The strongest correlate of new product success is understanding of market requirements early in the new product development (NPD) process. This is true in high technology environments where rapid change and chaotic market conditions prevail. Although a firm's salesforce is viewed as one of many sources of new product ideas and market information, the involvement of salespeople in NPD activities varies widely across firms. This study examines salesforce involvement in a firm's NPD predevelopment activities, i.e. idea generation and screening, preliminary market assessment, and concept evaluation. Because of the limits of existing research in this area, a two-phase research design was used. The first phase developed a scale for measuring salesforce involvement in NPD predevelopment activities. This scale was incorporated into a study model. The second phase tested the study model, a linkage of salesperson involvement level to organization and individual salesperson attributes. The scale-development sample consisted of 136 sales professionals. The resulting scale was a nineteen item, multi-dimensional measure incorporating three factors of involvement: involvement initiated by the salesperson, involvement initiated by NPD-Organization, and a salesperson's cognitive interest in NPD involvement. In the second phase of the study, a sample of 248 salespeople from nineteen companies completed self-administered written surveys. At the organization attribute level, the length of the NPD cycle was significantly associated with involvement subscale measures. In particular, the longer a firm's NPD cycle for product improvements, the less involvement the salesforce has in NPD-headquarters initiated involvement activities. A similar significant relationship exists between a firm's new product cycle time and the level of involvement in salesforce-initiated NPD predevelopment activities. At the study model's salesperson level, a series of factors were associated to NPD team-initiated and salesforce-initiated involvement subscales. These factors are a salesperson's: customer orientation, location distance from NPD, level of feedback from NPD, membership on NPD teams, knowledge of where to send NPD-related information, and belief that information communicated to NPD will be appropriately used. Study findings suggest that organizations can affect the degree of involvement that their salesforce or individual salespeople has in early phases of NPD.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)--Durban University of Technology, 2008. xvii, 87 leaves / Homoeopathy is a scientific, reliable and natural system of medicinal therapy, which has been in existence for over 200 years. Recent years have shown a profound shift in health and medicine, increasing numbers of the public are opting for complementary and alternative(CAM) therapies. In South Africa the situation for CAM and homoeopathy in particular looks more favorable. The government, in the form of the department of health, has drawn up specific guidelines for the regulation of homoeopathy and other CAM therapies. Much closer liaison should exist between the Allied health professions council of South Africa (AHPCSA) and the Health professions council of S.A (HPCSA) with the aim of uniting strengths to the advantage of the South African public to achieve an integrated, holistic care (Prinsloo, 2005). OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to provide demographic data on the perceptions and interactions of Medical specialists in the greater Durban area toward homoeopathy. Their general knowledge of homoeopathy and their views and communication with homoeopathy have been assessed. iv METHODOLOGY A survey method in the form of a questionnaire was employed to investigate the perceptions and interaction of Medical specialists towards homoeopathy. The sample of Medical specialists was drawn from the medical pages of the Durban Telephone Directory. The data was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics using frequency tables and bar charts. The Pearson’s Chi-square Test was used on selected data. RESULTS One hundred and fifty completed questionnaires were returned for analysis out of the 344 sent out. This gives a response rate of 43.60%. CONCLUSION From this study one can conclude that Medical specialists know very little about homoeopathy, and it can be assumed that this lack of knowledge is a possible reason for the poor communication that currently exists between these practitioners and homoeopaths

The present research was conducted in order to ascertain whether differences in attitudes exist between the three main professional groups which are presently the major providers of mental health care -- psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and social workers -- with respect to six treatment modalities: Individual Psychotherapy, Individual Counseling, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Psychiatric Medication and Psychiatric Hospitalization. Modalities evaluated include treatments appropriate to a variety of individual, social and biological concepts of mental health/pathology. It was assumed that any such attitudinal differences might reflect biases in the provision of mental health treatment and therefore be an important concern for consumers of mental health care.

Doctor of Health Science / The public mental health setting wherein clinicians work with clients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) provides a continual challenge for clinicians. For many decades a pervasive therapeutic pessimism has surrounded any discussions of attempts to work with clients with BPD with this population being viewed as ‘too difficult’ and ‘impossible to work with’. This pessimism and the ensuing counter therapeutic responses have been well documented in the psychiatric literature. The development of treatments such as dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), a cognitive-behavioural therapy, for BPD has provided a basis for therapy for which there is increasing evidence of successful outcomes. Despite this evidence, the pervasive pessimism has been slow to lift. A limited literature explores attempts to positively influence clinician responses to this clientele. Within the public mental health service in which this research is based, DBT is well-established as a therapeutic modality. In the course of providing training, consultation and supervision for parts of this service, anecdotal evidence emerged suggesting that the impact of practising as a DBT therapist was greater than anticipated and DBT may provide a tool for facilitating a positive change in clinician responses. Given that this perception is not described in the literature it was appropriate to begin research in this area employing a qualitative methodology. This research explored the experience and impact upon mental health clinicians in a public mental health service undertaking training in DBT and practicing as DBT therapists. In-depth, semi structured interviews were conducted in July 2005 with clinicians practising as DBT therapists. Data analysis revealed a marked shift in perspective from ‘management to treatment’. Participants described positive professional and personal impacts of training and practising as DBT therapists. An enhanced capacity for self-awareness and ‘living life to the full’ was described by a number of participants. This initial research suggests that the practice of DBT by clinicians can generate a positive shift in both personal and professional identities that translates into a more optimistic and humanistic approach to clients diagnosed with BPD. Such a change may represent a significant challenge to the prevailing mental health discourse and practice

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Thesis (M.Tech.: Homoeopathy)--Durban University of Technology, 2008. xvii, 87 leaves / Homoeopathy is a scientific, reliable and natural system of medicinal therapy, which has been in existence for over 200 years. Recent years have shown a profound shift in health and medicine, increasing numbers of the public are opting for complementary and alternative(CAM) therapies. In South Africa the situation for CAM and homoeopathy in particular looks more favorable. The government, in the form of the department of health, has drawn up specific guidelines for the regulation of homoeopathy and other CAM therapies. Much closer liaison should exist between the Allied health professions council of South Africa (AHPCSA) and the Health professions council of S.A (HPCSA) with the aim of uniting strengths to the advantage of the South African public to achieve an integrated, holistic care (Prinsloo, 2005). OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to provide demographic data on the perceptions and interactions of Medical specialists in the greater Durban area toward homoeopathy. Their general knowledge of homoeopathy and their views and communication with homoeopathy have been assessed. iv METHODOLOGY A survey method in the form of a questionnaire was employed to investigate the perceptions and interaction of Medical specialists towards homoeopathy. The sample of Medical specialists was drawn from the medical pages of the Durban Telephone Directory. The data was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics using frequency tables and bar charts. The Pearson’s Chi-square Test was used on selected data. RESULTS One hundred and fifty completed questionnaires were returned for analysis out of the 344 sent out. This gives a response rate of 43.60%. CONCLUSION From this study one can conclude that Medical specialists know very little about homoeopathy, and it can be assumed that this lack of knowledge is a possible reason for the poor communication that currently exists between these practitioners and homoeopaths

The problem of this study was to determine health care professionals' opinions and practices concerning foodborne illness and food safety education during prenatal care. Data were collected from Indiana health care professionals using a mailed questionnaire. The results found that 71.7% of respondents do not provide foodborne illness and food safety education during prenatal care, however, 80.6% would like to. Most of the respondents indicated that they do not have the time (71.4%), resources (57 1%), or knowledge (25.7%) to provide this information to patients. Many of the respondents indicated that they have not received information on foodborne illness during pregnancy and are unaware of the recommendations to provide this information during prenatal care. The opinion questions found that most agree that foodborne illness can be serious in pregnancy and would like to learn more about the risks of foodborne illness to pregnant women and the fetus. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

This research examined at the influence of a public relations professional's personal faith on their professional ethical attitudes. The research question for this study stated: Does a public relations practitioner's religious faith directly influence their ethical practice?A Q-study was completed by forty-five public relations professionals. Data analysis yielded two factors the "God Centered" and the "Profession Driven". The God Centered participants mutually agreed upon statements that placed their faith in a central part of their professional career, and agreed they were accountable to God for their professional career. The second group that emerged were identified as Profession Driven, representing their association with professional based ethics. The respondents in this factor indicated that they strongly agree with the professional provisions suggested in the PRSA Code of Ethics 2000, placing an emphasis on honest counsel, loyalty, and fairness. The second factor viewpoint also strongly agreed that personal goals and values directly influenced their professional ethics.These two factors and the previous literature illustrated the influence of personal standards when making professional ethical decisions. / Department of Journalism

Previous studies reported that noncompliance to diabetes treatment may result in a series of health complications. To further understand patients’ noncompliance to meal plans, a study on meal planning strategy was developed. Through a survey Certified Diabetes Educators determined which meal planning strategies were the most effective in encouraging patients’ compliance to meal plan according to age groups (18 and under, 19 to 49, 50 to 70, and 71 and above) and recency of diagnosis (newly- and non-newly diagnosed) with Type 2 diabetes. Results identified that nutrition labels had the greatest mean rating for effectiveness in age groups 18 and under, 19 to 49, and 50 to 70; and healthy food choices had the greatest mean rating for effectiveness with age group 71 and above. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

The purpose of this study was to compare NCAA Division III male and female athletic administrators, coaches of men's and women's basketball, coaches of men's and women's tennis, coaches of men's baseball and women's softball, and athletes in those same sport regarding perceptions of gender equity in athletics at their own institution. Data on individual perceptions of equity attainment were obtained through a mail-out survey sent to 1895 individuals at a random sampling of 100 NCAA Division III schools.The results of the survey indicated that at least 70% of the respondents perceived there to be gender equity in 13 of the 20 items tested, while over 50% of the respondents perceived there to be gender equity in 18 of 20 items. Five null hypothesis were posited for the independent variables of gender, group affiliation, sport coached, and sport played. Each of the null hypotheses failed to be accepted (alpha = .05) in a multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA).Further, when a series of analyses of variances (ANOVAs) were performed, significant differences at the .05 level were found in 4 of the 5 dependent variables tested: program support, financial support, sports offerings, scheduling, and changes in the past 2-3 years. For the interaction of gender and group affiliation, a significant difference was found in program support only.Females perceived there to be less equity than males in all factors. Athletes perceived there to be less equity than athletic directors in program support, financial support and changes; and less equity than coaches in program support and scheduling.Coaches of women's softball and women's basketball perceived there to be less equity in program support than coaches of men's sports. Coaches of women's sports indicated less equity than coaches of men's sports in financial support. Women's team captains perceived less equity than men's team captains in financial support. Women's softball players perceived less equity than other team captains in program support, while women's tennis perceived less equity than men's team captains in program support.For changes in the past two years, each gender indicated the opposite was favored. For other dependent variables, when an advantage was registered, the advantagefavored the men. / Department of Educational Leadership