This is an exploration of process-oriented dialogue and how it is applied in group work and conflict facilitation. It encompasses a range of group-work applications, beginning with an investigation of useful approaches in bringing opposing parties together in dialogue situations. From there it unfolds the ways in which dialogue, in the midst of conflict, contributes to greater understanding of others' positions, and the creation of community spirit. A number of dynamics inherent in conflicting situations are explored, including the belief systems and dynamics present which deter parties from coming together to dialogue after conflict, whether interventions can help shift the attitudes of conflicting parties, whether discussion of the conflict can be useful, and the role of the facilitator. Models of conflict resolution, community building, and dialogue are introduced, and the Process Work model of group work is explored. Various case studies are described, along with surveys from two groups. The findings are analysed in the light of different paradigms and the application of process-oriented ideologies and methods and their effectiveness are critiqued / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

解嚴前，中韓兩國在經濟發展第一優先政策之下，都曾限制勞工權益與勞工運動。但自解嚴以來，由於中韓兩國均面對經濟利益不公平分配、勞工意識與教育的提高，以及民主政治意識型態的發展等課題，勞工運動顯現蓬勃發展的趨勢，而勞資爭議事件層出不窮，最後導致罷工發生的重大爭議事件為數不少，引起各界極為關切勞工問題。 　　本論文的基本內容是，分別回顧中韓兩國工會運動史，探討在重大政冶事件的衝擊和經濟結構的變遷下，中韓勞資關係如何轉變；其間工會與勞工如何成長；各時期的罷工行為有何不同；以及政府制定的勞資爭議處理制度如何影響勞工運動。最後，並比較分析兩國的罷工行為。 　　在討論中韓兩國罷工行為時，本文也對兩國人民性格間的相互關係、政經合併程度有所描述，因它們相當程度地影響著罷工運動的型態。韓國人的性格較急，做事「速戰速決」，因此，韓國人的罷工行為也較激烈，會造成「先罷工後協商」的意識型態。同時，兩國政府為了國家經濟發展；在執政者的勢力與財團勢力作不正當緊密結合，形成不公義的政治環境，使社會資源的生產與分配呈不公平的現象。故自解嚴後，雙方間的戰火激烈，以迄於今。 　　本研究的主要目的是：辦認出支配兩國經濟、政冶、社會的邏輯，勞工與工會組織的意識型態、人民意識、雇主意識型態的不同，以及中韓兩國國情及法合的不同。因此，本文就以中小企業為主的中華民國之罷工行為與談判制度，與韓國以大企業環境為主的罷工行為與談判制度進行比較；同時建立兩國罷工模式、行為模型，並以個案對照印證所提出的罷工模式。

Workplace incidents result in significant human and financial costs. Despite these costs, it is estimated that less than 1% of organisational research focuses on issues concerning occupational health and safety (Barling & Zacharatos, 2000; Reason, 1990). Safety research has begun however to focus increasing attention on understanding the role that the wider organisational context, and in particular the role that safety climate, plays in influencing safety (Barling, Kelloway, & Iverson, 2003; Clarke, 2006a; Cox & Cheyne, 2000; Parker, Axtell, & Turner, 2001; Zohar, 2000). Safety climate refers to safety related policies, procedures and practices that signal the concern for safety (Griffin & Neal, 2000). The aim of the current program of research was to further understanding of the structure, antecedents and cross-level effects of safety climate. Specifically, this research aimed to better understand how organisational factors, and more specifically culture, influence safety climate and safety incidents. This knowledge is important as it assists organisations to purposively engineer stronger climates for safety and in doing so assists them to reduce the number of workplace incidents and accidents. The current program of research consists of three field-based studies. An overview of each study is provided below: Overview Study 1 Study 1 aimed to identify the safety climate schema for a sample of individuals working within the rail industry and explore whether safety climate schemas differ across individuals with and without leadership responsibilities. A proportional number of upper managers (n = 6), supervisors (n = 7) and workers (n = 12) were purposively sampled and interviewed. Interview data was analysed using Leximancer – an advanced computer assisted data mining tool. Results identified 10 emergent themes underlying a safety climate schema – many of these themes aligned closely with common safety climate factors in the academic literature. Results also showed differences between the safety factors that were dominant in the safety climate schemas of upper managers, supervisors and workers: upper managers were more closely associated with themes relating to ‘culture,’ and ‘people’; supervisors were more closely associated with themes relating to ‘corporate values,’ ‘management practices,’ and ‘safety communication’; whereas workers were more closely associated with themes relating to ‘procedures,’ and ‘safety training’. Results are discussed in relation to safety climate theory and in relation to how managers can use this knowledge to better communicate to the specific safety needs of different sub-groups. Overview Study 2 Study 2 aimed to better understand how perceived cultural profiles are related to safety. The Competing Values Framework adopted in this study proposes that four cultural types exist in unison in any organisation. Depending on the demands that are placed on the organisation, each type will be more or less dominant and each organisation will have a specific ‘cultural profile’ reflecting the strengths of each type. A cross-section of individuals (N = 368) working in high risk industries were sampled to identify the relationship between perceived cultural profiles and (1) psychological safety climate and (2) individual safety incidents. Modal Profile Analysis (MPA) identified four commonly perceived cultural profiles across the sample. A one-way MANOVA indicated that individuals who perceived their organisation had a strong human relations profile, or a dual focused human relations-rational goal profile, reported higher safety climate perceptions and fewer safety incidents. Comparably, individuals who perceived their organisation had a strong internal process profile, or a dual focused internal process-rational goal profile, reported lower safety climate perceptions and more safety incidents. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical contribution to the safety climate literature, and in relation to the practical importance that culture plays in influencing safety. Overview Study 3 Study 3 aimed to better understand how the culture of an organisation influences safety, and to explore the levels of analysis that are involved in this relationship. Specifically, this study examined the role that an internal process culture played in influencing safety climate; and in turn the mediating role that two sources of safety climate – business-unit safety climate and perceived supervisory safety climate – played in explaining the relationship between culture and individual-level outcomes (incidents, satisfaction and turnover intentions). Results showed that business-unit culture was related to business-unit safety climate; and that business-unit safety climate and perceived supervisory safety climate mediated the relationship between business-unit culture and incidents, satisfaction and turnover intentions. This research adds to the safety climate literature by providing evidence for the multi-level nature of the relationship between culture, safety climate and outcomes.

<p>The secessionist conflict in Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova have led to more than a decade of political dialogueon finding a peaceful solution to conflict resolution, proving that the current format of negotiations is inefficient. The increased interest of the EU in the resolution of this conflict is caused by prospective inclusion of Romania in the EU, placing the Transdniestrian conflict at EU periphery, where confrontation is contrary to the all-European orientation at stability and integration. Presumably the involvement of the EU could lead to finding a political solution to the Transdniestrian conflict. Thus, the purpose of this research is to explore how EU involvement in the Transdniestrian conflict could lead to its prospective resolution. The results of this research, in form of conclusions and recommendations, depict that a more active involvement of the EU in Transdniestrian conflict resolution, as consulter and mediator, make it feasible to find a solution to the long-lasting disputes in the Republic of Moldova.</p>

<p>I den här uppsatsen ville jag ta reda på hur potentiella bostadssäljare i område Alfa skulle välja fastighetsmäklare och denna fråga besvarades genom en personlig enkätundersökning. Genom studien har jag ökat kännedomen om framtida bostadssäljares behov och förväntningar på fastighetsförmedlingstjänsten i Alfa och fått idéer på hur fastighetsförmedlingsföretag skulle kunna utforma sina erbjudanden så att de passar framtida bostadssäljares behov och förväntningar.</p> / <p>In this paper I wanted to find out how potential real estate sellers in the area Alfa would select real estate agents and this question was answered through a personal questionnaire. Via the study I have increased the knowledge about future real estate sellers needs and expectations considering real estate mediation within the area of Alfa and gained ideas about how real estate agencies would be able to design their offers so they fit future real estate sellers needs and expectations.</p>

<p>Abstract</p><p>Title: The struggle of “The war of the sexes”- A discoursetheoretical analysis of Dokument Inifrån’s review of extreme feminism (Kampen om Könskriget – En diskursteoretisk analys av meningsskapande kring Dokument Inifråns granskning av extremfeminismen)</p><p>Number of pages: 40</p><p>Author: Anna Osterling</p><p>Tutor: Amelie Hössjer</p><p>Course: Media and Communication Studies D</p><p>Period: March – May 2006</p><p>University: Division of Media and Communication, Department of Information Science, Uppsala University</p><p>Purpose/Aim: To analyse the debate in Dagens Nyheter from May 2005-June 2005 concerning the documentaries “The war of the sexes” and to use discourse theory to reflect upon how the texts create different thruths and discources. A second purpose is to analyse how the texts create identities and groups, mainly concerning feminism. A third purpose is to relate the creation of meaning to structures of power and genderrelations.</p><p>Material/Method: The material consists of 57 texts from Dagens Nyheter published during the chosen period, all relating to the documentaries. The method is textual analysis with a discoursetheoretical persective and analysis of societal structures and power using theories from Foucault, Conell and Säljö.</p><p>Main results: There are several discourses struggling to create mening around “The war of the sexes” of which some are greatly antagonistic towards each other. Some claim that the documentaries are truthful, some that they are a lie. Others wish to place them in a greater societal context to articulate their meaning, drawing attention to genderrelations, power and the problems of infotainment. There is also a struggle between discourses concerning the feminist identity and definitions of the group feminists. Relating these struggles to structures of power shows how persons and discourses have unequal access to creating meaning and that the masculine hegemony may have affected the stereotypical feminism being (re)produced in some of the texts.</p><p>Keywords: Mediadebate, power, discourse, genderrelations, feminism and mediation.</p>

This descriptive research project is a survey and analysis of nineteen community mediation programs in the State of Oregon. These programs were evaluated to determine their responsiveness to issues of culture and ethnicity. Data was gathered by face-to-face and telephone interviews with community program staff members and administrators. Information was written on cards or tape recorded for analysis. General questions were asked about kinds of services, target groups, and minority use of services provided. Other questions related to information about training, mediator selection, intake, and the mediation process. A review of selected authors, such as Hall, Hofstede and others, forms a background for cultural issues related to mediation. Cultural factors included in this study highlight the characteristics and variables of cultural and conflict. The literature review includes current thinking regarding the nature, merit and challenges of community mediation programs and a description of mediation in the State of Oregon. The findings of the research indicate that most community mediation programs in Oregon do not service minority communities. The need for adequate funding, personnel, time, and solutions to serve diverse populations within their neighborhoods produces a constant tension affecting the extent to which programs are responsive to diversity issues. Outreach to develop community awareness and recruit volunteers varies significantly. Very little outreach is specific to minority communities. Most advertising is in English. Training programs differ from location to location, but aspects related to culture are minimal. The intake process for each program varies only slightly. Usually procedures and techniques remain consistent regardless of the cultural or ethnic backgrounds of disputants. With the exception of language considerations, the mediation process also remains the same for all cases. Recommendations are included to strengthen the development of programs to be more responsive and open to the cultural needs of minorities. / Graduation date: 1999

Advances in Corporate Householding are needed to address certain categories of data quality problems caused by data misinterpretation. In this paper, we first summarize some of these data quality problems and our more recent results from studying corporate householding applications and knowledge exploration. Then we outline a technical approach to a Corporate Householding Knowledge Processor (CHKP) to solve a particularly important type of corporate householding problem - entity aggregation. We illustrate the operation of the CHKP by using a motivational example in account consolidation. Our CHKP design and implementation uses and expands on the COntext INterchange (COIN) technology to manage and process corporate householding knowled

Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) which utilizes transition metal based catalysts is a versatile methodology for the synthesis of a wide spectrum of polymers with controlled architectures. However, high concentrations of soluble catalyst required in an ATRP process makes the final polymer colored and toxic. Thus, the catalyst removal/reduction/recycling remains a challenge in the field of ATRP. Supported catalysts on insoluble solids such as silica gel, polystyrene beads, etc. have been used in ATRP to facilitate the catalyst recovery and recycling. However, the ability of the supported catalysts to mediate a polymerization is substantially reduced due to their reduced mobility and leaching problems. In this thesis, we report a series of novel and recyclable physisorbed CuBr2/N, N, N’, N’’-pentamethyldiethylene-triamine supported catalytic systems operating in conjunction with hydration. Supported aqueous-phase catalysis (SAPC) for ATRP was evaluated for different inorganic (Na-clay, silica and zeolite) and organic (polysaccharides) supports. The hydrated physisorbed supported catalysts were used for the polymerization of benzyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate using an activator generated electron transfer ATRP process. The catalyst was effectively retained on the surface of supports through hydration as was verified by UV-Vis measurements. The supported catalyst was easily removed from the polymerization by simple filtration process affording a colorless polymer solution. The polymerizations produced high conversion and colorless polymers with moderately narrow polydispersity indices (PDI). The catalyst maintained high activity during the recycling experiments. We also investigated the kinetic and mechanistic behavior of these solid supported polymerization systems. Based on split kinetics experiments and UV-Vis studies it was believed that the activation and deactivation processes took place at the diffused hydrated interface between the solid support and organic phase. The branched (stars and graft) polymers were also synthesized using Na-clay supported catalyst. The produced polymers had narrow PDI and good initiator efficiencies. The functionality of the star polymers was confirmed using 1H NMR and dilute solution properties. The synthesis of graft-copolymer was confirmed by 1H NMR and atomic force microscopy. This thesis demonstrates the successful use of SAPC for ATRP to produce contamination free linear and branched polymers with moderately narrow PDI and high recycling efficiency.