Current demographics indicate that populations of color are on the rise across the United States. Although enrollments of students of color are increasing, first year retention rates are lower compared to their peers. Consequently, systemic changes are needed to produce changes in services and programs required by these students. Despite the modest gains in enrollment, students of color remain underrepresented at every degree level in higher education. Despite volumes of research, institutions still disregard the seriousness of the problem and continue to address retention with isolated programmatic approaches to change administrative, instructional, and advising practices with little evaluation. The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument assessing the organizational readiness of state and land-grant universities to retain students of color in colleges of agriculture as well as determine what definitions of retention were used to support existing retention programs and services. Since state and land-grant institutions previously engaged in retention strategies, an ex post facto study was conducted. A census of the population was conducted, where close to half of the population responded and expressed interest in seeing study results. State and land-grant colleges were selected as participants due to their unique inability to reach higher than average retention rates of students of color, specifically in agricultural fields. Statistical tests such as t-tests and analysis of variance were used to analyze data and further refine the instrument. Reliability for each of the instrument scales was high. However, further refining must be done before the instrument will more precisely indicate where gaps are in each readiness area in colleges of agriculture. This study determined that more information is needed on which definitions of retention are used to support programs and services within the college. Further investigation should be done to ascertain why more organizational diagnostic assessments are not done in this area considering the fiscal impacts on priorities such as retention. Although respondents indicated satisfaction with the college of agriculture to meet the academic needs of students, departmental administrators and faculty were still unclear of their role with retention. These findings indicate more research in this area should be conducted.

Food and nutrition are an integral part of daily life and can have an effect on social, cognitive, and physical development as well as the prevention of negative health outcomes. The development of the School Food and Beverage Policy was targeted to both elementary and secondary schools in Ontario as a proactive approach to health and wellbeing by eliminating the sale of foods that do not meet nutrition criteria. School food policies can play an important role in students’ overall health and well-being, but little is known about schools’ readiness for implementing these policies. The purpose of this study was to examine schools’ readiness to implement the policy with an organizational readiness lens. This study consisted of a policy analysis and qualitative interviews with 8 administrators who were directly involved in the planning and preparation for the policy and 4 teachers who were recommended by their respective principals as key stakeholders in assisting in the process. Policy analysis uncovered the inconsistencies within the policy, while interview data revealed emergent themes surrounding: pre-implementation planning, policy technicalities, and challenges of confronting implementation. The variability in perspectives of readiness illustrates the complexity of preparing for policy implementation across schools and even within schools. Findings suggest that there is a need for more effective dissemination, in-service training, and education for school stakeholders in order to engage and stimulate interest and compliance of the nutrition standards. Having appealing and nutritious foods that students will enjoy is an area that requires more work. Developing supportive partnerships within and outside the school to reinforce consistent messages to students is also an area that needs attention. The results of this research serve as a framework for potential solutions to school nutrition policies, strategies, and interventions and may also inform key stakeholders and policy makers in adapting and refining policies as a means of supporting the implementation process for successful outcomes. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-05-25 15:28:52.064

Current demographics indicate that populations of color are on the rise across the United States. Although enrollments of students of color are increasing, first year retention rates are lower compared to their peers. Consequently, systemic changes are needed to produce changes in services and programs required by these students. Despite the modest gains in enrollment, students of color remain underrepresented at every degree level in higher education. Despite volumes of research, institutions still disregard the seriousness of the problem and continue to address retention with isolated programmatic approaches to change administrative, instructional, and advising practices with little evaluation. The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument assessing the organizational readiness of state and land-grant universities to retain students of color in colleges of agriculture as well as determine what definitions of retention were used to support existing retention programs and services. Since state and land-grant institutions previously engaged in retention strategies, an ex post facto study was conducted. A census of the population was conducted, where close to half of the population responded and expressed interest in seeing study results. State and land-grant colleges were selected as participants due to their unique inability to reach higher than average retention rates of students of color, specifically in agricultural fields. Statistical tests such as t-tests and analysis of variance were used to analyze data and further refine the instrument. Reliability for each of the instrument scales was high. However, further refining must be done before the instrument will more precisely indicate where gaps are in each readiness area in colleges of agriculture. This study determined that more information is needed on which definitions of retention are used to support programs and services within the college. Further investigation should be done to ascertain why more organizational diagnostic assessments are not done in this area considering the fiscal impacts on priorities such as retention. Although respondents indicated satisfaction with the college of agriculture to meet the academic needs of students, departmental administrators and faculty were still unclear of their role with retention. These findings indicate more research in this area should be conducted.

Food and nutrition are an integral part of daily life and can have an effect on social, cognitive, and physical development as well as the prevention of negative health outcomes. The development of the School Food and Beverage Policy was targeted to both elementary and secondary schools in Ontario as a proactive approach to health and wellbeing by eliminating the sale of foods that do not meet nutrition criteria. School food policies can play an important role in students’ overall health and wellbeing, but little is known about schools’ readiness for implementing these policies. The purpose of this study was to examine schools’ readiness to implement the policy with an organizational readiness lens. This study consisted of a policy analysis and qualitative interviews with 8 administrators who were directly involved in the planning and preparation for the policy and 4 teachers who were recommended by their respective principals as key stakeholders in assisting in the process. Policy analysis uncovered the inconsistencies within the policy, while interview data revealed emergent themes surrounding: pre-implementation planning, policy technicalities, and challenges of confronting implementation. The variability in perspectives of readiness illustrates the complexity of preparing for policy implementation across schools and even within schools. Findings suggest that there is a need for more effective dissemination, in-service training, and education for school stakeholders in order to engage and stimulate interest and compliance of the nutrition standards. Having appealing and nutritious foods that students will enjoy is an area that requires more work. Developing supportive partnerships within and outside the school to reinforce consistent messages to students is also an area that needs attention. The results of this research serve as a framework for potential solutions to school nutrition policies, strategies, and interventions and may also inform key stakeholders and policy makers in adapting and refining policies as a means of supporting the implementation process for successful outcomes. / Thesis (Master, Education) -- Queen's University, 2012-06-06 16:34:45.881

While many large firms have implemented Big Data Analytics (BDA), it is unclear whether Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are ready to adopt and use this technology. This study investigates BDA implementation from the perspective of both managers and data analysts. Managers are mostly influenced by factors from the external environment, while data analysts are mostly influenced by technological factors. Hence, in this study, it is contended that managers imitate the behavior of external institutions, while data analysts mostly evaluate technology characteristics in the process of BDA implementation. The present study draws on institutional, organizational change, and diffusion of innovation theories through the lens of an imitation-evaluation perspective to investigate readiness and adoption behaviours. Accordingly, a theoretical research model was developed to explore the salient variables that impact organizational and data analysts’ readiness for implementing BDA in SMEs. To test these assertions, two surveys were conducted with 340 responses including 170 managers and 170 data analysts in SMEs in North America. The findings demonstrate that: (1) an imitation perspective plays a significant role in organizational readiness to adopt BDA; (2) uncertainty in big data technologies can intensify the effect of normative pressures on organizational readiness; (3) big data complexity, trialability, and relative advantage impact data analysts’ readiness to use big data analytics; and (4) the influence of relative advantage is attenuated by the high level of data analytics skills. These findings provide valuable contributions to the theory and practice of BDA implementation in SMEs in the BDA adoption and use literature. / Dissertation / Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Introduction: Parenting programs have been identified as a valuable service provision to promote quality parent-child relationships and attachment styles. The Triple P positive parenting program and the Circle of Security parenting (COS-P) program are evidence-based interventions designed to prevent behavioral and emotional problems in children. However, there is a lack of literature on the experiences of providers delivering these programs in the Canadian context. This study aimed to investigate and characterize these experiences through a mixed-methods approach. Methods: A total of 83 providers participated in the cross-sectional portion of the study, completing readiness measures prior to program implementation. The qualitative descriptive component of the study involved a sub-group of 22 providers in semi-structured focus groups, 12 months after program implementation. Descriptive measures were analyzed using R studio V. 4.2.0, while NVIVO Version 13 was used to manage the thematic analysis of the focus groups. The mixed-methods component involved an explanatory sequential approach, which involved integrating the data via a joint display table. Results: Organizational readiness involving training, supervision, and support were crucial for program delivery. Barriers identified included a lack of support, overwhelming workload, difficulty engaging parents, and program-specific barriers, while facilitators included positive experiences with training, teamwork, confidence, virtual delivery, and managerial support. Discussion: The results suggest that organizational readiness is crucial to the successful delivery of these programs. Providers require training, supervision, and ongoing support to deliver these interventions effectively. Additionally, barriers and facilitators in the delivery of these programs were identified, which can inform future program implementation and improve outcomes. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights for organizations and providers to effectively deliver parenting programs like Triple P and COS-P by addressing barriers and facilitators of delivery, which can consequently improve parent-child relationships and attachment styles. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH) / Effective delivery of evidence-based parenting programs is essential to promoting positive health outcomes for children and families. Unfortunately, very little research has investigated the experiences of providers delivering these programs. Due to this, our study applied a mixed methods approach that involved 83 providers who completed various readiness measures prior to program implementation, and 22 providers who participated in follow-up focus groups, 12 months after program implementation. The results of our study determined that organizational readiness, which is inclusive of training, supervision, and support, is critical to successful program delivery. Furthermore, we were able to identify barriers and facilitators of program delivery, which can inform future implementation efforts and improve program quality, while promoting positive outcomes for parents and children. This study provides unique insights into the experiences of parenting program providers in Canada and can serve as a tool to inform future program implementation and delivery efforts.

The purpose of the present study is, from a professional perspective, to understand the impactof social workers on the organisational readiness for change for a potential shift inmandatorship for addiction treatment services and gain insight into the impact of profession-specific factors before collaboration with regions’ healthcare services. By interviewing eightsocial workers actively working with substance abuse clients the questions we aimed toanswer were: How may the attitudes of social workers towards the proposal affect theorganizational readiness for change? What limitations and opportunities do social workersperceive regarding collaboration with the regions’ health care services? Then finally how canthe profession-specific factors have an impact before collaboration with the regions’healthcare services? In our analysis we used the theory of organizational readiness for changeand the theory of collaboration. The result shows the importance of the social workers’attitudes and motivations toward reform and emphasizes the role of their commitment insuccessful organisational change. Identified limitations in collaboration with healthcareservices can be addressed through proactive measures, such as increased participation andclearer coordination frameworks. To recognize knowledge gaps and differences is crucial forfuture collaboration and thereby turning the perception of collaboration from necessaryinconvenience to a favorable partnership through understanding and knowledge development.

Yes / This paper introduces the concept of ‘organizational readiness’: socio-cultural expectations about working selves that prepare young people (albeit indirectly and in complex and multi-faceted ways) for their future life in organizations. This concept emerges from an analysis of Disney animations and how they constitute expectations about working life that may influence children through their representations of work and gendered workplace roles. The paper’s exploration of Disney’s earlier animations suggests they circulated norms of gender that girls should be weak and avoid work. In contrast, its contemporary productions circulate gender norms that suggest girls should be strong and engage in paid work. In this reading, the continued circulation of earlier alongside contemporary animations may convey to young viewers a paradox: girls must and must not work; they must be both weak and strong. We thus offer new insights into the puzzle of the continued relegation of women to the side-lines in organizations; although, more optimistically, we also point to ways in which future generations of employees may forge ways of constituting forms of gendered selves as yet hardly imaginable.

Industry is one of the major energy consumers resulting in negative environmental impacts in the world. In this context, industrial energy management becomes critically important when improving industrial energy savings. Emphasized is the careful energy treatment in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. The dominance of a technical approach in current research of industrial energy management suppresses significant potentials of human behavior for energy efficiency. Societal problems such as the energy efficiency gap and the rebound effect may be tackled by involving energysaving behavior in interventions. This thesis aims to explain characteristics of energy-saving behavior in the industrial settings of an automobile producer in Central Europe. The manufacturer utilizes an energy management program, named QUEST, which is facilitated by the external advisor HE Consulting s.r.o. Questions of particular interest are therefore related to perceived organizational readiness to engage in energy-saving behavior. Data gathering include a structured-questionnaire of perceptions on energy savings at the plants with managers of the automobile producer. Additionally, a semi-structured interview with the CEO of HE Consulting s.r.o. offers a more in-depth view on practical implications of energysaving behavior. As a base for data collection serves a psychological perspective of perceptional theories. Strongly related is that approach to the change management discipline. Results of the study show that, indeed, managers in the QUEST program tend to perceive organizational readiness on energy savings re latively more positive than managers outside the program. Resistance to change can be marginally observed in lower management levels. However, the managers emphasize a lack of time to engage in energy savings. Indicators of perceived organizational readiness on energy savings alone do not show the actual energy-saving behavior. This means that this thesis does not directly observe energy-saving behavior. Nevertheless, the impact of such indicators on the actual performed energy-saving behavior may be seen in combination with quantified energy savings. All findings can only be interpreted in the frame of this study.

Background: Physical Activity on Prescription (PAP) is a proven way to increase physical activity amongst patients in primary healthcare. Despite the scientific support for the method and the fact that it is being used in several countries (for example Sweden and Finland ), Estonia has not implemented this method in the healthcare system. The aim of the study was to describe Estonian healthcare professionals’ views on Liikumisretsept (Physical Activity on Prescription) and problematize the implementation of Liikumisretsept in the Estonian healthcare system.Methods: Twelve semi-structured interviews with Estonian medical professionals were conducted: four with family doctors, two with specialist doctors, two with physiotherapists, and two with healthcare managers. The transcribed texts were analyzed using inductive content analysis.Results: Key findings were that Liikumisretsept was described as a method that helps to support PA as part of the treatment by giving patients clear directions for PA depending on their condition. There is clear support from medical professionals and from the Health Insurance Fund for this method to be implemented in Estonian healthcare. It was found that it is a prescription that every medical professional should know how to prescribe, including physiotherapists. Secondly, main barriers to implementation were identified like lack of awareness, support, education, and the need for better collaboration between all stakeholders. Solutions identified were that there should be educational trainings for medical professionals on how to prescribe Liikumisretsept, promotion of this method through different channels, and having support for Liikumisretsept from national governing bodies like Healthcare Insurance Fund to guarantee the funding for it. Conclusion: Liikumisretsept is seen as a method to provide individual PA guidelines for patients depending on their condition to raise their physical activity. Awareness about PA should be increased amongst medical professionals to support Liikumisretsept as a suitable treatment option. Educational trainings and supportive collaboration from all stakeholders are needed for successful implementation. Keywords: Physical activity, Physical Activity on Prescription, Estonia, Liikumisretsept, Implementation, Organizational readiness for change, Content analysis