The European Union aims to reduce energy use and CO2-emissions by 40 % by the year 2030. The building sector has been identified as having a great potential to reduce emission of CO2 by increasing its energy efficiency. Also, there is a growing concern of the buildings environmental performance, that lead to the development of building environmental assessment tools. However, different types of energy sources and confusing environmental impacts affect the decision making when renovating for improved energy efficiency. This study develops and tests a methodology to help decision-makers when considering major renovation of their building stock when connected to adistrict heating system. The proposed methodology is applied and used to investigate how different renovation scenarios affects the building environmental impacts in terms of CO2 emissions and identify and discuss future improvements of the methodology. The novelty of the method is the expanded system boundaries that include both the distribution and production of district heating and the energy use at a building level. In this way it is possible to compare and weight measures made both at the energy system level and the building level. This work has limited its approach to energy use in buildings, but it is important to bring the life cycle thinking to the methodology. During the choice of the renovation methods it was noticed that the environmental impact of the production of some components in order to reduce the energy use of a building are not insignificant. Even if all the renovation measures considered in this case study are feasible, it is important to determine in which order they are desirable or achievable from an economic point of view. Uncertainty in the future development of energy, and limited economic resources can play an important role in the possibility of energy efficient renovation. / Den Europeiska Unionen har som målsättning att minska energianvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser med 40 % till året 2030 jämfört med 1990. Byggnader har identifierats som ett område med stor potential för utsläppsminskningar om de energieffektiviseras. Användningen av olika energislag och olika sätt att värdera miljöpåverkan påverkar beslutsfattandet i samband med energieffektivisering. I studien utvecklas och testas en metodik som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare vid renovering med energieffektivisering inom fjärrvärmeområdet. Först utvecklades en översiktlig metodik vilken inkluderar både byggnadsenergisimulering och energisystemsimulering. Sen implementerades metodiken genom olika renoveringsscenarier och utsläppen av växthusgaser analyserades. Metodiken visar att det finns en möjlighet att utveckla ett verktyg som kan hjälpa beslutsfattare när energibesparingsstrategier ska implementeras vilka kan bli positiva för både byggnader och fjärrvärmesystemet. / REESBE

The application of information communication technologies (ICTs) in records management in many organisations underscores the need for the assessment of e-records readiness. This provides a useful guide in benchmarking, gauging progress and comprehending e-records management. This study examined e-record readiness in labour organisations with a view to proposing a framework for labour organisations in Botswana. The study was largely guided by a quantitative paradigm and used a survey research strategy. This was complemented by methodological triangulation of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. All the 50 registered labour organisations in Botswana were surveyed, 45 of which responded, representing a response rate of 90%. Data was obtained through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, document review and observations. The study established that e-records readiness in labour organisations in Botswana was evident, low and evolving, evidenced by the slow adoption of ICTs; inadequate records management standards and practices; and low integration in the national e-readiness framework. The study confirmed that most labour organisations had embraced the utilisation of ICTs in their work; exhibited some form of records management function and acknowledged the existence of national policy directives and strategies on e-readiness. However, traditional ICTs mainly the fax and telephone, were more prevalently adopted and used than newer ones such as e-mail and the Internet. The use of social media technology (Web 2.0 - Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter) was yet to be explored. The management of both paper-based and electronic records was not satisfactory and fell short of best recognised records management standards and practice. The integration of labour organisations into national e-readiness initiatives as espoused in key policy proclamations within the context of the pursuance of a holistic knowledge and information society was slow and remained challenging. In order to foster successful e-records readiness in labour organisations, several recommendations were advanced that underscored effective ICT adoption and use, implementation of best records management practices and rigorous integration of labour organisations into the information and knowledge society in Botswana. In addition, an integrated framework for examining and understanding e-records readiness in labour organisations was proposed and documented. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

The application of information communication technologies (ICTs) in records management in many organisations underscores the need for the assessment of e-records readiness. This provides a useful guide in benchmarking, gauging progress and comprehending e-records management. This study examined e-record readiness in labour organisations with a view to proposing a framework for labour organisations in Botswana. The study was largely guided by a quantitative paradigm and used a survey research strategy. This was complemented by methodological triangulation of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. All the 50 registered labour organisations in Botswana were surveyed, 45 of which responded, representing a response rate of 90%. Data was obtained through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, document review and observations. The study established that e-records readiness in labour organisations in Botswana was evident, low and evolving, evidenced by the slow adoption of ICTs; inadequate records management standards and practices; and low integration in the national e-readiness framework. The study confirmed that most labour organisations had embraced the utilisation of ICTs in their work; exhibited some form of records management function and acknowledged the existence of national policy directives and strategies on e-readiness. However, traditional ICTs mainly the fax and telephone, were more prevalently adopted and used than newer ones such as e-mail and the Internet. The use of social media technology (Web 2.0 - Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter) was yet to be explored. The management of both paper-based and electronic records was not satisfactory and fell short of best recognised records management standards and practice. The integration of labour organisations into national e-readiness initiatives as espoused in key policy proclamations within the context of the pursuance of a holistic knowledge and information society was slow and remained challenging. In order to foster successful e-records readiness in labour organisations, several recommendations were advanced that underscored effective ICT adoption and use, implementation of best records management practices and rigorous integration of labour organisations into the information and knowledge society in Botswana. In addition, an integrated framework for examining and understanding e-records readiness in labour organisations was proposed and documented. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Unternehmen werden gegenwärtig mit den Themen der Nachhaltigkeit und der fortschreitenden Industrie 4.0 vor immer komplexere Herausforderungen gestellt. Ein Bestandteil der neuen Basistechnologien stellen cyber-physische Systeme (CPS) dar, die bereits gegenwärtig und zukünftig mit den Zielen der nachhaltigen Entwicklung in Einklang gebracht werden müssen. Die vorliegende Arbeit geht den Forschungsfragen nach, wie CPS definiert, charakterisiert und unter Einbezug nachhaltiger Kriterien bewertet werden können. Dazu wurden verschiedene, betriebswirtschaftliche Instrumentarien ausgewählt und systematisiert, die folgend im eigens entwickelten und angewandten „Vorgehensmodell zur Prüfung und Eignung von Bewertungsinstrumenten für CPS unter Einbezug der Nachhaltigkeit“ überprüft wurden. Die Untersuchung ergab, dass der Bedarf an Bewertungsansätzen von CPS in Kombination mit der Thematik der Nachhaltigkeit besteht und mit existenten, betriebswirtschaftlichen Methoden größtenteils bewältigt werden kann. Die zugrunde liegende Masterarbeit wurde an der Professur Unternehmensrechnung und Controlling (Technische Universität Chemnitz) durch Prof. Dr. Prof. h. c. Uwe Götze sowie Kristina Höse (M.Sc.) betreut. / Companies are currently facing increasingly complex challenges with the issues of sustainability and the advancing Industry 4.0. One component of the new enabling technologies are cyber-physical systems (CPS), which already currently and in the future need to be aligned with sustainable development goals. This thesis addresses the research questions of how CPS can be defined, characterized and evaluated with respect to sustainable criteria. For this purpose, various business management tools were selected and systematized, which were subsequently reviewed in the specially developed and applied 'Procedure Model for the Examination and Suitability of Assessment Tools for CPS with the Inclusion of Sustainability'. The investigation showed that the need for evaluation approaches of CPS in combination with the topic of sustainability exists and can be handled with existing, business management methods to a large extent.

This paper summarizes the theoretical and methodological approaches of Russian and foreign authors to disclose the concepts of "competitiveness of the enterprise" and "corporate social responsibility". Internal and external indicators of corporate social responsibility of enterprises for the purpose of installation of their impact on the competitiveness of enterprises were allocated. The conceptual model of enterprise competitiveness evaluation tool based on corporate social responsibility was built. The algorithm for using assessment tools taking into account the competitiveness of the enterprise with corporate social responsibility was developed and on the example of the enterprise of JSC "NK" Rosneft "was tested. / В данной статье обобщены теоретические и методологические подходы российских и зарубежных авторов к раскрытию понятий «конкурентоспособность предприятия» и «корпоративная социальная ответственность». Выделены внутренние и внешние показатели корпоративной социальной ответственности предприятий с целью установления их влияния на конкурентоспособность предприятий. Построена концептуальная модель инструмента оценки конкурентоспособности предприятия с учетом корпоративной социальной ответственности. Разработанный алгоритм использования инструментария оценки конкурентоспособности предприятия с учетом корпоративной социальной ответственности был апробирован на примере предприятия ОАО «НК «Роснефть».

Today, the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) is education, research, and to contribute to society. The requirement of contributing to society especially requires that the institutions contribute to sustainable development. It is therefore relevant to analyse how HEIs can address and contribute to sustainability and sustainable development. The purpose of this thesis is twofold. Firstly, it aims to analyse the impact that HEIs have on sustainable development by identifying and mapping indicators of impact. Secondly, it aims to illustrate with the empirical case of a technological university in Sweden - the studied technological university is KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The study was conducted as an exploratory single-case study. The study's data consists of qualitative interview data as well as quantitative secondary data. The secondary data was collected from a variety of sources at KTH, including its development plan, objective plans, vision, business plans, annual reports, progress reports on objectives, and follow-up reports. The qualitative data was collected through 11 semi-structured, open-ended interviews with faculty and employees at KTH. The study finds that HEIs - through various sustainability actions in their activities education, research, and collaboration and outreach - can achieve impacts such as pro-environmental behaviour and sustainable development. These measures related to all three pillars of sustainability. The HEIs' impact can be identified through indicators such as number of courses on sustainability and sustainable development and share (%) of the total external funding for research that supports research in the sustainability field. As for KTH specifically, the study shows that KTH is able to impact the areas of environmental, social, and economic sustainability and that the impact can be direct, indirect, short-term, long-term, intended, and positive. / Idag innefattar uppdraget för lärosäten för högre utbildning forskning, utbildning och att bidra till samhället. Uppdraget att bidra till samhället kräver specifikt att lärosätena bidrar till hållbar utveckling. Det är därför relevant att analysera hur lärosäten för högre utbildning kan hantera och bidra till hållbarhet och hållbar utveckling. Denna avhandling har två syften. För det första syftar avhandlingen analysera lärosätenas påverkan på hållbar utveckling genom att identifiera och kartlägga indikatorer på effekt. För det andra syftar avhandlingen exemplifiera och illustrera det första syftet med ett empiriskt fall av ett tekniskt universitet - det studerade universitetet är Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan. Studien genomfördes som en utforskande fallstudie där ett fall studerades. Studiens data består av både kvalitativ intervjudata och av kvalitativ och kvantitativ sekundärdata. Datat samlades in från två olika beviskällor - dokumentation och intervjuer. När det gäller dokumentationen samlades data och information in från en mängd olika dokument från KTH, inklusive dess utvecklingsplan, målplaner, vision, affärsplaner, årsrapporter, lägesrapporter och uppföljningsrapporter. Gällande intervjuerna genomfördes 11 halvstrukturerade intervjuer med öppna frågor. Intervjupersonerna bestod av lärare och anställda från olika kontor och avdelningar vid KTH. Studien visar att lärosäten för högre utbildning, genom olika hållbarhetsåtgärder i sin verksamhet kring utbildning, forskning och samarbete, kan uppnå effekter såsom miljövänligt beteende och hållbara livsstilar, minskning av koldioxidpåverkan, ekonomisk tillväxt, jobbskapande, kunskapsutbyte och ekonomiska och sociala fördelar. Tillsammans täcker dessa effekter alla tre typer av hållbarhet, vilket i sin tur innebär att lärosäten kan bidra till en hållbar utveckling i samhället. Lärosätenas påverkan kan identifieras genom indikatorer såsom antal kurser om hållbarhet och hållbar utveckling och andelen (%) av den totala externa forskningsfinansieringen som stödjer forskning inom hållbarhetsområdet. När det gäller KTH specifikt visar studien att KTH kan påverka områdena miljömässig, social och ekonomisk hållbarhet samt att effekterna kan vara direkta, indirekta, kortsiktiga, långsiktiga, avsedda och positiva.

The knowledge-driven, network society is founded upon technology. Educators need to implement technology effectively into the three main pillars of education, namely teaching, learning and assessment. This would assist students to become independent, confident and motivated life-long, self-directed learners that can use technology effectively in an educational environment. It would also ensure that graduates are able to become change agents, transferring their knowledge, skills and values to others in their communities. Alternative assessment methods that are technology driven could enable both educators and students to become more effective in a network society. This study advocates the use of alternative assessment methods by using technology driven assessment tools for possible replacement of traditional, paper based and "one size fits all" assessment methods within the subject field of Theology. Document analysis was used in a broad sense to evaluate technology-based multimedia documents. Ten documents were identified and evaluated as possible alternatives for traditional assessment methods. Inter-rater reliability ensured that the investigation provided constant estimates and results. The SECTIONS model used for this evaluation provided opportunities to include criteria important for higher education, the use of technology and subject relevant information to ensure that the evaluation was done with a specific purpose and scope in mind; to find technology-based tools that can substitute traditional assessment tools in order to enhance effective education to students. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Open and Distance Learning)

The knowledge-driven, network society is founded upon technology. Educators need to implement technology effectively into the three main pillars of education, namely teaching, learning and assessment. This would assist students to become independent, confident and motivated life-long, self-directed learners that can use technology effectively in an educational environment. It would also ensure that graduates are able to become change agents, transferring their knowledge, skills and values to others in their communities. Alternative assessment methods that are technology driven could enable both educators and students to become more effective in a network society. This study advocates the use of alternative assessment methods by using technology driven assessment tools for possible replacement of traditional, paper based and "one size fits all" assessment methods within the subject field of Theology. Document analysis was used in a broad sense to evaluate technology-based multimedia documents. Ten documents were identified and evaluated as possible alternatives for traditional assessment methods. Inter-rater reliability ensured that the investigation provided constant estimates and results. The SECTIONS model used for this evaluation provided opportunities to include criteria important for higher education, the use of technology and subject relevant information to ensure that the evaluation was done with a specific purpose and scope in mind; to find technology-based tools that can substitute traditional assessment tools in order to enhance effective education to students. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Open and Distance Learning)

No / Aims and objectives To (1) investigate the organisation, provision and practice of oral care in typical UK stroke units; (2) explore stroke survivors', carers' and healthcare professionals' experiences and perceptions about the barriers and facilitators to receiving and undertaking oral care in stroke units. Cerebrovascular disease and oral health are major global health concerns. Little is known about the provision, challenges and practice of oral care in the stroke unit setting, and there are currently no evidence-based practice guidelines. Design Cross-sectional survey of 11 stroke units across Greater Manchester and descriptive qualitative study using focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Methods A self-report questionnaire was used to survey 11 stroke units in Greater Manchester. Data were then collected through two focus groups (n = 10) with healthcare professionals and five semi-structured interviews with stroke survivors and carers. Focus group and interview data were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework approach. Results Eleven stroke units in Greater Manchester responded to the survey. Stroke survivors and carers identified a lack of oral care practice and enablement by healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals identified a lack of formal training to conduct oral care for stroke patients, inconsistency in the delivery of oral care and no set protocols or use of formal oral assessment tools. Conclusion Oral care post-stroke could be improved by increasing healthcare professionals' awareness, understanding and knowledge of the potential health benefits of oral care post-stroke. Further research is required to develop and evaluate the provision of oral care in stroke care to inform evidence-based education and practice.