本文嘗試以政治經濟學的取徑，研究當代高等教育的轉型與資本主義的連結。 本文以Marx對資本主義的批判為基礎，並結合Polanyi對虛構商品的考察，以及Jessop對知識的虛構商品化的論證，本文以為，在知識經濟的時代當中，知識被「虛構」為商品與資本，將知識勞動者收編至剝削的生產關係之中；在此，知識不僅只是經濟長波的關鍵，也是資本的競爭力－佔有超額利潤的能力，的關鍵所在。也因而，生產知識的場域，尤其是大學，就被捲入了資本主義之中，成為學術生產體制。 而被捲入資本主義的大學知識勞動者不僅只有教授或研究、教學人員，當中，又以研究生最為特殊，他們是「被生產的勞動力商品，同時又是生產知識商品的勞動力」。本文提出了勞動學習的概念，並以「是否直接生產剩餘價值」和「是否承受市場壓力」檢視研究生的勞動學習。本文以臺灣大學工會的案例，探討在勞動與學習混合為一的「勞動學習過程」、「學術外包」以及「名為助學的薪資與工作內容」的作用底下，研究生承受市場壓力，並被排除在勞動法制的保障之外的情形。 但是依照「有勞動事實就必須有勞動保護」的原則，本文以適用勞動法的各種要件主張研究生應適用勞動法令並享有各種勞動權，並得組成工會進行團體協商、維護自身權益。 最後，本文認為，我們必須正視資本主義式的學術生產體制對於研究生的剝削與壓迫，承認師、校、生之間的矛盾，進而團結抵抗資本主義的不斷擴張。 / This dissertation tried to examine the interconnection between the transformation of higher education and capitalism from political economy perspective. Based on the critique on capitalism by Marx, the inspection on fictitious commodity by Polanyi and the account of commoditization of knowledge of Jessop, this dissertation argues that, in the so-called knowledge economy, knowledge presents as the form of commodity and capital, and subsequently subsumes the knowledge worker into the exploited relation of production under capitalism. Besides, knowledge is also the key to create “long wave”, and more importantly, the competency of capital, which allows capital to gain surplus profits in the competition. With the development of knowledge economy, university has been transformed as “Academic Production Regime”. The graduates are also been subsumed into the Academic Production Regime. They are unique in this regime because they are “produced commodity of labor power, and also the labor power to produce commodity”. I bring up the concept of “learning by laboring” to examine, “Do the graduates produce surplus value?” and “Do the graduates endure the press from market?” With the case of Taiwan University Union, I asserted that the mixture of laboring and learning, academic subcontracting, and grant of student aid obscured the exploitation to graduates. Graduates now endure the press from market and be ignored by the protection of labor laws. I investigated the controversy of applying graduates employees to labor law, and argue that every labor should be protected by labor law. Finally, I contended that we shall confront the conflict between graduates, faculty and the university, and uniting to against the spread of capitalism

This study examines the emerging notion of learning partnerships. As the study of such partnerships is a nascent research field, no single definition has yet emerged in the literature. However, within an uncertain and rapidly changing global context, two strategic initiatives have been identified which will support individuals, communities and organisations in their transition to a knowledge-based economy whilst building capacity for change and renewal. These two strategies are fostering learning communities/regions/towns and developing learning partnerships between multiple stakeholders. The term "learning partnership" has appeared in a wide variety of literatures including those of adult learning, management, social science and education. Working papers and emerging case reports identify a diversity of applications and a range of operational models or configurations that link multiple stakeholders. Learning partnerships have been associated with vocational education and training, innovation and research, lifelong learning, organisational learning and knowledge cultivation. These literatures reveal a paucity of Australian research to explain how multiple stakeholders form and develop these configurations, particularly in the Queensland context. The purpose of this study is to build deeper understanding of the meaning of a learning partnership in the Australian and (more precisely) the Queensland context. A working definition of a learning partnership, adopted as the basis for the research, indicates a strategy designed to foster continuous learning, collaboration, innovation and renewal in response to the demands of the knowledge-based economy and knowledge and learning societies. The research focuses on organisational arrangements in order for the researcher to gain deeper understanding from the key stakeholders in their work environments. Three diverse situations were selected for detailed exploration of their issues, relationships, activities, processes and working knowledge. With a view to contributing to emerging theory, an organisational case study methodology was adopted to identify and explore the nature of the relationships and issues confronting the key stakeholders in three Queensland-based learning partnerships. An interpretive theoretical framework draws on the social theory of symbolic interactionism and the "systems thinking" of General Systems Theory. An interpretivist perspective influenced the case study research strategy and guided data collection, analysis and reporting. Within the case studies, data collection methods included observations, informal meetings, synergetic focus groups, semi-structured interviews, diary notes, researcher memos and documents. From these multiple data sources, the researcher was able to assemble three case files. The inductive process for within-case analysis for the case reports, and later, cross-case analysis, integrated as a form of constant comparison technique, was used as a basis for presenting findings. These findings are reported as three separate "in progress" models to address three interrelated research questions. The case reports explain complex and interconnected organisational arrangements - evolving, adapting and responding to internal and external tensions. While there is considerable activity which could be regarded as representing learning partnerships, there is no cohesive policy framework to support such partnerships, and much ambiguity, "muddy" definitions and unclear terminology. It appears that a "new breed" of knowledge-worker is emerging - linking, networking, interacting, exchanging - to work across organisational intersections. The study shows that like "herding cats", co-ordinating and managing the inter relationships at the organisational intersection take time, resources, vision, processes for interaction, individual willingness and "in-kind" support. Whilst there is opportunity for linking disparate groups to cross-fertilise ideas, working knowledge, and information, and there is the potential to cultivate a knowledge and learning ecosystem (a fertile compost heap for knowledge generation and an innovative learning system) - "intellectual horsepower" - such configurations may also derail, realign or stagnate. It is individual stakeholders who form the relationships, interact, share ideas, and build networks, and it is the individual who maintains the relationships, engages in the process and learns from the experience. Therein lies a paradox between the strength of diversity of the collective (synergies) and their weakness as the relationships may be compromised by a single individual who withdraws or transfers. Drawing on a computing analogy, this could be akin to "corruption" in a system which may not be sufficiently robust to tolerate ambiguity, or a system that is too inflexible to survive threats while maintaining the momentum to adapt and renew. On the basis of this research it would appear that a more robust or resilient paradigm is emerging with interconnected, blurred boundaries and much "talking and thinking" about more sustainable futures. The study identifies these as indicative of wider social and economic changes. The thesis proposes three conceptual models as particularly useful in interpreting these "shifting systems and shifting paradigms": the concentric, the centripetal, and the plutonic.

No description available.

Submitted by Cristiane Oliveira (cristiane.oliveira@fgv.br) on 2011-06-13T15:05:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 61080200034.pdf: 42011735 bytes, checksum: 13ca852a13e7fb007dc2246867ea246f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão(vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2011-06-13T16:09:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 61080200034.pdf: 42011735 bytes, checksum: 13ca852a13e7fb007dc2246867ea246f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão(vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2011-06-13T16:10:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 61080200034.pdf: 42011735 bytes, checksum: 13ca852a13e7fb007dc2246867ea246f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-06-13T17:52:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 61080200034.pdf: 42011735 bytes, checksum: 13ca852a13e7fb007dc2246867ea246f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-11 / For over 30 years, Brazil has developed specific policies to foster computer industry. Goals and institutional frameworks have been outlined for the sector, since the National Informatics Policy of the 70’s, going through the Market Reserve Period of the 80’s, until nowadays, when Informatics Communication Technologies (ICT) are seen as prioritary area for Industrial Policy. Among the current goals, we can highlight the focus on increasing exports of software products and services. However, despite these claims, the country exports on the field haven’t been particularly expressive at the global market. On the other hand, India, which, just as Brazil, is also considered an emerging economy portrayed on the list of BRIC, was responsible for exporting about USD$47 billion in software and IT services by 2009, emerging as a global player for the sector. The implementation of a sophisticated activity such as software industry in a developing country like India definitely calls our attention. Certainly, legal-institutional arrangements were implemented at that country. Which? To what extent such arrangements helped the development of Indian industry? What about Brazil? This paper assumes that the legal-institutional framework developed at the countries have established different knowledge flows, leading to different development paths for each software industry. The generic goal of this research is to investigate how, among other socio-economic factors, these legal-institutional arrangements have outlined different knowledge flows. For the matter, legal-institutional framework is considered as all regulation that establishes institutions, policies and conditions to a particular subject. This paper also assumes that the software industry is based on knowledge-intensive activities. Therefore, the analysis will focus on legal-institutional arrangements that had and/or still have influence over knowledge flows directly related to software industry, thus, trade policies (export and import, property rights, etc) and investment policies for innovation developed in India and Brazil to foster the sector. The goal is not to take India as the ideal model to be followed by Brazil, or even to exhaust the question of what would be an ideal public policy for this sector, which would mean going beyond a legal-institutional analysis. The key question to be faced is not if the State has a developmental role, but what are the different types of State involvement that can be observed and what are its effects. To reach these goals, in addition to literature reviews, a fieldwork was developed at India (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore) and Brazil (São Paulo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro), where interviews were conducted with enterprises and software associations, policy makers and academics who study the industry. / Há mais de 30 anos o Brasil tem desenvolvido políticas específicas para o setor de informática, desde a Política Nacional de Informática da década de 70, passando pelo Período de Reserva de Mercado dos anos 80 e, nos dias de hoje, em que as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) são tidas como uma das áreas prioritárias na Política Industrial. Dentre as metas atuais, destaca-se o foco na ampliação do volume de exportações de software e serviços. Contudo, apesar dessas pretensões, o país não tem tido destaque internacional expressivo para o setor. Por outro lado, a Índia, também considerada como um país emergente, figurando na lista dos BRIC, foi responsável pela exportação de cerca de US$47 bilhões em software e serviços de Tecnologia da Informação (TI) em 2009, se destacando como um país protagonista no mercado internacional do setor. A implementação de uma indústria tecnicamente sofisticada como a do software, que exige um ambiente propício à inovação, em um país em desenvolvimento como a Índia chama a atenção. De certo existiram arranjos jurídico-institucionais que foram utilizados naquele país. Quais? Em que medida tais arranjos ajudaram no desenvolvimento indiano do setor? E no Brasil? Este trabalho parte da hipótese de que o ambiente jurídico-institucional desses países definiu fluxos de conhecimento distintos, influenciando o tipo de desenvolvimento do setor de software de cada um. Averiguar como, entre outros fatores sócio-econômicos, esses arranjos jurídico-institucionais influenciaram na conformação diversa de fluxos de conhecimento é o objetivo específico desta pesquisa. Entende-se aqui como ambiente jurídico-institucional todas as regulamentações que estabelecem instituições, diretrizes e condições comuns para determinado tema. Partindo do pressuposto de que o setor de software desenvolve atividades intensivas em conhecimento, para cada país em questão, serão analisados apenas arranjos jurídico-institucionais que tiveram, ou têm, poder de delimitar o fluxo de conhecimento referente ao setor, sejam eles provenientes de políticas comerciais (de exportação e importação, ou de propriedade intelectual) ou de políticas de investimento para inovação. A questão fundamental ultrapassa o debate se o Estado deve ou não intervir, para focar-se na análise sobre os diferentes tipos de envolvimento observados e quais os seus efeitos. Para tal, além de revisão bibliográfica, foi feita uma pesquisa de campo na Índia (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore) e no Brasil (São Paulo, Brasília e Rio de Janeiro), onde foram conduzidas entrevistas com empresas e associações de software, gestores públicos e acadêmicos que estudam o setor.

The integration of Information Communication Technology (ICT) into contemporary society and business operations is observed as a clear reality in Namibia. While Namibia faces one of the typical hurdles of developing nations, lack of a skilled knowledge workforce, literature presents a contrasting face of ICT investment in the country, in particular the financial services sector. This sector is considered a critical sector in the Namibian economy, embracing global trends while boasting world class ICT infrastructure. This is despite the sector struggling with a shortage of expertise. The situation in Namibia’s financial sector thus warrants a critical review of knowledge development practices as research shows. As literature explains, the financial institutions in Namibia are dependent on expertise from parent companies in the South African financial sector. The result is a need to identify means to develop the knowledge of Namibia’s workforce in the banking sector. Although there is evidence from literature to suggest that ICT can be used to create a skilled and knowledge based workforce mainly due to the promise of cost savings, and convenience, there exists a critical gap in literature on the adoption of ICT for knowledge development in the Namibian financial sector. This gap in knowledge as well as the high investment in ICTs in the banking sector pose a problem that the research aimed to address. This study explored the adoption of ICTs for knowledge development activities in the banking sector of Namibia identifying the perceptions and factors influencing its adoption for knowledge development purposes. Although adoption of ICT is influenced by various factors, this study focused on a specific factor, namely the impact of perceptions on ICT adoption. ICT adoption models such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) or the Technology Adoption Model (TAM) and more recently the Unified Theory of Adoption and Use of Technology (UTAUT) argue that the perceptions of users are fundamental determinants for the adoption of the ICT. Driving, thus, the need to understand the views of users of the ICTs in banks in order to understand the potential it may yield in knowledge development. The study adopts the Activity Theory (AT) as the means to uncover and clearly interpret the perceptions of banking staff, through its theoretic underpinnings of naturalistic investigation and beliefs of “intentional human-action”. This study thus set out to explore the perceptions of banking staff on the use of ICTs in knowledge development and identify the critical factors in their adoption of ICTs in the process. Drawing from the Activity Theory the investigation used a multi-case qualitative study that used semi-structured interviews that were administered on twenty-three respondents from three of the biggest banks in Namibia (cases). The respondents comprised of managerial and nonmanagerial staff with the three cases chosen based on their ties with South African banks. The findings show that all three Namibian banks have advanced ICT infrastructure which they have managed to adopt for knowledge development purposes. The Management of the banks in all three cases were of the belief that the use of ICT supports knowledge development. Nonmanagerial bank staff in all three cases likewise have a positive perception about the use of ICT for knowledge development purposes. However, key concerns about the development of ICT driven knowledge development initiatives which could affect adoption of the ICTs were expressed by the non-managerial staff. These included, management support, consultation in the development phase of the knowledge development initiatives, integration of knowledge development strategies into the staff processes and increasing awareness activities among the staff. The recommendations indicate a need for the institutions to drive knowledge management in general in the institution, which will in turn help foster knowledge development initiatives fully. Another recommendation concerning the design of knowledge development initiatives is the need to involve the targeted staff more fully. Yet another strong recommendation was the need to blend knowledge development initiatives into the work processes of staff and ensure active support by management. / Computing / M.A. (Computing)

The main purpose of this research is to establish whether ICT models as implemented in distance education do help to render desirable results (increment in throughput, meeting clientele expectations, and reduction in learner drop-outs). If it is not the case, what could be done to overcome the established hindrance? The researcher employed programme evaluation (PE) which integrates both the positivistic and phenomenological aspects of research. The samples were drawn from the population group through probability and non-probability techniques. Different research strategies within PE such as discovery, inspection and auditing were at first employed to gauge the physical presence of what is being achieved by Unisa through use of myUnisa & DVC; followed by the use of the surveys (personal interviews, administered questionnaires, focus group interviews). The ultimate outcomes of the said research activities are audiovisual recordings, statistically analysed transcripts and questionnaire data. The researcher employed the following key questions in grappling with issues in this area; their findings are also given: i. Does the application of ICTs facilitate and enhance flexible learning at Unisa? With reference to flexible delivery as it relates to aspect of teaching and learning in Engineering, it has been established that minimal use is made of ICTs. Are the technologies correctly applied for teaching and learning? Based on the evidence of research findings it has been established that technology application is mainly used for administrative support rather than for teaching and learning. iii. Do the instructional design and technological applications meet the needs of their users? As matters stand, the study suggests that users' expectations through rating their perceptions and attitudes (academics, tutors, instructional designers, multimedia developers and learners), are far from being met (as all the critical parts of the models are not yet in place regarding the Engineering and other departments). According to the main finding, while there is some evidence of efforts aimed at proper implementation, underutilisation of the ICTs appears to be the main problem, as established at Unisa and elsewhere. The research is concluded through a number of recommendations based on the established findings. / Educational Studies / (D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies))

The objectives of the study were to determine the relationship between the demographic variables, work-life balance (as measured by the Survey Work-Home Interaction - Nijmegen), job satisfaction (as measured by the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire) and turnover intention (as measured by the Turnover Intention Scale); to determine whether the demographic variables and work-life balance significantly predict job satisfaction and turnover intention; and to determine the differences between biographical groups. A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was applied to a stratified random sample of 79 employees in a South African IT company. Descriptive statistics, correlations, independent t-tests and regressions were used to analyse the data. Analysis revealed that job satisfaction has a significant negative relationship with turnover intention. Furthermore, the work-home interface sub-dimensions of work-life balance have both a positive and negative relationship with job satisfaction and turnover intention. There are significant differences between the various biographical groups. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology

Submitted by Marilene Donadel (marilene.donadel@unioeste.br) on 2018-10-26T17:11:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcel_Colling_2018.pdf: 3237401 bytes, checksum: 68655056331b4b1d08a0e7fce8b15c37 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-26T17:11:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcel_Colling_2018.pdf: 3237401 bytes, checksum: 68655056331b4b1d08a0e7fce8b15c37 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-08-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Behavioral economics has recently been gaining more space in academic studies. The theories based on the rationality of the actors have given place to studies that contemplate their cognitive systems, ways of thinking and emotions. In this context, recent studies in the area of knowledge economy have approached the behavioral framework to analyze the performance and influence of institutions in organizations and vice versa. It occurs that in the relations between different groups in a region, the cognitions of the actors are susceptible to dissonances between beliefs and attitudes. Such imbalances are mitigated by the use of cognitive biases. The influence of these dissonances and biases in the relations between groups in the regional development is the theme addressed in this work. In this perspective, the objective of this dissertation is to analyze the influence and impacts of cognitive dissonance in the relations between the groups of local actors represented by the Government, University and Companies in the Western Region of the State of Parana in view of the knowledge economy. The question that has been sought to answer is how these cognitive processes can represent barriers to a broader understanding by groups about their role in the region in a development context. In order to answer these questions, the present work has proposed to: characterize the Western Region of the State of Parana and the selected municipalities (Cascavel, Toledo, Foz do Iguaçu, Marechal Cândido Rondon, Palotina and Medianeira) according to the relational approaches of the knowledge economy; research the beliefs of local actors representing government, university, and business with a view to the occurrence of cognitive dissonances between beliefs; study the attitudes of each group of local actors regarding the relational aspects addressed by the knowledge economy in terms of cognitive biases and subcategories of dissonance; and explain the reduction or elimination of cognitive dissonance and the use of heuristics and biases in an integrated way by local actors when considering the relations between the different groups. The methodology used was quantitative and qualitative. Initially data were collected regarding Gross Added Value; Number of establishments per activity; Number of jobs per activity; Municipal expenses by function; HDI; Number of public universities; Number of enrollments and graduates in public higher education; Associations formed by groups; Municipal councils. Then, data obtained through questionnaires were analyzed using the methods of Mean Analysis, Pearson Correlations and Stepwise Regression. The next step was the analysis of qualitative data obtained by semi-structured interviews using discourse analysis according to subcategories of cognitive dissonance and cognitive bias. Finally, quantitative and qualitative data were systematically compared according to the subcategories of cognitive dissonance and cognitive bias. The research results showed that, in fact, there are a number of cognitive barriers caused by the heuristics and biases in the three groups. Such barriers prevent them from thinking about innovative ways of institutional action and relational environment so that it hinders the development of the West region of Parana oriented to the knowledge economy. / A economia comportamental recentemente vem ganhando mais espaço no meio acadêmico. As teorias pautadas na racionalidade dos atores têm dado lugar a estudos que contemplam seus sistemas cognitivos, formas de pensar e emoções. Nesse contexto, os recentes estudos na área da economia do conhecimento têm se aproximado do arcabouço comportamental para analisar a atuação e influência das instituições nas organizações e vice-versa. Ocorre que nas relações entre diferentes grupos em uma região, as cognições dos atores são suscetíveis a dissonâncias entre crenças e atitudes. Tais desequilíbrios são amenizados pela utilização de vieses cognitivos. A influência dessas dissonâncias e vieses nas relações entre grupos para o desenvolvimento regional é o tema tratado neste trabalho. Nessa perspectiva, o objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a influência e os impactos da dissonância cognitiva nas relações entre os atores locais dos grupos Governo, Universidade e Empresa na Região Oeste do Estado do Paraná tendo em vista a economia do conhecimento. A pergunta que se buscou responder é como esses processos cognitivos podem representar barreiras para uma compreensão mais ampla por parte dos grupos a respeito de seu papel na região em um contexto de desenvolvimento. A fim de responder a esses questionamentos, o presente trabalho se propôs a caracterizar a Região Oeste do Estado do Paraná e os municípios selecionados (Cascavel, Toledo, Foz do Iguaçu, Marechal Cândido Rondon, Palotina e Medianeira) de acordo com as abordagens relacionais da economia do conhecimento; pesquisar as crenças dos atores locais que representam governo, universidade e empresas com vistas à ocorrência de dissonâncias cognitivas entre crenças; estudar as atitudes de cada grupo de atores locais em relação aos aspectos relacionais abordados pela economia do conhecimento em termos de vieses cognitivos e subcategorias de dissonância; e explicar a redução ou eliminação da dissonância cognitiva e a utilização de heurísticas e vieses de maneira integrada por parte dos atores locais quando consideram as relações entre os diferentes grupos. A metodologia utilizada foi quantitativa e qualitativa. Inicialmente, foram levantados dados referentes ao Valor Adicionado Bruto; Quantidade de estabelecimentos por atividade; Quantidade de empregos por atividade; Despesas municipais por função; IDH; Total de universidades públicas; Quantidade de matrículas e de concluintes no ensino superior público; Associações formadas pelos grupos; Conselhos municipais. Em seguida, foram analisados dados obtidos por meio de questionários com os métodos de Análise de média, Correlações de Pearson e Regressão stepwise. O próximo passo foi a análise dos dados qualitativos levantados por entrevistas semiestruturadas utilizando análise de discurso de acordo com as subcategorias de dissonância cognitiva e vieses cognitivos. Por fim, os dados quantitativos e qualitativos foram comparados sistematicamente de acordo com as subcategorias de dissonância cognitiva e vieses cognitivos. Os resultados da pesquisa mostraram que, de fato, há uma série de barreiras cognitivas causadas pelas heurísticas e vieses presentes nos grupos. Tais barreiras os impedem de pensar em formas de inovação das instituições e do ambiente relacional para que o desenvolvimento da região Oeste do Paraná possa ser orientado para a economia do conhecimento.

Dans le cadre du développement international du mouvement du libre accès aux publications scientifiques, cette thèse analyse plus précisément la situation française dans le contexte européen. Cette analyse a été menée à travers une démarche de recherche-action, au sein d’un groupe d’acteurs du Groupement français des industries de l’information (GFII) concernés par le libre accès.Nous cherchons tout d’abord à mettre en évidence les forces motrices du développement du libre accès en nous appuyant sur une méthodologie prospective développée au LIPSOR/CNAM.Les résultats nous ont conduit à contribuer à la conception d'un site d’information dont la finalité est l'affichage des politiques des éditeurs nationaux en matière d'auto-archivage afin d'accompagner les pratiques de dépôts au niveau national. L’analyse prospective a en effet révélé l’importance des embargos pour les équilibres financiers des éditeurs.De façon plus distanciée, nous amorçons également une réflexion sur l’impact réel du libre accès sur deux moteurs semblant jouer un rôle croissant dans l'économie de la connaissance, à savoir la créativité et l’interdisciplinarité. / Within the framework of the international development of open access to scientific publications, this thesis analyses more precisely the French situation in the European context. This analysis was carried out through a process of action research within a group of actors of the French Professional Group for B to B Information and Knowledge (GFII) who are concerned by open access.At first, we seek to highlight the driving forces behind the development of open access by relying on a method of prospective developed by LIPSOR/ CNAM.The results led us to contribute to the design of an information website whose purpose is to display the national publisher policies on self-archiving practices in order to support the development of new deposit practices at the national level. The prospective analysis has indeed revealed the importance of embargo periods for the financial balances of the publishers.By adopting a more distanced point of view, we initiate a new reflection about the real impact of open access on two important driving forces which seem to play an increasing role in the knowledge economy, namely creativity and interdisciplinarity.

Small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) play an important part in all economies but particularly in developing economies. Growth 'SMMEs seek to grow either in size, revenue and/or asset value by reinvesting available resources; these enterprises tend to spend their available resources on operational when it comes to information and communication technology (ICT). But these systems, whilst necessary are not sufficient. They are geared toward capturing data but not producing information. Business intelligence (BI) can provide decision-makers, who in SMMEs are predominantly owner-managers, with access to information that enables them to make informed decisions on where to apply limited resources. Because BI requires operational systems to be in place to gather the data it is the logical next step. Despite increasing discussion in the press and amongst BI practitioners, academic research with regard to BI in SMMEs remains sparse. Since the potential contribution of BI to SMMEs can only be assessed by first understanding current information practices and needs in such enterprises, the purpose of this study is to explore the use of use of BI to support strategic, tactical and operational decision-making. This research uses an interpretive approach to collect data using semi-structured interviews from the owner-managers of six knowledge-based growth SMMEs in South Africa selected through purposive sampling. The research results suggest that BI can play an important role in knowledge-based growth SMMEs but that support and guidance is needed to ensure that BI is used appropriately to fully exploit available data for decision-making in addition to expanding available data sources. Future research can adopt a more rigorous positivist approach to confirm the findings of this study, expand the population to other sectors in South Africa and/or SMMEs in other countries. An action research methodology can also be used to apply BI interventions in SMMEs to investigate specific BI solutions in-depth. The research may be of value to participating and other SMME owner-managers, policy makers, government agencies, business advisers, and academic researchers. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Information Science / unrestricted