This study involved a qualitative investigation of consulting engineers' information needs and information-seeking behaviour within the context of their project-related work roles and tasks. The research design includes a study of various information behaviour models, a systematic review of the subject literature and the exploration of relevant qualitative research methods. Data was collected through time-line interviews. The findings show how consulting engineers' work roles and tasks determine their information needs during various engineering project stages. These factors also determine the use of various sources during information seeking. Consulting engineers use a variety of information sources but rely mainly on interpersonal communication to gather information. Digital cameras are used by consulting engineers to record progress in a project. They also use Internet technologies such as email and FTP sites to communicate project related information. Recommendations were put forward for the development of an Internet-based information service for consulting engineers. / Information science / M.Inf.

This study involved a qualitative investigation of consulting engineers' information needs and information-seeking behaviour within the context of their project-related work roles and tasks. The research design includes a study of various information behaviour models, a systematic review of the subject literature and the exploration of relevant qualitative research methods. Data was collected through time-line interviews. The findings show how consulting engineers' work roles and tasks determine their information needs during various engineering project stages. These factors also determine the use of various sources during information seeking. Consulting engineers use a variety of information sources but rely mainly on interpersonal communication to gather information. Digital cameras are used by consulting engineers to record progress in a project. They also use Internet technologies such as email and FTP sites to communicate project related information. Recommendations were put forward for the development of an Internet-based information service for consulting engineers. / Information science / M.Inf.

by Keung Wing-fai, Frederick. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-111). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGMENT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.viii / LIST OF FIGURE --- p.ix / CHAPTER / Chapter I --- INTRODUCTION TO STUDY --- p.1 / State of Art --- p.1 / Objectives of the Study --- p.4 / Methodology --- p.4 / A Model for study --- p.4 / Deductive Method --- p.6 / Inductive Method --- p.8 / Framework of Study --- p.8 / Chapter II --- QUANTITY SURVEYING AS A SERVICE --- p.10 / Introduction --- p.10 / Quantity Surveying in the Surveying Profession --- p.11 / Land Surveying --- p.13 / Quantity Surveying --- p.13 / General Practice Surveying --- p.13 / Building Surveying --- p.14 / Quantity Surveying in the Construction Industry --- p.14 / The Construction Process --- p.14 / Roles of Key Participants in the Construction Process --- p.17 / Relationship of Key Participants in the Construction Process --- p.18 / Principal Services of the Quantity Surveying Profession --- p.21 / Preliminary Cost Advice --- p.21 / Cost Planning --- p.22 / Contracting Methods --- p.22 / Tendering --- p.23 / Valuation of Construction Work --- p.24 / Project Management --- p.24 / Chapter III --- DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION --- p.25 / Life Cycle Analysis of the Profession --- p.25 / Concept of Product Life Cycle --- p.25 / Concept of Profession --- p.27 / Noel McDonagh and Professor Peter Brandon's Framework --- p.27 / Profession Life Cycle of Quantity Surveying Applications (Services) --- p.28 / Profession Life Cycle of Quantity Surveying Skills --- p.32 / Profession Life Cycle of Quantity Surveying Knowledge --- p.35 / Future Development of the Quantity Surveying Profession --- p.36 / Application of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Model to the Quantity Surveying Profession --- p.36 / Application of Ansoff's Product/Market Expansion Grid to the Formulation of Development Strategies for the Quantity Surveying Profession --- p.39 / Sequence of Development of New Services --- p.42 / Chapter IV --- ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION IN HONG KONG --- p.45 / Economic Environment --- p.45 / Economic Background of Hong Kong --- p.45 / Construction Industry in Hong Kong --- p.47 / Estimation of Private Sector Quantity Surveying Market Size and Profitability of the Quantity Surveying Profession in Hong Kong --- p.48 / Competitive (Immediate) Environment --- p.49 / Competitors --- p.50 / Potential Entrants --- p.52 / Substitutes --- p.53 / Buyers --- p.54 / Suppliers --- p.56 / Conclusions --- p.56 / Chapter V --- EXPLORATION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUANTITY SURVEYING PROFESSION IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA --- p.57 / Introduction --- p.57 / Major Factors Affecting Foreign Investment in China --- p.58 / Special Economic Zone --- p.61 / Professional Design Services in China --- p.62 / The Role of Quantity Surveyors in the PRC --- p.63 / Chapter VI --- STRATEGIC CHOICES TO QUANTITY SURVEYING CONSULTANCY FIRMS IN HONG KONG --- p.65 / Segmentation of Market --- p.65 / Market Segmentation by Client Types --- p.66 / Market Segmentation by Work Types --- p.70 / Opportunities and Threats --- p.71 / Levels of Strategies --- p.72 / Literature Review on Strategies --- p.73 / Strategic Directions for Private Sector Quantity Surveying Consultant Firms in Hong Kong --- p.76 / Chapter VII --- RESULTS OF QUESTIONNAIRE TO LOCAL QUANTITY SURVEYING CONSULTANCY FIRMS --- p.87 / Introduction --- p.87 / Collective Results --- p.89 / Characteristic of Firms --- p.89 / Carrying Out of Corporate Planning --- p.90 / Jobs-in-hand and Income Classification --- p.92 / Jobs-in-hand classified according to Work Types --- p.92 / Jobs-in-hand classified according to Client Types --- p.93 / Income classified according to Service Types --- p.93 / Strategic Directions for the Hong Kong Office --- p.94 / Relative Importance of Future Clients --- p.98 / Chapter VIII --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.100 / Strategic Direction of The Quantity Surveying Profession as a Whole in Hong Kong --- p.100 / Strategic Directions of Individual Quantity Surveying Practices in Hong Kong --- p.102 / Summary --- p.105 / REFERENCES --- p.107 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.110 / APPENDIX / Chapter 1. --- "Questionnaire on ""Strategic Management of Quantity Surveying firms in Hong Kong"""

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T14:16:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Cristina Giampaoli.pdf: 1305664 bytes, checksum: a34d2e7bc608e13c5e0c0c4ec2242c2f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-17 / This dissertation has the objective of unveiling the dynamics of social work in business advice, providing services on an outsourced basis to companies. This condition appears with a contingency which was raised following the brazilian productive restructuring, whose impact has affected the working class as a whole, which the social worker belongs. The productive restructuring triggered, among other factors, changes in the operations of different sectors of the capitalist economic activity, changing productive structures and of the job market. The repercussions, in Brazil, among other factors, have resulted in different forms of precariousness of work and have affected the market and the conditions of work of the social worker. Comprehend those alterations in the profession, in the occupational space of the Social Work in the capitalist companies, contradictory field of activity, initially requires rescue the reasons that make the company hire a social worker; intrude the inflections caused by the profession, especially in this professional space, from the productive restructuring; and also extend the concept of consulting, as it forms and the space of services to the profession. In addition to these items, in this dissertation, the concepts about outsourcing, flexibility and precariousness are studied looking for the reflection about this dimension involved in this form of hiring. The accomplished empirical study have had the participation of six consulting professionals and it allowed observe the presence of the social work in the company apart from the contractual aspect. The professional preserves yours relative autonomy, albeit limited, in counselor activities, in the role of external consultant, within the required limits and possibilities, in the occupational space of consultancies in private companies. Without denying the conditionality placed by the employee condition, within your competencies, the professional seeks to effect the ethical-professional project / Esta dissertação tem como objetivo desvelar a dinâmica do trabalho de assistentes sociais em consultorias empresariais, prestando serviços de forma terceirizada em empresas. Revela-se, essa condição, como uma contingência surgida a partir da reestruturação produtiva brasileira, cujo impacto afetou a classe trabalhadora como um todo, da qual faz parte o assistente social. A reestruturação produtiva desencadeou, dentre outros fatores, mudanças nas operações de diferentes setores da atividade econômica capitalista, alterando estruturas produtivas e de mercado de trabalho. As repercussões, no Brasil, dentre outros fatores, resultaram em diferentes formas de precarização do trabalho e atingiram o mercado e as condições de trabalho do assistente social. Compreender essas alterações na profissão, no espaço ocupacional do Serviço Social nas empresas capitalistas, campo contraditório de atuação, requer inicialmente resgatar os motivos pelos quais a empresa contrata um assistente social; adentrar as inflexões causadas na profissão, especialmente nesse espaço profissional, a partir da reestruturação produtiva; e também ampliar o conceito de consultoria, como forma e espaço de prestação de serviços para a profissão. Além desses itens, nesta dissertação, os conceitos sobre terceirização, flexibilização e precarização são estudados visando à reflexão sobre a dimensão envolvida nesse formato de contratação. O estudo empírico realizado teve a participação de seis profissionais de consultorias e permitiu observar o modo de presença do assistente social na empresa para além do aspecto contratual. O profissional preserva sua autonomia relativa, ainda que limitada, em atividades de caráter orientador, no papel de consultor externo, dentro de limites e possibilidades requeridos, no espaço ocupacional das consultorias em empresas privadas. Sem negar a condicionalidade colocada pela condição de trabalhador assalariado, dentro de suas competências, o profissional busca efetivar o projeto ético-profissional

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the role of social networks in the information behaviour of consulting engineers. Wilson’s (1999; 2000) encapsulating information behaviour definition, and the contribution other researchers made to it, was used to develop an information behaviour framework for the study. In an in depth literature review it was learnt that engineering work is about team work and that engineers rely on their personal knowledge and expertise, as well as the knowledge and expertise of other experts in the field. This was confirmed by the findings of the empirical study. Throughout the literature review it was shown that the interaction between elements in the context and the personal dimension gives rise to information needs, which in turn prompt certain information behaviour activities. Narrative inquiry, a relatively new information behaviour data collection and analysis technique, guided the study. Fifteen consulting engineers who are involved in building projects participated in the study. Two chapters were dedicated to data analysis where the engineers’ stories of an engineering project were re-storied to learn more about the context of engineering work and how engineers operate. The findings revealed that the team members of projects involving consulting engineers come from different organisations. It was found that consulting engineers collaboratively seek, gather, use, communicate and share information. Interdependency emerged as a prominent element in the effective structures of consulting engineers’ personal dimension and evidently plays an important role in collaborative information behaviour in consulting engineers’ team work. It serves as a contributing factor in the natural forming of their social networks, which proved to be important sources of engineering information. The findings contributed to the refinement of the information behaviour framework developed for the purpose of this study. The framework graphically illustrates consulting engineers’ information behaviour. This study contributes to an understanding of the important role social networks play in consulting engineers’ successful accomplishment of engineering projects in everyday life / Information Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 5324.pdf: 2666277 bytes, checksum: a4ed670ff974b3a42ae4a7a23edabe60 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-24 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The emergence of Sustainable Development and thereafter , of Corporate Sustainability, integrated representative elites of social space that until then were developing independently .Furthermore it showed new ways of conduct in the corporative environment ,favoring the emergence of a new market ,with new actors and services, specialized in orientating the client towards a sustainable conduct . As this idea is institutionalized it starts being adopted among many consulting groups , inaugurating new polarization in this universe, .This doctorate research supported on the new Economic Sociology by Pierre Bourdieui investigated the processes of identity formation and identity construction, such as their relations in this new constituted social space, of Consulting Sustainability in Brazil. / O surgimento do Desenvolvimento Sustentável e posteriormente, da Sustentabilidade Empresarial, integrou elites representantes de espaços sociais que até aquele momento se desenvolviam de formas independentes. Além disso, evidenciou novas formas de conduta no ambiente corporativo, favorecendo o surgimento de um novo mercado, com novos atores e serviços especializados em orientar clientes na direção de uma conduta Sustentável . Na medida em que essa ideia se institucionaliza, passa a ser adotada por diversos grupos de consultorias, inaugurando novas polarizações neste universo. Essa pesquisa de doutorado, apoiada nas inspirações da Nova Sociologia Econômica de Pierre Bourdieu, investigou os processos de formação e de construção de identidades, tais como suas relações neste novo espaço social constituído, das consultorias em Sustentabilidade no Brasil.

The field of technical consultancy is centered around the value that each individual consultant can provide. This value has its ground in the set of skills and knowledge which the consultant possesses, and from an organizational standpoint, must be probably managed as to be fully utilized within the organization. The knowledge that consultants acquire during project missions is not every fully utilized within the base organization, due to the restrictions of knowledge barriers, prohibiting the transfer and retention of knowledge.    Knowledge management therefore becomes an important aspect to consider in the technical consultancy field, as technology is constantly changing at a higher pace. This are of knowledge management has been neglected in the past, as most research regard knowledge management focus on more linear organization and management consultancy. This report aims to identify what and how knowledge barriers are created within the technical consultancy field and how the barriers affect knowledge acquisitions, transfer, and retention. This report follows a qualitative study approach, with semi structured interviews of 12 managers in key positions at 9 consulting firms, ranging from senior consultancy managers to senior consultants.    The results of the empirical study identified 19 knowledge barriers affecting knowledge acquisition, transfer, and retention. The aspect of knowledge and organizational culture was found to be a foundational part of KM affecting the entire cycle of KM. The major barriers related to technical consultancy holding specialized and diverse knowledge, a lack of adequate knowledge management systems implemented, economic factors affecting KM utilization, market drivers creating barriers and internal as well as external cultural factors affecting the KM cycle.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study project was to research different consulting courses with the primary goal to identify a general framework to be used for a consultancy course. This framework will also serve to expand and support the current consultancy course used by the University. The initial goal was to get an understanding of the different skills required of a successful consultant. Secondly, to identify a general framework the consultant can use to understand a business problem, to solve it and to implement the solution successfully. Ultimately this study project was to expand upon these skills and framework to increase the consultant's cumulative knowledge. Resistance and change were focused upon with the goal of giving the consultant a set of skills to lead successfully. The skill of negotiation, identified by several sources as an integral part of consultancy, was also discussed in detail. The framework that has been identified is comprised of information gathering, problem identification and solution, feedback to the client, scope, priorities and estimates and lastly, implementation and engagement. Several sources have been identified to support the consultant in finding further information to ensure successful consultation endeavors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studieprojek was om verskillende konsultasie kursusse te ondersoek met die primêre doel om 'n raamwerk te identifiseer wat gebruik kan word vir 'n konsultasie kursus. Dit sal dan ook dien as uitbreiding en aanvulling tot die huidige konsultasie kursus wat deur die Universiteit aangebied word. Spesifieke doelwitte was om eerstens die vaardighede wat suksesvolle konsultasie vereis, te verstaan. Tweedens was dit om 'n algemene raamwerk te identifiseer wat die konsultant kan toepas om 'n besigheidsprobeem te verstaan, op te los en om die oplossing suksesvol te implementeer. Die verdere doel van hierdie studieprojek was om dan verder uit te brei op daardie vaardighede en raamwerk om die konsultant te ondersteun gedurende projekte. Daar is klem gelê op die proses van verandering en weerstand met die doel om die konsultant te help om dit suksesvol te lei. Die vaardighede van onderhandeling, wat deur verskeie bronne as 'n integrale deel van konsultasie geïdentifiseer is, is ook bespreek. Die raamwerk wat geïdentifiseer is, is om inligting in te samel, probleme te identifiseer en op te los, terugvoer aan die kliënt, omvang, prioriteite en benaderings en laastens implementasie. Verskeie bronne vir selfstudie is ook geïdentifiseer om die konsultant te ondersteun om verdere kennis op doen om konsultasie projekte suksesvol te voltooi.

Telefonrådgivning till föräldrar med sjuka barn är en stor del av arbetet inom primärvård och sjukvårdsrådgivning. Telefonsjuksköterskor ställs inför många utmaningar i samtalen med föräldrar. Syftet med den här studien var att belysa telefonsjuksköterskors erfarenheter av telefonrådgivning till föräldrar med sjuka barn. Datainsamlingen gjordes genom kvalitativa forskningsintervjuer och analyserades med innehållsanalys. I resultatet framkom tre kategorier; att skapa ett samtal, att bedöma och prioritera barn samt att möta vårdsökande föräldrar. Telefonsjuksköterskor hade erfarenhet av olika svårigheter med att göra en bedömning av barnets hälsotillstånd via telefonen. En stor del av samtalen ägnades åt att bemöta oro och skapa trygghet. Till hjälp i bedömningen fanns ett datoriserat bedömningsstöd men också ett kollegialt stöd. Telefonsjuksköterskans uppgift handlade till stor del om att förmedla kunskap till föräldrarna och det upplevdes viktigt att i samtalen uppnå samförstånd. Telefonsjuksköterskor hade erfarenhet av att möta föräldrar i olika sammanhang såsom föräldrar med annan kulturell bakgrund och särboende för-äldrar. Föräldrar sökte gärna information på internet. Telefonsjuksköterskor ställdes inför många ut-maningar men upplevde ändå sitt arbete som tillfredsställande. Det behövs handledning och fördjupad utbildning med inriktning på telefonrådgivning då det är nödvändigt med en bred och god kompetens för att på ett bra sätt utföra uppdraget som telefonsjuksköterska. / Telephone consulting for parents with sick children is a large part of health consulting. Telephone nurses faces many challenges in the calls with parents. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the experiences of telephone consulting to parents with sick children. Qualitative research interviews were made and analyzed through content analysis. The result is presented in three categories; to create a conversation, to assess and prioritize children and to meet care-seeking parents. Telephone nurses experienced many difficulties in the assessment of a sick child’s state of health. A large part of the conversations were spent addressing concerns and provide security. A digital appraisal system was available as well as collegial support. A major part of the conversation was to conveying knowledge and achieving consensus was perceived as vital. Telephone nurses met parents in various situations such as parents with a different cultural and ethnic background as well as parents who were living apart. Parents today are seeking information on the internet. Telephone nurses are facing many difficult challenges but are still perceiving their work as satisfying. There is a need for further education focusing on telephone consulting as wide and deep competence is essential in order to be able to perform telephone consulting.

Bakgrund: I takt med att antalet miljonärer ökat i Sverige har antalet private banking-kunder ökat. Private bankings främsta syfte är att genom rådgivning uppnå kundens finansiella mål, utan att falla i psykologiska fallgropar. För att kunna upprätthålla en effektiv rådgivning krävs en djupare kunskap om förekomsten av psykologiska fallgropar och deras påverkan på rådgivningsprocessen inom private banking.Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att kartlägga private banking rådgivares kännedom och strategier inom rådgivningsprocessen med fokus på problematiken med anchoring och framing. Uppsatsen syftar även till att, med utgångspunkt i ämnets relevanta teorier och tidigare forskning, analysera och utvärdera hanteringen av anchoring och framing i rådgivningsprocessen inom private banking.Genomförande: Uppsatsens explorativa tillvägagångssätt och kvalitativa ansats kombinerar en litteraturstudie med intervjuer och tester med tio verksamma rådgivare inom private banking. Den insamlade empirin utgör grunden för kartläggningen av private banking rådgivarnas kännedom och strategier i rådgivningsprocessen kopplat till problematiken kring anchoring och framing. En kartläggning som tillsammans med ämnets relevanta teorier och tidigare forskning analyseras och utvärderas för att addera mervärde till rådgivningsprocessen.Slutsats: Anchoring och framing förekommer inom rådgivningsprocessens samtliga delar och hanteras omedvetet av private banking rådgivarna. Rådgivarna har en låg ingående kännedom om fenomenen anchoring och framing men banken har ett intresse i att fördjupa sin kunskap inom forskningsområdet. Anchoring och framing är inte ett problem av avgörande bemärkelse vid rådgivning inom private banking. / Background: As the number of millionaires increased in Sweden, the number of private banking clients increased. The primary purpose within private banking is to achieve the client's financial goals through advising, without falling into psychological biases. In order to maintain an effective consulting requires a deeper knowledge of the existence of the psychological biases and their impact on the consulting process in private banking.Aim: The purpose of this thesis is to identify private banking advisers knowledge and strategies in the consulting process with a focus on the problematics of anchoring and framing. The thesis also aim to, based on relevant theories and previous research, analyze and evaluate the handling of anchoring and framing in the consulting process in private banking.Completion: The thesis exploratory and qualitative approach combines a literature review with interviews and tests with ten active advisers within private banking. The collected empirical data form the chart of private banking advisers knowledge and strategies in the consulting process with focus on the problematics of anchoring and framing. A chart which together with relevant theories and previous research is analyzed and evaluated in order to add value to the consulting process.Conclusion: Anchoring and framing exists in all parts of the consulting process and the private banking advisers handled their existence unconsciously. The advisers have a low ingoing knowledge of the phenomena anchoring and framing, but the bank has an interest to deepen their knowledge of the research field. Anchoring and framing is not an issue of vital sense in consulting process within private banking.