The purpose of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of how visions could be applied in subsidiaries and similar sub organisations of global enterprises. With increasing globalisation it becomes more difficult to work in accordance to same standards and towards a common and unifying interest. The study has a qualitative and deductive approach and is based on interviews with three global subsidiaries with some hundred people employed each. Conclusions are that the subsidiaries visions have to be based on a guiding philosophy issued by their mother entities and it is the responsibility of the sub organisation to develop a tangible image with a local vision, mission and strategy with targets requiring feedback. Sustainable strategies cannot be issued without a vision describing where the organisation want be in the future. Otherwise they will not come very far until they have to make a restart with a new strategy and they will never be a market leader.

<p>The purpose of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of how visions could be applied in subsidiaries and similar sub organisations of global enterprises. With increasing globalisation it becomes more difficult to work in accordance to same standards and towards a common and unifying interest. The study has a qualitative and deductive approach and is based on interviews with three global subsidiaries with some hundred people employed each.</p><p>Conclusions are that the subsidiaries visions have to be based on a <em>guiding philosophy</em> issued by their mother entities and it is the responsibility of the sub organisation to develop a <em>tangible image</em> with a local vision, mission and strategy with targets requiring feedback. Sustainable strategies cannot be issued without a vision describing where the organisation want be in the future. Otherwise they will not come very far until they have to make a restart with a new strategy and they will never be a market leader.</p>

Climate change poses significant risks to the food system, directly impacting food security and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. This study examines the critical role of local municipalities in planning for the effects of climate change on food systems through the case of the New River Valley, located in Southwestern Virginia. This study utilizes a qualitative participatory research design, including semi-structured interviews and focus groups with both food system and municipality stakeholders in the New River Valley region. Guided by Stroh's Systemic Change Process, the study seeks to advance climate adaptation planning in the region through the implementation of the first stage of the process, called "building a foundation for change." This stage involves identifying key stakeholders, getting them involved in the process, and establishing common ground. Through facilitation, stakeholders build capacity for systems thinking with a focus on collaboration. The findings of this study will inform the ongoing efforts of the Blacksburg Sustainability Department in planning for climate change transformation at a local level. This research is significant in that it addresses the gap in the literature around how municipalities are planning for climate resiliency in the food system, provides insight into the use of interviews and focus groups to bridge the creative tension gap in collaborative problem-solving through a systems thinking approach, and informs policy decisions made by local government. This study's findings have the potential to inform community-engaged efforts to plan for climate change while envisioning a more resilient and fair food system. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / In this study, researchers explore how climate change affects our food system and the steps local communities can take to address these challenges, with a focus on the New River Valley in Southwestern Virginia. By using interviews and group discussions with various stakeholders, including those involved in the food system and local government, we aim to enhance climate adaptation planning in the region. To achieve this, we focus on "building a foundation for change," which involves identifying key stakeholders, getting them involved, and finding common ground for collaboration. Through this approach, we promote systems thinking and cooperation among stakeholders. The insights from this research will be valuable for the Blacksburg Sustainability Department as they work towards climate change resiliency at the local level. This study addresses a gap in the existing literature by examining how municipalities plan for climate resilience in the food system. It also sheds light on the benefits of using interviews and group discussions to foster creative problem-solving through a systems thinking perspective. The findings of this study can contribute to community efforts in planning for climate change, with a vision for a more vibrant and equitable food system. Climate change impacts us all and understanding how local communities can respond and adapt is essential for a sustainable future.

Cette thèse envisage les effets occasionnés par la créativité collective contextualisée, plus particulièrement à l’échelle des groupes restreints, à partir d’une approche communicationnelle par les « constructions médiatrices ». Elle poursuit trois grands objectifs. Premièrement, elle s’inscrit dans une volonté d’éclaircissement de la notion de créativité de groupe en tant que phénomène (tel qu’abordé par Woodman, Sawyer et Griffin, 1993) et propose d’en faire la distinction par rapport à la méthode employée par le groupe de créativité (Demory, 1986; Aznar, 2011). Deuxièmement, elle cherche à clarifier les formes d’échanges et d’interactions au cours du processus de création-communication. Troisièmement, elle interroge les effets de ce phénomène collectif complexe de manière à mieux comprendre les conditions de déploiement de la créativité contextualisée.En prenant pour objet d’étude l’expérience vécue d’acteurs en situation par le biais d’un dispositif pédagogique, nous avons convié une communauté d’apprenants à vivre une expérience de création collective immersive et originale qui, par sa nature engageante et déroutante, était susceptible de heurter les habitudes et le cadre traditionnel d’apprentissage. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que la tension créative entraine la réorganisation constante de l’activité des groupes en influençant les « constructions médiatrices » puis, que la nature de ce contexte cristallise la cohésion et l’engagement des groupes impliqués. Par une analyse de l’activité-créativité (la créactivité) de groupe, et plus particulièrement par l’observation des actions conjointes, des rapports d’interactions et de l’implication des membres, cette étude postule que la créativité collective contextualisée participe à l’émergence de formes d’interactions. Puis, que le recours aux moyens médiateurs (aux artefacts, à la division du travail et aux règles d’interactions) s’effectue dans un mouvement constant de réorganisation de l’activité par dépassements successifs des contradictions, par la formation de noeuds de médiations. Les constructions médiatrices sont ainsi le reflet du processus de transformation du sens des interactions sociales au cours de l’activité. / This thesis considers the effects caused by contextualized collective creativity, especially in small groups, based on a communicational approach by “mediational constructs". It has three main objectives. First, it wishes to clarify the concept of group creativity as a phenomenon (as discussed by Woodman, Sawyer and Griffin, 1993) and to propose its distinction from the method used by creativity groups (Demory, 1986; Aznar, 2011). Secondly, it seeks to clarify the forms of exchange and interactions during the communicative-creative process. Third, it investigates the effects of this complex collective phenomenon for a better understanding of contextualized creativity conditions and deployment.Using a pedagogical framework, we have invited a community of learners to experiment an immersive and original collective creation experience which was likely to upset habits and the traditional framework of learning by its engaging and confusing nature. We hypothesized that creative tension leads to the constant reorganization of group activity by influencing " mediational constructs " and that the nature of this context crystallizes the group cohesion and commitment. Through an analysis of group activity-creativity (creactivity), and more specifically by observing joint actions, interactions relationships and the involvement of members, this study postulates that contextualized collective creativity participates in the emergence of forms of interactions. Then, that the use of meditational means (artefacts, division of labor and rules of interactions) takes place in a constant movement of activity reorganization by overcoming contradictions by successive formation of “mediation nodes”. Thus, the mediational constructs represent a reflection of the transformation process of the social interactions meaning during the activity.

The objective of this research study is the examination of the ideas about youth work found within the leadership team for the youth work of the Evangelical St. Reinoldi Chapel, Rupelrath. It investigates the way in which the team leaders' subjective understanding of youth work is affected by theological tensions, following David Bosch's approach “Mission in Creative Tension”. Following the Empirical-Theological Praxis Cycle, a qualitative analysis is carried out within the context of the youth leadership team of the Evangelical youth work. Data collection is undertaken in the form of a group workshop, data analysis in accordance with Grounded Theory. The results are utilised in order to develop a Dialogical Model for Transformative Youth Work as well as guiding principles for youth work with a missiological foundation. This study also aims to contribute to the development of a missiological rationale for youth work. / Philosophy & Systematic Theology

The objective of this research study is the examination of the ideas about youth work found within the leadership team for the youth work of the Evangelical St. Reinoldi Chapel, Rupelrath. It investigates the way in which the team leaders' subjective understanding of youth work is affected by theological tensions, following David Bosch's approach “Mission in Creative Tension”. Following the Empirical-Theological Praxis Cycle, a qualitative analysis is carried out within the context of the youth leadership team of the Evangelical youth work. Data collection is undertaken in the form of a group workshop, data analysis in accordance with Grounded Theory. The results are utilised in order to develop a Dialogical Model for Transformative Youth Work as well as guiding principles for youth work with a missiological foundation. This study also aims to contribute to the development of a missiological rationale for youth work. / Philosophy and Systematic Theology