New Product Development is a key strategy for company performance. Competencies involved in those projects are numerous and varied. Companies increasingly involve their suppliers in codevelopment projects to gather the most relevant knowledge, improve product quality and reduce time to market. Different levels of supplier involvement are defined in literature: white, gray and black box according to their responsibilities. This master thesis focuses on  he collaboration between supplier and customer in the case of New Product Development.  eflecting on existing literature, this master thesis first proposes a new taxonomy of boundary spanning, based on four main areas: knowledge transfer, knowledge translation, knowledge transformation and coordination. Secondly, each area is broken down into collaborative activities, which in turn are linked to the proper Information Technologies (IT). Finally, this typology is successfully confronted to two case studies.

Abstract Extensive applications of information technologies actually brings with much convenience for daily life and work of people. However, every thing acts just like a double-edged sword combined with both advantages and disadvantages together. Despite much convenience for people, it makes lots of people miserably bothered and trapped by considerable volumes of quickly-updating novel technologies. Technical stress is a concept firstly proposed by Craig in 1984. Thereafter, there are numerous scholars starting to conduct theoretical and empirical researches on the technical stress of information technologies happening to work environment. This article focuses on the technical stress of information technologies exploring the influence on people¡¦s work roles caused by technical stress. Furthermore, there are some researches indicating that organizational support perception can be served as a kind of buffer mechanism to the negative correlation between crossing-border role stress and work performance. Therefore, based on exploring technical stress, this research aims to explore the influence on the correlation between the technical stress of information technologies and role stress caused by organizational support perception. In this research, there are totally 50 valid questionnaire replies received. The regression analysis is meant to explore the influence on role stress caused by both the technical stress of information technologies and organizational support perception. From research results, it is found the technical stress of information technologies exerts positive influence role stress. Organizational support perception exerts negative influence on role stress. Additionally, organizational support perception exerts negative influence on the technical stress of some information technologies. It is also found organizational support perception can really exert some effect on the technical stress of information technologies and role stress. In this research, it indicates organizational support perception can reduce the effect on role stress caused by the technical stress of information technologies. The main contribution of this research is meant to find out the influence for organizational support perception to reduce the difficulties when members are learning novel techniques, the burden of information confidentiality and the influence on organizational members when changing their roles. From research results, the importance of organizational support perception to reduce the technical stress of information technologies and role stress is resultantly found. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications are proposed herein with the suggestions available for upcoming research effort. Keyword: the technical stress of information technologies, life invasion of information technologies, the stress of role change, organizational support perception, organizational assistance perception, work stress

The purpose of this study is to examine in detail how a computer education teacher utilizes an online learning environment. The study tries to explore how a computer education teacher uses information technologies in classroom instruction, which methods s/he uses during integration process of the online learning environment, how s/he solves the problems s/he faced and his/her expectations from an online learning environment. Furthermore, based on the experiences of the computer education teacher use of online learning environments by other subject area teachers were pursued. In this study, within the framework of qualitative research paradigm a case study was conducted in the form of action research. Qualitative research methods were used. A computer education teacher formed the participant of the study with attributes of matching with the purpose and according to predetermined criteria. Results revealed that the teacher used the online learning environment to support his instruction. Implementation section of the online learning environment was preferred mostly. Use of online learning environment enabled the teacher to spare much time for dealing with students individually, providing other information source, and increasing students&rsquo / interest. The teacher utilized the online learning environment for preparing and supporting instruction: Preparing and providing alternative examples, supporting the evaluation process, and assigning homework. Integration of online learning environment is affected by content of lesson, content provided by the environment, and learning materials. The teacher perceived that his students became aware of responsibility of their own learning, become aware of information can be reached from other sources and were much active and participating more to the lessons. The computer teacher perceived that other subject teachers needed technical support, showed lack of access to technology resources, and lack of learning materials to enhance their classroom instruction with technology.

This thesis is a documentation of research on Geographical Information Technologies (GITs) as decision support tools in Road Infrastructure Maintenance (RIM) in Uganda. The main objective is to develop an operational framework within which the use of geo-information technologies can be enhanced as decision support tools in road infrastructure maintenance works of Uganda. Specifically, the research identifies the gaps and limitations in the use of and access to GITs for RIM and defines an algorithmic framework to accentuate the use of GITs in RIM. The research undertook a participatory multifaceted approach that included a review of documentation both in academia, in form of articles, journals, books, reports and research theses and also reports and documents prepared by the road infrastructure maintenance sector. Participant observations, field visits and measures, interviews and workshops were also triangularly employed to obtain the inherent answers. Content and GIS analyses were made to arrive at the findings that are documented in the papers which are part of the thesis. The gaps to using GITs in RIM have been found to include the lack of standardized datasets to address key nation-wide and local maintenance requirements, challenges on coordinating how geospatial data are acquired and utilized and the collection of duplicate data sets at the local and national levels. Also, the present institutional arrangements do not permit the formation of lasting partnerships and operating under a coordinated GIS infrastructure. The limitations to access of GITs in the sector include; the absence of policies for accessibility and standard use of GITs, lack of infrastructure to support utilization of geographic datasets, unavailability of and limited accessibility to geographic data, lack of geospatial capacity at individual and organizational levels and the digital divide. A nondeterministic algorithmic framework approach to the accentuation of GIT usage in RIM has been suggested. This framework involves strategies on; developing a policy on data collection guidelines emphasizing the use of GPS, satellite imagery and GIS, continuous undertaking of capacity building in the benefits of GIT use and the science involved, establishment of Local Spatial Data Infrastructures (LSDI) for road maintenance data and setting aside yearly budgets for the defined activities. In this framework, the dynamic segmentation data model is considered a superior data storage strategy for road maintenance data within the GIS. Dynamic Segmentation is the process of transforming linearly referenced data (also known as events) that have been stored in a table into features that can be displayed, queried and analyzed on the map through computations. It allows for the location of multiple events stored with linearly referenced attributes without any duplication with route geometry and in effect supports sharing of network infrastructure with different applications

La société de l’information déstabilise-t-elle l’Etat-Nation ? Analyse comparative du développement des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication dans l’âge de la mondialisation Partant du constat que le concept “Société de l’Information” est souvent utilisé dans des contextes et des situations très différents, qui ne présentent guère de traits communs, ce travail abouti à une interprétation de ce concept, qui permette de la redimensionner au lieu d’en faire un mythe, comme cela arrive trop souvent. La “Société de l’Information”, malgré son rôle innovant et unificateur qui outrepasse même les barrières étatiques, est confrontée au poids de l’Etat-Nation dans sa conception la plus restrictive. Nous considérons cette analyse comme une réflexion nécessaire dans une période où le défi technologique est particulièrement chargé d’un rôle politique.

This work focuses on how to improve medical services for veterans in a manner that will result in high levels of satisfaction and attainment of needed services. This research assess how veterans access healthcare and receive service. The problem to be addressed relates to reports by veteran healthcare organizations regarding the presence of gaps in coverage and customer service disparities in healthcare. Common concerns involve the gaps between veterans’ expectations for services and the provided services. This study created a survey instrument that contextualized components of established scales along with demographics and constructs specific to the current study. This study assessed the relationships among a variety of constructs and dimensions with healthcare expectations and service quality using a series of simple regressions. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between quality and the use or intention to use technology. The study supports the contention that respondents are willing to use self-service technologies. Technology that incorporates digital devices into healthcare services offers an opportunity to bridge service gaps and holds a promise for giving veterans faster access to service and care in a beneficial manner.

This research contributes to the growing body of research on cloud computing and addresses the paucity of research on cloud computing adoption, as well as information systems (IS) and information communication technologies (ICTs) adoption in sub-Saharan Africa. The research addresses the current state of cloud computing adoption in addition to the issues that can encourage or preclude its use by SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa. Further, the research establishes the extent to which cloud computing adoption stimulates small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in sub-Saharan Africa to contribute to development. A qualitative research methodology with an interpretive viewpoint is adopted for this research comprising of two major phases that involved a total of eighteen small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. A pilot exploratory study using grounded theory was conducted in the initial phase and the development and refinement of a conceptual framework for analysis and evaluation was carried out in the second phase. The framework is theoretically grounded in the integration of two distinct theoretical traditions, i.e. institutions theory and the capability approach. This is the first research study that employs such a combination to examine cloud computing adoption. This research examines the expectations of cloud users against their fears together with other related influences to draw conclusions regarding the future of cloud computing usage in sub-Saharan Africa. The research found that SMEs considered issues like security, privacy and trust as playing a role in enabling adoption of cloud computing. This is in contrast with SMEs in the global north where these specific issues are discouraging adoption. The research recommends to policy makers and stakeholders interested in developing the cloud infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa, that there is the need to be cautious in drafting policies (which are non-existent at present). This is in order not to draft policies and regulations with regard to cloud computing usage that will inhibit adoption. Finally, this research presents an incremental model that is used to analyse how cloud service provision was introduced in sub-Saharan Africa. The novel three-stage maturity model identified the incremental approach to the delivery of cloud services in sub-Saharan Africa which started from (i) no local provision, (ii) cloud brokers promoting foreign cloud service provision and (iii) locally-available cloud service provision over a period of three to four years. This research envisages that, with further development of the cloud infrastructure especially in terms of internet connectivity, and improved awareness, more SMEs will adopt cloud computing as part of their IS/ICT strategy.

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the risks of information technologies in the company Metalik Ltd. which balances on the boundary of small and medium enterprises. One part of this analysis is a preparation of the scale for estimation of the impacts, threats and vulnerabilities. Finally is drafted a register of actions which responds to IT risks which were identified in the frame of the thesis. The register is in compliance with the business plan of the company and its recent market position. The contribution of this thesis is in showing how the firm, which can represent the typical small or medium enterprises, works with IT risks. The principles of some correctional actions can be also generally related to this group of enterprises. The benefit specifically for the firm Metalik Ltd. is documentation for future work with the risks connected with the information technologies.

<div>Growing automobile dependency and usage continue to exacerbate traffic congestion, air pollution, and physical inactivity in metropolitan areas. Extensive efforts have been made to leverage advanced technology and related policies to influence short- (within-day and day-to-day) and long-term (mobility and lifestyle) travel decisions to address these issues from the system operator and individual traveler perspectives. However, most studies have yet to address system operator and individual traveler needs together; provide sufficient understanding of the impacts of such technologies on safety and health; and consider the impacts of distinctive regional and political characteristics on responses to different policies among population subgroups.</div><div>This dissertation seeks to facilitate the leveraging of information technologies and related policies to influence short- and long-term travel decisions by: (1) developing a framework for apps that integrate augmented reality, gamification, and social component to influence travel decisions that address multiple user- and system-level goals, (2) understanding the safety and health impacts of these apps, (3) developing strategies to influence residential location decision-making to foster sustainable post-relocation travel behavior, (4) investigating the impacts of economic and legal policies on travel decisions by considering distinctive regional and political characteristics.</div><div>This dissertation can provide insights to system operators for designing a new generation of apps to dynamically manage traffic in real-time, promote long-term mode shifts from single-occupancy driving to carpooling, public transit use, walking and cycling, and address individual traveler needs. The dissertation also presents app mechanisms for providing feedback to legislators and app developers for designing policies and apps geared towards safe usage and promoting the physical and mental health of its users. </div><div>In addition, by considering the impacts of distinctive regional and political characteristics on population subgroups in terms of their responses to information technologies and economic and legal policies, additional measures can be deployed to support and facilitate the implementation of such technologies and policies.</div><div><br></div>

This report mainly focuses on RFID based smart goods and their effect on supply chainintelligence and local decision making. In today’s supply chain for making any decision, it isrequired to make a connection to central data bank system. Among some vertical transactionsbetween a special supply chain level and central part, decision is made. As it will be discussedin the report this structure has many disadvantages. The report tries to introduce a smartinfrastructure that is based on decentralized decision making enabled with smart goods.In this report several ways of distributing intelligence and providing smart logistic system withthe help of different technologies will be discussed and compared according to theiradvantages and disadvantages. The report introduces a smart infrastructure containing smartgoods, RFID tags and readers that supports local decision making idea and intelligencedistribution concept. Also smart freight benefits and possibilities in supply chain are discussedin the report.