At previous conferences in the subject field of web-based teaching and learning a number of presenters emphasised the importance of training to users of WebCT, as well as the unsuccessful implementation of WebCT tools and applications due to insufficient training. To address this important and basic step of successful use of WebCT, third year Public Management students at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) received intensive training to make use of particular WebCT applications comfortably. The focus, pertaining to WebCT activities in the subject Public Human Resource Management, is primarily on on-line assignments and e-tivities, as well as the use of quizzes for self-assessment. The WebCT training subsequently focuses primarily on the use of the assignment and quiz tools in WebCT, additional to the use of general tools such as the bulletin board and calendar. The paper will outline and explore the various steps and applications, used to enhance WebCT training to these students. Special measures were implemented to accommodate a large group of students (200). Furthermore, the perceived usefulness and value of a Camtasia Studio training DVD, compared to face-to-face training in the Electronic Research Centres (ERCs), will be explored. This article aims to focus on the end results and success in terms of the experiences and perceptions of the students, as well as skills obtained by the provision of intensive training for the use of particular WebCTtools. It will determine by exploring a number of training strategies and approaches for "Creative training strategy can make a difference, this article uses interesting empirical data to illustrate the use of student training as a key success factor in the implementation of WebCt in teachning and learning environments.

O presente trabalho trata-se de um estudo de caso múltiplo de natureza quantitativa. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo em função da comparação e análise dos projetos de arquitetura e explicativo em função da aplicação da modelagem em equação estrutural. Foram visitados e analisados os centros de pesquisas: (A) Instituto Max Planck de Ecologia Química, localizado em Jena, Alemanha; (B) Instituto Max Planck de Antropologia Evolutiva, localizado em Leipzig, Alemanha; (C) Instituto Max Planck de Biologia e Genética de Célula Molecular, localizado em Dresden, Alemanha; (D) Instituto de Biociência, localizado em Liverpool, Inglaterra. Procedeu-se a aplicação de um questionário, para avaliar a percepção dos usuários com relação aos fatores que caracterizam os ambientes de trabalho e que se relacionam com a satisfação pelo ambiente físico. Os fatores extraídos da literatura e analisados foram: interação, privacidade, flexibilidade e percepção de conforto. Analisando as características físicas de cada edifício e os resultados do questionário, constata-se que estas características de fato têm sido percebidas pelos usuários. As evidências empíricas obtidas através do modelo de equação estrutural indicam: (1) que existe uma relação positiva entre condição física para interação e satisfação com o ambiente físico; (2) que existe uma relação positiva entre percepção de conforto e satisfação com o ambiente físico; (3) que existe uma relação positiva entre condição física para interação e condição física para privacidade. / This paper consists of a quantitative multiple case study presenting a descriptive analysis based on comparisons and examinations of architectural project designs, with an explanation of the structural equation modelling application. The following research centres were visited and analysed: (A) Max Planck Chemical Ecology Institute, Jena, Germany; (B) Max Planck Evolutionary Anthropology Institute, Leipzig, Germany; (C) Max Planck Biology and Molecular Cell Genetics Institute, Dresden, Germany; (D) Bioscience Institute, Liverpool, UK. A questionnaire was completed in order to assess user perceptions of factors characterising their work environments, related to satisfaction with their physical surroundings. The factors taken from the literature and analysed were: Interaction, Privacy, Flexibility and Perception of Comfort. Analyses of the physical characteristics of each building and the findings of the questionnaire clearly demonstrate that these characteristics are really perceived by their users. Empirical evidence obtained through the structural equation model indicates that: (1) there is a positive relationship between physical conditions conducive to interaction and satisfaction with physical surroundings; (2) there is a positive relationship between perception of comfort and satisfaction with physical surroundings; (3) there is a positive relationship between physical conditions conducive to interaction and physical conditions providing privacy.

O presente trabalho trata-se de um estudo de caso múltiplo de natureza quantitativa. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo em função da comparação e análise dos projetos de arquitetura e explicativo em função da aplicação da modelagem em equação estrutural. Foram visitados e analisados os centros de pesquisas: (A) Instituto Max Planck de Ecologia Química, localizado em Jena, Alemanha; (B) Instituto Max Planck de Antropologia Evolutiva, localizado em Leipzig, Alemanha; (C) Instituto Max Planck de Biologia e Genética de Célula Molecular, localizado em Dresden, Alemanha; (D) Instituto de Biociência, localizado em Liverpool, Inglaterra. Procedeu-se a aplicação de um questionário, para avaliar a percepção dos usuários com relação aos fatores que caracterizam os ambientes de trabalho e que se relacionam com a satisfação pelo ambiente físico. Os fatores extraídos da literatura e analisados foram: interação, privacidade, flexibilidade e percepção de conforto. Analisando as características físicas de cada edifício e os resultados do questionário, constata-se que estas características de fato têm sido percebidas pelos usuários. As evidências empíricas obtidas através do modelo de equação estrutural indicam: (1) que existe uma relação positiva entre condição física para interação e satisfação com o ambiente físico; (2) que existe uma relação positiva entre percepção de conforto e satisfação com o ambiente físico; (3) que existe uma relação positiva entre condição física para interação e condição física para privacidade. / This paper consists of a quantitative multiple case study presenting a descriptive analysis based on comparisons and examinations of architectural project designs, with an explanation of the structural equation modelling application. The following research centres were visited and analysed: (A) Max Planck Chemical Ecology Institute, Jena, Germany; (B) Max Planck Evolutionary Anthropology Institute, Leipzig, Germany; (C) Max Planck Biology and Molecular Cell Genetics Institute, Dresden, Germany; (D) Bioscience Institute, Liverpool, UK. A questionnaire was completed in order to assess user perceptions of factors characterising their work environments, related to satisfaction with their physical surroundings. The factors taken from the literature and analysed were: Interaction, Privacy, Flexibility and Perception of Comfort. Analyses of the physical characteristics of each building and the findings of the questionnaire clearly demonstrate that these characteristics are really perceived by their users. Empirical evidence obtained through the structural equation model indicates that: (1) there is a positive relationship between physical conditions conducive to interaction and satisfaction with physical surroundings; (2) there is a positive relationship between perception of comfort and satisfaction with physical surroundings; (3) there is a positive relationship between physical conditions conducive to interaction and physical conditions providing privacy.

Tourism has come to be recognised as a major contributor to national economies. In a knowledge-based economy (that emphasises the benefits of industry/government and academic research), a strong research base must underpin management of a tourist destination if it is to realise its full potential. The establishment of collaborative networks between industry, academia, and government in the strategic planning and management of cities and towns is becoming increasingly popular. However, the way in which the processes underlying these settings facilitate or inhibit eventual outcomes is poorly understood. If knowledge is to drive innovation and economic growth optimally, it is important not just to develop an understanding of the processes underlying the creation, diffusion and utilisation of knowledge in cooperative research settings, but also the relationships among them. Accordingly, the aim of this investigation is to examine the relationships among knowledge creation, diffusion and utilisation occurring in the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, specifically, the Gold Coast Visioning Project, with a view to identifying the most efficient means for formulating and disseminating research designed for industry and/or government application. Knowledge is defined as information that is imbued with meaning or relevance. However, this definition says little of the ways that individuals, groups and organisations acquire knowledge. While cognitive psychologists have produced several theories suggesting the structure and mechanisms of individual cognitive processes underlying the acquisition and use of knowledge, social scientists have sought to describe and explain the process by investigating the influence of social factors. Recent contributions to group learning have examined group composition, group size, familiarity among group members, and communication processes in an attempt to understand the ways in which groups acquire knowledge. Research shows that knowledge utilisation in organisations results from the interdependent influences of organisational processes and the control opportunities and control problems that arise through organisational structure. These frameworks provide accounts of how knowledge is utilised within an organisation, but not of how organisations learn. Recent research suggests that organisations learn through knowledge networks where organisational focus moves from the consideration and protection of boundaries to the management of (and care for) relationships. Therefore, organisations contain static (rules, norms and procedures) and dynamic (social relationships) elements that mutually influence the degree to which organisations learn. A synthesis of the available literature resulted in the development of a series of models that served not only to inform, but also be informed by the analysis of this investigation. A single case study, namely the Gold Coast Visioning Project, was used to examine the ways in which knowledge was created, disseminated and utilised in a CRC setting. This ethnographic investigation considered the process of knowledge creation through to utilisation at individual, group, organisational, and inter-organisational levels, while simultaneously examining the interrelated influences of social, cognitive, affective and communication factors. Throughout the project, data were collected through stakeholder interviews, various documents and participant observation of stakeholder meetings and workshops. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach and methods of thick description. The results show that researchers and industry stakeholders bring different frames of reference, different expectations, and different knowledge bases to the exercise. This inhibited communication, and gave the appearance of dissension when, in fact, what was being sought was a common frame for understanding and communication. Additionally, the gap between industry and researcher worldviews generated the sense that industry was resisting or failing to understand what the research was seeking to achieve. Consequently, in order to manage the relationship, research plans and findings were communicated to industry in a teacher-to-student fashion, which fostered single-loop learning, and reduced industry stakeholders' sense of ownership in the process and findings. During the project, industry stakeholders frequently sought to have research come pre-packaged with "meaning", but researchers lacked the contextual knowledge necessary to specify the relevance of their research. The results also show that research findings need to be integrated and diffused to industry over time, and specific applications need to be formulated (and reformulated) in response to particular and changing needs of industry. As a result of this investigation, a model of 'best practice' has been developed with detailed recommendations for the design, implementation, and reporting of CRC-sponsored research to optimise its utility for end-users of such research. From a theoretical perspective, the findings of this study challenge the ways that current theories account for the ways in which knowledge is acquired and utilised since the results show that knowledge is constructed both socially and emotionally. Any investigation that seeks to understand how knowledge is acquired and utilised must consider social and affective influences. To ignore the role of emotion and values in the process of knowledge acquisition is to ignore a key component of an individual's reasoning capacity.

This thesis examines the perceived importance by two-tiered management of Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) for managing a range of intellectual property issues. Fifty survey items are presented to the executive directors and commercialization managers of 62 CRCs. The survey items are categorized under four themes: relationships with collaborators, project management; design and implementation of agreements; and specific licensing issues. An analysis of the data, using a series of independent samples t-tests, repeated measures t-tests, chi-square tests for independence or relatedness and goodness of fit, shows a range of results. There are significant differences between executive directors and commercialization managers on a number of issues. There are particular emphases or trends about certain issues for the whole sample of managers. These findings are compared with text analyses of 23 CRC strategic planning documents. This is done in order to explore any similarity, difference or nuance between what the managers say in response to the survey items, compared with what is stated in the codified policies of the CRCs. While there is a high degree of consistency among certain themes between the two sets of findings, the overall analysis points to the need for the CRCs to have a better understanding and practice of commercialization opportunities, especially through the involvement of third party commercial interests. It is argued that accommodating third party commercialization interests involves the application of an important knowledge economy principle that has an important bearing on the future economic viability and competitiveness of the CRCs.