Submitted by Joana Azevedo (joanad@id.uff.br) on 2017-08-24T19:01:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissert Samuel Cristiano de Souza.pdf: 1532982 bytes, checksum: eaf0696cc812b23b0091bc14898880e3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Biblioteca da Escola de Engenharia (bee@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-09-04T16:52:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissert Samuel Cristiano de Souza.pdf: 1532982 bytes, checksum: eaf0696cc812b23b0091bc14898880e3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-04T16:52:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissert Samuel Cristiano de Souza.pdf: 1532982 bytes, checksum: eaf0696cc812b23b0091bc14898880e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / Um dos grandes desafios dos tempos modernos consiste em gerar estruturas organizacionais que contribuam para a satisfação, crescimento e desenvolvimento humano enquanto também contribuem para a lucratividade e produtividade de uma organização. Como forma de se manterem competitiva no mercado, as empresas estão se conscientizando naturalmente da necessidade em alcançar e realizar desempenho satisfatório em relação à segurança e à saúde de seus empregados. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar a percepção comportamental das equipes de manutenção de integridade estrutural como ferramenta para evitar acidente no trabalho. A Gestão da Manutenção está engajada numa nova evolução, mesmo uma revolução com novas perspectivas e questões no âmbito das empresas, assim como novos desafios a serem enfrentados por cada um de seus responsáveis. Para tal foi realizada uma análise das mudanças de comportamento das equipes e fatores prioritários que motivaram os empregados a focarem nas atividades de modo a evitar acidentes no trabalho, assim a cada dia o acidente está voltado ao erro humano. A metodologia utilizada foi baseada em uma revisão bibliográfica e na pesquisa de campo. A pesquisa desencadeou em um estudo de caso em uma Indústria do Setor de Mineração, localizada na região Sudeste, Minas Gerais. Foi baseada na coleta de dados, através da aplicação de um questionário estruturado, como principal ferramenta. Os resultados apresentam a percepção das equipes referente ao principio da evolução comportamental em segurança no trabalho. Como conclusão verificou-se que a redução de acidentes no trabalho esta voltada a um processo de mudança de comportamento, onde é possível afirmar que a principal mudança foi a adoção do cuidado genuíno, “cuidar de você, cuidar do outro e deixar que cuidem de você”. / One of the great challenges of modern times is to generate organizational structures that contribute to satisfaction, growth and human development while also contributing to the profitability and productivity of an organization. In order to remain competitive in the market, companies are naturally aware of the need to achieve and deliver satisfactory performance in relation to safety and health of its employees. This study aims to analyze the behavioral perception of structural integrity maintenance teams as a tool to prevent accidents at work. The Maintenance Management is engaged in a new development, even a revolution with new perspectives and issues in the companies, as well as new challenges to be faced by each of its officers. For such an analysis was performed of the behavior change of teams and priority factors that motivate employees to focus on activities to avoid accidents at work, and every day the accident is geared to human error. The methodology used was based on a literature review and field research. The research triggered in a case study in an Industry Mining, located in the Southeast, Minas Gerais. It was based on the collection of data through the application of a structured questionnaire as the main tool. The results show the perception of the teams regarding the principle of behavioral evolution in safety. In conclusion it was found that the reduction of accidents at work is geared to a behavior change process, where it can be said that the main change was the adoption of genuine care, "take care of you, take care of each other and leave to take care of you".

nÃo hà / O propÃsito desta pesquisa consiste em desenvolver um sistema de anÃlise para compreender as interaÃÃes em AVA que favorecem a aprendizagem (interaÃÃes contingentes). Os AVA constituem uma classe de softwares para a criaÃÃo, oferta e gerenciamento de cursos baseados na Internet. Integram Tecnologias de InformaÃÃo e ComunicaÃÃo com a finalidade de criar um ambiente que possibilite o processo de interaÃÃo e de produÃÃo de conhecimentos pelos participantes do cenÃrio educacional. O presente estudo investigou o conceito de interaÃÃo contingente no contexto de duas disciplinas de licenciatura, ministradas na modalidade a distÃncia, dentro do Programa Universidade Aberta do Brasil (UAB), as quais encontram-se ligadas a Ãreas de conhecimento distintas (exatas e humanas) com pÃblicos tambÃm distintos. Como parte da metodologia, observou-se a troca de mensagens em fÃrum e em chat pelos participantes da investigaÃÃo, analisando-as à luz de parÃmetros caracterÃsticos de interaÃÃes contingentes. A anÃlise das mensagens foi confrontada com dados obtidos em entrevistas semi-estruturadas, realizadas com alguns alunos e seus respectivos professores-tutores. O desenvolvimento do Sistema de AnÃlise das InteraÃÃes Contingentes integrou diferentes domÃnios teÃricos (a EducaÃÃo, a Psicologia e a Linguistica) que apontam a interaÃÃo como um fenÃmeno essencial em situaÃÃes educacionais. As categorias foram construÃdas com base na literatura que discute o conceito de interaÃÃo, e aplicadas tanto Ãs comunicaÃÃes sÃncronas quanto assÃncronas, estabelecidas entre os interlocutores das disciplinas de exatas e humanas. O sistema de anÃlise resultante encontra-se estruturado em quatro categorias gerais (ConversaÃÃo, TextualizaÃÃo, DiÃlogo e Aprendizagem) e algumas sub-categorias, ligadas aos domÃnios teÃricos que fundamentaram o seu desenvolvimento. Os resultados apontam a coerÃncia interna do sistema e sua validade, ao constatar a presenÃa das caracterÃsticas de interaÃÃes contingentes em todos os contextos analisados, podendo tambÃm ser aplicado em outros universos de investigaÃÃo. O Sistema de AnÃlise das InteraÃÃes Contingentes traz contribuiÃÃes teÃricas e empÃricas ao conceito de interaÃÃo contingente, alÃm de oferecer parÃmetros para a realizaÃÃo de aÃÃes em EducaÃÃo a DistÃncia fundamentadas em uma perspectiva sociointeracionista. A pesquisa permite concluir que a emergÃncia de interaÃÃes com vistas ao aprendizado depende bem mais das pessoas envolvidas e do tipo de relaÃÃo que estabelecem durante o ato educativo que de uma Ãrea especÃfica ou de uma ferramenta de comunicaÃÃo em particular. / The purpose of this research is to develop an analytical system to understand the interactions in a LMS that promote learning (contingent interactions). The LMS are a class of software for the design, suport and management of Internet-based courses. Integrate Information and Communication Technologies in order to create an environment that enables the process of interaction and production of knowledge by participants of the educational scene. This study investigated the concept of contingent interaction in the context of two undergraduate courses, taught at the blended mode within the Open University of Brazil (UAB), which are linked to different areas of knowledge (hard and humanity sciences) and were ministered for different audiences. As part of the methodology, the exchange of messages between the participants of the research through discussion foruns and chats was observed and analyzed according to the typical parameters of contingent interactions. The analysis of the messages was compared with data obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted with some students and their tutors. The development of the Analytical System of Contingent Interaction integrated different theoretical fields (Education, Psychology and Linguistics) that point out the interaction as an essential phenomenon in educational situations. The categories were builded based on the literature that discusses the concept of interaction, and applied to both synchronous and asynchronous communication established between the interlocutors of the hard and humanity courses. The resulting analytical system is structured into four general categories (Conversation, Textualization, Dialogue and Learning) and some sub-categories, linked to the theoretical areas that supported its development. The results show up the internal coherence of the system and its validity, confirming the existence of contingent interaction characteristics in all contexts examined, which also enables the system application to other research universes. The Analytical System of Contingent Interactions presents theoretical and empirical contributions to the concept of contingent interaction, and provide parameters for performing actions in Distance Education based on a social interactionist perspective. The research indicates that the emergence of interactions with learning objectives depends far more on the relations established among people involved in the educational act than on a specific area or communication tool.

A teoria sobre Sistemas Nacionais de Inovação (SNI) evoluiu significativamente e tem auxiliado no diagnóstico de inovação em diferentes países. Ela tem sido criticada, porém, pela ausência de conceitos, instrumentos e ações práticas que permitam atuar no aprimoramento contínuo desses sistemas. No Brasil, por exemplo, análises do SNI indicam entraves como dispersão de recursos, fraquezas no sistema educacional e baixo investimento em P&D, mas não indicam caminhos concretos para se estimular mudanças nos atores do sistema. Este trabalho descreve uma experiência de indução da melhoria no SNI brasileiro, combinando a teoria de SNI com conceitos clássicos de Sistemas de Gestão Normalizados. Propõe-se um modelo de gestão que serve de orientação para Instituições de Pesquisa Científica e Tecnológica, pertencentes a um SNI, e que atuam como parte importante do processo de transferência dos produtos para os consumidores da tecnologia. A hipótese é que o padrão possa induzir a melhoria nessas instituições e gerar melhorias no sistema como um todo. A proposição do modelo foi realizada a partir de uma pesquisa-ação e um método etnográfico, utilizado para captar a percepção de especialistas da área. A partir dessa experiência, discutem-se entraves e especificidades para um Sistema de Gestão Normalizado voltado para a melhoria de Sistemas Nacionais de Inovação. Os resultados indicam a viabilidade da proposta, demonstrando que um padrão de sistema de gestão para inovação tem potencial para: a) sensibilizar e orientar atores do SNI para objetivos comuns em prol da cooperação no desenvolvimento de tecnologias; b) indicar mecanismos e ações que podem ser tomadas por estes atores; c) estimular o desenvolvimento de capacidades e habilidades que facilitem a cooperação entre empresas nas instituições que compõem o SNI. / The theory of National Innovation Systems (NIS) has evolved significantly and has aided the diagnosis for innovation in different countries. The NIS theory has, however, been criticized by lack of concepts, tools and practices that allow actions in ongoing improvement of these systems. In Brazil, for example, analysis indicate barriers related to dispersion of resources, weaknesses in the educational system and low investment in R&D, but dont indicate concrete ways to stimulate changes on the players of the system. This paper presents an experience for the improvement in the Brazilian NIS, combining NIS theory with classical concepts of Standardized Management Systems. It is proposed a management framework that provides a guidance for institutions of Scientific and Technological Research belonging to a NIS, playing an important role on the technology transfer process. The hypothesis is that the standard induces improvements to the R&D institutions and therefore to the whole system. The proposed framework has been developed from an action research and ethnographic methods in order to capture the perceptions of specialists. From this experience, it is discussed the main barriers and specificities of the development of a Standardized Management System oriented to the improvement of National Innovation Systems. The results indicate the feasibility of the proposal, showing that a management system standard for innovation can: a) sensitize and guide NIS actors to promote common goals to cooperate in developing technologies; b) indicate mechanisms and actions that can be applied by these actors; c) encourage the development of skills and abilities that facilitate cooperation between companies in the institutions comprising the NIS.

O número de concessões rodoviárias tem aumentado em todo o mundo. Somente no Brasil, desde 1995, três etapas de concessão já foram realizadas pelo governo federal. No estado de São Paulo, as concessões estão em sua segunda etapa. Uma das principais justificativas para as concessões rodoviárias é a melhoria da condição dos pavimentos. Sendo assim, este trabalho buscou avaliar os benefícios oriundos da melhor conservação dos pavimentos, em termos da irregularidade longitudinal, diretamente relacionada com os custos de operação dos veículos (custos dos usuários: consumo de combustível, desgaste de pneus, tempo de viagem etc.), comparando com os custos por pagamento de pedágio. Para tanto, foram selecionados, através da análise de cluster, três trechos distintos, de tal forma que se tivesse, pelo menos, um segmento do modelo da ANTT da primeira etapa, um segmento do modelo da ANTT da segunda etapa e um segmento do modelo da ARTESP. Os custos de operação dos veículos foram determinados com uso do software HDM-4 e a análise econômica considerou o Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), a Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR) e a Relação Benefício/Custo (B/C). As alternativas consideradas na análise simularam as exigências contratuais presentes no programa CREMA e no Programa de Exploração da Rodovia (PER) da ANTT. A condição \"base\" para as análises simulou um cenário limite para intervenção no pavimento, onde a mesma só ocorria com irregularidades muito elevadas. Após a realização das simulações, concluiu-se que o método do VPL era o mais adequado para as análises, pois todos os trechos apresentaram custos aos usuários maiores do que os benefícios observados. Ao se realizar análise complementar, com limites de irregularidade ainda maiores para a condição \"base\", somente o modelo da ANTT da segunda etapa justificou economicamente a concessão, do ponto de vista dos usuários. Conclui-se, portanto, que existem evidências de que as concessões rodoviárias no Brasil não têm melhorado a condição dos pavimentos a ponto de ser justificada economicamente, decorrendo a sugestão para que as próximas concessões acarretem custos de pedágio menores ou apresentem um maior número de obras com impacto significativo na redução do tempo de viagem e no aumento da segurança dos usuários. / The number of road concessions has increased worldwide. Only in Brazil, since 1995, three concession stages have already been carried out by the federal government. In the state of São Paulo, the concessions are in its second stage. One of the main justifications for road concessions is the improvement of pavement condition. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the benefits of better pavement conservation in terms of longitudinal roughness, directly related to vehicle operating costs (user costs: fuel consumption, tire wear, travel time, etc.), comparing it to toll payment costs. In order to do so, three distinct sections were selected through the cluster analysis, so that there was at least one segment of the ANTT model of the first stage, a segment of the ANTT model of the second stage and a segment of the model of ARTESP. Vehicle operating costs were determined using the HDM-4 software and the economic analysis considered the Net Present Value (NPV), the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and the Benefit/Cost Ratio (B/C). The alternatives considered in the analysis simulated the contractual requirements present in the CREMA program and in the ANTT Highway Exploration Program (HEP). The \"base\" condition for the analyzes simulated a limit scenario for intervention in the pavement, where it only occurred with very high roughness. After the simulations, it was concluded that the NPV method was the most appropriate for the analyzes, since all the stretches presented costs to users greater than the observed benefits. When performing complementary analysis, with even greater limits of roughness for the \"base\" condition, only the ANTT model of the second stage economically justified the concession, from the users point of view. It is concluded, therefore, that there is evidence that the road concessions in Brazil have not improved the condition of the pavements to the point of being economically justified, suggesting that the next concessions bring lower toll costs or present a greater number of works with significant impact on reducing travel time and increasing user safety.

<p>U radu se razmatra model sistema baziranog na Internet tehnologijama za psihometrijsku dijagnostiku.<br />Sistem je baziran na kombinaciji sistema za upravljanje sadržajem (Content Management Systems, CMS) i sistema za podr&scaron;ku grupnom radu (Computer Supported Cooperative Work, CSCW), omogućava dijagnostiku kognitivnih sposobnosti putem multimedijalnih testova, kontrolu nad tokom testiranja, skladi&scaron;tenje i analizu podataka o korisnicima i rezultata testova, kao i platformu za kolaborativni naučno istraživački rad.</p> / <p>In this thesis is analyzed model of system based on Internet technologies for psychometrics diagnostics.<br />System is based on combinations Content Management Systems, (CMS) and Computer Supported&nbsp;Cooperative Work, (CSCW). System enables: diagnostics cognitive capabilities using multimedial tests,&nbsp;control on process of diagnostics, recording data in databases, data analysis. System represent environment&nbsp;for collaborative scientific work.</p>

Au cours des dernières années, les problèmes multi-agents ont été étudiés de manière intensive par la communauté de la théorie du contrôle. L'un des sujets les plus populaires est le problème de consensus où un groupe d'agents parvient à un accord sur la valeur d'un certain paramètre ou d’une variable. Dans ce travail, nous nous concentrons sur le consensus des réseaux d'agents avec une dynamique non linéaire de poursuite de référence. Nous utilisons des interactions sporadiques modélisées par la détection relative, pour traiter le consensus décentralisé des références. La référence est donc utilisée pour alimenter la dynamique de poursuite de chaque agent. L'analyse de stabilité du système globale a nécessitée l'utilisation d'outils théoriques propre de la théorie des systèmes hybrides, en raison de la double nature de l'approche en deux étapes. L'analyse est effectuée en tenant compte de différents scénarios de topologie et interactions. Pour chaque cas, une condition suffisante de stabilité est fournie, en termes de temps minimum autorisé entre deux mises à jour de référence consécutives. Le cadre proposé est appliqué aux missions de rendez-vous et de réalisation de formation pour les robots mobiles non-holonomes. Le même problème est abordé dans le contexte d'une application réelle sur le terrain, à savoir un système de gestion de flotte pour un groupe de véhicules robotisés déployés dans un environnement industriel à des fins de surveillance et de collecte de données. Le développement d'une telle application a été motivé par le fait que cette thèse s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet FFLOR, développé par le département de recherche technologique du CEA tech. / Over the last years, multi-agents problems have been extensively studied from the control theory community. One of the most popular multi-agents control topics is the consensus problem where a group of agents reaches an agreement over the value of a certain parameter or variable. In this work we focus our attention on the consensus problem of networks of non-linear reference tracking agents. In first place, we use sporadic interactions modeled by relative sensing to deal with the decentralized consensus of the references. The reference is therefore feeded the tracking dynamics of each agent. Differently from existent works, the stability analysis of the overall system required the usage of hybrid systems theory tools, due to dual nature of the two stages approach. The analysis is carried out considering different scenarios of network topology and interactions. For each case a stability sufficient condition in terms of the minimum allowed time between two consecutive reference updates is provided. The proposed framework is applied to the rendez-vous and formation realisation tasks for non-holonomic mobile robots, which appear among the richest research topics in recent years. The same problem is addressed in the context of a real field application, namely a fleet management system for a group of robotic vehicles deployable in an industrial environment for monitoring and data collection purpose. The development of such application was motivated by the fact that this thesis is part of the Future of Factory Lorraine (FFLOR) project, developed by the technological research department of the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA tech).

在當前快速變遷與高度不確定性環境下，政府施政環境日益複雜，面對社會大眾多元化之強烈需求，如何提升政府機關工作績效，同時加強台灣國際競爭力，以滿足社會及民眾的需求，是當前政府的一項重大挑戰。有鑑於國際人力資源管理之研究眾多，但都未能探討國際人力資源管理的所有功能，且對各項功能間之關係亦未探討，同時缺乏有系統的研究，實證研究也不多見。我國中央政府機關依功能、任務不同，分別派有駐外人員，有關政府機關駐外人員人力資源管理制度之文獻及研究並不多。筆者工作上有機會接觸各駐外單位，因此將針對政府機關，探討甄選、教有訓練、激勵等決定因素，對駐外人員海外適應與工作績效之主要作用和交互作用影響，使理論及實務更完備，期利用政府機關人力資源管理制度，以提升駐外人員海外適應與工作績效。 本研究以問卷調查的方式進行，共發出問卷193份，回收175份問卷，回收率為90.67%。透過敘述性統計、因素分析、集群分析、相關分析與迴歸分析等數量方法，以實證資料來分析政府機關駐外人員的甄選、教育訓練與激勵差異性，探討其對駐外人員海外適應的影響，並進一步瞭解與工作績效的關係。本研究結果顯示如下： 一、「符合駐外任務所需工作能力的甄選」與「符合駐外任務所需基本條件的甄選」對「海外適應」並無顯著的正向影響。 二、「符合駐外任務所需工作能力的甄選」與「工作績效」有顯著正相關。 三、「符合駐外任務所需工作面的教育訓練」與「符合駐外任務所需語言面的教育訓練」對「海外適應」皆產生顯著的正向影響。 四、「符合駐外任務所需工作面的教育訓練」與「符合駐外任務所需語言面的教育訓練」對「工作績效」無顯著正相關。 五、「符合駐外任務所需財務性的激勵制度」與「符合駐外任務所需非財務性的激勵制度」對「海外適應」並無顯著正向影響。 六、「符合駐外任務所需財務性的激勵制度」對「工作績效」有顯著正向影響。 七、「符合駐外任務所需工作面的海外適應」對「工作績效」有顯著正向影響。 八、「高度整合駐外人員人力資源管理制度」對「海外適應」及「工作績效」均有顯著正向影響。 管理涵意則為政府機關駐外人員若要有高度工作績效，除了國際人力資源管理制度的考量之外，還需要其他構面如海外適應等加以配合，才能充分發揮實施效益。本研究的發現可提供政府機關在未來擬定駐外人員人力資源管理制度時之策略參考。 / In a fast-changing and highly uncertain environment, the government is facing pluralistic claims of the public. How to promote the work performance of government, enhance the international competitive edge of Taiwan, and cater to the demands of society and the populace are the important challenges for the current government. Although there is much research and literature on international human resource management (IHRM), none of it studies all functions oflHRM the relationships among functions in systematic or experimental research. For the time being, the government's ministries and associations dispatch expatriates respectively by the different functions and missions. But the literature and research do less to study international human resource management system(IHRMS) of the government's expatriates. I have the opportunity to work and contact the other ministries' and associations' expatriates; hence, I will focus on government organization and explore how the decisive factors which are selection, education and training and motivation, impinge on the major function and the interplay of overseas adaptation and work performance of expatriates. By means oflHRMS of the government, thesis will complete the theory and the practice as well as promote overseas adaptation and work performance. The research uses a questionnaire to survey. For the 175 received questionnaires of 193 issued, the received rate is 90.67%, To analyze the differences and explore the influences on overseas adaptation and work performance among selection, education and training and motivation of the government's expatriates, the research uses some quantitative measures such as descriptive statistics, factor, cluster, correlation and regression analyses. The major findings are: (l)Both "work-capability selection of the corresponding overseas mission" and "basic-conditions selection of the corresponding overseas mission" do not have a significant positive influence on "overseas adaptation." (2)"work-capability selection of the corresponding overseas mission" has a significant positive correlation "work performance." (3)"the job education and training of the corresponding overseas mission" and "the language education and training ot ine corresponding overseas mission" have a significant positive influence on "overseas adaptation." (4)"Thejob education and training of the corresponding overseas mission" and "the language education and training of the corresponding overseas mission" do not have a significant positive correlation on "work performance." (5)"The financial motivation system of the corresponding overseas mission" and "the non-financial motivation system of the corresponding overseas mission" do not have a significant positive influence on "overseas adaptation." (6)"The financial motivation system of the corresponding overseas mission" has a significant positive influence on "work performance." (7)"0verseas work adaptation" has a significant positive influence on "work performance." (8)"Highly integrated IHRMS of expatriates" has a significant positive influence on both "overseas adaptation" and "work performance." The managerial meaning is that if the government would like to have high work performance of expatriates, it needs to consider not only IHRMS, but overseas adaptation, etc. The results of the research can provide the government the strategic reference of planning HRMS of expatriates in the future.

網路開放商業化以來，各式各樣的商機在網際網路上浮現，大小商家紛在網路上設立據點，或從事廣告、宣傳公司形象，或展示產品內容與產品功能，有的更進一步的設計能與消費者在網路上直接交易，我們概括性的稱之為電子商務。在電子商務的背後，各網站必須要有資料庫作支撐，才能有好的效率和服務。本研究以網際網路資料庫為探討主體，績效為探討目的。並主要以績效評估(Benchmark)理論為貫穿整個研究的基礎理論，一步步地建立適合網際網路資料庫及運算作績效評估的模型。並於模型完成後，予以程式化實作，並以所得數據作測試。 / A lot of business opportunity springs after commercial activities are officially allowed on Internet. The power and the potential of this market is represented by lots of web sites being set up. "Electronic Commerce" is coming to the whole world. However, it is the database supporting business web sites running that counts. Based upon the theory of benchmarking, we want to find out ways that we can know the performance of web database. After the model is set up and the workload is ready, an implementation is being made.

This study explores issues arising from the adoption of the term 'clean and green' for marketing New Zealand dairy products. Three dimensions of environmental quality were investigated: that of sustainable dairying and best practice for the benefit of farmers and the industry; resource management legislation and being a 'good neighbour'; and export marketing opportunities and issues. The study was undertaken during a time of major structural upheaval in the dairy industry, including yearly company amalgamations in the study area, rapid conversion of farmland to dairying, as well as factory expansion to process the increasing supply of product. The focus of the study was on the individual farmer, how perceptions and preferences are formed, and how in turn, these influence farm practice. World views drawn from Cultural Theory were adopted as the basis for analysis. Farmers were classified according to particular world views and the symbolic and reflexive use of concepts such as 'clean and green' was analysed. A model of overlapping ecological, agricultural and social systems was used to develop a wider understanding of preference formation. Through a mixed methodology, focusing on a case study approach, farmer and stakeholder world views were compared on key themes, including the 'clean green' pastoral myth, 'cues for care' and environmental issues. Media discourse as well as consumer views were used to expand understanding of the context. The study found that both farmers (within their groups) and stakeholders held different objectives and opinions on environmental issues and options for change, based on their various world views and preferences. There was general agreement both among farmers and stakeholders on the New Zealand 'clean green' image and 'cues for care', or signs that indicate good farm management. The reason for this was demonstrated to be the way in which these two aspects are communicated; through symbolic images that each individual perceived in terms of their respective world view. A symbolic form of action, an environmental management system, was trialled with farmers. Analysis indicated that national aspirations created by the 'clean green' pastoral myth required farmers to respond to environmental expectations, but that an image that symbolized environment as care and quality, rather than as place was needed to provide a less ambiguous goal. The findings of the trial were integrated with theory to interpret context and develop policy, strategy and action proposals for a system for environmental quality for the industry. The study has implications for non-regulatory mechanisms relevant to sustainable dairy farming, communication within the rural community, and branding.

The efficient and flexible management of large datasets is one of the core requirements of modern business applications. Having access to consistent and up-to-date information is the foundation for operational, tactical, and strategic decision making. Within the last few years, the database community sparked a large number of extremely innovative research projects to push the envelope in the context of modern database system architectures. In this paper, we outline requirements and influencing factors to identify some of the hot research topics in database management systems. We argue that—even after 30 years of active database research—the time is right to rethink some of the core architectural principles and come up with novel approaches to meet the requirements of the next decades in data management. The sheer number of diverse and novel (e.g., scientific) application areas, the existence of modern hardware capabilities, and the need of large data centers to become more energy-efficient will be the drivers for database research in the years to come.