Die vorliegende Dissertation besteht aus zwei Teilen, deren gemeinsames Thema in der Frage besteht, wie mächtig Zufall als Berechnungsressource ist. Im ersten Teil beschäftigen wir uns mit zufälligen Strukturen, die -- mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit -- Eigenschaften haben können, die von Computeralgorithmen genutzt werden können. In zwei konkreten Fällen geben wir bis dahin unbekannte deterministische Konstruktionen solcher Strukturen: Wir derandomisieren eine randomisierte Reduktion von Alekhnovich und Razborov, indem wir bestimmte unbalancierte bipartite Expandergraphen konstruieren, und wir geben eine Reduktion von einem Problem über bipartite Graphen auf das Problem, den minmax-Wert in Dreipersonenspielen zu berechnen. Im zweiten Teil untersuchen wir die Ausdrucksstärke verschiedener Logiken, wenn sie durch zufällige Relationssymbole angereichert werden. Unser Ziel ist es, Techniken aus der deskriptiven Komplexitätstheorie für die Untersuchung randomisierter Komplexitätsklassen nutzbar zu machen, und tatsächlich können wir zeigen, dass unsere randomisierten Logiken randomisierte Komlexitätsklassen einfangen, die in der Komplexitätstheorie untersucht werden. Unter Benutzung starker Ergebnisse über die Logik erster Stufe und die Berechnungsstärke von Schaltkreisen beschränkter Tiefe geben wir sowohl positive als auch negative Derandomisierungsergebnisse für unsere Logiken. Auf der negativen Seite zeigen wir, dass randomisierte erststufige Logik gegenüber normaler erststufiger Logik an Ausdrucksstärke gewinnt, sogar auf Strukturen mit einer eingebauten Additionsrelation. Außerdem ist sie nicht auf geordneten Strukturen in monadischer zweitstufiger Logik enthalten, und auch nicht in infinitärer Zähllogik auf beliebigen Strukturen. Auf der positiven Seite zeigen wir, dass randomisierte erststufige Logik auf Strukturen mit einem unären Vokabular derandomisiert werden kann und auf additiven Strukturen in monadischer Logik zweiter Stufe enthalten ist. / This thesis is comprised of two main parts whose common theme is the question of how powerful randomness as a computational resource is. In the first part we deal with random structures which possess -- with high probability -- properties than can be exploited by computer algorithms. We then give two new deterministic constructions for such structures: We derandomise a randomised reduction due to Alekhnovich and Razborov by constructing certain unbalanced bipartite expander graphs, and we give a reduction from a problem concerning bipartite graphs to the problem of computing the minmax-value in three-player games. In the second part we study the expressive power of various logics when they are enriched by random relation symbols. Our goal is to bridge techniques from descriptive complexity with the study of randomised complexity classes, and indeed we show that our randomised logics do capture complexity classes under study in complexity theory. Using strong results on the expressive power of first-order logic and the computational power of bounded-depth circuits, we give both positive and negative derandomisation results for our logics. On the negative side, we show that randomised first-order logic gains expressive power over standard first-order logic even on structures with a built-in addition relation. Furthermore, it is not contained in monadic second-order logic on ordered structures, nor in infinitary counting logic on arbitrary structures. On the positive side, we show that randomised first-order logic can be derandomised on structures with a unary vocabulary and is contained in monadic second-order logic on additive structures.

This study uses complexity theory to examine the space of the street. In a morpho-ecological city, process creates form just as form creates process. The process of movement is a critical form generator within the urban system. In this thesis, the urban system comprising streets/ car/pedestrian is examined. If this collection of urban modes of mobility is a complex system capable of selforganising behaviour, what effect does the ordering imposed by traffic engineering have on this system? I look at the driving body and the walking body as co-creating the city by their movement through urban space. I suggest that, through attention to the fragments of interactions enacted during these movements, we can, through design, allow for the emergence of selforganising behaviour. Urban shared streets, descendants of the ‘woonerf’, appear to function more efficiently than engineered streets, without the usual traffic ordering. The counterintuitive success of these streets implies a self-organising behaviour that is generated by the density of interaction between the inhabitants of the street. These designs potentially work as a change agent, a catalyst, operating within a complex system. This has the potential to move systems from one attractor state to another. A city built with these spaces becomes a city of enfilades; an open system of spaces that are adaptable to uses that fluctuate with time and avoid thickening the palimpsest of traffic engineering. I look at siting shared streets in Wellington, based on jaywalking, a transgressive use of the streetspace that prefigures a shared space, and changes to urban networks associated with such designs. Interaction within the city is a creative force with a structure. City design needs to consider and address this infrastructure and design for it. The infrastructure of interaction has been subsumed by the infrastructure of movement. Shared streets indicate there may not be a need for this – they can be integrated. The process of movement creates instances of interaction; therefore designing spaces of/for movement must be designed to enhance the infrastructure of interaction. The result of such interaction is not just somewhat better; it may be a phase change - catalytically better .

Supply chain exchange relationships are complex and sometimes chaotic sociological and organisational phenomena. This complexity is compounded by the boundary spanning necessity of forming supply chain partnerships that are further exacerbated by goal divergence and asymmetric information. One of the main questions for consideration is how these dyadic exchange relationships are maintained and develop over time in response to the various channel behaviours of the actors (the buyer and seller)? In particular, exchange relationships are theorised to be sensitive in some degree to attempts at economic appropriation, and conversely coordinative efforts. Such efforts manifest themselves into the mutually opposing forces broadly labelled as opportunistic and collaborative behavioural paradigms. Drawing from the concepts of Systems and Chaos/Complexity theories, it is theorised that the movement from one form of relational arrangement to another is enacted in a non-linear and dynamic manner with periods of relational equilibrium disrupted by bifurcations resulting in the emergence of new levels of relationship. However, not all exchange relationships are susceptible to constant change, rather, there should be some threshold barrier or relationship inertia that must be overcome before a bifurcation occurs. Yet what is not known is how strong these bonds are to the enactment of opportunistic and collaborative partner behaviours. Hence, 189 manufacturing supply chain relationships were survey-interviewed in order to determine the impact that collaborative and opportunistic behaviours have on supply chain relational movement. The results show that generally exchange relationships do in fact change in response to these enacted behaviours, and that actual levels of supply chain behaviour over a range of 12 variables could be measured. Indeed, the level of opportunistic behaviour experienced by the sample was disturbing. In addition, the level of tolerance (zone of tolerance) for specific behaviours was measured for the first time in the field. Overall, it was found that supply chain exchange relationships do indeed evolve in a non-linear dynamic manner in response to opportunistic and collaborative manoeuvres by the dyadic actors. Finally, these ideas were summarised in the Dynamic Relational Development (DRD) concept that explains how supply chain relationships dynamically change. In addition, the dualistic nature of the collaborative versus opportunistic behaviour choice for exchange actors is tentatively reconciled by the deontological approach of the Supply Chain Citizen theory offered in this research.

MOOCs實現了高等教育的跨國性、大量性與開放性，成功將世界各地的學習者、教學者與相關機構帶進全球網絡，為全球知識與傳播提供一個全新的平台。這場由世界頂尖大學所引發的MOOCs風暴，短時間內便席捲全球，在高等教育界掀起一陣波瀾。《紐約時報》甚至將MOOCs形容成一場「校園海嘯」，以迅雷不及掩耳的速度，衝擊高等教育的百年現場。 然而，究竟這場MOOCs風暴是如何一路延燒到世界各地？不同階段的影響因素又有何不同？為了釐清這些問題，本研究利用複雜理論「系統性」與「動態性」的觀點，探討MOOCs創新擴散之動態歷程，分析相關因素如何影響各個階段的歷程演變，以及因素之間互動後所產生的回饋關係。 本研究採用歷史研究法，並參考王美雅（2005）的創新擴散之動態模型，做為研究架構之基礎，探討MOOCs各階段擴散歷程之初始狀態、演化與正向回饋效果以及自我組織的現象。 研究結果發現，MOOCs的擴散事實上是一個自我組織的過程。在MOOCs擴散過程中，以「創新者的網路位置」與「理解創新的難易程度」兩項變數的影響尤其顯著。而各項變數之間不僅擁有正向回饋效果，亦存在著負向回饋效果，進而影響MOOCs的擴散與演化。 / MOOCs successfully brought global students, educators, and related organization into a global network, forming a platform for global diffusion of knowledge. Started by top universities around the globe, MOOCs’ forces have swept around the globe in a short amount of time, creating ripples in the higher education web. The New York Times describes MOOCs as a “Campus Tsunami,” sweeping through the sectors of higher education. How did this “Campus Tsunami” sweep around the globe? What are the factors that affect its dynamic diffusion process? In order to clarify these questions, this study employs the systematic and dynamic point of view of the complex theory to analyze how the factors influence each of MOOCs diffusion stages and what effects the factors create after interaction. This study employs the historical study method and Mei Ya, Wang’s (2005) dynamic innovation diffusion model as the fundamental structure to explore the initial conditions, evolution and positive reinforcements, and self-organization of each diffusion stage. The results demonstrate that MOOCs’ diffusion is based on self-organization. Within the seven factors, innovator networks and the difficulties in understanding innovation are the foremost influential factors. During MOOCs diffusion stages, the different factors interact with each other, producing both positive reinforcements and negative reinforcements, thus influencing MOOCs continuous diffusion and development.

Organizational scholars have long been interested in organizations which exemplify high reliability. While such organizational studies have provided valuable clues to the ways in which such organizations form and function, this paper argues that a more nuanced study of high reliability processes within team contexts is warranted. This study focuses on organizational teams which are faced with the challenges of maintaining high levels of reliability. Of particular interest is how teams manage adverse events which disrupt the team's process and how they make adaptations immediately to restore their functionality. In my dissertation, I: (1) explore the existing literature surrounding high reliability organization and resilience, (2) present a qualitative analysis of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams to explore and identify factors surrounding adaptation within the critical moment, and (3) discuss the implications of these factors in the theory and research surrounding high-reliability teams. The findings of this study find strong connection with the work of Weick and serve to advance and clarify previous characteristics associated with high reliability organizing; however, by using the small group as the unit of analysis for the study additions to concepts traditionally associated with high reliability organizing can be noted: (1) controlling variability during team function, (2) accepting the value of the unexpected, (3) continuous forward motion, and (4) the role of tacit and explicit knowledge.

This thesis employs perspectives inspired by General Systems Theory to address issues in philosophy, including moral philosophy and philosophy of mind. I present an overview of a range of ideas from the study of physical systems that may be used to provide a firm physicalist foundation to explorations of some common questions in philosophy. I divide these topics into three categories: the Physical Category, the Relevance Category and the Signal Elements Category. I interpret concepts from General Systems Theory, including information and entropy, in a way that I believe facilitates their incorporation into philosophical discussion. I also explain various points arising from General Systems Theory, such as order and disorder, stability, complexity, and self-organisation, and show how ideas from these areas can be applied to certain philosophical problems. I explain relevance in terms of stability, in order to link these scientific perspectives to questions in moral philosophy. I suggest a possible physical foundation for a theory of morality, which takes the form of a variety of Utilitarianism, intended to balance the competing needs of open systems to manage entropy. Such a theory of morality must be capable of dealing with limitations arising from the physicality of information; I propose game theory as a solution to this problem. This thesis also covers issues connected to the above points regarding the nature of consciousness and communication. In particular, I examine the role of linguistic associations in consciousness; and some related features of language and other non-linear representational schemes.

This autobiographical study relates my personal experiences as an international student in Canada to curriculum theory and issues in multicultural education. The study takes a creative, cookbook journal format, using a selection of recipes for exploring cross-cultural experiences and making connections between self and the multicultural environment, and between curricular theories and educational practice. While sometimes recipes refer to simple instructions, the curriculum recipes in this study do not provide simple solutions but rather creative ways of thinking about curriculum. The research question guiding this study is how we can understand multicultural curriculum so that majority groups (the host people in Canada) and minority groups (the people from other cultures) acknowledge a space of shared responsibility for intercultural adaptation, and so that there are not two sides or positions for people when crossing cultures, but a space in between where people dwell together.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many variations of Systems Development Life Cycle models have evolved over the last fifty years of systems engineering and software science, yet not enough knowledge is available to better understand these as Complex Adaptive Systems by studying chaos and complexity theories. The primary application domain of the thesis is focused on the development of electronic hardware and software products. There is a great need for innovation to reach all corners of the development ecosystem; however a large cognitive distance exists between the concept of systematic product development and that of value creation. Instruments are needed to aid process agility, for defusing imminent problems as they mount, and for making effective decisions to sustain maximum productivity. Many of these objectives are neglected in systems development practices. As with so many management fads, it appears that no single one of these models lived up to all of the expectations and in many cases ended up being recipes for disaster. The statistics available on failed projects are concerning but has not stopped the scientific and engineering communities from trying over, and over again, to make progress. The goal of the thesis is therefore to identify the most viable model that supports the sustainability of systems development team performance. The research draws insights from extant literature, by applying a knowledge management theory based analysis on the various models with specific attention given to complexity theory. The dominant metric discovered is to measure the Value Velocity of a Systems Development Team. This metric is determined by two independent variables, being Value Created and Delivery Delay. Complex Adaptive Systems simply requires a guiding vision and a carefully selected set of generative rules for increasing and sustaining the Value Velocity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Menige variasies van stelselsontwikkelingsmodelle het ontwikkel oor die afgelope vyftig jaar in stelselsingenieurswese en sagtewarewetenskap, en steeds is daar nie genoegsame kennis beskikbaar om beter begrip te kry oor hoe hierdie stelsels as Komplekse Aanpassende Sisteme bestudeer kan word nie, ten einde die bestuur daarvan te verbeter. Die primêre toepassingsgebied in die tesis is gespits op die ontwikkeling van rekenaarhardeware en - sagteware. Die behoefte vir innovasie moet al die fasette van die ontwikkelingsekosisteem bereik. Die bewusheidsgaping tussen sistemiese produkontwikkeling en waardeskepping, is te wyd. Instumentasie word benodig om te help met ratsheid in prosesuitvoering, om dreigende probleme te ontlont, en effektief besluitneming toe te pas, en sodoende produktiwiteit op ‘n maksimum vlak te hou. Hierdie doelwitte word tot ’n meerdere mate in die huidige praktyk verontagsaam. Net soos somige bestuursadvies oneffektief is, blyk dit dat daar nog steeds geen stelselsmodelle is wat alle verwagtinge bevredig nie. In baie gevalle eindig die toepassing daarvan in waan en mislukking. Die statistiek beskikbaar op mislukte projekte is onrusbarend, tog het dit nie vooruitgang gekelder nie, en die behoefte na verbetering bestaan steeds. Die doelwit van die tesis is dus om die mees lewensvatbare model wat die voortbestaan van stelselsontwikkelingsgroepe sal kan handhaaf, uit te sonder. Die navorsing neem insigte uit hedendagse literatuur en is gebasseer op ’n analiese van verskeide kennisbestuursteorieё teenoor die bestaande stelselsontwikkelingsmodelle. Die fokus is meer spesifiek toegespits op kompleksiteitsteorie. Die hoofmaatstaaf is om die Waardesnelheid van ’n stelselsontwikkelingspan te bepaal. Hierdie maatstaaf word gepyl deur twee onafhanklike veranderlikes, naamlik die Waarde Geskep en die Afleweringsvertraging. Ten slotte, vereis Kompleks Aanpassende Sisteme slegs die aanwesigheid van 'n leidende visie tesame met 'n goeddeurdagte stel ontwikkelingsreëls, wat aanleiding sal gee tot die verhoging en behoud van die Waardesnelheid.

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Em um contexto de explicitação dos problemas ambientais e sociais que assolam o planeta, causando enormes disparidades entre países, as empresas, e mais fortemente as Multinacionais, se vêem diante da cobrança pela adoção de uma postura de responsabilidade ampliada, ou seja, de incorporação das 3 dimensões do desenvolvimento sustentável (econômica, social e ambiental) em suas estratégias. Esta responsabilização das empresas, traz à tona o problema da gestão dos trade offs envolvidos com estas 3 dimensões e, para as Multinacionais, a gestão destes trade offs na relação entre Matriz e suas Filiais. Tendo por objetivo, justamente, a proposição de um framework baseado em um conjunto de proposições para a concepção do processo de formação da estratégia de desenvolvimento sustentável, na relação entre Matriz e Filial, de Multinacionais, a presente pesquisa foi conduzida em 3 fases. Adotou-se uma postura epistemo-metodológica de concepção, aceitando a interação entre sujeito e objeto e a intencionalidade do sujeito/pesquisador ao longo da pesquisa, buscando-se explicitamente, a geração de conhecimento aplicável aos gestores dos Grupos estudados. Adotou-se também uma lógica abdutiva, ou seja, permitindo constantes “idas e vindas” entre teoria e campo empírico, na media que se avançava nas fases da pesquisa. Assim, na primeira fase buscou-se um aprofundamento teórico sobre Estratégia Empresarial, Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Teoria da Complexidade, visando dar suporte a pesquisa e a construção de um questionário com roteiro semi-estruturado, para ser aplicado junto a experts em desenvolvimento sustentável. Este roteiro foi aplicado na segunda fase da pesquisa, que tinha por objetivo a identificação de temáticas importantes a serem consideradas, em estratégias que levem em conta o desenvolvimento sustentável. Duas etapas foram desenvolvidas nesta segunda fase: na primeira etapa foram entrevistados 10 experts brasileiros, com os quais se co-concebeu 8 temáticas iniciais; na segunda etapa foram entrevistados 12 experts europeus, com os quais se procurou consolidar as temáticas iniciais, co-concebendo com os mesmos, 4 temáticas consolidadas (Relação com os Stakeholders, Governança Empresarial, Ética Empresarial e Aprendizagem Organizacional). Estas temáticas consolidadas serviram de base para a terceira fase, onde foram realizados 4 estudos de caso (Grupos A, B, C e D), em Grupos Multinacionais com a Matriz na França ou Luxemburgo e uma Filial no Brasil. A confrontação entre os estudos de caso, as entrevistas com os experts, o referencial teórico e a atitude inventiva do pesquisador possibilitaram a emergência de 7 proposições epistêmicas (estratégia de desenvolvimento sustentável vista a partir de princípios da teoria da complexidade, ou seja, dialógica, recursividade, retroativa, holograma e auto-eco-reorganização), 12 proposições conceituais (governança empresarial, ética empresarial, e aprendizagem organizacional) e 16 proposições operatórias (governança empresarial - estrutura da área de desenvolvimento sustentável e divisão de ganhos com os stakeholders; ética empresarial - conteúdo e fixação de objetivos e postura empresarial; aprendizagem organizacional - sensibilização e troca de informações sobre o desenvolvimento sustentável), que em conjunto formam o framework proposto aqui. Assim a presente pesquisa contribui com avanços epistemológicos e metodológicos para a área de Gestão, além de avanços teóricos para a estratégia empresarial (quando integrada com as discussões sobre desenvolvimento sustentável e teoria da complexidade), e de avanços para os Grupos Multinacionais, através do conjunto de proposições. / Considering the innumerous environmental and social problems which are devastating the world and increasing differences among countries, companies are demanded, more precisely Multinationals, to stand for a responsible posture, i.e. the incorporation of the 3 dimensions of sustainable development in their strategies (economical, social and environmental). This responsibility from the companies arises the problem of trade off management connected to the 3 dimensions, and for the Multinationals trade off management among the Headquarter and its Subsidiaries. This research was conducted in 3 phases aiming the proposition of a framework based on a set of propositions for the conception of a sustainable development strategy formation process in the relation between Multinational Headquarters and Subsidiaries. An epistemic-methodological positioning was adopted, accepting the interaction between subject (researcher) and object and the intentionality subject/researcher throughout the research, explicitly searching for the knowledge generation applicable to the managers from the studied Groups. It was also adopted an abductive logic, i.e. allowing regular “come and go” between the theory and the empirical field as the research advanced. Thus, in the first phase theoretical deepening about Company Strategy, Sustainable Development and Complexity Theory was intended, aiming to support the research and the construction of a semi-structured questionnaire in order to be applied to the sustainable development experts.This script was applied in the second phase of the research, which expected to identify some important thematics to be considered, within the strategies that take into account the sustainable development. Two steps were developed in this second phase: in the first phase 10 Brazilian experts were interviewed, where 8 initial thematics were co-conceived; in the second phase, 12 European experts were interviewed, where it was tried to consolidate the initial thematics and then co-conceiving 4 consolidated thematics (Stakeholders Relation, Enterprise Governance, Enterprise Ethics and Organizational Learning). These consolidated thematics were the basis of the third phase where 4 case studies were conducted (Groups A, B, C and D) with Multinational Groups having the Headquarter in France or Luxemburg and a Subsidiary in Brazil. The confrontation among the case studies, the expert interviews, the theoretical referential and the inventive attitude from the researcher made possible the emergence of 7 epistemic propositions (development of sustainable strategy from the complexity theory principles, which is dialogical, recursivity, retroactive, hologram and autoeco- reorganization), 12 conceptual propositions (Enterprise Governance, Enterprise Ethics and Organizational Learning) and 16 operational propositions (Enterprise Governance – the structure of the sustainable development area and the sharing of profit with stakeholders; Enterprise Ethics – objective content and fixation and enterprise position; Organizational Learning – consciousness and information exchange about sustainable development), which here compose the proposed framework. Thus the present research contributed with epistemological and methodological advanced for the area of Management, and also theoretical advances for the enterprise strategy field (when integrated with the discussion about sustainable development and complexity theory), and advances for Multinational Groups through a set of prepositions.