Pelagic ecosystems are inherently complex in coastal inlets where they are controlled by physical processes and influenced by biogeochemical and foodweb interactions. Meteorological events are important drivers of this ecological variability. This thesis investigates their effect on the plankton dynamics of Lunenburg Bay, an inlet on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia (Canada). In this region, meteorological events are dominated by upwelling in summer, which are a dominant source of flushing and nutrient variability for the inlets. Despite these events, which induce phytoplankton blooms in other regions, the concentration of phytoplankton as chlorophyll remains relatively low throughout the summer in Lunenburg Bay. To reveal the underlying processes limiting the development of phytoplankton biomass, and therefore to improve our understanding of the factors regulating plankton dynamics in this inlet, the objectives of this thesis are to determine the main drivers of variability in phytoplankton biomass and plankton community structure, and to identify the factors limiting the development of phytoplankton biomass in Lunenburg Bay. For that, I use a dataset collected at a coastal observatory located in Lunenburg Bay that covers the years 2003–2006, complemented by a series of transects carried out in summer 2006. The dataset covers physical, chemical and biological properties of the bay, including plankton taxonomy. Two types of physical-biological coupled models are developed: a low-resolution box model of Lunenburg Bay with steady-state wind forcing, and a high-resolution nested model of Lunenburg Bay using the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) to hindcast a series of upwelling events in 2006. The results reveal that four factors regulate the phytoplankton response to upwelling events in Lunenburg Bay, namely (1) the duration of an upwelling event, (2) the low nitrate concentration in source waters, (3) the flushing rate of the inlet (hence transport), and (4) the bathymetry along the inshore-offshore axis of the bay. In addition, (5) the occurrence of upwelling and (6) the inshore-offshore gradient of increasing depth influence the structure of respectively phytoplankton and zooplankton communities, indicating a dissimilarity in the processes structuring plankton communities in the lower food web. A conceptual model is then developed to describe the role of transport and nitrate concentration in source waters in controlling plankton dynamics in an inlet.

Everyday life revolves around the discovery and curation of digital information. People search the Web continuously, from quickly looking up the information needed to complete a task, to endlessly searching for inspiration and knowledge. A variety of studies have modeled information seeking strategies and characterized information seeking and curation activities on the Web. However, there is a lack of research on how existing Web applications support the discovery and curation of information, especially concerning the motivations behind them and how different approaches can be compared. In this thesis, I present a study of information discovery tools and how they relate to the nature of information seeking. I propose a conceptual framework that deals with Web application design elements that support different aspects of information discovery and curation. This framework can be used when designing, evaluating or updating Web applications. / Graduate / 0984

Questions have been are raised about the applicability (context specificity) and appropriateness (cultural relevance) of existing frameworks and the indicators used to measure and monitor food security in communities located throughout Canada’s circumpolar region. Developed primarily for use in more urban areas located to the south and with non-Aboriginal populations such frameworks have arguably failed to take into account the unique food perspectives and practices of the Inuit, First Nation and Métis peoples who live in the north. A call for both improved food security concepts and measures that are relevant to and capture the local characteristics of northern communities and its people are required. Taking a post modern ethnographic approach the purpose of the current study was to develop a holistic understanding of food security in Stony Rapids, a remote predominantly Aboriginal community in Saskatchewan’s far north. Immersed in day to day life for a period of three months an ethnographic record of household food security was produced through participant observation (P-O) activities, interviews and photographs. These activities occurred both within the community and within three households that agreed to participate in the study. Analysis occurred in two phases. The first phase was informal, occurred throughout the duration of the field work, and involved reading and rereading field notes and sharing of observations and insights with household participants and key informants. The second phase of analysis began after leaving the field and data collection had ended. In a formal process, thematic analysis grounded in the data was used to reduce, make sense, and derive meaning from the field notes and interviews. Emerging from the analysis, findings suggested that food moves into and within northern households via three dominant pathways that originate from the sources of food that are available to and accessed by households in Stony Rapids. The movement of food vis-à-vis these three dominant pathways was found to be dependent on a constellation of regional and/or community level factors as well as structural factors that were unique to each household. These factors taken together not only influence the capacity of households to access food but also influence how food is utilised within the home. This study produced a novel way of understanding northern food security that has relevance for the measures that may be developed to capture this issue and thereby inform appropriate and effective intervention strategies.

An enquiry into the relevance and reliability of accounting information that is provided to natural shareholders in Australia. The findings provide evidence that the information needs of shareholders are not being met, and that the existing theory of auditor independence has not integrated the views of this large and significant group of shareholders.

An enquiry into the relevance and reliability of accounting information that is provided to natural shareholders in Australia. The findings provide evidence that the information needs of shareholders are not being met, and that the existing theory of auditor independence has not integrated the views of this large and significant group of shareholders.

PPI has been growing considerably in the last 15 years in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) following shifts in the relationship between institutions and the public. Various legislative changes during this period have moved the NHS towards a consumerist model of delivery with a greater emphasis on the voice of their service users and the public. High profile cases, such as the severe failings at the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust (Francis, 2013), have provided impetus for PPI. However, despite increases in PPI-related activities, research into PPI methods and their impact have indicated that both methods and impact are difficult to evaluate (e.g. Conklin et al., 2012). Many existing models of PPI appear to over simplify what is a complex social phenomenon. Relatively simple early models such as the ladder of participation (Arnstein, 1969) are still widely referenced. Many studies have focused on individual PPI activities and individual stakeholder perspectives but have paid less attention to the commonalities and differences across and within stakeholder groups and PPI contexts. This study explored the complexities of PPI by collecting detailed observational, documentary and interview data from three different healthcare provider organisations (a mental health trust, a social enterprise, and an acute hospital trust). A range of methods (observations, semi-structured interviews, and document reviews) were used to explore in depth the complex nature of PPI and capture detailed data about contextual and organisational factors. Furthermore, whilst this study aimed to explore a range of activities and individual perspectives across multiple organisations, the ultimate outcome of this research was to produce a conceptual framework that extends theory by placing greater emphasis on the influence of contextual and societal factors. This study identified a plethora of factors that contribute to successful PPI; some of which had been found in previous research (such as personal barriers for laypeople). The constraining role of organisational structures and hierarchies; the strong influence of Government policies and initiatives; and the gatekeeping role of PPI facilitators were novel to this research, or added nuances to existing literature. With regards to the latter, a key finding was the significant role PPI facilitators play in both the implementation and success of PPI work. Their role is essentially a mediator between their employer and patients and the public. This study identified that the role of the voice of patients and the public is negotiated via PPI facilitators, making these key to the success of PPI. PPI facilitators were both responsible for facilitating PPI activities and reporting back the results of that work to senior management (including Board members); the ultimate goal of which was to influence service improvements as well as long term organisational strategies. These findings indicate that a conceptual framework of PPI is needed that considers not just individual perspectives and methods of PPI, but also the process of negotiation via PPI facilitators in making PPI a success.

Abstract The purpose of this research was to develop and test a conceptual framework concerning health care students' views of nursing and factors associated with it. The research process was conducted during 1992-1998 as a practice-based process of theory development, and it included four phases: 1) developing a conceptual framework inductively, 2) developing a measurement tool for testing the conceptual framework, 3) empirical testing of the conceptual framework and 4) analysing the core concept of the conceptual framework. In the first phase of the research, a conceptual framework of health care students' orientation to nursing was developed inductively using the Grounded Theory method. A group of students (n = 35) wrote essays and were interviewed at the beginning of their nursing programme in a polytechnic. In the second phase of the research, an instrument development process was carried out in order to test the conceptual framework. The instrument was tested via a panel evaluation (n = 15) and by using data collected from 184 students of health care. Besides that, 25 students completed the questionnaire twice. The data were used to evaluate the stability of the instrument. In the third phase of the research the hypotheses derived from the conceptual framework and the previous research results were tested by using the data (n = 184) which had been collected with the tool developed earlier. Besides that, the students from the first phase of the research (n = 19) were interviewed. These qualitative data were analysed by deductive content analysis. In the fourth phase of the research, the concept "orientation to nursing" was analysed in order to further elaborate the conceptual framework. Three different types of students' orientations to nursing were found: a caring orientation, a nursing profession orientation and a life orientation. The orientations differed from each other with regard to the prerequisites of orientation, the core of orientation, the meaning of nursing and the goals applied to a nursing career.According to the results of testing the theoretical framework, a majority of the students were highly life-oriented, and two thirds had average nursing expertise and caring orientation scores. The special characteristics of the students' orientation were emphasised during the education: caring-oriented students emphasised their personal development, nursing profession-oriented students the integration of theory and practice and life-oriented students emphasised the integration of studies, work and personal life. The nursing expertise and life orientation scores increased during the education. Caring orientation did not change during the education. On the basis of the research results, a tentative theory of health care students' orientation to nursing is presented and methods for developing the teaching of nursing and learning to nurse are suggested.

Project management is an experiential subject, and existing passive methods of teaching via lectures and seminars restricts learning to knowledge rather than leading to the deep understanding of the topic that the project management industry requires. Higher Education needs to produce competent graduates, i.e. those with both knowledge and experience. This research created and validated a conceptual framework to assist in the development of new project management simulations. The investigation confirmed that the use of simulations in the teaching of project management is a valid method of delivering experiential learning, and proposes a framework for how project management simulations can be created. The research commenced with a literature review, and a questionnaire was issued to project management lecturers to collect information on existing teaching methods and the current use of activities and simulations in the teaching of project management. From the literature and the questionnaire, a conceptual framework was created to assists in the development of new project management simulations. This framework was then tested by the creation of a new simulation. Finally, the conceptual framework was evaluated and validated by peers who have experience with project management simulations as project management lecturers. Following this validation the conceptual framework was further revised. The contribution to knowledge is threefold. Firstly the research provides a literature review into the use of simulations within project management teaching. Secondly the conceptual framework provides a starting point to other academics who are considering developing their own simulations, and finally the conceptual framework can be used to asses existing simulations. The results of the study show that the conceptual framework will greatly benefit academics when considering the development of simulations in project management teaching. This is important, because there is a growing need for student centred learning, and students who have a competence in their subjects as well as knowledge.

Owing to the lack of information and guidelines currently available for technology entrepreneurs, establishing Fintech start-ups in South Africa is challenging. The current literature on Fintech does not provide information highlighting ways in which technology entrepreneurs can establish and sustain Fintech start-ups, nor does it discuss the relevant skills required or the potential entry barriers for Fintech start-ups in the South African context. The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors that make Fintech startups successful, highlight the barriers faced by Fintech startups, elaborate on the skills required, and create a conceptual framework based on the research, that will guide technology entrepreneurs towards successful venture creation. A qualitative research methodology was used in this study using a semi-structured interview with open-ended questions as a research instrument. Financial Capital, Adherence to Regulation and Customer Centric Platform Development were some of the key findings related to establishing and sustaining Fintech start-ups in South Africa. Costly and scarce skilled resources and regulation barriers were some of the contributors to the failure of Fintech start-ups in South Africa. The government needs to assist where they can from a regulation perspective and provide more support to Fintech start-ups. Tax rebates for Fintech start-ups would also help these start-ups survive in South Africa. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Informatics / MCom / Unrestricted

The development of e-government systems in South Africa has raised major concerns when coming to the systems development methodology used. Through the literature review conducted and the data collected, the study has indicated that there is lack of uniformity, isolated cost, models for choosing project teams and the overall control of the whole process of e-government systems development. As a result, this research investigates the use of systems development methodologies in the development of e-government systems. The study followed the qualitative research method; interviews were conducted in four case studies involved in the development of e-government systems. The collected data were then analysed using a software analytical tool called Atlas ti. 6.1. Subsequently a cross-case analysis was performed on the four case studies. The research findings of this study indicated that the appropriate use of systems development methodologies in the development of e-government systems helps improve the quality of e-government systems, reduces development costs, and also makes the development process effective and efficient. Based on the information gathered from the four case studies, developers in government find it difficult to select a suitable systems development methodology to use when developing e-government systems. Therefore the study proposes a conceptual framework that can be used to select the appropriate systems development methodology when developing e-government systems. This framework is made up of characteristics of e-government systems and different types of systems development methodologies. / MSc (Computer Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014