Formal dialogues between an employee and a manager have long existed as a tool to achieve organizational goals and to develop employees as well as the organization. Development requires the exchange of feedback between employees and managers which is considered as one of the most important parts of the performance appraisal talk. Despite the purpose of the talk, previous research proves a dissatisfaction with the talks among the employees and an uncertainty with its practical usefulness. It is of significance that employees have a positive attitude towards the performance appraisal talk and its use in order to create favorable effects for the organization. Therefore, this study aims to understand employees and managers perception of the performance appraisal talk and to form an understanding with the parties receptivity towards feedback during the talks.   The purpose of this study has been fulfilled through a total of eight interviews with employees and managers in Handelsbanken.   The result of the interviews show that all respondents have a positive attitude towards performance appraisal talks, and both managers and employees agreed that the talk is of high significance. The purpose of the talk is to notice, develop and support the employees, create common goals and to exchange feedback between the parties. The interviews indicate that all respondents are receptive towards both positive and negative feedback during the performance appraisal talk. According to the managers and employees, the receptivity to feedback depends on the individual and the current situation. Positive feedback is preferred and feels easier to receive and process, but at the same time, negative feedback is also regarded as needful. / Formella samtal mellan medarbetare och chef har länge existerat i organisationer som ett verktyg för att nå satta mål i organisationen och bana väg för utveckling av både medarbetare och organisation. Utveckling förutsätter att feedback utbyts mellan parterna vilket bedöms som ett av samtalets viktigaste funktioner. Trots samtalets syfte, påvisar tidigare forskning attdet finns tveksamhet och missnöje bland anställda kring samtalets praktiska användbarhet. Det är av betydelse att anställda har en positiv inställning till medarbetarsamtal och dess funktion för att det ska skapa gynnsamma effekter för organisationen. Studien syftardärmed till att förstå medarbetares respektive chefers uppfattning om medarbetarsamtal samt skapa förståelse för parternas mottaglighet för feedback i samtalen. Forskningsmetoden följer en kvalitativ ansats och en fallstudiehar genomförts på olika kontor i Handelsbanken. För att uppnå studiens syfte har totalt 8 semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomförts med chefer och medarbetare på kontorsnivå. Resultatet visaratt samtligarespondenter har en positiv inställning till medarbetarsamtal på arbetsplatsen och både chefer och medarbetare var ense om att samtalet är betydelsefullt. Resultatet tyder på att medarbetarsamtalet handlar om att uppmärksamma, utveckla och stödja medarbetarna. Samtalet syftar även till att skapa en gemensam syn kring mål samtattförmedla feedback mellan chef och medarbetare. Samtliga respondenteri studienär mottagliga för både positiv och negativ feedback i samband med samtalen. Enligt både chefs-och medarbetarperspektivet är mottagligheten för feedback beroende av individen och situationen. Positiv feedback föredras och upplevs vara lättare att motta samt bearbeta, men samtidigt anses det behövligt att även motta negativ feedback.

Diplomová práce pojednává o chaotických dynamických systémech se zvláštním zaměřením na jejich synchronizaci. Proces synchronizace je aplikován použitím dvou různých metod, a to - metodou úplné synchronizace na dva Lorenzovy systémy a metodou negativní zpětné vazby na dva Rösslerovy systémy. Dále je prozkoumána možná aplikace synchronizace chaotických systémů v oblasti soukromé komunikace, která je doplněná algoritmy v prostředí MATLAB.

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Invasive exotic species threaten the biodiversity and function of native ecosystems. Existing models, attempting to predict and control successful invaders, often emphasize isolated stages of in their life history and fail to formalize interactions between exotic species and recipient environments. In order to elucidate key mechanisms in the success of select invaders, I investigated the role of dispersal, establishment, proliferation, and persistence in their threat to natural areas. Focusing on Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada, I integrated the native climatic range and biological traits of 251 exotic vascular plants reported inside and outside the park. Based on their climatic range in Europe, 155 among 174 exotic plant species absent from the Park were predicted to establish within its boundaries; among these, 40 clonal perennials were considered the highest threat to the Park’s biodiversity. Focusing on smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a Eurasian perennial, threatening the structure and function of native prairies throughout the Great Plains, I extended my research to investigate the role of dispersal, establishment, proliferation, and persistence in characterizing its threat to the endemic diversity of northern fescue prairies, protected within Riding Mountain National Park. Patterns of smooth brome invasions were contingent on the type of propagules dispersed. The shallow dispersal gradient of individual florets combined with the steeper gradient of panicles and spikelets suggested that smooth brome is capable of simultaneously invading along dense fronts as well as by establishing isolated foci. While low correlations between the number of dispersed seeds and their recruitment suggested post-dispersal transport, seedling establishment remained contingent on prairie diversity. Seedling biomass increased with declining plant diversity, however, its impact depended on the availability of soil nitrogen. As a result, disturbed areas, preserving the root function of native plants, resisted smooth brome establishment. Even though low nitrogen contributed to a decline in seedling biomass, physiological integration between ramets facilitated their vegetative proliferation in low resource environments. Despite its rapid establishment and proliferation, smooth brome productivity declined at the center of invading clones. Although field and greenhouse observations failed to implicate soilborne pathogens, reasons for the observed decline remain unresolved. My research demonstrates that while Riding Mountain National Park and other natural areas in western Canada will continue to be impacted by exotic plants, integrating key stages in their life history provides an important conceptual framework in predicting their threat to natural areas and prioritizing management. / October 2008

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Plusieurs études se sont intéressées aux conséquences des comportements adoptés par les entraîneurs. Un comportement n’a cependant pas reçu l’attention méritée : la rétroaction négative. Pourtant, cette rétroaction est à la fois essentielle aux progrès et porteuse de conséquences négatives potentielles (Brewer, et al. 1991; Kluger & DeNisi, 1996). Le présent mémoire propose que la qualité de la rétroaction négative est déterminante dans les conséquences vécues par les athlètes. Une étude corrélationnelle a été menée auprès de 315 athlètes et 54 entraîneurs. Des analyses multiniveaux ont confirmé qu’une rétroaction négative de qualité doit soutenir l’autonomie des athlètes, et six caractéristiques définissant une telle rétroaction ont été identifiées. Il a aussi été démontré que la qualité de la rétroaction négative prédit l’expérience phénoménologique et les performances des athlètes au-delà de la quantité de rétroaction et du style interpersonnel de l’entraîneur. Les implications théoriques et pratiques de ces résultats sont discutées. / Past studies have looked at the consequences of various coaches’ behaviours. However, a specific behaviour has not yet received all the attention it deserves: negative feedback. Yet, this type of feedback is both essential and risky considering that it can lead to negative consequences (Brewer et al., 1991; Kluger & DeNisi, 1996). The present thesis proposes that negative feedback quality plays a crucial role in predicting athletes’ outcomes. In total, 315 athletes and 54 coaches participated in a cross-sectional study. Results of hierarchical linear modeling confirmed that a high quality negative feedback supports athletes’ autonomy. Six specific characteristics defining this type of feedback were also identified. Finally, results showed that negative feedback quality predicts athletes’ phenomenological experiences and performance above and beyond what could be explained by negative feedback quantity and coaches’ interpersonal style. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Invasive exotic species threaten the biodiversity and function of native ecosystems. Existing models, attempting to predict and control successful invaders, often emphasize isolated stages of in their life history and fail to formalize interactions between exotic species and recipient environments. In order to elucidate key mechanisms in the success of select invaders, I investigated the role of dispersal, establishment, proliferation, and persistence in their threat to natural areas. Focusing on Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada, I integrated the native climatic range and biological traits of 251 exotic vascular plants reported inside and outside the park. Based on their climatic range in Europe, 155 among 174 exotic plant species absent from the Park were predicted to establish within its boundaries; among these, 40 clonal perennials were considered the highest threat to the Park’s biodiversity. Focusing on smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a Eurasian perennial, threatening the structure and function of native prairies throughout the Great Plains, I extended my research to investigate the role of dispersal, establishment, proliferation, and persistence in characterizing its threat to the endemic diversity of northern fescue prairies, protected within Riding Mountain National Park. Patterns of smooth brome invasions were contingent on the type of propagules dispersed. The shallow dispersal gradient of individual florets combined with the steeper gradient of panicles and spikelets suggested that smooth brome is capable of simultaneously invading along dense fronts as well as by establishing isolated foci. While low correlations between the number of dispersed seeds and their recruitment suggested post-dispersal transport, seedling establishment remained contingent on prairie diversity. Seedling biomass increased with declining plant diversity, however, its impact depended on the availability of soil nitrogen. As a result, disturbed areas, preserving the root function of native plants, resisted smooth brome establishment. Even though low nitrogen contributed to a decline in seedling biomass, physiological integration between ramets facilitated their vegetative proliferation in low resource environments. Despite its rapid establishment and proliferation, smooth brome productivity declined at the center of invading clones. Although field and greenhouse observations failed to implicate soilborne pathogens, reasons for the observed decline remain unresolved. My research demonstrates that while Riding Mountain National Park and other natural areas in western Canada will continue to be impacted by exotic plants, integrating key stages in their life history provides an important conceptual framework in predicting their threat to natural areas and prioritizing management.

Invasive exotic species threaten the biodiversity and function of native ecosystems. Existing models, attempting to predict and control successful invaders, often emphasize isolated stages of in their life history and fail to formalize interactions between exotic species and recipient environments. In order to elucidate key mechanisms in the success of select invaders, I investigated the role of dispersal, establishment, proliferation, and persistence in their threat to natural areas. Focusing on Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada, I integrated the native climatic range and biological traits of 251 exotic vascular plants reported inside and outside the park. Based on their climatic range in Europe, 155 among 174 exotic plant species absent from the Park were predicted to establish within its boundaries; among these, 40 clonal perennials were considered the highest threat to the Park’s biodiversity. Focusing on smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.), a Eurasian perennial, threatening the structure and function of native prairies throughout the Great Plains, I extended my research to investigate the role of dispersal, establishment, proliferation, and persistence in characterizing its threat to the endemic diversity of northern fescue prairies, protected within Riding Mountain National Park. Patterns of smooth brome invasions were contingent on the type of propagules dispersed. The shallow dispersal gradient of individual florets combined with the steeper gradient of panicles and spikelets suggested that smooth brome is capable of simultaneously invading along dense fronts as well as by establishing isolated foci. While low correlations between the number of dispersed seeds and their recruitment suggested post-dispersal transport, seedling establishment remained contingent on prairie diversity. Seedling biomass increased with declining plant diversity, however, its impact depended on the availability of soil nitrogen. As a result, disturbed areas, preserving the root function of native plants, resisted smooth brome establishment. Even though low nitrogen contributed to a decline in seedling biomass, physiological integration between ramets facilitated their vegetative proliferation in low resource environments. Despite its rapid establishment and proliferation, smooth brome productivity declined at the center of invading clones. Although field and greenhouse observations failed to implicate soilborne pathogens, reasons for the observed decline remain unresolved. My research demonstrates that while Riding Mountain National Park and other natural areas in western Canada will continue to be impacted by exotic plants, integrating key stages in their life history provides an important conceptual framework in predicting their threat to natural areas and prioritizing management.