/library/oar/handle/123456789/11490 2025-10-30T22:08:06Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/90221 Title: Understanding performance management in the Maltese public service (with special reference to the benefits division in the Social Security Department) Abstract: The purpose of this study was to attempt to explore the perspectives of employees towards the introduction of the Performance Management Programme at their workplace. It may be valuable in assisting management through a bottom-up approach. Although such programme yields several benefits to both the organization and the employees, research showed that some employees were still sceptical and unwilling to accept the programme for various reasons. Some employees regard this programme as another way of control. A thorough literature review enabled me to get a better insight of the subject researched. Employees are deemed to be the most valuable asset an organization can own. To strengthen my research, feedback was sought from employees at the Benefits Division by means of a questionnaire which was sent via e-mail. It has to be stated that this questionnaire is not representative of the views of all employees at the Department of Social Security. Doing so would have been a very difficult task to complete due to time constraints and lack of resources. Therefore, to make up for this, I conducted two separate semi-structured interviews: one with the Director-General and another with the Director Financial Management at the same department. Interesting results were revealed. Although the majority of employees think that their supervisors are well-trained and that they were given a fair grade in their Performance Management Programme, the same employees said that such a programme did not make them feel valued. This shows that the running of the process is not given the importance which it merits. In this thesis, ways and means are discussed as to how one might get the best out of the employee and how the latter feels motivated to perform better. What is sure is that more work has still to be done so that performance management could be conducted successfully. In that way, employees would not regard the Performance Management Programme (P.M.P.) as a another document-filling exercise but as a process where they are actively involved in the daily decision-taking at their workplace: a place where the development of the employees which make up the organization should be enhanced for the better both of the organization and the employees' themselves. Description: B.A.(Hons)Bus.Admin. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/83896 Title: The liberalisation of the taxi services market in Malta Abstract: Personal mobility is essential to modern life. Locally, despite the ever increasing demand for mobility, the image of the whole public transport, including taxis remains very poor. This can be witnessed by the increase in private car ownership and private car usage. For this reason the government has proposed a reform for the whole transportation sector to meet the needs of the Maltese citizens. Government regulations in the taxi market have led to various market failures. The incumbent taxi operators enjoy market power due to the entry restriction m the sector imposed by the government. This has led the taxi sector to resemble an oligopolistic market structure instead of a contestable market. Moreover the restrictions imposed on the market have led to various negative externalities. Finally, due to the regulation that impedes taxi operators from advertising their services, asymmetric information is present in the market. Such market failures are coupled with regulatory capture which has led to the degrading state of present taxi market. The mentioned market and regulatory failures has led the government to propose a reform in the taxi market. Such reform is governed by operational and structural changes whereby liberalisation of the taxi market is the main challenge. These changes will provide greater scope for competition and thus Improved service, Increased efficiency, and lower prices. This dissertation will thus attempt to analyse the failures of the present taxi market and their consequences, and to analyse the proposed reform and the economic implications both for suppliers and users of taxi services. It will also suggest methods on how to make this reform work while at the same time reverse the negative externalities caused by failures of the present taxi market. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/83841 Title: An assessment of the privatisation of the Malta Stock Exchange Abstract: This research is meant to give an in depth study of what both the Government and the Malta Stock Exchange are undertaking in order to prepare the Exchange for a possible privatisation program. The study will focus on the various forms this process may take. It looks in depth at the possible changes required to make privatisation of the Malta Stock Exchange possible. It goes further to identify the main changes and challenges that will be brought about if this idea were to materialise. The performance of the Exchange is then analysed for the sixteen year period, that is since inception up to 2008. A number of interviews were than conducted in light of the analysis results obtained. The study concludes that only through effort from all concerned parties can this privatisation program be beneficial, both for the exchange and for the Maltese Islands. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/83840 Title: The relationship between vocational education and training (VET) and manpower for SMEs Abstract: Given the dynamic world, workers have to constantly update their knowledge and skills to remain competitive in a knowledge-based society. Thus, it is of utmost importance that educational and training systems impart relevant skills to future workers. Vocational Education and Training (VET) is entrusted with the responsibility of equipping students with the right skills to meet employers' needs, particularly those of SMFs as the latter are deemed to be the backbone of the economy. This dissertation seeks to analyse whether VET students are equipped with the appropriate skills required by SMEs. Quantitative research methods were used to generate significant findings, specifically by means of a questionnaire. The outcome of the questionnaire was that SMEs are fairly satisfied with students' skills. This could be due to the fact that the majority of SMEs do not interact with VET institutions and thus, institutions are not fully aware about the skills needed by the industry. Another finding was that the majority of the SMEs encourage workers to constantly update their skills to remain competitive in this sporadic environment, especially in the light of the Lisbon Agenda process. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z