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Целью работы является моделирование существующего процесса информирования клиентов, оптимизация этого процесса, сравнительный анализ существующих систем информирования, проектирование архитектуры собственной системы. В ходе выполнения работы был проведен сравнительный анализ брокеров сообщений, выявлены достоинства и недостатки каждого из них. Для подключения к существующей корпоративной платформе был разработан план внедрения и выполнена миграция данных в целевую систему с помощью разработанной программы-синхронизатора. / The purpose of the work is to simulate the existing process of informing customers, to conduct a comparative analysis of existing informing systems, and to design the architecture of the same type system. In the course of the work, a comparative analysis of message broker programs was carried out and the advantages and disadvantages of each were identified. In order to connect to the existing corporate platform, an implementation plan was developed and data migration to the target system was performed with the help of the developed synchronization program.

Financial assistance from social services can be described as an important protection against financial vulnerability. Many of the people that seek out to get support in the form of financial aid are vulnerable people that are in need of an income. The purpose of this study is to explore the organizational conditions that caseworkers in financial assistance perceive as significant for their work with clients. We’ve performed semi-structured interviews with seven caseworkers that work in the department of financial assistance to gather in-depth insights into their experiences and perspectives about the organizational conditions. Using Lipsky's theory of street-level bureaucracy to analyze our results, we also connected our findings to previous research in the field. The findings reveal that control, demands and information are critical organizational factors that have a significant importance for their client work. Caseworkers experience that organizational conditions complicate client interactions, worsen relationships, and limit discretion. Caseworkers also desire more understanding, trust, clearer information, and reduced workloads. Previous research highlights the importance of balancing organizational demands with client needs, emphasizing the need for supportive policies and effective communication to enhance social work practice. Future research could explore implementing new approaches suggested by caseworkers to see how these changes would impact their work and improve the quality of financial assistance. Furthermore, future research could also investigate the perspectives of the organization to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Matching clients and therapist based on demographic variables might enhance therapeutic outcomes. Even so, research in this field is still inconclusive and not much is known about same-gender client therapist dyads in the context of cognitive behavioral (CBT) and psychodynamic methods. For this purpose, we studied the therapy outcomes of N = 1.212 participants that had received therapy (3 months–6 years) in Germany. The results showed a trend for same-gender client therapist dyads in terms of symptom reduction and quality of life specific to psychodynamic approaches. The latter applied specifically to female client-therapist dyads. On the other hand, this trend was not fully evident for CBT-based therapies. In conclusion, despite the robust sample and observed trends, it is not clear whether matching same gender dyads is advantageous with regards to symptom reduction and quality of life. Regardless, these results are preliminary and further studies are needed in order to find out whether same gender client-therapist dyads enhance therapy outcomes or not.

Cette recherche vise à mieux cerner comment le rapport entre les genres nous éclaire sur les risques connus de transmission du VIH entre clients et travailleuses du sexe en Inde du Sud. Des entrevues semi-structurées menées auprès des clients et analysées de manière qualitative thématique montrent que les clients perçoivent les relations sexuelles avec les travailleuses du sexe comme un vice impliquant l'infidélité, la perte de contrôle et un contact avec des femmes au bas de l'échelle sociale. Paradoxalement, cette fréquentation leur permet de se conformer à l'idéal masculin, en donnant satisfaction sexuelle à une femme, dans ce contexte d'incompatibilité entre les modèles masculins et féminins perçus et réels. Si le déséquilibre de pouvoir favorisant le plus souvent le client se rétablit partiellement en présence d'affection et de paiement, ce nivellement peut donner lieu à un relâchement dans l'usage du condom. D serait important de développer des stratégies d'intervention visant les clients et favorisant les pratiques sexuelles sécuritaires chez ceux-ci et les travailleuses du sexe.

The need for carbon emission reduction is a pressing concern, particularly in the construction sector, which demands innovative and sustainable solutions. Public clients play a crucial role due to their ability to set demands and requirements that help to achieve national and regional carbon reduction goals. However, carbon management efforts face challenges and necessitate the identification of problem areas and solutions. This thesis examines a Swedish public client, the Administration for Extended Metro, through three projects executed by international construction contractors. Notably, the new metro has a long-term vision for carbon management and aims for a 25% reduction in emissions at all stages of the metro extension projects. The aim of the study is to identify the challenges and motivations influencing the achievement of carbon reduction targets in the construction stages of public infrastructure projects. The scope includes an exploration of the dynamics of cooperation between Swedish public clients and international contractors, examining the effectiveness of procurement requirements, collaboration and management practices in fostering knowledge sharing and learning. Due to the nature of the study, a qualitative approach was adopted. A literature review was conducted to understand the background of carbon reduction in the construction industry. The theory focused on prior research on learning and knowledge sharing, which facilitated the formulation of the created analytical framework for this thesis. Empirical data was gathered through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with the client and contractor representatives involved in the projects. Based on the results of the study, it is evident that the Administration is developing requirements, which still need further clarification and detail. Additionally, improvements are necessary to the process to attract and select suitable contractors. The study identifies specific challenges in knowledge exchange and learning at intra- and inter-organisational levels and highlights the role of individuals in carbon management efforts. In addition, more general challenges were outlined for actors to consider when it comes to carbon reduction efforts during a collaboration between public organisations and international contractors. The study outlines seven groups of challenges faced during the execution of the new metro projects: resource and expertise deficits, skill and knowledge gaps, the interrelation of carbon and the iron triangle, cultural differences and intra-organisational relationships, engagement and resistance, organisational alignment and communication complexities, and industrial restrictions. In conclusion, the client should clarify their intended role in the projects, deciding whether to adopt the role of an educator to guide contractors' knowledge development, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of carbon management efforts. The recommendations emphasise the need for improved work practices at the project level, and the implementation of internal knowledge and learning management systems at the organisational level. Suggestions are applicable to both public clients and contractors, including the Administration for Extended Metro and international contractors working on the new metro projects. / Behovet av att minska koldioxidutsläppen är stort, inte minst inom byggsektorn, där innovativa och hållbara lösningar efterfrågas. Offentliga beställare spelar en avgörande roll eftersom de kan ställa krav som bidrar till att uppnå nationella och regionala reduktionsmål. Arbetet med att minska koldioxidutsläppen medför dock utmaningar, vilket kräver att problemområden och lösningsåtgärder identifieras. I detta examensarbete studeras en svensk offentlig beställare, Förvaltningen för utbyggd tunnelbana i Stockholm, genom tre projekt som utförs av internationella entreprenörer. Beställarorganisationen har en långsiktig vision för sitt klimatarbete och strävar efter att minska koldioxidutsläppen med 25 % i samtliga skeden av de nya tunnelbaneprojekten. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera de utmaningar och drivkrafter som påverkar i vilken mån offentliga infrastrukturprojekt kan uppnå sina mål för minskade koldioxidutsläpp i byggskedet. Studien omfattar en granskning av dynamiken i samarbetet mellan den svenska beställaren och internationella entreprenörer, med fokus på effektiviteten i upphandlingskrav, samarbete och ledningspraxis för att uppnå kunskapsdelning och lärande. På grund av studiens karaktär har en kvalitativ ansats valts. En litteraturgenomgång genomfördes för att ge en bakgrund till drivkrafter och metoder för att uppnå koldioxidreduktion i byggbranschen, medan teorin fokuserade på tidigare forskning om lärande och kunskapsdelning. Detta ledde fram till ett analytiskt ramverk som har använts i examensarbetet. Empiriska data samlades in genom dokumentanalys och semistrukturerade intervjuer med representanter för beställare och entreprenörer som var involverade i projekten. Granskningen av resultaten tyder på att beställarorganisationen utvecklar krav, men att det finns ett behov av ytterligare förtydligande och detaljering av dessa. Dessutom krävs förbättringar i processen för att attrahera och upphandla lämpliga entreprenörer. Studien identifierade utmaningar gällande kunskapsutbyte och lärande på både intra- och interorganisatorisk nivå. Dessutom lyftes individernas roll i arbetet med att minska koldioxidutsläppen fram, samt generella utmaningar för aktörer att ta hänsyn till när vid samarbete mellan offentliga organisationer och internationella entreprenörer. Rapporten avslutas med att identifiera sju grupper av utmaningar som ställdes under genomförandet av de nya tunnelbaneprojekten: resurs- och kompetensbrister, kompetens- och kunskapsluckor, sambandet mellan koldioxid och järntriangeln (tid, kostnad, kvalitet), kulturella skillnader och relationer inom organisationen, engagemang och motstånd, organisatorisk anpassning och kommunikationskomplexitet samt industriella restriktioner. En viktig slutsats är att beställaren bör klargöra sin roll i projekten och ta ställning till om de vill ta på sig uppgiften att utbilda och vägleda leverantörerna i deras kunskapsutveckling, för att på så sätt öka effektiviteten i klimatarbetet. Rekommendationer ges för att förbättra både arbetsmetoderna på projektnivå och den interna organisationens kunskap och lärande, vilket gynnar både offentliga kunder, inklusive Förvaltningen för utbyggd tunnelbana, och entreprenörer.

Les clients de TS sont considérés comme un groupe à risque de VIH et aussi agiraient comme un « pont de transmission » entre les TS et les femmes de la population générale. En dépit de leurs comportements sexuels à risque, les clients de TS ont été rarement étudiés. En conséquence, les objectifs spécifiques de cette thèse étaient : 1) estimer la prévalence du VIH, de la syphilis, du VHS-2 (virus de l’herpès simplex et 2) des facteurs de risque associés chez les clients de TS en Haïti, 2) examiner les déterminants de l’intention d’utilisation du condom, et 3) estimer la prévalence des comportements de violence et ses conséquences. Pour ce faire, une enquête transversale a été effectuée en 2006 auprès de 378 clients fréquentant les milieux de prostitution de St-Marc et de Gonaïves, en Haïti. Un questionnaire structuré ainsi que des échantillons de sang séché sur papier filtre ont été utilisés pour la collecte de données comportementales et biologiques. Notre premier article a montré une prévalence élevée du VIH et des ITS chez les clients. Ces hommes avaient plusieurs partenaires sexuelles avec lesquelles l’utilisation du condom variait. Les clients qui avaient déjà consommé de la marijuana, pratiquaient le vaudou, avaient des antécédents d’ITS ou étaient infectés par le VHS-2, avaient plus de chances d’être positifs au VIH. Le fait d’habiter Gonaïves, de ne pas être protestant, d’être employé et d’avoir déjà essayé la marijuana était associé à l’infection à la syphilis. Tandis que les clients plus vieux, ceux résidants à Gonaïves ainsi que ceux pratiquant le vaudou étaient plus souvent infectés par le VHS-2. Dans notre second article, nous avons démontré que les normes subjectives, le contrôle comportemental perçu et les attitudes étaient des déterminants importants de l’intention d’utilisation du condom. Les clients qui avaient des antécédents d’ITS ou avaient utilisé le condom lors de la dernière relation sexuelle avec la TS étaient aussi plus susceptibles d’avoir l’intention d’en faire usage dans le futur. Les résultats du dernier article ont montré que la prévalence des comportements de violence envers les partenaires intimes était élevée. De plus, la violence émotionnelle et physique était associée à l’utilisation inconstante du condom avec les différentes partenaires sexuelles. En conclusion, cette étude suggère que les clients de TS agiraient comme un pont de transmission facilitant la propagation du VIH/ITS dans la population générale en Haïti et que la violence semblerait également jouer un rôle dans la transmission de ces infections. Nos résultats soulignent le besoin d’interventions en prévention du VIH et des ITS ciblant cette population vulnérable, incluant la problématique de la violence. / Male clients of FSWs are a high risk group for HIV and are considered a “bridge” of transmission between FSWs and women in the general population, through unprotected sex. In spite of their high risk behaviours, clients of FSWs have rarely been studied and they have been the target of few interventions. Therefore, the specific objectives of this thesis were to examine 1) estimate the prevalence of HIV, syphilis and HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus 2) infections and their associated risk factors among clients of FSWs in Haiti, to 2) examine the determinants of intention to condom use, and 3) estimate the prevalence of violence towards their intimate partners and its association with sexual risky behaviours. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 378 clients visiting commercial sex sites in St-Marc and Gonaives, in Haiti. A structured questionnaire and dried blood spot samples were used to collect the behavioural and biological data. Our first research paper found that HIV/STI prevalence was remarkably high among clients of FSWs. These men had many sex partners and condom use differed, depending on the category of partner. Multivariate analysis indicated that clients who had tried marijuana, were practicing Voodoo, had a history of STI or were infected with HSV-2 were more often HIV-positive. Living in Gonaives, not being Protestant, being employed, and having tried marijuana were associated with syphilis infection. Older clients, residents of Gonaives and Voodoo practitioners were more likely to be infected with HSV-2. The second article revealed that subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and attitudes were predictors of intention to use condoms within this population. Clients having had a previous STI and who used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse with a FSW were more likely to have the intention to use them in the future. The last article showed that prevalence of lifetime IPV was high among clients of FSWs. Moreover, history of emotional and physical IPV were strong predictors of inconsistent condom use with the different sexual partners. The fact that these abusive men are also more likely to be infected with an STI puts their sexual partners at high risk of infection. In summary, this study suggested that clients of FSWs likely act as a bridge population facilitating the spread of HIV/STI throughout the general population in Haiti and that violence seemed to play a role in the transmission. Our findings highlight the importance of STI/HIV prevention interventions addressing this vulnerable population, including gender-based violence.

Les clients de TS sont considérés comme un groupe à risque de VIH et aussi agiraient comme un « pont de transmission » entre les TS et les femmes de la population générale. En dépit de leurs comportements sexuels à risque, les clients de TS ont été rarement étudiés. En conséquence, les objectifs spécifiques de cette thèse étaient : 1) estimer la prévalence du VIH, de la syphilis, du VHS-2 (virus de l’herpès simplex et 2) des facteurs de risque associés chez les clients de TS en Haïti, 2) examiner les déterminants de l’intention d’utilisation du condom, et 3) estimer la prévalence des comportements de violence et ses conséquences. Pour ce faire, une enquête transversale a été effectuée en 2006 auprès de 378 clients fréquentant les milieux de prostitution de St-Marc et de Gonaïves, en Haïti. Un questionnaire structuré ainsi que des échantillons de sang séché sur papier filtre ont été utilisés pour la collecte de données comportementales et biologiques. Notre premier article a montré une prévalence élevée du VIH et des ITS chez les clients. Ces hommes avaient plusieurs partenaires sexuelles avec lesquelles l’utilisation du condom variait. Les clients qui avaient déjà consommé de la marijuana, pratiquaient le vaudou, avaient des antécédents d’ITS ou étaient infectés par le VHS-2, avaient plus de chances d’être positifs au VIH. Le fait d’habiter Gonaïves, de ne pas être protestant, d’être employé et d’avoir déjà essayé la marijuana était associé à l’infection à la syphilis. Tandis que les clients plus vieux, ceux résidants à Gonaïves ainsi que ceux pratiquant le vaudou étaient plus souvent infectés par le VHS-2. Dans notre second article, nous avons démontré que les normes subjectives, le contrôle comportemental perçu et les attitudes étaient des déterminants importants de l’intention d’utilisation du condom. Les clients qui avaient des antécédents d’ITS ou avaient utilisé le condom lors de la dernière relation sexuelle avec la TS étaient aussi plus susceptibles d’avoir l’intention d’en faire usage dans le futur. Les résultats du dernier article ont montré que la prévalence des comportements de violence envers les partenaires intimes était élevée. De plus, la violence émotionnelle et physique était associée à l’utilisation inconstante du condom avec les différentes partenaires sexuelles. En conclusion, cette étude suggère que les clients de TS agiraient comme un pont de transmission facilitant la propagation du VIH/ITS dans la population générale en Haïti et que la violence semblerait également jouer un rôle dans la transmission de ces infections. Nos résultats soulignent le besoin d’interventions en prévention du VIH et des ITS ciblant cette population vulnérable, incluant la problématique de la violence. / Male clients of FSWs are a high risk group for HIV and are considered a “bridge” of transmission between FSWs and women in the general population, through unprotected sex. In spite of their high risk behaviours, clients of FSWs have rarely been studied and they have been the target of few interventions. Therefore, the specific objectives of this thesis were to examine 1) estimate the prevalence of HIV, syphilis and HSV-2 (herpes simplex virus 2) infections and their associated risk factors among clients of FSWs in Haiti, to 2) examine the determinants of intention to condom use, and 3) estimate the prevalence of violence towards their intimate partners and its association with sexual risky behaviours. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 378 clients visiting commercial sex sites in St-Marc and Gonaives, in Haiti. A structured questionnaire and dried blood spot samples were used to collect the behavioural and biological data. Our first research paper found that HIV/STI prevalence was remarkably high among clients of FSWs. These men had many sex partners and condom use differed, depending on the category of partner. Multivariate analysis indicated that clients who had tried marijuana, were practicing Voodoo, had a history of STI or were infected with HSV-2 were more often HIV-positive. Living in Gonaives, not being Protestant, being employed, and having tried marijuana were associated with syphilis infection. Older clients, residents of Gonaives and Voodoo practitioners were more likely to be infected with HSV-2. The second article revealed that subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and attitudes were predictors of intention to use condoms within this population. Clients having had a previous STI and who used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse with a FSW were more likely to have the intention to use them in the future. The last article showed that prevalence of lifetime IPV was high among clients of FSWs. Moreover, history of emotional and physical IPV were strong predictors of inconsistent condom use with the different sexual partners. The fact that these abusive men are also more likely to be infected with an STI puts their sexual partners at high risk of infection. In summary, this study suggested that clients of FSWs likely act as a bridge population facilitating the spread of HIV/STI throughout the general population in Haiti and that violence seemed to play a role in the transmission. Our findings highlight the importance of STI/HIV prevention interventions addressing this vulnerable population, including gender-based violence.

The purpose of quality control within internal auditing functions is to ensure that internal auditing functions add value by providing a quality service. The aim of this research project was to investigate the importance of quality control within internal auditing functions as prescribed by the standards and guidelines of the internal auditing profession. It was also attempted to determine to what extent these standards and guidelines are applied within internal auditing functions in South Africa. The study concluded that quality control is not adequately applied within all internal auditing functions in South Africa. Compliance with the internal auditing standards (implemented on 1 January 2002) should contribute to improve the situation. The internal auditors’ professional body should motivate internal auditing functions to exercise quality control according to the internal auditing standards. This will uplift the image of the internal auditing profession and ensure the future existence of internal auditing functions. / Auditing / M.Comm.