Thesis is focused on ceramic cutting tools in terms of their labeling, composition, use and production of well-known manufacturers cutting tools. Part of this work is comparison of the selected range of manufacturers.

Humour can be a valuable tool for psychotherapists, if executed in a respectful manner. Laughter has myriad health benefits, and is associated with reduced depression, increased self-esteem, and lower perceived levels of stress (Eckstein et al., 2003). It can strengthen the therapeutic alliance and simplify the process of confronting clients on dysfunctional behaviours (Thomas et al., 2015). However, rigorous empirical study of humour in psychotherapy is scarce, as is clinical training in its use (Franzini, 2001). Ergo, this study queries: (1) How do counsellors and psychotherapists use humour in their therapy sessions? (2) In what contexts do counsellors and psychotherapists perceive humour use as being appropriate and beneficial in therapy? And (3) In what contexts do counsellors and psychotherapists perceive humour use as being potentially harmful? A semi-structured interview protocol was used to interview seven psychotherapists in Canada with a minimum of five years of work experience. Interviews were audio recorded, and data obtained was analyzed using Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2012). This study examined the experiences of psychotherapists to determine how they use humour safely and effectively in therapy sessions, with the aim of gaining knowledge to inform clinical training on how best to minimize the potential for harm, and maximize the therapeutic benefits of humour in therapy. Eleven main themes, each with several subthemes, emerged in the data analysis. Implications for therapy, counsellor education and further research are discussed.

This research investigated whether Group Information Behavioural Norms (GIBNs) are correlated with the effective use of a collaborative information system. Previous research seeking to conceptualize ‘social influence’ in technology adoption has not attempted to include GIBNs. The dependent variable, ‘Effective Use’, comprised two subjective Effectiveness Judgments and three objective Actual Use measures. A mediating variable, ‘Group Adoption’ (GA) of the information system, was conceived as a behavioural expression of group norms and hypothesized to correlate with both GIBNs and Effective Use. It was also hypothesized that GIBNs would have a stronger relationship with Effective Use than the widely used Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) dimensions of Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use. A mixed-methods case study approach was used because measurement of stable norms in workplace groups was required. A medium-sized engineering firm was chosen, and the collaborative information system studied was Knowledge Forum (KF), an educational research tool that was implemented to promote the exchange of information. There were both expected and unexpected results. GIBNs outperformed the TAM in explaining all three Actual Use variables, although the TAM was the sole significant correlate for one Effectiveness Judgment variable. Information Sharing and Proactive Information Use had opposite correlations with Effective Use, suggesting the existence of distinct information ‘sharing’ and ‘proactive use’ group norms. In addition, the TAM and GIBNs seem to have complementary influences on Effective Use. GA was unexpectedly observed to have the strongest relationship with Effective Use, having a significant relationship with four of five Effective Use measures. GA was also observed to mediate the TAM but not GIBNs. The results of a case study cannot be extensively generalized. However, the findings are important in three ways. First, this research provides evidence that GIBNs and the TAM exert complementary influences on Effective Use, and that Effective Use is best explained by also including GA. Second, GA may represent a valuable ‘social influence’ extension to the TAM, as a behavioural expression of group norms for collaborative information systems. Finally, this study illustrates the importance of a multi-dimensional conceptualization of ‘Effective Use’ of an information system.

This research investigated whether Group Information Behavioural Norms (GIBNs) are correlated with the effective use of a collaborative information system. Previous research seeking to conceptualize ‘social influence’ in technology adoption has not attempted to include GIBNs. The dependent variable, ‘Effective Use’, comprised two subjective Effectiveness Judgments and three objective Actual Use measures. A mediating variable, ‘Group Adoption’ (GA) of the information system, was conceived as a behavioural expression of group norms and hypothesized to correlate with both GIBNs and Effective Use. It was also hypothesized that GIBNs would have a stronger relationship with Effective Use than the widely used Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) dimensions of Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use. A mixed-methods case study approach was used because measurement of stable norms in workplace groups was required. A medium-sized engineering firm was chosen, and the collaborative information system studied was Knowledge Forum (KF), an educational research tool that was implemented to promote the exchange of information. There were both expected and unexpected results. GIBNs outperformed the TAM in explaining all three Actual Use variables, although the TAM was the sole significant correlate for one Effectiveness Judgment variable. Information Sharing and Proactive Information Use had opposite correlations with Effective Use, suggesting the existence of distinct information ‘sharing’ and ‘proactive use’ group norms. In addition, the TAM and GIBNs seem to have complementary influences on Effective Use. GA was unexpectedly observed to have the strongest relationship with Effective Use, having a significant relationship with four of five Effective Use measures. GA was also observed to mediate the TAM but not GIBNs. The results of a case study cannot be extensively generalized. However, the findings are important in three ways. First, this research provides evidence that GIBNs and the TAM exert complementary influences on Effective Use, and that Effective Use is best explained by also including GA. Second, GA may represent a valuable ‘social influence’ extension to the TAM, as a behavioural expression of group norms for collaborative information systems. Finally, this study illustrates the importance of a multi-dimensional conceptualization of ‘Effective Use’ of an information system.

There is a current trend of constantly increasing emphasis on the cost-effective operation of vehicles in freight and passenger transportation. One of the efforts is to reduce the unproductive time of the driver and the vehicle which is spent on maintenance and repairs. The unproductive time can be significantly minimized by well-timed and faultless diagnostics that is, ideally, without need for a service visit. Real-time remote diagnostics, including an application that evaluates the current state of the vehicle, is a modern tool for efficient use of the vehicle.

Business Intelligence-system möjliggör för organisationer att fatta datadrivna beslut i en miljö som är i ständig förändring. Likt andra informationssystem skapas värdet av Business Intelligence-system vid användningen av det. För att Business Intelligence ska ha en positiv inverkan på organisationen krävs effektiv användning av systemet. Trots vetskapen om vikten av effektiv användning av Business Intelligence-system finns det en avsaknad av empiriska studier kring ämnet. Syftet med denna studie är att öka kunskapen kring vilka aktiviteter som bidrar till effektiv användning av Business Intelligence. Därmed är studiens frågeställning: Vilka aktiviteter bidrar till effektiv användning av Business Intelligence? För att identifiera aktiviteter som bidrar till effektiv användning av Business Intelligence har en kvalitativ metod tillämpats. Semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts med respondenter som på olika sätt arbetar med Business Intelligence inom organisationer. Problem som kan hindra effektiv användning av Business Intelligence har identifierats i tidigare litteratur. Respektive problem har kopplats till en eller flera dimensioner för effektiv användning. Aktiviteterna har kommit fram genom att studien har tagit del av vad som utförs i syfte att hantera problem som hindrar effektiv användning. Studien har bekräftat aktiviteter som bidrar till effektiv användning från tidigare forskning samt kompletterat dessa med fem nya aktiviteter. I studiens slutsats presenteras de aktiviteter som bidrar till effektiv användning av Business Intelligence, som kompletterar tidigare forskning. / Business Intelligence-systems enables companies to make data driven decisions in a constantly changing environment. Like other information systems, the value of Business Intelligence-systems is created in the use of it. For Business Intelligence to make a positive impact, effective use of it is required. Despite the understanding of the importance of effective use of Business Intelligence-system there is a lack of empirical research regarding the field. The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding regarding the activities that supports effective use of Business Intelligence. Therefore, this study aims to answer the following research question: What activities supports effective use of Business Intelligence? To answer the research question, a qualitative research method has been applied and semi-structured interviews have been implemented with informants that work with Business Intelligence in different ways within their respective organization. Prior research has discovered problems that hinders effective use of Business Intelligence. Each problem has been linked to one or more dimensions of effective use of Business Intelligence. The activities have been identified through understanding how organizations handle the problems that hinder effective use. These activities have then been linked to dimensions of effective use. The study has, apart from confirming several activities found in prior research as contributors to effective use, identified five new activities. In the conclusion, activities that support effective use of Business Intelligence are presented as a complement to prior research.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:23:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leonardo Godoy Drigo.pdf: 1613271 bytes, checksum: 8304f420e4b4444f439987fa5291aeff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-16 / The aim of this study was to observe the popular initiative as an instrument of execution of the democratic principle in Brazil. The hypotheses were the failure of normative forecasting theme in the Federal Constitution, as well as the existence of widespread and dominant interpretations which would tend to present even more restricted scope of this instrument of popular participation, well as social and economic factors involved in citizenship education and the media, for example, that promote belittling of the popular initiative in Brazil. Thus, using literature review and deductive method of dealing with the topic, came to the conclusion that indeed the use of the tool is small, much smaller than desirable in a political regime of semi-direct democracy, and that contribute to the poor efficiency of the popular initiative both confused and diminished constitutional provision of the theme, as the almost non-existent infra forecast, besides the already mentioned social and economic factors, which, in the current Brazilian reality, need further development so that they can make further progress of democratic practices in the country / O objetivo do presente estudo foi observar a iniciativa popular como instrumento de efetivação do princípio democrático no Brasil. As hipóteses avençadas eram da insuficiência da previsão normativa do tema na Constituição Federal, bem como a da existência de interpretações difundidas e dominantes cuja tendência seria a restrição ainda maior da abrangência desse instrumento de participação popular, além de fatores sociais e econômicos, envolvidos com a educação para a cidadania e a comunicação social, por exemplo, que promovem um amesquinhamento da iniciativa popular no Brasil. Assim, com utilização de análise bibliográfica e método dedutivo de abordagem dos temas, chegou-se à conclusão de que realmente a utilização do referido instrumento é pequena, muito menor que a desejável num regime político de Democracia semidireta, e que contribuem para a pouca efetividade da iniciativa popular tanto a previsão constitucional confusa e diminuta do tema, quanto a quase inexistente previsão infraconstitucional, além dos já citados fatores sociais e econômicos, que, na realidade brasileira atual, necessitam de maior desenvolvimento para que possam permitir um avanço das práticas democráticas no país

Darbo tikslas. Atskleisti LSMU Kauno klinikų šeimos medicinos klinikoje dirbančių šeimos gydytojų ir besilankančių pacientų požiūrį į gydytojo medicininės konsultacijos tikslus ir pacientui skirto laiko panaudojimą apsilankymo metu.
Uždaviniai: 1.Atskleisti gydytojų ir pacientų požiūrį į medicininės konsultacijos tikslus; 2.Atskleisti gydytojų ir pacientų lūkesčius, susijusius su gydytojų/pacientų elgesiu konsultacijose; 3.Išryškinti pagrindinius veiksmingo gydytojo konsultacijos laiko panaudojimo kliuvinius; 4.Atskleisti ir aptarti šeimos gydytojo konsultacijai skirto laiko panaudojimo optimizavimo galimybes.
Tyrimo metodika. Tyrimo objektas – LSMU Kauno klinikų šeimos medicinos klinikos šeimos gydytojai ir klinikos pacientai. Tyrimas atliktas pagal kokybinio tyrimo metodologiją. Duomenys rinkti naudojant pusiau struktūruoto interviu metodą. Tyrimo analizė atlikta naudojant teminės analizės metodą.
Rezultatai. Tyrimo metu atsiskleidė, kad kreipdamiesi į šeimos gydytoją pacientai tikisi gauti gydymą ir pagalbą įveikiant ligą. Gydytojams pagrindinis tikslas yra suteikti pagalbą. Paaiškėjo, kad gydytojai tikisi iš pacientų bendradarbiavimo ir pasitikėjimo, o pacientai – dėmeso pacientui kaip asmeniui bei jo problemai ir galimybę gauti reikiamą informaciją. Atskleidėme, kad veiksmingo gydytojo konsultacijos laiko panaudojimo kliuvinių yra tarpasmeninėje gydytojo ir paciento sąveikoje bei netobuloje sveikatos priežiūros... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the study. Reveal general practitioners' and outpatients' attitude to aims of medical consultation and to outpatients' given time use effectiveness during visitation at Clinic of Family Medicine, LUHS Kaunas Clinics. Objectives: 1. Reveal general practitioners’ and outpatients’ attitude to aims of medical consultation; 2. Reveal general practitioners’ and outpatients’ expectations which are related to their behaviour during consultation. 3. Emphasize main obstacles of effective physician’s consultation. 4. Reveal and discuss the given time use optimization opportunities for general practitioners’ consultation. Methodology of the study. Object of the study – general practitioners and outpatients at Clinic of Family Medicine, LUHS Kaunas Clinics. The study was conducted by qualitative research methodology. The data was collected using a semi-structured interview method. The study was examined using thematic analysis. Results. The study revealed that patients who see a general practitioner expect to receive treatment and assistance to overcome a disease. The main aim of general practitioners is to give assistance to patients. It was identified that physicians expect cooperation and trust from patients while patients - attention to their complaints and to be treated as individual persons as well as to receive the necessary information. We have estimated that obstacles of the effective use of medical appointments are interpersonal physician-patient interaction and... [to full text]

This dissertation provides a context-specific theory to understand how city cultural organizations can best use digital stories and impression management to create a desired image or enhance public perceptions. The generated model describes how a digital storytelling information system can affect user impressions of a city and the outcomes of using such a system. The study responds to a growing interest among cultural organizations regarding how to use emerging information technologies in the communication of cultural content. An interpretive case study was conducted on the “Love Your City, Share Your Stories” digital storytelling initiative in Hamilton, Canada. Data collection included 95 one-on-one interviews with the general public, the gathering of documents, and the researcher’s personal observations of participants during the data collection process. A systematic approach of data analysis was utilized to capture participant opinions and visualize this information in a data structure. Theories from the literature on information systems, organizational impression management, and narrative transportation ground the study. Findings suggest that a digital storytelling information system can be a viable tool to share city cultural heritage information and positively affect people’s perceptions of a city. The overall outcome of creating/maintaining a positive favorable impression is shaped through a layered experience of benefits by the users. Users are first personally engaged and informed about a city’s cultural heritage (primary benefits), and then they are influenced and inspired positively towards the city (secondary benefits). Findings show that technology characteristics (i.e., media quality and story quality) are critical factors affecting outcomes of use, and that user characteristics and context of use both moderate this relationship. This research provides theoretical insights and practical recommendations for researchers and city cultural organizations wishing to explore the utilization of newer information technologies, such as digital storytelling, for impression management. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This dissertation aims to understand how city cultural organizations can best use digital stories and impression management to enhance public perceptions. The generated model describes how a digital storytelling information system can affect user impressions of a city. The study responds to a growing interest among cultural organizations regarding how to use emerging information technologies in the communication of cultural content. Findings suggest that a digital storytelling information system can be a viable tool to share city cultural heritage information and positively affect people’s perceptions of a city. Findings show that technology characteristics (i.e., media quality and story quality) are critical factors affecting outcomes of use and that user characteristics and context of use both moderate this relationship. Theoretical insights and practical recommendations are provided for researchers and city cultural organizations wishing to explore the utilization of newer information technologies, such as digital storytelling, for impression management.

This study aimed at identifying the socio-demographic and service related factors influencing intra uterine contraceptive device (IUD) utilization among family planning clients in Addis Ababa. With a quantitative, cross sectional descriptive design approach, data was collected using structured questionnaires administered by healthcare supervisors. A total of 366 family planning clients and 35 family planning service providers were interviewed. The findings indicated that the level of education, occupation, parity and fertility plan have significant (p<0.05) association with utilization of IUD. Healthcare service provider’s knowledge and skills for provision of intra uterine contraceptive device services were low. Community members lack awareness and knowledge of the benefit and side effects of the device. Therefore, community members need education to promote adherence and effective use of IUD. Similarly, healthcare service providers need skill training and education to ensure quality provision of IUD service / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)