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The academy school programme, OFSTED’s use of school performance data, and performance management and performance related pay reforms are dramatically transforming the work and employment landscape in teaching. Yet there is limited knowledge of teachers’ experiences of work in relation to this context. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the impact of these education reforms on school teachers’ working lives through a labour process perspective. A critical realist ethnography of an inner-city secondary academy school was conducted over four months. This comprised a six-week shadowing phase, document collection and 26 semi-structured interviews with Teachers, Managers, HR and Trade Union Representatives. Findings reveal that the removal of a contextual value added measure from school performance metrics leads to an increase in teachers’ workloads and an extension of their working hours. This is compounded by an unofficial erosion of teachers’ directed working time that infiltrates through the academy trust. Pressures on workload also stem from management-led initiatives generated by appraisals in leadership programmes. Furthermore, teachers’ work becomes standardised and re-organised through the heterarchical multi-academy trust model in an effort to improve the school’s OFSTED rating. Performance related pay reforms act as a parallel instigator to the standardisation of work, polarising the creative and mundane aspects of teaching across the workforce, whilst oppositional orientations to work form as the majority of teachers align with a shared sense of commitment to work. This thesis amalgamates labour process theory with the hollowing out thesis, making key theoretical, conceptual, empirical and methodological contributions, alongside practical recommendations. / Faculty of Management, Law and Social Sciences at the University of Bradford Scholarship

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The broad objective of this thesis is to develop an understanding of factors affecting outsourcing in the hotel industry and also the role played by management accounting in hotel outsourcing. The thesis draws on transaction cost economics (TCE), agency, contingency, and labour process theories in the context of appraising factors motivating outsourcing. Two empirical phases have been undertaken in the study. The first phase involved a series of interviews with general managers and financial controllers in large South East Queensland hotels. The second phase involved two distinct questionnaire surveys of large Australian hotels. The first was administered to hotel general managers, and the second was administered to hotel financial controllers. Significant findings arising from the study include: 1. In light of the substantial international literature describing hotel outsourcing, it appears that outsourcing in Australian hotels is relatively limited. This appears to be particularly the case with respect to food and beverage related activities. 2. Mixed support is offered for the TCE model. Both the survey and interview data provide some support for TCE's prescription that frequently conducted activities will not tend to be outsourced. Two specific extensions are offered to this aspect of the model, however. Firstly, where activities are conducted to a minimal extent, it can be uneconomic to outsource. Secondly, where large activities are undertaken by a group of organisations, their enhanced purchasing power can result in inexpensive outsourcing arrangements. With respect to TCE's uncertainty proposition, support is offered for the view that the propensity to outsource will be greater where behavioural uncertainty is lower. No support has been offered with respect to environmental uncertainty. The interview data provides some support for TCE's asset specificity proposition, however, minimal support was found in the survey phase. Despite this, the many dimensions of asset specificity (eg. site specificity, human asset specificity, etc) provided a useful checklist of issues to be considered in relation to the outsourcing decision. 3. Negligible support was found for labour process theory (LPT) in the interview phase of the study. In light of this, and the need to narrow the study’s focus in the survey phase, LPT was not pursued further. LPT is a difficult construct to operationalise, given the social desirability error that may result. This may partially account for the absence of significant LPT findings in the interview phase. 4. The survey data provides some support for the agency theory view that risky activities will tend to be outsourced. 5. Considerable cross-hotel variation exists in management of, and accounting's involvement in, outsourcing decision making and control systems. Accounting appraisal of outsourcing proposals rarely includes long term oriented, sophisticated techniques such as "net present value". It appears this may be because outsourcing decisions are not conducted in the context of the formal capital budgeting process. 6. High performing hotels and hotels that conduct their outsourcing decisions in the context of a long term outsourcing strategic agenda have more sophisticated outsourcing management systems.

This thesis studies the generalization ability of machine learning algorithms in a statistical setting. It focuses on the data-dependent analysis of the generalization performance of learning algorithms in order to make full use of the potential of the actual training sample from which these algorithms learn.¶ First, we propose an extension of the standard framework for the derivation of generalization bounds for algorithms taking their hypotheses from random classes of functions. This approach is motivated by the fact that the function produced by a learning algorithm based on a random sample of data depends on this sample and is therefore a random function. Such an approach avoids the detour of the worst-case uniform bounds as done in the standard approach. We show that the mechanism which allows one to obtain generalization bounds for random classes in our framework is based on a “small complexity” of certain random coordinate projections. We demonstrate how this notion of complexity relates to learnability and how one can explore geometric properties of these projections in order to derive estimates of rates of convergence and good confidence interval estimates for the expected risk. We then demonstrate the generality of our new approach by presenting a range of examples, among them the algorithm-dependent compression schemes and the data-dependent luckiness frameworks, which fall into our random subclass framework.¶ Second, we study in more detail generalization bounds for a specific algorithm which is of central importance in learning theory, namely the Empirical Risk Minimization algorithm (ERM). Recent results show that one can significantly improve the high-probability estimates for the convergence rates for empirical minimizers by a direct analysis of the ERM algorithm. These results are based on a new localized notion of complexity of subsets of hypothesis functions with identical expected errors and are therefore dependent on the underlying unknown distribution. We investigate the extent to which one can estimate these high-probability convergence rates in a data-dependent manner. We provide an algorithm which computes a data-dependent upper bound for the expected error of empirical minimizers in terms of the “complexity” of data-dependent local subsets. These subsets are sets of functions of empirical errors of a given range and can be determined based solely on empirical data. We then show that recent direct estimates, which are essentially sharp estimates on the high-probability convergence rate for the ERM algorithm, can not be recovered universally from empirical data.

An increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand their businesses into foreign markets. Some SMEs begin to operate abroad soon after their establishment. These so-called born globals demonstrate a more rapid internationalisation compared with other SMEs. This thesis develops a deeper understanding of the internationalisation process of SMEs, by studying how born globals and other SMEs develop foreign market knowledge during the international expansion. The internationalisation process is divided into three phases; the pre-firm internationalisation phase, the initial internationalisation phase and the continued internationalisation phase. Based on a qualitative study of 14 biotech SMEs and a questionnaire survey of 188 SMEs from various industries, new insights on the internationalisation process of SMEs and born globals are presented. By extending the analysis of SMEs’ internationalisation to a phase prior to their establishment and by continuing to follow these firms during their operations in foreign markets, the findings of this thesis show how the knowledge and personal networks of key individuals relate to the firm’s development of foreign market knowledge. The thesis also advances the understanding of how an SME develops foreign market knowledge from its business network relationships. In summary, the result of this thesis shows that a rapid expansion in several foreign markets can hold back an SME’s development of foreign market knowledge and lead to difficulties in developing the firm’s operations in the continued internationalisation phase. / Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2009. Sammanfattning jämte 6 uppsatser

This is a review of what the currently dominant theories of moral decision-making are and where they derive from. While the introduction serves as a common ground to explain what moral decision-making is, the earlier parts of the thesis describe older traditionalist theories within the field,  theories of emotional decision-making, in the form of the somatic marker hypothesis, as well as critique of the older traditionalist theories through the social intuitionist model. Both of these two theories are explained as the foundation of the current theories of moral decision-making and after establishing a clear basis on what the currently dominant theories of moral decision-making are built on, said theories are introduced in the form of the dual-processing theory and the event-feature-emotion complexes which are thoroughly reviewed, explained in detail and serves as the core of the text. This is afterward followed by criticism as well as arguments in favor of both theories as well as criticisms from other researchers who disagree with the methodology which the theories of moral decision-making are conducted on. The essay reviews the current state of the field of moral decision-making which has been split up into two different approaches, the locationist approach and the constructionist approach. The essay concludes that there are terms which needs to be clarified in order for the field to move forward and studies to be made regarding the social implications of gut reactions in moral decision-making.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present study aims to understand the process of interorganizational networks development and to move forward as theoretically as empirically on management field of networks. The interorganizational networks were here studied by the theory of process of Van de Ven (1992), Van de Ven & Poole (1995) and Halinen (1998) that, for abiding different procedures is used in an integrated way, the theories of the life cycle, evolutionary, teleology and dialectics as a means to understanding of duality (static / dynamic) of organizational structures of events that occurs over time. In a sequential manner and supported in different schools or perspectives of networks, we aim to understand the events occurred in the networks over time, and provide a vision of how the development process and changes happens in interorganizational networks. The research was conducted by a multicases, qualitative and exploratory study carried out through narratives and focused interviews, by a procedural approach in eight interorganizational networks, located in Rio Grande do Sul. Events arising from the actions of key network individuals were analyzed. Considering the need to link between theory, empirical phenomena and the methodology used in the research, it was adopted the abductive approach with content analysis of the data. In the results, has been examined and described each case, featuring different evolutions, but with the possibility in a general context to be treated in a complementary manner. It is considered that the program "Redes de Cooperação " was crucial to raising awareness and encourages the formation of networks. Over time, the actions of the teams provided by the program have demonstrated the need for restructuring to bring all members to the interests of the network, overcoming individual interests of participation and gain the acceptance of the other members. Another required restructuring was the network professionalization on the strategy and activities. In such situation, the network becomes in the management of activities more independent people and no more a network member, avoiding the interconnection between individual interests and the network. In this restructuring, the network reaches a perceived crucial point in two of analyzed cases. First, it followed to the professionalization reducing their horizontal nature in which everyone is autonomous and singly they think your individual activities and for them answered reaching to a network more vertical. At the other, the network, in addition to responding for the management of their issues, also has taken the issues of individual processes of each of its members, through brand licensing, standardization process, administration of marketing and communication, selecting a mix of products, elaborating a list of suppliers. Over time and directly in relation of changing events and networks development are teams or working groups that provide benefits management, or expectations of those involved in interorganizational networks. Due to the individual autonomy that characterizes this perspective, it has become possible to integrate the four motors of change and provide a vision of how interorganizational networks can manage as the relationships established and developed in networks with the dialectical theory as the different interests with common goals through of teleological and evolutionary theories. To understand how to manage interorganizational networks, over time, it must be understood how the development process happens and how the different schools and change motors step in overtime on changes and evolution of the network. The studies in networks management can be developed in the future, based on the implications of proposals of this thesis. / O presente estudo tem por objetivo compreender o processo de desenvolvimento das redes interorganizacionais e avançar, tanto teórica quanto empiricamente, no campo da gestão das redes. As redes interorganizacionais são aqui estudadas através da teoria do processo de Van de Ven (1992), Van de Ven & Poole (1995) e Halinen (1998), que, por seguir diferentes lógicas, utiliza-se, de forma integrada, das teorias do ciclo de vida, evolucionária, teleologia e dialética como meio para compreensão e entendimento da dualidade (estático / dinâmico) de estruturas organizacionais de eventos que ocorrem ao longo do tempo. De modo sequencial e com apoio em diferentes escolas ou perspectivas de redes, pretende-se entender os eventos ocorridos nas redes, ao longo do tempo, e proporcionar uma visão de como ocorrem o processo de desenvolvimento e as mudanças nas redes interorganizacionais. A pesquisa foi realizada por um estudo multicasos, qualitativo e exploratório, realizado através de narrativas e entrevistas focadas, por meio de uma abordagem processual, em oito redes interorganizacionais, localizadas no Rio Grande do Sul. Analisaram-se eventos oriundos das ações dos indivíduos chave de gestão de cada rede. Considerando a necessidade de ligação entre a teoria, os fenômenos empíricos e a metodologia utilizada na investigação, adotou-se a abordagem abdutiva com análise de conteúdo dos dados obtidos. Nos resultados, foi analisado e descrito cada um dos casos, caracterizando evoluções distintas, porém com possibilidade, em um contexto geral, de serem tratados de forma complementar. Considera-se que o programa Redes de Cooperação foi determinante para a sensibilização e o estímulo à formação das redes. No decorrer do tempo, as ações das equipes previstas pelo programa demonstraram a necessidade de reestruturação, para alinhar todos os integrantes aos interesses da rede, superando interesses individuais de participação e obter a aceitação dos demais integrantes. Outra reestruturação requerida foi a da profissionalização da rede em relação à estratégia e às atividades. Em tal situação, a rede passa a ter, na gestão das atividades, pessoas independentes e não mais integrantes da rede, evitando a interligação entre os interesses individuais e os de rede. Nessa reestruturação, a rede chega a um ponto crucial percebido em dois dos casos analisados. No primeiro, ela seguiu para a profissionalização, reduzindo sua natureza horizontal, em que todos são autônomos e isoladamente pensam suas atividades individuais e por elas respondem, chegando a uma rede mais vertical. No outro, a rede, além de responder pela gestão de suas questões, também assumiu as questões dos processos individuais de cada um de seus integrantes, por meio de licenciamento de marca, padronização de processos, gestão do marketing e comunicação, determinação de um mix de produtos, elaboração de um rol de fornecedores. Ao longo do tempo e diretamente em relação aos eventos de mudança e ao desenvolvimento das redes, estão as equipes ou grupos de trabalho que proporcionam a gestão de benefícios ou expectativas dos envolvidos em redes interorganizacionais. Devido à autonomia individual que caracteriza esta perspectiva, tornou-se possível integrar os quatro motores de mudança e proporcionar uma visão de como as redes interorganizacionais podem gerenciar tanto os relacionamentos estabelecidos e desenvolvidos nas redes com a teoria dialética como os diferentes interesses com objetivos comuns, através das teorias teleológica e evolucionária. Para entender como gerir as redes interorganizacionais, ao longo do tempo, é preciso entender como ocorre seu processo de desenvolvimento e como as diferentes escolas e os motores de mudança interferem, ao longo do tempo, nas mudanças e na evolução da rede. Estudos em gestão de redes poderão ser desenvolvidos, no futuro, embasados nas implicações propostas nesta tese.

El enfoque experimental es el corazón de algunos de los desarrollos más interesantes de la economía. Básicamente, los experimentos se utilizan para generar datos controlados. El término "datos controlados" se refiere al hecho de que la mayoría de los factores en los que influyen las conductas se mantienen constantes, y solo un factor de interés (el "tratamiento'') cambia a la vez. Este es el punto crítico para hacer una inferencia causal. A veces, este proceso de generación ocurre de forma natural (es decir, un "experimento natural''). Sin embargo, la mayoría de las veces, el investigador es el encargado de desarrollar y controlar el proceso de generación. Todas las áreas de la ciencia (incluida la economía) deben considerar todas las metodologías que se pueden aplicar. La teoría, los experimentos de laboratorio, los experimentos de campo, los experimentos online, la neuroeconomía, la investigación observacional y social, las encuestas y más, contribuyen a nuestra comprensión del mundo. En el primer capítulo de a tesis, se presentan resultados experimentales sobre subastas. Se consideran dos tratamientos experimentales: si el comprador prefiere más la calidad a la dimensión del precio, o si este último importa más que la calidad. Los participantes se asignan al azar a uno de estos dos tratamientos y se emparejan en grupos de cinco. Juegan una subasta de períodos múltiples, donde la calidad es exógena asignada en cada ronda y los sujetos presentan una rebaja al precio base anunciado. Las pujas se transforman en puntuaciones que combinan la calidad exógena y la rebaja. El vendedor con la puntuación más alta gana la subasta. Los resultados sugieren que, cuando el peso de la rebaja es mayor, los participantes pujan más cerca del equilibrio. Sin embargo, la probabilidad de obtener un resultado eficiente es mayor cuando se pone más peso en la calidad. En el segundo capítulo analizo los resultados de un experimento en línea en el que los sujetos juegan cuatro versiones del juego Stag-Hunt. Hay tres tratamientos: línea de base, retraso de tiempo y retraso motivado. En el segundo, los sujetos deben esperar 40 segundos antes de elegir una decisión. En el tercero, deben esperar 40 segundos y escribir un texto para motivar sus decisiones. Al final del juego, los participantes informan sobre creencias, preferencias de riesgo y una medida de confianza. El resultado principal es que los sujetos optan por colaborar menos cuando deliberan más. La explicación es que este tratamiento ayuda a los sujetos a comprender que esta es la opción más segura. En el tercer capítulo, los autores estiman el impacto de un programa educativo basado en juegos destinado a promover el uso sostenible del agua. Esto se hizo en la ciudad de Lucca, con miles de alumnos de 2º a 4º de primaria. Los hallazgos indican que los estudiantes del grupo de tratamiento (participantes del programa) mostraron una mayor conciencia sobre el consumo de agua respecto a aquellos estudiantes que no participaron en el programa. Además, encuentran que el efecto positivo aún se observa después de seis meses, lo que sugiere que los programas educativos basados en juegos pueden ser un instrumento eficaz para promover comportamientos prosociales en el consumo de agua.

<p>The Theory of Applied Mind of Programming (TAMP) provides a new model for describing how programmers think and learn. Historically, many students have struggled when learning to program. Programming as a discipline lives in logic and reason, but theory and science tell us that people do not always think rationally. TAMP builds upon the groundbreaking work of dual process theory and classical educational theorists (Piaget, Vygotsky, and Bruner) to rethink our assumptions about cognition and learning. Theory guides educators and researchers to improve their practice, not just their work but also their thinking. TAMP provides new theoretical constructs for describing the mental activities of programming, the challenges in learning to program, as well as a guidebook for creating and recognizing the value of theory.</p> <p>This dissertation is highly nontraditional. It does not include a typical empirical study using a familiar research methodology to guide data collection and analysis. Instead, it leverages existing data, as accumulated over a half-century of computing education research and a century of research into cognition and learning. Since an applicable methodology of theory-building did not exist, this work also defines a new methodology for theory building. The methodology of this dissertation borrows notation from philosophy and methods from grounded theory to define a transparent and rigorous approach to creating applied theories. By revisiting past studies through the lens of new theoretical propositions, theorists can conceive, refine, and internally validate new constructs and propositions to revolutionize how we view technical education.</p> <p>The takeaway from this dissertation is a set of new theoretical constructs and promising research and pedagogical approaches. TAMP proposes an applied model of Jerome Bruner's mental representations that describe the knowledge and cognitive processes of an experienced programmer. TAMP highlights implicit learning and the role of intuition in decision making across many aspects of programming. This work includes numerous examples of how to apply TAMP and its supporting theories in re-imagining teaching and research to offer alternative explanations for previously puzzling findings on student learning. TAMP may challenge conventional beliefs about applied reasoning and the extent of traditional pedagogy, but it also offers insights on how to promote creative problem-solving in students. </p><br>