• Ph.D. in Industrial Relations
  (University of Toronto, Canada. 2004) CIR Centre of Industrial Relations.
   
• M.B.A.
  (ITESM, Guadalajara Campus , Mexico. 1996)
• Master of Science, Computer Systems
  (ITESM,  Monterrey Campus, Mexico. 1992)
• Bachelor of Computer Engineering
  (ITESM,  Sinaloa Campus, Mexico. 1988)

Research Interest:   
Learning Dynamics, Knowledge Transfer and Social Capital. 
 

If you like to read Maria Fonseca's still short but more detailed CV, please click here.

  Ph.D. Dissertation:
 

Table of Contents
(if you wish to obtain any chapter of Maria Fonseca's doctoral thesis, please contact her at: maria.fonseca@itesm.mx)

Brief powerpoint presentation of her dissertation or the abstract.

LEARNING AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN CANADA: EVIDENCE FROM THE GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEY
This paper examines how flexibility in work schedule and opportunity for acquisition of knowledge determine the perception of quality of working life as measured by job satisfaction and balance between work and family. The hypotheses tested in this paper address two fundamental issues related to quality of work-life. First, engaging in learning activities has a positive impact on job satisfaction, but its effect on the perception of balance between work and life is less clear. However, flexibility in work schedule has a positive impact on perception of balance between work and home. Data from the General Social Survey (1998-1999) are used to test the hypotheses. Results show that learning demands in the workplace have a negative impact on the perception of work-life balance. This study suggests that increasing workplace demands such as learning, even though necessary for achieving competitiveness, are not contributing to the quality of work-life. Hence, to reap the full benefits of learning at work, we need to find ways to make learning opportunity available without upsetting the work-life balance.
 

Summary Report on Survey of Learning Dynamics
This is a brief document which describes the profile of the participants in a web-based survey conducted from July 2002 to April 2003. This survey was the instrument through which Maria Fonseca has gathered the data used for her doctoral thesis. If you want to have access to this instrument, please contact her (or the Webmaster of the page).

4th International Conference on Researching, Work and Learning

University of Technology Sydney

Sydney, Australia. Dec 11^th - 14^th, 2005

Human and Social Capital as Determinants of Learning Behaviour

In addition, Maria Fonseca has had the opportunity to present some of her research work in several other international conferences:

3^rd Conference on Researching Work and Learning
Tampere, Finland. July 25^th - 27^th, 2003
Learning and Social Interaction in the Electronics Industry: Evidence from Canada and Mexico (powerpoint presentation)

7^th International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation
Monterrey, Mexico. June 10^th - 13^th, 2003
Learning Networks and Knowledge Transfer within High-Tech Clusters: Evidence from Canada and Mexico.

XL^th Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA) Annual Conference
Halifax, Canada. May 31^st - June 2^nd, 2003
Learning Strategies in the Workplace.

XXXVIII^th Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA) Annual Conference
Quebec City, Canada. May 26^th -  28^th, 2001
Learning and Work-Life Balance in Canada: Evidence from the General Social Survey.

Quantitative Methods for Business (Decision Making Sciences)

Fundamental Course for the MBA Program.

Contents:

• Introduction. Problem Solving. Decision Making Process. 

• Forecasting. 

• Linear Programming - Graphic Method.

• Linear Programming - Sensibility Analysis.

• Linear Programming - Aplications in Business.

• Transport and Assignment Methods.

• Integer Linear Programming.

• Project Management: PERT and CPM.

• Decision Analysis.

• Inventory Management. 

• Waiting Lines.

• Simulation.

Links of interest:

• Interfaces  a bimonthly journal of INFORMS, dedicated to improving the practical application of OR/MS to decisions and policies in today's organizations and industries.

• INFORMS  the online information service, 12 000 member society representing professionals in the fields of Operation Research and the Management Sciences.