The purpose of this study was to critically analyse the evidence-based revelations from the South African Office of the Auditor-General on the records management challenges being encountered in the local government sector. The aim of the study was the analysis of available evidence and the proposal of solutions for collaborative planning and implementation. The lack of strategic planning in ensuring the accessibility of authentic information sources required during auditing remains unchallenged by the South African public archivists and records managers. These audit reports are required to demonstrate governance, transparency and accountability. This information held in the records of local government is also required to satisfy service delivery and plan development ventures. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and United Nations formulated an ambitious agenda to eradicate world poverty by 2025. Eight millennium development goals were identified that would provide impoverished communities with better access to basic services and conditions spurring sustainable development. Governance-based criteria were identified as barometers to gauge transparency, accountability, respect for the rule of law and citizens’ rights. Consolidated audited reports from 2000 to 2013 were scrutinised to unravel the conundrums relating to governance, transparency and the management of public sector information sources. According to the 2013 report, only 5% of the local government sector managed to attain clean audits. Related evidence revealed in the unclean audit reports and media narratives related to service delivery and community protests. The approach used for the study was the qualitative methodology, regarded as an appropriate method for the archival discipline. This research method allowed for the incorporation of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary fields of interest. The case study method design enabled the focus of the study to be on local governments and six selected community development ventures in different areas of South Africa. The latter method enabled information collection from records officials and persons involved with socio-economic development projects. Sound interventions are needed to ensure evidence-based governance. This, in turn, would create favourable conditions for development endeavours in post-apartheid South Africa. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

This thesis is focused on the issues of information behaviour of editors from publishing with an emphasis on information needs and the sources of information. The first part deals with the position in the information publishing companies, the trend for electronic publishing and its influence on the book market. The following is an overview of selected terminological terms from publishers and their analysis. The next chapter is a summary of information behaviour theories, related concepts, models and current research in the Czech republic. The results of research that was realized for the purpose of the thesis between Czech editors are summarized and analyzed in the conclusion. Based on these results, proposals for the increasing of information literacy of editors are included in the thesis.

[pt] Considerando a disponibilidade do Big Data para engenharia de software, como no caso do GitHub, a semi-automação da elicitação de requisitos não funcionais (NFRs) é uma estratégia fundamental para a definição de requisitos. Como tal, a elicitação de NFRs, dentro da automação da leitura de documentos, pode gerenciar a massa de informações valiosas existentes nos dados disponíveis. Esta tese explora esse contexto em três partes, a escolha de fontes apropriadas de informação, uma elicitação de descoberta de fatos e a identificação de NFRs. As avaliações realizadas mostraram que a automação enfrenta um balance entre eficiência e eficácia. Esse equilíbrio é detalhado com diferentes estratégias inovadoras. O conhecimento adquirido é organizado como um catálogo SIG (Softgoal Interdependence Graph). / [en] Considering the availability of Big Data for software engineering, as the case of GitHub, the semi-automation of non-functional requirements (NFRs) elicitation is a key strategy towards requirements definition. As such, NFRs elicitation, within the automation of document reading, can manage the mass of valuable information existing in available data. This thesis explores this context in three parts, the choice of proper sources of information, a fact-finding elicitation, and NFRs identification. The assessments performed showed that the automation faces a trade-off between efficiency and efficacy. This trade-off is detailed with different novel strategies. The acquired knowledge is organized as a SIG (Softgoal Interdependence Graph) catalog.

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This dissertation analysed the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of visual artists. An empirical survey was conducted on a sample of the more informationliterate visual artists in South Africa. A model of the information environment of South African visual artists was developed. This model provides a basis for another model which represents the optimal service that should be rendered to meet the needs of this user group. It was found that the general information needs of South African artists are fairly adequately met, but that there are several shortfalls, especially in serving their more complex information needs. The most important problems are the lack of training in the use of information sources and services, inadequate marketing of services and inadequate coverage of South African art. It was also found that greater coordination between service providers is urgently required, especially in the provision of information about South African art. / M. (Information Science)

The entire world needs and seeks information to survive and thrive in the 21st century as a result of information acquisition, with doctors, lawyers, teachers, students and even the elderly all desiring information for their everyday activities. Researchers of different disciplines working at the various federal institutes in Nigeria are no exceptions to the craving for requisite information that will enable them successfully carry out their numerous research projects undertaken towards achieving sustainable national development. The aim of the study was to investigate the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of researchers at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Nigeria. This study applied both quantitative and qualitative research approaches for the purpose of triangulation. The quantitative approach had a strong dominance over the qualitative approach in this study. This study adopted the positivist paradigm. The questionnaire, interview and observation data collection tools were the chosen tools used to collect data from researchers from the six departments of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi and five professional librarians of the institute’s library. Out of 165 questionnaires that were administered to researchers, a total of 121 were returned (resulting in a response rate of 73%). Inaccuracies were identified in seven copies of the questionnaires which were discarded and not analysed. Therefore, usable returns totalled 114 (67%). Wilson’s 1999 model of information behaviour was used as the theoretical framework. This study revealed that both formal and informal sources were consulted by the researchers. It was important to note that the internet was the information source most commonly used by the researchers to obtain information. The institute’s library was poorly used because it contained outdated library materials and was not equipped with an internet facility. The researchers opted for the use of mobile phone/iPad, personally owned or sourced internet access and business centres (supplying internet services outside the institute) to access information sources for information. The study ascertained that there was undoubtedly an instituted library officially established within the institute to provide information to researchers. But due to socio-economic and political problems faced by the country Nigeria, predominantly with respect to the outlook of poor funding of sustainable library development concerns and the government’s lack of interest in research, outdated library collections and poor information provision services have become the given at the institute’s library. This ultimately brought about pessimistic reactions from the researchers. Among its recommendations, the study suggested that funding the institute’s library in order to update and replace outdated library collections is a priority. An information audit should be carried out to ascertain the current state of ICTs within the institute and the institute’s library should be equipped with an internet facility promptly. Adopting these recommendations would enable researchers to have limitless access to items of information they need for research as they seek for information. / Information Science / D. Phil. (Information Science)

El estudio tiene como objeto crear una metodología de trabajo que permita tratar de forma normalizada una colección pública de fondos artísticos que no tiene entidad jurídica de museo. El método empleado incluye tanto técnicas de revisión bibliográfica como trabajo de campo para la identificación de recursos en Internet y para la adaptación e importación de datos textuales en una aplicación informática. El trabajo se estructura en ocho capítulos que comienzan con la determinación de conceptos, así como la identificación y clasificación de fuentes de información artística. A continuación estudia las entidades que custodian y difunden la información y las técnicas que se aplican para ello, desde una perspectiva internacional para concluir con el panorama local. El último segmento desarrolla los conocimientos implantando una metodología a través de una herramienta informática y su validación con los registros de la sede del Rectorado de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. El trabajo demuestra la necesidad de utilizar en cualquier colección, técnicas y procedimientos probados en instituciones museísticas. De esta forma se garantizaría la compatibilidad de los resultados del tratamiento de la información: los sistemas de documentación de museos. El método implementado concluye la posibilidad de aplicar a cualquier información artística, con sus peculiaridades, unas técnicas de tratamiento estandarizadas. / The aim of this study is to develop a methodology that allows dealing with an artistic public collection which is not an established museum in a standardized way. It has been used a scientific method, including bibliographic review techniques as well as research work, which has been essential to identify Internet resources and to adapt and import textual data in a computer application. It is organized in eight chapters that begin with conceptual determinations, and the identification and classification of the artistic information sources. Then, the work studies the organizations that custody and spread the information and the procedures used for it, from an international perspective to a local view. The last chapter develops this knowledge implementing the method through a computer application and its validation with the Rectorate of the Polithecnic University of Valencia's records. This work demonstrates the need to use techniques and procedures experienced or previously tested at museums in any collection. In this way, compatibility of the results of the information treatment is ensured: the museums' documentation systems. The implemented method comes to the conclusion that it is possible to apply standardized techniques of information treatment to any artistic information, with its peculiarities.

全球第一大社群網站 Facebook，在 2007 年推出的 Facebook 粉絲專頁（Fan Page），是一個公開的介面，集合了娛樂、社交、資訊尋求三項商業行銷功能。根據 Facebook 官方統計，目前共有 118 萬個粉絲專頁，由一百多萬個公司團體開立，更吸引了超過 5 億 3,000 萬人次粉絲。近年來，台灣食譜 Facebook 粉絲團備受關注，本研究將探討網友對 iCook 愛料理粉絲團的使用動機。 其次，本研究目的，在探討 iCook 食譜粉絲團之「使用動機」、「資訊來源」、「服務品質」、「顧客滿意度」和「顧客忠誠度」之意涵。探討人口統計變相對「使用動機」、「資訊來源」、「服務品質」、「顧客滿意度」和「顧客忠誠度」的顯著差異性。檢定「使用動機」、「資訊來源」、「服務品質」、「顧客滿意度」和「顧客忠誠度」具有顯著關係。經由量化分析與質化訪談之相關研究，針對iCook食譜粉絲團提出行銷策略建議。 本研究以 馬斯洛《需求層級理論》，探討 Facebook 粉絲團的閱聽眾使用動機，針對經常瀏覽 iCook 粉絲團的常用使用者為研究對象，本研究利用「問卷調查法」與「深度訪談法」進行研究，兼顧量化及質化兩種研究途徑。透過網路問卷抽樣調查方式，回收有效問卷 506 份，並針對 iCook 愛料理網站創辦人、美食部落客、粉絲團會員重度使用者進行深度訪談。 研究結果顯示， iCook 食譜粉絲團以女性家庭主婦和上班族為主，年齡層以26-45 歲居多，教育程度以大學為最多，居住地區以北部為主。在使用動機、資訊來源及服務品質對於顧客滿意度有顯著正相關；使用動機、資訊來源及服務品質及顧客忠誠度有顯著正相關；顧客滿意度與忠誠度有顯著正相關。 經質化與量化分析，本研究對於 iCook 食譜粉絲團之行銷策略建議如下： 1. 提供豐富多樣的食譜資訊，讓使用者感覺有其價值性 2. 善用社群口碑行銷傳播，以內容取代廣告創造利基 3. 優化服務與開拓異業結盟機會，有助品牌知名度與滿意度 　　綜合上述，以鞏固其品牌忠誠度，朝長久經營之路邁進。 / Facebook, the biggest social network site in the world, launched the Page service in 2007. It is a public platform including entertainment, social contact and information seeking functions for business and marketing. According to the official statistics from Facebook, there are currently 1.18 million Facebook Pages created by more than 1 million organizations, attracting more than 530 million users. In recent years, the cookbook’s Facebook Pages in Taiwan attract more attention than before therefore the research is going to discuss the motivation of fans using iCook Facebook Page. Furthermore, the purpose of this study is to explore using motivation, sources, service quality, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty for iCook Facebook Page. To analyze the demographic variables differences on using motivation, information sources, service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty differences. Also to test the relation between using motivation, information sources, service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty. Through quantitative and qualitative research methods, provide marketing strategy recommendation. The study is based on “Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory” and investigates Facebook Page audiences’ usage motivation. The target research group is the user who visits iCook Facebook Page frequently. In order to give consideration to both quantitative and qualitative approach, this study adopts questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews for research methods. There are 506 effective questionnaires from the Internet survey and conducts the in-depth interviews to iCook founder, Cuisine Bloggers and heavy users. The result indicates that the users of iCook Facebook Page are mainly female, housewife and office worker by occupations, the age between 26 and 45, education background is college and above, living around the northern Taiwan. The using motivation, information sources and service quality have a significant positive correlation with customer satisfaction, as well as customer loyalty. Therefore the service quality and customer loyalty are positive correlation. Based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study suggests that iCook Facebook Page should apply more Social Media Marketing strategies and several recommendations as follows: 1. Providing various recipe for readers to let users feel valuable. 2. To leverage the power of Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM) and to replace the advertisement to content in order to create the niche. 3. Optimizing the web services and features to expand cross-industry strategic alliance opportunities, it helps to promote the brand image and reputation.

This research has been undertaken to evaluate factors with an association with the practice of self-medication amongst respondents living within three cities within Kurdistan. The research was designed to be a cross-sectional one by arranging for data collection through the direct interviewing of respondents via the use of a questionnaire that had been prepared previously. In total, the investigation involved 627 pharmacist participants, 647 general participants, and 28 interviewees from various age groups. An explanatory design is a mixed methods approach with two phases, with quantitative data collection in the first phase, and qualitative data collection in a second; data collection was conducted using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. The primary reason for self-medication practice was that participants with previous experience of attending to the same disease. The information source regarding self-medicated drugs were previous prescriptions, community pharmacies and friends. The most common indication for self-medication was the common cold or fever/headache/infection, the drugs used to treat these conditions being most commonly antibiotics, then painkillers and preparations for coughs. From the general public, a sample of 647 participants was taken that consisted of 38.4% females and 61.6% males, with participant ages ranging from 18-70 years. Within the study, 12.4% of the cohort had a degree level of education from a university. Moreover, 243 participants had the belief that it was an acceptable practice to purchase antibiotics without a prescription. Self-medication was practiced by 14/28 of the interviewees, and 28/28 (100%) of the interviewees held the belief that the pharmacy always has someone with knowledge of medicines, and who can advise and provide medication. There were 627 pharmacist participants, of which 28.1% were female and 71.9% were male, and 57.2% of them holding a Diploma in Health Institution, and 39.2% of them having a Bachelors Pharmacy degree. 20.7% of participants disagreed with keeping records for the dispensing of drugs, and approximately 20% of participants had little or no ideas regarding the characteristics of pharmacy practice that are considered professional. It was discovered that, if asked by the customer, advice was provided by 82.5% of community pharmacists. The sale of antibiotics was the most common, followed by pain-killers. A 95.5% proportion of pharmacists sold all of the medicines as OTC medicine without prescription. In conclusion, medicines are used by the people of Kurdistan in an inventive way, with suggestions provided by lay people and members of family or friends, which is acted upon without a qualified healthcare professional being consulted.

This dissertation analysed the information needs and information-seeking behaviour of visual artists. An empirical survey was conducted on a sample of the more informationliterate visual artists in South Africa. A model of the information environment of South African visual artists was developed. This model provides a basis for another model which represents the optimal service that should be rendered to meet the needs of this user group. It was found that the general information needs of South African artists are fairly adequately met, but that there are several shortfalls, especially in serving their more complex information needs. The most important problems are the lack of training in the use of information sources and services, inadequate marketing of services and inadequate coverage of South African art. It was also found that greater coordination between service providers is urgently required, especially in the provision of information about South African art. / M. (Information Science)