The potential role of local government in NSW to address public health nutrition issues has received encouraging reports. This treatise deals with the question of whether intersectoral collaboration theory is useful to assist development of a relationship with local government to develop food and nutrition policy. Intersectoral collaboration theory describes six conditions necessary for successful action: necessity, opportunity, capacity, relationships, planned action, and sustained outcomes. The project was a feasibility study carried out in a densely populated and multicultural local government area in Sydney�s southwest during April 1998. Eight Council employees and one elected representative were interviewed using the semi-structured questionnaire to collect a range of opinions and knowledge about Council�s involvement in a food and nutrition policy. Conceptual frameworks for the study included the Ottawa Charter and the food and nutrition system. Theoretical underpinning�s were provided by intersectoral collaboration theory and organisational change theory. Using intersectoral collaboration theory, analysis of the interviews revealed that participants were very concerned with conditions of necessity, opportunity and capacity to develop food and nutrition policy. Intersectoral collaboration theory correctly predicted that the action proposed would have to assist Council to achieve their core business, gain social and political support and be possible within the current economic environment and level of other resources available. Participants were not able to identify how a food and nutrition policy would meet these conditions and be feasible within the current capacity of the organisation, and therefore did not become fully engaged in the feasibility study. The health sector needs to develop arguments for local government involvement from their perspective. Organisational change within the heath sector is required to develop capacity for intersectoral partnerships, as an effective strategy to address public health nutrition issues.

Mobile collaborative work is a developing sub-area of Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW). The future of this field will be marked by a significant increase in mobile device usage as a tool for co-workers to cooperate, collaborate and work on a shared workspace in real-time to produce artefacts such as diagrams, text and graphics regardless of their geographical locations. A real-time collaboration editor can utilise a centralised or a replicated architecture. In a centralised architecture, a central server holds the shared document as well as manages the various aspects of the collaboration, such as the document consistency, ordering of updates, resolving conflicts and the session membership. Every user's action needs to be propagated to the central server, and the server will apply it to the document to ensure it results in the intended document state. Alternatively, a decentralised or replicated architecture can be used where there is no central server to store the shared document. Every participating site contains a copy of the shared document (replica) to work on separately. Using this architecture, every user's action needs to be broadcast to all participating sites so each site can update their replicas accordingly. The replicated architecture is attractive for such applications, especially in wireless and ad-hoc networks, since it does not rely on a central server and a user can continue to work on his or her own local document replica even during disconnection period. However, in the absence of a dedicated server, the collaboration is managed by individual devices. This presents challenges to implement collaborative editors in a replicated architecture, especially in a mobile network which is characterised by limited resource reliability and availability. This thesis addresses challenges and requirements to implement group editors in wireless ad-hoc network environments where resources are scarce and the network is significantly less stable and less robust than wired fixed networks. The major contribution of this thesis is a proposed framework that comprises the proposed algorithms and techniques to allow each device to manage the important aspects of collaboration such as document consistency, conflict handling and resolution, session membership and document partitioning. Firstly, the proposed document consistency algorithm ensures the document replicas held by each device are kept consistent despite the concurrent updates by the collaboration participants while taking into account the limited resource of mobile devices and mobile networks. Secondly, the proposed conflict management technique provides users with conflict status and information so that users can handle and resolve conflicts appropriately. Thirdly, the proposed membership management algorithm ensures all participants receive all necessary updates and allows users to join a currently active collaboration session. Fourthly, the proposed document partitioning algorithm provides flexibility for users to work on selected parts of the document and reduces the resource consumption. Finally, a basic implementation of the framework is presented to show how it can support a real time collaboration scenario.

My research investigates the relationship between the architectural designer and the use that he or she makes of digital media as part of the design process. My principal research question is: what is the advantage of including digital media as part of the designers' 'toolset' in the early stages of design? The context is a highly successful and high profile mid-sized Australian architectural practice. The study considers the nature of architectural designing as a creative activity and the extent to which advantages could be gained by including digital media as part of the designers' toolset in the early stages of design. Designers seem to be polarised between championing the role of digital media as part of their design processes and downright rejecting it. One such extreme position is a view that this media has either 'no place' (Martens et al. 2007:np; Sanders 1996:4-5) within architectural design and is thus seen as 'just another tool' filling at best an ancillary and service role in the design process (Kvan, Mark et al. 2004:np). This view suggests therefore that designing with digital media has hardly advanced (Corrigan 2003:86). An opposing view is that digital media can take a more fundamental place to advance design methods (Rahim 2006:1), even revolutionarily improve the design process beyond 'question and debate' (Winner 1986:6 in Steele 2001:13), resulting in a 'new architecture' (Lindsey 2001:12) and encouraging significant change in designing through semi-automated generation of design and interconnected ways of communicating (Lindsey 2001:12). Resulting from my study, I have found, however, that the more negative views (Winner 1986:6; Sanders 1996:4-5) regarding the integration of digital media into the architectural design process tend to distract from the more balanced investigation into how a designer masters an expanding architectural design practice. As a doctoral candidate I take a participant-observer position within Terroir where I have been employed for the past five years. My experiences in responding to my research question suggest that the advantage of digital media is not a question of whether or not to integrate the tools. The question is more an issue of how a designer masters an expanding design process through an approach that includes ideas, conventional media and digital media. My thesis demonstrates the changes that occurred through the integration of digital media and, conversely, possibilities to opportunistically further improve on conventional design practice. My research suggests that mutuality exists in the relationship between the designer and their digital media. Through their co-evolution, changes can occur where there is not only an integration of digital media with design, but also both media and design practice change through their integration. I also discuss how an uptake of digital media gives grounds for a new specialised ro le in practice. A new role emerged within the collaborative firm of architects, which I have called in this thesis the digital ideator. It is a role that I demonstrate as potentially being central to digital media integrated with design practice.

This thesis examines the way a change management entity facilitated a deep and lasting business transformation, undertaken as a major program of projects that were engaged in business process re-engineering, logistics supply change management and formation of joint ventures and forms of alliance. It takes a project management perspective with a strong focus on how the Corridor project achieved change through leadership, co-learning strategies and collaboration. It takes place within the context of a unique historical period of economic transition for Latin America. The research focuses on the Corridor as a single entity using five case studies of different complexity. The Corridor Project developed as a dynamic community of practice with project management office characteristics where a number of projects were born and evolved through their different life cycles as business transformation outcomes. The Corridor could become a model to put into practice in other regions of the world where production and consumption asymmetries are found or where infrastructural asymmetries could call for a Corridor-like project to overcome trade imbalances or increase regional trade - all this leading to a series of business transformation opportunities to let corporations become more competitive by making a strategic use of knowledge sharing and transfer.

Lorsque plusieurs personnes collaborent dans le but de réaliser une tâche, il n'est pas nécessaire qu'elles parlent. Elles peuvent très bien collaborer uniquement par les gestes et le regard. Il est donc important de s'intéresser au non verbal lorsque l'on souhaite étudier la collaboration. Cette thèse se donne pour objectif de mieux comprendre l'usage des systèmes de communication qui permettent de collaborer à distance, mais aussi en co-présence. Ces le cas lorsque l'on doit réaliser une tâche à deux, en utilisant une application informatique. Le recueil d'indicateurs non verbaux permet de rendre compte de l'activité de collaboration. Une méthode de recueil des comportements non verbaux est proposée et testée. Ces indicateurs concernent, plus particulièrement, certains types de gestes des bras et des mains et à l'orientation du regard vers l'autre. Une catégorie d'indicateurs non verbaux est proposée, elle s'appuie sur des catégories existantes. Cette catégorie prend en compte à la fois la manipulation des objets de l'environnement et les interactions sociales. Cette méthode permet de dégager des patterns non verbaux, qui varient sous l'influence de plusieurs facteurs. Les résultats issus de trois expériences, montrent que les patterns non verbaux observés, varient en fonction de la tâche, du dispositif technique utilisé et des situations de communication, manipulées. De plus, cette méthode a également permis d'isoler d'autres facteurs, tels que des phases d'activité, l'effet de plusieurs situations de communication (e.g. visibilité, co-présence).

<p>ABSTRACT</p><p>In the past decade, the construction industry has been identified to be among the industries that are lagging in the application of modern information and communication technology as tools to enhance project performance. Where this technology has been applied, little has been done to meet up with the pace of advancements in information and communication technology.</p><p>This research looks at the extent to which information and communication technology (ICT) tools have being integrated for project enhancement in a major railway construction project. Most precisely, it looks at how ICT tools have affected communication and collaborative processes in the context of the soft skills processes and the hard skills processes. Enormous literature in this field of study was reviewed to set the base upon which to make the investigation. Findings show that ICT tools have been integrated just to a limited extent on the project which still used traditional management and project communication methods.; and there was room for integration of better tools as project participants were aware of some of these ICT tools that can enhance the performance of the project. Finally, an ICT infrastructure that encompasses all aspects of the project environment and the entire project lifecycle is proposed. This infrastructure enhances project performance by integrating all project stakeholders in the process of knowledge sharing and use in the project. The research also determines that most project organisations would refrain from integrating certain kinds of project enhancement tools because of he cost obtaining them as well as the cost to train employees on their usage.</p>

<p>In the competitive environment of today’s global markets, the demands of customers are increasing. They expect to get the best product at the lowest price with immediate availability. Logistics, including transportation, inventory maintenance, order processing, purchasing, warehousing, materials handling, packaging, customer service standards, and product scheduling must continuously be developed to meet the challenges of the market. The globalization, with longer distances to customers and suppliers, and the progressing trend of outsourcing are examples of why the importance of logistics has increased over the last few years.</p><p>A considerable part of the final product cost is frozen during the early product development phases. In the early phases of the product development process, the cost of making design changes is low compared to making changes later in the product development process. The product development decisions made in the early phases of the product development process have considerable impact on future manufacturing and logistics activities as well.</p><p>The objective of this research project is to develop a framework supporting the collaboration between the logistics- and the product development process. To do this, it has been essential to analyze which parameters influence the efficiency of the logistics process and the interface between the logistics- and the product development process. Also, to investigate how the logistics department can be integrated earlier in the product development process has been of interest. This has been done through both a theoretical review and also through a number of case studies.</p><p>The result and conclusion of this project is a framework that gives support for what to focus on, how to collaborate, in which phases collaboration is meaningful, and which persons need to be involved in the different product development phases. Working as the framework suggests will, hopefully, give closer collaboration between the logistics- and the product development process than without this supportive framework. The expectation of the collaboration is an earlier integration of the logistics department in the product development process and through this influence and increase the efficiency of the logistics process.</p>

<p>This dissertation study focuses on reasons and means of industry and university</p><p>collaboration which lead to innovation. Collaboration in this study is viewed as one:</p><p>communication, exchange of knowledge and learning form the innovation process. This</p><p>research has followed a qualitative approach for methodology and the data was collected</p><p>through two interviews. The results of this study show how university research</p><p>collaborates with industry from the university research point of view. The findings also</p><p>reveal that university research can not produce innovation without practical knowledge</p><p>which is provided by company during collaboration. In the same way the company can</p><p>not produce scientifically based innovation without the interactive learning.</p>

<p>Utvecklingen och marknadsföringen av ett samhälle som turistdestination, kan generera många fördelar, bland annat genom ökad sysselsättning och infrastrukturella förbättringar. Samtidigt kan en okontrollerad exploatering leda till negativa konsekvenser utifrån kultur- och naturmiljöaspekter. Utifrån denna vetskap har planeringsperspektivet till stor del fått en dominerande roll inom diskussioner och forskningslitteratur. Det finns dock fler faktorer som bör beaktas i destinationsutvecklingssammanhang, varav samarbete och nätverk samt destinationsmarknadsföring utgör viktiga aspekter. Med fokus på, och en teoretisk förförståelse för dessa begrepp angriper denna studie de två fallstudieobjekten Ornö och Utö i Stockholms södra skärgård i syfte att utröna hur begreppen påverkat de skilda utvecklingar som skett på öarna. Utö präglas av ett starkt samarbetsklimat där aktörer, med turistbyrån som samordnande funktion, skapat en gemensam identitet och en enad marknadsföringskanal utåt. Genom att samordna resurser skapas även ett nätverk där kunskapsspridning och samarbete leder till positivt resursutnyttjande. Lokalbefolkningen på Utö känner en delaktighet i den utveckling som sker och en positiv attityd råder, inte minst genom att de flesta är direkt anknutna till näringen genom sina eller anhörigas arbetsplatser. På Ornö råder å andra sidan en brist på kommunikation aktörer emellan, liksom avsaknad av entreprenörskap och kunskap om näringen, vilket lett till att försök till fungerande samarbeten stagnerat. Dessutom leder ett bristande förtroende till turistbyråns kunskap och erfarenhet till att en position som samordnare inte kunnat utvecklas. Detta har i sin tur lett till en svag och fragmenterad marknadsföring liksom att lättillgängligheten för besökare försvårats då det saknas ett lättöverskådligt helhetserbjudande.</p> / <p>The development and marketing of a destination can contribute with benefits such as employment growth and infrastructural improvements. At the same time, uncontrolled exploitation can have the reverse effect and work negatively on sensible cultural- and natural environments. Knowledge about these effects has, in discussions and literature about destination development, led to the dominating roll of the perspective of planning. Meanwhile there are other important factors to consider when looking to the big spectra. In this context collaboration, networking and destination marketing becomes significant aspects to review. With a focus on, and theoretical preunderstanding for, these concepts this thesis will focus on the two case-studies of Ornö and Utö, two neighbouring islands in the archipelago of Stockholm, Sweden. In spite of their physical similarity the two islands have undergone very different developments as tourism destinations. The purpose with this thesis will therefore be to determine how the concepts of collaboration, network and destination marketing have influenced the development of the islands.</p>

<p>Syftet med detta examensarbete har varit att undersöka hur samarbetet fungerar mellan klasslärare och specialpedagoger på en skola i Stockholmsområdet samt dess påverkan på berörda elever. Frågeställningarna som har fungerat som stöd för undersökningens genomförande är följande: Vilka problem upplever klasslärare och specialpedagoger i sin undervisning i förhållande till elever i behov av särskilt stöd? Hur fungerar samarbetet mellan klasslärare och specialpedagoger på skolan? Hur påverkas berörda elever av detta?</p><p>Metoden som har använts för att genomföra undersökningen har främst varit kvalitativ i form av intervjuer. Undersökningen utgörs av fyra kvalitativa intervjuer med två klasslärare samt två specialpedagoger på en skola i Stockholms län. Resultatet för studien visar att problemen som klasslärarna och specialpedagogerna upplever i undervisningen i förhållande till elever som kräver extra stöd framför allt relateras till tidsbristen. Tidsbristen leder till att eleverna inte får tillräckligt stöd som egentligen krävs av pedagogerna, fastän de själva strävar efter att stödja eleverna fullständigt. Tidsbristen visar sig dock drabba klasslärarna mer än vad den drabbar specialpedagogerna. Detta på grund av att specialpedagogerna har tillgång till att arbeta med barnen i mindre grupper som i sin tur bidrar till att eleverna får mer hjälp än vad de vanligtvis skulle få hos klassläraren. Resultatet av studien visar även att samarbetet mellan klasslärarna och specialpedagogerna fungerar både bra och dåligt på grund av en mängd olika faktorer. Den främsta orsaken till att samarbetet många gånger brister är på grund av klasslärarnas och specialpedagogernas skilda syn på vad som är viktiga behov för eleverna, det vill säga vilka elevers behov som det bör tas hänsyn till.</p>