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Classical approaches to conflict resolution assume that inducing conflict parties to analyse conflict constellations precipitates that the disputants recognise mutually shared needs or interests. Partially in critical reaction towards this assumption, a more recently emerging approach envisages setting up a communicative framework within which the conflict parties are supposed to harmonise their conceptualisations of the conflict. This dissertation, in contrast, argues that work within the frameworks of these classes of approaches is impolitic as long as war-related hostilities stay intact, since conflict parties which see the existence of the adversary as the core of the problem are unlikely to engage in a process of open communication or open analysis, so that trustbuilding is a sine qua non. Practice experiences of local NGOs in the former Yugoslavia suggest that the following activities can be conducive to trustbuilding: 1) supporting exchanges on personalising information, so that the internal heterogeneity of the opponent's group is rendered visible; 2) bringing intergroup iii commonalities to the foreground, either through cooperation on shared aspirations, or by unearthing interpersonal overlaps e.g. common feelings, values, and war-related experiences; 3) undermining the imagination of the own side's moral superiority by fostering the recognition of crimes and suffering inflicted by the own side. For those cultural and religious differences which persist after basic trustbuilding, a contingency approach is proposed: 1) Fostering the exploration of commonalities and differences; 2) If disagreements remain despite a better basic understanding, tolerance of these difference can be based on a better understanding of the values' background, and on an acceptance of differing beliefs as equal in valence; 3) Supporting the discovery of joint values to raise awareness for options of cohabitation with differences; disagreements which cannot be solved might be continued within an accepted communicative framework based on these shared values.

With the advent of knowledge-intensive economies, plus the ever-accelerating development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), organisational knowledge has become the key driver of an organisation's value and ultimately, an important source of an organisation's sustainable competitive edge. Thus, numerous organisations have started to invest heavily in establishing knowledge management systems (KMSs). Subsequently, they wish to access knowledge from individuals in order to enhance their acquisition of knowledge and ultimately transform this into organisational knowledge. Even though existing research studies have evidenced extensively the intrinsic and extrinsic motivators of individuals' knowledge-sharing behaviour in organisations from diverse perspectives (e.g. organisational behaviour, sociology and psychology), individuals still seem inclined to hoard their knowledge, rather than share it with others in organisations. To this end, this research aims to investigate and identify essential elements related to individuals' knowledge-sharing behaviour within the complex context of the virtual organisation of Taiwanese Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), comprising the whole system of Taiwanese Farmers' Associations, by integrating multilevel perspectives of individuals in organisations (the micro-level), workplace networks in organisations (the meso-level) and organisational culture (the macro-level).

Classical approaches to conflict resolution assume that inducing conflict parties to analyse conflict constellations precipitates that the disputants recognise mutually shared needs or interests. Partially in critical reaction towards this assumption, a more recently emerging approach envisages setting up a communicative framework within which the conflict parties are supposed to harmonise their conceptualisations of the conflict. This dissertation, in contrast, argues that work within the frameworks of these classes of approaches is impolitic as long as war-related hostilities stay intact, since conflict parties which see the existence of the adversary as the core of the problem are unlikely to engage in a process of open communication or open analysis, so that trustbuilding is a sine qua non. Practice experiences of local NGOs in the former Yugoslavia suggest that the following activities can be conducive to trustbuilding: 1) supporting exchanges on personalising information, so that the internal heterogeneity of the opponent¿s group is rendered visible; 2) bringing intergroup iii commonalities to the foreground, either through cooperation on shared aspirations, or by unearthing interpersonal overlaps e.g. common feelings, values, and war-related experiences; 3) undermining the imagination of the own side¿s moral superiority by fostering the recognition of crimes and suffering inflicted by the own side. For those cultural and religious differences which persist after basic trustbuilding, a contingency approach is proposed: 1) Fostering the exploration of commonalities and differences; 2) If disagreements remain despite a better basic understanding, tolerance of these difference can be based on a better understanding of the values¿ background, and on an acceptance of differing beliefs as equal in valence; 3) Supporting the discovery of joint values to raise awareness for options of cohabitation with differences; disagreements which cannot be solved might be continued within an accepted communicative framework based on these shared values.

The Student RAG Community Service (SRCS), a unique non-governmental organisation (NGO) of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, aims to support and to enable other NGOs to function independently. For this reason, the communication between the SRCS and these NGOs is viewed from the sub discipline of development communication, with the participative approach currently being perceived as the normative approach to communication for development. Communication between the SRCS and representatives of the NGOs should therefore conform to the principles of the participative approach to development communication to contribute to empowerment and development. The principles of the participative approach that was identified as relevant to this study are participation, dialogue, cultural sensitivity, to enable the community to be self-reliant and community development. This study is qualitative in nature and the research methods used to gather information about the nature of communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects are qualitative content analysis, partially structured interviews and observer–participant reporting. Although this study has focused only on early child development projects, the nature of these projects and their communication varied to a large extent. The overall conclusion of this study is that there are gaps in the participative communication between the SRCS and the representatives of all the researched projects. The type of communication between the SRCS and early childhood development projects did not conform to the principles of cultural sensitivity, community development and the enablement of the community to be self-reliant. These gaps are attributed in part to the present documentation of the SRCS (2010 annual report, portfolio descriptions, transfer reports and minutes of 2010’s and 2011’s meetings) as well as the fact that this NGO’s training guidelines do not emphasise the importance of participatory principles, and do not offer sufficient training in the implementation of these principles to its various members. Although the results indicate that the communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects presently does not conform to the principles of participative communication, the organisation is committed to addressing these gaps in future. / Thesis (MA (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The Student RAG Community Service (SRCS), a unique non-governmental organisation (NGO) of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, aims to support and to enable other NGOs to function independently. For this reason, the communication between the SRCS and these NGOs is viewed from the sub discipline of development communication, with the participative approach currently being perceived as the normative approach to communication for development. Communication between the SRCS and representatives of the NGOs should therefore conform to the principles of the participative approach to development communication to contribute to empowerment and development. The principles of the participative approach that was identified as relevant to this study are participation, dialogue, cultural sensitivity, to enable the community to be self-reliant and community development. This study is qualitative in nature and the research methods used to gather information about the nature of communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects are qualitative content analysis, partially structured interviews and observer–participant reporting. Although this study has focused only on early child development projects, the nature of these projects and their communication varied to a large extent. The overall conclusion of this study is that there are gaps in the participative communication between the SRCS and the representatives of all the researched projects. The type of communication between the SRCS and early childhood development projects did not conform to the principles of cultural sensitivity, community development and the enablement of the community to be self-reliant. These gaps are attributed in part to the present documentation of the SRCS (2010 annual report, portfolio descriptions, transfer reports and minutes of 2010’s and 2011’s meetings) as well as the fact that this NGO’s training guidelines do not emphasise the importance of participatory principles, and do not offer sufficient training in the implementation of these principles to its various members. Although the results indicate that the communication between the SRCS and the representatives of the projects presently does not conform to the principles of participative communication, the organisation is committed to addressing these gaps in future. / Thesis (MA (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.