The literature reveals enormous potential of knowledge management for law firms, yet research in knowledge management seems fragmented with extensive theoretical discussions but little empirical evidence. The aim of this study is to empirically determine the guidelines and techniques of knowledge management in law firms in Botswana in the light of the rapid changing legal environment. It identified the different categories of knowledge existing in the law firms in Botswana and considered the factors that would motivate or inhibit the adoption of knowledge management. It also identified the tools and technologies for knowledge management and agents and institutions necessary for knowledge management in law firms in the country. The study adopted the triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. Open and closed ended questionnaires and interview schedules were used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data that was analysed. The survey research design was adopted and census of all the lawyers in the country undertaken. Out of the 217 questionnaires distributed to the 115 registered firms, 140 completed questionnaires were returned, giving a return rate of 64.5%. From the study, it has emerged that law firms in Botswana are significantly affected by the changes in the legal environment. The adoption of formal knowledge management in law firms in Botswana is still however, at an initial stage. Most of the law firms do not have knowledge management policies and guidelines and there are still many challenges to the effective implementation of knowledge management. Nevertheless, it is clear that there is a growing awareness of the key role, importance and potential of knowledge management in an increasingly competitive environment as a means of making law firms more innovative and cost effective. Guidelines for knowledge management in law firms were established and several suggestions on how it can be successfully implemented made in the hope that this would not only improve the awareness and utilisation of knowledge management in the country but could also be adopted in other African countries whose legal environment is similar to that in Botswana. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Information Science / unrestricted

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) SLU : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

This study aimed to investigate the use of accommodation of assertive utterances (AUs) in the conversations of 49 girls aged 5;0-13;1. Based on the findings of earlier research that the use of such language is more closely related to age than to gender, it was predicted speakers would accommodate their use of and response to assertive utterances as a result of their partner's age. Naturalistic language from these speakers was collected over a year, and evidence of accommodation was observed in all speakers. Fewer AUs were used with younger speakers compared to older ones, and those used with younger girls were more likely to be produced with the sole purpose of controlling the hearer's behaviour. In addition, AUs were more likely to be complied with, or accepted, when they were produced by older girls. Given what is known about the types of language used by powerful/powerless individuals, it appears that these speakers consider age to be an indicator of status. A particularly interesting finding was that it was the age of a speaker in relation to other members of the conversation that influenced their use of and response to AUs, rather than the age of the speaker alone.

Research has shown that we presently live in an era where birth rates are low and life expectancy is high, drawing the conclusion that older people will be part of young people’s lives for longer. Intergenerational relationships refer to the relationship between two or more generations and are crucial for growth within both generations, young and old. There are many stereotypes attached to old age, and it has been found that young people take on these stereotypes through the media and society. The aim of this study was to explore young people’s perceptions of older people before and after an ethnodrama presentation. Programme evaluation which forms part of applied qualitative research was used. The participants for the research were selected from four schools across Gauteng through convenience sampling, and their ages ranged from ten to sixteen years old. The presentation consisted of an icebreaker and the ethnodrama, which is defined as the dramatisation of researched data. The ethnodrama aimed at generating a better understanding of older people, and refuting negative perceptions associated with older people and aging. It was specifically aimed to tell a story of how older people are living in South-Africa based on previous research. The data, to determine the participants’ perceptions of older people, were collected by means of questionnaires containing open-ended questions. The data were obtained before and immediately after the presentation of the ethnodrama. Thematic analysis was used to transform the data into meaningful information. Findings in this study were not intended to generalize or prove the efficacy of the programme, but to establish how young people perceive older people and whether an ethnodrama presentation had any influence on these perceptions. The findings of the evaluation before the presentation revealed that young people have ambivalent, stereotypical or favourable perceptions of older people. The evaluation directly after the presentation showed a more nuanced description of older people, whereby younger people did not just describe them according to their identities as older people, but also described the relationship between young and old, and expressed an understanding for older people’s needs. In conclusion, the ethnodrama seemed to have an impact on younger people’s perceptions of older people, although stereotypical perceptions remained throughout the study. It is recommended that young people are encouraged to interact with older people from a young age in order to base their perceptions on first-hand accounts of experience gained through these interaction, and possibly dismiss any negative perceptions they may have. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Research has shown that we presently live in an era where birth rates are low and life expectancy is high, drawing the conclusion that older people will be part of young people’s lives for longer. Intergenerational relationships refer to the relationship between two or more generations and are crucial for growth within both generations, young and old. There are many stereotypes attached to old age, and it has been found that young people take on these stereotypes through the media and society. The aim of this study was to explore young people’s perceptions of older people before and after an ethnodrama presentation. Programme evaluation which forms part of applied qualitative research was used. The participants for the research were selected from four schools across Gauteng through convenience sampling, and their ages ranged from ten to sixteen years old. The presentation consisted of an icebreaker and the ethnodrama, which is defined as the dramatisation of researched data. The ethnodrama aimed at generating a better understanding of older people, and refuting negative perceptions associated with older people and aging. It was specifically aimed to tell a story of how older people are living in South-Africa based on previous research. The data, to determine the participants’ perceptions of older people, were collected by means of questionnaires containing open-ended questions. The data were obtained before and immediately after the presentation of the ethnodrama. Thematic analysis was used to transform the data into meaningful information. Findings in this study were not intended to generalize or prove the efficacy of the programme, but to establish how young people perceive older people and whether an ethnodrama presentation had any influence on these perceptions. The findings of the evaluation before the presentation revealed that young people have ambivalent, stereotypical or favourable perceptions of older people. The evaluation directly after the presentation showed a more nuanced description of older people, whereby younger people did not just describe them according to their identities as older people, but also described the relationship between young and old, and expressed an understanding for older people’s needs. In conclusion, the ethnodrama seemed to have an impact on younger people’s perceptions of older people, although stereotypical perceptions remained throughout the study. It is recommended that young people are encouraged to interact with older people from a young age in order to base their perceptions on first-hand accounts of experience gained through these interaction, and possibly dismiss any negative perceptions they may have. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Title:. Influence of physical activity on body fat reduction Objectives: The main aim of this thesis is to verify the effect of physical activity on body fat reduction compared with a diet. Methods: Literature search, creation of intervention programs and their implementation, data analysis and graphical presentation of results. Results: Changes in body composition among different groups was not statistically significant. Effect of physical activity on body fat reduction is not confirmed - this hypothesis has been rejected Key words: The exercise program, diet, body composition, gait, energy expenditure and intake, physical activity, motivation, reduction of subcutaneous fat, data collection and analysis, exercise and diet