Background: The software industry is being described as an industry of fierce competition and rapid technology change. The innovation pace is said to be so high that today's new technology might be history tomorrow. Where do the companies of the software industry focus when making strategic decisions? According to the strategic literature, a firm can focus on either the external environment or the internal environment as strategic starting points. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to find out what determines the strategy of firms in the software industry. Procedure: Interviews with six software companies in Sweden. Result: Four strategic determinants were identified: Flexible software solution, Markets that fit the software solution, Market Segmentation, Customers within the market segment. In this way, both the internal and external environment determines the strategies of the software companies.

<p>For more than three decades the Moscow-based conceptual artist group "Collective Actions" has been organizing actions. Each action, typically taking place at the outskirts of Moscow, is regarded as a trigger for a series of intellectual activities, such as analysis, interpretation, narration, and description. The artists have systematically recorded and transcribed these activities, collecting and assembling texts, diagrams, and photographs in a ten-volume publication entitled "Journeys Outside the City." Five volumes of this publication concern the activities of the group before, and five after, 1989. Over the years the "Journeys Outside the City" became an idiosyncratic, self-sufficient aesthetic discourse arrayed along a constellation of concepts developed by those engaged in "Collective Actions." In its elusive hermeticism and self-referentiality the aesthetic framework constructed by these artists formed a closed system, gathering bundles of signs that seldom referred to anything concrete outside the horizon of Moscow Conceptualism. It is in this regard that the early volumes of the "Journeys Outside the City" can be compared to the similarly closed ideological discourse of the Soviet Politburo. After 1989, however, with the transition from socialism to capitalism, the aesthetic and artistic language of this group began to change as its text-based self-sufficient system began to open up under pressure from new socioeconomic conditions introduced by the processes of democratization and liberalization. </p><p> My dissertation "Transition in Post-Soviet Art: `Collective Actions' Before and After 1989" is neither a history of nor a monographical work on "Collective Actions," but rather an analytical exploration of aesthetic, artistic and institutional changes that have transpired in the "Journeys Outside the City" during the transition from socialism to capitalism. As the artists migrated from one art historical category into another (from the status of "unofficial artists" to that of "contemporary artists"), their aesthetics and art revealed a series of stylistic, technical, formal, textual, and aesthetical transformations and metamorphoses that paralleled broader cultural conversions taking place in post-Soviet and Eastern European art during the transition to capitalism.</p> / Dissertation

Ziel dieser Arbeit war eine Untersuchung zur Häufigkeit des Wechsels von Legehennen zwischen Innen- und Außenbereichen, einschließlich der Aufenthaltsdauer außerhalb des Stalles, in Relation zum Federpicken und der Beschaffenheit des Integumentes. Der Einfluss der Haltungsbedingungen und der Einfluss des Genotyps wurden untersucht. Die Gruppe, die ohne Grünauslauf war, bewegte sich signifikant häufiger zwischen dem Stall und dem Wintergarten als andere Gruppen mit Grünauslauf. Die Aufenthaltsdauer im Stall und Wintergarten war in der Gruppe ohne Grünauslauf signifikant höher als bei anderen mit Grünauslauf (GA). Hennen, denen eine große Auslauffläche angeboten wurde (10m²/T) bewegten sich signifikant häufiger zu den Außenbereichen als andere mit einem Angebot von 2,5 m²/Tier. Hennen mit einem Angebot von 2,5 m²/Tier hielten sich länger auf dem Grünland auf als Hennen mit einer Besatzdichte von 10m²/T. Die höchsten Federpickaktivitäten waren in der Gruppe ohne GA im Vergleich zu den Gruppen mit GA. Im Vergleich zu anderen Gruppen mit GA, hatte die Gruppe ohne GA einen schlechteren Gefiederzustand. LSL Hennen bewegten sich im Vergleich zu den LT Hennen häufiger zwischen Innen- und Außenbereichen. LSL Hennen hielten sich im Vergleich zu den LT Hennen länger im Wintergarten auf. Dennoch hielten sich die LT Hennen im Vergleich länger auf dem Grünland auf. Die schlechteste Gefiederbeschaffenheit wiesen LSL Hennen im Vergleich zu LT Hennen auf. Die Resultate der vorliegenden Untersuchungen weisen darauf hin, dass die Auslaufnutzung einen positiven Einfluss auf den Gefieder- und Hautzustand hat. Die untersuchten Genotypen unterschieden sich in der Häufigkeit des Ortswechsels und der Aufenthaltsdauer im Grünauslauf. / The aim of this work was to investigate the frequency of movement of laying hens between indoor and outdoor enclosures and the time hens spent outside the hen house in relation to feather pecking and condition of the integument. The effect of housing condition and the genotype were studied. Hens that were offered a large space to outside open area (10m²/bird) moved significantly more frequently to the outdoor areas than others (2.5m²/bird). Frequency of movement between poultry house and winter garden was higher in the group without grassland. Hens kept at a higher density outdoors (2.5m²/bird) spent significantly more time in this area than hens were kept at a lower density (10m²/bird) on grassland. The high rates of feather pecking are observed in the group without grassland compared to groups stocked at 2.5m² or 10m² per bird on grassland The group without grassland had poorer feather condition compared to other groups that had 2.5m²/bird and 10m²/bird on grassland Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL) hens moved more frequently to the outdoor enclosures compared to Lohmann Tradition (LT). But LT hens spent significantly more time on grassland than LSL.The plumage condition was worse in LSL than LT hens. It is concluded that housing conditions might have a stronger influence on the development of feather pecking than the genetic aspect. Large differences between the genotypes examined were found in respect to the frequency of movement to the outdoor areas, the time spent outside and plumage and skin damage.

This study examined Hindi film representations of people of Indian origin residing outside India, Hollywood film representations of people of Indian ethnicity in America, as well as self-representation in Indian-American films. The researcher used the quantitative methodology of content analysis to examine representations in Hindi and Hollywood films and the qualitative methodology of textual analysis to examine self-representation in Indian-American films. The sample for the content analysis included Hindi films released between 1995 and 2005 and Hollywood films released between 1984 and 2005. The sample for the textual analysis consisted of 10 Indian-American films that were examined as transmissions of culture within their social and historical contexts as well as through available news sources. This study found that the majority of Hindi film depictions of people of Indian origin residing abroad and the majority Hollywood film depictions of people of Indian ethnicity in America had migrated from India. The results also revealed that Hindi films stereotyped, Othered, and marginalized Indians residing outside India and Hollywood films stereotyped, Othered, and marginalized people of Indian ethnicity in America. It also found that Hindi and Hollywood films rarely depicted second-generation Indian Americans. Indian-American films produced mostly by Indian immigrants primarily focused on Indian immigrants and sometimes adhered to Hindi film stereotypes when depicting second-generation Indian Americans. Indian-American films produced mostly by second-generation Indian Americans primarily focused on second-generation Indian Americans. The majority of characters in Hindi, Hollywood, and both immigrant and second-generation Indian-American films were male. Because of the limited representation of Indian Americans in the four activities of communication: surveillance, correlation, transmission of culture, and entertainment (Lasswell, 1948; Wright, 1959), as well as in communications literature, this study of Indian-American representation is an important contribution not only to journalism literature but to the field of journalism itself. It has brought to the forefront a significant but underrepresented group, highlighted this group’s diversity and cultural nuances, revealed how the portrayals of such nuances led to the subversion of stereotypes, and emphasized how through the act of self-representation, the transmission of culture takes place through the entertainment medium of film. / text

Det sägs i olika medier t ex i TV och tidningar att barn blir allt mer stillasittande. Eftersom lek och rörelse är mycket betydelsefulla för barns utveckling och välbefinnande så är det ju viktigt att förskolans utemiljö kan locka, inspirera och utmana barnen till lek och rörelse. Vad i utemiljön kan göra det? Vad kan man göra för att förbättra en förskolegårds utemiljö? Det är frågor som jag sökt svar på genom att intervjua barn och pedagoger på två olika förskolor. Resultatet visar att det bör finnas naturinslag och en variation av platser med olika karaktär på en gård. Då skapas det lätt dynamik mellan platserna och en dynamisk miljö inbjuder till nya upptäckter och utmaningar. / Different media for example TV and newspapers report that children become more and more immobile. Since children's play and movement are very important for their development and wellbeing, it is important that the preschool outside environment can tempt, inspire and challenge the children to play and movement. In what ways can the outside environment do this? What can be done to improve the outdoor environment of a preschool? I have searched the answers to these questions by interviewing children and teachers at two different preschools. The results show that there should be elements of nature and a variety of places with different characteristics in a yard. Then dynamic between places can easily be created and a dynamic environment invites to new discoveries and challenges.

Šią kavinę projektavau iš sunkvežimio priekabos, kurios šonai atsilenkia ir suformuoja pakylą. Ant vidurinės platformos dalies suprojektavau barą su sandėliu, o aplinkui išdėsčiau staliukus su kėdėmis. Visa tai dengia brezentinis stogas kurio išskleidimo mechanizmas sumontuotas priekabos stogo dalyje. Taip pat, esant poreikiui, bus sudarytos sąlygos aplink šią kavinę sustatyti papildomus stalus ir kėdes. / Šią kavinę projektavau iš sunkvežimio priekabos, kurios šonai atsilenkia ir suformuoja pakylą. Ant vidurinės platformos dalies suprojektavau barą su sandėliu, o aplinkui išdėsčiau staliukus su kėdėmis. Visa tai dengia brezentinis stogas kurio išskleidimo mechanizmas sumontuotas priekabos stogo dalyje. Taip pat, esant poreikiui, bus sudarytos sąlygos aplink šią kavinę sustatyti papildomus stalus ir kėdes.

The scope of this study focuses on the concept of In Between with the intention of creating a space of transition and connection between inside and outside, and the simultaneous perception of the two environments. This study will explore the idea of the In Between within the context of a proposed student garden for Edmonton Clinic North, located within the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The intention is to present a design idea that responds to transitioning from one environment to the other as well as exploring opportunities in creating a place that creates the sense of In Between. The concepts of inside | outside, materiality and precedents are researched and analyzed to inform the understanding of the In Between. This research will contribute to the schematic design of the site that exhibits the sense of In Between.

The scope of this study focuses on the concept of In Between with the intention of creating a space of transition and connection between inside and outside, and the simultaneous perception of the two environments. This study will explore the idea of the In Between within the context of a proposed student garden for Edmonton Clinic North, located within the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The intention is to present a design idea that responds to transitioning from one environment to the other as well as exploring opportunities in creating a place that creates the sense of In Between. The concepts of inside | outside, materiality and precedents are researched and analyzed to inform the understanding of the In Between. This research will contribute to the schematic design of the site that exhibits the sense of In Between.

Outside school hours programs provide recreation, play and leisure-based programs for children aged 5 to 12 years in before- and after-school settings, and in the vacation periods. Over the past ten years, the number of programs has grown rapidly due to women’s increasing participation in the workforce. At the same time, critical changes for the operation and administration of Queensland outside school hours care services were occurring following the introduction of mandatory standards and quality assurance. This study is a critical ethnography investigating the circumstances for two Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services located on school sites at this time of change. The services were responding to the introduced legislative and accreditation requirements, the burgeoning numbers of students in the programs, and the requirements by parents for care for their school-aged child. The findings of this study show the complexity of the dualities of purpose and the operational administration of OSHC services, an area that has been little identified and discussed to date. This study illuminated not only aspects of OSHC services, it provided an opportunity for the co-ordinators of the two OSHC services to reflect on the operational structures. As the majority of OSHC services in Queensland (and other Australian states) are located in school sites, a closer examination of the relationship between OSHC and schools provided insights into some issues concerning the sector. Habermas’ Theory of Communicative Action was used to investigate the state of affairs and analyse the consensual and coercion meaning-making that occurred in the interactions between the stakeholders, specifically between the OSHC coordinators and school principals. Critical ethnographic research techniques, including participant observations and semi-structured interviews, were used to investigate what appears below the surface of social existence in the OSHC settings. On the surface, the interactions between the coordinators and principals appeared congenial. However, the study found that the vulnerability of the OSHC services for alienation and marginalisation was linked to the lack of legitimacy and reduced sense of social membership endowed by the ambience of the school setting in which the services were located. The study found that the distorted communicative action that took place within the OSHC settings exhibited the pathologies of alienation, withdrawal of legitimation and lack of collective identity. Examining the relationships of the key stakeholders within the outside school hours care services offers conceptual understandings of existing institutional relationships and practices, This critical ethnography pinpoints sources of power and unease contributing to the concerns for the outside school hours sector and recommends ways to develop these programs.

Thesis (DBA)--Macquarie University, Graduate School of Management, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 275-289. / Company directors have been in existence for more than four hundred years. In the past, they were considered to be a necessary part of corporate existence, and were usually appointed to a board by the CEO or chairman. However, they were usually mates from the 'boys club' and gained their position from whom they knew, and not from what they were capable of contributing. The appointment of independent directors became more normal, as shareholders looked for a way to wrest control back from management. But what independent directors really do and why they are there is not widely understood. A review of the literature relative to independent directors has identified a gap in the knowledge. This gap is the role of the independent director when considered from a commercial aspect; that is, those who observe or write about independent directors. --This thesis has attempted to generate a theory of the role of the independent director through a review of the literature and a subsequent series of interviews. Grounded theory was the chosen methodology for analysing the data and formulating a theory of the role because it allows the researcher to ground the theory in the data instead of establishing a hypothesis and testing it. --The resulting theory is more complex than it first appears. It was found that the primary role of the independent director is to improve the performance of the board and the company. This role is impacted by a number of factors, the two most influential being the information that is available to the independent directors, and the position of the company. This second factor is defined as the size of the company, where it is in its life cycle, and whether it is experiencing any significant change. --These findings enable a number of recommendations to be made to improve policy and practice, recognising the impact of information and company position on the ability of independent directors to contribute positively. It also raises several areas of further study to continue to refine the understanding of the role of the independent nonexecutive director in Australia. These include, among others, investigating the role from other viewpoints such as the board chair or company secretary, or researching the link between company position and information available to independent directors. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xiii, 303 p. ill