No description available.

This study aims to investigate how companies formulate external communication in social media and sustainability reports when dealing with public criticism linked to sustainable development, in a society where information spreads quickly via social media and thus risk leading to loss of legitimacy and damaged reputation. The study is based on a qualitative method with quantitative elements. A qualitative directed content analysis has been conducted on six different companies' Twitter and Facebook pages as well as sustainability reports, where data has been interpreted, categorized and analyzed based on Image Repair Theory's communication strategies. A selection was made among 14 295 words in social media and 80 234 words in sustainability reports to find out which strategies the companies used in their crisis management, which strategies were most common in each medium and why. The results show that strategies such as corrective action and mortification were equally common in both channels. In social media, it was also common for companies to formulate posts using strategies such as defeasibility and sympathy, while the content of sustainability reports often could be linked to strategies such as information, bolstering and transcendence. The study shows that companies' choice of communication strategies is based on a combination of the type of recipient and the type of channel used. A combination of one-way and two-way communication is thus important for the company to be able to meet the specific needs of both of these factors. Furthermore, the study shows that Image Repair Theory could be expanded with more strategies such as sympathy and information, as these were common in all companies' crisis management. Finally, the study shows that the monologic or dialogic characteristics of a medium have a major impact on how communication is formulated in response to public criticism.

The dissertation analyzes current potential and possible future development of new and traditional media. The main purpose of this paper is to find and describe the possibilities of news sites development in the near future.. After theoretical analysis of traditional and new media, I propose three dominant influences for nowadays media: participatory culture, news content changes and technologies. Based on these particular influences, 2-dimensional model of nowadays media system potential is built. From this model, I derive premises and possible future risks for media, with emphasis on news sites.

Im Rahmen des sächsischen Projektes finc schaltet auch die Bibliothek der Hochschule für Musik und Theater „Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy“ Leipzig ein Discovery-System auf Basis der open-source-Software „VuFind“ online. Der Artikel setzt sich mit den Überlegungen auseinander, wie auch für eine hoch spezialisierte Bibliothek die Vorteile von Discovery-Lösungen genutzt werden können. Vorgestellt werden zum einen Ideen zur Verbesserung des Suchkomforts sowie der Funktionserweiterung durch optimierte Metadatennutzung. Zum anderen werden erste Ergebnisse der Integration externer elektronischer Datenquellen präsentiert. Auch ohne kommerziellen aggregierten Index bietet der neue MT-Katalog eine deutliche Suchraumerweiterung mit passgenauen Inhalten.

M. Tech. (Department of Information and Communication Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences). Vaal University of Technology. / There are many learning paradigms in the academic field, many of which have been used since the advent of universities and other learning institutions. However, the advent and subsequent popularisation of the Internet in the early 1990's has led to the development of new learning paradigms. Simultaneously, students currently enrolled at higher education institutions (HEI) fall under the Generation Z cohort, otherwise known as Millennials. This generation has grown up with widespread usage of the internet, and research has shown that engagement with these students in an educational setting has slowed down. This study endeavoured to establish whether the use of Social Networking Services (SNSs) could aid to better engage student in the teaching and learning process, and if so, whether there would be a measurable improvement in the marks of students enrolled in a final year Information Technology (IT) module at a HEI. Facebook and YouTube were the SNSs chosen as the focus of the study. Data collection was achieved by means of mixed-methods methodology. Semi-structured interviews were held with lecturers to determine their perceptions regarding the use of Facebook from an educational perspective. thematic analysis was performed to identify prominent themes in the qualitative data. Statistical analysis was performed on the result of two groups of students that took the final year module over two semesters. An action research based case study was designed as intervention for students in the 2nd semester involving the use of SNSs. The marks of the two groups were compared and contrasted to determine whether an improvement in results had taken place. Students participating in the action research case study also completed a survey for the purpose of gauging their experiences in the use of SNSs for the action research interventions are also highlighted and discussed, and thematic analysis is performed. After analysis of the gathered data had taken place, it was clear that the majority of participants in the study found that SNSs could add value to the teaching and learning process and there was a small to moderate improvement in results. Guidelines for other institutions that would like to integrate SNSs into their teaching and learning processes are proposed and a model has been developed.

Master of Science / Department of Communications and Agricultural Education / Lauri M. Baker / Garden centers are facing increasing market pressure from big-box retail stores that offer similar products at more competitive prices but lack a quality produce and exceptional service. In order to differentiate themselves from big-box stores, garden centers must build relationships with their customers which can increase marketing reach. Marketing ability and reach is limiting the expansion of Kansas garden centers which spend the majority of their advertising dollars on traditional media. However, social media can be an effective method for not only understanding consumers but also developing profitable relationships with customers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of stakeholders of metro and non-metro garden centers as they use new media to market their business. Findings indicate garden center stakeholders prefer to use traditional media channels to market to their customers, lack a clear strategy and objectives related to new-media marketing, and are not effectively implementing relationship marketing principles.

Published Article / This paper reports on a mixed methods study that investigated access to, use, and perceptions of current and emerging technologies among Information Technology (IT) staff and students at universities of technology (UoTs) in South Africa. Fifty-eight IT staff and 410 IT students from 4 UoTs participated in the study. The primary research instrument was an online survey questionnaire, which was supplemented by semi-structured interviews with 31 of the study participants. Web investigations and conversations with IT support staff from UoTs also formed part of the mixed methods employed in the study. The findings of the online survey are analysed both from individual institutional perspectives and in aggregate form representative of the sector as a whole. Cross tabulations are used to analyse the data across institutions. The quantitative analysis reveals interesting trends and patterns in how students and staff are taking advantage of the potential held by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for teaching and learning and for use in their daily lives. The qualitative findings question the assumptions that have been made about a digital divide between digital native students and their digital immigrant lecturers, suggesting that we need to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the role that technologies play in the lives of both students and staff. Results indicate that while students are very enthusiastic about using various ICTs and Web 2.0 tools, most have still to be convinced about their use for formal academic functions. Academic staff, on the other hand, continues to be cautiously optimistic about the use of ICTs in teaching and still harbour a number of concerns.

During the last two decades, there has been great interest in integrating computers and technology in higher education. Currently web tool services for learning have attracted researchers in the field of education technology to integrate eLearning within the learning environment. In particular, the Internet has become an increasingly important and novel feature of the modern learning environment. Amongst the innovations, a certain tool has become extremely popular worldwide. It is known as web 2.0. It is a read/write web. Blogs (web logs) are one its fastest growing features. The researcher investigated the exciting prospect of developing an eLearning environment by utilizing and applying effective blogs. To date there has been little use of blogs as online tools in higher education, especially in Saudi Arabia. This study concerned the disclosure of more understanding of the use of web 2.0 applications in higher education in Saudi universities. The first purpose of this study was to develop an eLearning model for web 2.0. Its second purpose was to examine learners' perceptions and attitudes toward web 2.0 applications, i.e. blog tools by exploring the relationship between learners' attitudes toward blog tool instructions and factors identified as potentially influencing these attitudes. This research adopted an approach based on an interpretive philosophical paradigm accompanied by a qualitative methodology coupled with action research methods. Learning theories were considered as a theoretical framework. The learning theories considered was Behaviorism, Cognitive and Constructivism with Bloom's Taxonomy and Boud's Model. Data was collected qualitatively and analyzed thematically. Triangulation was conducted upon the outcomes of the questionnaires, interviews, observations and blog content analysis. This research made four main contributions. First, it identified the factors that influenced learner acceptance for the use of blog tools in higher education. Second, it investigated the relationship between learners' attitudes and their acceptance of the utilization of blog tools within their learning environment. Third, it responded to calls from the literature review to investigate blog utilization by conducting an in-depth investigation that utilized qualitative methodology with action research. Lastly, it provided further insight and a better understanding of blog usage with respect to structured/ unstructured learning environments.

Είναι κοινά αποδεκτό ότι τα συστήματα παροχής υπηρεσιών υγείας αντιμετωπίζουν μια διαρκώς αυξανόμενη πίεση για βελτίωση της ποιότητας των υπηρεσιών τους προς τους ασθενείς. Αυτό συμβαίνει σε μια περίοδο όπου από τη μια πλευρά υπάρχει ανάγκη ορθολογικότερης διαχείρισης των εξόδων περίθαλψης λόγω της οικονομικής κρίσης, ενώ από την άλλη η διείσδυση της πληροφορικής τόσο στο χώρο της υγείας όσο και στην καθημερινότητα του ανθρώπου καθιστά ευμετάβλητη τη σχέση ιατρού και ασθενή. Στη διπλωματική αυτή δίνεται μια σύνθετη περιγραφή τόσο των ατόμων που χρησιμοποιούν το διαδίκτυο για θέματα υγείας, όσο και των υπηρεσιών που αναζητούν μέσα από αυτό. Περιγράφεται η δημιουργία διαδικτυακών τόπων για πληροφορίες, υπηρεσίες και δεδομένα στο χώρο της υγείας με τις ιδιαιτερότητές του καθώς και οι δυνητικοί κίνδυνοι που ελλοχεύουν για τον πολίτη. Στη συνέχεια αναλύονται τα μέτρα που προωθεί η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και οι προσπάθειες που γίνονται διεθνώς για τη διασφάλιση της ποιότητας των πληροφοριών και των υπηρεσιών που παρέχονται μέσα από τους διαδικτυακούς τόπους. Η εξέλιξη στον τρόπο αλληλεπίδρασης των παρόχων υπηρεσιών υγείας, αλλά και των ίδιων των ασθενών μεταξύ τους αποτελεί τη βάση για το συνεργατικό διαδίκτυο και πλαισιώνει τη μετάβαση από το Web 1.0 στο Web 2.0. Θα παρουσιαστούν οι κυριότερες προσπάθειες και οι τάσεις στο χώρο του Web 2.0. Παρουσιάζονται κυβερνητικές πολιτικές που θέτουν το πλαίσιο και ιδιωτικές πρωτοβουλίες που είναι πρωτοπόρες. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό ερευνάται κατά πόσο ιδρύματα τριτοβάθμιας φροντίδας υγείας τόσο στην Ελλάδα όσο και στην Η.Π.Α ενσωματώνουν Web 2.0 τεχνολογίες στους διαδικτυακούς τους τόπους. Αξιολογώντας αυτά τα δεδομένα προτείνουμε έναν πρότυπο διαδικτυακό τόπο που ενσωματώνει καινοτομίες προσφέροντας ασφαλή και ποιοτική πληροφόρηση στο χρήστη. Επιπλέον για την αξιολόγηση διαδικτυακών τόπων υγείας αναπτύξαμε ένα εργαλείο τόσο για τον ασθενή χρήστη που επιθυμεί να ελέγξει την εγκυρότητα ενός διαδικτυακού τόπου όσο και για το διαχειριστή που θέλει να βελτιώσει την ιστοσελίδα του. / It is commonly accepted that the health service systems face an increasing pressure to improve the quality of their services to patients. This happens at a time when there is a need for optimized management of health care costs due to the economic crisis, while the penetration of IT both in health and in everyday human life makes the relationship between doctor and patient becoming more mercurial. In this thesis we are giving a complex description for individuals who use the Internet for health issues and the services they are looking through it. Described as creating websites for information, services and data in health with its particularities as well as potential risks for the citizen. Then analyze the measures promoted by the European Union and the efforts being made internationally to ensure the quality of information and services provided through websites. The evolution in the way the interaction of health service providers, and patients themselves is the basis for collaborative internet and accompany the transition from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. The paper will present the main efforts and trends in the field of Web 2.0. Featured government policies that set the framework and private innovative initiatives are been presented. In this context investigated whether higher health care both in Greece and in the USA incorporating Web 2.0 technologies in web sites. Evaluating these data suggest a model website that incorporates innovations offering safe and quality information to the user. In addition to evaluating health related websites we developed a tool for both the patient user who wants to check the validity of a website and for the manager who wants to improve his website.

System deployment projects are extremely complex and with more and more organisations now choosing to configure and deploy off-the-shelf systems, the project teams are presented with new challenges. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the issues faced during such configuration and deployment projects and see if support could be provided. A year long observational study of one of these projects was carried. While it was initially assumed that it would be technical issues related to the system’s configuration that would be the primary problems, the study revealed communication issues to be at the heart of a large number of the issues. Online social networks such as Facebook are extremely popular, allowing users to stay in touch with large numbers of distributed people. Private social network sites were applied to projects to see if they could replicate the benefits the sites provide and support project communications. A social network site was created for both a distributed research project and an administrative systems project and their use observed. Statistical data on the use of the sites and qualitative feedback from users is presented to assess the viability of the approach. The experiments showed social network sites to have many benefits when used as a complementary mechanism to traditional channels for project communications. It is clear however, that social network sites cannot solve all the problems projects may encounter. If the use of a site is to be a success it is vital it gains a critical mass of users. The approach taken to the site’s configuration and introduction will be hugely influential in its success. In order to choose the right approach a clear understanding of what the project’s communication needs are and the possible uses of the site is needed. A process of configuration and development with a small group of potential users is recommended to ensure it is as user friendly as possible before going live to a large user base.