The Intersection Between Black Hair and the Environment: Hair as a Site for Environmental Justice and Sustainability

Currently, we are facing several global crises that include but are not limited to climate change, food insecurity, pollution of the body and environment, as well as racial, gender, and class inequities. This thesis seeks to understand how the natural hair movement, which strives to omit toxic chemicals while embracing textured hair, can be a tool of reconnecting to nature. As humans we are intrinsically part of ecosystems and nature, we must find our niche in it instead of occupying and destroying our environment entirely. The methodology includes compiling a small array of experiences that show the nuance of hair and how individuals may or may not use it to accept themselves intrinsically and thus find a way to uphold nature in all of its forms. African ecofeminism, the history of hair and corresponding environmental racism, health studies, and an anthology are used to flesh out the existence of this phenomenon. The conclusion suggests that this study warrants further research by further exploring the unique experiences of Black people in relation to their hair and nature

ESTIMATION OF PERMEABILITY IN SILICICLASTIC RESERVOIRS FROM WELL LOG ANALYSIS AND CORE PLUG DATA; BASED ON THE DATA FROM AN EXPLORATION WELL OFFSHORE NORWAY

Many approaches to estimating permeability exist. By considering the importance of rock types, various petrophysical models have been developed. This project explores techniques for applying well logs and other data to the problem of predicting permeability in uncored wells, because continuous log measurements such as NMR measure static properties of the Formation which may or may not correlate with permeability. By finding relationships between well log measurements and permeability we can obtain continuous permeability values for the entire interval covered by well logs. These relationships are often not the same for the entire reservoir section and different correlations need to be established for each part of the reservoir. Due to the high costs of coring and laboratory analysis, permeability in most un-cored wells is estimated using correlation equations developed from limited core data. Most commonly, permeability is estimated from various well logs using either an empirical relationship, or some form of statistical regression. The empirical models may bring wrong estimations in regions having different depositional environments if adjustments to constants and exponents in the model are not applied (Mohaghegh, Balan, & Ameri, 1997) and significant uncertainty exists in the determination of irreducible water saturation. On the other hand, statistical regression has been proposed as a more flexible solution to the problem of permeability estimation. Conventional statistical regression is generally performed parametrically using multiple, linear or nonlinear (quadratic) models that require a priori assumptions regarding functional form. Empirical models relate porosity, permeability and irreducible water saturation. The main advantage of these methods is that unlike other methods, they do not require laboratory core analysis for permeability computations, hence can be used to wells that do not have core data and at early stages of exploration where the costs of coring are expensive. The four empirical methods (Tixier,Timur Coates& Dumanoir and Coates) were applied to compute permeability as a function of computed porosity and water saturation and it was seen that permeability is underestimated by all empirical models because adjustments to constants was not possible and even the reservoir was not at irreducible water saturation. On the other hand statistical regressions have been proposed to be a relative strong method in permeability prediction capability particularly multiple variable regressions. All regression methods do not have better consistency in following the actual trend in permeability; this is because of the tendency to average the entire data set to achieve reasonable values for statistical indicators. This is usually one of the weak points of all regression methods. Conclusively it has been seen that statistical methods are better capable of predicting permeabilities in un-cored well as compared to empirical models. Empirical models requires some modifications to constants before applying them directly, though they are useful in predicting permeability trends in early stages of exploration where the cost of coring are extremely expensive. On the other hand multiple variable regression seems to be the best method in predicting permeability regardless of its few drawbacks

Clients Perception of the Role of Marketing Strategies on Profitability of Savings and Credits Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) in Dodoma City, Tanzania

This study assessed the clients’ perception of the role of marketing strategies on the profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma city, Tanzania. The study specifically examined the influence of product, service delivery, price, promotion, and place strategies on the profitability of SACCOS. This study used the descriptive and explanatory design where the regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the marketing strategies and profitability of SACCOS. The information was collected from the 112 clients of SACCOS using the systematic sampling technique. Data were collected through a questionnaire and were analysed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings revealed that clients perceived that the product, service delivery, pricing and place strategies influenced negatively and significantly the profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma City. Therefore, this study recommends that the SACCOS management continue improving the marketing strategies tools for sustainable profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma City

Does participatory forest management change household attitudes towards forest conservation and management?

The study assessed the impact of participatory forest management (PFM) on household attitudes towards conservation and management of Arabuko–Sokoke Forest. The results obtained show that the impact of the forest on households was positive and higher in households in PFM zones than in those in non-PFM zones. There were higher proportions of households in PFM zones than in non-PFM zones, although it was a good objective to create the forest. They have good relations with the forest, benefit quite a deal from it as they obtain forest-related products from the forest; and want it protected. Also, the land adjacent to the forest has higher positive impact on household livelihood than the land further away. Higher proportions of households in non-PFM zones than PFM zones have poor relations with the forest as they are unhappy with the fact that the forest is linked to livestock deaths through tsetse fly, crop damage by wild animals, and predation of livestock without income generating activities to offset these losses. The study concluded that PFM is an asset for forest conservation in Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.Key words: Participatory forest management, household, benefit, cost, Arabuko-Sokoke

Strong fisheries management and governance positively impact ecosystem status

Fisheries have had major negative impacts on marine ecosystems, and effective fisheries management and governance are needed to achieve sustainable fisheries, biodiversity conservation goals and thus good ecosystem status. To date, the IndiSeas programme (Indicators for the Seas) has focussed on assessing the ecological impacts of fishing at the ecosystem scale using ecological indicators. Here, we explore fisheries Management Effectiveness' and Governance Quality' and relate this to ecosystem health and status. We developed a dedicated expert survey, focused at the ecosystem level, with a series of questions addressing aspects of management and governance, from an ecosystem-based perspective, using objective and evidence-based criteria. The survey was completed by ecosystem experts (managers and scientists) and results analysed using ranking and multivariate methods. Results were further examined for selected ecosystems, using expert knowledge, to explore the overall findings in greater depth. Higher scores for Management Effectiveness' and Governance Quality' were significantly and positively related to ecosystems with better ecological status. Key factors that point to success in delivering fisheries and conservation objectives were as follows: the use of reference points for management, frequent review of stock assessments, whether Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) catches were being accounted for and addressed, and the inclusion of stakeholders. Additionally, we found that the implementation of a long-term management plan, including economic and social dimensions of fisheries in exploited ecosystems, was a key factor in successful, sustainable fisheries management. Our results support the thesis that good ecosystem-based management and governance, sustainable fisheries and healthy ecosystems go together.IOC-UNESCO; EuroMarine; European FP7 MEECE research project; European Network of Excellence Eur-Oceans; FRB EMIBIOS project [212085]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clients Perception of the Role of Marketing Strategies on the Profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma City, Tanzania.

This study assessed the clients’ perception of the role of marketing strategies on the profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma city, Tanzania. The study specifically addressed the five specific objectives which are: the influence of product, service delivery, price, promotion and place strategies on the profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma City. This study used the descriptive and explanatory design where the regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the marketing strategies and profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma City. The information was collected from the 112 members of SACCOS in Dodoma City using the systematic sampling technique. Data were collected through a questionnaire and data were analysed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings revealed that clients’ perceived that the product, service delivery, pricing and place strategies influenced negatively and significantly the profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma City. Therefore, this study recommends that the SACCOS management continue improving the marketing strategies tools of service delivery, price, promotion and place for sustainable profitability of SACCOS in Dodoma City. Keywords: Clients’ perception, marketing strategies, profitability of SACCOS, Dodoma cit

Evaluating Change Management Practices and Their Impact on Organizational Performance: A Case Study of NCBA Bank Kenya Plc

Organizational performance has increasingly become a focus for companies, especially after the 2008 global economic crisis. Change management practices are among the key strategies employed to sustain and enhance performance. NCBA Bank Kenya, formed from a merger between NIC and CBA banks, undertook significant changes including system upgrades to unify operations. While the initial phase of system consolidation was smooth, the second phase encountered migration challenges, leading to penalties for customers. The study assessed the relationship between change management practices and organizational performance at NCBA Bank Plc, Kenya. The study focused on four main objectives: the effect of change planning, communication, employee participation, and knowledge sharing on organizational performance. It was guided by the McKinsey 7s Model, Kotter’s model, Kurt Lewin’s Model, and the theory of organizational performance. A descriptive research design was used with a sample of 257 employees from NCBA’s head office and 35 Nairobi branches, selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection involved questionnaires (79% response rate) and document review. Instrument reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach alpha of 0.765. Data were analyzed using SPSS through multiple regression and correlation analysis. The results indicated that without change management, NCBA’s performance declined (R=2.194, p>0.05). However, improvements in change planning (R=1.119, p<0.05), employee participation (R=0.269, p<0.05), and knowledge sharing (R=0.276, p>0.05) positively impacted performance. The study recommends exploring change management in other financial institutions such as insurance and mortgage firms

The Influence of E-Procurement on Ethical Conduct Improvement in Mzinga Corporation, Tanzania

The advancement of science and technology has caused a revolution in procurement processes among public organisations worldwide. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of e-procurement on ethical conduct improvement in Mzinga Corporation. The case study design was employed to collect qualitative data from the departments of procurement, stores, ICT, and Human Resource Management in Mzinga Corporation. A total of 45 participants were involved in interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Data analysis involved thematic analysis. The findings of the study showed that the use of e-procurement has an influence on employee ethical conduct. E-procurement, unethical conduct such as reduced collusion and corruption, having a single platform for all procurement activities and all specifications are open in the procurement system. All these reduced unethical conduct related to corruption and theft. Furthermore, it was found by the study that the use of e-procurement had reduced conflicts through strengthening relationships, observing equality and equity for bidders/suppliers, and reducing bureaucratic complexities. It was concluded that e-procurement is an important tool and a platform that links the pool of suppliers with public organisations. Mzinga Corporation has ethical standards to guide the employees to act ethically and one of the benefits of e-procurement is that it can control the behaviour of the employees in the public service. It is recommended that the procurement system should be open and accessible to all employees so as to strengthen participation and inclusion for the best of the institution in managing the resources

Strategies Used to Monitor and Control Service Quality: A Case Study of Restaurants in Nairobi City

Service quality (SQ) plays an important role in the success of any service establishment. The purpose of the current study was to assess the strategies used in the process of monitoring and controlling SQ in the restaurant business. Specifically, the study aimed to establish what is involved in monitoring and controlling SQ, to identify the challenges encountered in monitoring and controlling SQ, to establish what restaurants are doing to overcome these challenges and to determine the most effective strategies in monitoring and controlling SQ. A case study design was adopted with primary data being collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A sample of 60 staff respondents were chosen while all managers and supervisors of restaurants involved in the study qualified to be part of the respondents. However, only 35 questionnaires were filled and returned. The major findings from the study indicated that all restaurants carry out monitoring and controlling of SQ. The control of SQ is done mostly through use of some process standards manual. However, there is more reliance on supervision and verbal guidance than a strict manual. Monitoring of SQ is done on a daily basis by a majority of restaurants through close supervision. Of all the indicators of SQ, ‘sales’ was highly ranked. Some of the challenges encountered during monitoring and controlling of SQ included diversity among customers with dissimilar needs and expectations, and employees giving varied responses to quality issues. It is recommended that efforts to improve team work among staff must be made. Keywords: Service quality; Strategy; Monitoring and controlling; Restaurants; Nairobi

A Comparative Analysis on Factors Influencing Teacher Retention in Rural Public Primary Schools in Tanzania: The Case of Kilolo, Mufindi and Iringa Rural Public Primary Schools in Iringa Region

The purpose of this study was to comparatively analyse why schools in Kilolo district had a high retention rate than those in Iringa DC and Mufindi districts by looking at the factors influencing teacher retention. The study was driven by three factors in the objectives which included; leadership influence, social services, and promotional opportunities and how they affect teacher retention. The study engaged two theoretical approaches i.e., Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory. The study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches to obtain, interpret and present findings from the field. In all the selected districts, the population was 3660, from which a sample size of 351 was purposively drawn and distributed with questionnaires. Interviews were also administered made to 3 educational administrative officers. Each district was represented by 117 teacher-respondents who were distributed with questionnaires and 1 administrative officer who participated in the interview. Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that leadership influence, accessibility to social services and promotion opportunities had higher positive effects on teacher’s retention rates in Kilolo districts than in Iringa DC and Mufindi districts. The study recommended that, given the state of distribution of social services in all selected districts and the overall low level of promotion opportunities, the government should increase the capacity to build social services infrastructures as well as increase promotion opportunities because they are likely to enhance the motivation of teachers thereby increasing retention rate