According to recent surveys on the use of systems development methodologies, many organizations claim that they are adapting systems development methodologies (Hardy et al. 1995; Russo et al. 1996; Fitzgerald, 1998). The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the adaptation of systems development methodologies in South Africa. This problem was investigated by addressing the following research questions: • What are the perceptions of system developers regarding systems development methodologies? • Why do system developers adapt system development methodologies? • How do they adapt the methodologies? • Is there a difference in the quality of the systems which are developed with these adapted systems development methodologies opposed to those systems which are developed according to a specific formalised methodology? In this dissertation, interpretive case studies have been used to add to the researcher's knowledge concerning how and why systems development methodologies in South Africa are adapted. Qualitative interviewing was used as a data collection method. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. The next step was to analyse the transcribed data. In this study, content analysis with cross-case analysis was used. The findings obtained were confirmed by making use of triangulation and member checking. The results indicated that although the use of systems development methodologies is mandatory in organizations, it is not enforced by senior employees. Organizations use multiple systems development methodologies. Systems development methodologies are adapted due to several reasons, i.e. financial gains that is obtained, the lack of knowledge, time limitations, the fact that methodologies are not universally applicable, etc. Systems development methodologies are statically and dynamically adapted by adding and removing steps. The combination of methodologies and switching between methodologies also occur. The results indicate that developers realize that formal systems development methodologies produce systems of a higher quality. However, because it is so time-consuming, they are prepared to accept a lower quality system in order to gain a faster delivery time. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

To help organizations better understand and improve the management of information systems development (ISD) projects, this dissertation aims to understand what ISD project knowledge and beliefs ISD professionals work with and how the knowledge and beliefs are organized in their minds. Drawing on the cognitive perspective using a mental model approach, I define a new construct, ISD Project (ISDP) mental model, which refers to ISD professionals’ knowledge and belief structures that help them understand, conduct, and manage ISD projects. Particularly, two essential elements of ISDP mental models - content and structure – were explored. Regarding the content, forty fundamental concepts were derived from literature reviews and cognitive interviews with 19 ISD experts. Analysis of 95 ISD professionals’ cognitive responses using Multidimensional Scaling revealed four types of evaluative beliefs - customer-, team-, enterprise-, and product-oriented beliefs. This new construct, along with its assessment procedures, provides a useful starting point for academics and organizations to explore the people factor in ISD. To investigate the impact of ISDP mental models, I examined work relationships between project managers and developers where effective work relationships are crucial to project success. Specifically, I explored how the similarity of mental models and an understanding of others’ mental models influence work relationships. Through a multiple case study on 6 project manager-developer pairs in different case conditions (i.e., similarity of mental models x accuracy of understanding), the results provide preliminary support that the project manager-developer pairs who hold accurate understanding have more effective implicit coordination - they are sensitive to one another’s knowledge, beliefs, and preferences and they adjust their task and interpersonal coordination accordingly. Accurate understanding also stimulates the process of knowledge integration in which the dyad builds upon one another’s knowledge to resolve project challenges. This dissertation contributes to the literature on ISD project management by capturing the organization of ISDP knowledge in ISD professionals’ minds and identifying underlying beliefs. Furthermore, it contributes to an understanding of how project managers and developers can coordinate effectively when they have high cross-understanding, despite dissimilarities of knowledge and beliefs. / Thesis (Ph.D, Management) -- Queen's University, 2014-04-17 11:18:07.356

The emergence of the Christian Right and the feminist movement in the mid-to-late 20th century have had a significant impact on the political, psychological, and social landscape of the U.S., and this is especially true for Christian women who sit at the cross-roads of these movements. To understand the context surrounding this group, I examine different areas of sociological literature: the primacy of gender and religion in identity formation, Christian marriage and gender roles, the “culture wars” of the Christian Right, and a brief overview of feminist theory. Utilizing qualitative research methods, I interviewed 13 self-identified Christian women to learn how they understood their female and Christian identities, as well as how they negotiated gender roles. Participants were also asked to share their definition and identification with feminism (or lack of identification). A short quantitative survey followed the interview. Themes that emerged from this research include idealized understandings of faith and self, complex and contradictory practice, and rejection of labels. Through self-definition, participants were able to navigate away from stereotypes and communicate their beliefs as they related to their experience.

At a theoretical level the research identifies a conceptual framework for the design of fruitful case discussions in an online environment and at a practical level, the conceptual framework has been used to implement and evaluate several versions of a case-based online course.

Thesis (Ph. D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2000. / Vita. Bibliography: 174-182.

Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. / As espécies de corais invasores, Tubastraea tagusensis e T. coccinea foram acidentalmente introduzidos no Brasil através de plataformas de petróleo. O rápido crescimento e estágio reprodutivo, competição contra espécies nativas, defesas químicas contra predadores e competidores naturais e uso amplo em diferentes substratos utilizados contribuem para o sucesso e expansão de Tubastraea spp. na costa brasileira. O presente estudo teve dois objetivos principais: 1) investigar uma metodologia que resulte em uma maior eficiência e custo-benefício nos processsos de monitoramento dos corais invasores Tubastraea spp. no litoral brasileiro; 2) mapear a distribuição geográfica, caracterizar as populações e estudar o efeito da inserção dos corais na comunidade bêntica de costões rochosos do litoral norte do estado de São Paulo (LNSP). O primeiro avaliou quatro metodologias, comparando o método do censo visual, e outras três metodologias que utilizam fotografia e filmagem. O método do censo visual mostrou ser mais eficiente na obtenção dos resultados quando comparado com os outros métodos, principalmente para identificar pequenos organismos. Contudo, seu tempo em campo e seus custos foram maiores. O segundo utilizou o método visual para estudar o efeito da inserção dos corais invasores na comunidade local do LNSP. Ainda, foi realizado um monitoramento espacial semi-quantitativo em larga escala para caracterizar a distribuição espacial dos corais invasores; transectos com quadrados amostrais foram usados para estimar a densidade de Tubastraea ao longo da profundidade, e transectos e arcos graduados empregados para estimar a ocorrência de colônias em diferentes inclinações do substrato, no LNSP. Os corais invasores estão aumentado sua distribuição, causando diversos impactos nas comunidades e nos organismos nativos. T. tagusensis é comumente encontrado dominando diversos costões rochosos, com uma densidade maior em ambientes mais profundos e com maior ocorência em substratos de inclinções verticais e negativas no LNSP. A erradicação e/ou controle do coral invasor é recomendado no litoral brasileiro, principalmente onde as populações estão isoladas ou ainda são pequenas. / The invasive coral species, Tubastraea tagusensis and T. coccinea were accidentally introduced into Brazil by oil platforms. The rapid growth and reproductive stage, competition against native species, chemical defenses against natural predators and competitors and ample use of different substrates contribute to the success and expansion of Tubastraea spp. on the Brazilian coast. This study had two aims: 1) investigate a methodology that results in more efficient and cost-effective monitoring of the Tubastraea spp. invaders on the Brazilian coast, 2) map the geographical distribution, characterize the populations and study the effect of corals insertion in the community on the northern coast of São Paulo (LNSP). The first aim evaluated four methods by comparing the visual census method and three other methods that use photography and filming. The visual census method proved to be more efficient in achieving the results compared with other methods, primarily to identification of smaller organisms; however, time in the field and costs were higher. The second aim used the visual method to study the effect of insertion of coral invaders into the community. Also, a semi-quantitative monitoring of spatial scale to characterize the spatial distribution of coral invaders was carried out; transects with squares were used to estimate the density of Tubastraea spp. along the depth gradient, and transects and graduated arcs employed to estimate the occurrence of colonies at different inclinations of the substrate, in LNSP. The invader corals are increasing their distribution, causing several impacts on native communities and species. T. tagusensis is actually found dominating several rocky shores, with a higher density deeper and in a vertical and negative substrates slopes in LNSP. Eradication and/or control of the invasive corals are recommended on the Brazilian coast, especially where populations are isolated or are still small.

Orientador: Amadeu Moura Bego / Banca: Beatriz Salemme Correa Cortela / Banca: Ricardo Gauche / Resumo: Este texto apresenta a pesquisa de mestrado desenvolvida no âmbito do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química da Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", campus de Araraquara (PPG/IQ-CAr), vinculado ao Grupo de Pesquisa em Educação Química do IQ. O presente trabalho de pesquisa pretende contribuir para a compreensão da importância do planejamento didático-pedagógico para a prática docente e para o processo de ensino e aprendizagem, bem como para o entendimento de quais devem ser seus elementos básicos. Para tanto, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática em artigos de revistas e em anais de eventos da área de Ensino de Ciências e definiu-se as seguintes questões de pesquisa: quais as aproximações e afastamentos entre os sentidos atribuídos a termos utilizados dentro da temática do planejamento didático-pedagógico na área de Ensino de Ciências? De que modo as definições encontradas na literatura especializada da área refletem os diferentes sentidos e apontam para possíveis significados? Para a consecução dos objetivos da pesquisa optou-se pela realização de uma pesquisa teórica do tipo revisão sistemática e pautada nos procedimentos teórico-metodológicos da Análise de Conteúdo. Para operacionalizar a revisão sistemática, definiu-se os termos de busca a partir de critérios como relevância, importância e presença de divergências em suas definições e acepções. Assim, dois grupos de termos foram escolhidos: o grupo 1 que contém os termos dos elementos do planejamento didá... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This text presents the master's research developed in the ambit of the Graduate Study Program in Chemistry of the Universidade Estatual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Araraquara campuses (PPG / IQ-CAr), linked to the Chemical Education Research Group of IQ. This research aims to contribute to the understanding of the importance of didactic-pedagogical planning for teaching practice and for the entire teaching and learning process and, for understanding what basic elements that a planning should contain. To reach these research objectives, a systematic review was carried out in journal articles and in annals of events in the area of Science Teaching, and the following research questions were defined: which are the approximations and departures between the meanings attributed to terms used within the theme of the didactic-pedagogical planning in the area of Science Teaching? How do the definitions found in the specialized literature of the area reflect the different meanings and point to possible meanings? In order to achieve the objectives of the research, a theoretical research of the type systematic review and based on content analysis was chosen. As a way of operationalization of the systematic review, the search terms were defined based on criteria such as relevance, importance and presence of divergences in their definitions and meanings. Thus, two groups of terms were chosen: group 1 containing the terms of the elements of teacher planning (methodology, strategy, me... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Depuis plusieurs années, le marché des circuits intégrés numériques requiert des systèmes de plus en plus complexes dans un temps toujours plus réduit. Afin de répondre à ses deux exigences, les industriels de la conception font appel à des fournisseurs externes proposant des circuits fonctionnant sur des signaux d'horloge dédiés. Lorsque ces derniers communiquent entre eux, les horloges d'émission et de réception ne sont pas les mêmes, on parle de « Clock Domain Crossing » (CDC).Les CDC correspondent à des communications asynchrones et peuvent provoquer des dysfonctionnements critiques. Par ailleurs, ces problèmes étant intermittents et complexes à analyser, ils ne peuvent pas être exhaustivement vérifiés avec des méthodes telles que l’analyse de timing ou la simulation fonctionnelle. Avec l'augmentation du nombre de CDC dans les circuits, les industriels de la conception assistée par ordinateur (EDA) ont proposé des solutions logicielles spécialisées dans la vérification statique des CDC. Cependant, les circuits développés étant en constante évolution, les outils ne sont pas en mesure de s’adapter. Pour pallier ces problèmes, la vérification industrielle des CDC est basée sur la spécification de contraintes et d'exclusions par l'utilisateur. Ces actions, qui se substituent aux outils, peuvent masquer des bugs. De plus, l’effort humain requis par cette approche n’est pas compatible avec le temps alloué au développement de circuits industriels. Nous avons donc cherché à automatiser la vérification en proposant des solutions basées sur des propriétés formelles. Les travaux ont consisté à analyser les différentes techniques de conception et de vérification des CDC à travers l’évaluation des principaux outils du marché. A partir des résultats obtenus, nous avons formalisé les problèmes pratiques et proposé des modèles permettant d’obtenir des résultats exhaustifs automatiquement. Les essais ont été réalisés sur un sous-système à base de processeurs (CPUSS) développé chez STMicroelectronics. L'adoption de nos modèles permet une vérification complète des CPUSS de manière automatique ce qui est essentiel dans un environnement industriel compétitif. En effet, le nombre d’informations devant être spécifiées par l’utilisateur a été réduit de moitié pour chacun des outils évalués. Par ailleurs, ces travaux ont montré que l’axe de développement des outils CDC avec l’ajout de fonctionnalités telles que les flots hiérarchiques ou l’injection de fautes n’améliore pas la qualité de résultats. Une collaboration ayant été mise en place avec les principaux fournisseurs outils, certaines solutions seront probablement intégrées aux outils dans les années à venir. / For several years now, the digital IC market has been requiring both more complex systems and reduced production times. In this context, the semiconductor chip maker companies call on external IP providers offering components working on dedicated clock signals. When these IPs communicate between them, the source and destination clocks are not the same, we talk about "Clock Domain Crossing" (CDC).CDC correspond to asynchronous communications and can cause critical failures. Furthermore, due to the complexity and the random nature of CDC issues, they can not be exhaustively checked with methods such as timing analysis or functional simulation. With the increase of CDC in the digital designs, EDA tools providers have developed software solutions dedicated to CDC static verification.Whereas, the designs are subject to continuous change, the verification tools are not able to be up to date. To resolve these practical issues, the CDC industrial verification is based on the specification of constraints and exclusions by the user. This manual flow, which replaces the tools, can mask bugs. Moreover, the human effort required by this approach is incompatible with the time allowed to industrial designs development.Our goal has been to automate the verification submitting solutions based on formal properties.The work consisted in the analysis of the different CDC design and verification approaches through the evaluation of main CDC checker tools. From the results obtained, we have formalized the practical problems and proposed models to obtain automatically exhaustive results. The tests have been performed on a processor-based subsystem (CPUSS) developed at STMicroelectronics.Adopting our models enables a complete checking of CPUSS in an automatic way, which is essential within a competitive industrial environment. Actually, the amount of information to be specified by the user has been reduced by half for each one of the evaluated tools. Otherwise, this work has shown that the development axis of the CDC tools despite the addition of functionalities such as hierarchical flows or fault injection, doesn’t improve the quality of results (QoR). Since a collaboration has been established with the main tool providers some solutions would probably be included into the tools over the coming years.

A qualidade do ensino contábil tem sido questionada, tanto pelo resultado de exames de avaliação, quanto pelo próprio mercado de trabalho que recebe o profissional recém-formado. Cada vez mais vem sendo exigido do profissional contábil novos conhecimentos e habilidades Assim, argumenta-se que o processo de ensino precisa se modificar para oferecer o desenvolvimento de tais conhecimentos e habilidades. Dado este contexto, o objetivo geral desse estudo é entender as implicações que o uso da estratégia pedagógica \"Método do Caso\" traz para o ensino da contabilidade, à luz da Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa. Como objetivos específicos, a tese busca i) analisar um caso de destaque de uma disciplina de graduação de contabilidade introdutória que utiliza o método do caso em Portugal; ii) entender a motivação dos docentes para implantar o método, bem como desafios e oportunidades durante a prática; iii) posicionar a visão do estudante nesse processo; e iv) traçar um paralelo com o ensino contábil no Brasil. Para alcançar o objetivo foi adotada a abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa e a estratégia de pesquisa estudo de caso único. A construção dos dados foi realizada por meio de análise documental, observação direta, entrevista semiestruturada e questionário aplicado aos alunos. A partir da análise dos dados construídos foi possível relacionar o método do caso de ensino com os pressupostos da aprendizagem significativa. A aprendizagem significativa se preocupa em entender como ocorre o processo de aprendizagem por uma ótica cognitiva, partindo da premissa de que ela ocorre quando existem conhecimentos prévios relevantes, o material é potencialmente significativo e o aluno está disposto a aprender de maneira significativa. Ao lançar mão do método do caso de ensino, o docente oferece a oportunidade de o aluno aprender de forma significativa, pois o conhecimento prévio relevante pode ser transmitido em aulas teóricas, o caso é um material potencialmente significativo, pois é construído com base em empresas reais e locais, e é, inerentemente, uma metodologia de aprendizagem ativa. No entendimento dos alunos, a disciplina Contabilidade Financeira I - o caso estudado - desempenha o papel de promover a aproximação entre teoria e prática. Para os docentes entrevistados, adotar o método do caso foi a solução encontrada para modernizar a disciplina e alterar o formato da mesma para uma perspectiva de articulação com os negócios, ao invés de uma visão tecnicista. Em um paralelo com o ensino contábil no Brasil, evidenciouse que as barreiras culturais não se apresentam como empecilho para a adoção da mesma dinâmica em uma disciplina semelhante. As análises apresentadas podem ser úteis para professores de contabilidade e coordenadores de curso que busquem alternativas para melhorar a qualidade do ensino e a efetividade do curso e a qualidade da formação dos futuros profissionais contábeis. / The quality of accounting education has been questioned, both by the results of evaluation exams and by the labor market itself that receives the newly trained professional. Increasingly, the accounting professional is required to have new knowledge and skills. Thus, the teaching method needs to be modified to offer the development of such knowledge and skills. Given this context, the general objective of this study is to understand the implications of the adoption of the pedagogical strategy \"Case Method\" can bring to the teaching of accounting in the light of Significant Learning Theory. As specific objectives, the thesis seeks to i) analyze a exemplar case of an undergraduate course that uses the case method at a prestigious institution in Portugal; ii) understand the motivation of teachers to implement the method, as well as challenges and opportunities during practice; iii) position the student\'s vision in this process; and iv) draw a parallel with accounting education in Brazil. To achieve the goal was adopted the qualitative research approach and the research strategy single case study. The construction of the data was done through documentary analysis, direct observation, semi-structured interview and questionnaire applied to the students. From the analysis of the constructed data, it was possible to relate the case method to the assumptions of meaningful learning. Meaningful learning is concerned with understanding how the learning process occurs from a cognitive point of view, starting from the premise that it occurs when there is relevant prior knowledge, the material is potentially significant, and the student is willing to learn in a meaningful way. By using the case method, the teacher offers the opportunity for the learner to learn meaningfully, since the relevant prior knowledge can be conveyed in theoretical lessons, the case is a potentially significant material as it is constructed based on real and local companies and the case method is inherently an active methodology. In the understanding of the students, the discipline Financial Accounting I - the case studied - plays the role of promoting the approximation between theory and practice. For the teachers interviewed, adopting the case method was the solution found to modernize the discipline and change the format of the same to a perspective of articulation with the business instead of a technicality vision. In parallel with accounting education in Brazil, it has been shown that cultural barriers do not present as an obstacle to the adoption of the same discipline format in similar accounting introductory courses. The analyzes presented may be useful for teachers and coordinators who seek alternatives to improve the quality of teaching and learning process and the effectiveness of the course and the quality of the formation gathered by future accounting professionals.

A Revolução Industrial pode ser considerada o estopim para o aumento da competição. Desde que se iniciou a produção em escala e mais de uma fábrica passou a produzir o mesmo produto, a necessidade pelo acompanhamento do que os concorrentes estão fazendo, do que os clientes estão querendo, e de outras questões relacionadas ao ambiente, a competição só aumentou. No início dos anos 2000, começaram a surgir, com mais ênfase no Brasil, metodologias que vão ao encontro deste olhar para o ambiente externo, denominadas metodologias de inteligência. São inúmeras. Ao mesmo tempo, com o advento da Internet, cada vez mais, informações estão disponíveis para proporcionar o acompanhamento do que está acontecendo em cada um dos ambientes de competição onde as organizações estão inseridas. ( Continuação) Desta forma, levando-se em consideração as metodologias de inteligência disponíveis e as premissas sobre grandes volumes de informações para acompanhamento dos ambientes de competição, faz sentido imaginar que um software que apoie esse cenário, contribui. Entretanto, quais requisitos funcionais um software de apoio ao processo de inteligência deveria ter? Esta e outras questões estão colocadas como objetivos deste trabalho. Através de extensa pesquisa bibliográfica na área de administração de empresas e entrevistas em profundidade com quatro especialistas e cinco profissionais em inteligência, puderam-se identificar estas funcionalidades de tecnologia e, ao final deste estudo, propor uma relação de requisitos funcionais de software capaz de contribuir para este importante processo executado nas principais organizações brasileiras. / The industrial revolution may be viewed as the spark that triggered the escalating of competition among companies. Ever since the advent of mass production and the ensuing manufacturing of similar, if not, exactly the same products, by different manufacturers has lead to the increasing need to monitor the activities of competitors, customer‟s needs, and other matters related, in one way or another, to the competitive environment. The early 2000‟s witnessed the birth of innumerable models, later denominated intelligence methodologies, that target the monitoring of a company‟s external environment. Parallel to this, the growth of the Internet lead to greater amounts of information capable of providing deeper understanding of the state and events occurring in the competitive environments in which a company acts as a player Thus, given the diversity of intelligence methodologies and the availability of vast amounts information that can be used to track the competitive environment, it is impelling to assume that an adequate software technology could be of significant help in such a scenario. However, what functionalities or features should a software technology have to effectively support a competitive intelligence effort? This and other questions are dealt and are the object of this study. Through extensive bibliographic research in the area of business administration, and in-depth interviews of four experts and five acting professionals in intelligence, it was possible to identify key technology features and, as result of this study, present a proposal for a functional requirements check-list for a software capable of supporting such an important process carried out presently in major Brazilian organizations.