This study aims to explore the socialization issues of new-coming professional engineers. Based on theory socialization, social learning theory and social information processing approach, this study attempts to introduce work group socialization (group level) and self socialization (individual level), i.e., information seeking behavior, to the research model simultaneously. It is to improve the inconsistency between theories and empirical studies, and further to provide integral perspective on newcomer¡¦s socialization issues. Therefore, this study applies cross-level research design to explore and analyze relationships among socialization tactics at group and individual level, role breath self-efficacy and role performance. Collecting data from 91 groups, which include 91 immediate supervisors and 384 new-coming professional engineers, the research draws conclusion in two dimensions: (1) information seeking behavior, role breath self-efficacy, and role performance relationships at individual level; (2) socialization tactics, role breath self-efficacy and role performance relationships at cross-level. At the individual level, the results show that (1) when individuals apply overt, third party, and observation as the information seeking behaviors, there is a positive effect on role performance; when apply indirect and test as the information seeking behaviors, there is a negative effect on role performance. (2) When individuals apply ¡§overt¡¨, ¡§third party¡¨, and ¡§observation¡¨ as the information seeking behaviors, there is a positive effect on role breath self-efficacy; when apply ¡§indirect¡¨ and ¡§test¡¨ as the information seeking behaviors, there is a negative effect on role breath self-efficacy. (3) When individuals have high level of role breath self-efficacy, they are more willing to undertake tasks beyond work requirement, and thus have significant increase in role performance. (4) Role breath self-efficacy has full mediating effect on the relationship between overt, indirect, third party, test and role performance, and it has partial mediating effect on the relationship between observation and role performance. At the cross-level, it is found that (1) when the groups adopt ¡§investiture¡¨ and ¡§sequential¡¨ socialization tactics, the individual¡¦s role performance is positively increased; when the groups adopt ¡§collective¡¨, ¡§formal¡¨, ¡§serial¡¨ and ¡§fixed¡¨ socialization tactics, there is no significant influence on individual¡¦s role performance. (2) The level of groups¡¦ ¡§collective tactic¡¨ has negative moderating effect on the relationship between individual¡¦s ¡§third party¡¨ information seeking behavior and role breadth self-efficacy; ¡§sequential tactic¡¨ has positive moderating effects on the relationship between third-party information seeking behavior and role breadth self-efficacy; ¡§formal tactic¡¨ has negative moderating effect on the relationship between ¡§testing¡¨ information seeking behavior and role breadth self-efficacy; sequential tactic and fixed tactic have negative moderating effect on the relationship between observation information seeking behavior and role breadth self-efficacy; and serial tactic have positive moderating effect on the relationship between observation information seeking behavior and role breadth self-efficacy. (3) Each socialization tactic does not have direct contextual effect on role breath self-efficacy, while role breath self-efficacy also does not have mediating effect on the relationship between socialization tactics and role performance.

<p>Game balance can be considerd complex - there are many factors that play a role in the perception of balance. This thesis examines complexity, game theory and intution in an effort to disconver more about the perception of balance. The findings are that tactical and strategical choices that are presented for a player need to be interesting, not to complex and not to obvious. The importance lies in the estimation of the result that the player does when making a choice.</p> / <p>Spelbalansering är komplext – det finns många faktorer som påverkar det som uppfattas som balans. I mitt verk undersöks speciellt komplexitet, spelteori och intuition i jakten på att gräva fram mer ut ämnet. Denna reflexiva rapport tar upp metod och arbetsprocessen runt verket och mitt arbete på ability-systemet på Lockpick Entertainment. Om de taktiska och strategiska val som presenteras för en spelare anses som intressanta beror både på spelaren och svårigheten i valet. Är valet komplext är det svårare att avgöra korrekt, och taktiska och strategiska avvägningar måste göras. Detta är grunden i spelbalansering, att spelaren har flera vettiga, men inte uppenbara, val att välja bland.</p>

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Donald P. Brutzman, Curtis L. Blais, Gordon Schacher, John Hiles. Includes bibliographical references (p. 216-224). Also available online.

Scholars have described conflict tactics as a means to engage or avoid a conflict, and face tactics as a means of face-saving by way of defense or restoration. While theories of conflict and face flourish, few researchers have sought an explanation of conflict themes within the field of nursing or examined how nurses display face-saving tactics within their conflict interactions. The goal of this study is to identify the connection of these concepts through a qualitative analysis of conflict stories compiled from interviews with licensed floor-nurses. The data is analyzed two ways: first, as conflict themes in stories about nurses’ floor/shift work; and secondly, as communicative face tactics used in conjunction with conflict styles as viewed through a nurses’ conflict-interaction. The study identified three outcomes. From the analysis of conflict stories, an updated and extended view of conflict themes in nursing is developed. Specific face tactics surfaced within certain conflict themes supporting the concept that face tactics can directly affect the outcome of a conflict interaction. And lastly, the discovery of new restorative and defensive face tactics not previously identified in research literature. The implications for theory and practical application are also discussed, as is the proposed direction for future research. / text

Foraging theory suggests that hungry animals balance a complex set of costs and benefits when determining what and how to eat. Prey distribution, patch size, and the presence of conspecifics are important factors influencing a predator's feeding tactics, including the decision to feed individually or socially. Dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) in New Zealand employ different feeding tactics in varying habitats and seasons. I used programmed survey routes and opportunistic sightings to examine the habitat use and feeding mechanics of dusky dolphins in Admiralty Bay, New Zealand, a protected shallow-water environment frequented by wintering dolphins. I encountered 253 dolphin groups, of which 58.5% were engaged in food-acquisition activities. Photographic efforts revealed a total of 177 individually-recognizable dolphins, 100 of which were returnees from previous seasons. Thirty-seven feeding groups and 70 bouts of feeding behavior were followed. Two-minute interval sampling as well as active acoustic sonar were used to test the hypothesis that diurnally-feeding dolphins would work in a coordinated manner to bring schooling fish to the surface. Feeding tactics observed in Admiralty Bay were then compared to foraging by some of the same animals in the unprotected, deep-water environment off Kaikoura, where large numbers of dusky dolphins feed during the night on organisms associated with a vertically-migrating scattering layer. Evidence supporting coordinated surface feeding was not statistically significant, but indicative of behavioral flexibility in feeding styles as part of a larger feeding repertoire. A potential shift in prey distribution from previous years may also explain some observed patterns. Feeding groups were positively correlated with seabirds and New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri). Mean group size of 6.1 (± 8.23 S.D., n=253) in Admiralty Bay is dramatically less than groups observed off Kaikoura, a variation likely reflecting differences in prey number and distribution, as well as differences in predation risk by deep-water sharks and killer whales. Behavioral flexibility likely confers an adaptive advantage for species subject to environmental fluctuation, whether due to natural or anthropogenic sources. Further research is necessary to evaluate prey distribution in Admiralty Bay and its possible effects on feeding dusky dolphins.

Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti didelio meistriškumo jaunimo grupių ir elito slidininkių varžybų krūvio apimtį, struktūrinę sudėtį, specifiškumą iki pagrindinių sezono varžybų ir nustatyti varžybinės veiklos taktinius ypatumus, rezultatyvumą, amžiaus rodiklius ir jų sąsają su sportiniais rezultatais pasaulio slidinėjimo čempionate ir Pasaulio slidinėjimo taurės varžybose. Tyrimo objektas – didelio meistriškumo jaunimo grupių (iki 20 metų ir iki 23 metų grupės) slidininkių ir elito slidininkių (užimančių 1–10 vietas pasaulio čempionate, Pasaulio slidinėjimo taurės varžybose) dalyvavimo varžybose sistemos ypatumai, varžybinė veikla ir jos rezultatyvumas, veiksniai, turintys įtakos varžybinės veiklos rezultatyvumui. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti jaunimo grupės (iki 23 metų) slidininkių varžybinės veiklos apimtį, struktūrinę sudėtį ir specifiškumą per slidinėjimo sezoną iki startų pasaulio jaunimo čempionate. 2. Ištirti didelio meistriškumo slidininkių varžybinę veiklą per 2008/2009 m. sezoną iki pasaulio slidinėjimo čempionato Liberece. 3. Išnagrinėti didelio meistriškumo slidininkių nuotolių įveikimo taktiką pasaulio slidinėjimo čempionate. 4. Nustatyti didelio meistriškumo slidininkių sportinių rezultatų ir amžiaus sąsają. 5. Išnagrinėti Lietuvos rinktinės slidininkių varžybinės veiklos rodiklius pasaulio jaunimo ir suaugusiųjų čempionate. Tyrimo rezultatai. Tyrimo rezultatai leidžia teigti, kad jaunimo ir elito grupių slidininkių rengimas vyksta trimis kryptimis: rengimas... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Research aim was to establish the scope, structural components and specificity of the contest loads of high-mastery youth group and elite female skiers before the main contest of the season, and to reveal the tactical peculiarities of contest activities, resultativity, age indices and their links with sports results in the World skiing championship and World Cup Skiing Competition. Research object was the peculiarities of the system of participation in the contest activities of high-mastery youth group (up to 20 years and up to 23 years of age) female skiers and elite female skiers (having taken the 1st – 10th places in the World championship, World Cup Skiing Championship), their contest activities and resultativity, and factors influencing the resultativity of contest activities. Research objectives: 1. To establish the scope, structural components and specificity of contest activities of youth group (up to 23 years of age) female skiers during the skiing season before the starts in the World Youth Skiing Championship. 2. To study the contest activities of elite female skiers during the season of 2008/2009 before the World Ski Championship in Liberec. 3. To analyze the tactics of covering distances of elite female skiers in the World Skiing Championship. 4. To establish the links between the sports results of elite female skiers and their age. 5. To analyze the indices of contest activities of Lithuanian national team elite female skiers in the World Youth and Adult... [to full text]

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers constitute a subgroup of specialized law enforcement officers that perform a variety of tactical operations while wearing approximately 40 kg of tactical gear. Lower back pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal injury suffered by SWAT officers. Tactical gear places significant stress on the lower back. Thus, it is important to quantify the effect that tactical gear has on muscle activation levels of torso musculature while performing occupational tasks. Electromyography was evaluated on 20 male subjects (age: 34.7±4.5 yr.; height: 1.79±.10 m; body mass: 91.53±17.32 kg; mass of gear: 13.82±1.90 kg) while performing four tactical tasks (standing, rifle walk, sitting, & shield walk) with and without gear. Electromyography was evaluated bilaterally on the erector spinae, rectus abdominis, and external oblique muscles. The dominant erector spinae (mean delta: +0.16%) and external oblique (mean delta: -0.124%) demonstrated significant changes in muscle activation with the addition of gear, which may indicate increased spinal compression. There were also trends of increased co-activation of core musculature with the addition of gear. The rifle walk and shield walk task mean muscle activations were significantly higher than the standing and sitting tasks. The shield walk produced the highest mean activations for each muscle. Physical training for SWAT officers should emphasize exercises that simulate task-specific movement patterns without gear to decrease the spinal compression associated with load carriage.

From underwater boat to submarine – The development of the Swedish submarine service 1945-1960 The scope of this essay is the development of the Swedish submarine service during the period 1945-1960. The aim is to answer the following questions: - What kind of new technology did Sweden acquire when salvaging the German type XXI submarine off Gothenburg at the end of World War II? - In what respect did this technology differ from that of the Royal Swedish Navy and did it subsequently contribute to the tactical and operational development? - What tactical and operational development was accomplished between 1945-1960? The timeframe, 1945-1960, was chosen since this is when the analysis of the salvaged type XXI submarine and related effects was conducted. Furthermore, it is also during this time that the Swedish submarine service is beginning to evolve as a result of the new knowledge mentioned above and the experiences made by both the allies and the Germans during World War II. The theoretical framework primarily refers to the theories on naval warfare by Sir Julian Corbett. Here the “Fleet in being” and his methods for viewing command have been deemed to be of primary interest, also the definition of “basic capabilities” applied by the Swedish Armed Forces is referred to in order to simplify certain matters to the reader. In conclusion, the technology acquired from the Germans provided Sweden not only with new actual technology but also a preview of the coming modern submarine and underwater warfare. The new technology and the experiences were implemented into the submarine service contributed to the fact that the Swedish submarines over a period of ten years developed from being underwater boats to actual submarines and subsequently contributed to the Swedish naval warfare capability during the Cold War.

Det svenska artilleriet är på väg att införa ett nytt haubitssystem till artilleribataljonerna. Det är inte bara ett nytt haubitssystem som är under införande utan också ett nytt reglemente. Det reglemente som finns idag är Förhandsutgåva Artillerireglemente Artilleribataljon 2012 och som titeln avslöjar är det en förhandsutgåva. Syftet med detta arbete är att analysera hur de grundläggande förmågorna tydliggörs i reglementet idag i jämförelse med reglementets föregångare Artillerireglemente Artilleribataljon 1985. Hur skildras de grundläggande förmågorna i reglementena och skiljer sig taktiken kopplat mot förmågorna idag mot den vi hade på 80-talet? Genom en kvalitativ textanalys av reglementena med grund ur 1985-års upplaga kommer utvalda delar att jämföras och analyseras. Därefter kommer taktiska konsekvenser av skillnaderna mellan reglementena att diskuteras. Resultatet av undersökningen påvisar tydliga skillnader i hur tydligt de grundläggande förmågorna och åtgärder som kopplas mot dessa presenteras i reglementena. Orsaker till detta, liksom utformningen av reglementena lyfts i diskussionen. / Artillery Tactics Codification in two eras, consequences? - The Swedish Artillery is in the process of instituting a new howitzer system to the artillery battalion. Not only is the new howitzer system being introduced, but also a new artillery regulation. The regulation currently used is a preview release called Förhandsutgåva Artillerireglemente Artilleribataljon 2012. The aim of this work is to analyze how the essential abilities demonstrated in the current regulations compare with its forerunner Artillerireglemente Artilleribataljon 1985. How are the basic abilities depicted in the regulations and do the tactics in relation to the abilities differ between the current and the old regulation? Through a qualitative analysis of the regulations with the basic text from the 1985-years edition, selected parts are to be compared and analyzed. Thereafter, tactical implications of differences between the regulations are discussed. The results points to obvious differences in how clearly the essential abilities are presented in the regulations. Causes for these differences as well as the overall design of the regulations are argued in the discussion.

This is a sociological study of the views of officers in the Swedish Army and its Amphibious Forces on tactics in Irregular Warfare (IW), in particular, Counterinsurgency (COIN). IW comprises struggles, where the military weaker part uses an indirect approach with smaller units and integrates the civilian and military dimensions in a violence spectrum including subversion, terrorism, Guerrilla Warfare and infantry actions. IW is the main armed warfare style in insurgencies. COIN is the combined political, military, economic, social and legal actions in counter insurgencies. Data has been collected by means of interviews with almost all (n =43) officers, who were either commanding battalions or rifle and manoeuvre companies while undergoing training for general warfare and international operations. The main theoretical and methodological inspiration is the traditional one for research on social fields, inaugurated by the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. The statistical technique used is Multiple Correspondence Analysis. As a background and context base, an inquiry inspired by the Begriffsgechichte (Conceptual History) tradition explores the genesis and development of understandings of the term Irregular Warfare. The research question is outlined as; “how can contemporary Swedish military thought on tactics in Irregular Warfare be characterized using descriptive patterns, mapped in relation to background factors and normative standards? The most significant findings are that there are two main opposing notions separating the officers’ views on tactics in Irregular Warfare: (1) a focus on larger, combat oriented and collectively operating military units versus smaller and larger, more intelligence oriented and dispersed operating units, and (2) a focus on military tasks and kinetic effects versus military and civilian tasks as well as “soft” effects. The distribution of these views can be presented as a two-dimensional space structured by the two axes. This space represents four categories of tactics, partly diverging from normative military standards for Counterinsurgency. This social space of standpoints shows different structural tendencies for background factors of social and cultural character, particularly dominant concerning military backgrounds, international mission experiences and civilian education. Compared to military standards for Counterinsurgency, the two tactical types characterized by a Regular Warfare mind-set stands out as counter-normative. Signs of creative thought on military practice and theory, as well as a still persistent Regular Warfare doxa are apparent. Power struggles might thus develop, effecting the transformation to a broadened warfare culture with an enhanced focus also on Irregular Warfare. The result does not support research results arguing for a convergence of military thought in the European transformation of Armed Forces. The main argument goes beyond tactics and suggests sociological analysis on reciprocal effects regarding strategy, operational art, tactics as well as leadership, concerning the mind-set and preferences for Regular, Irregular and Hybrid Warfare.