Syftet är att undersöka hur ett antal gymnasielärare som undervisar i svenska ser på datortillgång och datoranvändning, samt vilka krav de ställer på elevernas datoranvändning i kursen Svenska A. Undersökningen genomfördes via en webbenkät, vilken distribuerades under mars 2009. Resultatet av webbenkäten ställs mot beskrivningar av förutsättningar för skrivande och aktuella styrdokument. Tillgången på lärardatorer är otillräcklig och tillgången på elevdatorer är ännu mera otillräcklig. Datormedierad kommunikation används för att effektivisera undervisningen och för att nå eleverna med information. En majoritet av lärarna i undersökningen har inte erbjudits kompetensfortbildning inom området datormedierad kommunikation av sin arbetsgivare. I kursen Svenska A erbjuds eleverna varierande datortillgång, allt från varje lektion till en gång per kurs. Lärarnas krav på elevernas datorkompetens i kursen varierar mellan ”inga krav” och omfattande krav. I diskussionen belyser jag hur ny teknik assimileras av skola och undervisning och sätter in mina resultat i en tidskontext. / The purpose of my investigation is to study the view of supply of computers and the use of computers among a num¬ber of senior high school teachers, teaching Swedish. I also investigate their demands on pupils and their use of computers in the course “Svenska A”. My web inquiry was distributed during March 2009. The results of the inquiry have been compared with descriptions of requirements for writing and with former and present curricula. The supply of computers for teachers is insufficient and the supply of computers for pupils is even more so. Communication mediated by computer is being used to give information to pupils and to make teaching more efficient. A majority of the teachers have not been offered further training by their employers within the field of communication mediated by computer. In the course “Svenska A” pupils are being offered to use computers in varying degrees, from once per course till every lesson. The teachers’ claims on the pupils’ competence in their use of computers vary from “no demands” to wide demands. In the discussion I shed light on how new technology is being assimilated by schools and education. I also insert my results in a context of time.

Background: To win the “war for talent” and recruit highly skilled candidates, employers need to distinguish themselves from their competitors by securing employer-of-choice (EOC) status. In competitive industries such as information technology (IT), companies focus on shaping unique employer branding (EB) strategies to help find or retain top talent and the indispensable edge or advantages that come along with them. At the same time, diverse IT employees are contending with different forms of prejudice and discrimination within the industry, making it essential for companies to clearly present their agendas of diversity and inclusivity through EB that communicates a “great place to work” for employees.   Purpose: While there are various bodies of EB-focused research, few studies have empirically explored how diversity and inclusion are communicated across industries. Accordingly, this study explores the use of external digital communication for promoting EB inclusivity deployed by the human resources (HR) and marketing departments of IT companies.   Method: This study uses exploratory research within a qualitative research design, along with an abductive approach, preexisting theories, and empirical data gathered from seven semi-structured interviews and digital communication materials from three IT companies: CGI, Nexer, and Toxic. The data is analyzed using the Gioia method and content analysis. Finally, a revised conceptual framework is developed.   Conclusion: The results of this study show that a range of external digital communication channels are needed to effectively communicate EB inclusivity. This can be achieved by portraying diversity and inclusion in different dimensions, in addition to successful diversity- and inclusion-driven projects, initiatives, and storytelling. It is essential to highlight different demographics within the company, for instance, from junior and senior, to male and female employees, as well as individuals from underrepresented groups. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the IT industry is in a state of continuous innovation and evolution while also being highly competitive in terms of securing top recruits who can choose between their prospective employers. There is also a need to gain wider perspectives when creating IT solutions for diverse groups worldwide and there is a clear shortage of women in the industry. Therefore, it is important for IT companies to communicate their EB with diversity and inclusion in mind — and in practice through using the revised framework that presents relevant actors, tools, communication channels, and dimensions of D&I. On a managerial level, local and international actors are recommended to work in close collaboration, utilize modern technology, and follow up their external communication to attract potential employees who may one day become ambassadors for the company. / Bakgrund: För att vinna "kriget om talang" och rekrytera högkvalificerade kandidater behöver arbetsgivare särskilja sig från sina konkurrenter genom att framstå som en attraktiv arbetsgivare. Inom konkurrensutsatta branscher som informationsteknik (IT) fokuserar företag på att hitta unika strategier för att bygga sitt arbetsgivarvarumärke (EB) för att hitta och behålla högkvalificerad personal och de ovärderliga fördelar som följer av detta. Samtidigt möter IT-anställda olika former av fördomar och diskriminering inom branschen, vilket gör det nödvändigt för företag att tydligt presentera sina principer för mångfald och inkludering genom EB som ger bilden av en "fantastisk arbetsplats" för anställda.   Syfte: Trots att det finns tidigare forskning inom EB, har få studier empiriskt utforskat hur mångfald och inkludering kommuniceras i olika branscher. Denna studie undersöker därför användningen av extern digital kommunikation för att främja inkludering genom EB, vid personalavdelningar och marknadsavdelningar hos IT-företag.   Metod: Denna studie använder sig av utforskande forskning inom en kvalitativ forskningsdesign, tillsammans med en abduktiv ansats, befintliga teorier och empirisk data från sju semi-strukturerade intervjuer och digitala kommunikationsmaterial från tre IT-företag: CGI, Nexer och Toxic. Data har analyserats med Gioia-metoden och genom innehållsanalys. Slutligten utvecklas ett reviderat konceptuellt ramverk.   Slutsats: Resultaten av denna studie visar att olika externa digitala kommunikationskanaler behövs för att effektivt kommunicera inkludering genom EB. Detta kan uppnås genom att porträttera mångfald och inkludering i olika dimensioner; som tillsammans med framgångsrika projekt eller initiativ och berättelser som drivs av mångfald och inkludering. Det är viktigt att framhäva olika demografier inom företaget, till exempel juniora och seniora anställda, manliga och kvinnliga anställda, samt individer från underrepresenterade grupper. Resultaten visar att IT-branschen befinner sig i en ständig process av innovation och utveckling samtidigt som den är starkt konkurrenspräglad vad gäller att attrahera topprekryter som kan välja mellan sina framtida arbetsgivare. Det finns också ett behov av att bredda perspektiven vid skapandet av IT-lösningar för olika grupper globalt, och det råder en tydlig brist på kvinnor inom branschen. Därför är det viktigt för IT-företag att kommunicera sitt EB med mångfald och inkludering i åtanke – och i praktiken genom att använda det reviderade ramverket som presenterar relevanta aktörer, verktyg, kommunikationskanaler och dimensioner av mångfald och inkludering. På ledningsnivån rekommenderas ett nära samarbete mellan lokala och internationella aktörer, att modern teknik utnyttjas, och att och extern kommunikation följs upp för att locka potentiella kandidater som en dag kan bli ambassadörer för företaget.

本質性個案研究目的在探討以國際教育網路社群IEARN進行專題導向式跨國互動EFL學習的英語教學設計。該學習方式與教學模式特性諸多符合九年一貫課程改革理念。然而，在國內文獻及研究顯示，極少英語教師進行專題式網路教學設計。本研究個案是國中兩名英語教師與其班導學生為期兩年半的跨國文化專題學習。從個案訪談與課室觀察中發現，資訊科技融入英語教學，教師具備高度科技能力並非必要考量，而是教學策略、班級經營、師生合作為首務。 依據個案進行專題式導向學習過程中所面臨的挑戰與完成的歷程，研究者對教師、學校主管、教育當局與社會提出建言，以求改善與進步。這項教學革新並非只是順應課程改革，更是為了發展學生全面的學習與實踐終身學習為目標。 / The purpose of this research is to understand the challenge of project-based telecommunication activities through the IEARN for EFL learning. The learning methods and teaching strategies of project-based learning (PBL) conform to the rationale of Grade 1-9 Curriculum reform. However, literature showed that very few EFL teachers became involved in PBL with information technology for instruction. This research, conducted as a case study in the qualitative methodology, describes how two junior high school English teachers and their homeroom students implemented PBL through international network and how they developed cross-culture awareness in half and two years. It was found that successful EFL learning infused with information technology relied much more on pedagogy, class management and teacher-student collaboration than on teacher's computer skills. Based on the challenges and implement revealed in the process of PBL through telecommunication activities, the researcher gave suggestions to teachers, school administrators, educational authority and community for further improvement. The instructional innovation not only met educational reform standards but also developed EFL students' holistic learning in a lifelong fashion.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gilmar Lima Hilario.pdf: 4391683 bytes, checksum: 9b2bffb0c354d5d73021c08c4604cee2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-10-24 / The recognition that internal factors of the organization, among them knowledge, can act much more on its performance than the external factors, is collaborating to consolidate the use of new approaches for enterprise administration. Among these, are pointed out in this paper the Knowledge-Based View (KBV) and the Resource-Based View (RBV). In the information technology (IT) sector, in which the knowledge is used in an intensive way, the adoption of those approaches can be expressed through the increasing of the knowledge to the condition of an important asset for the company. Consequently, the adoption of knowledge management practices aims at producing better performance results and quality in the processes of products generation and services offerings. In this paper - drewed out from a Case Study with a Research-Action carried through in a business unit of a company supplier of specialized IT services the evaluation was focused on the potential contributions and main challenges for the adoption of knowledge management practices. As result, a knowledge management method was produced, whose application can contribute for knowledge mapping and dissemination in projects of same scope / O reconhecimento de que fatores internos da organização, entre eles o conhecimento, exercem uma influência significativamente maior sobre seu desempenho do que os fatores externos estão colaborando para consolidar a utilização de novas abordagens para gestão empresarial. Entre estas abordagens destacam-se neste trabalho a Visão da Empresa Baseado no Conhecimento (KBV Knowledge-Based View) e a Visão da Empresa Baseada em Recursos (RBV Resource-Based View). No setor de tecnologia da informação TI, em que o conhecimento é utilizado de maneira intensiva, a adoção dessas abordagens podem se traduzir na elevação do conhecimento à condição de importante ativo da empresa. Por conseqüência, a adoção de praticas de gestão do conhecimento tem como objetivo produzir melhores resultados de desempenho e qualidade nos processos de geração de produtos e prestação de serviços. Neste trabalho a partir de um estudo de caso com pesquisa ação - realizada em uma unidade de negócios de uma empresa prestadora de serviços especializados de TI busca-se avaliar as potenciais contribuições e principais desafios inerentes a adoção de práticas de gestão do conhecimento. Como resultado, produziu-se um método para gestão do conhecimento cuja aplicação pode trazer contribuições para mapeamento e disseminação de conhecimentos em projetos de mesmo teor

公共組織長期以來給人一種浪費、效率不彰及態度傲慢的負面印象，在處於複雜多變的環境下，一般民眾莫不期待政府能提昇行政績效，以增加組織的學習力，掌握人民（顧客）的偏好，並迅速回應環境的變化。本研究即基於民眾對政府感到失望卻又渴望的情愫，而擬探究資訊科技如何應用於公共組織，進而探討公共組織網絡化的可能性，以做為公共組織因應時代潮流變遷的對策。 為了降低公共組織對資訊科技衝擊的適應不良，及確保能永續發展，本研究以為公共組織當就組織的管理與結構面進行調整，就管理面而言，善用資訊科技工具是其可行的途徑之一；就結構面而言，或可調整科層結構為網絡式組織。換言之，即希望藉由引進資訊網路科技，以建構一個網絡式的公共組織。其理想的運作模式是組織的成員、團隊或是整個組織的運作都彷彿是一個獨立的節點，可以突破時空的屏障而形成多重連結，以構成一個網絡。每個節點的權力來源，不是來自階級，而是自身擁有的技術和知識，彼此相互支援與分享資訊，為共同的價值觀與目標而努力。使它不再是一種政治結構，而是近似於一種生活方式。 植基於新公共行政（New Public Administration）與後官僚組織（post-bureaucratic organization）等觀點的影響，研究中從反思科層型政府為濫觴，並在「資訊科技」與「網絡式組織」兩者間釐探其互動互補的關係，期望這良性的互動能賦予公共組織變革時一個新的思考方向。基於這樣的邏輯思考，而於理論面上發現可以資訊科技為核心技術，提出建構理想型「網絡式公共組織」的三大願景方向－「再造的政府」、「虛擬式政府」及「團隊型政府」，並分別擬定其運作的可行性策略如後： （一）以「便民服務」、「資訊與知識流通」及「流程改造」等策略形塑「再造的政府」。 （二）以「即時通訊，傳遞正確資訊」、「擴大參與，共享民主政治」及「相互信賴，以求共存共榮」等策略形塑「虛擬式政府」。 （三）以「搭起開放便捷的溝通管道」、「培養合作共享專業知識的組織文化」及「建立工作績效評估制度」等策略形塑「團隊型政府」。 在實務面上，以我國電子化/網路化政府政策為例，從官方文獻資料的閱讀，瞭解到該政策的規劃內涵及未來願景與本研究所建構的網絡式公共組織之策略內涵有相通互補之處；另外對相關官員與洽公民眾進行一系列的深度訪談，得知該政策在實際運作上均分別引發了政府再造、虛擬政府及團隊政府的產生，所以本研究建構網絡式公共組織的構念，似乎可以在該實例的政策執行上獲得有力的註腳。 總而言之，本研究從理論與實務的探究中發現，網絡式組織無論在理論上的引介或實務上的應用，似乎均可藉由資訊科技的力量，讓公共組織走向一個較為具開放、動態與彈性的組織型態。惟目前公共組織在進行網絡化的過程中，本研究擬建議政府當持續應用資訊網路科技，在策略聯盟共享資源的原則下，達成「以客為尊」的服務宗旨。另外政府對於組織「知識管理」的概念與作為，及建立一套「客觀公正的績效評估辦法」是較為不足的。若期望公共組織能發揮最大效用，則需加強這兩面向的建置，因為強化知識管理與建立客觀公正的績效評估辦法，有利於絡網式公共組織的建立。

The procedures of the study are mainly through the review on the relevant reference documents related to the subject of those have been published domestically and internationally, meanwhile to get a better understanding on the most recent development on Information Technology and its associated models which are being applied to the customer relationship management by the organizations and/or business units in the world. Then, through the investigation and review on steel industries to understand the real situations domestically and internationally, specifically to focus on the Sheng Yu Steel Co., Ltd. As an example, for which to plan the implementation of Extranet System for the improvement of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) by using Information Technology, what problems it will be faced and how is the best strategyfor this implementation. Then after the completion of the study, to make a constructive recommendation to the Sheng Yu Steel Co., Ltd as an useful reference when the Extranet system to be planned and implementedfor. In Chapter-1 ¡©Introduction¡ª¡Ato descibe the backgroud, purposes, procedures and the limitation related to the study¡Fin Chapter-2, the major is concentrate on the review and understand on the relevant documents of the subject related¡Fin Chapter-3, specifically to focus on the existing situations of the steel industries and the Sheng Yu Steel Co., Ltd. how it is the current situation to the subject issue¡Fin Chapter-4, to have further investigation on recent situations for the use of Information Technology in Sheng Yu Steel Co., Ltd. to make a recommendation for their reference whn they plan for the implementation of Extranet System for the improvement of Customer Relationship Management¡Fand finally, in Chapter-5, to describe the findings and issues for whicht to be expected to have further study in the future to come up a generalized model for which can be applied to all companies not only for steel industies but also to all conventional enpterprises as an important and valuable reference guideline.

Förmåga att använda informations- och kommunikationsteknik framhålls numeraofta som en förutsättning för delaktighet på lika villkor i samhällslivet. Näraförknippat med detta är de insatser som görs för att överbrygga digitala klyftor isamhället. IKT har gjort deltagandet i samhällslivet mer möjligt för personer medsynnedsättning. Tillgång till teknik innebär dock inte alltid att den kan användas ivardagen. I denna avhandling analyseras den förmedlingsprocess som sker när barnmed grav synnedsättning, genom förskrivning på syncentraler, får tillgång tilldatortekniska hjälpmedel, samt hur barnen därefter tillägnar sig tekniken genom att,med olika stödpersoners hjälp, använda den i skolan och hemmet. Åtta barn (mellan7-18 år) från två syncentralers upptagningsområden deltog i studien, tillika medderas föräldrar, stödpersoner i skolan samt personal (datortekniker och anpassningslärare)från syncentralerna. Undersökningsmaterialet har samlats in genom intervjuer,samtal och observationer. Barnen har skrivit aktivitetsrelaterade dagböcker. Förmedlingsprocessen involverar många personer från flera organisationer och ärutsträckt i tid och rum. Olika rationaliteter ställs mot varandra när professionelltverksamma från syncentral och skola, tillsammans med föräldrar ska möjliggöra förbarnen att ta tekniken i bruk. Med utgångspunkt från datorn som hjälpmedel diskuterastre projekt vars mål är viktiga för barnet att nå: att lära sig, att bli socialtdelaktig och att bli självständig. Dessa projekt står ofta i konflikt med varandra, tillexempel barnens önskan att träna på datorn samtidigt som de vill leka med sinakamrater. Med en tidsgeografisk ansats analyseras situationer där konflikter uppstår,samt vilka avvägningar och försök till samordning som görs av de inblandadeparterna. Skolan utgör ett område där den övergripande samhälleliga ambitionen omett liv på lika villkor ska konkretiseras. Analysen pekar på att uppmärksamhet börriktas såväl mot den individcentrerade kompensatoriska användningen av tekniskahjälpmedel, som mot skolans uppläggning av undervisningen (strukturell förändring förtillgänglighet). Ett helhetsperspektiv på förmedlingsprocessen möjliggör långsiktigplanering där tidsrumsliga dimensioner betraktas och dess fragmentering minskas. / The ability to use information and communication technology is regarded today as acondition for participation in society. Closely associated with this are measurestaken to reduce the digital divide in society. Computer technology is accepted asmaking it possible for people with disabilities to manage most things on their ownthat previously required some help of others. However, access to technology doesnot necessarily equal usability. This thesis explores and analyses the mediationprocess that occurs when children with visual impairment, access assistive computertechnologies, and how these, by the help of support persons, are used in home and atschool. Eight children (between seven and eighteen years of age) were included inthe study, as well as their parents, support persons in school and professionals fromthe Low Vision Clinics. Research data have been collected through interviews,conversations, observations and activity oriented diaries. The mediation processinvolves a number of persons and organisations and is both organisationally complexand extended in time and space. Different rationalities are set against eachother, when professionally active persons from the Low Vision Clinics and schools,together with parents make it possible for the children to use the assistive devices.From the standpoint of the computer as an aid, three projects are discussed whosegoals are important for the child to achieve to be able to, in the short and long run,live life to the full. These projects are ‘learning’, ‘becoming socially involved’ and‘becoming independent’. The projects can often be in conflict with each other; forexample the children’s desire to practice on the computer against their wanting toplay with their friends at the same time. With a time-geographic approach,situations in which conflicts and trade-offs arise, as well as the coordination effortsmade by those involved, are analysed. The school constitutes an area in which theoverreaching societal ambition of a life on equal terms is realised. This studydiscusses how compensation for the individual as well as structural change foraccessibility manifests itself in organisation, structures and supportive efforts.

Submitted by Cristiane Oliveira (cristiane.oliveira@fgv.br) on 2011-06-10T16:45:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 71070100692.pdf: 3539597 bytes, checksum: 49a2150b74e5119c2d61894e84192a6f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Gisele Isaura Hannickel(gisele.hannickel@fgv.br) on 2011-06-10T17:13:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 71070100692.pdf: 3539597 bytes, checksum: 49a2150b74e5119c2d61894e84192a6f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Gisele Isaura Hannickel(gisele.hannickel@fgv.br) on 2011-06-10T17:15:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 71070100692.pdf: 3539597 bytes, checksum: 49a2150b74e5119c2d61894e84192a6f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-06-10T18:56:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 71070100692.pdf: 3539597 bytes, checksum: 49a2150b74e5119c2d61894e84192a6f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-05-09 / The main objective of this study is to examine the effects of the information technology (IT) usedecisions over IT performance. There is a great need to justify the investments in this area and an expectation to promote superior performance from the use of IT resources and capabilities. Therefore, it is important to clarify the IT value and role in the firms. Changes and high velocity marketing contexts are major challenges to environmental organizations. In this sense, the IT use decisions should be able to mobilize IT resources and capabilities to respond to organizational environment changes and IT performance should be evaluated for their contribution to business processes, rather than to try linking on a direct relationship to overall performance in which many variables obscure the real IT value. This study is based on resource-based view of the firm (RBV), dynamic capabilities and complementarities of organizational resources. Two guidelines are proposed for IT use decisions. The first one is driven by IT reconfigurability and complementary capabilities. The second one is driven by IT infrastructure, personal and partnerships assets. The performance is evaluated by the IT use competences in terms of aspects of their functionality and market requirements relative to IT process. This empirical investigation assessed its goal considering a sample of professionals responsible for IT decision making and planning in Brazilian organizations. Datas were analyzed through partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM). The main results indicated strong and significant effects of capabilities-oriented IT use decisions over their assets-oriented. It was revealed that personal assets-oriented IT use decisions are the ones that influence the performance of IT funcionality competences. Finally, it was evident the importance of IT use decisions treatment as a dynamic capability even without the influence of the moderating effect of the turbulence of organizational environment. The main scholarly contributions are filling the gap of decisions involving the use of IT, its performance on process level within the organizational context of Brazil, and theoretical use of the resource-based view of the firm and dynamic capabilities as background able to promote IT value. Among the main contributions to professional practices stands out to take in account of reconfigurability and complementarity capability of IT resources in their use decisions along with other organizational resources so that they can get a better process performance. The study shows promising future researches in assessing the IT value and development of measures and constructs more appropriate to its evaluation. / O objetivo principal do estudo é verificar os efeitos das decisões do uso da tecnologia da informação (TI) no seu desempenho. Existe uma grande necessidade de justificar os investimentos realizados nessa área e uma expectativa de promover um desempenho superior com o uso dos recursos e capacidades da TI. Portanto, é importante esclarecer o seu valor e o seu papel nas organizações. Mudanças e contextos mercadológicos de rápidas transformações são grandes desafios ao ambiente das organizações. Nesse sentido, as decisões do uso da TI devem ser capazes de mobilizar os recursos e capacidades da TI para responder às mudanças do ambiente organizacional e o desempenho desse uso deve ser avaliado pela contribuição aos processos de negócio, ao contrário de insistir numa relação direta ao desempenho geral em que muitas variáveis ofuscam o real valor da TI. O estudo fundamenta-se na visão baseada em recursos da firma, nas capacidades dinâmicas e na complementaridade dos recursos organizacionais. São propostas duas orientações para as decisões do uso da TI. A primeira orientada pelas capacidades de reconfigurabilidade e complementaridade da TI. A segunda orientada pelos ativos de infra-estrutura, pessoal e parcerias. O desempenho é avaliado pelas competências do uso da TI em relação aos aspectos de sua funcionalidade e de mercado, em nível das exigências do seu processo. O estudo avaliou empiricamente seu objetivo numa amostra de profissionais responsáveis pela tomada de decisão e planejamento de TI em organizações brasileiras. Os dados foram analisados através da modelagem de caminhos por mínimos quadrados parciais. Os principais resultados apontaram fortes e significantes efeitos das decisões do uso da TI orientadas pelas capacidades sobre as decisões orientadas pelos ativos de TI. Revelou-se que as decisões orientadas pelos ativos de pessoal são as únicas que influenciam o desempenho das competências de funcionalidades da TI. Por último, foi evidenciado a importância do tratamento das decisões do uso da TI como uma capacidade dinâmica mesmo sem influência do efeito moderador da turbulência do ambiente organizacional. As principais contribuições acadêmicas são o preenchimento da lacuna que envolve as decisões do uso da TI, seu desempenho em nível de processo dentro do contexto organizacional brasileiro e o usoteórico da visão baseada em recursos da firma e das capacidades dinâmicas como pano de fundo capaz de promover o valor da TI. Dentre as principais contribuições para a prática profissional destaca-se a consideração das capacidades de reconfigurabilidade e complementaridade dos recursos de TI nas decisões do seu uso junto aos demais recursos organizacionais para que se possa obter um melhor desempenho dos processos. O estudo aponta pesquisas futuras promissoras na avaliação do valor da TI e no desenvolvimento de medidas e construtos mais apropriados para sua avaliação.

In today’s dynamic global environment, organizations need to be agile and adaptive by practicing innovative strategies in order to sustain and remain competitive. One indicator of organizational sustainability is its productivity, which translates into the productivity and performance of employees in the organization. Performance evaluation of employees is an important step in measuring the employee productivity. Such evaluations are in general conducted annually using a performance appraisal system (PAS). The annual appraisal using PAS has two major drawbacks. The first drawback is the long frequency of the appraisal process. As it is an annual affair, the errors such as subjectivity, recency error, bias, halo effect, stereotyping etc. creeps in, and as a result the evaluations will not be proper. The second drawback is with respect to fixation of target/goal achievement. While achieving the targets/goals which are fixed at the beginning of the appraisal period are important, any steps towards achieving such goals are equally important. These drawbacks can be addressed to an extent by having an ongoing or continuous method for performance evaluation of employees. Hence there is a need for continuous performance evaluation of employees (CPEE). Although the importance of CPEE has been highlighted in the literature, we are not aware of any process by which CPEE could be operationalized. In order to implement and sustain, any organizational process, it should produce certain periodic outputs, which is meaningful to its administrators and beneficiaries. In the case of CPEE one such output could be to provide a proper and timely rewards and recognition (R&R). R&R is a motivational tool used for appreciation which could boost employee performance and productivity. Research underline that R&R is strongly and positively correlated to the performance of employees. As defined in thesis, Reward is the materialistic part of the appreciation (such as memento, certificate etc.), while Recognition is the feeling of being appreciated (such as a pat on the back or a public applause). Both Reward and Recognition is considered in unison and considered as mutually inclusive in this thesis. There is some variation of R&R practiced in organizations, known as employee awards. Such awards are motivating enough for the employees. In general, the employee awards are based on nominations from the managers, which are scrutinized by an individual committee and one among the nominated employees is offered the award. Nevertheless employees are often clueless about what performance fetched them the award. In other words the criteria for such awards are often unknown. Similar to PAS, the criteria for such evaluations are developed mostly by the employers with hardly any input from the employees. Additionally the employee awards are heavily dependent upon the PAS and it is mostly an annual affair. Hence the drawbacks for PAS are also applicable for the existing employee awards process. In order to address these drawbacks, R&R should be given in an ongoing and continuous manner. Although the importance and the positive correlation between R&R and employee performance has been established, it has not known to be widely practiced in organizations. This could be due to a lack of proper framework to implement such programs. The CPEE process could be the basis for providing R&R. Therefore this thesis is aimed at developing a comprehensive framework for CPEE to offer R&R. Performance of employee is a sum total of the performances across various dimensions (such as knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours). As the performance for employees is a multi-dimensional concept, the criteria for evaluation using CPEE process should also be based on multiple criteria. Therefore in order to effectively address the operational process of CPEE to offer R&R, a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method based model needs to be developed. A focused review of the existing literature on performance evaluation of employees substantiated the research problem that there is a lack of proper framework for CPEE to offer R&R. In order to address this research problem, the main objective of this thesis is to develop a comprehensive, formal and objective method to evaluate the employee performance in a continuous manner based on multiple evaluation criteria from the perspectives of employees as well as employers to offer proper and timely reward and recognition to the best performing employee(s). In order to address the main objective of the research, the following objectives are envisaged: 1. To identify the set of variables/criteria with respect to both employees’ and employers’ perspectives and to propose an initial framework for CPEE to offer R&R. 2. To develop a final framework for CPEE to offer R&R based on the initial proposed framework and descriptive research 3 To develop a multi-criteria-decision-making (MCDM) method for the proposed framework for CPEE to offer R&R The scope of this research is limited to Information Technology (IT) organizations due to the alarming rate of attrition and the presence of younger population who are knowledge workers. They expect frequent appreciation and continuous feedback regarding their performance. In this thesis, employees are represented by Software Engineers (SEs) and the employers are represented by Project Managers (PMs). Research Objective 1: In order to address the first research objective a six phased approach is planned. In the first phase, the available literature on existing performance evaluations in general and employee motivations are reviewed to identify the possible variables/criteria for CPEE to offer R&R. This resulted in 51 variables for performance evaluation. As it cannot be confidently asserted whether these variables are applicable to employees of IT organizations, a set of unstructured interviews are conducted with Software Engineers to prepare Case-lets. This Case-let approach with Software Engineers is carried out in the second phase and 7 Case-let reports are prepared. From the analysis of the 7 Case-let reports, 27 variables are identified. As the variables identified from Case-let approach may not represent the entire IT employees, a series of semi structured interviews are conducted among 58 Software Engineers in the third phase to identify further variables/criteria and accordingly 35 variables are identified. In order to obtain the list of variables/criteria based on employers’ perspectives and to validate the set of variables/criteria suggested by Software Engineers, 31 Project Managers are interviewed following semi structured interview method in the fourth phase and 33 variables are identified. In the fifth phase, the variables identified from second to fourth phases are triangulated with those identified from literature (i.e. first phase) which resulted in 33 unique variables that could be used for CPEE of Software Engineers to offer R&R. The final set of 33 variables/criteria are appropriately grouped into variables relating to Demographic Characteristics of Software Engineers (DCSE) and Performance of Software Engineers (PSE). Accordingly, 5 variables related to DCSE and 28 variables related to PSE out of the 33 variables finalized for CPEE to offer R&R, are grouped. Utilizing these grouped sets of variables in DCSE and PSE, an initial framework for CPEE to offer R&R is proposed in the sixth phase. Research Objective 2: In order to validate and to statistically finalize the proposed initial framework, a descriptive research is conducted. For this the importance of each of the identified 33 variables are sought from 443 Software Engineers from 12 IT organizations. A bivariate analysis is planned to analyse the significance of variables of DCSE with the variables of PSE. As there are 28 variables in PSE, they are further grouped with respect to the latent structure using a factor analysis. The factor analysis yielded six factors for measuring PSE. The factors (called as main criteria) are Proactive, Prompt, Resourceful, Responsible, Diagnostic and Dynamic. Based on the bivariate analysis among variables in DCSE and the six main criteria, only three variables, out of five variables of DCSE emerged as significant. Based on the factor analysis and bivariate analysis, the proposed initial framework is modified. Appropriate hypotheses are proposed to indicate the relation between DCSE, PSE and R&R in the modified framework. The modified framework is validated by developing suitable Structural Equation Model (SEM) to verify the hypotheses. The relative influence of DCSE, PSE and R&R are identified based on statistical validation and the framework is finalized. Research Objective 3: As there are six main criteria identified in PSE for CPEE to offer R&R, the proposed framework could be appropriately modelled using MCDM method(s)/models(s). As CPEE is a continuous process, the performance evaluation using CPEE should take only a minimum time for completion of evaluation process, and it should be easy to implement and administer and also should be flexible to accommodate any changes in the criteria or alternatives. These are the preconditions to select the suitable MCDM method(s)/model(s) to operationalize the process of CPEE to offer R&R. In order to select a suitable MCDM method from the available methods, various MCDM methods are screened based on the expected preconditions of the framework. Pugh Matrix Method (PMM) is selected for the CPEE process and is modified to address the basic drawbacks of PMM so as to utilize in this thesis. Accordingly, the MCDM methods: AHP and a Modified Pugh Matrix Method (MPMM) (which are meeting the expected preconditions of the framework such as minimum time, maximum easiness and maximum flexibility) are considered to model the proposed framework for CPEE to offer R&R. The AHP is used to calculate the relative weights and the MPMM is used to compare the performance of employees to provide a relative score. Accordingly, the proposed MCDM based modelling framework for CPEE to offer R&R is demonstrated by developing a suitable example. The MCDM method for CPEE to offer R&R developed in this thesis provides a performance score for every employee for every performance-cycle of CPEE. This score could be stored in a database which could be appropriately utilized during the periodic performance appraisal process using PAS. Overall, the contributions of the research are: (i) a new research problem on CPEE to offer R&R is identified (ii) a set of variables/criteria are identified from both employees and employers perspective, particularly for IT Organizations and an initial framework for CPEE to offer R&R is proposed (iii) a statistically finalized framework for CPEE to offer R&R is presented with the variables/ criteria identified (iv) simple MCDM methods are developed for the operationalization of the proposed framework for CPEE to offer R&R and a possible integration with the organization’s existing PAS is also conceptually presented. (ii) Although the research has accomplished its objectives, there are certain limitations such as (i) the focus of research is limited only to IT organizations, and hence cannot necessarily be generalized, the sampling is based on convenience and assumed to represent the entire IT population in the country and (iii) other MCDM methods are not explored so as to develop the proposed framework. Addressing these could be some of the future research directions in this area.

Despite the increasing importance of digitization in all facets of teaching and learning, digital moderation (eModeration) has received little attention in research and practice. No evidence-based requirements on the secondary school environment could be found for the development of a digital moderation system. This finding provided the rationale for an investigation into the requirements for an efficient eModeration system for IT and CAT assessments at grade 12 level in South Africa. A critical literature review was employed to explore eModeration and the requirements for a digital moderation system. This study is novel in exploring the applicability of post-adoption technology acceptance models to a pre-adoption system. The inquiry was guided by the overarching research question of: What are the requirements for an efficient eModeration system for IT and CAT SBA assessments at grade 12 level in SA? This dissertation concludes that there is currently no dedicated eModeration system in use in the secondary school environment. This study draws on the eModeration literature, the technology adoption literature and empirical research in the private secondary school environment of IT and CAT assessments at grade 12 level in South Africa to provide an evidence-based contribution to the requirements for an efficient eModeration system. The findings serve as a theoretical basis for future research into eModeration systems and can make a practical contribution to future practices and policies within schools and assessment bodies. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)