This Master‘s thesis deals with a performance evaluation of a selected business. The first part of the thesis is focused on basic terms and theoretical introduction related to the tools for measuring and evaluating company performance. The next part contains an introduction of the company, a current state assessment and a practical application of theoretical findings. The final part of the thesis includes suggestions for performance and current situation improvement.

Det primära syftet med studien var att undersöka hur ett medelstort företag upplever självutvärderingsverktyget språngbrädan. Syftet var också att bidra med kunskap om forskningsläget kring språngbrädan. En mixad metod användes där datainsamlingen genomfördes genom en enkät på ett urval av företaget. Första delen av enkäten utgjorde en lättversion av språngbrädan som användes för självutvärdering av verksamheten, därigenom fick respondenterna uppleva verktyget. Andra delen av enkäten utgjorde en utvärdering av hur språngbrädan upplevs, med både skalfrågor och öppna frågor. Resultatet visar att en övervägande del är positiva till språngbrädan och kan tänka sig fortsätta använda verktyget. En övervägande del är neutrala i frågan huruvida språngbrädan behöver utvecklas och anpassas efter den egna verksamheten, och huruvida det finns fördelar och nackdelar. Resultatet visar också att språngbrädan är väldigt outforskat där endast en vetenskaplig artikel identifierades. Slutsatsen är att det behövs fler studier där deltagarna informeras om arbetssättet självutvärdering / The primary purpose of the study was to investigate how a medium-sized company experiences the self-assessment tool - the springboard. The purpose was also to contribute with knowledge about the research that has been conducted on the springboard. A mixed method was used where the data collection was conducted on a sample of the company's operations through a survey. The first part of the survey constituted a light version of the springboard that was used for self-assessment of the business, thereby letting the respondents experience the tool. The second part of the survey was an evaluation of how the tool is experienced, with both rating questions and open questions. The result shows that the majority is positive to the springboard and can imagine continuing to use the tool. A majority is neutral to the question of whether the springboard needs to be developed and adapted to its own business, and whether there are advantages and disadvantages. The result also shows that the springboard is very unexplored where only one scientific article was identified. The conclusion is that more studies are needed, where the participants are informed about the method of self-assessment and about the tool prior to the study, in order to obtain more comprehensive data. / <p>2019-06-27</p>

What is it for something to be good? Using the example of an Ebola-like microbe, I argue that a merely kind-based account of goodness is defective (Chapter 1). I offer instead an account that is both kind-based and platonic (Chapter 2). On such an account, goodness turns out to be non-natural (Chapter 3). However, non-naturalists can explain why the goodness of an individual supervenes on its natural properties, by appealing to the essence of the kind to which it belongs (Chapter 4).

No description available.

[pt] Analisar as representações sociais (RS) de avaliação da aprendizagem entre professores de Biologia de uma escola de referência constitui o objetivo desta tese de doutorado. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma instituição pública de ensino do Rio de Janeiro, reconhecida como uma escola de excelência na educação básica. O estudo se desenvolve com o suporte da Teoria das Representações Sociais, sob a perspectiva da abordagem estrutural e do estudo de suas ancoragens. Parte-se da hipótese de que as especificidades das disciplinas de Ciências estão presentes nas práticas pedagógicas avaliativas dos docentes, expressando-se na identidade do ser professor de Biologia e se refletindo em sua forma de ensinar e avaliar, logo podem ser identificadas em suas RS. Os procedimentos metodológicos ocorreram em três etapas que envolveram a aplicação de dois questionários – um teste de livre associação de palavras, respondido por 60 professores, e outro de investigação da zona muda, respondido por 45 professores – e a realização de entrevistas com 12 professores de Biologia do campo de investigação. As discussões foram construídas com base em referenciais teóricos da didática e da avaliação: Hadji, Esteban, Perrenoud, Fernandes, Luckesi, Demo e Hoffmann. Além do diálogo com a teoria das RS, com base nos estudos de Moscovici, Jodelet e Abric. Ao longo da análise, foi possível evidenciar a visão de uma prática pedagógica classificatória, somativa e certificativa, naquilo que os professores representaram. Os dados sinalizam que as RS de avaliação da aprendizagem da maioria dos participantes se configuram a partir de elementos tradicionais do campo educacional – sua visão de ensino, de currículo, de escola e da escola. Essas RS são influenciadas pelas injunções institucionais e expectativas normatizadas quanto ao papel do professor, de tal maneira que os saberes epistemológicos das disciplinas de Ciências são pouco evidenciados no pensamento social sobre tais práticas. Por outro lado, uma parte menos evidente dos participantes destaca-se nos resultados: as suas RS de avaliação se aproximam de uma dimensão formativa, processual e contínua. Neste grupo de professores de Biologia, há fortes indícios de que suas ideias sobre inovações curriculares do ensino de Ciências/Biologia são um dos fatores associados a uma RS mais formativa da avaliação, que orienta suas práticas pedagógicas. Pode-se indicar que a maneira como os professores veem o porquê e o para quê ensinar determinados assuntos, somada a suas idealizações das finalidades da escola e do ensino de Biologia estão indissociavelmente interligadas à efetivação de práticas avaliativas mais formativas ou mais classificatórias. Conclui-se que as práticas avaliativas e suas representações sociais dos professores de Biologia investigados podem se aproximar de um projeto de apoio às aprendizagens dos estudantes, mesmo em um contexto escolar marcado pela tradição, pelo conteudismo e por injunções institucionais com forte normatividade dos processos avaliativos. O estudo aponta para a necessidade de políticas institucionais que incentivem uma avaliação voltada para apoiar os estudantes em suas aprendizagens. Destaca-se a importância dos professores vivenciarem as práticas idealizadas pelo campo pedagógico, em todas as etapas de sua formação inicial e continuada. A tese defende que esse movimento poderia ajudar a superar um modelo classificatório de avaliação no ensino de Biologia. / [en] Analyzing the social representations (SRs) of assessment for learning among Biology teachers in a leading school is the aim of this doctoral thesis. The research was conducted in a renowned public elementary school in Rio de Janeiro. The study is carried out by employing the Social Representation Theory (SRT) under a structural approach perspective and the analysis of its anchors. It is assumed that the specificities of Scientific Disciplines are present in the Biology teachers pedagogical practices of assessment, expressed in their identity and reflected in their way of teaching and evaluating - thus, in their SRs. The methodological procedures occurred in three stages that involved the usage of two questionnaires - a word association test taken by 60 teachers, and a mute zone investigation answered by 45 teachers - and interviews with 12 Biology teachers from the field of research. The discussions were centered on practices of teaching and assessment by using theoretical references such as Hadji, Esteban, Perrenoud, Fernandes, Luckesi, Demo and Hoffmann besides a dialogue with the SRT based on the studies of Moscovici, Jodelet and Abric. Throughout the analysis, it was possible to confirm the hypothesis of a summative pedagogical practice - focused on classification and certification. The data show that most participants SRs of assessment for learning - their view on teaching, syllabus and school - are based on traditional elements of the educational field. It is suggested that an epistemological, social side of Scientific Disciplines is not very evident when these SRs are influenced by both institutional orders and standardized expectations of the role of the teacher. In contrast, a smaller part of the participants stands out in the results: their SRs of assessment approach a formative, procedural and continuous dimension. This latter group of Biology teachers shows strong evidence that their ideas about syllabus innovations of Sciences/Biology are one of the factors associated with a more formative SR that guides their pedagogical practices. It is possible to suggest that the way in which teachers see the reason behind teaching Biology, added to their idealizations of the purpose of the school, are inextricably connected to the implementation of assessment practices that can be either more formative or summative. It is concluded that the assessment practices and their social representations of the Biology teachers who were investigated can carry out a project to support students learning, even in a school context marked by tradition, content and institutional orders with strong normative evaluation processes. The study indicates the need for institutional policies which promote a student-centered assessment - focused on their learning processes. It is of paramount importance for future teachers to experience the practices conceived by the pedagogical field in all stages of their initial and continuing education. The thesis argues that this movement could help overcome a classification model of evaluation in teaching Biology.

[pt] O termo e-commerce designa o modelo de negócio no qual as transações comerciais de compra e venda são feitas através de meios digitais. Essa variedade de comércio on-line tem aumentado significativamente no Brasil. Dados recentes revelam um crescimento de 267% no setor, cujo número de usuários do comércio eletrônico passou de 31,3 milhões em 2013 para 83,7 milhões em 2022. Quando se compara ao número de encomendas, o aumento foi de 88 milhões no ano de 2013 para 368 milhões em 2022. Esse crescimento trouxe inúmeros desafios logísticos, especialmente para alcançar a satisfação do cliente do e-commerce e sua fidelização. Com isso, a qualidade do serviço logístico no processo de distribuição de produtos no last mile ganhou relevância no processo de distribuição Business to Consumer (B2C). Corresponder a uma expectativa de compra satisfatória é um fator crítico para as empresas do e-commerce que buscam obter vantagem competitiva. Com esse propósito, a melhoria logística de distribuição desempenha um papel preponderante; entretanto, é necessário definir exatamente o que o cliente valoriza e espera desse tipo de serviço, dado que as expectativas do mercado são elevadas e boa parte das empresas não estão em condições de atender a esse padrão. Nesse contexto, este estudo de caso tem por objetivo geral identificar as expectativas de last mile delivery dos clientes de uma empresa brasileira do e-commerce B2C ao realizar uma compra, no segmento de móveis e decoração, em uma empresa que atua em todo o território nacional. A metodologia utilizada foi o estudo de caso único, os clientes responderam um survey que foi utilizado como base de dado para o desenvolvimento do trabalho e melhoria da operação, com abordagem qualitativa e empregou o método Net Promoter Score (NPS). Participaram desse estudo os clientes da empresa estudada e citada no trabalho. Quinze dias após o recebimento da mercadoria, era enviado para o cliente um questionário on-line com duas perguntas, as respostas eram analisadas sobre a expectativa relacionada ao serviço logístico, ao nível de lealdade, à satisfação e à fidelização de compras. Os resultados obtidos nesse trabalho apontam cinco fatores críticos para satisfazer a necessidade do cliente. A expectativa mais relevante para os consumidores em relação à distribuição de produtos por meio do e-commerce B2C é ter um prazo menor ofertado pela empresa relacionado a entrega, seguido de não receber produto danificado, receber produto com material de melhor qualidade, melhor atendimento e entrega dentro do prazo. Conclui-se que existe uma expectativa do consumidor intimamente associada a uma oportunidade de melhoria na logística de distribuição no e-commerce. Isso significa que a qualidade do serviço de entrega logística tem o impacto direto sobre uma experiência satisfatória para os clientes do e-commerce. O presente trabalho oferece um framework como ferramenta para a aplicação do método NPS e, consecutivamente, para a melhoria do nível de serviço e da excelência operacional nas atividades logísticas. Dessa forma, contribuir para retenção, fidelização e satisfação da experiência de compra dos clientes. / [en] The term e-commerce refers to the business model in which commercial transactions of buying and selling are conducted through digital means. This variety of online commerce has significantly increased in Brazil. Recent data reveals a growth of 267% in the sector, with the number of e-commerce users increasing from 31.3 million in 2013 to 83.7 million in 2022. When comparing the number of orders, it increased from 88 million in 2013 to 368 million in 2022. This growth has brought numerous logistical challenges, especially in achieving customer satisfaction and loyalty in e-commerce. Therefore, the quality of logistics services in the last mile distribution process has gained relevance in the Business to Consumer (B2C) distribution process. Meeting satisfactory purchase expectations is a critical factor for e-commerce companies seeking a competitive advantage. With this purpose, logistic distribution improvement plays a significant role; however, it is necessary to precisely define what the customer values and expects from this type of service, as market expectations are high, and many companies are unable to meet this standard. In this context, this case study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the last mile delivery expectations of customers of a Brazilian B2C e-commerce company when making a purchase in the furniture and decoration segment, operating nationwide. The methodology used was a single case study, customers completed a survey that was used as a database for developing the work and improving the operation, with a qualitative approach and using the Net Promoter Score (NPS) method. The clients of the company studied and mentioned in the work participated in this study. Fifteen days after receiving the merchandise, an online questionnaire with two questions was sent to the customer, the answers were analyzed regarding expectations related to the logistics service, the level of loyalty, satisfaction and purchase loyalty. The results obtained in this study point to five critical factors for meeting customer needs. The most relevant expectation for consumers regarding the distribution of products through B2C e-commerce is to have a shorter delivery time offered by the company, followed by damaged products, products with better quality materials, better customer service, and on-time delivery. It is concluded that there is a customer expectation closely linked to an opportunity for improvement in e-commerce distribution logistics. This means that the quality of the logistic delivery service directly impacts a satisfactory experience for e-commerce customers. This study suggests the application of the Framework as a tool for implementing NPS and, consequently, for improving the level of service and operational excellence in logistics activities. This can contribute to customer retention, loyalty, and satisfaction in the shopping experience.

This research is concerned with possible applications of e-Learning as an alternative to onsite training sessions when supporting the integration of machine learning into the product development process. Mainly, its aim was to study if e-learning approaches are viable for laying a foundation for making machine learning more accessible in integrated product development processes. This topic presents itself as interesting as advances in the general understanding of it enable better remote learning as well as general scalability of knowledge transfer. To achieve this two groups of employees belonging to the same corporate group but working in two very different geographical regions where asked to participate in a set of training session created by the authors. One group received the content via in-person workshops whereas the other was invited to a series of remote tele-conferences. After both groups had participated in the sessions, some member where asked to be interviewed. Additionally. The authors also arranged for interviews with some of the participants’ direct managers and project leaders to compare the participants’ responses with some stakeholders not participating in the workshops. A combination of a qualitative theoretical analysis together with the interview responses was used as the base for the presented results. Respondents indicated that they preferred the onsite training approach, however, further coding of interview responses showed that there was little difference in the participants ability to obtain knowledge. Interestingly, while results point towards e-learning as a technology with many benefits, it seems as though other shortcomings, mainly concerning the human interaction between learners, may hold back its full potential and thereby hinder its integration into product development processes. / Detta forskningsarbete fokuserar på tillämpningar av elektroniska utlärningsmetoder som alternativ till lokala lektioner vid integrering av maskininlärning i produktutvecklingsprocessen. Framförallt är syftet att undersöka om det går att använda elektroniska utlärningsmetoder för att göra maskininlärning mer tillgänglig i produktutvecklingsprocessen. Detta ämne presenterar sig som intressant då en djupare förståelse kring detta banar väg för att effektivisera lärande på distans samt skalbarheten av kunskapsspridning. För att uppnå detta bads två grupper av anställda hos samma företagsgrupp, men tillhörande olika geografiska områden att ta del i ett upplägg av lektioner som författarna hade tagit fram. En grupp fick ta del av materialet genom seminarier, medan den andra bjöds in till att delta i en serie tele-lektioner. När båda deltagargrupper hade genomgått lektionerna fick några deltagare förfrågningar om att bli intervjuade. Några av deltagarnas direkta chefer och projektledare intervjuades även för att kunna jämföra deltagarnas åsikter med icke-deltagande intressenter. En kombination av en kvalitativ teoretisk analys tillsammans med svaren från intervjuerna användes som bas för de presenterade resultaten. Svarande indikerade att de föredrog träningarna som hölls på plats, men vidare kodning av intervjusvaren visade på undervisningsmetoden inte hade större påverkningar på deltagarnas förmåga att ta till sig materialet. Trots att resultatet pekar på att elektroniskt lärande är en teknik med många fördelar verkar det som att brister i teknikens förmåga att integrera mänsklig interaktion hindrar den från att nå sitt fulla potential och därigenom även hindrar dess integration i produktutvecklingsprocessen.

<p>The processes that link High Performance Work System (HPWS) practices and organizational performance are not fully understood. Using resource-based theory, this research focuses on training, by separating it from other HPWS practices, and human capital development as a source of sustained competitive advantage. The first purpose of my research is to examine the relationships between the HPWS practice of training, innovation, and organizational performance, and look at the mediating effect of innovation over time at the workplace level. The results indicate that the temporal pathway from training to innovation to organizational performance is positive and significant even after controlling for reverse-causality. Strategic activity is also explored and is found to be a significant moderator. This study contributes to knowledge by identifying the importance of aligning business strategy with training, as well as other HPWS practices and innovation to achieve improved organizational performance outcomes. The second purpose of this research is to explore the factors that act to expand or limit the HPWS practice of training, with a focus on the outcomes of employers' decisions to offer training, employees' decisions to accept or decline training, and the job-related training received by employees. The results indicate that the employee-level factors: participating in HPWS practices, use of technology, and using new technology are significant contributors to employers' decisions to offer and employees' receipt of training. Further, employees' perception of the existence of a gap between the skills required for the job and their current skills contributes to employees accepting employer offers of training.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Wissenschaftliche Schriftenreihe der Professur Strukturleichtbau und Kunststoffverarbeitung / Scientific publication series of the Department of Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology

Although public relations is seen as a function that contributes to the greater good of society and the performance of an organisation (ref. Grunig, 2006b:3; Grunig, Grunig & Dozier, 2002:xii), the function does not, for various reasons, always deliver on this promise (ref. Gray, 2004:26–27; Grunig et al., 2002:166, 169, 192; Steyn, 2000c:40; Tobin, 2004:56; Van Ruler, 1997:248, 263; 2004a:123). Practitioners and professional bodies from various countries have researched, and tried to overcome the variables negatively influencing practitioners, through various methods. However, no study has provided a comprehensive prioritised list of all the variables influencing practitioners' contribution to organisational performance. In addition none of these actions has led to a sustainable solution for the profession where a critical mass of practitioners can keep the promise of contributing to the greater good of society and the performance of the organisation. In light of this problem, this study tries to understand how public relations practitioners can enhance their contribution to organisational performance, by examining the variables influencing practitioners in contributing to organisational performance. The study is framed within the relational, reflective, two–way symmetrical and feminist paradigms, supported by the general excellence theory as meta–theory, and the relationship management and corporate communication role theories. The multidimensional paradigm was specifically selected to accommodate the complex research context (Grunig, 1989:18; 2006a; Valin, 2004). From theory it was established that public relations contributes to organisational performance by assisting organisations to adapt to their changing environment by providing strategic information from the environment to the organisation that could reduce uncertainty in the organisation's strategic decision–making (Grunig et al., 2002:xi; Raupp & Van Ruler, 2006:18; Steyn, 2000c:27; Valin, 2004). Through this process the organisation's triple bottom line goals are aligned with the realities of the environment in which it operates (Moss et al., 2000:283; van Tonder & van Rheede van Oudtshoorn, 2006:149). This then creates long–term relationships with stakeholders that creates many benefits for the organisation (Grunig, 2006b:3, 6; Grunig et al., 2002:xi, 10, 11; Grunig & Haung, 2000:32; Hon & Grunig, 1999:7–9, 11; Phillips, 2006a:34, 35; 2006b:212). Within South Africa specifically, corporate communication practitioners perform the roles of strategist, manager and technician in order to complete the above tasks (Steyn, 2000b:1–42; 2000c:20–43). The research methodology followed to gather data to answer the General research question, is both exploratory and interpretive. The research started with a literature study, followed by semi–structured interviews with four purposefully selected practitioners and the chairpersons of the two professional bodies (PRISA and IABC) in order to verify the variables identified in literature, and possibly identify new variables pertaining to the South African environment. These variables, together with those identified in literature, were then used to construct a questionnaire completed by public relations practitioners active in the 1 319 top performing South African organisations as per South Africa's Top 300 National Companies List (Fletcher, 2007:1–330) and the Financial Mail Top 200 Companies List (Williams, 2005:1–168). A response rate of 19.9% was achieved. The qualitative data was content analysed and the quantitative data analysed by means of Statistica (StatSoft Inc., 2007) and SPSS (SPSS Inc., 2007) data analysis software. In order to determine the relationships between the variables influencing practitioners, structural equation modelling, by means of AMOS (SPSS Inc., 2009) software, was used. In essence it was found that practitioners should take ownership and manage the variables influencing their performance. Furthermore, 13 variables pertaining to the individual–, industry– and professional–levels were statistically verified as the most important variables influencing practitioners. Due to the specific relationship between these variables, it would seem that enhancing any of these 13 variables would enhance the practitioner's contribution to organisational performance. The main contribution of the study is to add to the discussion on the how the profession can manage its contribution to organisational performance by categorising and empirically verifying a list of all variables influencing practitioners' performance and by suggesting a model indicating the relationship between the most important variables influencing practitioners. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.