This study examines the decision-making activities and communicative activities of two groups participating in a simulated medical emergency activity: the control group (CG) using a traditional whiteboard and the experimental group (EG) using a structured interactive whiteboard. The two groups differ in that the EG has a structured template to annotate and share their arguments with each other. Data analysis of the decision-making activities focused on planning, data collecting, managing, and interpreting patient data. Data analysis of the communicative activities focused on informative, argumentative, elicitative, responsive, and directive acts. In the early stage of decision-making the EG spent significantly more time interpreting the situation and less time managing the patient than the CG; in the later stage the EG spent significantly more time managing the patient but less time interpreting the situation. No significant results were found in communicative activities due to low cell frequencies of the utterances. Qualitative results indicated that shared visualizations can disambiguate and clarify verbal interactions and promote productive argumentation and negotiation activities. Shared cognition facilitates the construction of shared situation models and joint problem spaces which lead to better decision making and problem solving.

How does technological change alter the position and the configuration of groups of producers in an industry? This dissertation examines the transformations in the strategic groups of two manufacturing industries that introduced radically new manufacturing processes. The primary textile market during the period 1958 to 1978 with the introduction of synthetic fibers, introduced a large-scale process production. In the steel industry during the period 1965 to 1985, small-scale process production was introduced with the technology of mini-mills. / The impact of new manufacturing processes on the economic position of producers in the industry has been examined conventionally by the research in strategic management, which used with the set of business strategies developed by the positioning school (i.e., cost leadership, differentiation and focus). Where the cost structure is the determinant of the profitability of a manufacturer, strategic groups are expected to establish their position in terms of scale and scope (Porter 1980, Aaker, 1984, Day, 1990). / Our findings lead us to introduce a different view of the topic by focusing on competition between strategic groups having different centers of gravity. A center of gravity has been defined by Galbraith (1983) as the primary location of a producer in the economic chain of transformation. We found that large-scale and small-scale manufacturing processes have radically different impacts since these processes are intimately associated with specific centers of gravity. / Large-scale manufacturing processes create conditions for the formation of generalists with a strong center of gravity at the upstream primary manufacturing stage engaged in processes such as casting, cutting and forming. This strategic group of generalists establishes a dominant position in the industry in two stages: a cost leadership strategy followed by integrative strategies such as upstream and downstream vertical integration and ultimately, product diversification. Since manufacturers serve the same geographical market, we have a configuration of competing strategic groups. / Small-scale manufacturing processes create conditions for the formation of mid-size producers that we have called semi-generalists and semi-specialists. These strategic groups have a strong center of gravity at the downstream manufacturing stage and are engaged in processes such as as assembling and finishing. They have smaller scale facilities, are not vertically integrated, and sell a narrower product range than generalists. Since they are located closer to industrial centers and dedicated to specific industries, they compete on factors other than price, such as geographic location, product differentiation, service, etc. These strategic groups of medium-size producers challenge the dominance of generalists by restructuring the market into a set of regional markets. The configuration of strategic groups is shaped by generic groups of manufacturers competing in different geographical markets. / The set of business strategies proposed by the positioning school was adequate for large-scale processes. However, this set of strategies was largely inappropriate in a context where small-scale processes are introduced.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 170-182). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Adviser: Yan Xu. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 328-340).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-92).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Stanford University, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 168-172).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

Esta dissertação objetivou analisar os mecanismos e estruturas de promoção à inovação dispostos pela Universidade de Caxias do Sul, a partir do modelo teórico da Tríplice Hélice. A pesquisa envolveu a identificação das interações da universidade com os instrumentos e políticas de inovação da Secretaria da Ciência, Inovação e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico do Governo do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul e com o as atividades aplicadas à inovação da empresa Keko Acessórios S.A. Neste contexto foram caracterizadas as atividades e políticas de inovação dos três agentes considerando suas interações com agentes externos, visando pontuar as interações entre eles. Com abordagem qualitativa, o estudo exploratório empregou entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado. Utilizou-se o método de análise de discurso, através do software ATLAS.ti®, versão 7. Os resultados apresentam uma participação assídua dos agentes na busca de interações com agentes externos, através de recursos, conhecimento e análise de mercado, para a realização de seus objetivos, dentro das atividades e políticas de inovação. Essa busca fica evidente quando se trata da realização dos objetivos individuais, fazendo com que a interação com os agentes externos seja uma consequência desse processo, limitando a participação externa nas atividades de inovação. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2015-09-21T12:28:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Felipe Luis de Marchi.pdf: 1302058 bytes, checksum: fb4bf2b8ff8ad7822c25a7099994ee5e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-09-21T12:28:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Felipe Luis de Marchi.pdf: 1302058 bytes, checksum: fb4bf2b8ff8ad7822c25a7099994ee5e (MD5) / This dissertation aimed to analyze the mechanisms and structures for the promotion to innovation disposed by University of Caxias do Sul, starting from the theoretical model of the Triple Helix. The research involved the identification of the interactions between the University, the instruments and innovation polices of the Secretary of Science, Innovation and Technological Development of the Government of the State of Rio Grande do Sul and the activities applied to innovation of the company Keko Acessórios S.A.. In this context were characterized the activities and innovation policies of the three agents considering their interactions with external agents, aiming to realize the interactions between them. Using a qualitative approach, this exploratory study employed semi-structured interviews with a script. The method of discourse analysis was used and carried out with Atlas.TI software ®, version 7. The results show an assiduous participation of agents in search of interactions with external agents, through resources, knowledge and analysis of the market for the realization of their goals, activities and innovation policies. This search is evident when it comes to the achievement of individual objectives, making the interaction with external agents a consequence of this process, limiting external participation in innovation activities.

Thesis (DTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / Rationale: Unavoidably, the 21st century is witnessing continuous discourse about students’ technology uses in higher education. This thesis explores the underpinnings of students’ technology usage in their rhizomatic (personal) learning networks in the higher educational environment through a lens of four sub-research questions and four research hypotheses. Methodology: This research adopted a cross-sectional narrative and numeric study using the Frameworks for an Integrated Methodology (FraIM). The study was conducted in four universities comprising two universities in Ghana, one in South Africa and another in Belgium. Participants and respondents included students and lecturers. Data collection methods comprise focus group interviews, individual interviews, surveys (paper and web-based) and rhizomatic maps. The philosophical underpinning was inclined towards the critical realists’ stance and hinged to Rhizome Theory and Actor Network Theory. Data were analysed through descriptive and multivariate analyses and learning analytics employing tools in social network analysis. Results were presented graphically via Rhizomatic Learning Network maps, charts, tables and narratives. Findings: Students’ personal learning networks exhibit traces of rhizomatic patterns which are related through human and non-human actors. Seven categories of actors – comprising 218 individual actors – were found in students’ Rhizomatic Learning Networks. Out of 19 traceable digital devices used by students, this research established differences among the institutions in the four most widely used digital devices: Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet or iPad, and E-Reader pro rata. Students owned, in this sequence, smartphones, laptops, tablets or iPads and e-readers. This research also found statistically significant differences among all four institutions in terms of students’ self-perceived importance of handheld mobile devices towards academic success, university wireless network experiences and satisfaction of Learning Management Systems in the universities. However, results indicated that students are not likely to skip classes when materials from course lectures are available online, implying an inclination towards a blended approach to learning despite a technologically-rich environment. Implications and Value: With an underlying effect on curriculum design and implementation, this thesis, supporting rhizomatic approaches to learning, has tremendous potential to improve personal learning networks in higher education. It further contributes an understanding of emerging patterns in the personal learning networks of higher education students within a technology-rich environment. Again, integration of the two theories – FraIM, analytical tools and style of presentation – in understanding the problem through the lens of a critical realist is novel. Key Recommendations: Further rhizoanalysis research into the detailed roles performed by individual technological actors in students’ personal learning networks in the higher educational environment is required. Additionally, clear policies exhibiting willingness and enforcement strategies to integrate technology in all facets relating to learning should guide curriculum development within the universities.