Yes / Competition in the manufacturing industry is growing at an accelerated rate due to globalization trend. This global competition urges manufacturing organizations to review and improve their processes in order to enhance and maintain their competitive advantage. One of those initiatives is the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology to analyze and reduce variation hence improving the processes of manufacturing organizations. This paper presents a Discrete Event Simulation methodology to support a Six Sigma approach for manufacturing organizations. Several approaches to implement Six Sigma focus on improving time management and reducing cycle time. However, these efforts may fail in their effective and practical implementation to achieve the desired results. Following the proposed methodology, a Discrete Event Simulation model was built to assist decision makers in understanding the behavior of the current manufacturing process. This approach helps to systematically define, measure and analyze the current state process to test different scenarios to improve performance. The paper is amongst the first to offer a simulation methodology to support a process improvement approach. It applies an action research strategy to develop and validate the proposed modelling methodology in a British manufacturing organization competing in global markets.

Several decades of study have shown that school reform is a difficult process. Sharing the decision-making in a school and changing a school’s culture appear to be areas that promise some hope for making school reform a reality. It was the intent of this study to examine the use of action research in one school setting in addressing a school problem and its effectiveness in bringing about school reform or renewal. Data for the study were obtained from the investigator’s field notes and from participants’ journal entries, anonymous reflections, surveys, transcripts of meetings, and documents produced during the study. The investigator assumed both a participant and observer role in the study thus allowing an insider’s view of the process. Multiple sources of evidence and triangulation of data assured reasonable validity to the study. The results of this study indicated that action research is a vehicle to use to cross the disciplines in addressing a school problem. Action research 1s an effective route to increased collegiality, and professional and personal growth. It is a means of sharing leadership within a school. Although action research does not necessarily mean immediate student outcomes will be realized, it does have the potential for long-term change. This form of examining a school’s values and beliefs has implications for changing a school’s culture and thus leading to more long lasting reform. / Ed. D.

Yes / Neighbouring Trusts have implemented open access (walk-in) services to shorten waiting times in x-ray. Despite this, staff perceptions of their effectiveness have not yet been studied. This study forms the initial baseline evaluation phase of wider participatory action research investigating the implementation of an open access service for general practitioner musculoskeletal x-ray referrals. Staff perceptions regarding effectiveness of the current service were gathered, including their opinions regarding the effectiveness of open access services. Qualitative data were obtained via three semi-structured interviews with radiology management and two (cross-site) staff focus groups over a 2 month period. Template analysis was used to interpret the data with the aid of NVIVO 11 to facilitate analysis. Template analysis uncovered several drivers for changing the current service including waiting times, external pressures, patient choice and administrative delays. ‘Flexibility’ was the key theme to arise during discussion regarding the effectiveness of the current service. Potential for improved access was highlighted as a major benefit to the implementation of open access, however ‘workload’, ‘staffing’ and ‘communication’ were all identified as potential barriers to its implementation. Although several staff members were satisfied with current service several drivers for change were identified that need to be addressed in order to truly deliver a service that fulfils the patients' needs. Results will inform the wider participatory action research that will investigate the barriers to implementing an open access service and identify whether this is indeed a suitable method of addressing the drivers for change.

This study examined the issue of school size and the potential impact that school size has on the leadership behaviors of principals. Contextual factors were also considered as potential moderators of the relationship between transformational/ transactional/laissez-faire leadership behavior and school size. Data were collected and analyzed using quantitative methods. A survey was conducted based on a chosen model to gather the data. Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) surveys were distributed electronically to school staff in elementary and middle schools in Sunshine County, Florida for input regarding their principal's behavior. Using one-way and two-way analysis of variance tests for the main and moderating factors, the survey results indicated that while the main effect of size has no direct impact on principal leadership behavior, contextual factors (socio-economics, principal gender, and principal experience) do moderate the relationship between specific transformational principal leadership behaviors and school size. / by Mark J. Kaplan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Syftet med detta arbete var att utarbeta och testa en modell förutvärdering av ett e-learningprogram i ett stort internationellthandelsföretag. Storleken på organisationen och avstånden mellan många avorganisationens delar, innebar att det var svårt att göra kvalitativautvärderingar och medarbetarna på de lokala enheterna hade lågt förtroende bådeför programmet och organisationens förmåga att ta till sig deras återkoppling.För att anpassa utvärderingen till dessa förutsättningar, utan att förlora den kvalitativadimensionen i ett riktigt möte, gjordes en modell baserad på träffar viavideolänk. Modellen innefattade strukturerade, förberedda workshops som leddefram till ett videolänk-möte mellan medarbetare och utvecklarna av e-learning-programmet. Vid detta möte kunde feedback överlämnas, följdfrågorställas och diskussioner föras. Modellen baserades på arbetssätt och filosofininom Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling.Forskningsmetoden var en tillämpning av ActionResearch, en metod där forskaren är en aktiv deltagare i självaprocessen och där uppnådda resultat och reflektioner under resans gång påverkardet vidare händelseförloppet. Resultaten var positiva, och visade att aspekterinom Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling såsom skapa delaktighet och engagerat ledarskap hade storbetydelse för medarbetarnas engagemang för förändringsprocessen. Slutsatsen varatt modellen innebar en förbättring av den nuvarande återkopplingsprocessen ochatt den dessutom skapade ett ökat engagemang både hos medarbetare och ledning. / The   purpose of this paper was to design and test a model for evaluation of an   e-learning program in large, international retail company. The size of the   organization and the distance between many of it’s divisions and units, meant   that it for practical reasons was difficult to perform qualitative   evaluations. Many co-workers had low confidence in the organization’s ability   to receive and absorb their feedback. As an attempt to adjust the evaluation   to these premises without losing the dimension of qualitative assessment one   can have in a live meeting, a model for evaluation, based on communication   via video link, was designed. The model contained prepared, structured   workshops leading to a video link meeting with the developer of the   trainings. In this meeting, feedback was given, follow-up questions were   asked and discussions held. The model was based on working methods and   philosophy within the Total Quality Management framework. The research   method was an adaption of “Action Research”, a method based on the active   participation of the researcher and in which obtained results and reflections   made during the process, will influence the upcoming course of actions. The   results were positive and showed that aspects of Total Quality Management such   as inclusion and engaged leadership had great impact on how the   co- workers perceived the process of change. The conclusion was that the   model was an improvement of the existing feedback-process and that it also   created a higher level of perceived engagement amongst participating   co-workers and managers. / <p>2019-06-27</p>

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Environmental and Life Science, Dept. of Graduate School of the Environment, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 370-395. / Part 1: Introduction and contextual influences ; chapter 1: Getting a sense of the research terrain ; chapter 2: Shaping contextual influences -- Part 2: Theoretical foundations of the study ; chapter 3: Understanding organisational change ; chapter 4: Exploring organisational learning and sustainability as social learning processes -- Part 3: Methodology and research processes ; chapter 5: Critical action research methodology ; chapter 6: Research design and processes -- Part 4: Contextual issues and social learning outcomes ; chapter 7: Critical organisational analysis of the NMK ; chapter 8: Deliberating and exploring possibilities for change -- Part 5: Discussion of findings ; chapter 9: Ontological, epistemological and pedagogical implications of the study ; chapter 10: Reflections, contributions and recommendations -- References. / The main goal of this study was to deepen an understanding of exploring organisational learning and sustainability using critical action research methodology in a Kenyan context. The research process invloved a group of 23 middle level management emplyees of the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) in identifying and acting on sustainability issues. This group was designed and cultivated as a community of practice for organisational learning purposes. The basic premise underlying the study is that exploring agential, structural and cultural interactions (morphogenetic relationships) through educational interventions (communicative interactions) in a community of practice can deepen context specific understanding of organisational learning and sustainability. I developed this argument by drawing on a complex philosophical framework that brought together assumptions from Archerian social realism, Deweyan pragmatism and critical theory. The framework underpinned three distinct and yet related theoretical perspectives - the Archerian morphogenetic approach. Habermasian critical theory and Lave and Wenger's communities of practice. The Archerian morphogenetic approach and Habermasian critical theory respectively provided ontological and epistemological perspectives for the study. Lave and Wenger's communities of practice approach provided both a unit of analysis (the NMK community) and a social theory of learning to complement the Archerian and Habermasian theoretical perspectives. -- I generated data within a 14-month period between March 2005 and March 2007 in three distinct but integrally intertwined broad action research cycles of inquiry. During the first cycle, the research group identified contextual issues related to organisational learning and sustainability. In the second cycle the group investigated the issues deeper and deliberated possibilities for social change and the emergence of sustainability. The final cycle delineated social learning outcomes from the study and explored ways of institutionalising social change processes. Throughout these cycles, I explored ways of knowing the social reality of enabling organisational learning and sustainability. The cycles were integral to communicative interactions, which I implemented as educational interventions for developing agency in the NMK community of practice. Data analysis was undertaken within cyclical processes of entering and managing data, manual coding and developing categories, identifying themes, presenting results and validating findings. -- Undertaking a collaborative critical organisational analysis of the NMK revealed various contextual factors that both constrained and enabled participant learning capabilities and reflexivity to address sustainability issues. These factors manifested as contextually mediated issues of communication and information flows, decision making and leadership (governance), staff motivation and development, financial management and identity and role of the NMK. The research process promoted collective social action and innovation, forstered critical reflections and reflexivity, enhanced democratic deliberations and strengthened systemic thinking capabilities in the NMK community of practice. This study contributes to the body of literature on environmental education in its employment of a coherent and complex philosophical and thoretical framework for exploring organisational learning and sustainability. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xvi, 419 p. ill. (some col.)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, Dept. of Psychology, 2007. / Title from second page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-160).

“In what ways does teaching with folk arts inspired visual arts-based instruction enhance community building among elementary students in a Title I school?” was the primary research question in this study. Agreeing with past and present day research that the construct of community is vital to social and cultural capital, this research attempts to determine how the notion of community benefits both students and teachers in the elementary art classroom. Folk art was utilized because this genre was accessible in terms of locality and familiarity among students and teachers. The purpose of this investigation was to produce teaching strategies and methods that show how community can be formed in the art classroom. The participants were elementary students, Grades 2 and 3, in a Title I school located in Denton, Texas. This investigation was conducted under an action research methodology. This approach to research is intended to be transformational, emergent, and accommodating. I recorded observations, field notes, and conversations from the participants. Emergent themes were discovered through content analysis and conceptual maps. Results from this investigation concluded transformation is only possible if the person wants change to happen. Data also showed that community and art education are symbiotic. Transformation, growth, and cultivation are demands that must be met in order for this relationship to flourish. In addition, data suggested that the role of folk arts-based lessons played a significant role in building community among second and third graders.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This dissertation documents the attempt to address one of the major problems in nursing education i.e. the existing gap between the educational philosophy of nursing and nursing education practices, by means of an action research project during the period 1991-1996. The research in this dissertation is recorded in three phases. Phase One elaborates on the biographical and professional background of the researcher and the reasons why action research was selected for the purpose of this particular project Since action research provides opportunities for teachers to change and transform their own teaching practices, it was obviously the best choice for the research. The emphasis was on collaboration and participation and the researcher was morally bound to consider and observe all internal and external factors which influence and limit her own teaching practice, in order to initiate change and transformation in teaching. In order to define and contextualize the problem and to describe the situation in which this particular problem has been identified, the role of the statutory body, the South African Nursing Council which governs the profession and basic professional nursing education were explored. The problem is formulated as the existing gap between the educational philosophy on which existing nursing and nursing education practices are theoretically grounded and the way in which both nursing and nursing education practices appear in reality. Phase One also deals with the historical and philosophical foundations and development of nursing and nursing education. In an attempt to describe the researchers's teaching practice appropriately, as a social practice, it was essential to consider not only the professional and social boundaries of nursing education, but also the current situation regarding national education, the existing health system and all factors related to education and health. The dissertation then draws the attention to the essential features and historical context of a progressive and critical pedagogy, as a foundation for action research. In this regard it was especially the contributions of Dewey, Habermas, Freire, Giroux and McLaren, which guided the research to approach nursing education from a critical perspective. Phase Two deals with the research methodology. For this particular research project John Elliotts's Action Research Framework for Self-Evaluation in Schools was used. Within this framework of Elliott the dissertation then describes the research methodology of this particular project: Ideal and Reality in Nursing Education and Nursing Practices in South Africa: An Action Research Approach. The rationale and the development of the project is first described, whereafter action research is discussed as a process which enables nursing .practitioners and tutors to become empowered and to initiate change and establish transformation within their own practices. A major part of the dissertation is dedicated to the project in action with two groups of participants during two action research cycles. Finally Phase Three of this dissertation draws the attention to the conclusions based on the outcomes of the project. with the emphasis on the urgent need for change and transformation within the nursing profession in order to lessen the extensive gap between nursing theory and nursing practices. The existing gap between the philosophy on which nursing practices are based and how existing nursing practices appear in reality, seems to be the major cause of the prevailing discontent in the nursing profession.