified. The third and final stage of the study involved working with the MIHSF in developing the interventions for use by the industry in reducing MSD risk. MSD intervention ideas were collated, summarised and prioritised. A document containing interventions, implementation barriers and risk factors was developed with the MIHSF and distributed to all levels of the industry. The thesis reflects on the effectiveness of an industry-level participative ergonomics approach to the achievement of the study aims, notably the identification of contextual risk factors and interventions for MSD.

In order to make robust decisions on how to deal with future ecosystem changes, managers need to be aware of the complexity, uncertainty, thresholds and surprises that are inherent characteristics of social-ecological systems. The subject of this paper is the use of scenarios as a tool to increase corporate responsiveness to change by improving decision making on the sustainable management of complex dynamic ecosystems. Scenarios were shown to be a useful tool to integrate in the systematic management of corporate risks and opportunities that may arise as a result of these future changes in ecosystems. Although the scenarios did not contribute to the identification of any additional risks and opportunities, they did have the capability to make the ESR into a better communication tool. The specific objectives of this paper were firstly, (i) to discuss the use of scenario analysis and how it works, secondly, (ii) demonstrate how scenarios can be integrated into the Ecosystem Service Review (ESR) methodology, and finally, (iii) present the benefits such integration would bring to decision makers. A case study was carried out at Lantmännen, to fulfill these objectives. This paper demonstrates that integrating scenarios in the ESR can make issues regarding ecosystem services and biodiversity more easily understandable and also deliver a sense of urgency for action. This proves critical when communicating strategies to other decision makers within an organization and in order to successfully manage risks and grasp opportunities arising as a result of changing ecosystems.

A well-functioning infrastructure is the foundation of a stable society, where payment systems are an important part. Grocery stores provide the general public with groceries and rely on customer consumption. Disruptions in the card payment system leads to consequences because 97% of all customers have access to card payment and is the payment method they prefer to use.  The aim of the survey is to find out about food stores' experience of disruptions in the payment system and how they wish a good management for this to look like. Next, a general crisis management model is developed to mitigate the consequences of a disruption in the payment system. A qualitative method is used to sample a result from each individual stores’ experiences and wishes.  Earlier research where decision analysis is used to handle disruptions in the payment system within the food industry has not been found. Through interviews and theories can a crisis management model for payment disruptions be developed, and examine the business continuity of food stores. The results of the survey shows that food stores today do not have any risk management to handle a break in the payment system or how a desirable management of it would look like. They have previously handled this by letting the customer pay with cash. A smaller store let a customer pay at another time. The general crisis management model has three phases: preliminary studies, management and evaluation. The preliminary studies involve that the store evaluates which payment methods they are capable of implementing. The management of a crisis takes place in three iterative steps; offer alternative payment methods, see how the crisis develops and finally remedy it. The evaluation step in the model is important because a positive outcome can not be guaranteed and therefore continued research is encouraged.
En välfungerande infrastruktur är grunden för ett stabilt samhälle där betalningssystem är en viktig del. Livsmedelsbutiker förser befolkningen med dagligvaror och är beroende av kundernas konsumtion. Störningar i kortbetalningssystemet medför konsekvenser eftersom 97 % av alla kunder har tillgång till kortbetalning och är den betalningsmetod de föredrar att använda.  Målet med undersökningen är att ta reda på livsmedelsbutikers erfarenheter av betalningsstopp och hur de önskar att en bra hantering för detta ser ut. Därefter tas en generell krishanteringsmodell fram som mildrar konsekvenserna av ett betalningsstopp. För att undersöka detta intervjuas butiker angående deras affekter av alternativa betalningsmetoder. En kvalitativ metod används för att få ett resultat utifrån butikernas erfarenheter och önskemål.  Tidigare forskning där metoden beslutsanalys tillämpas för att hantera betalningsstopp inom livsmedelsindustrin hittas inte. Genom intervjuer och teorier tas en krishanteringsmodell för betalningsstopp fram. Resultatet av undersökningen är att livsmedelsbutiker idag inte har någon riskhantering av betalningsstopp eller uppfattning av hur en önskvärd hantering ser ut. De har tidigare hanterat detta genom att låta kunden betala med kontanter. En mindre butik har låtit kunden betala vid ett senare tillfälle. Den generella krishanteringsmodellen sker i tre steg: förstudier, hantering och utvärdering. I förstudierna ser butiken över vilka betalningsmetoder de är kapabla till att implementera. I hanteringsfasen itereras tre steg; erbjuda alternativa betalningsmetoder, se hur krisen utvecklas och slutligen åtgärda det. Utvärderingssteget i modellen är viktig eftersom ett positivt utfall inte kan garanteras och därför uppmuntras fortsatt forskning av denna.

Citizens in many provinces in South Africa have increasingly become more vocal about their unhappiness concerning service delivery in many departments of Government; their needs are not being met. Their violence and anger are usually aimed at emergency planners and government institutions, such as the police services, emergency medical services and fire services, therefore adding to various other challenges and difficulties these institution experience in carrying out their responsibilities (News Today, 2008). These institutions are also directly involved in the Disaster Risk Reduction process and play a key role in building a culture of safety and prevention within their communities by distributing knowledge and teaching skills (Twigg, 2004). Twigg (2004) argues that providing communities with information is the only way in which the scale, frequency, and complexity of disasters can be addressed. This should be done by following a multi–disciplinary approach that includes participatory development communication as a tool. The term participatory development communication refers to communication between parties where information transfer is de–emphasised and the process of dialogue between participants is favoured (Jacobson & Kolluri, 1999). This allows for solutions to problems to be identified in a collective fashion (Twigg, 2004; Jacobson & Kolluri, 1999). In light of the above the Maquassi Hills Fire Service’s relationship with the community has a major impact on the contribution the fire services make to building a culture of safety and also to what extent the community works towards building a culture of safety –– and thereby reducing disaster risk within the community. This study, consequently, aims to investigate the current relationship between the Maquassi Hills Fire Services and the community they serve, as well as the role of participatory development communication in this relationship. In order to do so this study explore various guidelines and principles set out by the literature in terms of participatory development communication and culture of safety to establish to what extent the Maquassi Hills Fire Services adhere to these principles and guidelines in their day–to–day functioning. This has been done by using a qualitative research design. Data collection methods appropriate to the qualitative research design were used to collect the necessary data. These methods included focus group discussions with members of the communities in the Maquassi Hills area and semi–structured interviews with the staff and management of the Maquassi Hills Fire Services. Guidelines and principles established in theory were used to describe and evaluate the current situation between the Maquassi Hills Fire Services and the surrounding communities to 5 whom they provide the service of fire fighting. The two main areas of theory addressed were that of Participatory Development Communication and that of a culture of safety as it presents in the Disaster Risk Reduction field. These were also the two main areas investigated in the empirical phase of the study. From the research it was found that in terms of Participatory Development Communication very little is being done by the fire services to establish dialogical communication. Thus creating opportunities for communities to communicate with the fire services by developing relevant communication channels is not being facilitated. However communities are eager to establish such an interactive relationship with the fire services. The data indicated that when the principles and guidelines for building a culture of safety are considered there exist various positive aspects. If these aspects are utilised and facilitated in the correct manner it may facilitate the process of building a culture of safety. It is therefore recommended that the fire services should start interacting with the communities in the Maquassi Hills area. Most of the issues experienced in the relationship between the fire services and the communities can to some extent be ascribed to the fact that the fire services do not reach out to the communities they serve. Interactions with the community should be based on the principles of participatory development communication which will ensure that dialogue is established and information is exchanged. Also very important in the Maquassi Hills area is supplying the communities with relevant, regular, correct and coherent fire safety information and skills. People in these communities need the necessary fire safety information to ensure their safety in terms of fire. By allowing people in these communities to participate in planning and implementing initiatives aimed at informing people, awareness campaigns and information sessions will be suited to the specific areas. This will mean that communities receive information relevant to their situation and circumstances and ultimately initiatives will be more effective, allowing the opportunity for a good culture of safety with regard to fire to be built.
Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Master of Science
Department of Agricultural Economics
Timothy J. Dalton
Given the changing climate paradigm, food and poverty are likely to become more severe in Africa. Farmers can adapt to climate change, especially through conservation agriculture. This study relies on a minimum data approach developed by Antle and Valvidia (2006) to estimate the spatial distribution of opportunity cost for farmers in switching to conservation practices in Wa, Ghana. It assesses the economic feasibility of several scenarios that rely on production techniques currently studied by the CRSP SANREM project. We also explore the possibility that these practices can provide income from carbon sequestration payments implemented by the Kyoto protocol’s Clean Development Mechanisms. The methodology uses data from both a recent survey and information from secondary sources to assess simulated management practices. Results indicate that all the simulated management practices would theoretically benefit farmers. In fact, adoption rates for the four scenarios range from 52% to 65%, even without any carbon payment. Adding a proportional payment to the amount of carbon sequestered with these practices does not seem enough to influence farmers switch to switch to alternative scenarios. The analysis shows that these results hold even when additional fixed costs to adopt these practices are included. This case study demonstrates the usefulness of the minimum data approach in estimating the economic potential of conservation practices in Ghana. These production techniques may represent environmentally-friendly alternatives that are more profitable for farmers than current practices. The next step in assessing implementation of such practices would require studying farmers’ willingness to adopt these production systems, given their ex-ante economic returns.