Today companies are competing on the basis of what they know, how fast they learn it, and how well they use what they learn. At the heart of this knowledge-based competition lie knowledge and even more important intelligence. Competitive Intelligence, as a discipline, is increasingly being viewed as a critical enabler to reach competitive advantage. Previous research, however, suggest that South African com¬panies showed a general lack of appropriate pro¬cesses or structures for competitive intelligence compared to their international counterparts. The research aims to demonstrate, through a case study, how the theoretical concepts associated with competitive intelligence can be translated into practice so as to ensure efficient and cost effective competitive intelligence practices and thus contribute to the future success of competitive intelligence programmes in South Africa. / Information Science / M. Inf.

Universities in the new millennium find themselves in a knowledge-driven economy that is challenging them to produce a qualified and adaptable work force if they are to contribute to societal development. Owing to the structural change in the economy, entrepreneurs require high level scientists, professionals and technicians who not only have the capability to create and support innovations by adapting knowledge to local use but also people with managerial and lifelong learning skills. Such are they who can accelerate changes and make organizations more productive and efficient in the services they render. Consequently, universities in Sub-Saharan Africa are challenged to transform learning so as to produce graduates who have both knowledge and competencies. Such a system will create a balance between university education and the changing labour market. Satisfying these new educational demands are only possible through research and unhindered access to global information resources. Paradoxically, some private university libraries, because of limited funding, find themselves fiscally constrained in the provision of unhindered access to global stores of information particularly at a time of exponential growth both in number and cost of information resources. This had led libraries to re-examine resource sharing as a viable option to meeting the new demands placed on universities. It is for the reasons above that this study examines the practice, problems and prospects of resource-sharing in selected Seventh-day Adventist university libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa. It examines scientifically the causes of poor sharing practices that are unique to each library, the situational and environmental factors that can enhance resource sharing. It provides also research-based information that will help to determine the best ways by which each library can have greater access to information resources. There are proposals for resolving the problems, and there are recommendations for dealing with the matter on a more permanent basis. The study advances resource-sharing model called Consortium of Adventist University Libraries in Africa (CAULA) as a resource sharing network for Seventh-day Adventist libraries in Africa. The organizational structure for CAULA are outlined and discussed. The proposed cooperation is not only sustainable but also structured to provide efficiency and greater regional cooperation of SDA libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa. / Information Science / DLITT ET PHIL (INF SCIENCE)

The knowledge economy has brought about some new challenges for organisations. Accessing data and information in a logical manner is a critical component of information and knowledge management. Taxonomies are viewed as a solution to facilitate ease of access to information in a logical manner. The aim of this research was to investigate the role of taxonomies within organisations which utilise a knowledge management framework or strategy. An interview process was utilised to gain insight from leading organisations as to the use of taxonomies within the knowledge management environment. Organisations are starting to use taxonomies to manage multi-sourced environments and facilitate the appropriate sourcing of the organisations intellectual capital. Based on the research it is clear that taxonomies will play a central role in the coming years to help manage the complexity of the organisation's environment and ease the access to relevant information. / Information Science / M.Inf.

The researcher used the integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The respondents were drawn from three district, one regional, one academic and two private hospitals. Data was collected by means of questionnaires. The open-ended questions in the questionnaire allowed the respondents to respond in their own words (“etic” description). This enhanced the organisation and reduction of the relevant data for analysis as well as the validity and trustworthiness of the study. The study revealed that even though most of the South African government health policies were very advanced and among the best in the world, some crucial policies appeared to have encountered problems with implementation, from conflicting ideologies and opinions from hospital management, different unions, professional associations, the provincial government, the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and patients. Too many groups appeared to have discussed nurses‟ issues with government and made decisions for nurses, leaving nurses disillusioned. The majority of the respondents attributed this to poor representation at government level. Furthermore, some decisions, resolutions and strategies agreed upon between the unions and bargaining councils appeared to have worked against nurses, further dividing RNs and failing to accomplish the intended purpose. Although most of the respondents had hoped that the Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) for nurses would address chronic low salaries for all nurses in the PHS, it favoured certain specialty qualifications (which were based on the description of post-basic courses in R212 and R48, which were not clearly delineated). In addition, RNs were not informed about the meaning and implications of the OSD prior to implementation. The study thus found an information gap between government and RNs at the production level, which appeared not to be with the government and the nurses, but in between. Most importantly, nurses seemed to be represented more by unions to government and bargaining councils, as opposed to nurses, while most of the respondents did not favour the division of nurses between professional associations and unions. Decisions in the PHS appeared to have been dominated by leaders who had no experience with pragmatic issues of health care services (HCS), particularly at the operational level, and the dynamics of the nursing profession. The study therefore concluded that, if the right people (nurses, doctors and systems) were put in place, and nurses were represented by nurses at government level, bargaining councils and parliament, discontent among RNs in the PHS could be reduced significantly. Existing strategies were found to deal with the symptoms and not the root cause of discontent among RNs in the PHS. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Momentous choices and opportunities have opened up in South Africa since a settlement was successfully negotiated and a new political and constitutional dispensation was created. Events such as the constitutional negotiations and the establishment of reconstruction and development initiatives have placed a renewed emphasis on development management, process facilitation and the development of policy. This study provides an overview of the broad field of policy studies and specifically focuses on policy process models. In particular, this study centres on the further development of the generic process model and provides an overview of the application thereof to the operational environment. From this, simulation exercises and case study material have been developed as policy learning methodologies. Institutional arrangements for policy processes and the institutionalisation of policy and related support capacities at intergovernmental and organisational level receive particular attention. The study demonstrates the application of the generic process model by applying the framework to a case study based on the provincial demarcation exercise. This study concludes that policy management, as a cross-cutting, lateral methodology, in conjunction with similar methodologies, such as strategic planning, research methodology and project management, should be regarded as a critical tool, by the academic community and development practitioners alike, for improving the decision-making capacity of government, the private sector and civil society. / D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Administration)

No description available.

Die Arbeit geht dem Status quo der unternehmensweiten Suche in österreichischen Großunternehmen nach und beleuchtet Faktoren, die darauf Einfluss haben. Aus der Analyse des Ist-Zustands wird der Bedarf an Enterprise-Search-Software abgeleitet und es werden Rahmenbedingungen für deren erfolgreiche Einführung skizziert. Die Untersuchung stützt sich auf eine im Jahr 2009 durchgeführte Onlinebefragung von 469 österreichischen Großunternehmen (Rücklauf 22 %) und daran anschließende Leitfadeninterviews mit zwölf Teilnehmern der Onlinebefragung. Der theoretische Teil verortet die Arbeit im Kontext des Informations- und Wissensmanagements. Der Fokus liegt auf dem Ansatz der Enterprise Search, ihrer Abgrenzung gegenüber der Suche im Internet und ihrem Leistungsspektrum. Im empirischen Teil wird zunächst aufgezeigt, wie die Unternehmen ihre Informationen organisieren und welche Probleme dabei auftreten. Es folgt eine Analyse des Status quo der Informationssuche im Unternehmen. Abschließend werden Bekanntheit und Einsatz von Enterprise-Search-Software in der Zielgruppe untersucht sowie für die Einführung dieser Software nötige Rahmenbedingungen benannt. Defizite machen die Befragten insbesondere im Hinblick auf die übergreifende Suche im Unternehmen und die Suche nach Kompetenzträgern aus. Hier werden Lücken im Wissensmanagement offenbar. 29 % der Respondenten der Onlinebefragung geben zudem an, dass es in ihren Unternehmen gelegentlich bis häufig zu Fehlentscheidungen infolge defizitärer Informationslagen kommt. Enterprise-Search-Software kommt in 17 % der Unternehmen, die sich an der Onlinebefragung beteiligten, zum Einsatz. Die durch Enterprise-Search-Software bewirkten Veränderungen werden grundsätzlich positiv beurteilt. Alles in allem zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass Enterprise-Search-Strategien nur Erfolg haben können, wenn man sie in umfassende Maßnahmen des Informations- und Wissensmanagements einbettet. / The dissertation pursues the status quo of enterprise search within large companies in Austria and examines which aspects take influence on it. From the analysis of the current state the demand for enterprise search software is derived and the conditions of how it can be implemented successfully are outlined. The study is based on an online survey in 2009 among 469 large companies in Austria (response rate of 22 %), which was complemented by semi-structured interviews with twelve participants of the online survey. The theoretical part puts the examination in the field of information and knowledge management. It focuses on the strategy of enterprise search, its differences compared with web search, and its technical features. The empirical part investigates how companies organize information and which problems might arise as a result. This is followed by an analysis of the state of information retrieval within the company. Finally, the degree of awareness and use of enterprise search software and the basic conditions for its installation are explored. Above all, the respondents and interviewees identify deficits concerning metasearch features as well as the search for experts within the company. This in turn reveals gaps in knowledge management efforts. Moreover, 29 % of the online survey’s respondents indicate that their company either sometimes or often take wrong decisions because of insufficient information. 17 % of the responding companies take advantage of enterprise search software. In principle, the changes due to enterprise search software are seen positively. In summary, the results show that enterprise search risks to fail as a success-ful strategy unless it is embedded in comprehensive information and knowledge management activities.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:36:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rodrigo Roza1.pdf: 518176 bytes, checksum: 2043e6ae4a14356170c4156d144d75c1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-02-24 / A study on processes and techniques regarding the production and dissemination of information, which lie beneath the practices concerned with information and knowledge management within organizations. Therefore, a general process involving the production and dissemination of information is presented; the role played by information technology as well as human and social aspects involved are investigated . all under the focus of the generation of knowledge within the organizational environment. For testing and validating the theoretical construct, an empirical investigation is performed through interviews involving professionals working for organization units, the end-activities of which are directly related to the production and dissemination of information. As a result, it is concluded that technology must be envisaged as a support instrument and that both individuals and their social relations must play a main role in conceiving the process of production and dissemination of information within organizations. / Estudo sobre processos e t?cnicas de produ??o e dissemina??o de informa??o que se encontram subjacentes ?s pr?ticas de gest?o da informa??o e do conhecimento nas organiza??es. Para tanto, apresenta-se um processo gen?rico de produ??o e dissemina??o de informa??o; o papel desempenhado pela tecnologia da informa??o, bem como os aspectos humanos e sociais envolvidos s?o investigados, tendo em vista a gera??o de conhecimento no ?mbito organizacional. Para teste e valida??o da constru??o te?rica, realiza-se uma investiga??o emp?rica por meio de entrevistas envolvendo profissionais de unidades organizacionais cujas atividades-fim relacionam-se diretamente ? produ??o e ? dissemina??o de informa??o. Como resultado, conclui-se que a tecnologia deve ser vista como um instrumento de apoio e que os indiv?duos e suas rela??es sociais devem ter import?ncia central na concep??o do processo de produ??o e dissemina??o de informa??o nas organiza??es.

Submitted by Fabiana Gonçalves Pinto (benf@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-07-13T20:35:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Andre Luiz de Souza Braga.pdf: 2328472 bytes, checksum: 4c21a28ade024286610ee1363829eaa3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-13T20:35:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andre Luiz de Souza Braga.pdf: 2328472 bytes, checksum: 4c21a28ade024286610ee1363829eaa3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Doutorado Acadêmico em Ciências do Cuidado em Saúde / O presente estudo encontra-se inserido no Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisa em Gestão e Trabalho em Saúde - NUPGES/CNPq, na Linha de Pesquisa: O cuidado em seu contexto sócio cultural. Apresenta como objetivos: Descrever os aspectos da atuação do enfermeiro de rede básica de saúde que oportunizem à tomada de decisões; Analisar a prática do enfermeiro de rede básica frente à ação-reflexão-ação sobre a utilização da informação em seu cotidiano de trabalho, como um instrumento para tomada de decisões; Discutir implicações da reflexividade sobre a prática do enfermeiro frente a informação em seu cotidiano de trabalho, no que tange a tomada de decisões. Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa, do tipo estudo de caso, tendo como participantes doze enfermeiros de rede básica de saúde do município de Niterói/RJ. Como referencial teórico, utilizaram-se as ideias de Donald Schön ao assegurar que é a reflexividade constante sobre a própria prática, quem dará subsídios para encontrar respostas aos impasses que surgem no cotidiano do exercício profissional. Os dados foram analisados através da análise temática indutiva que descreve a indução como um procedimento que consiste de fatos singulares que remonta a uma proposição genérica, tendo sua aplicabilidade a proposições particulares semelhantes. Após da construção do corpus originaram três categorias: Aspectos que oportunizam a atuação do enfermeiro de rede básica para tomada de decisões - A racionalidade técnica como paradigma; as informações no cotidiano da prática do enfermeiro de rede básica e sua tomada de decisão - A racionalidade prática como paradigma; e a reflexividade crítica sobre a prática do enfermeiro de atenção básica frente à informação para tomada de decisão. Confirma-se a Tese de que: A prática do enfermeiro de rede básica de saúde da Fundação Municipal de Saúde do município de Niterói, no que concerne a utilização da informação para a tomada de decisão, ocorre com movimentos reflexivos que visam efetivar a qualidade do seu cotidiano de trabalho, a partir das competências adquiridas e desenvolvidas na prática, indicando a necessidade de formação permanente. O estudo evidenciou a natureza do processo de tomada de decisão subsidiado pelas informações, tendo como referência a experiência e a percepção inter-relacionadas com as características laborais locais, apresentando modelos distintos de decisão em diferentes momentos de atuação da prática profissional / The present study is located within the Nucleus of Studies and Research in Management and Work in Health - NUPGES / CNPq, in the Research Line: Care in its socio-cultural context. It presents as objectives: To describe the aspects of the actions of the nurse of basic health network that opportune to the decision making; To analyze the practice of basic network nurses in relation to action-reflection-action on the use of information in their daily work, as an instrument for decision-making; To discuss the implications of reflexivity on the nurses' practice regarding the information in their daily work, regarding decision making. This is a qualitative study, as case study type, involving twelve nurses from the basic health network of the city of Niterói / RJ. As a theoretical reference, the ideas of Donald Schön were used to assure that it is the constant reflexivity about the practice itself, who will give subsidies to find answers to the impasses that appear in the daily routine of the professional practice. The data were analyzed through the thematic inductive analysis that describes the induction as a procedure that consists of singular facts that goes back to a generic proposition, having its applicability to similar particular propositions. After the construction of the corpus, three categories emerged: Aspects that provide the basic network nurse for decision making - Technical rationality as a paradigm; the information in the daily practice of the basic network nurse and its decision making - Practical rationality as a paradigm; And critical reflexivity about the nurse's practice of basic attention to information for decision-making. It is confirmed that: The practice of the nurse of the basic health network of the Municipal Health Foundation of the city of Niterói, regarding the use of information for decision making, occurs with reflexive movements that aim at effecting the quality of their daily work, from the skills acquired and developed in practice, indicating the need for ongoing formation. The study evidenced the nature of the information-based decision-making process, based on experience and perception related to local labor characteristics, presenting different models of decision-making in different moments of professional practice

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:36:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Francisco Bianchi.pdf: 1658151 bytes, checksum: 0b1376dad8e2f37c261e6edead4044a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-05-29 / The present study proposes a model for conceptual and theoretical access to information and knowledge, with an emphasis on ownership and access to the tacit knowledge in organizations productive. The architecture of the model is based on the metaphor of the road maps that guide the individual to the sources of information and knowledge, previously mapped in the organization. In terms of technology, the model takes into account the strong support of information and communications technologies (ICTs), particularly those related to the recovery and presentation of information on environment network Intranet, making it comprehensive and easily accessible not only by specialists, but mostly by individuals with little or neither ability to use computers. Although the strong point of the proposed model is the present stage of ICTs, its main focus isn t the technology but the people who will interact with the model and take advantage of its features. Faced applicable, it is recognized the importance of motivation, both for individuals seeking information to satisfy their needs cognitive, as for the information of professionals responsible for the processes of management of information and knowledge in organizations, as critical factor for success of the proposed model. For theoretical validate of the model proposed in this study, looking up in the Information Science, Administration and Computer Science, important concepts on the management of information and knowledge, business organization and information technologies. This work is concluded presenting a theoretical and conceptual model for access to information and knowledge, supported by technology Intranet network. / O presente estudo prop?e um modelo conceitual e te?rico para acesso ? informa??o e conhecimento, com ?nfase na apropria??o e acesso ao conhecimento t?cito, em organiza??es produtivas. A arquitetura do modelo esta baseada na met?fora dos mapas rodovi?rios, que guiar? o indiv?duo at? as fontes de informa??o e conhecimento, previamente mapeadas na organiza??o. Em termos de tecnologias, o modelo leva em considera??o o forte apoio das tecnologias de informa??o e comunica??o (TICs), principalmente aquelas relacionadas com a recupera??o e apresenta??o da informa??o, em ambiente de rede Intranet, tornando-o abrangente e de f?cil acesso n?o somente por especialistas, mas principalmente por indiv?duos com pouca ou nenhuma habilidade de uso de computadores. Embora o ponto forte do modelo proposto seja o est?gio atual das TICs, seu foco principal n?o s?o as tecnologias, mas as pessoas que ir?o interagir com o modelo e se beneficiar das suas funcionalidades. Diante disso, reconhece-se a import?ncia da motiva??o, tanto dos indiv?duos que buscam informa??es para satisfazer suas necessidades cognitivas, quanto dos profissionais da informa??o respons?veis pelos processos de gest?o da informa??o e do conhecimento nas organiza??es, como sendo fator cr?tico de sucesso do modelo proposto. Para fundamenta??o te?rica do modelo proposto neste trabalho, buscam-se nas Ci?ncias da Informa??o, Administra??o e Computa??o, os conceitos importantes sobre gest?o da informa??o e do conhecimento, organiza??o empresarial e tecnologias da informa??o. Conclui-se este trabalho apresentando um modelo te?rico e conceitual para acesso ? informa??o e conhecimento, apoiado por tecnologias de rede Intranet.