The technical use to create value and ease the work for companies have through the last years taken major steps. The use of information technology (IT) has revolutionized opportunities and forced companies to change their offerings in order not to lose their competitiveness in the market. Today, an established company no longer solely consists of a product that represents its business idea, but primarily how to create value together with the market's customers to meet their needs. The digital solution has thus become a popular way for companies to not only streamline the market but also their own business model. Through major changes in society, companies are forced to follow the development, which has brought about a customer focus. IT- companies use a huge business model with groups within the company with cutting-edge expertise to provide solutions to meet the customer's needs. Companies thus start from a basic offer of standardized services, but through co-creation with customers, the company's business model is further developed. The study therefore intends to understand how companies' business models are affected by digitization and how companies can make strategic and operational adaptations in order to meet the challenges of the future. This will be carried out with the support of interviews of the IT-companies` managers as well as the responsible group managers focused on digital tools and their business models. The results produced for the study show tendencies that the companies' business models contain certain more prominent elements in order to maintain a strong whole. These components need to somehow permeate the company's groups consisting of various cutting-edge competencies. Companies have also had different opinions regarding sustainability thinking and how they work around this in different ways. As the business market today consists of great competitiveness, the trust companies build with their customers is essential. A lost customer can create strong contacts with other companies throughout their entire customer lifetime and thus become difficult to win over at a later stage. Digitization will thus have a strong influence on the companies' business models for a continued strong strategy.

This qualitative research project is a three publishable articles dissertation that centers on two counternarrative-based case studies on The Calculus Project, a school-based program that is a Counternarrative Generator — a program that has produced hundreds of living counternarratives since its conception. The focal population of living counternarratives within this research project is young men of African descent who have achieved high mathematical outcomes in secondary education. The research design for Article 1 is a standard literature review that serves as a Practitioners Guide for secondary educators focusing on school-based ideologies, systems, and methodologies that produce high academic outcomes for males of African descent. Article 2 is a single-instrument, narrative case study that tells the story of The Calculus Project from the vantage point of the founder, Dr. Adrian Mims, from vision to program implementation. Article 3 is a narrative, collective case study which tells the story of The Calculus Project from the vantage points of three tiers of young men of African descent — participants in their final year of the program (Tier 1) and program graduates who are either in college (Tier 2) or have graduated from college (Tier 3) — that reveal personal testimonies regarding the powerful impact The Calculus Project had on the young men. Through careful data analysis, there were three observed themes in Article 2, seven observed themes in Article 3, and an observed overlap between the desired aims of the founder and the actual impact the program had on the participants. / 2029-07-31T00:00:00Z

Book Summary: In addition to providing foundational information about ethical codes and legal statues, this new text advocates for counseling personnel to view ethical issues as challenges for personal and professional growth. Written in an accessible, concise and easy to read style, this book endeavors to broaden the traditional focus of ethical study to include topics that students and practicing clinicians will find consistent with their own personal striving and professional needs. While covering the traditional core percepts of professional ethics in considerable detail: confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries and the use of power, and competency and professional responsibility, it also advocates for counseling personnel to view ethical issues as challenges for personal and professional growth. And, it includes a number of critical topics that counselors and therapists face or will face in daily practice. These include organizational ethics, virtue ethics, and an expanded view of multicultural ethics with a focus on community values as well as on religious and spiritual issues. This new book includes a special chapter in the appendix that emphasizes ways in which counselors and therapists can grow and achieve excellence in their personal and professional lives. Unique and essential coverage of organizational ethics (OE) is addressed making readers aware of how organizational dynamics can exert such powerful influence on ethical decision making (Ch 4 & 10-14). Unique coverage of the ethical considerations involving spiritual and religious issues as well as the use of alternative interventions in counseling and psychotherapy are covered, including the common lawsuits brought against counselors and therapists using spiritual and alternative interventions (Ch 3). A unique section in the appendix describes the psychological and philosophical basis of ethical decision-making for readers who want and need a more in-depth discussion.

Business decisions are increasingly being made in the higher education institution (HEI) based on their impact to university rankings, sometimes to the detriment of the HEI mission. HEIs are not homogenous, and rankings are inadequate on their own in capturing HEI excellence. This dissertation took a three-pronged approach in addressing quality and excellence in the HEI. First, a case study adapted the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) for a Financial Aid office in a public HEI, illustrating that, with a few modifications, the BSC is an appropriate and holistic approach to addressing quality in the HEI. The primary modification was to place mission at the top of the BSC, reflecting that each of the strategic objectives should be made with mission in mind. Next, survey methods were used to gain insight from upper administrators at public four-year HEIs regarding perceived quality factors. According to survey results, respondents rated Graduation and Retention as the most important indicator of quality. These results were further used to calculate weights of importance for each quality factor, further comparing these weighted factors to methodologies of three rankings systems, and found that the perceived quality factors identified by the respondents did not align with rankings methodologies. Finally, historical data was used to consider which HEIs moved most in their U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) rankings and peer scores. Higher-ranked HEIs were found to have less movement, and lower-ranked HEIs had more movement. Peer scores were found to be variable, although only by incremental amounts. Multiple regression analysis was used to compare USNWR rankings and objective data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and Top American Research Universities (TARU) publication, finding graduation rate to have the strongest relationship with rankings. Ultimately, the wise HEI will find an appropriate mix of aiming for higher rankings and a focus on its mission, and ideally both would be in alignment.

Yes / This article summarises the standpoint of the Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section of the British Psychological Society regarding the current position of qualitative research in psychology in the United Kingdom. The article is in three parts. Part one documents the historical development of the section, outlining its rationale, remit, and current activities. These activities aim to champion and develop qualitative methods in psychology, supporting high quality work regardless of epistemological or ontological position. Part two considers the current context of our work, describing not only how qualitative methods are valued in the United Kingdom but also how this recognition is undermined, particularly through the operationalisation of our national research assessment (the Research Excellence Framework). We also consider the challenges that Open Science poses for qualitive researchers. Part three highlights some of the significant contributions of UK-based qualitative researchers to psychology, with a particular focus on feminist-informed research, discourse analysis, and interpretative phenomenological analysis, before pointing to future exciting possibilities based on research exploring the affordances of digital technologies and innovative synthesising across epistemologies and disciplinary boundaries.

The aim of this thesis is to explore how public relations contributes to organizational culture at Carilion Clinic, a large health organization based in Roanoke, Va. Using the excellence theory combined with organizational culture perspectives as a lens, the study interviewed Carilion Clinic communications employees to uncover the presence of excellence principles in their public relations. A second part of the study analyzed employee posts on the organization's internal website to identify the congruency of organizational value meaning and manifestation between the organization and its employees. Results from the study found presence of five of the seven excellence principles in Carilion's public relations and that three of the five organizational values are congruent between the organization and its employees. Results suggest that Carilion Clinic's public relations efforts are contributing to organizational culture. Efforts by Carilion's public relations successfully communicate organizational values and foster a participative culture. This case study shows that public relations is beneficial to fostering organizational culture and that excellence principles as developed by the excellence theory can serve as a guide for organizations when implementing and evaluating public relations practices. / Master of Arts

Relationships with internal stakeholders within the organisation (employees) are crucial for organisational survival and success (Hargie & Tourish, 2000:293; Jensen, 2010:32; Koschmann, 2007:12; McDermott & Chan, 1996:5; Van der Colff, 2003:258). Therefore, twoway symmetrical communication with employees in building relationships and relationship management is so important (Bezuidenhout, 2010; Koschmann, 2007:8). The North-West University focuses on maintaining good relationships with their employees through communication, but experience challenges in this regard. The Institutional Office of the North-West University is the main source of information and communication with employees of all three campuses. A consultant (Media Mosaics, 2010) and two other studies (Holtzhausen & Fourie, 2011; Mmope, 2010) identified various problems with the communication and consequent relationships between the Institutional Office and the Potchefstroom Campus employees. Given that good relations between the two business units are a focus of the university and that the outcomes of internal communication are good relationships, it is necessary to determine how the internal communication from the North-West University Institutional Office to Potchefstroom Campus employees are conducted in order to build good relationships. To determine the above a literature study, questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews were carried out. The systems approach, reflective paradigm, excellence theory, two-way symmetrical communication model and stakeholder relations theory were used as a theoretical framework (Dozier, et al., 1995; Ferreira & Staude, 1991; Grunig & Grunig, 2000:310; Grunig et al., 2002; Ledingham & Bruning, 2001:63; Skinner & Von Essen, 1999:257; Steyn & Puth, 2000; Verčič et al., 2001:382). From the results it appears that the North-West University Institutional Office and Potchefstroom Campus employees do not agree on all aspects of the relationship and communication between them. It appears that the North-West University Institutional Office meets only some of the requirements of communication and relationship building, as it has been set out in the literature, and that there is room for improvement. / MA (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Relationships with internal stakeholders within the organisation (employees) are crucial for organisational survival and success (Hargie & Tourish, 2000:293; Jensen, 2010:32; Koschmann, 2007:12; McDermott & Chan, 1996:5; Van der Colff, 2003:258). Therefore, twoway symmetrical communication with employees in building relationships and relationship management is so important (Bezuidenhout, 2010; Koschmann, 2007:8). The North-West University focuses on maintaining good relationships with their employees through communication, but experience challenges in this regard. The Institutional Office of the North-West University is the main source of information and communication with employees of all three campuses. A consultant (Media Mosaics, 2010) and two other studies (Holtzhausen & Fourie, 2011; Mmope, 2010) identified various problems with the communication and consequent relationships between the Institutional Office and the Potchefstroom Campus employees. Given that good relations between the two business units are a focus of the university and that the outcomes of internal communication are good relationships, it is necessary to determine how the internal communication from the North-West University Institutional Office to Potchefstroom Campus employees are conducted in order to build good relationships. To determine the above a literature study, questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews were carried out. The systems approach, reflective paradigm, excellence theory, two-way symmetrical communication model and stakeholder relations theory were used as a theoretical framework (Dozier, et al., 1995; Ferreira & Staude, 1991; Grunig & Grunig, 2000:310; Grunig et al., 2002; Ledingham & Bruning, 2001:63; Skinner & Von Essen, 1999:257; Steyn & Puth, 2000; Verčič et al., 2001:382). From the results it appears that the North-West University Institutional Office and Potchefstroom Campus employees do not agree on all aspects of the relationship and communication between them. It appears that the North-West University Institutional Office meets only some of the requirements of communication and relationship building, as it has been set out in the literature, and that there is room for improvement. / MA (Communication Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This research investigates the vision of excellence in secondary schools leadership in Ekurhuleni East District (Gauteng East District) and the existence of a vision of excellence in schools. A literature study investigated models of leadership related to vision of excellence and aspects of vision of excellence in school leadership. An empirical investigation used both a quantitative and qualitative research design to collect data from a purposefully selected and stratified sample of participants and secondary schools in the Ekurhuleni East District (Gauteng East Education District). A questionnaire and focus group interviews were used to gather data from the respondents. Data were analysed and interpreted using quantitative and qualitative approach. The findings of both the literature study and the empirical research on the above-mentioned vision of excellence in secondary schools leadership in Ekurhuleni East District revealed that there is a lack of support from school leadership and the School Management Team (SMT) in realising a vision of excellence in secondary schools leadership. The main challenges that were identified by qualitative method were the lack of support by both the district office and school management or school leadership. The realisation of the vision of excellence is dependent on how the information is managed and disseminated by the school leadership, principals and SMTs. It appears that the realisation of the vision of excellence would enhance the level of understanding of new developments in the education system including the curriculum change and technological advancement. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Submitted by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2012-05-23T17:09:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de Luiz Otavio - FGV Professor Luiz Cesar.pdf: 4539286 bytes, checksum: daa86fad61b61e4eac9537f8b588d364 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2012-05-23T17:10:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de Luiz Otavio - FGV Professor Luiz Cesar.pdf: 4539286 bytes, checksum: daa86fad61b61e4eac9537f8b588d364 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2012-05-23T17:11:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de Luiz Otavio - FGV Professor Luiz Cesar.pdf: 4539286 bytes, checksum: daa86fad61b61e4eac9537f8b588d364 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-05-23T17:11:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de Luiz Otavio - FGV Professor Luiz Cesar.pdf: 4539286 bytes, checksum: daa86fad61b61e4eac9537f8b588d364 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a contribuição dos conteúdos programáticos dos cursos de Administração para a implementação da cultura da excelência em empresas vencedoras do prêmio Qualidade RS. Este prêmio reconhece as organizações que mais se destacam na busca pela melhoria contínua do seu sistema de gestão, com base no Modelo de Excelência da Gestão (MEG). O que se propõe é a construção de um projeto político-pedagógico que esteja baseado no MEG, visando à formação de um profissional qualificado para empresas 'classe mundial'. Para tanto, foram elaborados questionários, com base nos critérios e itens do MEG, para empresários e coordenadores de cursos. Foram obtidos resultados que levaram a uma nova proposta de pontuação para o método de avaliação do modelo, alterando-se os pesos relativos dos critérios. Por fim, foi proposto um novo modelo de currículo para os cursos de graduação em Administração, que permita que o aluno desenvolva a capacidade de compreensão da cultura da excelência, fundamental para o alcance da Classe Mundial nas organizações. / This paper aims at analyzing the contribution of the syllabus of undergraduate courses in Business Administration to implement a culture of excellence in Quality Award winning companies of the RS. This award is given to organizations that stand out in the quest for continual improvement of its management system, according to criteria established by the Management Excellence Model (MEM). The present study proposes the building of a political-pedagogical project that is based on the MEM, aiming at forming professionals qualified to work in 'world class' companies. To this end, questionnaires based on the criteria and items of the MEM were developed and applied to businessmen and course coordinators. Results were obtained that allowed the proposition of a new scoring for the model’s evaluation method by altering the relative weights of the criterion. Finally, a new curriculum model to undergraduate programs in Business Administration was proposed which permits the students to develop the ability to understand the culture of excellence, key to the achievement of World Class in organizations. Key