The rapid advancement and penetration of information technology (IT), amid continued questions over its benefits, has resulted in research efforts to understand the extent to which IT resources contribute to organisational performance. There is little question that the presence of IT contributes to organisational performance. Our understanding of how and where IT contributes to value in organisations, however, is limited. Current IT business value research advances the notion that firm’s IT-related capabilities ability to leverage their IT resources explains the IT-related performance differences across firms. Understanding the nature of the IT-related capabilities, and their relationship with IT resources can provide a better understanding of how organisations can make better use of their IT resources. IT resources are dynamic and change at a rapid pace. Current IT business value research suggests the firm’s IT-related capabilities at a point in time can source value from the IT resources. However, firms IT-related capabilities must demonstrate parallel dynamics to maximise their influence on their IT resources. In this dynamic resource relationship environment, firm’s ability to sustain a level of influence on their IT resources will determine the extent of IT resources’ value-creating ability. Using the resource-based view of the firm that suggest an organisation is a bundle of resources, and using a complementary theoretical lens, this study introduces a higher-level resource, co-created by combining two or more complementary resources. This higher-level resource is capable of contributing to business value on its own, and importantly, can help organisations sustain their existing IT-related capabilities. The sustainable IT-related capabilities will have a better influence on the IT resources and will source better IT-related business value. This higher-level resource can also help with the timing of IT investments, and can provide an environment where a firm’s technical IT skills can better integrate the IT resources into the business processes. On measurement of organisational performance, this study suggests that a unique combination of organisational resources creates an efficient and effective internal environment that then becomes a powerful tool to enhance the key external process of customer service. Such enhancements in process-level efficiency and effectiveness will carry forward to be recognised in overall firm-level performance. This study develops and tests a model that assesses the association between the two generic IT resources (IT investment and technical IT skills), three IT-related capabilities (top management commitment, shared organisational knowledge, and flexible IT infrastructure), and internal process-level performance. It also assesses whether the IT-Usage Platform, a higher-level co-created resource, on its own associates with, and enhances the generic IT resources’ and IT-related capabilities’ association with internal process-level performance. The study also proposes that improvement in internal process-level performance will be positively associated with external process-level performance of customer service. Firms that improve their internal and external process performance should also improve their firm-level performance. The results, as hypothesised, failed to reject the non-association between the generic IT resources and the internal process-level performance. The study, as predicted, found a positive association between the three IT-related capabilities, IT-Usage Platform, and the internal process-level performance. The IT-Usage Platform indeed enhances the association between the IT-related capabilities and internal process-level performance. The results also suggest that the association between the technical IT skills and internal process-level performance improves in the presence of the IT-Usage Platform. Firms’ improved internal process-level performance also relates to improvement in external process-level performance. Improvement in the internal-external process performance also contributes to performance at the firm level. For research, this study demonstrates that the complementarity and the resource-based view theories allow inclusion of a greater variety of resources in a bundle of capable resources that could be a source of IT-related business value. The complementary theoretical lens also enables one to consider firms’ higher-level resources, co-created from complementary resources. The result is a robust model with the flexibility to consider other forms of resource interactions that sustain firms existing IT-related capabilities. The model also enables comparison of IT and other organisational resources on a level-platform and allows for a deeper understanding of how organisations can better leverage their IT resources. The study also presents the internal-external coordination path of IT-related value creation. For decision makers this study reinforces the importance of the concept of a coordinated IT-related change to secure value from their IT investments. It also presents decision makers with a visual IT business value path from internal process benefits to external process benefits, and finally to firm-level benefits. This study suggests all organisational resources, through various combinations, could be a source of IT-related business value. Future research can consider resources that are at the boundary of capable/non-capable resources to evaluate whether firms various resource arrangements can make these resources more valuable in sourcing IT-related business value. This research also provides strong theoretical arguments to consider other higher-level factors that may have the potential to sustain firms existing IT-related capabilities.

[pt] Estuda-se a relação de complementaridade entre a visibilidade e a distinguibilidade espectral dos pacotes de onda fotônicos deslocados em frequência em um interferômetro de Hong-Ou-Mandel. Uma definição experimental de K, o parâmetro de distinguibilidade, é proposta e testada para a desigualdade de complementaridade K2 mais V2 é menor ou igual à 1 quando um parâmetro de visibilidade consistente é definido. Os resultados mostram que a distinguibilidade espectral é, de fato, complementar à visibilidade e que o aspecto quântico do fenômeno de interferência de dois fótons pode ser examinado empregando estados coerentes atenuados. / [en] The complementarity relation between the visibility and the spectral distinguishability of frequencydisplaced photonic wave-packets in a Hong- Ou-Mandel interferometer is studied. An experimental definition of K, the distinguishability parameter, is proposed and tested for the K2 + V2 is less than or equal to 1 complementarity inequality when a consistent visibility parameter is defined. The results show that the spectral distinguishability is, indeed, complementary to the visibility and that the quantum aspect of the two-photon interference phenomenon can be examined by employing weak-coherent states.

Cette thèse étudie l’évolution des marchés du gaz naturel en Europe jusqu’en 2035 en utilisant les outils de la modélisation. Le modèle proposé, intitulé GaMMES, repose sur une description oligopolistique des marchés et ses principaux avantages sont les suivants : un niveau de détail important de la structure économique de la chaîne gazière et une prise en compte endogène des contrats de long-terme en amont ainsi que de la substitution avec les produits pétroliers et le charbon, au niveau de la demande. Dans un premier temps, nous étudions la question de la sécurité d’approvisionnement en gaz en Europe et les conditions favorables à la régulation des marchés vulnérables au risque de rupture d’approvisionnement, notamment de la part de la Russie. Trois études de cas sont proposées selon le degré de dépendance et la nature de régulation en place : le marché allemand des années 1980 et les marchés actuels de la Bulgarie et de l’Espagne. Nous étudions en particulier l’évolution des caractéristiques des marchés en fonction du risque de rupture et le type de régulation à mettre en place afin d’assurer l’optimalité du bien-être social. Ensuite, nous proposons un modèle de type systèmes dynamiques afin de prendre en compte la substitution énergétique entre le charbon, le pétrole et le gaz naturel. Notre approche permet d’estimer une nouvelle forme fonctionnelle de la fonction de demande pour le gaz naturel, qui englobe à la fois la substitution énergétique et les inerties de consommation dues aux investissements des usagers finaux. Dans un troisième temps, nous utilisons cette fonction de demande dans un modèle d’équilibre partiel des marchés du gaz naturel en Europe. Le modèle GaMMES, écrit sous forme de problème de complémentarité, représente les principaux acteurs de l’industrie du gaz naturel en considérant leurs interactions stratégiques et les pouvoirs de marchés. Il a été appliqué au marché du gaz naturel en Europe du nord-est afin d’étudier l’évolution, jusqu’en 2035, de la consommation, des prix spot, des prix et volumes long-terme, de la production et de la dépendance par rapport aux imports étrangers. Finalement, nous proposons une extension stochastique du modèle GaMMES afin d’analyser l’impact de la forte fluctuation du prix du Brent sur les marchés gaziers. Une étude économétrique a été menée afin de calculer la loi de probabilité du prix du pétrole, lorsqu’il est modélisé en tant que variable aléatoire, dans le but de construire et pondérer l’arbre des scénarii. Les résultats permettent de comprendre comment l’aléa modifie les comportements stratégiques des acteurs, notamment au niveau des contrats de long-terme. Enfin, la valeur de la solution stochastique est calculée afin de quantifier l’importance de la prise en compte des fluctuations du prix du pétrole pour chaque acteur de la chaîne. / This thesis studies the evolution of the natural gas markets in Europe, until 2035, using optimization theory tools. The model we develop, named GaMMES, is based on an oligopolistic description of the markets. Its main advantages are the following: we consider an important level of detail in the economic structure of the gas chain and we endogenously take into account long-term contracts in the upstream as well as energy substitution between gas, oil, and coal in the demand. In the first part of this thesis, we study the issue of security of supply in Europe and the conditions under which it is necessary to regulate the gas markets that are strongly dependent on foreign imports. Three case studies are then presented, regarding the level of dependence and the markets' specificities: the German gas trade of the 1980s and the current Spanish and Bulgarian markets. We study in particular the evolution of the markets' outcome as a function of the supply disruption probability and the kind of regulation to implement in order to maximize the social welfare. In the second part, we develop a system dynamics model in order to capture fuel substitution between oil, coal, and natural gas. Our approach allows one to calculate a new functional form of the demand function for natural gas that contains energy substitution and consumption inertia effects due to end-users' investments. In the third part, we take advantage of our demand function and use it in a partial equilibrium model of natural gas markets in Europe. The GaMMES model, when written as a complementarity problem, describes the principal gas chain actors as well as their strategic interactions and market power. It was applied to the northwestern European gas trade to analyze the evolution of consumption, spot and long-term contract prices and volumes, production, and natural gas dependence, until 2035. In the last part, we present a stochastic extension of the GaMMES model in order to study the impact of the strong Brent price fluctuation on the gas markets. An econometric analysis allowed us to calculate the probability law of the oil price, when taken as a random variable, in order to construct the scenario tree and estimate its weights. Our results show how uncertainty changes the strategic behavior, in particular for the long-term contracting activity. Finally, the value of the stochastic solution is calculated to quantify the importance of taking into account randomness in the optimization programs of the gas chain actors.

In this dissertation I shall give a brief historical survey of Black Theology and the African Independent Churches (AI Cs). The study focuses mainly to the developments of the two trends in South Africa. This was done after realising that Black Theologians often ignored the history of Black people, including that of the AI Cs which has in the end stymied their efforts. The immediate effects were negative in that little results were produced. ATCs and Black Theology have interesting histories which complement each another. I will present the current state of affairs and give some guidelines on how the future debate can be carried out. The two theological trends have weaknesses and strengths which are clearly identifiable. In chapter four I give guidelines for future debates and possible new developments. This study is also carried out to expand the scope of dialogue and constructive debate among the two. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology)

This study sets out to demonstrate the usefulness of cybernetic description for grief therapy, specifically the field parental loss of a child. This paradigm was used to facilitate an alternate mode of conceptualisation, one engendering a more encompassing, aesthetic view. The following core cybernetic concepts were used: punctuation, complementarity, pattern and metapattern forming the framework of cybernetic description as applied. A literature study attempting to merge the gestalt of cybernetic description with that of bereavement theory, specifically that pertaining to the parental loss of a child, is presented. A single case study is described illustrating how cybernetic description is applied to the grief narrative. Arising out of this, the implications of cybernetic description for the field of grief and social work in general are outlined. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

Text in Afrikaans / Die komplementariteit tussen afstand en intimiteit in die terapeutiese verhouding word ge"illustreer en bespreek aan die hand van 'n enkeie gevallestudie. Die klem is op rekursiewe en selfverwysende prosesse wat tussen die terapeut en kiient plaasvind, sodat die vvyse waarop intiemer en meer afstandelike interaksies ge-kokreer is, uitgelig word. Die terapeutiese proses word binne die raamwerk van die ekosistemiese en sosiale konstruksionistiese epistomologie bespreek. Navorsing word uitgevoer volgens die naturalistiese navorsingsparadigma en raakpunte tussen die navorsingsparadigma en epistomologie wat bespreek is, word aan die hand van die gevaliestudie ge"illustreer. In die studie word daar ook verwys na verwante kwessies, soos aanraking en grense in die terapeutiese verhouding, terapie as 'n a-sosiale konteks, terapie as 'n paradoksale situasie en die neutraliteit van die terapeut, wat aansluit by die tema van hierdie studie. Hierdie temas word geintegreer tydens die bespreking van die gevallestudie. / An individual case study is used in this study, to discuss the complementarity between distance and intimacy in the therapeutic relationship. The focus is on recursive and selfreflective processes between the therapist and the client in order to explain the way in which intimate and distant interactions were coconstructed. The therapeutic process was discussed in the context of ecosystemic and social constructionist epistemologies. Research was done according to the principles of the naturalistic research paradigm and overlaps between this research paradigm and epistemologies that were discussed are brought forward through the discussion of the case study. There are also references in this study to related issues, such as touching and boundaries in the therapeutic relationship, therapy as an a-social and paradoxical context, and the neutrality of the therapist, which connect with the theme of this study. These themes are integrated in the discussion of the case study. / Psychology / M.A. (Kliniese Sielkunde)

This study sets out to report on the reflections of a therapist-in-[post-graduate] training on his experiences when endeavouring to shift from [between] a positivistic to [and] a constructivistic paradigm. Reflections on some experiences associated with the positivistic epistemology that were relinquished were described; reflections on experiences associated with the constructivistic epistemology that were gained were described as well as reflections on experiences of both paradigms, that were added. These reflections were based on research data acquired during the researcher's first year of post-graduate training and exposure to the "new" constructivistic paradigm. Transcriptions from audio-taped sessions with a client from the researchers private practice, during this period served as the research data for this study. A literature study attempting to distinguish between the positivistic and constructivistic paradigms is presented. Arising out of this, the implications of a paradigm shift of this nature, is outlined. / Health Studies / M.A. (Mental Health)

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-06T11:36:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014 / Estudo de natureza quantitativa e qualitativa realizada por meio de estudo de caso, utilizando Escala Atitudinal do tipo Likert para analisar a partir da percepção de internos e preceptores do Programa de Internato Médico na Atenção Primária à Saúde da Casa de Saúde Santa Marcelina, uma proposta de avaliação com diferentes métodos avaliativos. Foram criadas 28 assertivas pertencentes a quatro dimensões distintas: o desenvolvimento de competências; caráter formativo da avaliação; diversidade e complementariedade de métodos avaliativos e meta-avaliação. Por meio da analise buscou identificar o caráter avaliativo do desenvolvimento de competências no processo proposto; analisar, na percepção dos internos e preceptores, a diversidade e complementariedade dos métodos avaliativos; identificar momentos de diálogo, feedbacks, aprendizagens compartilhadas e utilização da avaliação para tomada de novas decisões nos processos avaliativos do internato em APS. A Escala Atitudinal tipo Likert teve 26 assertivas validadas com perda de apenas 2 assertivas (7,14%) e apresentou um coeficiente de confiabilidade final, calculado pela fórmula de Spearman-Brown, de 0,81%, o que demonstrou nas quatro dimensões das assertivas o olhar positivo dos atores envolvidos, validando o instrumento da pesquisa para investigação desta natureza. A análise foi confrontada segundo os estudos sobre avaliação de Luckesi, Perrenoud e Batista. A pesquisa revelou que houve grande sintonia entre as percepções dos discentes e preceptores sobre o desenho avaliativo proposto para o internato; a dimensão que tratou da diversidade e complementariedade dos métodos avaliativos foi a melhor pontuada, seguida pela meta-avaliação, caráter formativo da avaliação e desenvolvimento de competências. / This study, which presents quantitative and qualitative methodologies, analyzed the Medical Internship Program in Primary Health in the Casa de Saúde Santa Marcelina, from the perception of internal students and preceptors. This is a proposal of evaluation with different evaluation methods. To achieve this goal we used the case study methodology, using Attitudinal Likert Scale. 28 assertions were created belonging to four distinct dimensions: skills development; formative nature of the assessment; diversity and complementarity of evaluation methods and meta-evaluation. The analysis sought to identify the evaluative nature of skills development in the proposed process; examine the perceptions of internal students and preceptors, the diversity and complementarity of evaluation methods; identify moments of dialogue, feedback, shared learning and use of evaluation for making new decisions in the evaluation processes of the boarding school in APS. Attitudinal Likert Scale was validated with 26 probes loss of only 2 probes (7,14%) and showed a final reliability coefficient, calculated by the Spearman-Brown, of 0.81%, which showed the four dimensions of positive assertive look of the actors involved, validating the research instrument for research of this nature. The analysis was compared according to evaluating studies from Luckesi, Perrenoud and Batista. The research revealed that there was great harmony between the perceptions of students and tutors on the evaluation design proposed for the internship; the dimension that dealt with the diversity and complementarity of evaluation methods was the best scored, followed by the meta-evaluation, the formative nature of the evaluation and development of skills.

Cette thèse traite d’un type d’innovation largement négligé jusqu’à aujourd’hui : l’innovation organisationnelle (IO), également connue sous le nom « d’innovation management » ou « innovation managériale ». L’objectif est d’expliquer le phénomène d’adoption de ce type d’innovation en identifiant non seulement ses antécédents internes et externes, mais aussi ses relations avec l’innovation technologique de procédés, avec laquelle elle partage un certain nombre de caractéristiques. Le modèle proposé est fondé sur la vision intégrative de l’innovation (the integrative view of innovation) qui présente un triple intérêt : (1) contrairement à la vision distinctive et linéaire de l’innovation, elle ne relègue pas l’IO au statut d’innovation de second rang ; (2) elle élargit le champ des antécédents au-delà des seuls efforts en R&D et envisage leurs effets d’interaction ; (3) elle enrichit l’explication du phénomène d’adoption d’une IO en faisant l’hypothèse que des innovations de différents types sont adoptées de manière complémentaire. Notre démarche repose sur quatre articles empiriques et une multi-méthodologie, qualitative basée sur six études de cas d’entreprises industrielles, et quantitative faisant appel à différentes méthodes économétriques. Le Lean Management représente la forme concrète d’IO à partir de laquelle les confrontations empiriques sont réalisées. Au final, cette thèse est à l’origine de trois contributions majeures. Tout d’abord, au-delà des antécédents traditionnels privilégiés dans les recherches, d’autres antécédents internes (les pratiques de mobilisation des ressources humaines et la capacité d’absorption des entreprises) et externes (les sources de connaissances) jouent un rôle crucial sur l’adoption d’une IO. Ensuite, la prise en compte des interactions entre ces antécédents s’avère essentielle pour une meilleure compréhension du processus d’adoption, certains étant complémentaires (ex : les pratiques de mobilisation entre elles ou la résistance au changement et le manque de soutien managérial) alors que d’autres sont substituables (ex : les sources externes de connaissance et la capacité d’absorption des firmes). Enfin, conformément à la vision intégrative, l’adoption de l’IO n’est pas indépendante de l’adoption d’une innovation technologique de procédés et est régie par des antécédents similaires. Toutefois, leur relation n’est pas d’ordre complémentaire au sens strict dans la mesure où il y aurait un effet d’ordre. Ces résultats débouchent sur des recommandations managériales utiles pour un meilleur pilotage de l’adoption d’une IO. / This research deals with a type of innovation largely neglected in the literature: organizational innovation, also called "innovation management" or "managerial innovation." The objective is to explain the adoption of this type of innovation by identifying not only its internal and external antecedents, but also its relationship to technological process innovation, with which it shares common characteristics. The model is based on the integrative view of innovation which presents three main advantages: (1) contrary to the linear view of innovation, it does not consider organizational innovation as a second-order innovation; (2) beyond R&D efforts alone, it allows for the integration of new antecedents and their interaction effects, and (3) it enriches the explanation of organizational innovation adoption assuming that innovation is adopted synchronously or complementarily. We used a multi-methodological approach, a qualitative study based on six case studies of industrial firms and a quantitative study using different econometric methods. Lean Management is the concrete form of organizational innovation we studied in the four empirical articles. The contributions of this research are threefold. Firstly, beyond the traditional internal and external antecedents, we show that human resource management practices, firms’ absorptive capacity and external knowledge sources play a crucial role in organizational innovation adoption. Secondly, this research demonstrates that it is essential to take into account the interactions between internal and external antecedents in order to better understand adoption processes, some of them being complementary or substitutes. Thirdly, the study shows that organizational innovation adoption is consistent with the integrative view of innovation since it is dependent of the adoption of technological process innovation, without being strictly complementary. These two types of process innovations, organizational and technological, are also found to be driven by similar antecedents. These results lead to managerial recommendations for a better management of organizational innovation adoption.

Dans cette thèse, nous présentons un modèle granulaire décrivant la dynamique d'un assemblage de floes rigides de tailles et de formes diverses, soumis aux forces de traînée dues aux courants atmosphérique et océanique. Ce modèle est basé sur les équations des moments linéaire et angulaire pour décrire la dynamique régulière des floes et sur la résolution de problèmes linéaires de complémentarité pour traiter les collisions entre les floes. Entre les collisions, le mouvement d'un floe isolé satisfait la conservation des équations des moments linéaire et angulaire écrites à partir des formulations classiques des traînées dues au vent et à l'océan. Nous décrivons les collisions entre les floes comme des événements instantanés et les traitons avant qu'elles n'entraînent une interpénétration. Cela implique la notion d'impulsion de contact et la mise sous la forme de problèmes linéaires de complémentarité basés sur la condition de Signorini pour la non interpénétration et la loi de Coulomb. La nature du contact est représentée à travers un coefficient de friction et un coefficient de restitution décrivant la perte d'énergie cinétique durant la collision. Dans cette présente version du modèle, le coefficient de restitution est fixé. Le modèle a été validé en utilisant des données obtenues du mouvement de disques de bois évoluant en bassin de test aussi bien qu'en comparant le comportement des floes simulés avec un comportement attendu dans des scénarios classiques de dérive de glace et de collisions entre des solides rigides. Les résultats de simulations comprenant différents assemblages contenant des floes de tailles et de formes variées, soumis à différents scénarios de forçage, sont aussi discutés. Ils montrent tout le potentiel de notre approche sans qu'une analyse détaillée et complète n'ait encore été proposée. / In this thesis, we present a model describing the dynamics of a population of ice floes with arbitrary shapes and sizes, which are exposed to atmospheric and oceanic skin drag. The granular model presented is based on simplified momentum equations for ice floe motion between collisions and on the resolution of linear complementarity problems to deal with ice floe collisions. Between collisions, the motion of an individual ice floe satisfies the linear and angular momentum conservation equations, with classical formula applied to account for atmospheric and oceanic skin drag. To deal with collisions, before they lead to interpenetration, we included a linear complementarity problem based on the Signorini condition and Coulombs law. The nature of the contact is described through a constant coefficient of friction, as well as a coefficient of restitution describing the loss of kinetic energy during the collision. In the present version of our model, this coefficient is fixed. The model was validated using data obtained from the motion of interacting artificial wood floes in a test basin. The results of simulations comprising few hundreds of ice floes of various shapes and sizes, exposed to different forcing scenarios, and under different configurations, are also discussed. They show that the progressive clustering of ice floes as the result of kinetic energy dissipation during collisions is well captured, and suggest a collisional regimes of floe dispersion at small scales, different from a large-scale regime essentially driven by wind forcing.