In the light of a post-pandemic world, the concept of hybrid work environments has become significantly more important since the way of working has changed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not being dependent upon a set office spot to conduct one´s work-related tasks has created both positive and negative consequences for both the individuals and the organizations. In conjunctions with the increased importance of hybrid workplaces, we have seen an improved academic attention towards the area since scholars claim that the hybrid way of working is the future. Even though there has been an abundance of research conducted investigating the post-pandemic hybrid work environments, this thesis contributes to an area that according to us have been sparsely investigated through focusing on the effects on remote and/or hybrid workplaces and its employees due to the abruptness of the Covid-19 pandemic through the following research question:  “How has the abruptness of the Covid-19 pandemic affected remote and/or hybrid workplaces and employees?”  The research purpose of this study is to investigate how the abruptness of the Covid-19 pandemic has affected hybrid and/or remote workplace solutions and its employees. We deem to broaden the existing research whilst concurrently develop new theoretical knowledge and expand the overall understanding of the investigated area. The purpose of this study was fulfilled through conducting a qualitative study with seven semi-structured interviews with people that have worked within the same organization before, during, and after the pandemic to obtain their own personal experience regarding the effects of the implementation of hybrid work environments. Through applying a qualitative thematic analysis, the empirical findings were categorized into three overarching themes with following sub-themes that were identified as adequate and relevant to highlight.  The result of this thesis indicates that the abruptness of the Covid-19 pandemic affected the organizations and the employees in both a positive and negative way since the changes were perceived to be needed and appreciated but at the same time implemented in an abrupt fashion which worked as an epiphanic force for several cultural and psychosocial related issues for the employees. Lastly, our findings indicates that there is a need for further research within the investigated area to hopefully facilitate and aid the future organizations, managers, and employees who are planning of or are currently in the process of implementing hybrid work environments.

Allowing communities to become integral players in curriculum implementation conversation has not been taken seriously by academics and the educational leaders. Generally, there is a growing realisation in academic circles that knowledge and skills in primary school education cannot be solely owned by school heads and teachers for effective curriculum implementation to be realised. School heads and teachers need pedagogical support from members of the community around their primary schools who have the knowledge and skills that teachers can make use of in teaching and learning. Current curriculum implementation practices have seen community members as peripheral players whose knowledge and skills are of diminished value. The purpose of this study was to explore how community members’ knowledge and skills could be harnessed in curriculum implementation at primary school level in Zimbabwe’s Chivi district of Masvingo. The notion was to grow a partnership between community members, school heads and teachers. The study was informed by the Social Capital Theory, a theory devoted to the establishment of social networks, links and social relations among individuals and groups for the realisation of new ways of co-operation. The qualitative case study design was employed, where individual interviews, focus group discussions and open-ended questionnaires were the data-collection instruments. Four rural primary schools with their respective school heads, were randomly selected to participate in the study. Twenty teachers, two traditional leaders, two church leaders, two business people and eight parents comprised the purposefully selected participants. The study findings indicated that community members and the school community have not meaningfully engaged each other in curriculum implementation. The barriers to a successful relationship included: the language of education, feelings of inadequacy, time constraints, and the polarised political environment. Evaluated against the social capital theory, participants appreciated the need for partnerships in curriculum implementation for shared resources, knowledge and skills for the benefit of the learners. The study recommends a rethink by school heads, teachers and community members, aided by government policy to create space for community contribution in curriculum implementation. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

從時代趨勢中洞悉到女性創業議題的重要 ，爰發現青輔會「飛雁專案」下之非預期性政策產出(「中華飛雁創業互助協會」)的關鍵地位與價值，於檢視該組織背後的脈絡因素中覺察到「新制度主義之鑲嵌性概念」與「動態社會資本理論建構」間不謀而合，除確立女性創業環境下公部門（青輔會）、非營利組織（中華飛雁創業互助協會）及個人(微型女性創業者)間之互為鑲嵌關係，更因該組織成立而點明女性創業之動態社會資本建構過程，調和過去二元價值對立的窘境，透過實務與理論間交互檢證，開創女性創業、非營利組織及社會資本理論間之新紀元。 / Owing to the key status and value of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Taiwan (WEAT) and unpredictable policy output of the“Free & Yong Program ”of National Youth Commission of Executive Yuan (NYC), this paper seeks to identify the importance of current trend issue about women entrepreneurship. In viewing the inner factors of the organizational context, I find there’s a coincidence between the“ embedding concept of new institutionalism” and “dynamic construction of social capital theory”. It not only sets up the correlation among Gov (NYC), NPO（WEAT）and individual (women mircrobusinesses entrepreneurs), but also makes the process of dynamic construction of social capitals in women business clear, harmonizing the paradox of structural/rational dualism in the past. The Interviewing and case study design are mainly employed methods in this research to cross-check practice and theory and thus depicts a better interaction among women entrepreneurship, NPO and social capital theory.

Social Capital and Open Innovation are important for organisational growth, as both of them influence Innovation, Learning and Job Satisfaction. The literature indicates that informal network measured as social capital and formal network measured as open innovation influences positively to organizational innovation performance, learning and job satisfaction. Most of the studies in this area have been carried out using univariate approaches, and only few dimensions of both Social Capital and Open Innovation have been considered. Current literature outlines the positive influence of Social Capital and Open Innovation on Learning, Innovation and Job Satisfaction. In this study, an attempt has been made to develop a multi-dimensional framework for Social Capital and Open Innovation, in order to better understand the nuances of Learning, Innovation and Job Satisfaction in an R&D setting. Another important factor influencing the R&D outcomes is Absorptive Capacity; it is the capacity of the organisation to identify and use external knowledge. The direct and moderating role of Absorptive Capacity has been examined. Both theoretical and conceptual models have been proposed, and a measurement scale in form of a questionnaire has been developed. Data was collected from 35 organisations across India operating in the field of defence R&D. The sample included Government-run R&D organisations, Public Sector Units (PSUs) and private firms, and total of 331 engineers/scientists responded to the survey. Data was analysed using statistical methods such as Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Common Method Variance (CMV), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Reliability and validity of the proposed scales for the constructs have been verified using appropriate techniques, and further inferences have been drawn by using regression techniques and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the proposed relationships. It has been found that both Social Capital and Open Innovation have positive influence on Learning, Innovation and Job Satisfaction. Further, it was found that Absorptive Capacity had a positive association with both Innovation and Learning. However, Absorptive Capacity did not moderate the relationship of Social Capital with both Innovation and Learning, but was found to moderate the relationship between Open Innovation and Innovation, for both outbound and inbound approaches of Open Innovation. Bonding Social Capital had a relatively stronger positive association with Learning, while Bridging Social Capital was found to have a stronger relationship with Innovation. In summary, networking factors Social Capital and Open Innovation have strong positive association with R&D outcomes measured as innovation performance, learning and job satisfaction.

Allowing communities to become integral players in curriculum implementation conversation has not been taken seriously by academics and the educational leaders. Generally, there is a growing realisation in academic circles that knowledge and skills in primary school education cannot be solely owned by school heads and teachers for effective curriculum implementation to be realised. School heads and teachers need pedagogical support from members of the community around their primary schools who have the knowledge and skills that teachers can make use of in teaching and learning. Current curriculum implementation practices have seen community members as peripheral players whose knowledge and skills are of diminished value. The purpose of this study was to explore how community members’ knowledge and skills could be harnessed in curriculum implementation at primary school level in Zimbabwe’s Chivi district of Masvingo. The notion was to grow a partnership between community members, school heads and teachers. The study was informed by the Social Capital Theory, a theory devoted to the establishment of social networks, links and social relations among individuals and groups for the realisation of new ways of co-operation. The qualitative case study design was employed, where individual interviews, focus group discussions and open-ended questionnaires were the data-collection instruments. Four rural primary schools with their respective school heads, were randomly selected to participate in the study. Twenty teachers, two traditional leaders, two church leaders, two business people and eight parents comprised the purposefully selected participants. The study findings indicated that community members and the school community have not meaningfully engaged each other in curriculum implementation. The barriers to a successful relationship included: the language of education, feelings of inadequacy, time constraints, and the polarised political environment. Evaluated against the social capital theory, participants appreciated the need for partnerships in curriculum implementation for shared resources, knowledge and skills for the benefit of the learners. The study recommends a rethink by school heads, teachers and community members, aided by government policy to create space for community contribution in curriculum implementation. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Cette thèse étudie les principales caractéristiques, le développement, les dimensions sociales, les avantages ainsi que les défis de la franchise dans le secteur de l'éducation au Pakistan. En outre, les résultats de notre étude montrent que la franchise de l'éducation au Pakistan fonctionne essentiellement comme une forme de franchise sociale. L'étude illustre également comment la dimension sociale de la franchise, dans le paysage éducatif pakistanais, est contrebalancée avec le côté commercial de cette pratique. Une approche qualitative multi-perspective a été adoptée. Cela a consisté à mener et à enregistrer 44 entretiens approfondis avec les franchiseurs, les franchisés, les enseignants, les employés du réseau, les parents, les étudiants et les représentants du gouvernement. Les données secondaires ont été collectées sur les sites Web des franchiseurs. Les données ont été transcrites et analysées par NVivo. Nos résultats mettent en évidence un lien entre l'émergence de la franchise sociale et la performance des établissements d'enseignement du secteur public. Nos résultats montrent également que les réseaux de franchises d'éducation au Pakistan ont eu une contribution significative sur le plan social, dans la mesure où, les taux d'alphabétisation ont augmenté et que les inégalités entre les sexes ont été réduites. Cela peut, par conséquent, être considéré comme une forme de franchise sociale. Certaines caractéristiques des réseaux de franchises éducatives au Pakistan sont les mêmes que celles de la franchise dans des secteurs plus traditionnels tels que les hôtels et les restaurants. Il est intéressant de noter que la fourniture de la marque, du transfert de savoir-faire, de l'assistance et de la formation, ainsi que l'uniformité du réseau, ont été aussi importants que dans les secteurs traditionnels de franchise. Les résultats suggèrent par ailleurs que les utilisateurs et le public ont une perception positive de la franchise dans le secteur de l'éducation et cela est considéré comme une meilleure alternative par rapport aux autres options disponibles. / This study investigates the main characteristics, development, social dimensions, benefits and the challenges of franchising in the education sector of Pakistan. Furthermore, it highlights that education franchising in Pakistan is mainly operating as a form of social franchising. The study also discusses how the social dimension of education franchising in Pakistan is counterbalanced with the commercial side of this business. A multi-perspective qualitative approach was adopted. This involved conducting and recording 44 in-depth interviews with franchisors, franchisees, school teachers, network employees, parents, students and government officials. Secondary data was collected from franchisor websites. Data was transcribed and analyzed by NVivo. The findings suggest a link between the emergence of social franchising and the performance of public sector educational institutions. Moreover, findings elaborate that education franchising networks in Pakistan have made a significant social contribution by increasing literacy rates and reducing gender inequalities. Therefore, it can be considered as a form of social franchising. Some characteristics of educational franchise networks in Pakistan are the same as those of franchising in more traditional sectors such as hotels and restaurants. Interestingly, the provision of brand name, transfer of know-how, assistance and training, as well as network uniformity, were found to be just as important as they are in traditional franchising sectors. The findings also suggest that users and public have a positive perception of franchising in the education sector and it is regarded as a better alternative as compared to other available options.

Syftet med denna studie var att öka kunskapen om motiv som leder till att medborgare organiserar sig mot vapenvåld och för en tryggare ort, efter att en ung man i området skjutits till döds på öppen gata. Vidare var syftet att få en förståelse för hur de mobiliserande processerna tar sig uttryck i Skarpnäck. Studiens frågeställningar har besvarats genom kvalitativa intervjuer med sju medborgare som deltar i mobiliseringen, samt ostrukturerade observationer av mobiliseringens skeende. Studiens data har analyserats med teorin om sociala rörelser, samt Bourdieus kapitalformer i kombination med begreppen fält och habitus. Resultaten visar på att motiven till deltagandet grundar sig i en kombination av faktorer, som exempelvis sociala relationer, platsidentitet och gemenskap. Vidare framkommer det av resultatet att området präglas av bland annat boendesegregation och resursbrister i den kommunala skolan, som på olika sätt bidrar med en distans mellan medborgarna och aktörer inom den offentliga sektorn. Mobiliseringen i Skarpnäck utgörs av ett kritiskt och kollektivt handlade som fokuserar på att kartlägga behov i området, vilket sedermera framförts till Stadsdelsnämnden i form av ett medborgarförslag. / The aim of this paper is to increase knowledge on the motives that lead to citizens organizing against gun violence and for a safer neighborhood, after a young man in the community was shot to death on an open street. Furthermore, the aim of this paper is to gain an understanding of how the process of mobilisation took place in Skarpnäck. The study’s questions have been answered through two research methods; qualitative interviews with seven citizens who took part in the mobilization, as well as by unstructured observations of mobilising events. Theories applied whilst analysing the collected data were social movement theoryand Bourdieu’s theory of capital as well as the terms field and habitus. Results show that citizen participation is motivated by several factors, such as social ties,  place identity and  community. Results also show that the neighborhood, amongst other things, is affected by segregation and lack of resources in the local public school, which in different ways  contribute to a distance between citizens and civil servants in the public sector. Mobilisation in Skarpnäck takes form through critical and collective action that focuses on mapping needs in the neighborhood, which are then presented to the districts committee as citizen proposals.

隨著社群網路不斷快發展而使得上社群網站成為使用者每日生活的一部分，而社群商務也因此蓬勃發展。社群商務是社群網站使用者因社交活動而彼此交換分享產品或服務資訊的行為。根據Forrester Research在2011年的報告，預測至2015年時社群商務的產值將達300億美金。因此社群商務將隨社群網站不斷的發展，將越來越重要。 因此，本研究文獻回顧及焦點訪談藉由社群網站行為-參與及瀏覽二種行為、社會資本-結合型社會資本(親密朋友)及橋接型社會資本(普通朋友)來預測社群網站使用者採用社群商務-給予及接受二種意願。 本研究以社群網站臉書的使用者為研究對象，研究以紙本及線上二種方式來搜集使用者問卷。紙本問卷主要以北部某大學生為主要搜集對象，線上問卷則以在電腦教室的大學生、社群網站臉書的線上使用者及BBS-批踢踢實業坊的使用者同時也是社群網站臉書上的使用者為主。有效問卷970份。經由信度分析、效度分析及共同方法變異分析，確認本研究之信效度，並採用偏最小平方法(Partial Least Square,PLS)，來進行結構方程模式(Structural Equation Modeling, SEM)研究模型分析。 總體研究一開始先進行分析社群網站行為、線上社會資本及採用社群商務三者主構面皆為二階構面之間的關係。結果發現社群網站行為對線上社會資本及線上社會資本對採用社群商務三個主構面皆是顯著正向的關係。接著本研究模型整體分析社群網站行為-參與及瀏覽、線上社會資本-結合型(親密朋友)及橋接型(普通朋友)對使用者採用社群商務的意願-給予及接受皆有正向顯著的影響。因此本研究並繼續在就個別研究子構面進行探討。 參與行為和瀏覽行為皆對結合型(親密朋友)社會資本有顯著的正向影響，但瀏覽行為對於結合型(親密朋友)社會資本的正向影響程度大於參與行為對於結合型(親密朋友)社會資本的正向影響程度。參與行為和瀏覽行為皆對橋接型(普通朋友)社會資本有顯著的正向影響，但瀏覽行為對於橋接型(普通朋友)社會資本的正向影響程度大於參與行為對於橋接型(普通朋友)社會資本的正向影響程度。 參與行為對採用社群商務意願（給予）有顯著的正向影響，但瀏覽行為對採用社群商務意願（給予）沒有影響。參與行為和瀏覽行為皆對採用社群商務意願（接受）皆有顯著的正向影響，但參與行為與瀏覽行為二種行為對於採用社群商務意願（接受）沒有顯著的不同。 結合型(親密朋友)及橋接型(普通朋友)社會資本對採用社群商務意願（給予）皆有顯著的正向影響，且橋接型(普通朋友)社會資本對於採用社群商務意願（給予）的正向影響程度大於結合型(親密朋友)社會資本對於採用社群商務意願（給予）的正向影響程度。結合型(親密朋友)及橋接型(普通朋友)社會資本對採用社群商務意願（接受）皆有顯著的正向影響，但結合型(親密朋友)及橋接型(普通朋友)二種社會資本對於採用社群商務意願（接受）沒有顯著的不同。 綜上所述，總體而言，瀏覽行為對於社會資本優於參與行為對於社會資本的影響。參與行為對於採用社群商務意願優於瀏覽行為對於採用社群商務意願。橋接型(普通朋友)社會資本對於採用社群商務意願優於結合型(親密朋友)社會資本對於採用社群商務意願。 此外，在經由量化分析研究，本研究獲得全部研究假設分析的結果，接著本研究並採用事後質性分析(Post Hoc Qualitative Analysis)，利用半結構式深度訪談，對象包括大學部1-4年級的學生及上班族來做事後質性分析。事後質化分析的結果是將量化分析的所支持的假設加以驗証及探究更深一層的說明，並提供解釋量化分析所不支持假設的可能原因。 本研究理論貢獻在於採用社群網站行為-參與及瀏覽及線上社會資本-結合型(親密朋友)及橋接型(普通朋友)來預測採用社群商務-給予及接受之意願。較少研究採用社群網站行為及社會資料理論來解釋社群商務。管理意涵在於社群網站的營運者，應思考如何藉由社群網站來增加對使用者的〞黏性〞及提昇使用者瀏覽網站的流量，並依據使用者之前瀏覽的記錄，來推測並提供使用者所喜好的内容。更進一步來說，為增加使用者的參與行為可依照使用者彼此間的互動來分析使用者社群網站上的行為以推薦使用者加入其有興趣的粉絲團及社團，以增加親密朋友及普通朋友之使用者彼此的互動，同時增加線上結合型及橋接型社會資及使用者採用社群商務的意願。此外，本研究建議社群網站經營者應努力發展線上朋友介紹功能，並藉由大數據的資料分析擴大使用者的交友範圍。對於使用者線下的朋友，希望將其成為本身結合型(親密朋友)或橋接型(普通朋友)的社會資本。對於使用者線上不認識的朋友，希望能其成為橋接型(普通朋友)的社會資本，因為他們可能加入同一粉絲團或社團，以促進社群網站的使用者採用社群商務的意願。 / Following the fast growing of social network sites (SNS) such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook in the cyber world recently, the social commerce has become an important emerging issue in these SNS. According to the Forrester Research (2011) predicted the total value of output for social commerce will reach US$30 billion in 2015. Because the development of social commerce will follow the continueous growing of SNS, the social commerce will play a pivotal role in the e-commerce. According to the literature review and focus group discussions, the study explored and applied SNS behavior including participating and browsing, social capital theory including bonding (close friends) and bridging (ordinary friends) to predict SNS users to adopt giving and receiving social commerce intention (SCI). The study applied an empirical research on SNS users i.e. FB users to be research target samples. The data collection were applied by paper_based and online_based as two way to collect sample data. With regard to sample data from paper_based survey, the study adopted undergraduate students of a university located in northen Taiwan was the research main collection samples for paper_based survey. As to online_based survey, the study utilized undergraduate students, who are the same as paper_ based survey in the same university with computer lab classes, FB users of researchers’ friends and Taiwan largest Bulletin Board System-PTT who are also FB users to collect online users’ data. The total valid samples are 970 from online_based and paper_based survey. After reliability analysis, validity analysis and common method variance testing, the study confirmed that reliability and validity of study samples met the requirement of each statistical testing and were qualified for testing the study whole research model. Then, the study adopted partial least square (PLS) to proceed with structural equation modeling (SEM) research model testing. As to whole model research testing, in the beginning the study was testing the relationship among SNS behavior, online social capital and SCI. The three constructs are second order constructs. The testing results show the effects of SNS behavior on online social capital and the effects of online social capital on SCI are significantly positive. Hence, the research continues to proceed with the research model testing. The research findings of whole research model testing have shown SNS behavior as a second order construct of participating and browsing, online social capital-bonding and bridging are both significantly positive influence to adopt social commerce intention as a second order construct as SCI (giving and receiving). Hence, the study will continue to explore the relationships between each sub-construct in the research. Participating and browsing behavior are both significantly positive on bonding social capital. Moreover, browsing behavior is more significantly positive associated with bonding social capital than participating behavior is associated with bonding social capital. Participating and browsing behavior are both significantly positive on bridging social capital. Browsing behavior is more significantly positive associated with bridging social capital than participating behavior is associated with bridging social capital. Participating behavior is significantly positive on adopting SCI (giving). However, browsing behioavr is no significant influence on adopting SCI (giving). Participaiting behavior and browsing behavior both have significantly positive influences on SCI (receiving). However, there are no significant differences between participating behavior and browsing behavior on adopting SCI (receiving). Bonding and bridging social capital are both significantly positive on SCI (giving). Moreover, bridging social capital is more significantly positive associated with SCI (giving) than bonding social capital is associated with SCI (giving). Bonding and bridging social capital are both significantly positive on SCI (receiving). However, there are no significant differences between bonding and bridging social capital on adopting SCI (receiving). To Sum up, generally speaking, browsing behavior is better on social capital than participating behavior is on social capital. Participating behavior is more suitable on adopting SCI than browsing behavior is on social capital. Bridging social capital is more appropriate on adopting SCI than bonding social capital is on adopting SCI. Besides, after quantitative data analysis, the study proceeds with the post hoc qualitative analysis. Utilizing semi-structured in-depth interviews with undergraduate students and working persons to continue post hoc qualitative analysis. The aim of post hoc qualitative analysis is to validitate and provide insight for the hypotheses which are supported by quantitative analysis. Moreover, it provides the explainations for the hypotheses which ae not supported by the quantitative analysis. The theory contributions of the study are applying SNS behavior including participating and browsing, social capital theory including bonding and bridging to predict SNS users to adopt SCI (giving and receiving). Seldom researches SNS behavior and social capital theory to explain social commerce individually. With regard to managerial implications are for SNS operators to think how to utilize SNS to increase users stickiness and raise users’ browsing quantities - following the users’ accumulated browsing behaivors history to predict and provide the contents which users may have interest. Moreover, regarding the interacting behavior for SNS users of participating behavior is to analyze the behaviors of SNS users and to recommend uers to join the fan pages or clubs that they may be interested in. Doing so is to increase the interactions with close friends and ordinary friends to enhance online bonding and bridging social capital and the users’ intentions to adopt SCI simotenously. In addition, the study recommends SNS operators to adopt friends introducing functions thoroughly and apply big data statistical analysis to enlarge the users’ friends rang to make more SNS friends. For the SNS offline friends, the study wish to let SNS users’ offline friends to become their online bonding or bridging social capital. For the SNS online unknown friends, the study wish to let SNS users’ online unkown friends to become their online bridging social capital because they may join the same fan pages or clubs to enlarge and accelerate SNS users to adopt SCI.

Good governance occupies a centre stage in the development discourse. Since there are currently no guidelines on the practice of good governance for ECD centres, this qualitative study followed the exploratory research approach and employed the case study research design to gain insight into how ECD centres in Mabopane practiced good governance concerning the roles played by parents in decision-making and accountability. The study used the Social Capital and Stakeholder theoretical frameworks to contextualise the investigation and employed eclectic methodological approaches involving triangulated sampling techniques, data collection methods and tools as well as data sources to generate data. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis and it was found amongst others that there were weaknesses in the governance practices within the ECD centres regarding parents’ roles in decision-making and accountability. The study recommended, amongst others, for concerted efforts involving all stakeholders to address those flaws. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)