The need for faster, more flexible and less risky ways for organisations to expand their capabilities and competencies increasingly lead to the formation and proliferation of networking strategies and partners. Understanding the potential contribution that CoP membership can provide within these teams is a step towards developing and refining a strategy to support and enhance the speedy progression of the team towards a productive phase. The study shows that membership of researchers to the same or similar CoPs have some impact on the norming stage, and assist in reaching the performing / productive stage faster in team development. The survey in particular has indicated that similar standards, practices, terminology, ethics, standards, peer recognition, trust and a sense of belonging have more of an impact on the productive phase of team forming, than on the norming phase. The hard factors such as terminology, standards and similar practices have a strong correlation with the softer factors such as a sense of belonging and trust. This information should be utilised in both the socialisation processes in academic institutions as part of the education of professionals, as well as organisational approaches to Research and Development (R&D), information sharing and development of the researchers. The paper also highlights emerging organisational and strategic Best Practices currently prevalent in R&D teams and collaborative projects. It is clear that research collaborations cuts across the whole spectrum of business and management areas - from strategy, across intellectual property issues, finance, strategic human resource management, R&D management and innovation, knowledge management, organisational values and culture, and many more. To support innovation and R&D on a strategic level, both internally and on inter-firm collaborations, requires a review of the total organisational strategy, culture and norms in an organisation. Innovation and R&D support should be a holistic approach, with strategic and pro-active risk management supported by appropriate strategic human resources management and systems. Literature on CoPs, teams, social capital (SC), knowledge management (KM), intellectual capital (IC), intellectual property (IP), strategy and governance provide theoretical grounding. / Business Leadership / Ph. D.

This study examined how online social networking (OSN) leads to increased communication and collaboration across inter-firm boundaries. This online social networking behaviour represents significant opportunities to firms in the form of improved problem-solving, increased collaborative innovation and enhanced engagement with stakeholders. There are also risks inherent in the widespread use of OSNs, such as the loss of control over information flows to individuals outside the organization, potential damage to the reputation of brands and organizations, and loss of productivity due to excessive usage of OSNs during work hours. In particular, this study sought to test four research propositions, specifically, that usage of one particular OSN, LinkedIn (LI), results in: 1) an increased number of inter-firm connections; 2) an improved ability to communicate across inter-firm boundaries; 3) greater access to problem solving or innovation collaborators; 4) increased organizational problem solving or innovation ability. The study methodology involved both quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative portion of the study involved survey research among over 500 LinkedIn (LI) users to determine changes they reported in various dimensions related to inter-firm relationship-forming, information-sharing and collaborative problem solving since using LI. The sampling approach was purposive and the sample frame consisted of the researcher’s own extended LI network, and an effort was also made to make the survey link available to all LI members through public posting in the site’s Q&A section. Though no individual or group was systematically excluded from the opportunity to take the survey, some limitations are inherent in the approach taken. The survey respondents were self-selecting, which makes it difficult to confirm that the sample is reflective of all LI users. Also, the use of the researcher’s own LI network as a key source of survey respondents may have biased the study toward more open networkers, since the researcher’s network was built up over time by practicing open networking behaviours. As a result, the sample may tend to under-represent more closed or restrictive networkers. Notwithstanding these limitations, no one particular group of respondents was excluded from the opportunity to take the survey, and the resulting data suggests that there were significant numbers of respondents who considered themselves closed networkers. Also, the spread of respondents by geographic area, occupation and age was found to resemble published statistics from LI on its user base, so it appears that the data is reasonably reflective of the LI user base, though this would be difficult to verify or measure. Qualitative research was also undertaken among senior managers at companies that have embraced the use of OSNs by staff to determine their experiences along similar dimensions. The findings from the quantitative survey showed that users of LI have experienced an increased number of social connections with individuals as a result of using LI, and that these connections are often with people in other organizations, including competitors and customers. Survey respondents also reported that they have been able to draw upon their LI networks in order to solve problems and be more innovative in their work. Analysis of the qualitative research yielded a list of suggested best practices that could be adopted by firms wishing to harness the collaborative power of OSNs. These suggested best practices have been grouped under the areas of strategy, listening, communication, guidelines, training, diffusion and measurement. Some suggested areas for future research included: the role of performance measurement and reward systems in managing OSN usage behaviour; the organizational risks of centralized versus decentralized control of messaging via OSNs; the role of training in the effective deployment of OSNs in an organizational context; and the organizational risk of increased connectedness with competitors resulting from OSN relationships. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Rapid change is a defining characteristic of our modern society. This has huge impact on society, governments, and businesses. Businesses are forced to fundamentally transform themselves to survive in a challenging economy. Transformation implies change in the way business is conducted, in the way people perform their contribution to the organisation, and in the way the organisation perceives and manages its vital assets – which increasingly are built around the key assets of intellectual capital and knowledge. The latest management tool and realisation of how to respond to the challenges of the economy in the new millennium, is the idea of "knowledge management" (KM). In this study we have focused on synthesising the many confusing points of view about the subject area, such as: <ul><li> a. different focus points or perspectives; </li><li> b. different definitions and positioning of the subject; as well as</li><li> c. a bewildering number of definitions of what knowledge is and what KM entails.</li></ul> There exists a too blurred distinction in popular-magazine-like sources about this area between subjects and concepts such as: knowledge versus information versus data; the difference between information management and knowledge management; tools available to tackle the issues in this field of study and practice; and the role technology plays versus the huge hype from some journalists and within the vendor community. Today there appears to be a lack of a coherent set of frameworks to abstract, comprehend, and explain this subject area; let alone to build successful systems and technologies with which to apply KM. The study is comprised of two major parts:<ul><li> 1. In the first part the study investigates the concepts, elements, drivers, and challenges related to KM. A set of models for comprehending these issues and notions is contributed as we considered intellectual capital, organizational learning, communities of practice, and best practices. </li><li> 2. The second part focuses on the technology perspective of KM. Although KM is primarily concerned with non-technical issues this study concentrates on the technical issues and challenges. A new technology framework for KM is proposed to position and relate the different KM technologies as well as the two key applications of KM, namely knowledge portals and knowledge discovery (including text mining). </li></ul> It is concluded that KM and related concepts and notions need to be understood firmly as well as effectively positioned and employed to support the modern business organisation in its quest to survive and grow. The main thesis is that KM technology is a necessary but insufficient prerequisite and a key enabler for successful KM in a rapidly changing business environment. / Thesis (PhD (Computer Science))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Computer Science / unrestricted

The project elaborates design opportunities for a future practice that could promotealternative sustainable lifestyles on waste handling through up-cycling activities. It doesthis on a small scale through engagement in the local communities of the Hildaneighborhood and Segepark students’ accommodations in Sweden. To thesecommunities, creative-up-cycling is explored which it introduced here as an approachwhere neighbors can participate in making new things from leftover materials. Throughthis work creative-up-cycling is a proposed recommendation for a possible service systemon how to share the leftover materials in the local resident’s communities, as well as, howto remake the items no longer needed.The empirical studies explore maker culture lifestyles and include how to find leftovermaterials, tools, space, and skills in order to guide people in creative-up-cyclingalternatives. These creative activities also build social relationship via the integration ofmultidisciplinary citizens who are living in the same community and explorations weredone on how could we elicit the skill sets from those people? What is a useful skill set inthis area today? Values like mutual physical experience, reciprocity, and ownership couldalso be found along the empirical workshops in this project. Additionally, this reportshows some interesting findings pointing towards the design process and the suggestionsof design elements; ‘Co-storage’, ‘Mix and Match furniture shop’, and ‘Renovation andup-cycling’ concept elements.Participatory design (designing with people) has been the core approach in this project.Additionally, I have been influenced by user-centered design, as well as service designapproaches in order to comprehend the services, system and activities of recycling andup-cycling in cities like: SYSAV, STPLN, Cykelköket, Återskapa, Toolpool. The findingpresented here are examples of practices that could make up the composition of recyclingand up-cycling activities in future local communities.

Syftet med studien är att presentera ett designkoncept för publika diskussioner på nätet med målet att uppnå djupare diskussioner och minska mängden information overload. Arbetet använder metoden Concept Driven Interaction Design (CDID) som går ut på att skapa ett designkoncept utifrån flera olika teorier som appliceras genom interaktionsdesign. Ett designkoncept innehåller tre delar: ett namn, ett syfte och huvudprinciper. CDID innehåller sju steg som arbetet är utformat efter: 1.      Concept Generation – Summeras i en tabell som jämför diskussioner i forum (med flera antagande) och diskussioner med hjälp av metoden Philosophy for Children (P4C), samt annan teori. 2.      Concept Exploration – Åtta olika designaspekter identifieras utifrån jämförelsetabellen. 3.      Internal Concept Critique – Designaspekterna jämförs med två snarlika diskussionsformat. 4.      Design of Artifacts – Designkoncept version 1 skapas. 5.      External Design Critique – Intervjuer utförs för att undersöka intervjupersonerna generella erfarenheter av online diskussioner, testar antagandena från jämförelsetabellen och ge direkt feedback på första versionen av designkonceptet. 6.      Concept Revisited – Ändringar görs baserat på intervjumaterial och direkt feedback. 7.      Concept Contextualization – Designkonceptet kopplas tillbaka till litteraturen. Studien resulterar i ett designkoncept kallat CoFramer och stödjer dessa huvudprinciper som ställs i kontrast till material som identifierats genom intervjuerna: Tabell 1: CoFramers huvudprinciper och faktorer från intervjuer om diskussioner på forum. CoFramers huvudprinciper | Från intervjuer om diskussioner på forum Strukturerad början och slut | Diskussion utan tydligt slut Begränsat antal deltagare | Stor mängd deltagare Minimum antal deltagare | Många inaktiva åskådare Explicita deltagare | Lite information om deltagare Gemensamma förutsättningar | Otydlighet kring deltagares förutsättningar Begränsad informationstäthet per inlägg | Långa inlägg och/eller snabba inlägg Den röda tråden och parallella trådar | Oftast parallella trådar Aktiv samtalsledare | Outredda missförstånd Studien indikerar på att CoFramer bör resultera i mer strukturerade diskussioner och som utsätter användaren för en lägre mängd information overload och mindre grounding cost jämfört med vad som vanligtvis uppstår i publika diskussioner online. / The focus of this essay is to develop a design concept for online public discussions with deep discussions and low information overload. The method used is Concept Driven Interaction Design (CDID) which involves constructing a design concept by applying a variety of theories in tangible interaction design. A design concept has three basic parts: a name, high-level goals and outlines generic principles. CDID includes seven steps which is used in this work: 1.      Concept Generation – Formatted into a table that compare forum discussion (with several hypothesis) compared to discussions with the method Philosophy for Children (P4C) and other theories. 2.      Concept Exploration – Eight distinct design aspects are identified from the comparison table. 3.      Internal Concept Critique – The design aspects are compared to three similar discussion formats. 4.      Design of Artifacts – Design concept version 1 is created. 5.      External Design Critique – Interviews are conducted to explore their general experience of online discussions, investigate the hypothesis from the comparison table and to seek direct feedback on the first draft of the design concept. 6.      Concept Revisited – Changes are made to the design concept based on the interview material and the direct feedback. 7.      Concept Contextualization – The design concept is related to the original literature. The result of the study is a design concept named CoFramer. CoFramer’s generic principles are summarized and contrasted against factors identified from the interview material in this table: Tabell 2: CoFramer’s generic principles and interviews about online discussions. CoFramer’s generic principles | From interview material on forum discussion Organized start and ending | Discussions without clear ending Limited number of participants | Large number of participants Minimum number of participants | Large number of inactive spectators Explicit participants | Low information about participants Common conditions | Vagueness in participants conditions Limited information density per post | Long posts and/or fast posts The red thread and parallel threads | Often parallel threads Active facilitator | Unresolved misunderstandings The study indicates that CoFramer would create more structured discussions with a lower amount of information overload and less grounding cost compared what normally arise in public online discussions.

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on the relevant aspects involved in knowledge management and organisational learning, and to assess the maturity level of knowledge management within the South African steel industry. Various aspects of knowledge, knowledge management and organisational learning with specific relation to sustainable competitive advantage are discussed in the literature study. During the literature research several factors which either promote or hinder the effective management of knowledge were identified and a list of lessons learned by other successful knowledge focused companies, are discussed. The critical success factors for a successful knowledge management program are also discussed. Knowledge can create a sustainable competitive advantage within an organisation, if successfully applied to make value adding decisions and to enable learning, and if it is applied to make decisions which are superior to that of its rivals across the supply chain. An integrated approach needs to be followed when KM is pursued and the knowledge must be applied to make value added decisions and facilitate learning across all processes in the value chain. The focus must be to retain an organisation’s tacit knowledge as this is a key success factor to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage. The study includes research on whether knowledge management is effectively used as a sustainable competitive advantage in the South African steel industry. The maturity level of the application of knowledge and learning principles implemented within the South African steel industry is assessed and compared to the maturity level of ArcelorMittal, Monlevade, located in Brazil. A survey was designed and distributed to determine the knowledge management and organisational learning maturity levels at two steel facilities of ArcelorMittal in South Africa and one facility in Brazil. The key problem areas as identified through the empirical research are discussed and it is concluded that South African facilities do not effectively use knowledge management as a sustainable competitive advantage. The maturity level of knowledge management in ArcelorMittal, South Africa is low compared to the maturity at Monlevade and rival companies such as Tata and Posco steel. A significant effort needs to be made in order to allow the effective creation, acquisition, sharing and leveraging of knowledge within the South African steel facilities. The key factors which constrain effective knowledge management is related to ineffective Human Resource policies, organisation structure, lack of knowledge exchange forums, collaboration and communication, coaching, and a lack of incentives to share tacit knowledge. It is also evident that knowledge is not seen as a sustainable competitive advantage by many respondents and that they perceive they do not have the time or capacity to transfer knowledge. Ten practical design principles were constructed and a knowledge management framework was developed to guide South African steel companies during the design and execution of a knowledge management programme which will ensure that knowledge management will result into a sustainable competitive advantage. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on the relevant aspects involved in knowledge management and organisational learning, and to assess the maturity level of knowledge management within the South African steel industry. Various aspects of knowledge, knowledge management and organisational learning with specific relation to sustainable competitive advantage are discussed in the literature study. During the literature research several factors which either promote or hinder the effective management of knowledge were identified and a list of lessons learned by other successful knowledge focused companies, are discussed. The critical success factors for a successful knowledge management program are also discussed. Knowledge can create a sustainable competitive advantage within an organisation, if successfully applied to make value adding decisions and to enable learning, and if it is applied to make decisions which are superior to that of its rivals across the supply chain. An integrated approach needs to be followed when KM is pursued and the knowledge must be applied to make value added decisions and facilitate learning across all processes in the value chain. The focus must be to retain an organisation’s tacit knowledge as this is a key success factor to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage. The study includes research on whether knowledge management is effectively used as a sustainable competitive advantage in the South African steel industry. The maturity level of the application of knowledge and learning principles implemented within the South African steel industry is assessed and compared to the maturity level of ArcelorMittal, Monlevade, located in Brazil. A survey was designed and distributed to determine the knowledge management and organisational learning maturity levels at two steel facilities of ArcelorMittal in South Africa and one facility in Brazil. The key problem areas as identified through the empirical research are discussed and it is concluded that South African facilities do not effectively use knowledge management as a sustainable competitive advantage. The maturity level of knowledge management in ArcelorMittal, South Africa is low compared to the maturity at Monlevade and rival companies such as Tata and Posco steel. A significant effort needs to be made in order to allow the effective creation, acquisition, sharing and leveraging of knowledge within the South African steel facilities. The key factors which constrain effective knowledge management is related to ineffective Human Resource policies, organisation structure, lack of knowledge exchange forums, collaboration and communication, coaching, and a lack of incentives to share tacit knowledge. It is also evident that knowledge is not seen as a sustainable competitive advantage by many respondents and that they perceive they do not have the time or capacity to transfer knowledge. Ten practical design principles were constructed and a knowledge management framework was developed to guide South African steel companies during the design and execution of a knowledge management programme which will ensure that knowledge management will result into a sustainable competitive advantage. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Diese Arbeit erklärt anhand von Vertragswerkstätten der Volkswagen AG, wie Kfz-Handwerker im komple-xen Feld Werkstatt Probleme lösen. Sie deckt auf, wie und warum Kfz-Handwerker auf besondere Weise Denken und Handeln. Dies meint, wie sie arbeiten, lernen und vor Allem, wie und warum sie Medien an-eignen – oder verweigern: Täglich diagnostizieren und reparieren Kfz-Handwerker Fahrzeuge. Dabei ist oft zu beobachten, dass extra dafür hergestellte Hilfsmedien von ihnen umgangen oder gar offen abgelehnt werden. Dies führt teils zu schweren Fehlern, teils aber auch zu herausragenden Leistungen. Bislang ist kaum geklärt, aus welchen Gründen dies erfolgt. Von den Handwerkern genannte Gründe er-scheinen in der Außenperspektive oft sonderbar. Doch sie sind subjektiv vernünftig. Die Untersuchung zeigt, mit welchen Begründungen die Handwerker sich gegen Medienaneignung entscheiden. Und sie er-klärt, inwiefern dies daran liegt, dass Computer im Spannungsverhältnis zwischen den Expertise-Denk¬wei-sen der Handwerker und den sozialen Beziehungen der Akteure stehen. Die Akteure sind Mitarbeiter im Autohaus, aber auch beim Hersteller und beim Importeur des jew. Landes. Dies gelingt durch die theoretische Basis subjektwissenschaftlicher Lerntheorie, unter Bezugnahme auf wissenschaftliche Nachbardisziplinen und mit der Methodologie, Strategie und Methodik qualitativer So-zialforschung. Die Phänomene werden exemplarisch aus mehrwöchigen Feldstudien in Werkstätten der Volkswagen AG in Deutschland qua O-Ton-Audiomittschnitt, Interview und Beobachtung rekonstruiert und mit begleitenden Quellen ergänzt. So entstehen z.B. Modelle - zur Typologie intuitiver und analytischer Arbeitsstrategien der Handwerker - zu Reflexionsauslösern - zu Medienkontakthürden und - zur Medien(vertrauens)bewertung im Prozess der Medienkompetenzentwicklung. Durch diese erstmals in solcher Form geleistete Phänomen-Aufschlüsselung werden - neue Ansatzpunkte des didaktischen Designs - und für die technische Redaktion - Herausforderungen an Medien und Prozesse - und für die Qualitätssteigerung zwingend zu leistende Aufgaben aufgezeigt. Es werden fast banal scheinende, subtile alltägliche Phänomene analysiert und deren massiver Einfluss auf Fehler und Erfolge des Handelns verdeutlicht. Da ersteres oberflächlich altbekannt und oft unhinterfragt ist, wird die große Bedeutung für einen erfolgreichen Reparaturprozess zumeist übersehen. Darum bietet sich hier noch ungenutztes Verbesserungs-Potential. Die Befunde fokussieren auf deutsche ‚Werkstattlogik‘, sind aber mit kritischem Rückbezug auf kulturelle Besonderheiten auf die Volkswagen AG Vertragswerkstätten in über 150 Ländern anwendbar.:Inhalt Auf einen Blick – Zusammenfassung und Schlagworte Aufbau der Kapitel 1 Einleitung 1 1.1 Problemstellung und Einleitung in das Phänomenfeld – die Herausforderung Werkstatt 1 1.2 Settingbeschreibung – das Szenario Werkstatt 4 1.3 Verwertungsziele – die Handreichungen für Redaktion, Computer und Forschungsgemeinschaft 5 1.4 Fragestellung – die Aneignung der Handwerker 6 1.5 Forschungsstrategie – der Analyseverlauf 7 1.5.1 Grounded Theory 7 1.5.2 Aufbau der Analyse 13 2 Exploration 15 2.1 Sensibilisierendes Konzept ad hoc – die ersten Überlegungen 15 2.2 Pädagogische Basis – die Ausgangs-Modelle als Integral der Analyse 16 2.2.1 Mediendidaktische Klassifikation – die Gegenstandsbeschreibung 16 2.2.2 Subjektwissenschaftliche Lerntheorie – das Integral der Theoriefolien 20 2.2.3 Mentale Modelle – die Erweiterung des Integrals um ein Bindeglied zu Experten-Begründungen 28 2.2.4 IT-Design, Medienkompetenz und Medienaneignung – die Erweiterung des Integrals um Bindeglieder zum Computer 32 2.3 Forschungs-Stand – der Status quo und neue Perspektiven als Anregung für die Analyse 39 2.3.1 Studien direkt zum Phänomen Medien und Werkstatt 40 2.3.2 Offene Fragen in der Praxisdisziplin Technische Redaktion 58 2.3.3 Offene Fragen zum Gestaltungswissen pädagogischer Psychologie 67 2.3.4 Technik im Forschungsfeld IT-Design 74 2.3.5 Didaktische Aspekte des Lernens und Wissens außerhalb von Lehr-Lern-Institutionen 91 2.3.6 Arbeitsobjekt, Subjekt und Feld in der komplexen Problemlöseforschung 105 2.3.7 Subjektsicht in Expertiseforschung, Routinen und Standards 115 2.3.8 Intuition und Analyse durch Forschung zum natürlich-intuitiven Entscheiden 136 2.3.9 Fehler-Forschung und Human Factors 156 2.3.10 Hochverlässlichkeit und Hochleistung in Gruppen 168 2.3.11 Soziodynamik 176 2.3.12 Forschung zur Vergemeinschaftung bei Lernen und e-Learning 180 2.4 Sensibilisierendes Konzept a priori – die Zusammenführung zu Suchsonden 195 2.5 Forschungs-Design – der Bau der Werkzeuge 198 2.5.1 Methodologie, Gütekriterien und Folgerungen 198 2.5.2 Methodik und Instrumentarium 202 3 Ergebnis 216 3.1 Aufbau der Ergebnisdarstellung 216 3.2 Werkstattlogik – das Konzept a posteriori als Befunde zu den Phänomenen und abgeleitete Prinzipien 218 3.2.1 Bekannte didaktische Faktoren 218 3.2.2 Kontext 220 3.2.3 Arbeitsstrategien der Handwerker 237 3.2.4 Begründungslogik intuitiv-heuristischer Arbeitsstrategie 247 3.2.5 Entscheidungsfaktoren für Arbeitsstrategien 272 3.2.6 Medienkollaboration und Medienaneignung 292 3.3 Antworten – die Auflösung der Fragestellung und didaktische Schlussfolgerungen 321 3.3.1 Kompression – die Rekapitulation der Frage und die verdichtete Antwort 321 3.3.2 Extrakt – die Zusammenschau der Befunde als Checkliste 323 3.3.3 Rahmen – die Zentralsätze als Meta-Modell 331 3.3.4 Effekt – die durch die Phänomene erzeugten Medienkontakthürden 332 3.4 Ausblick – die Diskussion der Ergebnisse und die Desiderata an die Forschungsgemeinschaft 333 Appendix Eins 336 A1 Literatur 336 A2 Abbildungen 365 A3 Abkürzungen 366 Appendix Zwei 369 A4 Empirische Quellen 369 A4.1 Codings pro Phänomen 369 A4.2 Analysierte Dokumente 402 A4.3 Transkripte 402 A4.4 MAXQDA-Files 402 A5 Ausgelagerte Details des Instrumentariums 403 A5.1 Interview-Leitfaden 403 A5.2 Transkriptionssystem 408 A5.3 Nicht eineindeutige Abkürzungen der rekonstruktiven Zusammenfassung 409 A6 Ausgelagerte Details der Theoriefolien 410

This research seeks to establish how e-learning may contribute towards knowledge construction for Management Accounting students at the University of South Africa. More specifically, the research is designed to investigate how educational technologies like e-learning may benefit and improve the teaching and learning of Management Accounting at Unisa. Educators need to understand how students learn so that they can establish suitable learning strategies. Studies have shown that generally, e-learning applications are little used, sometimes because of inappropriate content and technologies. Other prohibitive factors are costs, poor or inadequate technology infrastructure and a shortage of human resources. On the strength of a comprehensive literature survey, a framework to address and manage challenging aspects of teaching and e-learning were developed. Problem areas and critical success factors were considered. The said framework ought to assist with organising complex issues and reveal parts that need further work. The utility of the framework was evaluated through a staged process. First, it was tested and evaluated through the model of a lecture. Secondly, both qualitative and quantitative surveys among university lectures and students were conducted to further confirm the applicability of the framework. Though the outcome of the validations were satisfactory, more research needs to be carried out over a longer period of time in order to determine the scalability of the framework and to remove any inconsistencies. Aspects of the framework could be used to incorporate ICTs, e.g. the use of spreadsheets and the Learning Village into communities of practice. / Hierdie navorsing poog om vas te stel hoe e-leer kan bydra tot kenniskonstruksie vir Bestuursrekeningkunde-studente aan die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika. Die navorsing is meer spesifiek ontwerp om vas te stel hoe opvoedkundetegnologieë soos e-leer die onderrig en leer van Bestuursrekeningkunde by Unisa kan bevorder en verbeter. Opvoeders moet verstaan hoe studente leer sodat hulle geskikte leerstrategieë kan ontwikkel. Studies toon dat e-leertoepassings normaalweg min gebruik word, soms omdat die inhoud en tegnologieë nie toepaslik is nie. Ander faktore wat dit belemmer, sluit in onkoste, swak of onvoldoende tegnologie-infrastruktuur en ’n tekort aan mensehulpbronne. ’n Raamwerk om die uitdagings van onderrig en e-leer te bestuur, is op grond van ’n omvattende literatuurstudie ontwikkel. Probleemareas en kritiese suksesfaktore is in gedagte gehou. Die genoemde raamwerk behoort van nut te wees vir die organisering van ingewikkelde kwessies en toon watter dele verdere werk vereis. Die bruikbaarheid van die raamwerk is deur middel van ’n stapsgewyse proses geëvalueer. Eerstens is dit getoets en geëvalueer op grond van ’n lesingsmodel. Tweedens is kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe meningspeilings geloods; sowel universiteitsdosente as -studente is versoek om die toepaslikheid van die raamwerk te bevestig. Alhoewel die uitkoms van die validasies bevredigend was, moet verdere navorsing oor ’n langer tydperk gedoen word om die skaleerbaarheid van die raamwerk te bepaal en enige teenstrydighede uit die weg te ruim. Aspekte van die raamwerk kan gebruik word om IKT’s, bv die gebruik van sigblaaie en die Learning Village, by praktyksgemeenskappe te inkorporeer. / Ucwaningo lufuna ukuthola ukuthi ngabe ukufunda nge-e-learning noma ngendlela yeelektroniki kungafaka kanjani esivivaneni ekwakheni ulwazi kubafundi be- Management Accounting eYunivesithi yeNingizimu Afrika noma i-University of South Africa. Ngokuqonde ngqo, ucwaningo ludizayinwe ukuthi luphenyisise ngkouthi amatheknoloji emfundo afana ne-e-learning angaba nenzuzo kanjani kanye nokuthuthukisa ukufunda nokufundisa kwi-Management Accounting eUnisa. Abafundisi kudingeke baqondisise ukuthi izitshudeni zifunda kanjani ukuze bakwazi ukuthola amasu afanele okufunda. Izinhlaka eziningi zocwaningo ezenziwe zibonise ukuthi ngokunabile, ama-application amaningi e-e-learning asetshenziswa kancane, kodwa ngesinye isikhathi lokhu kubangelwa wukuthi kusuke kunengqikithi engahambisani kahle ngokufanele kanye namatheknoloji angafanele. Ezinye izinto eziyizihibe, zindleko, ingqalasizinda ye-theknoloji yezinga eliphansi noma engenele kahle kanye nokusweleka kwabantu abawusizo. Ngokulandela imibhalo efundwe ngokujulile, kwenziwe uhlaka lokubhekana nokuphatha izinselele maqondana nokufunda nokufundisa kwase kwenziwa nge-e-learning. Kubonelelwe nemikhakhe enezinkinga kanye nokubhekana nezindawo ezinomphumela obambekayo nobalulekile. Uhlaka okukhulunywa ngalo kumele lusize ekuhleleni izinto eziyisixakaxaka kanye nokuveza izingxenye ezisadinga ukuthi kubhekwane nazo ukuzixazulula. Ukusetshenziswa kohlaka kuye kwahlolwa ngezinqubo ezinezigaba. Esokuqala isigaba, siye sathestwa kanye nokuhlolwa ngokusebenzisa imodela yesifundo. Esesibili isigaba, besingesokwenza ama-qualitative nama-quantitative survey kubafundisi baseyunivesithi kanye nabafundi, ukuqinisekisa ukusebenza kahle kohlaka. Ngisho noma ukubheka imiphumela yokuqinisekisa uhlolo ibiyenelisa, kusadingeka ukuthi kwenziwe olunye ucwaningo, esikhathini eside ukuze ukusetshenziswa kohlaka kuye ngokungezeleka ukubandakanya iningi (scalability), kanye nokuqeda izinto ezenza ukuthi kube nokwehluka-hluka nokungahambelani kahle ekusetshenzisweni (inconsistencies). Izingxenye zohlaka zingasetshenziswa ukwengamela ama-ICTs, isib. ukusetshenziswa kwama-spreadsheets kanye ne- Learning Village kulawo maqembu asebenzisa uhlaka. / Management Accounting / Ph. D. (Accounting Science)

摘要 組織乃社會網絡的一員，其必須正視後現代主義者對當今後現代社會的觀察，以及必須面臨的嚴苛挑戰! 本論文旨在探討後現代主義思潮對當代組織的影響與啟示為何?部分當代管理情境(或稱後現代情境)， 例如，追求一切可能性、對簡單之渴望、感性的思維、 不確定性、 快速變遷、不連續性、模糊、 無界限、解構、 去中間化、 片斷化、 以族群取代社會階級、 多元化、尊重差異、超現實、以及反宰制性規則等等，對當代組織(或稱後現代組織)現在或未來在策略擬定時的影響與啟示為何? 面對後現代情境及其挑戰 ， 後現代組織現在或未來對策略之再思考為何? 後現代組織未來可能適用之新的組織模式為何? 以及後現代組織對策略之再思考的實務作為為何? 本研究主要以文獻探討與次級資料檢索之檔案研究法為主，資料檢索的對象(含個案資料之來源)是以探討較高層次的概念性策略新思維為主。至於屬於研究輔助性質之個案部分，則以屬於營利性質之全球知名多國籍企業、由製造導向轉型為服務導向者、或者可印證本研究所探討之策略新思維者為主。 經由本探索研究後發現，面對後現代主義思維的衝擊，以及後現代管理情境的挑戰，組織應該重新檢視其前提假設、回歸策略本質、勾勒遠大的構想、開創新的價值曲線以避開面對面競爭、重新尋找組織在數位世界的價值定位與經營模式、專注核心、建立社群、培養廣義「顧客」----利害關係人之新的忠誠度、善用所有利害關係人的關係與優勢、 注重組織內外部的整合以及策略要素之間的整合與一致性、擺脫語言牢籠(規則)的束縛而賦予員工彈性、持續尋找任何強調彈性結構、網絡關係、溝通效率、以及民主化機制的組織模式或概念。 最後，對於全球的多國籍企業，本研究建議其必須在全球的產業分工體系之下，勾勒遠大的構想、開創新的價值曲線、發展世界級的核心能力、建立或主導某些內外部社群或電子企業社群、採行time pacing策略以穩健成長、強化跨產業或跨國之組織與策略整合的作為、時時檢視與修改任何宰制性的政策或規則、以及繼續尋找與試行任何可能且可行的組織模式或概念。 / Abstract Organizations that are parts of social network must take into account those issues discovered and criticized by Postmodernist and those severe challenges facing organizations. This dissertation tries to explore those impact and implications aroused by postmodernist for contemporary organizations, those contemporary scenario (postmodern scenario) facing organizations, such as in search of possibilities, in need of simplicity, sensuous thinking, indeterminacy, a rapidly changing environment, discontinuity, ambiguity, boundarylessness, borderless, deconstruction, disintermediation, fragmentation, social class replaced by tribes, diversity, apprizing difference or otherness, hyperreality, and against governing rules, that will affect the strategic planning of organizations at present or in the coming future. In addition, this dissertation also tries to explore that currently or in the coming future how organizations rethink their strategies while facing postmodern scenario and its rigorous challenges, what forms, models or concepts of organization design that organizations can apply, and those managerial practices that organizations have ever executed. The research methodology adopted by this dissertation is primarily literature review and secondary data exploration. The target data including cases are focused on those conceptual strategic thinking. Those cases that are mainly complement to this dissertation are those distinguished multinational corporations (MNC) that have ever been transformed from manufacturing-oriented to service-oriented, or are able to prove partial strategic thinking reviewed in the dissertation. In the face of those thinking impact stirred by postmodernist and challenges resulted from postmodern managerial scenario, this dissertation concludes that organizations should review and rethink their assumption for the world, revisit the essence of strategy, picture and propose the big ideas, create or explore new value curves to avoid cruel face-to-face competition, explore new value positions and business models in the digital world, focus and develop core businesses and competence, build and manage communities, cultivate new types of royalty for those stakeholders partnering with organizations, utilize the relationships with and advantages from stakeholders, emphasize and advocate internal and external organizational integration and consistence and alignment for strategies, free from the cage of language and empower employees, keep exploring those organizational models or concepts that advocate or propose flexibility, networks of people, efficiency of communication, and spirit of democracy. In conclusion, this dissertation suggests that under global industrial value chains, multinational corporations should picture and propose the big ideas, create and explore new value curves, develop best-in-world core competence, form or dominate some internal or external communities or e-business communities, adopt strategy of time pacing for sound and moderate growth, reinforce cross-industry or cross-nation integration for organizations and strategies, keep reviewing and modifying any governing policy or rules, and keep searching and experimenting any latest possible and feasible models or concepts of organization.