Mergers and acquisitions have become very popular in recent decades for firms seeking competitive advantage. The high failure rates of these initiatives make a closer look at the influence of the human factors and their complexity on these change activities necessary. This study traces the development of merger and acquisition activities in four companies, with a particular focus on individuals’ sensemaking over time and on the influence of human functional factors on the process and the outcomes of the mergers reviewed. A qualitative case-study approach is adopted with sixteen in-depth semistructured interviews in four post-merger organisations. The analysis of the collected primary data is done through a descriptive analysis of each individual case and a cross-case analysis of the four investigated cases. The findings show that there is a direct influence of the researched human functional elements and of the individual sensemaking on both the process and outcomes of the reviewed merger and acquisition cases. Based on the findings, a human functional merger and acquisition model – reflecting the interaction and influence of the human functional elements – and a management guideline for adopting this, are developed. This study provides a review of the influence of some significant organisational and individual human functional elements, such as leadership, communication, decision-making, relationship, and individual beliefs, values, attitudes and learning on the process and outcome of mergers and acquisitions. Such an investigation of these elements and their complexity, interaction with and influence on the process and outcome of change initiatives, and more specifically in the context of mergers and acquisitions, has not been undertaken previously.

Mergers and acquisitions have become very popular in recent decades for firms seeking competitive advantage. The high failure rates of these initiatives make a closer look at the influence of the human factors and their complexity on these change activities necessary. This study traces the development of merger and acquisition activities in four companies, with a particular focus on individuals’ sensemaking over time and on the influence of human functional factors on the process and the outcomes of the mergers reviewed. A qualitative case-study approach is adopted with sixteen in-depth semistructured interviews in four post-merger organisations. The analysis of the collected primary data is done through a descriptive analysis of each individual case and a cross-case analysis of the four investigated cases. The findings show that there is a direct influence of the researched human functional elements and of the individual sensemaking on both the process and outcomes of the reviewed merger and acquisition cases. Based on the findings, a human functional merger and acquisition model – reflecting the interaction and influence of the human functional elements – and a management guideline for adopting this, are developed. This study provides a review of the influence of some significant organisational and individual human functional elements, such as leadership, communication, decision-making, relationship, and individual beliefs, values, attitudes and learning on the process and outcome of mergers and acquisitions. Such an investigation of these elements and their complexity, interaction with and influence on the process and outcome of change initiatives, and more specifically in the context of mergers and acquisitions, has not been undertaken previously.

Architecture is more than mere building. Architecture is a process involving the study, observation, and solution of aesthetic and pragmatic problems. The act of building solves the pragmatic questions, but it is the architect's intellectual commitment and line of inquiry that ultimately produces architecture. This inquiry provided the opportunity to develop and elaborate a position on the thinking and making of architecture. The study of the urban condition, structure, enclosure, multi-functional elements and photography became a base of knowledge from which to begin. The range of ideas presented were the result of a line of inquiry that became this thesis. Quality is not inherent in an object. It must be expressed through the ideas by which it was created. In the same respect, this project does not represent the concepts, it presents them. "...the first imperative is to gain the critical knowledge that will permit the choice of the coordinates within which his or her career will develop; these are the coordinates to which his or her buildings will refer." Raphael Moneo / Master of Architecture

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / A review of the literature has shown that there is a lack of mental health information on which to base planning of mental health services and decisions concerning programme development for mental health services. Several studies have indicated that the use of an evidence-based health information system (HIS) reduces inappropriate clinical practices and promotes the quality of health care services. This study was aimed at developing a framework for a district-based mental health information management system, utilising the experiences of health care providers and caregivers about a district mental health information system (DMHIS). Activity Theory was used as the philosophical foundation of the information system for the study. A qualitative approach was employed using semi-structured individual interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), systematic review and document analysis. The intervention research design and development model of Rothman and Thomas (1994) was used to guide the study, which was conducted in the Cape Town Metropole area of the Western Cape. A purposive, convenient sampling method was employed to select study participants. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the University of the Western Cape, and permission to use the health facilities from the Department of Health. The data collection process involved 62 individual interview participants, from mental health nurses to district health managers, health information clerks, and patient caregivers/families and persons with stable mental conditions. Thirteen caregivers took part in the FGDs. Document review was conducted at three community mental health centres. The data were analysed manually using content analysis. Core findings of the interviews were lack of standardized information collection tools and contents for mental health, information infrastructure, capacity building, and resources. Information processing in terms of collection, compiling, analysing, feedback, access and sharing information were the major problems. Results from document analysis identified inconsistencies and inaccuracies of information recording and processing, which in turn affected the quality of information for decision making. Results from the systematic review identified five functional elements: organizational structure; information infrastructure; capacity building; inputs, process, output and feedback; and community and stakeholders’ participation in the design and implementation of a mental health information system (MHIS). The study has contributed a framework for a DMHIS based on the findings of the empirical and systematic review. It is recommended that there is a need to establish a HIS committee at district health facility level for effective implementation of the framework and quality information processing. There is a need to ensure that staffs have adequate knowledge and skills required for effective implementation of an information system. It is recommended that higher education institutions include a course on HISs in their curriculum. It is suggested that the South African Mental Health Policy be reviewed to include an MHIS and ensure involvement of the community and stakeholders in this system as well as adequate budget allocation.

Varumärkesrätten innefattar en bred definition av vilka kännetecken som kan konstituera ett varumärke, vilken inkluderar formen på en vara. När kännetecknet består av en varuform utgör således varan i sig kännetecknet och därmed varumärket. Vid en varumärkesregistrering ska bedömningen av olika kategorier av kännetecken inte skilja sig åt, men för varuformer finns ytterligare hinder vid registrering jämfört med andra typer av kännetecken. Ett sådant registreringshinder avser specifikt funktionella former. Många former tenderar att vara funktionella till viss grad, vilket aktualiserar art. 7.1 e) ii) VmF. Artikeln föreskriver ett absolut registreringshinder mot att registerna former som endast består av ”en varas form eller annan egenskap hos varan som krävs för att uppnå ett tekniskt resultat”. Om en varuform hindras registrering enligt artikeln, är uteslutningen från registrering permanent. Det innebär att registreringshindret inte kan övervinnas även om formen förvärvar särskiljningsförmåga på marknaden. EUD har uttalat att det inte vore skäligt att neka registrering av varuformer endast på grund av att de innehar några funktionella element. För att ett kännetecken ska falla inom ramen för artikeln behöver således en forms alla väsentliga särdrag falla inom ramen för bestämmelsen. Detta medför viss problematik när det kommer till hybridkännetecken vilka innehar vissa element som är funktionella, men även andra element som är icke-funktionella. Enligt gällande rätt kan hybridkännetecken registreras som varumärken om de innehar icke-funktionella särdrag som anses vara väsentliga. Hela formen av ett hybridkännetecken kan således registreras som ett varumärke under förutsättning att endast några av de väsentliga särdragen krävs för att uppnå den tekniska funktionen. Genom en undersökning av rättspraxis konstateras att EUD utför en fri och långtgående undersökning vid bedömning av vad som utgör en forms väsentliga särdrag och dessa särdrags eventuella funktion. EUD är inte bunden till vad som anges i varumärkesansökan, utan undersöker även den faktiska varan på marknaden för vilket kännetecknet är ämnat att användas. EUD verkar generellt vara restriktiv med att låta tredimensionella former registreras, inte minst när de innehåller funktionella element. Möjligen beror den negativa inställningen till att registrera hybridkännetecken på bristen av effektiva lösningar att tydligt undanta de funktionella elementen från registrering. Vid en registrering av hybridkännetecken uppstår även intressanta aspekter ur intrångssynpunkt eftersom formen är registrerad som en helhet, även om vissa väsentliga särdrag inte är ämnade att omfattas av ensamrätten. Vid analoga tillämpningar av rättspraxis framstår det som att dessa element, utan att det explicit framgår av exempelvis en disclaimer, ska vara undantagna från den ensamrätt som erhålls varumärkesinnehavaren. / The trade mark law includes a very broad definition of signs that can constitute a trade mark, which includes the shape of a product. When a sign consists of the shape of a product, the product itself becomes the sign and thus the trade mark. In the case of a trade mark registration, the assessment should not differ between different categories of signs. However, when it comes to registration for signs consisting of the shape of a product, there are further obstacles to overcome before protection can be granted compared to other types of signs. Many shapes tend to be functional to some extent, which brings relevance to the absolute ground for refusal found in art. 7.1 e) ii) EUTMR. The article prohibits registration of signs which consist exclusively of “the shape, or another characteristic, of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result”. If the registration of a sign is prohibited by the article, the exclusion from registration is permanent. This means that the ground for refusal cannot be overcome even if the sign acquires distinctiveness on the market. The CJEU has stated that it would not be reasonable to deny a shape registration only on the sole ground that it has some functional elements. Therefore, in order for a sign to fall within the scope of the article, all the essential characteristics of a shape must fall within the scope of the provision. This causes certain difficulties when it comes to hybrid signs, which possess some elements that are functional, but also other elements that are non-functional. Under current law, hybrid signs can be registered as trade marks if the non-functional elements are considered as essential. The entire form of a hybrid sign can thus be registered as a trade mark only if some, but not all, essential characteristics are required to achieve the technical function. By examining case law, it can be stated that the CJEU carry out a free and extensive examination when assessing what constitutes the essential characteristics of a shape and the possible function of these elements. The CJEU is not bound to the trade mark application but also examines the actual goods for which the sign is intended to be used. The CJEU generally seems to be restrictive in allowing registration for three-dimensional shapes, especially in regard to those incorporating functional elements. This might be the case since there is no good way to clearly exclude the functional elements from the registration. However, when registering a hybrid sign, interesting aspects also arise from the infringement point of view since the shape is registered as a whole but contains certain essential features, which are not intended to be covered by the exclusive right granted. In analogous applications of case law, it appears that these elements, without being explicitly stated in e.g. a disclaimer, must be excluded from the exclusive right granted to the proprietor.