Den vetenskapliga diskussionen rörande ledarskap och motivation kan anses rik och väldimensionerad då dessa områden studerats omfattande. Trots detta finns fortfarande outforskade områden att undersöka, däribland inom en skandinavisk kontext. Denna uppsats angriper fenomenen utifrån ett underarbetat område i form av en supportavdelning på ensvenskt ICT-bolag där försäljning belyses som en av de centrala arbetsuppgifterna. Studiens syfte utgjordes av att undersöka (1) ledarskapet inom avdelningen och (2) medarbetarens förutsättningar att motiveras och ledarskapets betydelse för dessa. Vidare undersöktes (3) vilka motivationstyper som kan identifieras bland medarbetarna och implikationerna av ledarskapet och förutsättningarna för dessa. Slutligen studerades (4) implikationer av samtliga tidigare nämnda aspekter för medarbetarnas prestation och trivsel på arbetsplatsen.För att besvara dessa frågor utgår studien i huvudsak från en deduktiv forskningsansats, varav den teoretiska referensramen utgörs av Leader Autonomy Support (LAS), utvecklande ledarskap och självbestämmandeteori (SDT). I studiens utförande har en kombination av en kvantitativ- och kvalitativ metod tillämpats till följd av att både en enkätundersökning och kompletterande, semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts. Enkäten som skickats ut till de anställda inom avdelningen har sedan analyserats genom faktoranalys, multipel- och bivariat regressionsanalys. De semistrukturerade intervjuerna, där respondenterna var ledare inom avdelningen, sammanställdes sedan utifrån en tematisk analys. Resultaten tyder på att en kombination av både utvecklande- och konventionellt ledarskap finns på arbetsplatsen, medan medarbetarnas känsla av kompetens är mest framträdande på avdelningen. Ledarskapet uttrycks vidare ha en påverkan på upplevelsen av autonomi och kompetens. Kontrollerade former av motivation dominerar på avdelningen, medan både förutsättningar och ledarskap bevisas ha betydande effekter för den motivationstyp som råder. Däribland åskådliggörs ett positivt samband mellan utövandet av ett utvecklande ledarskap och autonom motivation. Till sist presenteras att samtliga led har en påverkan på medarbetarens trivsel och prestation. Medarbetarna presterar bäst gentemot övriga mål relativt uppnåendet av försäljningsmål, varav den kontrollerade motivationstypen kopplas till prestationshöjning gentemot mål som inte omfattar försäljning medan den autonoma snarare relateras till utökad trivsel. Medarbetarnas upplevda trivsel tyds i sin tur ha positiva implikationer för uppnåendet av försäljningsmål. Resultaten bekräftar och belyser både teoretiska- och praktiska insikter om ledarskapets betydelse. / The scientific discourse surrounding leadership and motivation can be considered rich and multidimensional as these areas have been studied extensively. However, there are still unexplored areas to investigate, including a Scandinavian context. This thesis addresses these phenomena within an underexplored domain, more specifically the support department of a Swedish ICT company, in which sales are highlighted as one of the main tasks. The purpose of the study was to examine (1) the leadership within the department and (2) the employees' conditions to be motivated and the importance of leadership for these conditions. Furthermore, (3) the prevailing types of motivation among the employees and the implications of leadership and the conditions on the motivation were studied. Lastly, (4) the implications of all the previously mentioned aspects on the employees' performance and well-being in the workplace were examined. To address these inquiries, the study predominantlyadopts a deductive research approach with the theoretical framework anchored in Leader Autonomy Support (LAS), developmental leadership, and Self-Determination Theory (SDT). The methodology of the study consisted of a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods as both a survey and complementary, semi-structured interviews were conducted. The survey, which was distributed to the employees within the department, was analyzed through factor analysis, multiple- and bivariate regression analysis. The results from the semi-structured interviews, in which the respondents were leaders within the department, were compiled and analyzed through a thematic analysis. The results of the study indicate that a combination of both developmental and conventional leadership exists in the workplace, whereas the employees' perceived competence is most prominent within the department. Furthermore, leadership is shown to have an impact on the employees’ perceived level of autonomy and competence. Controlled forms of motivation are predominant among the employees of the department, while both the conditions for motivation and leadership are found to have significant effects on the prevailing type of motivation. A positive correlation between developmental leadership and autonomous motivation is highlighted. Finally, leadership, conditions and motivation are shown to have an impact on employee well-being and performance. Employees are better at achieving other goals than those regarding sales, whereas the controlled motivation type is associated with improved performance towards non-sales related targets, while the autonomous motivation rather is related to increased well-being. The employees’ well-being, in turn, has been shown to positively affect their performance related to sales targets. The results confirm and highlight both theoretical and practical insights regarding the significance of leadership.

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited. / Military leaders and scholars alike debate the existence of a revolution in military affairs (RMA) based on information technology. This thesis will show that the Information RMA not only exists, but will also reshape how we plan, operate, educate, organize, train, and equip forces for the 21st century. This thesis introduces the Communication Technology (CommTech) Model to explain how communication technologies affect organizations, leadership styles, and decision-making processes. Due to the growth in networking enterprises, leaders will have to relinquish their tight, centralized control over subordinates. Instead, they will have to perfect their use of softer power skills such as influence and trust as they embrace decentralized decision-making. Network Centric Warfare, Self-Synchronization, and Network Enabled Operations are concepts that provide the framework for integrating information technology into the battlespace. The debate that drives centralized versus decentralized control in network operations is analyzed with respect to the CommTech Model. A new term called Operational Trust is introduced and developed, identifying ways to make it easier to build trust among network entities. Finally, the thesis focuses on what leaders need to do to shape network culture for effective operations. / Major, United States Air Force

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:22:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Renato Manjaterra Loner.pdf: 19961159 bytes, checksum: a5ea49625609379e756f822bc51d8c3d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-06-30 / It is intended, through the articulation of theoretical formulations regarding the city, the use of information and communication technology and its effects on territory and case study of Campinas Digital project, to analise the meanings assigned to the new denominations of city itself (digital city, virtual city, smart city, electronic city, informational city, etc) and also to observe the practical effects of this in everyday life. The dissertation identifies the appropriation of technologies and of the the digital city concept itself by the actors of urban space production, both central and peripheral. The intend is, through comprehension, to offer methodological subsides to formulate policies that promote the democratization of new technologies benefits, enabling that the State efforts on its development could act to build the historical preconditions for the advent of a fairest and supportive territory and no to serve only for hegemonic control projects, segregation and social and spatial exclusion. / Pretende-se, atrav?s da articula??o de formula??es te?ricas acerca da cidade, do uso das tecnologias de informa??o e comunica??o, de seus efeitos no territ?rio e do estudo de caso do projeto Campinas Digital, analisar os significados atribu?dos ?s novas denomina??es da cidade (cidade digital, cidade virtual, cidade inteligente, cidade eletr?nica, cidade informacional, etc.) e observar seus efeitos pr?ticos na vida cotidiana. O trabalho identifica apropria??es das tecnologias e do pr?prio conceito de cidade digital pelos atores da produ??o do espa?o urbano, tanto centrais quanto perif?ricos. A perspectiva ?, a partir dessa compreens?o, oferecer subs?dios metodol?gicos para a formula??o de pol?ticas que promovam a democratiza??o dos benef?cios das novas tecnologias, o que possibilitaria que os esfor?os do Estado no seu desenvolvimento agissem no sentido da constru??o das pr?-condi??es hist?ricas para o advento de um territ?rio mais justo e solid?rio e n?o mais sirvam exclusivamente a projetos hegem?nicos de controle, segrega??o e exclus?o socioespacial.

The purpose of this study is to examine how white-collar workers are affected by working borderless, that is, work that is flexible in relation to time, space, and organizational borders. The research questions address the workers experience of the boundless work, how it affects their relationship between working life and private life, and how it affects their organizational and social work environment. The study is qualitative. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with eight individuals working in white collar work with the possibility to work in other spatial forms than at their specific workplace. The theoretical framework chosen as a tool for analyzing the results is; Sennetts (2000) theory about flexibility, Karasek and Theorells (1990) Demand-Control-Support-model and parts of Goffmans (2014[1959]) dramaturgical perspective. The results show that the borderless work has both pros and cons for the employee, the benefits being that it can contribute to a better balance between working life and private life for the employee. The disadvantages mainly concern the prolongation of working hours and the fact that, with the new information and communication technology development, it may be difficult for the employee to distance himself from work. The results also show that within the borderless work there may be lack of clear requirements as well as control of the employee. When combined with a borderless working time, that can lead to a pressured situation for the employee. / Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur individer inom tjänstemannasektorn påverkas av att arbeta gränslöst, det vill säga arbete som är flexibelt i förhållande till tidsmässiga, rumsliga och organisatoriska gränser. Frågeställningarna behandlar individernas upplevelse av det gränslösa arbetet, hur det påverkar deras relation mellan arbetsliv och privatliv samt hur det påverkar deras organisatoriska och sociala arbetsmiljö. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats. Semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts med åtta individer som arbetar inom tjänstemannasektor och har möjlighet att arbeta i andra rumsliga former än på sin specifika arbetsplats. Det teoretiska ramverk som valts ut som verktyg för att analysera resultatet är; Sennetts (2000) teori om flexibilitet, Karasek och Theorells (1990) krav/kontroll/stöd-modell samt delar av Goffmans (2014[1959]) dramaturgiska analysmodell. Resultaten visar att det gränslösa arbetet har både för- och nackdelar för arbetstagaren. En fördel är att det kan bidra till en bättre balans mellan arbetsliv och privatliv för arbetstagaren. Nackdelarna rör främst att arbetstiden ofta förlängs samt att det i och med den nya informations- och kommunikationsteknologiska utvecklingen kan vara svårt för arbetstagaren att distansera sig från arbetet. Resultaten visar även att det inom det gränslösa arbetet kan råda brist på tydliga krav samt kontroll på arbetstagaren, när detta kombineras med en gränslös arbetstid kan det leda till en pressad situation för arbetstagaren.

Governments around the world have pursued ICT based initiatives including the provision of infrastructure to assist regional areas to develop economically (Beckinsale et al. 2006). There has been considerable interest in exploiting ICT to develop high technology clusters and support innovative networks (Lawson & Lorenz 1999). However, these initiatives have met with mixed success. It is clear that such development depends on more than providing appropriate technology Attention to social and organisational factors is crucial if regional areas are to realise the potential of ICT as a tool for regional development (Gengatharen & Standing 2005). It is important to understand the nature of business networking as well as the perspective of those participating in such networks if successful initiatives are to be established. The aim of this research is to identify how ICT can be used for knowledge sharing among businesses in regional areas and how the online networks through which knowledge is shared can contribute to the development of the region. This research investigates the question of what value small businesses in those regions derive from knowledge sharing networks using ICT. It also seeks to identify the value creation potential of those networks for their region. Previous research has shown that large organisations have achieved significant value from virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) as a structure for sharing knowledge and supporting innovation (Wenger 2004). The concept of Communities of Practice and Virtual Communities of Practice provided a useful point of departure for this research. The investigation comprised interpretive case studies of two Australian regional areas and their local business networks which incorporated SMEs in a variety of industries. Each case study was conducted in three stages. First, semi-structured interviews were conducted with regional economic development leaders. Second, 192 small and medium business owners were surveyed about their business activities and their participation in local business networks. Third, in-depth interviews were conducted with 23 small business owners to gain a richer understanding of their participation in knowledge-sharing networks and the value they realised or anticipated from various knowledge-sharing activities. A combined analysis of the two cases was conducted as well as the individual analyses. The research adopted a modified Structured Case method (Carroll & Swatman 2000). The analysis of the two case studies revealed: a.) There was a significant difference between the majority of SMEs who traded within the region and those trading largely beyond the region. The latter’s more proactive online sharing knowledge and seeking of business opportunities would enable them to access most value from VCoEs. b.) The participating SMEs operated in a number of industries and what they had in common was an interest in improving their enterprises. Consequently they used their regional networks which were not aligned to any one industry to make connections and share knowledge. They did not necessarily seek to access specific information. c.) A necessary prerequisite of VCoEs is having vibrant CoEs where face-to-face interaction enhances the development of trust and social capital. This appeared as an important factor facilitating the move to incorporate online knowledge sharing. d.) Younger businesses appeared to gain the most value from knowledge sharing in CoEs as they were using their networks to determine how to grow their firm. e.) The value of VCoEs to the SME participants is primarily in their general connection to other businesses in the region. Since the participants operate in a number of industries, what they have in common is an interest in their enterprises. The main value appears to come from the potential of the VCoEs to add to this connection and to social capital. This study found that successful management of VCoEs must: i) Ensure the network website is actively used by members before attempting to incorporate online knowledge sharing. ii) Monitor and stimulate online forum interaction rather than rely on interaction to occur naturally. iii) Not rely on email as a mechanism for stimulating knowledge sharing. Email is seen as more appropriate for formal documentation than for candid exchange of views. The concept of virtual communities of practice was found to be somewhat inappropriate for the diverse SMEs in the regional networks. Because of their diversity, they do not necessarily see value in sharing knowledge about practice but they do see value in sharing more general information and in providing support, connection and ideas that facilitate the strategic direction of their business. To address this issue, the concept of virtual communities of enterprise (VCoEs) is proposed as recognition of what the participating SMEs had in common: an interest in their individual businesses as part of the region. The original contribution of this research consists of its identification of the issues in linking SMEs across industries. It provides new insights on the business practices of regional SMEs and developed the concepts of Community of Enterprise (CoE) and Virtual Community of Enterprise (VCoE) to capture the special nature of knowledge sharing in regional multi-industry business networks. New perspectives are revealed on the ways that value could be derived from knowledge sharing by these regionally networked SMEs, as such it adds to the body of knowledge in an area where there has been little systematic investigation. This research reinforces the importance of social capital as an essential pre-requisite for accessing the value of intellectual capital in regions. Social capital emerges as vital when establishing and maintaining face-to-face knowledge sharing in regional networks and a necessary pre-condition for successfully establishing online knowledge sharing. Trust is a key factor and this research extends understanding of the role of social capital and the importance of trust in regional networks and online interaction. Its findings have significant implications for the development and management of CoEs and VCoEs as it outlines the key elements that need to be addressed when establishing and maintaining them, the appropriate applications for this context and the issues involved in management of the networking and online contexts. These findings not only increase our understanding of the management dynamics of online networks, they can also provide guidance to those seeking to establish successful VCoEs.

castellà: El revolucionario desarrollo tecnológico experimentado en el campo de la información y la comunicación en las dos últimas décadas ha marcado un antes y un después en muchos ámbitos de nuestra sociedad. Sin ir más lejos, estos cambios pueden observarse en las modificaciones del modo en que nos relacionamos, o en la generación de conceptos o realidades, tan impensables no hace demasiado tiempo, como el teletrabajo, la telemedicina o las universidades virtuales. La magnitud de estas transformaciones se concreta en el hecho de que incluso se ha llegado a hablar de la aparición de una nueva era, caracterizada especialmente por la denominada sociedad de la información y del conocimiento. Como parte integrante y esencial de esta nueva realidad, la Administración pública se ha visto obligada a adoptar un papel pro-activo en la incorporación de las TIC, así como a dar respuesta a las nuevas necesidades ciudadanas y a velar para que el nuevo paradigma pueda asentarse de forma definitiva. En consecuencia, las TIC han comportado cambios importantes también en este ámbito, y es que su inclusión ha iniciado un nuevo estadio en su proceso evolutivo en el que se espera una auténtica transformación institucional.Todo este proceso de cambio, basado en la interacción ciudadana como fundamento principal del sistema, ha encontrado su máximo exponente en la esfera de la Administración tributaria, donde su tradicional sistema de aplicación de los tributos ya había conllevado la adopción de técnicas de gestión en masa. En este sentido, la imposibilidad de practicar caso por caso los millones de liquidaciones anuales relativas a las más importantes figuras impositivas y el carácter casi permanente de las relaciones jurídico-tributarias, obligaron a requerir la participación de los obligados tributarios, de modo que las autoliquidaciones y la imposición de numerosos deberes de información y colaboración se convirtieron en los principales mecanismos del nuevo modelo de funcionamiento. Así, los ciudadanos se encontraron con la responsabilidad de conocer, interpretar y aplicar el complejo, cambiante y, a veces, incluso deficiente ordenamiento tributario, por lo que debía compensarse la reducción de la actividad administrativa con una fuerte prestación de los deberes de información y asistencia a los obligados tributarios. En este sentido, debían potenciarse todas aquellas actuaciones de la Administración encaminadas a dar a conocer la información necesaria para el ejercicio de los derechos y cumplimiento de las obligaciones tributarias, así como aquellas labores que ofrecían recursos y auxilio con el mismo fin.Sin embargo, la regulación de estos deberes no ha conseguido estar a la altura de su relevancia, en tanto que la normativa se ha limitado a contemplar su reconocimiento general (artículo 85.1 de la LGT y 62 del RD 1065/2007) y a señalar algunas de las actuaciones por las que pueden verse cumplidos (artículo 85.2 de la LGT y 63 a 78 del RD 1065/2007). Además, los regímenes jurídicos de estas actuaciones difieren en gran medida, y contienen, en muchos aspectos, un marcado carácter programático. Por ello, aún no existe una definición clara de cada uno de estos deberes ni una delimitación de los instrumentos que conforman su contenido, por lo que tampoco se ha podido elaborar la regulación completa de sus características ni la previsión de los diferentes efectos jurídicos que se pueden desprender.Consecuentemente, el presente trabajo tiene como objetivo principal la elaboración de un estudio jurídico completo y actual sobre los deberes de información y asistencia de la Administración tributaria en relación directa con la incorporación, en este ámbito, de las TIC. Así, se pretende llevar a cabo una valoración global del impacto de los nuevos medios en dichas figuras tributarias, además de aportar una definición actualizada de su concepto, una determinación de su contenido, y una concreción de sus características y consecuencias jurídicas. / In The Spanish Tax Administration, citizens have the responsibility to find out, interpret and apply the complex, changing and sometimes even deficient tax legislation, so that the reduction of the administrative activity has to be counterbalanced with a strong rendering of the information and assistance services to the taxpayers. In this sense, all those Administration actions design to make available all the information pertaining to the exercise of rights and the compliance of tax obligations have to be strengthened, together with those actions offering resources and aid with the same purpose.However, the regulation of these obligations has not measured up to their relevance, for legislation has just acknowledged them in general terms (articles 85.1 of the LGT and 62 of the RD 1065/2007), and pointed out some of the actions through which they can be rendered (articles 85.2 of the LGT and 63 to 78 of the RD 1065/2007). Moreover, legislations pertaining to these actions are in disagreement to a large extent and hold, in many respects, a programmatical character. Therefore, to date, there is no clear definition of any of these obligations or a delimitation of the instruments that make up their content. In addition, neither the comprehensive regulation of their characteristics nor the forecast of their possible legal effects have been done.Accordingly, the main purpose of this thesis is to carry out a comprehensive legal study regarding the information and assistance obligations of the Tax administration, in direct relation to the incorporation of ICTs to its sphere of activity. Thus, the aim is to achieve a global assessment of the impact of ICTs on the application of these obligations, while contributing an updated definition of their concept, establishing their content and specifying their characteristics and legal consequences.

No description available.

Η παρούσα εργασία αποτελεί μια ερευνητική προσέγγιση στην οποία μελετήθηκε η αξιοποίηση του διαδικτύου και συγκεκριμένα των σχολικών διαδικτυακών χώρων στην Πρωτοβάθμια Εκπαίδευση της Αχαΐας. Σκοπός της εργασίας ήταν να διερευνηθεί: α) ο ρόλος των σχολικών διαδικτυακών χώρων στην εκπαίδευση, β) τα στοιχεία που προβάλλονται από τους σχολικούς διαδικτυακούς χώρους και γ) αν διευκολύνουν την επικοινωνία ανάμεσα στη σχολική και την ευρύτερη κοινότητα. Για τη συλλογή των δεδομένων εφαρμόστηκε πολυμεθοδολογική προσέγγιση. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, έγινε παρατήρηση όλων των σχολικών διαδικτυακών χώρων των σχολείων της Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης Αχαΐας, ώστε να διαπιστωθεί η δομή τους και οι πληροφορίες που προβάλλονται. Για την επίτευξη της αντικειμενικότητας της παρατήρησης, πραγματοποιήθηκε επιπρόσθετη παρατήρηση και αξιολόγηση των σχολικών διαδικτυακών χώρων από ειδικευμένους γνώστες των Νέων Τεχνολογιών σε συγκεκριμένους άξονες, μέσα από φύλλο παρατήρησης. Κατόπιν, διεξήχθησαν συνεντεύξεις από επιλεγμένα άτομα, τα οποία σχετίζονται με τη χρήση των Νέων Τεχνολογιών στην εκπαίδευση και έχουν ταυτόχρονα μεγάλη εκπαιδευτική εμπειρία, ώστε να διευκρινιστούν οι λόγοι και ο σκοπός δημιουργίας των διαδικτυακών αυτών χώρων. Για την ερμηνευτική προσέγγιση της έρευνας χρησιμοποιήθηκε ως θεωρητικό πλαίσιο η σχέση των Τ.Π.Ε. και του Διαδικτύου με την Εκπαίδευση και η αξιολόγηση των διαδικτυακών χώρων μέσα από σχετικές έρευνες. Τα συμπεράσματα στα οποία καταλήγει η εργασία δείχνουν ότι ο ρόλος των σχολικών δικτυακών χώρων στην Πρωτοβάθμια Εκπαίδευση της Αχαΐας είναι περισσότερο ενημερωτικός και λιγότερο εκπαιδευτικός και ψυχαγωγικός και ότι δεν παρέχουν μηχανισμούς αλληλεπίδρασης και ανατροφοδότησης με τον επισκέπτη. Επιπλέον, η έρευνα έδειξε ότι οι παραπάνω διαδικτυακοί χώροι εστιάζουν περισσότερο στην προβολή πληροφοριών και πολιτιστικών δράσεων των σχολείων και λιγότερο στην επικοινωνία μεταξύ των μελών της σχολικής κοινότητας και των σχολείων με την τοπική κοινωνία. Τέλος, προτείνονται τρόποι βελτίωσης, ώστε οι σχολικοί ιστότοποι να αποτελέσουν ένα χρήσιμο εκπαιδευτικό, επικοινωνιακό και ψυχαγωγικό εργαλείο. / The present paper work is a research approach in which we studied the use of the internet and specifically of school websites in the Primary Education of Achaia. The aim of this work was to investigate: a) the role of school websites in education, b) the items displayed by school websites, and c) if they facilitate communication between the school and the wider community. For the data collection we applied the multimethodological approach. In particular, we held an observation of all school websites of the primary schools of Achaia, to determine the structure and the information displayed. To achieve the objectivity of observation, we performed additional observation and evaluation of school websites by skilled and specialized users of New Technologies in specific categories, through observation sheet. Afterwards, we conducted interviews with selected individuals, who are related to the use of ICT in education and they also have great educational experience, in order to clarify the reasons and the purpose of creation of these websites. For the interpretive approach of this work we used as theoretical framework the relationship of ICT and the Internet with education and also the evaluation of websites through relevant researches. The conclusions in which ends up this work show that the role of school websites in the Primary Education of Achaia is more informative and less educative and recreational and that the school websites do not provide mechanisms of interaction and feedback with the visitor. Additionally, the research has shown that the school websites focus more on the projection of information and promotion of cultural activities in schools and less on communication between members of the school community and schools with the local community. Finally, we propose ways of improvement, so as the school websites will be able to constitute a useful educational, communication and entertainment tool.

This qualitative study develops a model of a virtual community for people with longterm, severe physical or mobility disabilities. The model also has implications for the wider community of people with disabilities. The study uses the Strauss and Corbin grounded theory methodology to inform the investigation from which a systematic theory has been developed. On the basis of this theory, the study proposes strategies for implementing the virtual community model. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve Queenslanders with paraplegia, quadriplegia or other severe, long-term physical or mobility disabilities and with six health care professionals, service providers, information personnel and policy advisers involved in their well-being. The methodology used one interview question to determine their experiences and perceptions regarding virtual communities and the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Each interview explored in detail the elements, enablers and barriers behind the usage of ICT and/or assistive technology. The personal responses and narratives of the people with disabilities who use the technology and their allied health care professionals were analysed and interpreted for meaning before the transcripts were returned to these participants for validation. Rich explanations were derived. Details of the various response categories of these interviews were analysed as part of the grounded theory, constant comparison methodology, and the relationship to the literature was considered. These de-constructed meanings were compared and contrasted with those in the current literature. The central theme to emerge from these narratives is that people with long-term disabilities regain a sense of control and independence in their lives through the use of ICT, as they move towards an on-line community. Other major themes that emerged from being on-line indicated that being on-line tended to break down people's isolation, while potentially changing the work paradigm (both vexed issues for people with disabilities). Information and communications technology and on-line communities offer ways to enhance every person's inclusion, participation and empowerment in our society. The primary outcome of the study is a theory regarding the character of virtual communities for people with long-term, severe mobility impairments that stakeholders may consider whenever such a virtual community is proposed. The theory is represented as a virtual community model. The model identifies the need for "a sense of control" as the foundational element of virtual communities for the disabled, and distinguishes the key domains in which disabled people participate in virtual communities. The barriers and enablers to their participation are specified within it. The model also provides a framework within which virtual communities can be facilitated. It melds six types of e-communities or sets of well-developed discrete categories (for example, themes, concepts) that the data from this study revealed: education-oriented, fantasy-oriented, information-oriented, interestoriented, relationship-oriented and transaction-oriented, depending on the type(s) of consumer need(s) to be met. The study concludes that although the technology itself provides strategies for independence and thus facilitates self-empowerment, it is also capable of being disempowering. Many interviewees referred to this aspect as a "double-edged sword". Empowerment and dis-empowerment are intersecting processes because of digital divide and information literacy issues and this "double-edged sword", which virtual reality presents for people with physical disabilities. Based on the new knowledge and the model as the outcomes of this study, a range of recommendations are discussed that have application in the community for persons with mobility impairments.

This study identified and empirically investigated individual employee, organisational and information and communication technology (ICT) systems factors to determine the extent to which these factors support employees’ learning of the adopted retail banking ICT systems before undergoing training. Quantitative research approach was followed. A realised stratified random sample of 237 respondents consisting of tellers and customer care consultants (one group) and line managers (second group), working at branches of various retail banks in the western region of Kenya, participated in this study. Descriptive, exploratory factor and inferential statistical analyses were conducted. The results showed: a high level of agreement with the identified factors; significant positive linear relationships between the factors; statistical significant differences (p<0.05) between the respondent groups and between the categories for each demographic variable with regard to the respondents’ level of agreement with each factor. Supportive and directive learning strategies were recommended for retail banking employees before training. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)