Examples are important when we attempt to learn something new. To learn prob-lem solving and programming is an acknowledged difficulty. Teaching and learning introductory object oriented problem solving and programming has been discussed extensively since the late 1990’ies, when a major shift to object orientation as first programming paradigm took place. Initially, this switch was not considered to cause any major problems, because of the accumulated knowledge for how pro-gramming should be taught. This turned out to be naive. Knowledge gained for the imperative paradigm did not apply well to the object oriented paradigm. Because of its importance for the field of computer science, introductory pro- gramming education has drawn a lot of attention. Most of the research done in connection to object oriented problem solving and programming has been focused on students learning and the difficulty to acquire skills in programming. Less investigated is the foundation of the educational mission, the characteris- tics of object orientation and how this is best supported by the educator. There is no obvious agreement of what the basics of object orientation are, especially not from an educational point of view. In this thesis, two major aspects concerning the teaching of object orientation have been investigated: the definition of object oriented quality, specifically in examples for novices, and educators’ views on aspects of object orientation. Based on research of how object orientation is characterised in literature and in software design principles, a set of concepts and principles are presented as a description of basic characteristics of object orientation. These are applied to the educational context, and a number of heuristics, called Eduristics, for the design of object oriented examples for novices are defined. The Eduristics are then used to discuss the flaws and shortcomings of common textbook examples, but also how the object oriented quality of examples can be improved. To be able to evaluate the quality of examples, we initiated and participated in the development of an evaluation tool. This tool has been used to evaluate a number of examples from popular textbooks. The results show that the object oriented quality of examples is low. To explore the ways educators view a number of aspects of object orientation and the teaching of it, ten interviews have been conducted. The results of this study show that the level of abstraction in the conceptual model of object orientation among educators is low, and that novices are not given any support for object oriented problem solving. / Exempel är viktiga när man ska lära sig något nytt och det gäller även när man ska lära sig programmera. Att lära sig problemslösning och programmering är erkänt svårt och det har föranlett många förslag på vad som är ett bra sätt. Under 1990-talet skedde en större omläggning i programmeringsundervisningen världen över. Från att ha introducerat programmering i det imperativa/procedurella paradigmet övergick man till att använda objektorientering som första paradigm. Inledningsvis trodde man inte att det skulle skilja sig på något avgörande sätt från tidigare erfarenheter om hur programmering skulle undervisas. Detta visade sig vara en naiv föreställning. Mycket av den kunskap som ackumulerats kring den imperativa programmeringsundervisningen visade sig svår att överföra till objekt orientering. Omställningen har varit mödosam och är fortfarande inte genomförd fullt ut. Programmering är centralt i datavetenskap, eftersom olika aspekter av programvarukonstruktion genomsyrar det mesta av verksamheten kring datorer. Utbildningsmässigt är en inledande kurs i problemlösning och programmering förutsättningen för vidare studier i ämnet. Detta gör att en hel del uppmärksamhet har riktats mot problemlösning och programmering. Det mesta av den forskning som finns gjord i anslutning till objekt orienterad problemlösning och programmering har varit fokuserad på nybörjares lärande och problem att komma in i programmerandet. Mycket lite finns gjort när det gäller själva utgångspunkten för undervisningen om objektorientering, nämligen vad som är centralt i objektorientering och på vilket sätt det ska manifestera sig i undervisningen. I det här arbetet har två huvudaspekter av objektorientering i undervisningssammanhang undersökts: definitionen av objektorienterad kvalité, specifikt i exempel för nybörjare, samt vilken syn lärare har på olika aspekter av objektorientering. För att möjliggöra detta har vi undersökt hur objektorientering beskrivs i litteraturen och i vedertagna design-principer som används i programvaruutvecklingssammanhang. Baserat på resultatet av den undersökningen har vi använt en uppsättning koncept och designprinciper för att definiera vad som är karakteristiskt för objektorientering. Med detta som utgångspunkt har vi applicerat definitionen av objektorientering till undervisningssammanget och definierat ett antal heuristiker specifikt för konstruktion av objektorienterade exempel för nybörjare. Parallellt med detta arbete deltog vi i utvecklingen av ett utvärderingsverktyg för att värdera objektorienterade exempel för nybörjare. Detta verktyg har använts för en större utvärdering av exempel hämtade från populära läroböcker. Resultaten från denna studie visar att exempel generellt sett håller låg objektori enterad kvalitet. Vi har också visat att exempel som värderas högt, uppfyller våra heuristiker och att exempel som värderas lågt strider mot desamma. För att utforska hur lärare ser på objektorientering och hur de resonerar kring strategier för att lära ut objektorientering, har vi gjort tio intervjuer med lärare i gymnasieskolan och på universitetsnivå. Resultaten visar att den konceptuella modellen för objektorientering är mycket enkel i förhållande till den komplexitet som ofta anses känneteckna paradigmet. Dessutom, ges i stort sett inget stöd för nybörjaren vad gäller att förstå och lära sig problemlösningsansatsen, som ofta upplevs som väsensskild från hur man i normala fall löser problem.

<!--[if !mso]> <object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object><mce:style><! st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } -->      Abstract   Research is focusing on the process through which companies internationalize, which is often based on their size, operations, internal capabilities and competencies. Present global economic conditions enforced by the strong competitiveness factor stimulate every company to act in a different way. More and more well established companies encounter with an increasing need to reinforce and redefine its strategic direction. To address these issues companies are inevitably forced to act in a more agile entrepreneurial way. Therefore, entrepreneurial orientation postures were selected among other theoretical alternatives to identify the relationships and effects entrepreneurship can bring to the process of internationalization.   The research was based on the data generated from three well established companies in Jonkoping County. These companies are bright representatives of the manufacturing sector in the region. Besides, they are characterized as market leaders in their preferred segments forming a trend in the industry they serve and keeping a strong competitive edge. Following the path of data collection, a process of individual internationalization was mapped retrospectively, with a focus on identifying entrepreneurial orientation leading this process.   The findings indicate interesting aspects that are applicable to all three firms. We have concluded that nascent decision to internationalize was driven by the external factors which to a great extent accountable for major strategic renewal. Consequently, change in the strategy and processes related to its implementation foster entrepreneurial injections and considerably speed up international commitment. Furthermore, we have identified that theoretical background considerably differ from the practical matters performed in these companies.

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Background: Focus on processes within organisations emerged during the nineteen ninetees and has since then become the most dominant management method. The main aim and positive features of process orientation is the customer focus and increased flexibility/efficiency. There is not much academic research conducted to leadership combined with processorientation. With this thesis we will minor that gap. The change into a process oriented approach makes a drastic change and the leadership could be a key factor or problem when implementing it. Purpose with the thesis: The purpose of this thesis is to increase the understanding of how leadership is affected, on a top managerial level, as a result of implementing a process oriented approach. Method: In this thesis we have used a qualitative method and a hermeneutic approach to increase the understanding of how the leadership is affected of process orientation. We have made a case study on the Swedish Road Administration, Vägverket who has done a process orientation. We have made six interviews with topmanagers at their headoffice. Conclusion: We have come up with a model that states that a leader within a process oriented organisation can be compared with a tour guide. The model is based on our five key findings of how leadership is affected by changing into process orientation. These are: lead change, achieve aims, increase teamwork, increase communication and increase holistic view. These characteristics applies on a leader when changing into a process oriented organisation. / Bakgrund: Fokus på processer inom organisationer började under 1990-talet och har sedan dess varit den dominerande ledarskapsmetoden. Det främsta målet och fördelarna med processorienteringen är kundfokuseringen samt ökad flexibilitet och effektivitet. Det finns inte mycket forskning beträffande ledarskap kombinerat med processorientering. Med denna uppsats vill vi bidra med en undersökning. Förändringen till ett processorienterat synsätt innebär en drastisk förändring och ledarskapet har en nyckelroll i samband med implementeringen. Syfte med uppsatsen: Syftet med denna uppsats är att öka förståelsen för hur ledarskapet påverkas, på högsta chefsnivån, med anledning av implementeringen av ett processorienterat synsätt. Metod: I denna uppsats har vi använt en kvalitativ metod och ett hermeneutiskt tillvägagångssätt för att öka förståelsen av hur ledarskapet påverkas av processorientering. Vi har genomfört en fallstudie av Vägverket som genomfört en processorientering och intervjuat sex chefer på deras huvudkontor. Slutsats: Vi har tagit fram en modell som säger att en ledare inom en processorienterad organisation kan jämföras med en turguide. Modellen är baserad på våra fem viktigaste områden om hur ledarskap påverkas vid en förändring till ett processorienterat synsätt. Dessa är : att leda förändring, uppnå mål, ökad teamwork, ökad kommunikation och ökad helhetssyn. Detta kännetecknar en ledare när man förändrar till en processorienterad organisation.

The purpose of the study was two fold: a) to develop and to test the Perceived Health & Exercise Participation Profile (PH&EPP); b) to examine the relationship between exercisers’ perceived health, goal orientation, physical self perception and exercise satisfaction. The sample consists of 126 exercisers (43 Male, 83 Female with mean age 35.6 ± 9). The study included a new questionnaire - the Perceived Health & Exercise Participation Profile (PH&EPP) and three other instruments: 1) Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP); 2)Task & Ego orientation in Sport Questionnaire (TEOSQ); and 3) Rosenberg's Self-Esteem (RSE) Scale. The data were analyzed through SPSS 13.0 using Alpha coefficient, test-rest reliability, bivariate correlation and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Cronbach’s Alpha was satisfied ( .70) at 5 of 6 subscales. The test-retest reliability reached to significant level (ranging from .43 to .76) for all subscales. The majority of PH&EPP’s subscales reached to significant correlations except Health and Exercise as Life Values. The Satisfaction with Health and Exercise Participation reached to significant correlations with all PSPP’s subscales, Task goal orientation, and RSE except Ego goal orientation. The Perception of Exercisers obtained significant correlations at 3 of 5 PSPP’s subscales. Exercisers indicated more task goal orientation than ego goal orientation. The results are discussed from the point of view of the Perceived Health and Sport/Exercise Participation model.

Both positive and negative effects of exercise participation on health are shown in the literature. However, exercisers’ perceived health is still unexplored from this two-line influence perspective. The Perceived Health and Sport/Exercise Participation model (PHS/EP) served as theoretical framework for the study that aimed at testing the Perceived Health and Exercise Participation Profile (PHEPP) Questionnaire and examining factors involved in exercisers’ tendencies towards healthy versus unhealthy exercise participation and their association with perceived health, exercise satisfaction, goal orientation, self-esteem and physical self-perception. A package of four instruments was completed by 148 exercisers. The healthy tendency of exercise participation represented in the PHS/EP model was supported by the results obtained, whereas the unhealthy tendency needs further investigation and some related changes in the PHEPP questionnaire. Regression analyses confirmed some relationships between the PHS/EP model and established concepts such as goal orientation, self-esteem and physical self-perception dimensions. The results are discussed with reference to previous research and the PHS/EP model.

The main aim of this work is to discover gender differences in value orientation of today's youth, and to analyze developmental changes and ethnicity in terms of the same. The research is based on the assumption that a person’s gender identity influences his or her value orientation, thus gender stereotypes are adopted also on the level of what is preferred by the individual, or seen as important in life. In the research participated 118 young people from the Gymnasium in Subotica. The data about gender identity and value orientation was collected by a questionnaire, which was created in favour of this research. In the first part the questionnaire offered a list of gender related traits in order to define the participant’s gender identity. The second part was a list of opposite values, which was adopted from Jensen’s research. The results confirm the general findings of Jensen and reveal that there is significant gender effect present in adolescent’s value orientation in case of eight opposite values. It also highlights that age difference between the participants doesn’t contribute significantly to a higher or lower visible gender difference in value orientation, but conversely it shows that ethnic difference is an important factor in it.

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This study examines the influence of inward technology transfers and international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) on the export performance of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs). IEO and innovation are frequently cited as critical antecedents of export activities. Highly entrepreneurial and innovative firms seek to capitalize on their unique intellectual property by penetrating a niche global market quickly. Extant research primarily focuses on technology innovators, in countries well known for their technological advances and support of technology based start-ups. However, SMEs that do not have a technological niche also internationalize. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in developing economies like Egypt, where horizontal flows of technology (the transfer of technology from one organization to another), especially from overseas companies, are more common than vertical transfers of technology (i.e., from researchers directly to organizations). The literature suggests that many SMEs, especially those in developing economies, rely on the horizontal inflow of technology to enhance their export potential. The hypothesis is that by importing technology, firms also develop an outward internationalization capability (OIC). A second hypothesis is that IEO contributes to creating such capability. The literature postulates that IEO is a dynamic capability that helps firms exploit and reconfigure their resources to pursue international opportunities. Thus, firms with a higher IEO are more likely to develop OIC than are their less entrepreneurially oriented counterparts. Also, firms with a higher IEO are more likely to be involved in inflow of technology processes than are their counterparts. Despite evidence of a link between innovation and export performance, there is a dearth of research examining how inward transfers of technology from other countries influence the development of capabilities and outward internationalization of firms. This research addresses this gap by using resource-based view of the firm, dynamic capabilities view, network theory, and the concept of entrepreneurial orientation, to develop an explanation of how inward transfers of foreign technology may influence the internationalization capability and export performance of firms. Hypotheses are tested in the context of horizontal transfers of foreign technology to SMEs located in Egypt. The research progressed in two stages. In the first stage, interviews with managers of firms having experience importing technology and with substantial export activity helped to identify and confirm relevant factors that comprise OIC. During the second stage, data on inflows of technology (IFT), IEO, OIC, and exports were collected from a sample of 214 SMEs by a survey. Research results identified capabilities that underlie the outward internationalization of SMEs, by developing an OIC scale. There are no measures for OIC in extant literature. Thus, this research contributes to the development of a valid and reliable measure of this construct. Findings support the hypothesis that IEO has a direct positive effect on export performance. The relationships between IEO and export performance is partially mediated by OIC. On the other hand, the relationship between inflows of technology and export performance is fully mediated by OIC, where this research found that IFT does not have a direct effect on export performance. The research results further suggest that the level of OIC development is mainly explained by IEO, but with some contribution from IFT. The research contributes to streams of literature in international business, international entrepreneurship and management of technology. In particular, it expands the understanding of linkages between inward internationalization (inward flow of technology) and outward internationalization (export activities). The linkage between inward and outward internationalization processes received limited attention in the literature, and such research is rarer still in the context of SMEs in developing economies. The research additionally investigates the influence of a 'firm's strategic orientation (IEO) on export performance. While IEO is suggested to have a direct effect on export performance, IEO is also suggested to be an antecedent of OIC, which in turn affects export performance. Studying the mediating effect of OIC contributes to clarifying the conflicting findings of previous studies that examined the impact of entrepreneurial behaviour on international performance. The results provide owners/managers of SMEs with guidance on how to lever technology transfers by building related capabilities. The research also provides SMEs with guidance on how to measure and assess their OIC, and understand how such capability can be built or enhanced. The results additionally clarify the role of a firm's strategic orientation (IEO) in the configuration of resources and the creation of capabilities. Finally, the research helps policy-makers structure export-support polices that explicitly take advantage of opportunities presented by technology imports.

Community pharmacists are unique amongst professionals as they practice their profession in a commercial environment. This environment, where the dichotomy between the professional and business aspects of community pharmacy practice intersect, can place the professional objectives of pharmacy at odds with the business objectives. At the same time, ownership of community pharmacies is transitioning from pharmacist-owned and -operated establishments, to corporate-owned and -operated.<p>The objective of this study was to investigate whether ownership type influences the pharmacists, or in this case the pharmacy managers, organizational behaviour, role orientation and professional autonomy. Specifically, exploring whether ownership type (independent, franchise, corporate) impacts the professional, business and environmental (organizational) aspects of community pharmacy practice.<p>This study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A cross-Canada, self-administered postal survey of community pharmacy managers was conducted in the spring of 2007. Contact information was obtained from individual provincial regulatory bodies across Canada and a stratified, random sample of community pharmacy managers was compiled. Items centred on professional and employer authority, manager autonomy, level of managerial control, orientation to professional and business aspects of practice and the manager role, affinity to professional and business characteristics of community pharmacy practice, and innovation. The survey was followed by semi-structured, in-depth telephone interviews with select self identified respondents from the survey portion of the study.<p>The random, stratified sample consisted of 2,000 community pharmacy managers. Of the 2,000 questionnaires mailed out, 39 were returned as undeliverable. A total of 646 responses were received, for a response rate of 32.9 percent (646/1,961); while the response rate may not be ideal, the sample size was purposely made larger to account for the possibility of a low response rate. Seven interviews were conducted following the survey.<p>Ontario, as the largest province, had the most responses with 289 (44.7%), and the majority of respondents were male (393, 60.8%). The greater part of respondents indicated their sole degree was their Bachelor of Pharmacy practice degree (499, 77.2%). A larger majority of respondents were either the pharmacy manager (398, 61.6%) or owner (215, 33.3%). Just under half of respondents practiced in independent pharmacies (44.6%), while 35.4 percent practiced in corporate pharmacies and 18.4 percent practiced in franchise pharmacies.<p>As a whole, respondents were more likely to have access to information required for making clinical rather than business decisions. One quarter (24.4%) of respondents were never or rarely willing to go against company policies to carry out their professional duties, while one third (33.4%) were often or always willing to do so. Less than one-fifth (17.4%) of respondents had to follow policies(professional and business) developed by non-professionals, while 42.6 percent had to follow policies only with regard to business practices. The majority (89.5%) agreed that it is possible to be both a good professional and a successful businessperson.<p>Fifteen distinct constructs emerged regarding (1) professional and (2) employer authority, (3) manager autonomy, (4) decision-making, (5) managerial control, (6) professional characteristics, orientation to (7) professional and (8) business aspects of the manager role, affinity to (9) professional and (10) business characteristics of community pharmacy practice, (11) connection to the employer,(12) role conflict, (13) innovation, (14) bureaucracy and (15) manager requests. The main independent variable was ownership structure: independent, franchise, or corporate. In analyzing the independent variable by the above constructs, significant differences (p < 0.05) arose for all constructs except for three related to the professional nature of practice: professional practice standards, professional orientation and professional affinity. <p>Independent and franchise respondents were more likely to agree that the employer should influence practice standards than corporate respondents (p < 0.001). When exploring the level of autonomy respondents had in their pharmacy, significant differences arose among all three respondent types (p < 0.001); respondents in independent pharmacies felt they had the highest level of autonomy followed by franchise respondents and then corporate respondents, with more than one standard deviation difference between independent and corporate respondents.<p>Significant differences also emerged among the three respondent types with regard to the amount of control the respondent had in their pharmacy (p < 0.001); independent respondents felt they had the most control followed by franchise respondents and then corporate respondents, with almost one standard deviation difference between independent and corporate respondents. With regard to business orientation and affinity to business related aspects of practice, independent and franchise respondents were significantly (p < 0.001) more likely to place higher importance on such activities than corporate respondents. Results of the interview portion of the study were used to bring a greater understanding to the survey portion of the research. <p>There were a total of seven interviews conducted, with each interview lasting between 30 and 90 minutes in length. A total of nine themes emerged from the interviews: (1) autonomy, (2) behaviour, (3) environment, (4) future, (5) human resources, (6) image, (7) incentives, (8) professional standards and (9) role as manager.<p>Finding of this study suggest that regardless of ownership structure, respondents emerge as professionally orientated and focused. Independent respondents appear to have more autonomy, control and decision-making capabilities than corporate respondents. Despite being professionally orientated and focused, corporate respondents appear cognizant of the restrictions placed on pharmacy practice in their pharmacy. On top of ownership structure, the dependent variables of age, gender, geographic region and years with employer appear to play a role in answers provided by community pharmacy managers.<p>As ownership of community pharmacy continues to transition from pharmacist controlled to corporate-owned, managers, owners and the profession must acknowledge the professional implications that may result. While this study adds to the community pharmacy practice literature, there is recognition that additional research is necessary pertaining to the dynamic nature and culture of community pharmacy practice.