Gender equality has been linked to several positive organizational outcomes, including improved overall organizational performance (Dezsö & Ross, 2012). Yet, several fields in Canada, such as technology and engineering, remain male-dominated (Statistics Canada, 2009). Men and women communicate differently, and women's communication styles are sometimes perceived as weak, particularly in male-dominated fields (Carli, 2001). Women's preference for a more communal communication style also manifests in negotiations: women are less likely to negotiate, and when they do negotiate they are less direct and ask for less than men do (Babcock & Laschever, 2003). In order to help women develop the skills they require to advance their status in male-dominated fields, the NSERC Chair for Women in Science and Engineering delivered five negotiation skills training workshops for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Ontario. This thesis evaluates this training program using Kirkpatrick and Kirkpatrick's (2006) four-level training evaluation model, with questionnaires and qualitative semi-structured follow-up interviews as the main data collection methods. Ultimately, the thesis concluded that CWSE-ON was successful in creating a training program that produced positive results at multiple levels of the Kirkpatrick model. The program was particularly effective at encouraging participants to transfer their new skills back to the workplace and actually change their negotiation behaviours. The implications of these findings for training professionals is explored in depth.

There are many divergent opinions on the nature of organisational culture and organisational climate and the relationship between these two constructs. This study was conducted to assess the level of change in organisational culture as measured by an externally administered survey, the organisational climate as measured by an internal survey, and the development in financial performance over the same period. The subject was Comair Ltd, a successful airline operating out of South Africa. The research was conducted in three sections; firstly the organisational culture was examined using the Denison Organisational Culture Survey as administered by Denison Consulting in the USA. The author compared a pre-existing survey from 2011 which contained 53 responses, and a newly commissioned survey in 2014 for which there were 24 responses. Secondly, the author compared the internally administered Comair Think Vision Climate Survey over a period of three years – 2012 to 2014. The response rate for the latest survey was 96% of all Comair employees. Lastly an analysis was conducted of the company’s key financial ratios over an extended period. Notwithstanding concerns regarding the practical significance of the Think Vision data, all three areas showed marked improvements. The financial performance of the company improved dramatically since 2012 and both the culture and the climate survey demonstrated increases. Of interest was the fact that both surveys independently indicated a move towards a more structured, mission oriented company. This development can be traced back to specific developments taking place in the company over the same period. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / zkgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / Unrestricted

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Attractiveness is a phenomenon that is highly prioritised in society and has a variety of implications on the health, mental health, occupational, judicial and economic spheres. The media is known to have an impact on how certain norms, expectations and beliefs in society are formed, including, but not limited to, the creation of beauty ideals. Despite this importance, little research has been done on how men have come to perceive the attractiveness of women as a consequence of daily exposure to the media and photoshopped images of women. This study therefore attempts to address this gap in research by studying the impact that media and the use of photoshopping might have on males' perception of female attractiveness. A mixed-method approach was followed. Accordingly, both qualitative and quantitative data was collected during this study. The quantitative data entailed a comparison of heart rate, breathing rate, heart rate variability and viewing time for 24 participants between non-photoshopped and photoshopped images. The qualitative section comprised eye tracking data and a questionnaire for 25 male participants on the topic of media, photoshopping, features of attractiveness and what impact these three constructs might have on each other. The results indicate that on a physiological level there are limited and sporadic changes in how men view, and respond to, photoshopped images of women. Despite this finding, most participants report that on a psychological level media and photoshopping has an impact on their perceptions of beauty and their experience of interpersonal attraction. / Mini Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Psychology / MA / Unrestricted

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No description available.

Since 2015, a U.S. Agency for International Development and Virginia Tech Education and Research in Agriculture collaboration has introduced and tested mung bean as a potential crop to alleviate malnutrition and food insecurity in Senegal. This MS thesis describes a study conducted to assess the impact of mung bean on dietary diversity of Senegalese women and children in the Kaolack, Matam and Bakel localities of Senegal. A mixed-methods research approach included individual surveys to determine dietary diversity scores (DDS) and focus groups to assess the perceived impacts of mung bean. The dietary diversity survey was conducted with 194 participants including adult women, ages 15 to 70 years (n=109) and children, ages 0-10 years (n=85). Half (52%) of the population were mung bean consumers. The dietary diversity surveys revealed an average DDS of 5.73 on a scale of one to 10, with 5.83 and 5.62 for mung bean and non-mung bean consuming groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in DDS between mung-bean consuming women and both mung bean and non-mung bean children, and between mung bean and non-mung bean consumers in Bakel; however, there was no significant difference between overall mung bean and non-mung bean groups DDS. Focus groups (n=11) with mung bean consuming women identified perceived agricultural, health, and financial benefits associated with mung bean consumption. These results can increase our understanding of how mung bean may influence policy-relevant issues for the Senegalese population, including agricultural, health and financial outcomes that are not reflected in dietary diversity surveys. / Master of Science / Since 2015, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Virginia Tech Education and Research in Agriculture (ERA) collaboration has introduced and tested mung bean as a potential crop to alleviate malnutrition and food insecurity in Senegal. This MS thesis describes a study conducted to assess the impact of mung bean on dietary diversity of Senegalese women and children in the Kaolack, Matam and Bakel localities of Senegal. Individual surveys (n=194) to assess dietary diversity scores (DDS) were conducted with both mung bean and non-mung bean consuming women and children. The results of these surveys revealed that there were statistically significant higher DDS in mung bean consuming women compared to both mung bean and non-mung bean children, and statistically significant higher DDS in mung bean vs non-mung bean consumers in the Bakel locality. However, there was no significant difference between overall mung bean and non-mung bean groups DDS. Additionally, focus groups (n=11) were conducted with only mung bean consuming women. The focus group results indicated perceived agricultural, health, and financial benefits associated with mung bean consumption. Combined, these results can increase our understanding of how mung bean may influence policy-relevant issues for the Senegalese population, including agricultural, health and financial outcomes that are not reflected in dietary diversity surveys.

The Higher Education Institution and the Construction Industry are yet to define the most appropriate and effective design parameters for E-learning spaces. Those which exist, focus mainly on cost, budget and timely delivery i.e. the process only not the product. An effective approach to E-learning space design is needed to address the problems of space efficiency, effectiveness, quality, innovativeness, performance and client satisfaction. This study aimed to develop a novel methodology for e-learning space design, by investigating: the impact of e-learning on facilities and design; the impact of e-learning on the design of future spaces; the impact of blended learning on space design; designing for the learn anytime, anywhere paradigm; security issues of e-learning and e-learning space design, the levels of design risk in an e-learning infrastructure and inclusive design issues. A Grounded theory approach was used during initial desk studies, synchronized with a three part forum and pilot survey of 33participants. From this process, two hypotheses emerged; firstly, e-learning space design could affect users‘ learning outcomes and secondly that; user‘s learning requirements were different and varied. To investigate further, site based analyses of 11 HEI‘s, 10 interviews and subsequently a questionnaire survey was administered. Users‘ and stakeholders requirements and good examples of e-learning space design were identified. Data were analysed using a mixed-method research design approach. Three main constructs, Space design, Technology and the E-learning Space Design research focus (ELSD focus), emerged as significant components in the development of a novel framework for the design of e-learning spaces. The relationship between the components is such that the design of spaces with consideration of the ELSD research focus would ensure the effective identification, interpretation and delivery of users‘ requirement while maximising the benefits of the adoption of appropriate technology within HEI facilities. This was therefore proposed as the realistic framework/model for future design of E- learning Spaces in HEI campuses. The framework was adapted into a conceptual design guide to provide guidance for future space design. It is expected the study will support the HEI sector globally as it moves towards achieving best practice solutions to future E-learning space design in HEI campuses.

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Konsumenten stehen beim Kauf von Lebensmitteln einer großen Anzahl an Produkten gegenüber. Eine hohe Dichte an Informationen bezüglich der Zutaten, Herkunft oder des Produktionsverfahrens sind verfügbar. Dadurch können Konsumenten nicht nur über Inhalts- und Nährstoffe der Produkte entscheiden, sondern auch über das System, in dem Nahrungsmittel produziert werden. Somit beeinflussen Entscheidungen rund um die Lebensmittelwahl nicht nur das individuelle Wohl, sondern auch das Gesellschaftliche. Primäres Ziel der Dissertation ist es, (i) einen Beitrag zum Wissen und der Erklärung von Verbraucherpräferenzen zu leisten, und (ii) Implikationen und Empfehlungen für Regierungen, Politiken und insbesondere die Wissenschaft abzuleiten. Am Beispiel von Schulmilch und der Tierhaltung werden Präferenzen für Produkte, Produktattribute und für Produktionssysteme der Landwirtschaft untersucht. Sowohl das Entscheidungsverhalten als auch Einstellungen von Verbrauchern werden betrachtet. Das Entscheidungsverhalten von Kindern und Jugendlichen bei Schulmilch ist deswegen von Interesse, da sich Ernährungsgewohnheiten in der Kindheit ausbilden bzw. diese erlernt werden. Die Einflussfaktoren auf die Nachfrage nach Schulmilch werden im ersten Beitrag untersucht. Das Nachfragemodell, welches auf der Methode der Multilevelanalyse beruht, berücksichtigt sowohl individuelle Merkmale der Kinder als auch Merkmale der Familie und des Schulkontextes. Dabei werden vier Level bzw. Ebenen unterschieden: die Preis-, Schüler-, Klassen- und Schulebene. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der Produktpreis (d.h. die Verfügbarkeit einer Subvention) für die Nachfrage nach Schulmilch von Bedeutung ist. Der Anteil der Schüler, die bei einer stärkeren Subventionierung der Preise zusätzlich Schulmilch bestellen, ist jedoch relativ gering. Zudem haben individuelle Faktoren, wie Konsumgewohnheiten zuhause, sozio-demografische Merkmale oder Einstellungen gegenüber Milch einen signifikanten Einfluss. Die Ergebnisse liefern Hinweise auf Sozialisationseffekte und Rollenvorbilder (role modelling), da Einstellungen und Verhalten der Eltern und Lehrer die Entscheidungen der Kinder signifikant beeinflussen. Die Analyse der Präferenzen für Schulmilch in Abhängigkeit des Geschlechtes steht im zweiten Beitrag im Vordergrund. Die Ergebnisse der Multilevelanalyse bestätigen, dass identische und unterschiedliche Faktoren die Schulmilchnachfrage von Jungen und Mädchen bestimmen. Der dritte Beitrag analysiert, ob die am Markt existierenden Schulmilchprodukte (noch) den Präferenzen von jungen Erwachsenen entsprechen. Ergebnisse des Nested Logit-Modells zeigen, dass eine breitere Produktpalette präferiert wird. Weiterhin sind sich die Jugendlichen über den Fett- und Zuckergehalt und die Auswirkungen auf Gesundheit und Körpergewicht bewusst. Wie erwartet, hat der Preis einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Entscheidung der Jugendlichen. In Bezug auf die Tierhaltung sind das Wissen und Verständnis der Verbraucherpräferenzen ebenfalls von großem Interesse, da die heutige Landwirtschaft und Lebensmittelproduktion häufig sehr kritisch in der Öffentlichkeit und den Medien diskutiert wird. Im vierten Beitrag werden daher am Beispiel der modernen Schweinehaltung die gesellschaftlichen Einstellungen für landwirtschaftliche Produktionssysteme untersucht. Der Hauptkritikpunkt der Diskutanten ist der zur Verfügung stehende Platz pro Tier. Obwohl die Wahrnehmungen und Einstellungen gegenüber der modernen Schweinehaltung generell negativ bzw. kritisch sind, ergibt sich ein differenziertes Bild in der deutschen Bevölkerung. Drei Gruppen mit sehr unterschiedlichen Einstellungen werden bestimmt. Insgesamt zeigen die Ergebnisse der Dissertation, dass durch die Kombination von methodischen Ansätzen detaillierte Erkenntnisse von Verbraucherpräferenzen gewonnen werden können. Bei der Analyse des Entscheidungsverhaltens werden auf Basis von revealed und stated preference-Daten eine Vielzahl an Einflussfaktoren, die das Nachfrageverhalten nach Schulmilch beeinflussen, identifiziert. Zudem werden durch die Kombination von qualitativen mit quantitativen Methoden die in der Gesellschaft vorherrschenden Einstellungen gegenüber der modernen Schweinehaltung detailliert erfasst. Letztendlich werden Konsumenten auch nicht nur in ihrer Rolle als Entscheider oder Käufer betrachtet, sondern auch in ihrer Rolle als Bürger oder als Teil der Gesellschaft.