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An investigation into why projects fail in agriculture, a case study of horticulture and food crops development project (HFCDP) in the central region of Malawi.
No full textThis is a report of a research on an investigation into why projects fail in agriculture. It is a case study of a Malawi government’s horticulture and food crops development project (HFCDP) which was implemented in some districts of the central region of Malawi between 2002 and 2008. This research has been conducted as a requirement for an award for a Master of Science Degree in Project Management.The report covers the background of the study, literature review, research design and methodology, data collection and analysis, research findings, conclusions and recommendations. To a larger extent, the findings of the research showed that there were gaps in the initiation, planning and designing, execution, monitoring and closure of the HFCDP which led to its failure. The research findings were meant to inform project managers on the best way to manage projects in order to reduce project failure. In the academic circle, the findings of the research added new knowledge and insights on why projects fail in agriculture by bringing in contemporary knowledge from Malawi.The study recommended that projects need to involve right people with appropriate expertise, promote ownership, adopt bottom-up approach and assess contractors. It further recommended proper project monitoring, execution of situational assessment, need to undertake a comprehensive needs assessment, strengthen cooperatives and establishing linkages of the project beneficiaries to markets where they can sell their produce. The recommendations did not spare the introduction of project technologies which are simple, cost-effective and appropriate to community expertise and resources
Critical examination of facilities management in housing : A study of housing estates in Lagos State, Nigeria
No full textAdequate housing provision for the growing population in Lagos State, Nigeria is a major challenge. Addressing this challenge necessitated the involvement of both public and private sectors in the development of housing estates. However, regardless of the nature and ownership status of these housing estates, they need to be properly managed; hence the integration of facilities management (FM) into their management. The research objectives included a critical examination of FM strategies, policies and processes adopted in housing management through data collection and elucidation. In conducting this research, qualitative grounded theory (GT) and case study methodologies were adopted. This was done in order to understand, and thereby gain knowledge of the practice of FM in housing. Consequently, interview was conducted with 26 Facilities Managers and 971 residents in 20 different housing estates.The emergent facts from the analysed data revealed that the organisation structure of FM department and their roles depend on the nature of the housing estate concerned, and their purpose. Furthermore, FM is of immense benefit to the housing estates where it is practiced, as it had positively impacted on their general condition and goodwill. Some of the challenges besetting the practice of FM in housing cut across the strategic, tactical and operational aspects. The most pressing ones were financial constraints, residents‘ behaviour; and some of the Facilities Managers‘ lacked the requisite academic and professional qualifications. Some of the recommendations included the need to adequately train and properly empower the Facilities Managers and their teams to ensure FM effectiveness; the adoption of residents-led FM approach; and the need for comprehensive improvement on the existing housing environment especially in housing estates with aging infrastructures
Blends of unsaturated polyester and phenolic resins for application as fire-resistant matrices in fibre-reinforced composites. Part 2: Effects of resin structure, compatibility and composition on fire performance
No full textThe effects of co-curing blends of an unsaturated polyester (UP) with inherently fire-retardant and char-forming phenolic resoles (PH) on the thermal stability and fire retardancy of the resulting resins have been investigated. To overcome the challenge of UP/PH incompatibility, arising from their different chemical structures and curing mechanisms (radical vs.condensation), different phenolic resoles have been used: ethanol-soluble, epoxyfunctionalized, and allyl-functionalized. A traditional water-based resole has also been used to give a reference non-compatible system. In Part 1 of this series of publications it was shown that the compatibility of the two resins increases with functionalization; the allyl– functionalized resole showing the best compatibility with UP. Limiting oxygen index measurements and cone calorimetry have shown that fire performance of the functionalized PH resins and their blends with UP is worse than that from the unfunctionalized PH resin, but still significantly better than that of the UP. To understand this behaviour, thermal analyses coupled with infrared spectroscopy of volatile degradation products have been used on all resins and their blends, based on which, mechanisms of their decomposition and interactions are proposed, and the effects of these on flammability are discussed
Investigating the impact of outsourcing security services at the Foods Company Limited
No full textThe Foods Company Limited outsourced its security services to eliminate theft problem therefore the researcher was investigating the impact of outsourcing security services at The Foods Company Limited.The literature on outsourcing was reviewed and analysed, this contributed to the theoretical knowledge on the topic under study. The literature played a big role in determining important areas and this helped to build ideas on the research questions. Several methodologies were used to get more information on the topic under study. Interpretivism type of philosophy was used since a researcher was more interested to know the people’s opinions and feelings on the topic under study. Case study was one of the research strategies used in this research and it played a big role in getting in depth information on people’s feelings about the topic. The data collection was conducted using questionnaires and the data was quantified for easy analysis. Content analysis played a big role in the data analysis. The findings showed that most of the research questions were addressed.The general findings showed that The Foods Company Limited achieved the main purpose of outsourcing which was elimination of theft therefore outsourcing has an impact of risk reduction. The findings on the topic under study will help organisations to have broader knowledge on outsourcing and this will help them to make informed decision before implementing the outsourcing strategy According to the research findings mixing of in house and outsourcing of security services has not been fully supported by researchers, therefore the researcher recommends an investigation into the impact of mixing inhouse and outsourcing of security services
Higher Education Data & Information Improvement Programme -HEDIIP NSCS Project - Recommendations for Subject Based Analysis and Text Mining
No full textThis report is part of the work of the Higher Education Data and Information Improvement Programme (HEDIIP) New Subject Coding Scheme Project (NSCS Project). It comprises deliverable PD05, as defined in the work specification. Although it is set apart from the proposed new classification scheme (HECoS, the Higher Education Classification of Subject) and proposals for its governance and adoption plan, it is closely related to those aspects; it builds upon the classification scheme to be published alongside this report and the consultation responses to the draft adoption plan and governance model, and will inform the forthcoming deliverables concerned with adoption and governance
Toward REF2020: Moving forward in open access at the University of Bolton and beyond [Poster]
No full textThis poster illustrates the two models for the engagement in open access, and how they are in operation at the University of Bolton and beyond. In particular, it will examine HEFCE's requirement that all research submitted for the REF 2020 is made open access, and how authors might achieve this. Advantages of engaging in open access outside of the HEFCE requirements, such as broadening of access to research for all those who wish to access it, will also be seen, and any concerns will be acknowledged and discussed
Structured empirical evaluation of “Campbell’s physiology notes” and “Campbell’s pathophysiology notes”: A cross-cultural evaluation of two nursing-related biosciences textbooks
No full textA three-country study was undertaken to assess the educational efficacy of two textbooks authored by the researcher. The same texts were distributed to groups of student nurses in the United Kingdom, Cambodia, and Kenya. A data collection tool was developed to obtain quantitative data and to ask open-ended questions on how useful readers found the texts to be. Quantitative data indicated that the books were useful in areas such as aiding understanding of scientific and medical terminology and helping nurses to assess their patients and understand nursing care. It was also found that simplified diagrams were a useful modality for communicating bioscientific concepts. Answers to open-ended questions indicated areas where the texts could be improved. Evidence for how useful bioscientific concepts can be to improving patient assessment and management was also identified. Significant agreement between quantitative data and answers to open-ended questions was noted. It was concluded that the same texts could have a significant degree of educational acceptance and efficacy in wildly differing cultural and national situations. This approach to resource production and distribution also forms a model other educationalists may choose to adopt
Toward an alternative to the traditional writing centre model in Non-Anglophone contexts: A small-scale study in Prague, Czech Republic
No full textIs the most efficient form of university writing support for international students a conventional writing centre where only one-to-one tutoring is provided? In a European context, given that writing support is still a relatively new concept, the answer to this question appears to be no. Although many English-medium universities that currently exist in non-Anglophone contexts provide traditional one-to-one tutoring, mirroring a format that originates in the United States, it has become clear through one small-scale study in Czech Republic that both European students and those from other nations prefer to be tutored on a one-to-many basis. This is an account of how that preference was detected by offering students a choice between conventional and not-so-conventional forums of assistance. I propose that in a European context, the American format of one-to-one tutoring might be dispensed with in favour of a more inclusive forum of assistance described as ‘one-to-many’ and labelled English Composition Tutoring Classes at the institution where the discovery was made. The distinction between these classes and seminars is made in an effort avoid confusion. I conclude by suggesting that writing centre directors and tutors might rethink their traditionally formatted facilities in order to better serve the students attending their English-medium universities, especially those located in non-Anglophone contexts
Development of slow release silver-containing biomaterial for wound care applications
No full textSilver-containing wound dressings are now commonly available with much publicised claims of antimicrobial activities against all kinds of pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, there are little or no credible reports on the control release agents for the minimum potent quantities of silver needed in dressings for antimicrobial purposes over time. This paper introduces a new biomaterial fibre made from natural polymers with an inbuilt ability to gel and absorb large quantities of pseudo exudates. Furthermore, the new fibre carries up to six times less silver than it is conventionally used in silver dressings and displays a very slow rate of release whilst maintaining full potency over time against known microorganisms including methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The paper concludes that the developed fibre has long-lasting antimicrobial and gelling properties comparable, if not better, than Acticoat AA and Aquacel Ag, two commercially available silver dressings