The thesis explores the extent to which interpretive techniques can improve our understanding of the impacts of information systems. Two themes are explored: the capacity of interpretive techniques to evaluate information systems' impacts from within the work context, and the extent to which the process emphasis of the interpretive approach can facilitate learning about information systems and their impacts. The thesis proposes that the impacts of information systems comprise a combination of known or anticipated phenomena and emergent phenomena that cannot be wholly predicted in advance and argues that the value of an information system lies in its effective use, which in turn depends upon its being understood by its users and assimilated into their work. Support for this proposal is provided from the literature and through evaluation of the impacts of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) on fingerprint work in England and Wales. Deep insight into NAFIS and fingerprint work are provided by the use of Repertory Grid Analysis (RGA) as a content-free data gathering technique, used within the interpretive framework proposed by Walsham (1993). The data generated by RGA are analysed using the protocols proposed by Thomas and Harri-Augstein (1985) which support what they call "self-organised learning". In this way, RGA is used to facilitate learning through evaluation, enabling participants to learn to benefit from information systems. The RGA process and outcomes are described in detail. The contribution of the RGA data to the interpretive approach is discussed and the results compared with those arising from a more orthodox evaluation ofNAFIS. The results demonstrate that orthodox evaluation techniques underestimate the value of an information system by failing to assess the significance of many of the issues and concerns that emerge as it is assimilated into the work setting. The research is shown to have contributed to the evaluation of NAFIS, directly impacting the work of a wide range of users and managers in the fingerprint, police and wider criminal justice communities. The results are also shown to be generalisable to other organisational settings and therefore having implications for both the information systems and wider evaluation communities.

The purpose of this thesis was to examine parent-adolescent relationships during the transition to high school. Fourteen parent-adolescent dyads from two Canadian cities completed the study. At pre-transition (Time 1) and post-transition (Time 2) to high school, each dyad was video-recorded engaging in a conversation together about various topics related to the school transition. Content analysis was conducted to explore parents’ and adolescents’ pre-transition anticipations of how their relationship would be in high school. State space grid analysis was used to investigate whether there were changes in the structure or emotional content of parent-adolescent dyadic interactions between pre-transition and post-transition to high school. Results showed that parents and adolescents expressed relationship anticipations of stability, change, or uncertainty. Additionally, no statistically significant differences were found in the structure or emotional content of parent-adolescent interactions, suggesting that the high school transition does not appear to disrupt how parents and adolescents interact together. / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

Aim: Knowledge of the experience of qualified BME clinical psychologists in clinical practice is currently lacking in the research literature. The aim of the current study was to explore the lived experience of qualified BME clinical psychologists currently employed in the National Health Service (NHS). By investigating this under-researched topic, the study hopes to shed light on the impact on clinicians' personal and professional identity of practicing within a profession that lacks cultural diversity. It is hoped that the results of this study will contribute to ongoing efforts to diversify the profession, improve our knowledge of the experience of BME groups in the helping profession and also challenge current misconceptions concerning the BME experience. Method: A mixed method qualitative approach was employed for this study. Repertory grids and semi-structured interviews were conducted with six female qualified BME clinical psychologists who are currently working in the NHS. They had been qualified between three and sixteen years. Their repertory grids were analysed using Idiogrid and their accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Four master themes emerged from the analysis and were supported by the findings from the repertory grids showing that BME clinical psychologists feel that they stand out as different on account of their ethnic difference. The analytic procedure also highlighted how participants have to find a way to negotiate their cultural and professional values whilst also sitting with the uncertainty of their experiences in the profession. The final theme relates to the privilege that participants held in making it as a clinical psychologist. Implications: Initiatives to increase cultural competency and sensitivity need to be addressed by the profession. Efforts to increase ethnic diversity should be followed through to ensure practitioners are not left on the fringes of the profession on account of their minority ethnicity.

Yes / This study uncovers hotel brand positioning and competitive landscape mapping by text-mining user-generated content (UGC). Rather than relying on a single dimension of consumer evaluation, the current study detects brand attributes by using both customer preferences as well as perceptual performance to develop meaningful insights. For this, the study combines content analysis and repertory grid analysis (RGA) to answer three key research issues. 111,986 hotel reviews from two biggest Chinese cities are used to explore and visualize the competitive landscape of six selected hotel brands across three hotel categories. Findings from the study will not only advance the existing literature on brand positioning and competitive landscape mapping but also help practitioners in developing brand positioning strategies to fight competitors within and across hotel categories.

This research investigates political risk in the context of service offshoring and the corresponding impact on risk management decisions. The first stage of the study uses the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), to explore key post-contract political risks experiences within offshore outsourcing activities. Twelve key political risks affecting offshore outsourcing decisions are identified, and the moderating effect of offshoring activity types (BPO, ITO or KPO) on political risk exposure and impact perceptions is highlighted. The research also explores the conditioning effect of industry specific exposure to political risk and enhances the explanatory ability of the Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) constructs, offering a re-operationalization of the political risk component of external uncertainty. The second stage of the research introduces a series of hypotheses between offshoring flows and political risk profiles, and applies multiple regression to analyse political risk affecting offshore activities in low cost countries across contract-based offshoring engagements and FDI. The findings highlight that political risk is a genuine business concern for offshore contract-based outsourcing modalities, and identify concerns with Intellectual Property protection, Quality of Bureaucracy and Corruption as key considerations affecting location decisions in low-cost countries. The research further suggests a positive relationship between strong country level institutional and regulatory systems and high knowledge content in offshoring engagements. From a practical perspective, the research highlights the need for managerial tools to determine diversified firm and industry specific political risk impact on global service outsourcing engagements. The key practical contribution is the development of differentiated political risk typologies that can capture the nuances of external risks in offshoring, allowing for more accurate risk assessment of offshoring decisions.

Power has become an important design closure parameter in today’s ultra low submicron digital designs. The impact of the increase in power is multi-discipline to researchers ranging from power supply design, power converters or voltage regulators design, system, board and package thermal analysis, power grid design and signal integrity analysis to minimizing power itself. This work focuses on challenges arising due to increase in power to power grid design and analysis. Challenges arising due to lower geometries and higher power are very well researched topics and there is still lot of scope to continue work. Traditionally, designs go through average IR drop analysis. Average IR drop analysis is highly dependent on current dissipation estimation. This work proposes a vector less probabilistic toggle estimation which is extension of one of the approaches proposed in literature. We have further used toggles computed using this approach to estimate power of ISCAS89 benchmark circuits. This provides insight into quality of toggles being generated. Power Estimation work is further extended to comprehend with various state of the art methodologies available i.e. spice based power estimation, logic simulation based power estimation, commercially available tool comparisons etc. We finally arrived at optimum flow recommendation which can be used as per design need and schedule. Today’s design complexity – high frequencies, high logic densities and multiple level clock and power gating - has forced design community to look beyond average IR drop. High rate of switching activities induce power supply fluctuations to cells in design which is known as instantaneous IR drop. However, there is no good analysis methodology in place to analyze this phenomenon. Ad hoc decoupling planning and on chip intrinsic decoupling capacitance helps to contain this noise but there is no guarantee. This work also applies average toggle computation approach to compute instantaneous IR drop analysis for designs. Instantaneous IR drop is also known as dynamic IR drop or power supply noise. We are proposing cell characterization methodology for standard cells. This data is used to build power grid model of the design. Finally, the power network is solved to compute instantaneous IR drop. Leakage Power Minimization has forced design teams to do complex power gating – multilevel MTCMOS usage in Power Grid. This puts additonal analysis challenge for Power Grid in terms of ON/OFF sequencing and noise injection due to it. This work explains the state of art here and highlights some of the issues and trade offs using MTCMOS logic. It further suggests a simple approach to quickly access the impact of MTCMOS gates in Power Grid in terms of peak currents and IR drop. Alternatively, the approach suggested also helps in MTCMOS gate optimization. Early leakage optimization overhead can be computed using this approach.

This research investigates political risk in the context of service offshoring and the corresponding impact on risk management decisions. The first stage of the study uses the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), to explore key post-contract political risks experiences within offshore outsourcing activities. Twelve key political risks affecting offshore outsourcing decisions are identified, and the moderating effect of offshoring activity types (BPO, ITO or KPO) on political risk exposure and impact perceptions is highlighted. The research also explores the conditioning effect of industry specific exposure to political risk and enhances the explanatory ability of the Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) constructs, offering a re-operationalization of the political risk component of external uncertainty. The second stage of the research introduces a series of hypotheses between offshoring flows and political risk profiles, and applies multiple regression to analyse political risk affecting offshore activities in low cost countries across contract-based offshoring engagements and FDI. The findings highlight that political risk is a genuine business concern for offshore contract-based outsourcing modalities, and identify concerns with Intellectual Property protection, Quality of Bureaucracy and Corruption as key considerations affecting location decisions in low-cost countries. The research further suggests a positive relationship between strong country level institutional and regulatory systems and high knowledge content in offshoring engagements. From a practical perspective, the research highlights the need for managerial tools to determine diversified firm and industry specific political risk impact on global service outsourcing engagements. The key practical contribution is the development of differentiated political risk typologies that can capture the nuances of external risks in offshoring, allowing for more accurate risk assessment of offshoring decisions.

This thesis investigates the strength behavior of a representative highly skewed and horizontally curved bridge as well as analysis and design procedures for these types of structures. The bridge responses at and above a number of limits in the AASHTO (2007) Specifications are considered. The study includes the evaluation of various attributes of the elastic analysis of the subject bridge. These attributes include: (1) the accuracy of 3-D grid versus 3-D FEA models, (2) first-order versus second-order effects during the construction, (3) the ability to predict layover at bearing lines using simplified equations and (4) the benefit of combining the maximum and concurrent major-axis and flange lateral bending values due to live load compared to combining the maximums due to different live loads when checking the section resistances. The study also addresses the ability of different AASHTO 2007 resistance equations to capture the ultimate strength behavior. This is accomplished by comparing the results from full nonlinear 3-D FEA studies to the elastic design and analysis results. Specifically the use of the 2007 AASHTO moment based one-third rule equations is evaluated for composite sections in positive bending.

<p dir="ltr"><b><i>Background</i></b><b>:</b> The increase in EV deployment is presenting numerous energy challenges to the utility distribution infrastructure. The energy demands created by EV charging sessions and the growing call to develop a network of DCFC charging facilities increases operational risk to the utilities in the ability to provide safe and reliable electricity to all customers.</p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The purpose of this study is to identify the extent of impact to the utility distribution grid from an increasing EV (electric vehicle) adoption.</p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Setting</i></b><b>: </b>In total, there were 3,020 rows of distribution circuit feeder data collected from the PG&E DIDF and National Grid NY System Reporting Tool between 2022 – 2023. Additionally, 48 documents, engineering reports, rate filings, articles, research studies, and utility whitepapers were examined.</p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Research Design:</i></b> Impact analysis using a mixed methodology.</p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Data Collection and Analysis:</i></b> A single research question was used to formulate an impact analysis to the utility distribution infrastructure under a mixed methodology. A quantitative analysis to determine circuit burden based on historical feeder capacity data and conduct hypothetical impact testing based on a set of ten variables. A qualitative analysis was administered to support these results and further design recommendations for the utility system under a logic model.</p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Findings:</i></b> The PG&E and Utility National Grid EV and Circuit Impact Analysis demonstrated high susceptibility to overburden under a moderate number of level 2 EV chargers and significantly more when the loading impact was the result of DCFC facilities. The additional exploratory research yielded a consistent theme of mitigation strategies applicable to all electric utilities.</p><p><br></p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Conclusions</i></b><i>:</i> Portions of the electric distribution infrastructure, operated by hundreds of utilities across the United States must be analyzed, upgraded, and adequately managed under systematic programs which promote facility upgrades, energy management, technology integration, such as AMI. Further, the execution of regulatory strategies for smart policy development and investment into hosting capacity tools are critical to reducing EV impact to the utility.</p><p dir="ltr"><b><i>Keywords</i></b><i>: </i>EV, electric utility, EV grid impacts, EV grid analysis, EV managed charging, EV AMI infrastructure.</p>

Text in Afrikaans / Dit is belangrik vir bemarkingsorganisasies om die effek van bemarkingsaksies en meer spesifiek reklame te meet van wee eskalerende koste-oorwegings. Wat die rol van reklame in verbruikersgedrag betref, is die belewing van of houding-teenoor-reklame konsepte van sentrale be lang. Aangesien die term bel ewing meer beskrywend is oor die impak wat advertensies op verbruikers het word hierdie term algemeen gebruik. Hierdie studie ondersoek die konsep advertensiewaardering en ontleed die invloed daarvan op advertensiebelewing. Die kyker-responsprofiel soos deur Schlinger (1979) ontwikkel, word algemeen gebruik om televisiekykers se houding teenoor televisie-advertensies te meet. Hierdie studie poog om die toepaslikheid en geldigheid van die kyker-responsprofiel onder Suid-Afrikaanse televisiekykers te ondersoek. Die navorsingsmetode het uit twee fases bestaan. Die eerste fase was meer kwalitatief van aard, en ondersoek kykers se kognitiewe struktuur van houding teenoor televisie-advertensies. Die teoretiese uitgangspunt tydens hierdie fase is persoonlike-konstrukteorie. Repertoriumrooster onderhoude is met 50 volwasse televisiekykers (ouer as 16 jaar) uit verskillende taalgroepe gevoer. Daar is bevind dat kykers gemiddeld ses konstrukte gebruik ten einde die waarderingsvlak van advertensies te bepaal. 313 Konstrukte is in totaal deur die 50 respondente ontlok. Hierdie konstruke is deur individuele roosterontledings en ooreenkomsanalise tot 'n aantal konstrukgroepe gereduseer. Beskrywings van konstrukgroepe is aan die hand van n literatuurnavorsing gedoen. Die konstrukgroepe (tevredenheid, vermaaklikheid, interessantheid, sosialiteit, duidelikheid, realiteit, tempo en emosialiteit) toon 'n mate van ooreenstemming met die sewe Schlinger basisfaktore. Die onderliggende indiwiduele konstrukte wat vermaaklikheid, sosialiteit tempo en interessantheid beskryf, toon hoe korrelasies met waardering wat daarop dui dat waardering meer as net vermaaklikheid behels. Fase twee was meer kwantitatief van aard en het die ontleding van 382 kykerresponsprofiele behels. 'n Faktorontleding van die 32 Schlinger-items het sewe basisfaktore tot gevolg. Die eerste vyf faktore (vermaaklikheid, verwarring, relevante nuus, handelsmerkversterking en empatie) beskik oor soortgelyke faktorladings as faktorontledings wat in die V.S.A. gedoen is. Hierdie bevinding dui daarop dat die affektiewe belewingstruktuur van televisiekykers in Suid-Afrika grootliks dieselfde is as kykers in die Verenigde State. Die ander twee faktore (familiariteit en vervreemding) se ladings verskil van die in die Verenigde State maar hierdie verskille kan gegewe die aard van die advertensies ( bestaande en nuwe advertensiekonsepte) en die kruiskulturele aard van Suid-Afrikaanse kykers verklaar word. Die Schlingeritems is statisties beskryf en ontleed deur die rol wat die tipe advertensie (bestaande versus nuwe), produk-kategorie en kulturele teikenmark speel in waardering van advertensies te ondersoeK. Nuwe konsepte is geneig om meer vermaaklik en relevant te wees. Zulu, Sotho en Xhose kykers is geneig om advertensies as meer positief te beleef. Kosmetika en medisinale-, korporatiewe- en motoradvertensies is verder minder vermaaklik as voedsel en handelsadvertensies. Die Schlingeritems wat advertensiewaardering die beste beskryf en voorspel is bepaal deur bondelontledings en meerdimensionele verskaling. Daar is gevind dat waardering die mate waartoe 'n advertensie aan die vermaaklikheids, empatie en relevante nuus doelwitte voldoen sonder om verwarrend, vervreemdend of oorbekend te wees. Dit wil voorkom of daar twee dimensies bestaan wat die meeste variansie in Schlingeritems verklaar naamlik waardering (positief of negatief) en relevansie. Bondelontleding dui verder daarop dat 'n positiewe persepsie van 'n geadverteerde handelsmerk kykers ontvanklik maak om meer van 'n advertensie te hou of te waardeer. / It is important that, given escalating cost considerations, marketing organisations determine the effect that their marketing efforts have. With regard to the role of advertising m consumer behaviour, attitude towards commercials is of utmost importance. This study examined the liking of television advertisement concept and analyses the effect of this concept on attitude towards television advertising. The viewer response profile as developed by Schlinger (1979) is commonly used to evaluate viewer's attitude towards television commercials. This study attempted to investigate the applicability and validity of this instrument amongst South African television viewers. The study consisted of two phases. Phase one was more qualitative in nature and investigated the viewer's cognitive structure of attitude towards television commercials. The theoretical approach used during this phase was personal construct theory. It was found that viewers on average use six constructs to evaluate whether they like or dislike commercials. 313 Constructs were elicited and based on individual grid analyses and correspondence analysis a reduced number of construct groups was identified. These construct groups ( contentness, entertainment, interesting, sociality, clearness, reality, emotionality, and tempo) show a measure of similarity to the seven Schlinger factors or dimensions. The individual constructs, which make up entertainment, sociality, emotionality, tempo and interesting, show high levels of correlation with advertisement liking. This finding suggests that advertisement liking involve more than pure entertainment. Phase two was more quantitative and consisted of analysing 382 viewer response profiles. A factor analysis of the 32 items, which make up the viewer response profile, resulted in seven factors. The first five factors (entertainment, confusion, relevant news, brand reinforcement and empathy) show similar factor loading to factor analytical studies done in the United State of America. The other two factors (familiarity and alienation) show different loading to the United States of America study but these differences could be explained given the nature of commercials tested (existing commercials and new commercial concepts) and the cross cultural nature of South African viewers. The Schlinger items were analysed in greater detail by investigating the role which type of commercial (existing versus new), product category and cultural target market play in liking of commercials. New concepts are proven to be more entertaining, creative and relevant. Zulu and Sotho viewers are likely to be more positively disposed towards television commercials while cosmetic, medicine, corporate and motor vehicle commercials are less entertaining than food and commercial commercials. Those Schlinger items, which best describe and predict commercials liking were determined by using cluster and multi dimensional scaling techniques. It is apparent from this analysis that likability is the extent to which the objective of entertainment, empathy or relevant news is achieved without confusion, alienation or familiarity. Cluster analysis furthermore suggests that a positive perception of an advertised brand predispose viewers to higher levels of commercial liking. Multi dimensional scaling suggest two dimensions explaining most of the Schlinger factor variance namely liking (positive of negative) and relevance. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Com. (Bedryfsielkunde)