Global prevalence of allergic diseases has been on the rise for the last 30 years. In Canada, this upward trend in allergic diseases has resulted in over 3 million Canadians being affected by allergic asthma. Allergic asthma is triggered by inhalation of environmental allergens resulting in bronchial constriction and inflammation, which leads to clinical symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing. Asthmatic airway inflammation is initiated by the release of inflammatory mediators (-eg- histamine) released by granulocytic cells (-eg- mast cells and basophils). However, immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody is also necessary for the initiation of the allergic cascade, and IgE is produced and released exclusively by memory B cells and plasma cells. Allergen crosslinking of IgE:FcεRI complexes on the surface of mast cells and basophils causes degranulation of pro-inflammatory mediators. Acute allergen exposure has also been shown to increase IgE levels in the airways of patients diagnosed with allergic asthma; however, more studies are needed to better understand local airway inflammation. Our group's work, in accordance with the literature, has shown an increase of IgE in the airways of subjects with mild allergic asthma following allergen inhalation challenge. Although regulatory B cells (Bregs) have been shown to modulate IgE-mediated inflammatory processes in allergic asthma pathogenesis, particularly in mouse models of allergic airway disease, the levels and function of these IgE+ B cells and Bregs remain to be elucidated in human models of asthma. The overall objective for this dissertation was to investigate the biology of B cells in allergic asthma pathogenesis, specifically investigating the frequency of IgE+ B cells and Bregs in allergic asthma, and the kinetics of these cells after allergen exposure. First, we characterized IgE+ B cells in the blood and sputum of allergic asthmatics and healthy controls with and without allergies (Chapter 2). We showed that IgE+ B cell levels were higher in sputum, but not blood, of allergic asthmatics compared to controls. We further demonstrated that these findings were consistent across airway IgE+ B cell subsets, which include IgE+ memory B cells and IgE+ plasma cells. Additionally, IgE+ B cells in sputum positively correlated with sputum eosinophils, total IgE and B cell activating factor (BAFF) measured in sputum fluid phase. These findings highlight the association of airway IgE+ B cells with allergic asthma, and suggest that local IgE+ B cell functions contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma. Second, we measured the trafficking of IgE+ B cells in periphery (blood, bone marrow and tonsil) and locally (sputum) in allergic asthmatics following whole lung allergen challenge (Chapter 3). IgE+ B cells only increased in the airways of allergic asthmatics following allergen inhalation challenge; there were no allergen-induced changes in IgE+ B cell levels in blood, bone marrow and tonsil. In addition, we showed allergen-induced increases in BAFF and total IgE, but not allergen-specific IgE in sputum fluid phase. Taken together, chapters 2 and 3 show that allergic asthmatics have elevated levels of IgE+ B cells in the airways, that can be further increased after allergen exposure. Therefore, local B cell production of IgE in the lungs may be an important source of IgE for initiation of acute inflammatory responses in allergic airways. Third, we evaluated the levels of Bregs in allergic asthmatics compared to controls, and examined the kinetics, function and distribution (bone marrow, blood and sputum) of Bregs following allergen inhalation challenge (Chapter 4). We showed that Bregs were 2-fold lower in the blood of allergic asthmatics compared to controls, highlighting a possible dysregulation of this regulatory cell type in allergic asthmatics, which may contribute to disease pathology. Furthermore, after whole lung allergen challenge Bregs decreased in the bone marrow with a co-incident increase in the blood and sputum of allergic asthmatics. This pattern reflects potential trafficking of these cells from bone marrow to the airways after exposure to allergic stimuli. Lastly, we stimulated CD19+ B cells purified from blood of allergic asthmatic with IL-4 in vitro. IL-4 is a type 2 cytokine known to isotype-switch B cells to IgE+ B cells, as well as differentiates naïve T cells into Th2 cells, thus propagating the allergic cascade. We found that IL-4 promoted higher proportions of IL-10+ and FoxP3+ Bregs, which demonstrates that Bregs may have a role in dampening IgE-mediated inflammation in a type 2 environment. However, further functional studies are warranted. Taken together, the findings of this dissertation highlight the local compartmental changes in IgE+ B cells and Bregs following allergen challenge of allergic airways. Better understanding the temporal and compartmental shifts in B cell subpopulations, particularly IgE+ B cells and Bregs, may aid in future development of therapeutics. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This thesis outlines the development of a control system for a P4-P0 Parallel-Through-The-Road Hybrid Electric Vehicle. This project was part of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, an Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, MathWorks and General Motors. The McMaster Engineering EcoCAR team is participating in its second iteration, re-engineering a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer to suit a car-sharing service located within the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area. The proposed architecture uses a 1.5L Engine together with a Belted Alternator Starter motor connected to the traditional low voltage system. The rear axle is electrified containing an Electric Machine, a power oriented Battery Pack and team-designed gear reduction as well as a clutch. The whole rear powertrain is operating at high voltage and has no connection to the traditional low voltage system. Fuel economy improvements up to 12% can be expected while maintaining stock performance targets. A vehicle simulation model was built to accompany the vehicle design process. This includes a mathematical representation of all powertrain components, the development of energy management algorithms, the design of the Hybrid Supervisory Controller structure, and validating and discussing gathered results. Furthermore, all necessary controllers were chosen and communication within them was established by designing the serial data architecture. The developed energy management algorithm is customized to utilize the strengths of all components and this specific architecture. A simple rule-based algorithm is used to operate the engine as close as possible to its most fuel efficient operation point at any time. The P4 and P0 motor are used to apply supportive torque to the engine or load the engine with a negative torque. In that way the energy can be regenerated inside the powertrain and charge sustaining operation v can be achieved. Fuel economy and performance targets are used to discuss the assumed performance of the vehicle once re-engineered. The set targets range from city and highway fuel economy to IVM – 60 mph acceleration time. Overall the developed control system suits a car-sharing service with its ability to adapt to the occurring driving situations ensuring a close to optimal operation for any known or unknown driving situation. It focuses on modularity, simplicity and functionality to allow a working implementation in future years of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / During the re-engineering of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle different expectations must be considered, for example set government fuel economy regulations, defined performance targets, novelty in innovation, stakeholder expectations as well as the used vehicle platform and the available components. The re-engineering process will be done according to the vehicle development process of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. Summarized expectations are the use of this vehicle inside a car-sharing service for the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area targeting “Millennials” while focusing on fuel economy improvements and a low cost of ownership. The research shown in this thesis is set by the requirements derived from the expectations mentioned above. One point of interest is achieving a working control system able to operate close to an optimal state to maximize fuel efficiency and ensuring stock vehicle performance targets. Therefore, the control system has to use the electrification components in an intelligent way. Defining what intelligent control of the engine and the electrification components was one of the main challenges. This thesis outlines how developing a control system for a Hybrid Electric Vehicle can be realized while ensuring that all included interests are met. The object of this research contains choosing the necessary controllers, building a sufficient vehicle simulation model, developing the energy management algorithm, validating the model performance and evaluating the gathered results.

The topic of heat transfer is traditionally taught as an upper level, lecture-style course to mechanical engineering students. Such courses do not provide students with ways to see and feel the important heat transfer concepts at hand. As a way to overcome this, novel, hands-on workshops have been designed and implemented into a heat transfer class taught to junior level mechanical engineering students. Two types of experimental workshops were created and used in two different years of a section of a heat transfer class. In the first year, twelve workshops were designed which included live demos so that the students could see and feel different modes of heat transfer while taking data and seeing real-time plots of temperature and heat flux in different experiments. The workshop introduced each topic the students would be learning in the lecture and was performed the week before the actual lecture on the topic. Each workshop included easily available materials, thermocouples, heat flux sensors, and data acquisition instruments for the students to use. The workshops also served replacements for what would be the third lecture of the week. Results from a concept inventory test given at the end of the first year showed a significant difference on certain question between an experimental group of students who had the workshops and a control group who took the traditional class lecture. However, there were still concepts and topics that the experimental group did not show improvement. They also showed a lack of improvement in their problem solving skills for quiz and test problems. For the second year of the experiment, the workshops were restructured quite a bit. The original 12 workshop format was cut down to only six in order to focus on the ones the students seemed to have benefited from the most. The workshops were also changed into a video-enhanced format where the students would watch a video of the experiment being done while also having the materials in front of them to place their hands on themselves. The students could therefore see and feel what was physically happening and still perform the experiment while watching real-time, pre-recorded plots of heat flux and temperature without worrying about making sure their setup was right and acquiring good results. The new video-enhanced workshops also included control volume and resistance diagrams for each experiment in order to help the students relate the workshops and concepts back to problems on their quizzes and tests. Results from these workshops seemed to show some statistical significance between the experimental and control groups on concept questions given on quizzes throughout the semester, but there was no difference on any questions from the ten concept questions given on the final exam. However, surveys taken by the students indicate that they believed the workshops did help them to understand the concepts in a real-world sense and that they helped them understand the class material better overall. Aside from the results of the workshops on the students learning, this study concludes with an analysis of important heat transfer concepts and how to test them. There is much debate about the underlying concepts in the topic of heat transfer and a thorough analysis on what specific concepts are important for students to know must be addressed. Many heat transfer concept questions on current concept inventories have more to do with thermodynamics and the mixing of the two topics is itself a misconception. / Master of Science

A sewer system was designed for Camp Challenge of the Florida Easter Seal Society, in Mount Plymouth, Florida, of polyvinyl chloride piping. Invert elevations were tabulized and necessary fittings determined for the system. Cost estimates were also included. The sewers were designed on a per fixture basis so as not to overdesign using per capita flow rates. A literature and records search was conducted to obtain design and actual wastewater flow quantities in gallons per capita per day (gpcd). Actual flows determined from 4 camps and 11 travel trailer parks gave average values of 39 and 33 gpcd, respectively, and can be used as design parameters for wastewater treatment facilities. However, further investigations and intensive flow monitoring are deemed necessary to provide a wider, more accurate data base with less variability.

Optimization of reproductive efficiency of both beef and dairy herds is critical for sustainability and profitability. Two separate experiments were performed to test the reproductive outcomes following early weaning of beef heifers and intrafollicular insemination in dairy cows. Early weaning is a proven way to induce precocious puberty in heifers. Heifers will experience more estrous cycles before breeding, which is associated with increased fertility. In this experiment, heifers were either subjected to early weaning and a high concentrate diet (EW; 106.5±3.4 days of age) or normal weaning (NW; 231.7±3.33 days of age) treatments. Despite no effect (P>0.15) of weaning treatment on age at puberty, EW heifers tended to have higher pregnancy rates than NW heifers. A progesterone clearance analysis revealed that EW heifers also have greater ability to metabolize progesterone. This altered progesterone metabolism could be a direct result of changes in metabolism caused by feeding a high concentrate diet after early weaning. Pregnancy rates in cattle are often lower than desired. New reproductive advances are constantly developed to improve reproductive function. A recently described possible technique is intrafollicular insemination (IFI). The objective of the second experiment was to investigate whether IFI can cause fertilization. Abattoir ovaries with dominant follicles injected with semen and incubated overnight displayed sperm in close association with granulosa cells. When synchronized cows were subjected to IFI, no pregnancies resulted. While other studies have demonstrated success with IFI, it is still unknown if fertilization is possible within the follicle of the ovary. / Master of Science

Research in mobile robotics, unmanned systems, and autonomous man-portable vehicles has grown rapidly over the last decade. This push has taken the problems of robot cognition and behavioral control out of the lab and into the field. Two good examples of this are the DARPA Urban Challenge autonomous vehicle race and the RoboCup robot soccer competition. In these challenges, a mobile robot must be capable of completing complex, sophisticated tasks in a dynamic, partially observable and unpredictable environment. Such conditions necessitate a behavioral programming approach capable of performing high-level action selection in the presence of multiple goals of dynamically changing importance, and noisy, incomplete perception data. In this thesis, an approach to behavioral programming is presented that provides the designer with an intuitive method for building contextual intelligence while preserving the qualities of emergent behavior present in traditional behavior-based programming. This is done by using a modified hierarchical state machine for behavior arbitration in sequence with a command fusion mechanism for cooperative and competitive control. The presented approach is analyzed with respect to portability across platforms, missions, and functional requirements. Specifically, two landmark case-studies, the DARPA Urban Challenge and the International RoboCup Competition are examined. / Master of Science

This study explores the attitudes and adaptations of social studies teachers in Sweden towardsthe integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their teaching practices. As AI becomesincreasingly prevalent in educational contexts, this research aims to understand both currentviewpoints and anticipated future developments regarding the use of AI tools in education.The rapid advancement of AI technologies presents both opportunities and challenges withinthe educational sector. Teachers are at the forefront of integrating these tools into theirteaching methodologies, striving to enhance educational outcomes without compromisingpedagogical integrity. This research primarily focuses on how these educators perceive andadapt to the incorporation of AI, particularly within the context of social studies, a fielddeeply intertwined with critical thinking and societal analysis.By conducting qualitative interviews with a select group of teachers, this study delves intotheir subjective experiences and attitudes towards AI. It examines the potential of AI tosupport teaching tasks such as assessment and planning, while also considering thetechnology's limitations in providing feedback and personalized learning experiences

Utvecklingen av generativ artificiell intelligens har haft en påverkan på högre utbildningsinstitutioner som universitet och högskolor. Generativ AI har funnits sedan några år tillbaka men utvecklas konstant för att klara av fler och mer avancerade uppgifter. Den Generativa AI är i dagens läge kapabel till att utföra uppgifter som att generera text, bild och kod baserat på den uppgift som efterfrågas. Det jämförs med tiden då kalkylatorn uppfanns eller när internet kom och studenter upplevde en förändring i utbildning främst då Chat boten, ChatGPT lanserades i slutet av 2022. Efter det har flertalet generativa Chat botar lanserats samt andra generativa artificiella intelligenser. Den generativa AI förmåga att utföra uppgifter på studentens begäran och utefter de kriterier som ställs, skapar en typ av gråzon där frågan kan ställas vad som är tillåtet och inte. Även hur generativ AI skall användas på rätt sätt för att öka studentens förmåga att utveckla dess studier. Generativ AI existerar redan och är här för att stanna vilket gör att utbildningsinstitutioner står inför en utmaning. Denna uppsats utforskar tillsammans med tidigare forskning och analyser hur IT studenter på Linnéuniversitetet i Växjö använder sig av generativ AI inom uppsatsskrivning, vilka beståndsdelar inom uppsatser som anses vara mer krävande och om generativ AI har påverkat deras utbildning. Uppsatsen använder sig av ramverket Task Teknologi Fit (TTF) för att se hur väl studenter uppfattar att generativ AI prestera inom dess 5 olika beståndsdelar. Sammanfattningsvis bidrar denna uppsats till den akademiska diskussionen om generativ AI inom universitetsutbildning och erbjuder insikter av den generativa AI mångfaldiga påverkan av studenter och dess studier. Slutsatsen av arbetet visar att studenters användandet av generativ AI bidrar med kreativa idéer för att vidare utveckla deras uppsatser samt effektiviserar deras arbetsförmåga genom att avlasta studenten med uppgifter.

La pression sur les quotas de pêche et l’augmentation de la production aquacole ont contribué à une substitution importante des farines et des huiles de poisson incorporées dans les aliments pour poissons carnivores, par des farines et des huiles végétales. La truite arc-en-ciel, qui est un poisson carnivore, est affectée par ce changement de régime. Ainsi un retard de croissance apparaît dès le plus jeune stade si certaines transformations et supplémentations ne sont pas apportées aux végétaux. L’objectif de ce travail a été d’évaluer, aux stades alevins et juvéniles, l’impact d’une substitution totale des huiles et farines de poisson sur le tractus digestif de la truite arc-en-ciel, et plus particulièrement sur ses capacités digestives et sur la composition de son microbiote intestinal. Le but in fine étant de déterminer si certaines enzymes de la digestion, transporteurs intestinaux, ou sous-communautés bactériennes sont impactés par le changement de régime et peuvent expliquer le retard de croissance observé. Chacun de ces facteurs ont été étudiés via une approche de métagénomique par séquençage de nouvelle génération NGS pour la caractérisation du microbiote, et via de la PCR quantitative et des mesures d’activités enzymatiques pour la comparaison des capacités digestives. Des lignées isogéniques de truites, identifiées comme divergentes dans leur réponse à l’alimentation végétale (capables d’adaptation ou réfractaires) ont permis de disposer d’un matériel biologique pertinent pour répondre à cette question. Une modification du microbiote intestinal associé à la muqueuse digestive pourrait également contribuer à la baisse de l’homéostasie intestinale. Le changement de régime conduit en effet à une équitabilité plus faible chez les truites ayant reçue un aliment végétal, ce qui reflète un changement dans la représentativité de certains OTUs. Ce changement de régime s’est également traduit par des communautés dissimilaires en moyenne à 70 %, d’après l’estimation de la β-diversité entre les communautés de truites nourries avec l’aliment marin et celles nourries avec l’aliment végétal. La sélection opérée par l’aliment a conduit à un remplacement des OTUs rencontrés au sein des Firmicutes, c’est-à-dire que différentes espèces bactériennes de Firmicutes sont rencontrées suivant le régime considéré. La comparaison de communautés bactériennes entre les différentes lignées isogéniques a montré que la sélection opérée par le génotype de l’hôte a davantage eu lieu sur le remplacement des β-Protéobactéries. Enfin, les comparaisons d’abondances en certaines espèces bactériennes particulières suggèrent que les bactéries Cetobacterium somerae, capables de synthétiser de la vitamine B12, et Shewanella, dont l’implication dans la stimulation des cellules β du pancréas endocrine a déjà été observée chez d’autres espèces, pourraient être impliquées dans la réponse métabolique des truites aux végétaux. Les modifications identifiées dans ce travail constituent des indicateurs biologiques qui pourront être mis à profit pour évaluer la réponse du tractus digestif des truites à de nouvelles formules alimentaires. / Over-fishing pressure and increasing aquaculture production led to an important substitution of fish oil and fish meal with oil and meal from plant origin in feed meant for farming fish. However this replacement has some deleterious incidence on fish. For rainbow trout, which are carnivorous fish, some growth delay often appears from the early life stages when they are fed with plant based diet. The aim of this work was to assess, at alevin and juvenile stages, the impact of a total replacement of fish meal and oil on rainbow trout gastrointestinal tract, and more particularly on the digestive capacity and the associate microbiota. The objective, in fine, being to determine if some digestive enzymes, intestinal transporters, or bacterial communities are impacted by the dietary replacement and if these biological factors can be related to the observed growth delay. Metagenomic approach using next generation sequencing was used to characterize the gut bacterial communities, while digestive capacity was assessed through quantitative PCR and enzymatic measurements in order to compare rainbow trout responses to a plant-based diet. In our investigations, rainbow trout isogenic lines that diverge in their response to this alternative diet (tolerant or rather reluctant) were adopted because they constitute a pertinent biological material for answering this question.In alevin rainbow trout, a plant-based diet led to an increase of pepsinogen, trypsinogen, and chymotrypsinogen genes which codes for proteolitic enzymes. Two main assumptions can explain this response, and their effectivness remains to investigate: wether this is a physiological response due to a lower weight of trout fed with the plant-based diet, or so it is due to an increase transcritpion of pancreatic enzymes to compensate for a reduction of protein digestibility. In the intestine, it appears that an increase transcription of IAP, SGLT1, CCK-t, and PEPT1 genes, and a decrease transcription of GLUT2 gene under a plant-based diet could reflect a disability to grow under a vegetable diet.In juvenile rainbow trout, a plant-based diet led to a decrease of lipid digestibility, and of triglycerides and total amino acid plasmatic levels. These perturbations could be explained in part by a decrease of the phosphatase alkaline activity, which suggest perturbancesof intestinal homeostasis, and by a decrease of phospholipase A2 activity. Transcriptional decrease of the triglycerides transporter MTP and of the prolidase, which is a peptidase from intestinal cell cytosol, has also been observed. Some modification of the microbiota associated to the intestinal mucosa could also contribute to the decrease of the intestinal homeostasis. The dietary replacement effectively led to reduce evenness of the bacterial communities in trout fed with a plant-based diet, which reflected a shift in the representativeness of some OTUs. Bacterial community from trout fed with a marine diet and trout fed with a plant-based diet were on average 70 % dissimilar. Dietary substitution led to the replacement of OTUs from the Firmicutes class, different bacterial species being observed according to the considered diet. The comparison of bacterial community between the isogenic lines showed that the genotype led to the replacement of β-Proteobacteria. Finally, abundance comparison suggested that Cetobacterium somerae, which is able to synthesise vitamin B12, and Shewanella, which has already been reported to stimulate pancreatic β cells, could be implicated in the trout response to vegetable.Modifications observed in this work constitute biological indicator that could be used to assess the response of the digestive tract to future feed formulations.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A fundamental shift has occurred from the industrial age, traditional worldview to the knowledge age, emerging worldview. The implication of this shift is that organisations can no longer rely on an enduring competitive advantage for sustainable results. This raises questions about the relevance of the existing organisational performance approaches in addressing the challenge of complexity, particularly with regard to the validity and reliability of the established performance management frameworks. In the industrial age, financial measures were sufficient for measuring organisational performance. However, the emergence of the networked economy implies that a more composite measure is required, which reflects the diversity of stakeholder interests. The research confirms that, whilst there is no universal agreement in defining organisational performance, there is agreement that sustainable organisational performance is a combination of growth (social and economic measures) and profitability (financial measures). Further, the research confirms the existence of gaps, which undermine organisational performance. These gaps originate from the divergent approaches to organisational performance, which can be traced through the evolution of organisational development theory and management practice. Existing research studies collaborate the existence of these divergent approaches in determining organisational performance. These approaches include execution, strategy and people, representing the ‘ESP’ of organisational performance. Execution refers to a process based, micro perspective of organisational performance, whilst strategy and people refer to the systemic, macro approaches. In conditions of hyper-change, execution is considered to be the key determinant of organisational performance, whilst the traditional, strategy approach is found to be essential in addressing the challenge of complexity. The emergence of the networked economy implies that a more composite, people approach is required to address the challenges associated with increasing connectivity. The research proposition contends that an execution culture is necessary for addressing the challenge of complexity. This culture is dependent on the strategic fusion of the divergent strategy and people approaches and the existence of a strategic paradigm throughout the organisation. Organisational performance resides in an organisation’s ability to integrate the divergent approaches, to develop the necessary dynamic capabilities for sustainable organisational performance. The Performance ‘ESP’ framework reflects the integration of these approaches and provides a visual confirmation of the research proposition. The level of execution is determined by the existence of a strategic paradigm throughout the organisation, which is determined by individual performance, defined by the level of effectiveness, strength (individual) and partnership (‘ESP’). The development of a strategic paradigm is particularly relevant in the South African context, where historical factors have inhibited the level of empowerment within organisations. It is recommended that organisations apply the Performance ‘ESP’ index as a diagnostic tool to assess the existence of an execution culture to address the challenge of complexity. The purpose of the assessment tool is to complement the financial measures of performance, to ensure a balance between profitability and growth, to ensure sustainable organisational performance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar het ‘n fundamentele verandering plaasgevind van die industriële tydperk en tradisionele wêreldbeskouiing na die kennistydperk en opkomende wêreldbeskouing. Die implikasie van hierdie verandering is dat organisasies nie meer kan staatmaak op ‘n deurlopende mededingende voordeel vir volhoubare resultate nie. Dit laat vrae ontstaan oor die toepaslikheid van die bestaande organisatoriese prestasiebenaderings om die uitdaging van kompleksiteit te hanteer, veral met betrekking tot die geldigheid en betroubaarheid van die bestaande prestasiebestuursraamwerke. Tydens die industriële tydperk was finansiële maatstawwe voldoende om organisasieprestasie te meet. Die opkoms van die netwerk-ekonomie impliseer egter dat ‘n meer saamgestelde maatstaf nodig is, wat die diversiteit van die belange van belanghebbers weerspieël. Die navorsing bevestig dat, hoewel daar geen universele ooreenkoms is in die definisie van organisasieprestasie nie, daar wel ooreenkoms is dat volhoubare organisasieprestasie ‘n kombinasie is van groei (sosiale en ekonomiese maatreëls) en winsgewendheid (finansiële maatreëls). Daarbenewens bevestig die navorsing die bestaan van gapings wat organisasieprestasie ondermyn. Hierdie gapings ontstaan uit die uiteenlopende benaderings tot organisasieprestasie, wat gevolg kan word deur die evolusie van organisasie-ontwikkelingsteorie en bestuurspraktyk. Bestaande navorsingstudies gebruik ‘n samestelling van hierdie uiteenlopende benaderings om organisasieprestasie te bepaal. Hierdie benaderings sluit in uitvoering, strategie en mense, wat in die Engelse afkorting die ‘ESP’ van organisasieprestasie verteenwoordig. Uitvoering verwys na ‘n prosesgebaseerde mikroperspektief van organisasieprestasie, terwyl strategie en mense verwys na die sistemiese makrobenaderings. In omstandighede van hiperverandering word uitvoering gesien as die sleutelbepaler van organisasieprestasie, terwyl die tradisionele strategiebenadering noodsaaklik is vir die hantering van die uitdaging van kompleksiteit. Die opkoms van die netwerk-ekonomie impliseer dat ‘n meer saamgestelde, mensbenadering nodig is om die uitdagings te hanteer wat saamgaan met groter onderlinge verbondenheid. Die navorsingsvoorstel se uitgangspunt is dat ‘n uitvoeringskultuur nodig is om die uitdaging van kompleksiteit te hanteer. Hierdie kultuur is afhanklik van die strategiese samesmelting van die uiteenlopende strategie- en mensbenaderings en die bestaan van ‘n strategiese paradigma dwarsdeur die organisasie. Organisasieprestasie hang af van ‘n organisasie se vermoë om die uiteenlopende benaderings te integreer en die nodige dinamiese bekwaamhede te ontwikkel vir volhoubare organisasieprestasie. Die prestasie- of ‘ESP’-raamwerk weerspieël die integrasie van hierdie benaderings en voorsien ‘n visuele bevestiging van die navorsingsvoorstel. Die vlak van uitvoering word bepaal deur die bestaan van ‘n strategiese paradigma dwarsdeur die organisasie, wat bepaal word deur individuele prestasie, gedefinieer deur die vlak van doeltreffendheid, sterkte (individueel) en vennootskap (‘ESP’). Die ontwikkeling van ‘n strategiese paradigma is veral toepaslik in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks, waar historiese faktore die vlak van bemagtiging binne organisasies geïnhibeer het. Daar word aanbeveel dat organisasies die Prestasie ‘ESP’ Indeks toepas as ‘n diagnostiese instrument om die bestaan van ‘n uitvoerende kultuur te bepaal vir die hantering van die uitdaging van kompleksiteit. Die doel van die bepalingsinstrument is om die finansiële maatstawwe van prestasie aan te vul om sodoende ‘n balans tussen winsgewendheid en groei te verseker en dus volhoubare organisasieprestasie te verseker.