title: New Zealand financial management reform: organizational changes in secondary schools focusing on structure, resourcing, budgeting, and reporting

authors: Isa, Shami Bin Mohammed

abstract: School reform associated with Tomorrow’s Schools was ostensibly mobilised to engender various changes, the major ones being changes in financial management and accounting practices in schools. The reform sought, on the face of it, to give greater autonomy to the local administrators and, at the same time, impose on them a much wider accountability network. Its apparent mission was the inculcation of a culture of ‘economic efficiency’ and an associated traditional financial accounting measurement culture: forces seemingly alien to schools.

This study attempts to provide an insight into changes in the above practices engendered by the reforms - in particular, financial and accounting related changes associated with structure, resourcing, budgeting and reporting. It seeks to explore the changes and responses from case studies in four schools in the Waikato region. The case studies are supported by a questionnaire survey, the aim of which is to gain some preliminary insights for the subsequent, more in-depth case studies. In interpreting such empirical data, I discuss and analyse the various changes and the impacts (or issues) arising from the reform.

The thesis is consistent with a naturalistic and interpretive perspective which provides the basis for the description of the responses to the changes in the four technologies. It also pursues themes and raises questions consistent with critical theoretical analysis of organizational change.

Among the findings were the different impacts of the reform upon the schools, which arose mainly from the differences in their socio-economic backgrounds. There were also several similarities, for example, while the changes did have a significant impact upon the various structures and practices in the schools studied, many of the changes were absorbed by a small group consisting mainly of the administrative group, leaving the teachers to carry on undisturbed.

Finally, I also discuss the implications of the reform upon the future of the schools in terms of economic, social and cultural issues and their possible impacts upon the educational objectives.

text: New Zealand financial management reform: organizational changes in secondary schools focusing on structure, resourcing, budgeting, and reporting School reform associated with Tomorrow’s Schools was ostensibly mobilised to engender various changes, the major ones being changes in financial management and accounting practices in schools. The reform sought, on the face of it, to give greater autonomy to the local administrators and, at the same time, impose on them a much wider accountability network. Its apparent mission was the inculcation of a culture of ‘economic efficiency’ and an associated traditional financial accounting measurement culture: forces seemingly alien to schools.

This study attempts to provide an insight into changes in the above practices engendered by the reforms - in particular, financial and accounting related changes associated with structure, resourcing, budgeting and reporting. It seeks to explore the changes and responses from case studies in four schools in the Waikato region. The case studies are supported by a questionnaire survey, the aim of which is to gain some preliminary insights for the subsequent, more in-depth case studies. In interpreting such empirical data, I discuss and analyse the various changes and the impacts (or issues) arising from the reform.

The thesis is consistent with a naturalistic and interpretive perspective which provides the basis for the description of the responses to the changes in the four technologies. It also pursues themes and raises questions consistent with critical theoretical analysis of organizational change.

Among the findings were the different impacts of the reform upon the schools, which arose mainly from the differences in their socio-economic backgrounds. There were also several similarities, for example, while the changes did have a significant impact upon the various structures and practices in the schools studied, many of the changes were absorbed by a small group consisting mainly of the administrative group, leaving the teachers to carry on undisturbed.

Finally, I also discuss the implications of the reform upon the future of the schools in terms of economic, social and cultural issues and their possible impacts upon the educational objectives.

year: 1998

title: USEM: A ubiquitous smart energy management system for residential homes

authors: Masoodian, Masood

subjects: building energy management

abstract: With the ever-increasing worldwide demand for energy, and the limited available energy resources, there is a growing need to reduce our energy consumption whenever possible. Therefore, over the past few decades a range of technologies have been proposed to assist consumers with reducing their energy use. Most of these have focused on decreasing energy consumption in the industry, transport, and services sectors. In more recent years, however, growing attention has been given to energy use in the residential sector, which accounts for nearly 30% of total energy consumption in the developed countries. Here we present one such system, which aims to assist residential users with monitoring their energy usage and provides mechanisms for setting up and controlling their home appliances to conserve energy. We also describe a user study we have conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this system in supporting its users with a range of tools and visualizations developed for ubiquitous devices such as mobile phones and tablets. The findings of this study have shown the potential benefits of our system, and have identified areas of improvement that need to be addressed in the future.

text: USEM: A ubiquitous smart energy management system for residential homes With the ever-increasing worldwide demand for energy, and the limited available energy resources, there is a growing need to reduce our energy consumption whenever possible. Therefore, over the past few decades a range of technologies have been proposed to assist consumers with reducing their energy use. Most of these have focused on decreasing energy consumption in the industry, transport, and services sectors. In more recent years, however, growing attention has been given to energy use in the residential sector, which accounts for nearly 30% of total energy consumption in the developed countries. Here we present one such system, which aims to assist residential users with monitoring their energy usage and provides mechanisms for setting up and controlling their home appliances to conserve energy. We also describe a user study we have conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this system in supporting its users with a range of tools and visualizations developed for ubiquitous devices such as mobile phones and tablets. The findings of this study have shown the potential benefits of our system, and have identified areas of improvement that need to be addressed in the future.

year: 2014

title: Te Ika Huirua o Te Mate

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: This composition is a lament to two staesman of the Māori world Apira Mahuika of Ngāti Porou and Tama Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu. Both men were giants in their respective areas, governance, tribal politics cultral revival language revitalisation, Treaty settlements they both died within days of each other. This compostion also talks about how Pākeha law clashes with Māori lore with the James Takamore case where his whanau took his body and returned it to James ancestral home Whakatohea and the widow laid charges to have her husbands remains dug up and returned to Christchuch. I thought it appropriate to protest about this being the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition was held in Christchurch March 2015. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

text: Te Ika Huirua o Te Mate This composition is a lament to two staesman of the Māori world Apira Mahuika of Ngāti Porou and Tama Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu. Both men were giants in their respective areas, governance, tribal politics cultral revival language revitalisation, Treaty settlements they both died within days of each other. This compostion also talks about how Pākeha law clashes with Māori lore with the James Takamore case where his whanau took his body and returned it to James ancestral home Whakatohea and the widow laid charges to have her husbands remains dug up and returned to Christchuch. I thought it appropriate to protest about this being the Te Matatini World Championship Kapa Haka Competition was held in Christchurch March 2015. This composition was performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

year: 2015-02-12