This thesis describes interpretative ideographic research using differences from a longitudinal questionnaire poll of the Information Systems (IS) development community of Hong Kong to identify those practitioners' organisations which are quickly adapting to changes in their environments. A maturity model of IS development practice, which is the main contribution of this research, was derived from the IS development literature. A number of case studies of the quickly adapting organisations in Hong Kong have been carried out with the intention of verifying the construct and utility of this model. The model examines an organisation's IS development practice through a number of dimensions. The dimensions are formed into the acronym AMMUS. The first such dimension is the degree of automation in the practice. Next is the sophistication of the methodologies deployed by the practitioners discerned from the rigour of application of the methodology, the form of the sequence in which stages of the development process may be visited and the paradigms on which the methodology is based. Another dimension of the model is the concern of the practitioners for measuring the quality and effectiveness of their work. User involvement is the next dimension and the way in which this is practised is arranged in a sequence. Finally, the scope of the problems normally tackled and the stages of the problem solving process are posited as useful dimensions for assessing the practice. The model has been found to be resilient and useful. It has been discovered that the use of certain of the dimensions of the model must be tempered with knowledge of additional factors. However, the model is found to be a useful tool for indicating to IS development management where their attentions are most likely to yield significant benefits.

The advancement of Information Communication and Technology, especially the vast development of the Internet, which makes information more widely available to more people, has brought changes to the publishing industry. This technological development includes the introduction of electronic information sources such as e-journals and e-books. The research aimed at investigating the adoption of views about and use of e-books at the University of Namibia. The research design was exploratory and the study adopted a mixed approach, in which both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Data collection was done through administering questionnaires, a focus group discussion and observation, combined with think-aloud methods. Both purposive sampling and random sampling techniques were used in selecting respondents. The results of this study reported a high awareness about e-books by students. The study also revealed frequent general use of e-books. The study further reported that respondents used both the non-library search engines and the library search tool as starting points to search for e-books, with the result that the use of the library provided e-books has not reached any significant level. The study also observed positive attitudes towards e-books by students, as they indicated a preference for e-books over printed books and reported using e-books mainly for course work and research purposes. In identifying factors that hinder the use of e-books, aspects such as slow Internet connections, lack of knowledge (including the awareness and skills required to utilise e-books), limited and/or lack of relevant e-books titles, preference for print, eye strain and difficulty reading on screen, as well as limited computers and lack of e-readers, were identified as major deterrents for the use of e-books. Additionally, the study found that the relative advantage, compatibility, trialability and observability have significant influence on the adoption of e-books. / Information Science / M. A.(Information Science)

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La littérature de jeunesse, l'un des supports les plus utilisés dans le contexte scolaire, est considérée comme un objet culturel de l'enfant. Cette thèse porte plus précisément sur les albums de jeunesse dont le personnage principal est un enfant noir. Ces livres sont envoyés aux écoles publiques brésiliennes par le ministère de l'Éducation en vue de « l'éducation aux relations ethnico-raciales » prévue dans les politiques scolaires promulguées en 2003 et 2004, rendant obligatoire « l'enseignement de l'histoire et de la culture afro-brésilienne et africaine » dans tous les établissements scolaires, ainsi que « l'inclusion de personnages noirs [...] dans les supports d'enseignement » (Brasil, 2005). Si, depuis les années 1950, de nombreux chercheurs brésiliens en sciences de l'éducation et en sociologie ont étudié la représentation de ces personnages, les différentes thématiques auxquelles ils sont actuellement associés et la manière dont les enseignant-e-s font usage de ces ouvrages en classe n'ont en revanche fait l'objet que de bien peu d'investigations. Nous étudierons donc ici l'image de l'enfant noir à travers l'analyse du contenu textuel et iconographique de 80 albums contemporains, mais aussi les usages que les enseignantes de huit écoles publiques de Salvador de Bahia font de ces ouvrages, par le bais de deux méthodologies complémentaires : des entretiens collectifs et des observations directes dans une classe de CE2. Nous nous appuierons tout particulièrement sur le concept de race qui, d'un côté, se trouve au cœur de ces politiques scolaires, de ces ouvrages et de leurs usages auprès des enfants et, de l'autre, constitue un outil d'analyse permettant de rendre compte des rapports sociaux. Ce sera alors l'occasion de mettre en lumière les enjeux et limites de ces politiques scolaires et des usages de ces livres en tant que supports de nouvelles modalités pédagogiques pour l'apprentissage de ladite diversité ethno-raciale à l'école. / Children's literature, one of the most widely used aids in a school context, is also considered a child's cultural object. This dissertation focuses specifically on children's books in which the main character is a black child. The Brazilian public schools receive this material from the Department of Education in an aim to promote "education in ethnic-racial relationships" which is present in the school policies that were promulgated in 2003 and 2004, and that made mandatory "the teaching of history and of African-Brazilian and African cultures" in every educational institution as well as "the inclusion of black characters [...] in educational aids" (Brazil, 2005). Numerous Brazilian researchers in the fields of education and sociology have, since the 1950's, studied the representation of this character. Nonetheless, the different subjects to which it is today associated, and the way educators make use of these books inside the classroom, remain yet to be researched. We will therefore, study here, the image of the black child through the analysis of textual and iconographic contents of 80 contemporary children's books, but also the usage that educators of eight public schools of Salvador de Bahia make of these books, while using two complementary approaches: collective interviews and direct observation of a CE2 class. We will focus particularly on the concept of race, which on the one hand, is at the heart of these school policies, of these books and of their usage on children. On the other hand, it constitutes a category of analysis, allowing us to report on social relations. Consequently, this will be the opportunity to bring to light the interests and limitations that these school policies and books entail, as a way to support new educational approaches for the learning of the above mentioned ethnic-racial relationships at school. / A literatura infantojuvenil, um dos suportes mais utilizados no contexto escolar, é considerada como um objeto cultural da criança. Esta tese se interessa especificamente sobre os livros ilustrados infantojuvenis cuja personagem principal é uma criança negra. Estes livros são enviados para as escolas públicas brasileiras pelo Ministério da Educação a fim de atender a "Educação das Relações Étnico-Raciais" prevista nas políticas educacionais promulgadas em 2003 e 2004, tornando obrigatório "o ensino da história e da cultura afro-brasileira e africana" em todos os estabelecimentos de ensino, assim como "a inclusão de personagens negros [...] nos materiais de ensino" (BRASIL, 2005). Se, desde 1950 alguns pesquisadores brasileiros em educação e em sociologia estudaram a representação desses personagens, as diferentes temáticas pelas quais eles são atualmente associados e a maneira como os professores-as fazem uso desses livros em sala de aula têm, porém, sido pouco investigada. Estudamos aqui a imagem da criança negra através da análise de conteúdo textual e iconográfica de 80 livros contemporâneos, mas também os usos que os professores de oito escolas públicas de Salvador - Bahia fazem desses livros através de duas metodologias complementares: entrevistas coletivas e observações diretas em uma turma do terceiro ano do ensino fundamental. Nos apoiaremos particularmente no conceito de raça que, de um lado, se encontra no interior dessas políticas educacionais, desses livros e nos seus usos com as crianças, e por outro lado, constitui uma categoria de análise permitindo observar as relações sociais. Esta será uma ocasião para destacar as perspectivas e limites dessas políticas educacionais e os usos desses livros como suportes de novas modalidades pedagógicas para a aprendizagem da dita diversidade étnico-racial na escola. / La literatura infantil, uno de los recursos más utilizados en el contexto escolar, es considerada como un objeto cultural del niño. Esta tesis se enfoca más precisamente en los álbumes infantiles en los que el personaje principal es un niño negro. El Ministerio de Educación envía estos libros a las escuelas públicas brasileñas con el objetivo de promulgar "la educación para las relaciones étnico-raciales" prevista en las políticas escolares promulgadas en los años 2003 y 2004, haciendo obligatoria "la enseñanza de la historia y de la cultura afro-brasileña y africana" en todos los establecimientos escolares, así como "la inclusión de personajes negros [...] en los recursos de enseñanza" (Brasil, 2005). Si bien, desde los años cincuenta, algunos investigadores brasileños en ciencias de la educación y en sociología han estudiado la representación de este personaje, las diferentes temáticas a las que está actualmente ligado y la manera en que los educadores hacen uso de estos libros dentro de la clase han sido poco investigada. Estudiaremos así la imagen del niño negro a través del análisis del contenido textual e iconográfico de 80 álbumes contemporáneos, así como también los usos que los educadores de ocho escuelas públicas de Salvador de Bahía hacen de estos textos, utilizando dos metodologías complementarias: entrevistas colectivas y observaciones directas dentro de una clase de CE2. Nos apoyaremos particularmente en el concepto de raza la cual, por un lado, se encuentra en el núcleo de estas políticas escolares, de estas obras y de su uso con los niños; y, por otro lado, constituye una categoría de análisis, permitiendo informar sobre las relaciones sociales. De este modo, tendremos la oportunidad de poner de relieve los intereses y las limitaciones de estas políticas escolares, así como de los usos de estos libros, como recursos para nuevas modalidades pedagógicas que facilitan el aprendizaje de dicha diversidad étnico-racial en la escuela.