Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and primary cause of long-term disability in the United States. Public awareness of stroke symptoms and ability to activate the emergency medical system (EMS) quickly are essential for early treatment. At a large Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center with over 6,000 employees, a stroke champion program that included both clinical and nonclinical volunteers was initiated to determine whether stroke champion volunteers could learn and disseminate information about stroke symptoms and the importance of activating EMS within their community. Roger's diffusion-of- innovation framework was used to design and evaluate the outcome of the project. A survey of 46 stroke champion hospital clinical and nonclinical employee volunteers was conducted using a secured web-based survey that employed a Likert scale to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The survey collected information on whether the stroke champion needed a license to perform their job at the hospital and evaluated the content of the program, the setting of the meeting, presenter's effectiveness, instructional method, and learners achievement of the programs objectives. Over 90% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the program achieved the objectives set forth in each category of the survey. A stroke champion program that incorporates all employees, not just nurses, could bring about positive social change by increasing health literacy through the dissemination of stroke information to all community members.

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This thesis is a biographical case study of Olympic, World and Commonwealth sculling champion Peter Antonie, whose career at the elite or high performance level spanned some 23 years � from 1977 to 2000. The thesis examines the exploits of an oarsman and sculler regarded within his sport as one of Australia�s greatest ever, despite his being considered physically disadvantaged at every phase of his career. Antonie was, most notably, a man of small stature � widely considered a handicap at the level of rowing to which he aspired, and at which he ultimately succeeded. The study also examines what it was, despite those perceived disadvantages, that drove him to excel. The thesis further examines, in thematic form, parallel developments within Australian rowing and sculling in the quarter of a century in which Peter Antonie competed. This was a period during which fundamental changes were seen in Australian sport, notably in the areas of funding and administration, and which saw a transformation from amateur to professional participation at the Olympic, Commonwealth Games and world championships levels. There were also marked changes to high performance rowing as a result of technological advances that produced new types of equipment, and scientific developments that brought new training and selection methodologies. The research was carried out as part of a systematic attempt to examine and investigate Peter Antonie�s reputation, particularly as it compares with his better-known contemporaries, the so-called Oarsome Foursome, and to analyse that reputation in light of the administrative developments in Australian rowing and Australian sport. The historical approach used was the biographical method of research and analysis, with the preferred technique the obtaining of oral testimony from 50 interviewees, some of whom were interviewed more than once. The research clearly indicated that throughout his career Peter Antonie continually defied assumptions about his potential, particularly where science-based preconceptions about talent identification were concerned, and achieved success far beyond initial expectations. As a result his achievements, nationally and globally, are perhaps unparalleled, and he is held in the highest regard, particularly by the higher profile Oarsome Foursome. Despite this accolade, however, Antonie�s public profile remains very low, to the extent that beyond the rowing fraternity he is virtually unknown. Despite, too, rowing�s status as an Olympic sport and the commensurate increases in funding during Antonie�s career, he himself maintains a fundamentally amateur approach to his participation in rowing and is critical of several facets of its current �professional� administration. Despite, too, rowing and sculling once being among Australia�s major sports a hundred or so years ago, within contemporary Australian society it has a low profile, a situation which, given that current administration, appears likely to continue. Problems encountered during the research included some diffidence on the part of an essentially humble and self-effacing subject and a lack of literature relating to Antonie and his sport. But these were to an extent offset by the enthusiasm displayed for the project by other interviewees. The results of the research are significant in that, like the subject, they defy some precepts concerning facets of Australian rowing and sculling, which in turn might encourage further investigation.

In 21st century, how to properly introduce new knowledge management system¡]KMS¡^is the key criteria for organizations to enhance their competitive edge. How a KMS can be introduced into organizations is because, fist of all, this issue be noticed by the strategic management level, and recognize its importance, and get it into the agenda. However, a corporation is itself a market full of idea and proposal inside. Managers try hard to promote their proposal to executives and CEO and its why there are always countless ideas around the CEO. Thus, it is urgent for us to research on how an issue be noticed by executives and enter into agenda to understand what variables really affect the agenda building process. In this area, the related researches are¡G¡]1¡^Agenda Building Theory and Issue Selling, which focuses on describing the main affecting dimension that are important, ¡]2¡^Issue Identification, which focuses on describing how issues be labeled with OPPORTUNITY or THREAT label, ¡]3¡^Champion Theory, which focuses on issue the role of the sponsors and their behaviors. Previous researches on new information technology introduction were focused on how to successfully introduce it and its efficacy evaluation. Topics on preceding phase, that is ¡©why an enterprise recognizes a new information technology¡ª, are quite rare. In validating our research model, our data supports that the importance and opportunity of issue salience, and the involvement as well as assertive attitude of champion have impacted on the agenda of organizations. The result will be useful to both the academic and business.

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This thesis is the first report linking differential distribution of cadmium (Cd) among tissues of hydroponically-grown soybean with Cd amendments – lower seed Cd-accumulating OAC Champion and higher seed Cd-accumulating OAC Bayfield – and the mechanisms responsible for these differences. OAC Champion retains 94% (64% for OAC Bayfield) of accumulated Cd in the root stock and Cd in its xylem sap is eleven-fold less concentrated than OAC Bayfield by seed fill. Though the movement of Cd to shoots is more restricted in OAC Champion, the concentration in some seed still approximates or exceeds 0.1 mg Cd • kg-1, indicating that in soils with elevated available Cd, there is potential for many cultivars of soybean to exceed the new suggested maximum for soybean, under an amendment to regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. Phytic acid was also assayed in seed tissue and OAC Bayfield was found to contain the highest concentrations.

In a seemingly ever faster moving world where global competition is rising, companies has to find their competitive advantage. This advantage could be by offering a lower price on similar products or for instance by offering a superior product. What makes a product superior in comparison with the competitor’s products and how can the company maintain its competitive advantage. One of the main solutions for this dilemma is to be more innovative than the competitors and thereby gaining the competitive advantage. Becoming innovative doesn’t mean relying on sheer luck; instead the company has to adapt the proper innovation management. This thesis aims to research and suggest how a conceptual innovation management framework could be modelled for a large technology heavy organization. The findings of applicable theories together with the empirical study clearly show that in order for a large technology heavy company to improve its innovativeness it has to act under an innovation management framework, where innovation strategy and designated roles are clearly stated.

This study focused on a policy that promotes educational stability for foster children in a southern state in the US. At the time of this study, this policy had not been fully adopted across the state which resulted in foster children not routinely receiving the interventions necessary for improving academic outcomes. Using the diffusion of innovation theory as a framework, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how local-level leaders impacted the successful adoption of education policy in one county office of a statewide child welfare agency. Data were collected from a sample of 5 case managers and a review of the literature. The data were coded and analyzed using Colaizzi's 7-step method of data analysis. Results revealed the specific actions that were taken by county-level leaders to impact the successful adoption of the policy. Such actions included the allocation of resources and the intentional inclusion of informal leaders in decision-making around policy implementation. The social change implications stemming from this study include recommendations made to program leadership to consider practical changes to policy implementation that may result in successful adoption of this policy. Such changes may lead to foster children across the state receiving the benefits of the evidence-based supports outlined in the policy and may lead to an improvement in the delivery of services to vulnerable populations served by the child welfare agency.

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Purpose - This thesis addresses the lack of research on Performance Management (PM) in Hidden Champions (HCs) due to development and implementation of a HC tailored PM system (PMS) in Action Research Design (AR). A HC tailored strategy map and PMS framework were elaborated to improve the financial and non-financial performance of the HC. Design/methodology/approach - A longitudinal case study with two AR cycles were performed to develop the HC tailored strategy map and framework for the PMS including their implementation using mixed methods data collection. A validated HC tailored strategy map and framework for the PMS implementation are presented. Findings - Findings show significantly increased financial and non-financial performance of the HC. The revenue of the case company increased by 11.6%, the return on revenue increased 3% up to 17%, customer satisfaction grew, throughput times shortened and leadership competencies improved. Findings further show that AR is an effective procedure for HC tailored PMS design and implementation. Research limitations and practical implications - The findings are based on one case study and needs to be tested in other HCs. Findings should be of interest to scholars in the field of PM, as well as practitioners improving financial and non-financial performance. Originality/value -This thesis contributes to knowledge of PM in HCs, and AR, as it provides a validated HC strategy map and framework for HC tailored PMS implementation in a HC. It provides an approach for practitioners to improve financial and non-financial performance in HCs.