Grupper och grupprestationer har studerats länge utifrån olika perspektiv och discipliner, vilket har gett upphov till ett flertal teorier och förklaringsmodeller som innefattar olika tillvägagångssätt för hur grupper kan studeras. I denna uppsats förklaras begreppen grupper, grupprocesser och grupprestationer utifrån olika perspektiv och discipliner innan ett neurovetenskapligt perspektiv på grupper och grupprestationer antas. Detta för att redogöra för hur kognitiv neurovetenskap och neurovetenskapliga mätmetoder som electroencephalography (EEG) och functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) kan förhålla sig till forskning på grupper, grupprocesser och grupprestationer. Syftet med uppsatsen är att beskriva hur grupper kan studeras utifrån ett neurovetenskapligt perspektiv samt hur kognitiv neurovetenskap kan komplettera studier på grupper och grupprestationer. Först presenteras en förklaring på vad grupper, grupprocesser och grupprestationer är, inklusive en redogörelse för relevanta begrepp som ledarskap, gruppsammanhållning och gruppkognition. Detta följs sedan av hur grupper och grupprestationer kan studeras ytterligare med ett neurovetenskapligt perspektiv, för att avslutas med problematik och möjligheter för kognitiv neurovetenskap inom forskningsfältet.

OBJECTIVE: Within the U.S. population approximately 20 percent of individuals are diagnosed with some type of disability and another 12 percent are considered severely disabled. Many times special health care needs (SHCN) patients with one condition are burdened by more than one disability. A variety of conditions such as behavioral issues, developmental disorders, and cognitive, congenital or systemic diseases have been proven to increase the risk of oral heath disease in individuals with SHCN. These conditions may affect the ability to communicate and limit dexterity for proper oral health maintenance, which is why caregivers must become advocates for these patients to insure their oral health needs are met. By communicating effectively with caretakers, dentists will be able to establish a positive impact on patients to make dental visits easier and less traumatizing. Unfortunately studies have found that dental and hygiene students graduate without feeling adequately prepared to treat patients with SHCN. With the proper education and training, more dental students and future dentists will take on the challenges that are brought by these individuals to provide the best care possible. Establishing a strong support system could potentially decrease oral health disparity in SHCN patients and improve overall care. The goal of this study was to assess whether or not there was a positive impact on the oral health of SHCN individuals when caregivers and oral health professionals worked together in a team treatment effort to fight against oral disease. METHODS: Study used a systematic review approach of literature where a PICO question was formed and the article selection process included a review of title, abstract, and application of inclusions and exclusion criteria. Printed-text and online databases such as Pubmed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were used to conduct a review of literature where a total of 210 papers were collected. After selection process, only four papers were eligible for systematic review. Pre-determined questions were used to determine the how involved caregivers and oral health professionals were during each study followed by an assessment using a point system, which scored caregiver and oral health professionals involvement during intervention. RESULTS: Selected studies showed heterogeneity in study design and sample size but all used multidisciplinary approach, which included some degree of caregiver and oral hygiene provider (OHP) collaboration. Two out of the four studies totaled nearly perfect scores in both caregiver and oral health professional involvement, which resulted in a positive effect on oral health care of SHCN patients. Case reports that included an interdisciplinary team approach to oral care procedures on patients, showed the benefits of teamwork and how collaborative practice between dental and medical professionals increased successful patient outcomes. Results illustrated the significant role that caregiver’s play in the dental team and how their absence during intervention treatment significantly lowered study scores for the overall success of patient care. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated that studies with a well-rounded dental team, which included caregivers, OHP, health care professionals accompanied by social support systems, saw the greatest success and improvements in oral health care of SHCN patients. Nevertheless, a dedicated dental team where most members were present did not guarantee intervention success if caregivers did not show a significant involvement. Caregivers alone could positively impact oral health care of a patient more than if OHP worked alone. In conclusion, we found that each member of a dental team had the ability to impact change to an almost equal degree. For this reason, it is important for caregivers, OHP, dental staff and health care professionals to work together, support one another and communicate effectively to decrease oral health disparities in SHCN patients.

Embora haja muitas pesquisas na área de teamwork, o desenvolvimento de times de agentes para ambientes complexos continua sendo um desafio, especialmente se esses ambientes possuem requisitos de tempo-real. Muitas ferramentas foram desenvolvidas, mas não existe uma bala de prata e aquelas mais gerais possuem sérios problemas com o requisito de tempo-real. Este trabalho introduz uma nova ferramenta baseada em proxy, usando a teoria de Joint Intentions, que ajuda agentes a serem membros de uma equipe dentro de um ambiente parcialmente observável, dinâmico, estocástico e com requisitos de tempo-real. Os experimentos de validação dessa ferramenta são executados no jogo de computador Unreal Tournament 2004, que fornece um ambiente com tais características. / Although there are many researches in teamwork, the development of agent teams for complex environments still presents many challenges, especially if these environments have real-time requirements. Many tools have been developed, but there is not a silver bullet, and the most general tools have serious problems with real-time requirements. This paper introduces a new proxy-based tool, based on Joint Intentions, to help agents to be a teammate in partilly observable, dynamic and stochastic environments with real-time requirements. The validation experiments for this proxy were performed in the computer game Unreal Tournament 2004, that provides an environment with such features.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION SHENG-TAO FAN, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in SPEECH COMMUNICATION, presented on APRIL 11, 2013, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: PERFORMATIVE CORPORATE TRAINING IN TAIWAN MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Elyse L. Pineau This dissertation attempts to translate performance concepts and techniques into corporate training models for concretely increasing Taiwanese business competencies. I argue that this performance praxis is especially relevant to Taiwanese business contexts because of our Taoist traditions, which performative corporate training can awaken and activate. The purpose of applying performance praxis in corporate training is not to enhance physical techniques, acting skills, or technical competence, but rather to explore organizational dynamics through embodiment and to enrich management-related knowledge involving leadership, creativity, and team building. In Chapter One, Introduction to Taoism and Taiwanese Corporate Culture, I show that Taiwanese corporate culture is bonded and interdependent with Taoism. In Chapter Two, Performance Pedagogy for Business Contexts, I categorize different forms of performative pedagogies in teaching, learning, and corporate training as well as examining Taiwanese practices of performance pedagogy. Based on my systematic literature review of Western academia and analysis of Taiwanese practices, I create a calligraphic model for developing and analyzing performative corporate training programs within organizational and cultural contexts. This model elaborates three characteristics of the Taiwanese corporate culture (harmony, innovation, and teamwork), three features of Taoism (ecology, creativity, and community-building), and three principles of performance (balance, imagination, and collaboration) for Taiwanese corporate training. In Chapter Three, I present a case study of the STOMP Performative Corporate Training program, led by Smart Orange Training and Consulting. Through thick descriptions from an insider's perspective, I demonstrate that this innovative and successful case advances the trend of management development from experiential learning to performative training. In Chapter Four, I propose a management education course for a university Executive Master of Business Administration program, entitled "Performing Mentor." In addition, I design a corporate training program, entitled "Performing Taiwanese Cultural Festivals" that uses performative pedagogy to awaken innovation, promote harmony, and facilitate teamwork among business participants. In Chapter Five, I synthesize the study and note its limitations and directions for future research. In essence, this dissertation is theorization about performative pedagogy in corporate training with unique Taiwanese practices. It creates interdisciplinary integration, industry/academia collaboration, and cross-cultural understanding.

In this study Complementarity in Therapy, it has been outlined how the construct, cybernetic complementary description or complementarity can be used in therapy to invent an imaginary team for the helper working solo. Complementarity is used to create alternative ideas, simulating the contribution of a team especially in pre-session hypothesising. A literature study explores the possibilities of complementarity as a cybernetic constructivist construct. Of special significance is the contributions of Varela's formulation of complementarity as trinities, introducing the slash (/) Keeney's emphasis on recursion indicated by circulating arrows and Flemeons emphasis on imbrecation and levels of connection illustrated with different types of lettering. A case study is described to illustrate how complementarity was applied. / Social Work / M.A. (Social science (Mental health))

The changes within the South African education system have turned-around the view that regards principals as “sole” people responsible for leadership and management of schools. The task of the school principal has undergone a radical change. Over the years the notion has been replaced by the view that sees management and leadership as prerogative of many, including stakeholders within and outside education. The move has become world-wide phenomenon compelled by the dual imperatives changing societal values and the rate of change. This study is aimed at investigating the perceptions and experiences of School Management Teams (SMTs) on teamwork as an alternative to school management. The investigation was framed within the mixed-method approach, and sought to unpack the experience of SMT members with regard to teamwork. An interpretive paradigm made it possible for me to gain an in-depth understanding of SMT members’ experience of teamwork within their school contexts. I used interviews and questionnaires as research tools to gather data. This study has found that, although the concept of teamwork is well-received, there are still significant obstacles to the implementation of teamwork as an alternative form of school management / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Embora haja muitas pesquisas na área de teamwork, o desenvolvimento de times de agentes para ambientes complexos continua sendo um desafio, especialmente se esses ambientes possuem requisitos de tempo-real. Muitas ferramentas foram desenvolvidas, mas não existe uma bala de prata e aquelas mais gerais possuem sérios problemas com o requisito de tempo-real. Este trabalho introduz uma nova ferramenta baseada em proxy, usando a teoria de Joint Intentions, que ajuda agentes a serem membros de uma equipe dentro de um ambiente parcialmente observável, dinâmico, estocástico e com requisitos de tempo-real. Os experimentos de validação dessa ferramenta são executados no jogo de computador Unreal Tournament 2004, que fornece um ambiente com tais características. / Although there are many researches in teamwork, the development of agent teams for complex environments still presents many challenges, especially if these environments have real-time requirements. Many tools have been developed, but there is not a silver bullet, and the most general tools have serious problems with real-time requirements. This paper introduces a new proxy-based tool, based on Joint Intentions, to help agents to be a teammate in partilly observable, dynamic and stochastic environments with real-time requirements. The validation experiments for this proxy were performed in the computer game Unreal Tournament 2004, that provides an environment with such features.

This thesis investigates the possibilities to extend a tactical air combat simulator, named TACSI, with support for team behavior in fight and attack scenarios. A model for describing teamwork has been developed. The model uses plans and primitive team actions to achieve goals. A social structure is used to transfer the responsibility for making decisions from the team to a single agent within the team. Special care have been taken to allow an effctive distribution of targets within the team. In order to test the concepts of the model and to evaluate the applicability in TACSI, a limited implementation of the team behavior model have been made. The results show that the concepts of the model works and that the model is applicable in TACSI, but some things is left to be specified in order to make a complete implementation.

Embora haja muitas pesquisas na área de teamwork, o desenvolvimento de times de agentes para ambientes complexos continua sendo um desafio, especialmente se esses ambientes possuem requisitos de tempo-real. Muitas ferramentas foram desenvolvidas, mas não existe uma bala de prata e aquelas mais gerais possuem sérios problemas com o requisito de tempo-real. Este trabalho introduz uma nova ferramenta baseada em proxy, usando a teoria de Joint Intentions, que ajuda agentes a serem membros de uma equipe dentro de um ambiente parcialmente observável, dinâmico, estocástico e com requisitos de tempo-real. Os experimentos de validação dessa ferramenta são executados no jogo de computador Unreal Tournament 2004, que fornece um ambiente com tais características. / Although there are many researches in teamwork, the development of agent teams for complex environments still presents many challenges, especially if these environments have real-time requirements. Many tools have been developed, but there is not a silver bullet, and the most general tools have serious problems with real-time requirements. This paper introduces a new proxy-based tool, based on Joint Intentions, to help agents to be a teammate in partilly observable, dynamic and stochastic environments with real-time requirements. The validation experiments for this proxy were performed in the computer game Unreal Tournament 2004, that provides an environment with such features.

Under de senaste 20 åren har det blivit vanligare att organisera verksamheter i team. Upplevelsen av att arbeta team skiljer sig mellan individer, team och verksamheter. Tidigare forskning har främst fokuserat på hur vårdpersonal upplever teamarbete. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka personalens upplevelse av teamarbete och hur det påverkar arbetsklimatet i kommunal verksamhet. 12 kommunanställda intervjuades om deras upplevelse av teamarbete. Den insamlade datan analyserades, av en fenomenologiinspirerad, forskningsanalys som kallas för EPP-metoden. Upplevelsen av teamarbete beskrivs utifrån de tre abstrakta teman (1) Socialt klimat, (2) Arbetsprocess samt (3) Arbetsstruktur. Studiens resultat visade att majoriteten av personalen upplevde teamarbete inom den kommunala verksamheten som positiv samt att deras upplevelse av hur teamarbete påverkar arbetsklimatet var bra. Resultatet stämmer väl överens med tidigare forskning gällande teamarbetets positiva aspekter och även hur det påverkar arbetsklimatet.