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As society becomes increasingly reliant on information technology for data exchange and long-term data storage the need for a system of data management to document and provide access to the 'societal memory' is becoming imperative. An examination of both the literature and current 'best practice' underlines the absence to date of a proven universal conceptual basis to digital data preservation. The examination of differences in nature and sources of origin, between traditional 'print-based' and digital objects leads to a re-appraisal of current practices of data selection and preservation. The need to embrace past, present and future metadata developments in a rapidly changing environment is considered. Various hypotheses were formulated and supported regarding: the similarities and differences required in selection criteria for different types of Digital Data Objects (DDOs), the ability to define universal threshold standards for a framework of metadata for digital data preservation, and the role of selection criteria in such a framework. The research uses Soft Systems Methodology to investigate the potential of the metadata concept as the key to universal data management. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the attitudes of information professionals in the United Kingdom towards the challenges facing information-dependent organisations attempting to preserve digital data over the long-term. In particular, the nature of DDOs being encountered by stakeholders, the reasons, policies, and procedures for preserving them, together with a range of specific issues such as: the role of metadata, access to, and rights management of DDOs. The societal need for selection to ensure efficient long-term access is considered. Drawing on - SSM modelling, this research develops a flexible, long-term management framework for digital data at a level higher than metadata, with selection as an essential component. The framework's conceptual feasibility has been examined from both financial and societal benefit perspectives, together with the recognition of constraints. The super-metadata framework provides a possible systematic approach to managing a wide range of digital data in a variety of formats, created/owned by a spectrum of information-dependent organisations.

Esta pesquisa tem como enfoque a preparação do professor para atuação na educação a distância (EaD). Para tratar essa questão foram identificadas, baseado em um referencial teórico, as competências consideradas básicas ao professor para sua adequada atuação nessa modalidade de ensino. A partir da compreensão de que a aquisição de tais competências pode contribuir para uma melhor preparação docente foi criado um modelo de referência que fornece diretrizes para sistematizar o processo de capacitação para o ensino a distância. Essas diretrizes indicam o que deve ser feito para que as competências identificadas sejam tratadas, de forma sistemática, em um processo de capacitação. Para o desenvolvimento do modelo de referência foi utilizada como fonte orientadora a Soft Systems Methodology - SSM de Checkland, a qual deu sustentação e confiabilidade a esse processo. A concepção do modelo também considerou alguns aspectos referentes às abordagens analítica e sistêmica, conceitos relacionados à sinergia, eficácia e eficiência, além de uma inspiração obtida a partir dos processos de certificação/orientação da ABET - Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Como resultado da verificação do comportamento do modelo na prática e de suas possíveis contribuições a uma situação real, foram indicadas melhorias ao processo de capacitação docente de uma determinada instituição de ensino. A indicação das melhorias demonstra a viabilidade e utilidade do modelo, tendo em vista o propósito ao qual foi criado. A identificação das competências e a concepção do modelo de referência para a sistematização do processo de capacitação docente para a educação a distância, bem como sua flexibilidade de utilização, são algumas das contribuições deste trabalho. / This research focuses on improving teacher skills for distance education (DE). To treat this issue teacher\'s basic competences have been identified for his/her suitable performance in this relative new teaching modality. Once we accept that it is always possible to improve teacher\'s teaching capacity, a framework has been created to systematize the qualification process for distance teaching. This framework provides guidelines that indicate what must be done so that the identified competences could be treated in a systematic way. Checkland\'s Soft Systems Methodology - SSM has been used as a reference model providing reliability and support for the process of the framework creation. The conception of the framework also considered some concepts related to analytic and systemic approaches, as well as synergy, efficacy and efficiency. In addition, the conceptualized model has been inspired on ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) certification/orientation process. As a result of the model application to a real situation, improvements have been indicated to teacher\'s qualification process of a college. These improvements demonstrate the feasibility and utility of the created framework. The contributions of this thesis are related to the desirable skills and competences that warranty mastery to the teachers involved in DE and to the flexibility of the framework which could be used in different situations.

Esta pesquisa tem como enfoque a preparação do professor para atuação na educação a distância (EaD). Para tratar essa questão foram identificadas, baseado em um referencial teórico, as competências consideradas básicas ao professor para sua adequada atuação nessa modalidade de ensino. A partir da compreensão de que a aquisição de tais competências pode contribuir para uma melhor preparação docente foi criado um modelo de referência que fornece diretrizes para sistematizar o processo de capacitação para o ensino a distância. Essas diretrizes indicam o que deve ser feito para que as competências identificadas sejam tratadas, de forma sistemática, em um processo de capacitação. Para o desenvolvimento do modelo de referência foi utilizada como fonte orientadora a Soft Systems Methodology - SSM de Checkland, a qual deu sustentação e confiabilidade a esse processo. A concepção do modelo também considerou alguns aspectos referentes às abordagens analítica e sistêmica, conceitos relacionados à sinergia, eficácia e eficiência, além de uma inspiração obtida a partir dos processos de certificação/orientação da ABET - Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Como resultado da verificação do comportamento do modelo na prática e de suas possíveis contribuições a uma situação real, foram indicadas melhorias ao processo de capacitação docente de uma determinada instituição de ensino. A indicação das melhorias demonstra a viabilidade e utilidade do modelo, tendo em vista o propósito ao qual foi criado. A identificação das competências e a concepção do modelo de referência para a sistematização do processo de capacitação docente para a educação a distância, bem como sua flexibilidade de utilização, são algumas das contribuições deste trabalho. / This research focuses on improving teacher skills for distance education (DE). To treat this issue teacher\'s basic competences have been identified for his/her suitable performance in this relative new teaching modality. Once we accept that it is always possible to improve teacher\'s teaching capacity, a framework has been created to systematize the qualification process for distance teaching. This framework provides guidelines that indicate what must be done so that the identified competences could be treated in a systematic way. Checkland\'s Soft Systems Methodology - SSM has been used as a reference model providing reliability and support for the process of the framework creation. The conception of the framework also considered some concepts related to analytic and systemic approaches, as well as synergy, efficacy and efficiency. In addition, the conceptualized model has been inspired on ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) certification/orientation process. As a result of the model application to a real situation, improvements have been indicated to teacher\'s qualification process of a college. These improvements demonstrate the feasibility and utility of the created framework. The contributions of this thesis are related to the desirable skills and competences that warranty mastery to the teachers involved in DE and to the flexibility of the framework which could be used in different situations.

The desire to develop a holistic framework for knowing and modelling in human enterprises is not new. Methodologies, such as Systems Dynamics, Soft Systems and the Viable Systems Model all claim a holistic perspective. Each of these approaches emphasises the interrelatedness of `things', rather than the `things' themselves. Thus, they avoid the possible fragmentation that can occur when elements within a situation are treated as if they exist independently. Unfortunately, the systems approaches flounder because they fail to reconcile knowledge with the path that brings it into being, or to satisfactorily deal with the concepts of order or communication in language. The Thesis, therefore, provides a greater clarification of these issues, in the light of enactive cognitive science, chaos theory and contemporary theories on dialogue. As a result, a new framework is presented, for knowing and modelling in human enterprises, that is based on our `new' understanding of holism. The organisational context of the Thesis is provided by two generic models, both developed by the author (a model of Duopoly Competition and a model of Chaos Control ), together with a case study of the Danish hearing aid manufacturer Oticon. The Thesis concludes by presenting various insights arising from our new frame of reference and reflecting on their challenges for organisations.

The enterprises that deliver capability are trying to evolve into through-life businesses by shifting away from the traditional pattern of designing and manufacturing successive generations of products, towards a new paradigm centred on support, sustainability and the incremental enhancements of existing capabilities from technology insertions and changes to process. The provision of seamless through-life customer solutions depends heavily on management of information and knowledge between, and within the different parts of the supply chain enterprise. This research characterised and described Capability Engineering (CE) as applied in the defence enterprise and identified to BAE Systems important considerations for managing knowledge within that context. The terms Capability Engineering and Through Life Capability Management (TLCM), used synonymously in this thesis, denote a complex evolving domain that requires new approaches to better understand the different viewpoints, models and practices. The findings and novelty of this research is demonstrated through the following achievements: • Defined the problem space that Requirements Engineers can use in through-life management projects. • Made a contribution to the development of models for Systems Architects to enable them to incorporate 'soft' systems within their consideration. • Independently developed a TLCM activity model against which BAE Systems validated the BAE Systems TLCM activity model, which is now used by UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). • Developed, and published within INCOSE1, the INCOSE Capability Engineering ontology. • Through the novel analysis of a directly applicable case study, highlighted to Functional Delivery Managers the significance of avoiding the decoupling of information and knowledge in the context of TLCM. • Through experimentation and knowledge gained within this research, identified inadequacies in the TechniCall (rapid access to experts) service which led to the generation of requirements for an improved service which is now being implemented by BAE Systems. The results showed that managing knowledge is distinct when compared to information management. Over-reliance on information management in the absence of tacit knowledge can lead to a loss in the value of the information, which can result in unintended consequences. Capability is realised through a combination of component systems and Capability Engineering is equivalent to a holistic perspective of Systems Engineering. A sector-independent Capability Engineering ontology is developed to enable semantic interoperability between different domains i.e. defence, rail and information technology. This helped to better understand the dependencies of contributing component systems within defence, and supported collaboration across different domains. Although the evaluation of the ontology through expert review has been accomplished; the ontology, KM analysis framework and soft systems transitioning approach developed still need to undergo independent verification and validation. This requires application to other case studies to check and exploit their suitability. This Engineering Doctorate research has been disseminated through a number of peer reviewed publications.

Since the late 1980s there has been a greater awareness of the need to manage organisational knowledge resources, which are seen as vital to the value proposition of any organisation. This has resulted in the development of a multiplicity of Organisational Knowledge Management (OKM) approaches, systems and processes. OKM as a concept is however experiencing a prolonged period of practitioner and academic dissatisfaction, which is impacting its credibility. Commentators claim that this emanates from the fact that a general model, as a diagnostic mechanism for the field, has not yet emerged, an indicator of immaturity in the field and a destabilising influence on practitioner confidence. This research sets out to explore OKM, with the aim of understanding and attempting to help address this dissatisfaction. The literature review focuses on environmental drivers of OKM as a concept from both practitioner and academic perspectives. This highlights a need for (1) an agreed definition of purpose for OKM systems and (2) a general diagnostic model or framework for those systems that identifies common constructs across sectors or geographic locations. In turn, these require appropriate research evidence. The research reported on in this thesis utilises Soft Systems Methodology as a framework for enquiry. By means of a meta-analysis of literature, the enquiry progresses to a descriptive survey, with findings being illustrated and analysed through fractal analysis. The data is then compared against a sample of models from the field before being translated into a new OKM diagnostic model and supporting toolkit, using logic modelling and a Participatory Integrated Assessment Tool. The application of these to a case study, carried out within in a large multinational organisation, is reported on and evaluated. Findings are that 'self-similarity' exists across existing views of OKM; that the need for knowledge to be used as an organisational resource is a persistent one; that a methodology can be developed that reacts to the needs of academics and practitioners in responding to the challenges from the field; that a proposition for a general organisation diagnostic model is possible; that a robust evidence-based definition for the concept, as well as a general diagnostic model for the coordination of organisational knowledge resources is needed and are provided; and that such a general diagnostic tool, such as has been developed in the research on which this thesis is based, can be applied within an organisation to identify gaps in systems designed to coordinate organisational knowledge resources.