Browsing by Subject "review"

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    A critical look at the potential of Ecopath with ecosim to assist in practical fisheries management
    (National Inquiry Services Centre, 2004) Plagányi, Éva E; Butterworth, Doug S
    Ecosystem-orientated thinking is increasingly incorporated into fishery management. Given the complexity of ecosystem processes, there is a need to evaluate the tools used to steer this thinking critically. ECOPATH with ECOSIM (EwE), an aggregate system-modelling package, is currently the most widely employed approach to assess the ecosystem effects of fishing. The basic equations and assumptions, strengths and weaknesses, and the potential of this approach to contribute to practical fisheries management advice are reviewed. Strengths include the structured parameterization framework, the inclusion of a well-balanced level of conceptual realism, a novel representation of predator-prey interaction terms, and the inclusion of a Bayes-like approach (ECORANGER) to take account of the uncertainty associated with values for model inputs. Weaknesses in model structure include the constraining nature of the mass-balance assumption (of ECOPATH) for initiating projections, the questionable handling of life history responses such as compensatory changes in the natural mortality rates of marine mammals, overcompensatory stock-recruit relationships that result from default parameter settings, possible problems in extrapolating from the microscale to the macroscale, as well as some (not too far-reaching) mathematical inconsistencies in the underlying equations. There is a paucity of systematic and stepwise investigations into model behaviour and properties, and users are cautioned against non-critical use of the default settings. An important limitation related to the predominant use of EwE as a "black-box" modelling tool is that some users fail to consider a range of alternative interaction representations. As with all multispecies approaches, the major limitation in applying the EwE approach lies in the quality and quantity of available data. Current EwE applications generally do not adequately address uncertainty in data inputs and model structure. Prudent EwE applications that utilize good data and are based upon rigorous statistical analyses can complement the quantitative predictions of traditional single-species models. They could be particularly useful in some contexts if output in the form of probability distributions encompassing a range of likely ecosystem responses were to be coupled with attempts to extend Operational Management Procedure (OMP) approaches to fisheries management beyond the singlespecies level. In particular, such applications could serve as the operating models of the underlying dynamics that are used for computer simulation testing of OMPs.
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    A review of the Knowledge Management Centre of the Economic and Human Development Department, City of Cape Town
    (2012-03) UCT Knowledge Co-op
    The Knowledge Management Centre (KMC) for a municipal department was set up by a Project Consultant in 1998, with the aim of providing a largely self-service resource centre to store and distribute appropriate and up-to-date information linking to economic development and tourism. The aim of the project is briefly to evaluate the current processes of the KMC and to determine whether these continue to address the needs of its present clients and of potential clients within the City of Cape Town municipal services sector, also to establish whether the KMC is suitably lined up with modern information service delivery techniques. This "As is" assessment is compared with current global best practice in Knowledge Management (KM) for information services of a similar scope and kind to identify a "To be" cluster of facilities and services. A gap analysis identifies areas of change, skill acquisition and suitable strategies for closing the gaps.
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    A review of the Knowledge Management Centre: conducted for the Economic and Human Development Department, City of Cape Town
    (2012-07) Underwood, Peter G; Smith, Gretchen
    Following a study of the resources and services of the Knowledge Management Centre (KMC) of the Economic and Human Development Department (EHD) and a survey of a sample of users and potential users, the conclusion is that the KMC is NOT operating in a Knowledge Management mode; it is operating as a small special library, in a demand-driven mode (page 7). Interviews with the sample of users indicate that a Knowledge Management mode of operation would be more appropriate for supporting the work of the EHD (page 9). It is proposed that the two mutually supportive KM initiatives of leveraging information content and the development and utilisation of knowledge communities should form the core of the EHD's KM strategy (page 13). A set of integrated actions are recommended to implement a Knowledge Management Programme and capacitate the KMC at the EHD (pages 15-18). A job description for a post of Knowledge Officer is provided (pages 19-20).