Magister Commercii - MCom / The South African financial services sector has experienced phenomenal growth over the past two decades, and financial institutions that were previously regional are now operating nationally. To enhance operations and meet customer expectations, financial institutions have turned to technology and virtual project teams. There is mounting evidence of the use of virtual project teams throughout the financial services sector; however, the effectiveness of virtual project teams in South Africa, and the support they receive, is yet to be determined. This case study aims to investigate the effectiveness of virtual project teams by focusing on the organisational systems and group dynamics of the virtual project teams at one of South Africa's leading financial institutions. The study involves a cross -sectional survey conducted by means of a Lickert-scale questionnaire distributed among all 23 project team members (10 in Cape Town and 13 in Johannesburg). The findings are predicted to indicate the support provided by this particular financial institution to the virtual project teams’ operations, while also identifying the organisational systems in place and measuring the effectiveness of the virtual project teams. The financial institution on which this case study is based gave consent for the case study to be conducted, on condition of anonymity.

Technological developments have brought at the forefront the virtual communication in the business world. In our day and age it is difficult to find teams in organizations that do not rely in long distance communication even partially. Leaders bear the responsibility to secure quick and smooth transition of information among the members of their teams as well as to foster an environment that promotes trust and fuels motivation. We conducted this exploratory case study using the abductive approach and the qualitative method. Our aim was to gain a better understanding on how the leaders perceive trust and motivation in a virtual communication setting. Therefore, we send out questionnaires to leaders that volunteered to participate in our study and we adopted the pragmatist philosophy in an attempt to provide valuable insights and practical recommendations to leaders that are managing teams in an electronic environment. The results of our study suggest that leaders perceive the long distance communication mediated through technology to be something positive to the success of their teams as they consider it to actually increase efficiency, provide a more straightforward style of communication that enables their followers to take on more responsibility for the results of their work as well as an increase in productivity.

During the year 2020 the world was struck by the covid-19 pandemic. Due to this, many businesses asked their employees to work from home (Sheehan, 2020) and thus presented organizational leaders with new challenges. Leaders started to operate their teams through virtual communication channels.The purpose of the study is to investigate whether leadership has changed due to working at distance. To investigate this, we have brought forward a model of "optimal distance leadership" based on previous research within the field, including theories regarding leadership and communication. The previous studies tend to focus on the pros and cons of distance leadership. This study intends to review how the leadership has changed in the transition to distance work.The study is based on qualitative semi structured interviews with nuanced descriptions of management leadership. The result of the study shows that the leadership has changed. Leaders adopted a situational leadership, became more solid in their communication and more available than before the pandemic. The change can largely be explained through the model of "optimal distance leadership". / Under år 2020 drabbades världen av coronapandemin. I och med detta bad många företag sina medarbetare att arbeta hemifrån (Sheehan, 2020) och chefers ledarskap utsattes därmed för nya utmaningar. Chefer började leda på distans genom virtuella kommunikationskanaler.Syftet med studien är att undersöka om chefers ledarskap har förändrats på grund av distansarbetet. För att undersöka detta har vi tagit fram en modell om ett ”optimalt distansledarskap” som baseras på tidigare forskning inom ämnet samt teorier om ledarskap och kommunikation. Den tidigare forskningen tenderar fokusera på för- och nackdelar med distansledarskap. Denna studie avser istället att undersöka hur förändringen i ledarskapet ser ut i övergången till distansarbete.Studien baserar sig på kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med nyanserade beskrivningar av förändringen i chefers ledarskap. Resultatet i studien visar att ledarskapet har förändrats. Cheferna har bland annat situationsanpassat sitt ledarskap, blivit tydligare i sin kommunikation och blivit mer tillgängliga än innan pandemin. Förändringen kan i stora delar förklaras utifrån modellen om det ”optimala distansledarskapet”.

O presente estudo trata dos processos cognitivos na construção do sistema de escrita durante a interação entre crianças em processo de alfabetização por meio do uso de aplicativos de comunicação virtual. Seu objetivo é compreender como tal interação pode favorecer o processo de construção da língua escrita. Baseada no Método Clínico, a coleta de dados foi realizada com alunos de uma turma do 2o ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública do campo, situada na região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre, durante nove sessões de uso de dois aplicativos nos tablets da escola: o Google Classroom e o Google Hangouts. Sustentada pela teoria da equilibração de Jean Piaget, parte-se de uma proposição teórica inicial pautada em uma visão de que o uso dos aplicativos potencializará os desequilíbrios cognitivos e, portanto, a construção da língua escrita em função do contexto de comunicação. Adotou- se a generalização analítica como estratégia para análise dos dados. A primeira unidade de análise apresenta um panorama com dados sobre o processo de construção da língua escrita de sete sujeitos e sobre os desequilíbrios ocorridos ao longo das sessões. Na segunda unidade, analisa-se como ocorrem os desequilíbrios durante o uso dos aplicativos e quais são as reações dos sujeitos ante as perturbações. Na última unidade, discutem-se as situações desencadeadoras e as circunstâncias para a emergência dos desequilíbrios. Ao final do cruzamento das análises, a proposição teórica é revisada, aprofundando o papel dos desequilíbrios e as condições emergentes para o processo de construção da língua escrita. Conclui-se que as situações de comunicação virtual, seja para uma audiência ou para um interlocutor, potencializam a ocorrência de desequilíbrios, favorecendo o surgimento da necessidade cognitiva e/ou afetiva de compreensão da língua escrita, embora os aplicativos em questão, por si só, não ofereçam as resistências ou os feedbacks necessários ao processo. Os resultados encontrados apontam caminhos para a construção de aplicativos voltados à alfabetização. / The present work is a study of the interaction between children in the early literacy process by using virtual communication apps. It researches the cognitive processes involved in the construction of written language that emerges from this interaction. It aims to understand how such interaction can help the development of writing. Based on the Clinical Method, the data collection was carried out with primary education students from a 2nd-year class at a rural public school in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre. In nine sessions, they used two apps in the school's tablets: Google Classroom and Google Hangouts. Supported by Jean Piaget's theory of equilibration, the study starts with an initial theoretical proposition based on a view that the use of the apps will potentialize the cognitive imbalances due to the communication context and, therefore, the construction of the written language. The study adopted the analytical generalization as the methodological framework. The first unit of analysis presents a panorama of the data regarding the process of construction of the written language of seven subjects and on the imbalances that have occurred throughout the sessions. The second unit analyzes how the imbalances occur during the use of the apps and what are the reactions of the subjects to the disturbances. The last unit discusses the triggering situations and the circumstances of the imbalances emergence. At the end of the analyses triangulation, the theoretical proposition is revised, deepening the understanding of the imbalances role and emerging conditions for the process of construction of written language. The study concludes that situations of virtual communication, whether to an audience or to an interlocutor, create a fertile context for the occurrence of imbalances, favoring the emergence of the cognitive and/or affective necessity to understand how to write. Although, the studied apps, per se, do not create the resistances or feedbacks necessary to the process. The results point towards new paths for the development of literacy apps.

In today's society, the internet is an important part of everyday life. Over recent years the number of electronic services has increased markedly. Communities such as Facebook, consume more of people's time than 5-10 years ago. How can public authorities benefit from these communities or are the municipalities not ready for this? The municipalities determine how their resources should be allocated based on the municipality's needs. The municipalities may be in charge of such matters of public interest which is linked to one municipality or its citizens. The purpose of this study is to explain what a virtual meeting platform means and how the public authority can take advantage of the virtual world to create benefits for its citizens by modifying existing tools. We have chosen a deductive approach with elements of induction, and the study is positivistic because of the approach on trying to find absolute knowledge from this study. We have developed five hypotheses by material from a pilot study. The material from the pilot study has served as the basis for a quantitative survey among users of Facebook. By introducing the Balanced Scorecard a municipality can, based upon local needs and capabilities, develop goals and measures based on the municipality strategy. We have constructed a model that is partly based on David Lundberg's 5-model (Lundberg, 2009). The model, Heimberg Flower, focuses on the "benefit"-factor which is directed towards the virtual options from which the municipality may choose which options to examine or test. Our hypothesis could prove two significant relationships, there is adesire for internet-based services, and that Facebook is preferred over other virtual meeting places for representation by the municipality. Using the modified Balanced Scorecard according to Heimberg Flower, the model can serve as a basis for municipalities in efforts to implement IT solutions that create value for the citizen.

O presente estudo trata dos processos cognitivos na construção do sistema de escrita durante a interação entre crianças em processo de alfabetização por meio do uso de aplicativos de comunicação virtual. Seu objetivo é compreender como tal interação pode favorecer o processo de construção da língua escrita. Baseada no Método Clínico, a coleta de dados foi realizada com alunos de uma turma do 2o ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública do campo, situada na região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre, durante nove sessões de uso de dois aplicativos nos tablets da escola: o Google Classroom e o Google Hangouts. Sustentada pela teoria da equilibração de Jean Piaget, parte-se de uma proposição teórica inicial pautada em uma visão de que o uso dos aplicativos potencializará os desequilíbrios cognitivos e, portanto, a construção da língua escrita em função do contexto de comunicação. Adotou- se a generalização analítica como estratégia para análise dos dados. A primeira unidade de análise apresenta um panorama com dados sobre o processo de construção da língua escrita de sete sujeitos e sobre os desequilíbrios ocorridos ao longo das sessões. Na segunda unidade, analisa-se como ocorrem os desequilíbrios durante o uso dos aplicativos e quais são as reações dos sujeitos ante as perturbações. Na última unidade, discutem-se as situações desencadeadoras e as circunstâncias para a emergência dos desequilíbrios. Ao final do cruzamento das análises, a proposição teórica é revisada, aprofundando o papel dos desequilíbrios e as condições emergentes para o processo de construção da língua escrita. Conclui-se que as situações de comunicação virtual, seja para uma audiência ou para um interlocutor, potencializam a ocorrência de desequilíbrios, favorecendo o surgimento da necessidade cognitiva e/ou afetiva de compreensão da língua escrita, embora os aplicativos em questão, por si só, não ofereçam as resistências ou os feedbacks necessários ao processo. Os resultados encontrados apontam caminhos para a construção de aplicativos voltados à alfabetização. / The present work is a study of the interaction between children in the early literacy process by using virtual communication apps. It researches the cognitive processes involved in the construction of written language that emerges from this interaction. It aims to understand how such interaction can help the development of writing. Based on the Clinical Method, the data collection was carried out with primary education students from a 2nd-year class at a rural public school in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre. In nine sessions, they used two apps in the school's tablets: Google Classroom and Google Hangouts. Supported by Jean Piaget's theory of equilibration, the study starts with an initial theoretical proposition based on a view that the use of the apps will potentialize the cognitive imbalances due to the communication context and, therefore, the construction of the written language. The study adopted the analytical generalization as the methodological framework. The first unit of analysis presents a panorama of the data regarding the process of construction of the written language of seven subjects and on the imbalances that have occurred throughout the sessions. The second unit analyzes how the imbalances occur during the use of the apps and what are the reactions of the subjects to the disturbances. The last unit discusses the triggering situations and the circumstances of the imbalances emergence. At the end of the analyses triangulation, the theoretical proposition is revised, deepening the understanding of the imbalances role and emerging conditions for the process of construction of written language. The study concludes that situations of virtual communication, whether to an audience or to an interlocutor, create a fertile context for the occurrence of imbalances, favoring the emergence of the cognitive and/or affective necessity to understand how to write. Although, the studied apps, per se, do not create the resistances or feedbacks necessary to the process. The results point towards new paths for the development of literacy apps.

O presente estudo trata dos processos cognitivos na construção do sistema de escrita durante a interação entre crianças em processo de alfabetização por meio do uso de aplicativos de comunicação virtual. Seu objetivo é compreender como tal interação pode favorecer o processo de construção da língua escrita. Baseada no Método Clínico, a coleta de dados foi realizada com alunos de uma turma do 2o ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública do campo, situada na região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre, durante nove sessões de uso de dois aplicativos nos tablets da escola: o Google Classroom e o Google Hangouts. Sustentada pela teoria da equilibração de Jean Piaget, parte-se de uma proposição teórica inicial pautada em uma visão de que o uso dos aplicativos potencializará os desequilíbrios cognitivos e, portanto, a construção da língua escrita em função do contexto de comunicação. Adotou- se a generalização analítica como estratégia para análise dos dados. A primeira unidade de análise apresenta um panorama com dados sobre o processo de construção da língua escrita de sete sujeitos e sobre os desequilíbrios ocorridos ao longo das sessões. Na segunda unidade, analisa-se como ocorrem os desequilíbrios durante o uso dos aplicativos e quais são as reações dos sujeitos ante as perturbações. Na última unidade, discutem-se as situações desencadeadoras e as circunstâncias para a emergência dos desequilíbrios. Ao final do cruzamento das análises, a proposição teórica é revisada, aprofundando o papel dos desequilíbrios e as condições emergentes para o processo de construção da língua escrita. Conclui-se que as situações de comunicação virtual, seja para uma audiência ou para um interlocutor, potencializam a ocorrência de desequilíbrios, favorecendo o surgimento da necessidade cognitiva e/ou afetiva de compreensão da língua escrita, embora os aplicativos em questão, por si só, não ofereçam as resistências ou os feedbacks necessários ao processo. Os resultados encontrados apontam caminhos para a construção de aplicativos voltados à alfabetização. / The present work is a study of the interaction between children in the early literacy process by using virtual communication apps. It researches the cognitive processes involved in the construction of written language that emerges from this interaction. It aims to understand how such interaction can help the development of writing. Based on the Clinical Method, the data collection was carried out with primary education students from a 2nd-year class at a rural public school in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre. In nine sessions, they used two apps in the school's tablets: Google Classroom and Google Hangouts. Supported by Jean Piaget's theory of equilibration, the study starts with an initial theoretical proposition based on a view that the use of the apps will potentialize the cognitive imbalances due to the communication context and, therefore, the construction of the written language. The study adopted the analytical generalization as the methodological framework. The first unit of analysis presents a panorama of the data regarding the process of construction of the written language of seven subjects and on the imbalances that have occurred throughout the sessions. The second unit analyzes how the imbalances occur during the use of the apps and what are the reactions of the subjects to the disturbances. The last unit discusses the triggering situations and the circumstances of the imbalances emergence. At the end of the analyses triangulation, the theoretical proposition is revised, deepening the understanding of the imbalances role and emerging conditions for the process of construction of written language. The study concludes that situations of virtual communication, whether to an audience or to an interlocutor, create a fertile context for the occurrence of imbalances, favoring the emergence of the cognitive and/or affective necessity to understand how to write. Although, the studied apps, per se, do not create the resistances or feedbacks necessary to the process. The results point towards new paths for the development of literacy apps.

Submitted by Fabiano Vassallo (fabianovassallo2127@gmail.com) on 2017-04-18T17:46:28Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação - Elaine Pereira da Silva.pdf: 1557305 bytes, checksum: 8b98dddc48ad54e68f6d06f6d83072f0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Geisa Drumond (gmdrumond@vm.uff.br) on 2017-04-19T16:32:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação - Elaine Pereira da Silva.pdf: 1557305 bytes, checksum: 8b98dddc48ad54e68f6d06f6d83072f0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-19T16:32:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação - Elaine Pereira da Silva.pdf: 1557305 bytes, checksum: 8b98dddc48ad54e68f6d06f6d83072f0 (MD5) / Nesta pesquisa, analisamos usos da palavra tipo, com ênfase no estudo de sua função anguladora, sob a perspectiva teórica da Linguística Cognitiva em Lakoff (1987) e, mais especificamente, da Teoria dos Espaços Mentais proposta por Fauconnier (1994, 1997) e Fauconnier & Turner (2002). Também nos valemos de contribuições da Linguística Textual na análise e explanação do fenômeno investigado. Em primeiro lugar, objetivamos verificar a importância do estudo de tipo angulador, no português do Brasil (PB) dos dias atuais; e, em segundo lugar, procurar por motivações pragmáticas, no contexto da comunicação online, que pudessem influenciar na ocorrência deste angulador, uso inovador e característico da modalidade oral da língua, em contextos mais formais, como em portais de notícias. Para isso, coletamos 100 ocorrências de usos de tipo em blogs, sites e portais de notícias da internet, usando a ferramenta Google, em casos que tipo não funcionasse como substantivo e nem com a presença da preposição de. A análise foi realizada em duas partes. Na primeira, voltada para aspectos sintáticos e semânticos, pudemos constatar a presença de 40 casos de tipo como angulador. Na segunda, levamos em conta aspectos pragmáticos e discursivos diversos que contribuíram para a explicação dos casos em análise. Como resultado, concluímos que o angulador tipo exerce o importante papel de veicular ponto de vista através da promoção de ricos processos cognitivos, como a mesclagem conceptual e a analogia. Além disso, verificamos que a presença deste angulador sobressai em contextos informais, já que a maioria dos casos em contextos mais formais se deu em forma de falas reportadas. A importância deste trabalho está na contribuição para os estudos dos anguladores e da descrição do PB, além de dar destaque para o contexto da comunicação virtual, considerado propício para o surgimento e disseminação de novos usos linguísticos / In this research, we analyzed usages of the word tipo, with emphasis on the study of its hedging function, under the assumptions of Cognitive Linguistics in Lakoff (1987) and, more specifically, The Mental Spaces Theory, proposed by Fauconnier (1994, 1997) and Fauconnier & Turner (2002). We took into account contributions of Textual Linguistics, as well. Firstly, we aimed to verify the importance of the study of the hedge tipo, in Brazilian Portuguese of the current days; and, secondly, to search for pragmatic motivations, in the context of online communication, which could influence the occurrence of this hedge, considered an innovative usage and characteristic of the oral language, in more formal contexts, such as news websites. For this, we collected 100 occurrences of usages of tipo on blogs, websites and news websites, using Google, in cases that tipo neither is a noun nor is accompanied by the preposition de. The analysis was performed in two parts. Firstly, it was based on syntactic and semantic aspects, in which we observed the presence of 40 cases of tipo as a hedge. Secondly, we took into account some pragmatic and discursive aspects, which contributed for the explanation of the cases in analysis. As a result, we concluded that the hedge tipo plays an important role in conveying viewpoint, by promoting rich cognitive processes, such as conceptual blending and analogy. In addition, we found out that the presence of this hedge is more evident in informal contexts, since most of the cases in more formal contexts occurred in the form of reported speeches. The importance of this work is the contribution to the study of hedges and the description of the Brazilian Portuguese language. In addition, it emphasizes the context of virtual communication, which is an opportune place for the emergence and dissemination of new linguistic usages

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2016-06-16T20:28:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Eduardo Dantas Soares.pdf: 1292986 bytes, checksum: e3e215ddc6c65d8ed554ce165fb334fe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-16T20:28:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eduardo Dantas Soares.pdf: 1292986 bytes, checksum: e3e215ddc6c65d8ed554ce165fb334fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-25 / The growing discussion about what are the forms of communication that will dominate the organizational structures in modern companies is gaining many academic contributions, but they seem to be entering a conflict as its organizational function. Many authors argue that virtual communications will replace the face-to-face communication with all-sufficiency. Another line of research states that virtual communication is used only for simple contacts, as marking a meeting, but the serious business decisions will only be taken face-to-face. Based on this assumption was investigated three schools in the ABC Paulista to know how was working internal communication of these schools and how its notification is performed. The main result of this research, it was identified that friendship is a phenomenon that drives the virtual contacts and that, even in environments where employees are not always present, face-to-face communication is still used as the primary means of notification. / A crescente discussão sobre quais serão as formas de comunicação que irão dominar as estruturas organizacionais nas empresas modernas vem ganhando muitas contribuições acadêmicas, porém elas parecem estar entrando em um conflito quanto a sua função organizacional. Muitos autores defendem que as comunicações virtuais irão substituir a comunicação cara-a-cara com plena suficiência. Outra linha de pesquisadores afirma que a comunicação virtual é utilizada apenas para contatos simples, como a marcação de uma reunião, porém as decisões sérias das empresas somente serão tomadas cara-a-cara. Com base nessa premissa foi investigada três escolas no ABC Paulista para saber como estava funcionando a comunicação interna destas escolas e como é realizada a sua comunicação formal. Como principal resultado dessa pesquisa, foi identificado que a amizade é um fenômeno que impulsiona os contatos virtuais e que, mesmo em ambientes onde os colaboradores não estão sempre presentes, a comunicação cara-a-cara continua sendo usada como principal meio de comunicação formal.

The concept of work-life-balance has gained significant attention during the coronavirus pandemic. There are challenges in keeping solid boundaries between Danish female professionals work and private life. There have been previous studies that have demonstrated gendered roles of females that interrupt work and private life. This thesis builds on these qualitative studies. This is done by providing new insights into the challenges experienced by Danish females in balancing their work-life due to varying degrees of media dependencies when exposed to new digital practices (current pandemic). Therefore, the main research question is, “How and why do Danish female professionals experience fluid transitions between professional work and private life, with the increase of new forms of media dependencies?” The study consisted of eight semi-structured interviews with Danish female participants followed by a qualitative approach. Thoroughly employing social design in a mediatization framework, key themes in the experiences of the participants; work-life-balance, flexibility at work, virtual fatigue and self-care practices were extracted. The study also found that there are gendered roles during the coronavirus pandemic, with women shouldering a greater burden due to unpaid labour. The findings of this work provide deeper insights into the challenges females may endure during national lockdowns. It is envisioned that this work will allow for deeper reflections on the usage and consumption of digital media in keeping boundaries between work-private life. This includes Denmark and other countries. /p>