Collage is presented as an allegoric art-form sui generis, considering allegory itself as an open-ended form of art. The research provides a suggestion to a different understanding of collage i.e.: as a catalyst for a search for structure and semiotic relationships in an attempt to overcome a constant disordered expansion of an intertextual web and hermeneutic possibilities; and as an open work, providing multi-layered meanings. As an open work collage is typified by the prominent role of its "readers", its ambiguity and the infinite net of references it summons. Collage may be conceived as a bridge between modernism and postmodernism, structuralism and post-structuralism; as a model for constant innovation and suppleness; as a stimulator for meta-artistic questions, acceptance of "soft" universals and reevaluation of the role of the Other within an artwork. Works by Jasper Johns, Michal Na'aman, Dina Hoffman and myself exemplify these ideas. / Visual Arts / M.A. (Visual Arts)

Information security (InfoSec) policies are widely used by institutions as a form of InfoSec control measure to protect their information assets. InfoSec policies are commonly documented in natural language, which is prone to ambiguity and misinterpretation, thereby making it hard, if not impossible, for users to comply with. These misinterpretations may lead the students or staff members to wrongfully execute the required actions, thereby making institutions vulnerable to InfoSec attacks. According to the literature review conducted in this work, InfoSec policy documents are often not followed or complied with; and the key issues facing InfoSec policy compliance include the lack of management support for InfoSec, organisational cultures of non-compliance, intentional and unintentional policy violation by employees (the insider threat), lack of policy awareness and training as well as the policy being unclear or ambiguous. This study is set in the higher education context and explores the extent to which the non-compliance problem is embedded within the policy documents themselves being affected by ambiguity. A qualitative method with a case study research strategy was followed in the research, in the form of an inductive approach with a cross-sectional time horizon, whereby a selection case of relevant institutional InfoSec policies were analysed. The data was collected in the form of academic literature and InfoSec policies of higher education institutions to derive themes for data analysis. A qualitative content analysis was performed on the policies, which identified ambiguity problems in the data. The findings indicated the presence of ambiguity within the policy documents, making it possible to misinterpret some of the policy statements. Formal methods were explored as a possible solution to the policy ambiguity. A framework was then proposed to address ambiguity and improve on the clarity of the semantics of policy statements. The framework can be used by policy writers in paying attention to the presence of ambiguity in their policies and address these when drafting or revising their policy documents. / School of Computing

Conventional wisdom states that, in response to a rising threat, weaker states may choose either to balance against, or to bandwagon with, the threat. However, the states in Southeast Asia, in response to a rising China, exhibit behavior that conforms neither to pure balancing nor bandwagoning. This senior thesis seeks to understand why that is the case, and argues that, in a world of ambiguity, the domestic level of analysis becomes of greater importance in explaining state behavior.

文本的多義（polysemy）現象往往是文學閱讀樂趣產生之由來，然而具有多義性的文本卻未必侷限於純文學文本，筆者觀察30年來的廣告文本中的語言，發現具有多義性的廣告語言越來越多，廣告語言的創作手法甚有文學化的傾向。又由於文本的多義性，有時在傳播過程中便容易產生歧義（ambiguity）解讀。 基於上述理由，筆者在本文中首先釐清多義與歧義觀念上的不同，並藉用現代語言學的觀念、結構主義與後結構主義的觀點、當代漢語語法分析的方法、傳播學中的言語行為理論、傳播社會學的受播者自選性理論等等學理觀念和方法，探討近30年來較有名的廣告文本之語言的詞義、結構，以掌握廣告語言詞義、結構與語義間的關係，同時輔以語用的分析；在閱聽人的解讀反應上，則搜集報章雜誌中與該廣告語言所引起的爭議及討論的相關報導做為分析參酌之材料，進而掌握廣告語言的歧義現象產生的原因與影響。 本研究希望藉由詞義分析、語法結構分析及語義判讀掌握廣告語言與文化語境的關係，歸納出廣告語言多義與歧義產生的原因與歧義現象的影響，期望在整個廣告語言與社會文化的互動過程中，能更清楚地掌握廣告語言的可能意指及其在絢麗的語言符號背後所指涉的社會文化意涵。 由於不同結構的廣告語言各有不同的使用目的或使用之場合，在實例分析上，筆者將其分為「詞」與「詞組」、「單句」、「複句」三個單元。而筆者分析所得的大致成果是： 在「多義解讀與文本語境」方面，文本多義性的形成，除了詞語本身的多義性是歷時必然發展出的結果之外，文本語境中的修辭技巧、文本語境中的語言結構省略、文本語境中的多層次語法結構、聲音與畫面未能提供妥善限制等等都是重要因素。 在「歧義解讀與文化語境」方面，影響歧義解讀的文化語境因素可歸納為：不同文化背景的認知差異、不同性別的思考差異、不同年齡層的不同價值觀、語言禁忌的思考等四個因素，然而這四個因素有時候並不是單獨存在，造成歧義解讀的因素，有時頗單純，有時卻呈現頗為錯綜複雜的情形。 多義文本提供閱讀樂趣，自古以來是文學作品的普遍現象，然而，作為資訊閱讀的廣告語言，從多義性進而產生歧義解讀則會有如下影響： （一）愈簡短的廣告語言形式造成的歧義解讀對品牌影響愈大 （二）形成話題、達到宣傳效果 （三）影響品牌形象與商品接受度 （四）造成爭議、引起訴訟

In a confessional, first person narrative, the concept of truth and how it is constructed and perceived is important. Truth in fiction can be created and interpreted in a number of different ways, and when the narrative that portrays it in addition is unreliable and ambiguous, discerning truth becomes a decidedly complex process. This essay interprets the confessional testimony of the narrator in John Banville’s The Book of Evidence, in order to examine the function of these narrative devices and how they affect the understanding of what is true in Banville’s unreliably narrated novel. It does so by following literary theories regarding unreliable narration by Tamar Yacobi and others, as well as theories of truth in fiction as first presented by David Lewis and expanded upon by Ben Levinstein and others. The different types of ambiguity suggested by William Empson are also considered. The novel’s narrative is analyzed specifically in relation to the understanding of how the protagonist eludes to his feelings of guilt and shame. These emotions are chosen for their prevalence in conventional confessions. The essay claims that the narcissistic narrator harbors neither of these feelings pertaining to the crime he has committed, but rather that he admits to being guilty and is ashamed of being caught, and that this is portrayed through the structure of the narrative rather than its content.

Mega construction projects are complex undertakings. The complexity is increased during a construction boom in a city such as Dubai where more than 80% of material and labour resources are imported. The complexities inherent in mega construction projects include uncertainty and interdependencies, which affect project management performance at the operational level where most of the problems occur. Understanding these processes, how they interrelate and how to overcome the complexities is crucial for increasing the chances of project management success. This research contributed to construction project management theory and practice by using a highly inductive exploratory qualitative approach for capturing formal and informal processes in mega construction projects in Dubai. A dynamic model depicting the complementary formal and informal processes is developed showing formal and informal processes and how they interrelate to reduce complexity. Guidelines on how and when to use specific processes are provided as a framework for the model. This framework may be used to help develop communication processes in future complex projects to increase chances of project management success. The research was conducted by exploring two case study projects fitting the characteristics of mega construction projects. Both case study projects were of values above 1.5 Billion US Dollars and were similar in scope with elements including amusement parks, retail areas, hotels, extensive infrastructure and large landscape areas. Both case study projects were of an experimental character, considered an engineering achievement, complex, and thereby, difficult to control. The research data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 83 project staff from both case study projects. Rich picture diagrams of the organization and processes were made from data collected during the interviews and case study project documents. The analysis was performed in three phases where the results from each phase were built upon cumulatively. The first phase examined what the most crucial critical success factors (CSFs) were in the case study projects. These were revealed to be communication, top management support and effective change management. In the second phase each CSF was analyzed where it was found it that the majority of important communication modes were informal and were was most effective in reducing complexity. Furthermore, it was found that the characteristics of the client were crucial in both case study projects. The third phase involved development of the dynamic hybrid model from the rich picture diagrams created showing the interplay between formal and informal processes. It was found that informal processes are ad-hoc and chaotic in nature and controlled by individuals in the project. Development of guidelines for the positive use of informal processes was required. From the analysis it was found that the characteristics of client staff and individuals in the case study projects provided the main guidelines for effective use of the hybrid model. The research provides insights into the formal and informal processes and the reduction and management of complexity inherent in mega construction projects. Current research in managing complexity is from the perspective of the formal process where the informal processes are neglected, despite research and practice indicating their importance in construction projects. The research presents a systemic dynamic model of the processes for mega construction projects revealing that formal and informal processes are required and are complementary. Guidelines for the successful use of the model provide a framework for its application in practice. This shows how it can be used to inform understanding of processes in the context of the research. The model and guidelines were validated via discussions with practitioners experienced in construction of mega projects. Future work should expand the findings to applications of the model in practice for management of complex projects. The model may be used by practitioners to act as a guide in how to manage construction processes to consciously overcome the inherent complexities to achieve project management objectives. This tool may also be used to inform clients of the inherent complexities and the level of informality required to overcome them. IT/IS practitioners may use the model and framework to understand the complexities in construction, and thereby, develop systems that are practically applied in construction projects. Researchers in the field may build upon the model and findings to increase knowledge regarding construction processes, particularly informal processes.

Is there possibly a way design can make us reflect upon and acknowledge multiple realities? Our perceptions are so individually rooted that we can practically say that we experience multiple realities. Depending on which senses we use and what previous experiences we have, we explore our physical world in such a way that one could say that it’s a reality of it’s own. By exposing ourselves to multiple realities we not only learn more, we also diminish our generalisations within that field. Through the objects presented in the project, I question how aesthetics and functionality can stimulate new views and experiences, opening up how we perceive the world in different ways. Thus giving us different associations of what objects come to mean to each and everyone - our subjective reality. The project resulted in three proposals which are related to the private home, but has been given a costume of ambiguity to connect with viewers and users on a more individual plane. Who do you see in the mirror? Is it a table, or is it actually an instrument? Does our previous experiences reveal in how we interact with objects?

Argues that Bellow purposefully creates ambiguity and deception using impersonal narration and free indirect discourse in order to present Herzog and The Dean's December as reflections of an ambiguous and deceptive world. The discussion of impersonal narration is based on Wayne Booth's theories about the confusion of distance resulting from impersonal narration; the discussion of free indirect discourse is drawn from a number of definitions. Utilizes a number of specific references to the texts and to criticisms of the texts to demonstrate the absence of norms and the effect that the ambiguity and deception may have on readers.

In the first chapter of Crossing the River (1993), Caryl Phillips depicts the dilemma of a fluid identity for the peoples of the African diaspora and their descendants by using ambiguity to simulate feelings of contradiction, liminality and a double consciousness. The first character, Nash Williams, struggles with his cultural identity as an emancipated, black slave and missionary who is repatriated in Africa to convert the pagans of Liberia. A postcolonial reading of Nash’s hybrid position illustrates his experiences of unhomeliness, of religious doubt and realisation in the shortcomings of mimicry. The second character, Amelia Williams is divided by her dual identity as the wife of a slave owning-slave liberator in antebellum America. Via a contrapuntal reading of Amelia as the antagonist of the tale, her hostile manner supports the suggestion that she sought to control the peculiar situation which was threatening her livelihood, depreciating her social status and debasing her imperialist values. Her proslavery standpoint could not, however, be established unequivocally. Nevertheless, both Amelia and Nash are unmistakably troubled by inner conflicts engendered through slavery and polarised ideologies.

Classic studies in the Sociology of the Professions have explored knowledge barriers across traditional forms of professionalism, quintessentially represented by medical doctors, lawyers, and university professors. Thus, the impact of distinctive professional identities and communal boundaries on processes of knowledge sharing have been well documented. More recently, however, many scholars have suggested that those classical analyses need to be revisited and reassessed (see for e.g. the recent call for papers of Teelken and colleagues at EGOS 2011, cf. also Evetts, 2006; Noordegraaf, 2007) in the light of three contemporary trends: a changing context of professional practice, the associated erosion of classic forms of professionalism, and the emergence of new forms. While classical studies have laid the foundation of our understanding of the conditions that render knowledge sharing across more established forms of professionalism problematic, the processes and potential barriers across more novel and hybrid forms are less clear (cf. Noordegraaf, 2007). In order to address this gap, this thesis presents a comparative investigation of expert knowledgesharing across professional boundaries in four cross-occupational teams in the English National Health Service; two of them primarily composed of established professionals and two of hybrid professionals. By analysing these two types of cross-occupational teams, this thesis’ contribution is the identification of a different configuration of knowledge barriers affecting the sharing of knowledge within the two forms of professionalism. These findings further highlight the existence of two very different ecologies of (inter) professional knowledge within established and hybrid forms of professionalism. First, distinctive knowledge bases underlie professional practice and interaction in established and hybrid forms of professionalism. For established forms knowledge is more substantive and disciplinary based, whereas for hybrid forms it is general and situated, and characterized by a syncretic use of different disciplines, theories, and information. Second, the types of indeterminacies that permeate the two types of ecologies also vary. While the more established forms of professionalism face higher levels of ambiguity (semantic indeterminacy), the more transient and hybrid forms of professionalism face higher levels of uncertainty (de re indeterminacy). Finally, the nature of professional boundaries is different between these two types. While in established forms of professionalism boundaries are relatively well defined, and hence recognizable; in hybrids forms they are vague and transient.