IoT is a technology where different devices are equipped with internet connection which makes it possible to control them and exchange data over internet. IoT can be thought of as an umbrella term covering a broad and ever-growing range of services and technologies. One of the segments within IoT is the smart home ecosystem. The tremendous development the last decade within smartphones, wearable devices and broadband has created new ways to connect individual devices in the home (Qasim and Abu-Shanab, 2016; Jeong et al, 2016; Wilson et al, 2017; Hubert et al, 2017). This creates a synergy effect; by connecting multiple devices to a system new value is created. Energy, home controls, security, communication and entertainment services are all included in the smart home (Miller, 2015; Wilson et al, 2017). Even though the concept of smart homes has a large potential it seems like it has not reached its full potential and the diffusion of the innovation among the consumers is still at an early stage (Balta-Ozkan et.al, 2013; Yang et.al 2017). So far, many studies have been performed on the technical aspects of IoT and smart home ecosystems but less attention has been paid on the consumer point of view and what determinants that play a role in the intention to adopt the technology (Yang, Lee, and Zo. 2017). In addition, previous studies have mainly focused of one single device and has not considered the entire ecosystem (Yang, Lee, and Zo. 2017). Therefore, the purpose with this thesis is to study what are the key determinants for the intention to adopt smart homes from an ecosystem point of view. To fulfill the purpose known theoretical models regarding intention to adopt technology have been used to develop a research model. The basis to establish the research model has been the theory of innovation adoption, TRA, TPB, TAM, VAM and UTAUT. Based on the literature four determinants were selected to be included in the model; these were cost, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and individualization. The first three are all included in the mentioned theoretical models and have previously been proven to be important for intention to adopt. The last one, individualization is derived from the field of product differentiation. In the literature it is mentioned that the possibility to refine, adjust and modify may be crucial for the user (Dodgson et.al. 2008). With this background it was interested to include individualization as a determinant in the research model and study how it impacts intention to adopt. In addition to the determinants one moderator was included; the composition of the household. In order to collect the empirical data a survey was conducted using the snowball sampling approach via Facebook and LinkedIn. The survey consisted of two sections where the first section aimed to collect background information about the respondent and the second section consisted of questions regarding the determinants. In the second section the respondents were asked to respond according to a 5-point Likert scale. The used questions in the survey was predefined in the literature. Study results show that consumers’ use intention is shaped by individualization, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Cost was found not to be statistically significant. Neither was the composition of the household.

Extant information systems literature has viewed systems acceptance and adoption from a technocentric viewpoint that emphasizes post-implementation intentions and attitudes - mainly usefulness and ease of use. Further, the effects of organizational hierarchy and work-environment factors have not been adequately factored largely because the single level user-level perspective has dominated. This dissertation addresses this gap by incorporating work environment factors while focusing on users’ preliminary, pre-implementation attitudes, perceptions, and intentions. It thus employs a multilevel perspective that allows for deeper insights into the interplay between workgroup- and individual-level phenomena. The objectives herein are, first, to illuminate change readiness as a plausible lens through which system acceptance and adoption can be viewed. Although change readiness is predominantly studied in organizational behavior, it has not yet been applied in information systems research. Consequently, it presents a promising approach to explore users’ responses to new systems. Secondly, this dissertation aims to empirically explore the multilevel nature of the change readiness constructs as envisaged in the framework of the antecedents and outcomes of change readiness. The research model is adapted from the multilevel framework of the antecedents and outcomes of change readiness as propounded by Rafferty et al. (2013). Appropriate hypotheses are developed and a survey instrument established to test those hypotheses. To ensure validity, preliminary investigations are conducted after an expert panel review. Subsequently, data was collected and analyzed to assess the extent to which the proposed model and hypotheses are empirically supported. Results and findings from this dissertation have theoretical and practical implications. Extant literature notes the dearth of research that theorizes outcomes of change readiness in the organizational behavior domain. This dissertation theorizes intention to adopt as an outcome of change readiness. Practice benefits from the context-based empirical results which (1) examine whether change readiness has any significant impact on system adoption and (2) the effect of workgroup change readiness on individual’s intention to adopt the system.

Information and communication technologies can be used to deliver healthcare services and improve the healthcare system. Any electronic healthcare system whose usage results in the efficient and enhanced quality of healthcare is an eHealth system and can be beneficial for medical enterprises. Despite the advantages that eHealth systems offer, medical enterprises are often reluctant to abandon their paper-based systems and embrace eHealth solutions. Through a review of existing eHealth literature, this study identified generic technologies used within South African medical enterprises. Fourteen (14) technologies, that represent a basket of eHealth systems for supporting the business management, professional clinical informatics, patient information storage and consumer health informatics functional areas, were identified. The study then aimed to determine the state of adoption of these technologies as well as the factors influencing adoption. The technological, organisational and environmental (TOE) factors that contributed to the current state of adoption were identified through a review of existing TOE literature. A model that explores the effects of these pre-determined TOE factors on the propensity to adopt eHealth was developed and tested. A cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out and survey data was collected from a sample of 130 medical enterprises in South Africa. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Correlation analysis was used to test the model’s hypotheses and hierarchical regression was used to test the overall TOE model. By using the TOE framework, the study has provided a theoretical contribution and addressed a gap in the literature into the barriers and determinants of the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in healthcare. The results of the study show that South African medical enterprises use systems that range from simple electronic fund transfer systems to more complex electronic record and clinical decision support systems. Of the 14 technologies that were identified, business information systems such as medical aid claims submission systems and electronic record systems for patient and fee related information were the most adopted while a steady, but continued increase in the adoption of clinical health information systems was observed. Specifically, the study reveals that electronic fund transfer systems are the most adopted systems while ePrescription systems are the least used. Furthermore, the study shows that in addition to the enterprises’ operating period, perceived benefits, IT infrastructure, senior clinician involvement, resource commitment and external pressure are correlated with the propensity to adopt while system complexity is a barrier to technology adoption.

<p>The aim of this study was to describe how the best interest of the child can be constructed in investigations concerning permission for international adopt, where adequate parenthood is investigated. Qualitative research interviews were used as method. Seven investigators from six different sections of the city of Stockholm were interviewed. The information was analysed on the basis of a sociological approach to law and social constructionism.</p><p>The result showed that adequate parenthood is a condition in the interest of the child. Adequate parenthood is specified as the parent’s qualities and possibility to care for an adopted child. It does not depend on material qualifications, it is principally a matter of personal conditions, which can be defined as self-consciousness and the ability to reflect, feel empathy and manage a crisis. An adequate adoptive parent shall also realize the significance of an adoption. Adequate adoptive parents have a stable and lasting relationship and are surrounded by a stable social network.</p><p>The best interest of the child shall mainly be fulfilled by the qualities of the parents, in other words the adequate parenthood. The adoption has to be in the best interest of the child and thereby fulfil the child’s needs. In a family, children need to develop in their own pace and receive support whenever it is needed. In the investigation undertaken by the authorities, the interests of the child can best be looked after with an investigator that possesses adequate knowledge about children, that investigates thoroughly and feel a responsibility towards the child.</p>

The aim of this study was to describe how the best interest of the child can be constructed in investigations concerning permission for international adopt, where adequate parenthood is investigated. Qualitative research interviews were used as method. Seven investigators from six different sections of the city of Stockholm were interviewed. The information was analysed on the basis of a sociological approach to law and social constructionism. The result showed that adequate parenthood is a condition in the interest of the child. Adequate parenthood is specified as the parent’s qualities and possibility to care for an adopted child. It does not depend on material qualifications, it is principally a matter of personal conditions, which can be defined as self-consciousness and the ability to reflect, feel empathy and manage a crisis. An adequate adoptive parent shall also realize the significance of an adoption. Adequate adoptive parents have a stable and lasting relationship and are surrounded by a stable social network. The best interest of the child shall mainly be fulfilled by the qualities of the parents, in other words the adequate parenthood. The adoption has to be in the best interest of the child and thereby fulfil the child’s needs. In a family, children need to develop in their own pace and receive support whenever it is needed. In the investigation undertaken by the authorities, the interests of the child can best be looked after with an investigator that possesses adequate knowledge about children, that investigates thoroughly and feel a responsibility towards the child.

Devenir parent en accueillant un enfant en vue de l’adopter en contexte de protection de la jeunesse, dans le cadre du programme Banque-mixte, est une expérience particulière, puisque l’enfant arrive dans la famille sans aucune garantie qu’il pourra être adopté. Également, les parents Banque-mixte, en tant que famille d’accueil, ont l’obligation d’amener l’enfant à des visites avec ses parents d’origine et doivent composer avec la présence d’intervenants dans leur vie privée. À l’aide d’une démarche de théorisation enracinée, la présente étude vise à comprendre comment le parent Banque-mixte développe son sentiment de filiation, c’est-à-dire le sentiment d’être le parent de l’enfant qu’il accueille, alors qu’il n’est ni le parent légal, ni le parent biologique. Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été réalisées avec 25 parents afin d’aborder des thèmes tels que les motivations sous-jacentes à leur projet parental, l’expérience du processus pour devenir une famille Banque-mixte et la relation avec l’enfant. Les résultats permettent de jeter les bases d’une nouvelle théorie, selon laquelle le sentiment de filiation précède la filiation légale dans ces circonstances. Ainsi, le parent Banque-mixte ne devient pas un parent au moment du jugement d’adoption; il le devient bien avant, à partir du moment où il atteint un point de non-retour, c’est-à-dire où il constate de manière rationnelle ou émotionnelle que cet enfant est le sien. En l’absence d’un lien de sang et d’un lien légal, le parent Banque-mixte construit son sentiment de filiation sur la base de son profond désir d’enfant et de trois piliers qui lui permettent de justifier son sentiment d’être le parent, soit l’exercice du rôle parental, la construction d’une relation significative avec l’enfant, ainsi que la reconnaissance par autrui de son rôle de parent. Lorsque le parent Banque-mixte n’est pas confronté à l’incertitude de voir l’enfant retourner dans son milieu d’origine, il doit patienter en attendant la concrétisation de l’adoption, mais l’absence de filiation légale ne remet pas en question son sentiment d’être le parent. Par contre, le fait de se sentir le parent avant de le devenir légalement peut générer des tensions dans l’expérience du parent Banque-mixte, puisque le statut de famille d’accueil est en dissonance avec le sentiment de filiation. Afin de minimiser les effets indésirables de l’incertitude, les intervenants de l’adoption et de l’enfant développent différentes stratégies pour rassurer et protéger les parents Banque-mixte, en plus de minimiser l’inquiétude quant à la probabilité du retour de l’enfant dans son milieu familial d’origine. Finalement, guidés par leur besoin de vivre leur filiation de manière exclusive, les parents Banque-mixte font l’effort de mettre à distance les parents d’origine, tout en conservant une certaine ouverture uniquement dans le but de permettre à l’enfant d’intégrer sainement ses origines. En conclusion, les retombées pour l’avancement des connaissances, l’amélioration des pratiques et l’élaboration de nouvelles législations sont discutées. / Becoming a foster-to-adopt parent through the mixed-bank program is a particular experience because the child joins the family with no guarantee that an adoption will take place. In addition, mixed-bank parents, as foster parents, are obligated to take the child to visitations with his or her biological parents and have to deal with the presence of social workers who intervene in their private lives. Using a grounded theory approach, this study aims to understand how foster-to-adopt parents develop a sense of parentage, i.e. the sense of being the child’s parent, in a situation when they are neither the legal guardian nor the biological parent. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 parents in order to explore subjects such as the underlying motivations for their parental project, their experience of the process of becoming a mixed-bank family and their relationship with the child. The results can be used to lay the groundwork for a new theory according to which the sense of parentage appears before legal parentage is declared in such circumstances. Thus, the foster-to-adopt parent does not become a parent when the adoption decree comes into effect; he or she becomes a parent well before that moment, starting at the point of no-return, or, the moment when an individual realizes that the child is theirs through reasoning or as the result of an emotional response. In the absence of a blood or legal relationship, the foster-to-adopt parent builds his or her sense of parentage on the basis of a profound desire to have a child as well as on three pillars that allow him or her to justify the feeling of being the child’s parent: occupying the parental role, building a significant relationship with the child and being recognized as the parent by others. When a foster-to-adopt parent does not have to face the uncertainty that the child might be returned to his biological environment, he or she must patiently wait for the adoption to be finalized but the absence of legal parentage does not challenge his or her sense of being the child’s parent. However, feeling like a child’s parent before legally being recognized as such can create tensions for foster-to-adopt parents since the foster family status clashes with their sense of parentage. In order to minimize the unwanted effects of uncertainty, adoption and child social workers develop different strategies to reassure and protect mixed-bank parents as well as minimize the anxiety caused by the possibility that the child might be returned to his or her biological family environment. Lastly, guided by their need to have an exclusive kinship, foster-to-adopt parents try to distance biological parents while maintaining a certain degree of openness for the sole purpose of allowing the child to accept his or her origins in a healthy manner. In conclusion, the implications of this study on the advancement of knowledge, the improvement of practices and the drafting of new legislation will be discussed.

Despite the increased numbers of online consumers, e-commerce growth is slow in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this correlational study, the technology acceptance model (TAM) was used as a theoretical framework to examine whether perceived ease of use of e-commerce platforms and perceived usefulness of e-commerce platforms could predict consumers' intention to adopt shopping online. A pre-existing TAM survey instrument was used to collect data from consumers (N = 95) who live in a City and have shopped at least once online. The regression analysis confirmed a positive statistically significant relationship between perceived ease of use of e-commerce platforms and consumers' intent to adopt online shopping. The results showed that perceived ease of use of e-commerce platforms and perceived usefulness of e-commerce platforms were statistically significant in predicting consumers' intent to adopt online shopping, with F(2, 92) = 241.630, p < .001, R2 = .840, and adjusted R2 = .837, and accounted for 84% of the variance in consumers' intent to adopt online shopping. The correlation between perceived ease of use and consumers' intent to adopt online shopping was (PEOU) r= .916, p < .001 and the correlation significance between perceived usefulness and consumers' intent to adopt online shopping was (PU) r= .591, p < .001. Using study results, retailers may be able to develop improved strategies to increase profitability via online shopping. The implications for positive social change include the potential for improved quality of life for consumers in Saudi Arabia.

Devenir parent en accueillant un enfant en vue de l’adopter en contexte de protection de la jeunesse, dans le cadre du programme Banque-mixte, est une expérience particulière, puisque l’enfant arrive dans la famille sans aucune garantie qu’il pourra être adopté. Également, les parents Banque-mixte, en tant que famille d’accueil, ont l’obligation d’amener l’enfant à des visites avec ses parents d’origine et doivent composer avec la présence d’intervenants dans leur vie privée. À l’aide d’une démarche de théorisation enracinée, la présente étude vise à comprendre comment le parent Banque-mixte développe son sentiment de filiation, c’est-à-dire le sentiment d’être le parent de l’enfant qu’il accueille, alors qu’il n’est ni le parent légal, ni le parent biologique. Des entrevues semi-dirigées ont été réalisées avec 25 parents afin d’aborder des thèmes tels que les motivations sous-jacentes à leur projet parental, l’expérience du processus pour devenir une famille Banque-mixte et la relation avec l’enfant. Les résultats permettent de jeter les bases d’une nouvelle théorie, selon laquelle le sentiment de filiation précède la filiation légale dans ces circonstances. Ainsi, le parent Banque-mixte ne devient pas un parent au moment du jugement d’adoption; il le devient bien avant, à partir du moment où il atteint un point de non-retour, c’est-à-dire où il constate de manière rationnelle ou émotionnelle que cet enfant est le sien. En l’absence d’un lien de sang et d’un lien légal, le parent Banque-mixte construit son sentiment de filiation sur la base de son profond désir d’enfant et de trois piliers qui lui permettent de justifier son sentiment d’être le parent, soit l’exercice du rôle parental, la construction d’une relation significative avec l’enfant, ainsi que la reconnaissance par autrui de son rôle de parent. Lorsque le parent Banque-mixte n’est pas confronté à l’incertitude de voir l’enfant retourner dans son milieu d’origine, il doit patienter en attendant la concrétisation de l’adoption, mais l’absence de filiation légale ne remet pas en question son sentiment d’être le parent. Par contre, le fait de se sentir le parent avant de le devenir légalement peut générer des tensions dans l’expérience du parent Banque-mixte, puisque le statut de famille d’accueil est en dissonance avec le sentiment de filiation. Afin de minimiser les effets indésirables de l’incertitude, les intervenants de l’adoption et de l’enfant développent différentes stratégies pour rassurer et protéger les parents Banque-mixte, en plus de minimiser l’inquiétude quant à la probabilité du retour de l’enfant dans son milieu familial d’origine. Finalement, guidés par leur besoin de vivre leur filiation de manière exclusive, les parents Banque-mixte font l’effort de mettre à distance les parents d’origine, tout en conservant une certaine ouverture uniquement dans le but de permettre à l’enfant d’intégrer sainement ses origines. En conclusion, les retombées pour l’avancement des connaissances, l’amélioration des pratiques et l’élaboration de nouvelles législations sont discutées. / Becoming a foster-to-adopt parent through the mixed-bank program is a particular experience because the child joins the family with no guarantee that an adoption will take place. In addition, mixed-bank parents, as foster parents, are obligated to take the child to visitations with his or her biological parents and have to deal with the presence of social workers who intervene in their private lives. Using a grounded theory approach, this study aims to understand how foster-to-adopt parents develop a sense of parentage, i.e. the sense of being the child’s parent, in a situation when they are neither the legal guardian nor the biological parent. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 parents in order to explore subjects such as the underlying motivations for their parental project, their experience of the process of becoming a mixed-bank family and their relationship with the child. The results can be used to lay the groundwork for a new theory according to which the sense of parentage appears before legal parentage is declared in such circumstances. Thus, the foster-to-adopt parent does not become a parent when the adoption decree comes into effect; he or she becomes a parent well before that moment, starting at the point of no-return, or, the moment when an individual realizes that the child is theirs through reasoning or as the result of an emotional response. In the absence of a blood or legal relationship, the foster-to-adopt parent builds his or her sense of parentage on the basis of a profound desire to have a child as well as on three pillars that allow him or her to justify the feeling of being the child’s parent: occupying the parental role, building a significant relationship with the child and being recognized as the parent by others. When a foster-to-adopt parent does not have to face the uncertainty that the child might be returned to his biological environment, he or she must patiently wait for the adoption to be finalized but the absence of legal parentage does not challenge his or her sense of being the child’s parent. However, feeling like a child’s parent before legally being recognized as such can create tensions for foster-to-adopt parents since the foster family status clashes with their sense of parentage. In order to minimize the unwanted effects of uncertainty, adoption and child social workers develop different strategies to reassure and protect mixed-bank parents as well as minimize the anxiety caused by the possibility that the child might be returned to his or her biological family environment. Lastly, guided by their need to have an exclusive kinship, foster-to-adopt parents try to distance biological parents while maintaining a certain degree of openness for the sole purpose of allowing the child to accept his or her origins in a healthy manner. In conclusion, the implications of this study on the advancement of knowledge, the improvement of practices and the drafting of new legislation will be discussed.

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Green Relationship is a design solution attempting to raise awareness toward the environment and reduce consumerism. Waste generation and pollution have become major concerns of many governments, municipalities, organizations and individuals around the world since they are affecting human wellbeing and the environment. As an MFA student with VCUQatar, I chose to use design to contribute in protecting the environment hoping to make a difference in life. The thesis includes a research and a design component. The research explores the recycling programs and facilities in Qatar, the governmental and private sector actions toward waste generation and collection, as well as precedent solutions applied around the world. Furthermore, it includes a survey on recycling to gather and analyze the community’s feed back in order to come up with a solution that aims to change people’s behavior toward waste generation and to promote green lifestyle. The design component defines the Green Relationship as the personal connection between the individual and the silent partner, “the environment.” It fulfills the basic survival needs, “food and water,” and the one and only independency need, “oxygen.” The elements of the Green Relationship are the projection of the generic relationships elements we know of through the theory of “Humimicing” that I introduce in my thesis. Humimicing is the design theory that mimics human innate attributes and behaviors to develop design concepts to be applied in different industries. Every element of the Green Relationship is visualized through a different design discipline similar to its nature. Therefore, interactive, product and critical designs are the mediums used to represent Green Communication, Care and Ethics respectively through public installation, experimentation and conceptual design definition. The thesis methodology, which is “Make it Personal,” concludes in creating the Green Relationship that aims to change the behavior of individuals and ultimately to reach out to the wider community. Under the maxim, “Green is not just a color; it is a Lifestyle,” the thesis promotes the use of design to inspire people, designers and manufacturers to consume less and generate less waste in order to save natural resources and the environment.