This research focused on collaborative ties in innovating teams in a research and development (R&D) environment of a technologically innovative R&D intensive manufacturing company. The purpose of the study was to determine the relative impact of, respectively, the strength of ties and the breadth of ties on the innovativeness of teams. Significant research has been carried out on strong and weak ties, and on ties related to social networks. The diversity of networks and their corresponding impact on innovation has also received attention. There has however been little focus in the academic literature on the simultaneous functioning of the strength of ties and breadth of ties and their impact on team innovation in the same study. This research has employed an innovative approach to data collection and a fairly novel and recent methodology for the modeling of the simultaneous configurations of the strength and breadth of ties in enriching the understanding of their contribution to team innovation. The innovativeness of work teams was determined through a team innovation survey administered to the heads of the groups in R&D and independent evaluators knowledgeable about the innovation activities of the teams rated E-mail reports on engagement between teams were used to develop measures for both tie strength and tie breadth. Tie strength for an individual was determined by counting the number of repeated interactions firstly with one's own team, secondly with the rest of teams in own R&D, thirdly with the rest of teams in the organization and finally with teams outside the organization. Tie breadth was determined from a count of the number of different people with whom communication took place for each individual. The same categories for tie breadth were created as for the tie strength for interactions above. Hypothesised relationships were tested through fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The results showed that team innovation is mainly supported by tie strength within the organization. In terms of the simultaneous functioning of tie strength and tie breadth, the strongest results were obtained for the combinations of tie strength with the rest of own R&D and the organization, and tie breadth with the rest of own R&D and the organization. These interactions supported the hypothesis that a combination of strong ties and multiple ties provided the most conducive environment for optimal team innovation. These findings taken together supported the broad view that in mature industries dependent on highly technological processes, interaction within teams and within the firm would predominate, because a shared understanding of a specific strategy and technology base was required. In such a context, cross-divisional interaction also had utility for innovation, as was confirmed by the statistical analysis. It was the combination of many strong ties that produced optimal team innovation. Total external interactions (tie breadth) showed a weaker impact alone. In summary, this has shown that tie strength has a greater impact on innovation than tie breadth. These findings were derived from an R&D intensive mature industrial manufacturing context and variations in utility are likely to be context-dependent. However, should the company diversify its products or adopt newer technologies even in its mature state, then more external interaction has the potential to add value to the innovation process, as the literature suggests. Thus the study suggests indicated that internal collaboration is a key factor impacting positively on the innovativeness of teams. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / pagibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / PhD / Unrestricted

Class of 2016 Abstract / Objectives: Analyze electronic prescription errors made by a community health center. Determine the time it takes to correct electronic prescription errors in a community pharmacy. Ascertain whether or not a collaborative practice agreement would be beneficial. Methods: The store computer system was used to generate a report of all prescriptions received at a community pharmacy from a community health center during a 6-month period. Using an Excel sheet, one author kept track of how many electronic prescriptions were received, the number and type of errors, and the time it took to get an error corrected. Results: There were 1896 electronic prescriptions sent from a community health center to a community pharmacy; 61 contained an error (3.24%). On average, it took the doctor’s office 111.7 hours to call back and clarify the mistake. Conclusions: There was not a significant amount of prescribing errors that occurred during the data collection period. However, the time it took for the doctor’s office to call back was significant and translates to patients not being able to get their medications on time.

Information technologies have become relevant enablers in knowledge management (KM) initiatives in academic institutions. A previous study by Anduvare (2015) revealed that the Marist International University College, Nairobi - Kenya had not adequately adopted information technologies into KM practices entwined in teaching, learning and research. This research study, therefore, set out to explore technologies that are capable of supporting KM practices in academic institutions in order to recommend some to the MIUC. Purposive sampling was used to select the MIUC full-time academic staff members as the target population as the researcher believed that they actively use knowledge at the MIUC and hence, would be in a position to understand the extent of information technology usage in KM practices. The study employed a qualitative research design that involved the use of Google forms to conduct an online survey in order to collect data from the target population. The study achieved a 100% response rate. Content analysis was utilised to analyse the data during which data within the specified themes (collaborative and distributive learning; knowledge discovery; knowledge mapping and knowledge application) was scrutinised for meaning. The data was then interpreted, presented and discussed based on the research sub-questions set for the study. The findings of the study confirmed the existence of KM practices at the MIUC. The study, thus, recommended some information technologies that support the KM practices to the MIUC which had been established through a review of literature. / Mini Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Information Science / MIT / Unrestricted

Magister Artium - MA / Background: Healthcare workers are the human face of health systems, serving to connect knowledge and service delivery to improve patient care. The development of core competencies in the education of health professionals is fundamental for health improvement. Interprofessional collaboration amongst healthcare workers has been linked to improved patient outcomes as no single professional can address all healthcare issues. Aim: The aim of this research was to determine how UWC undergraduate physiotherapy students were being prepared for collaborative work as part of their professional development. Educational experiences of the third- and final-year physiotherapy cohort, physiotherapy educators’ perspectives on the development of competency for collaboration and a review of physiotherapy module outlines were explored. Research Method: A descriptive qualitative research design utilizing focus groups, semi-structured interviews and document analysis was employed. A pedagogical framework was used for instrument development and data analysis. The pedagogical framework was adapted from the CanMEDS physician competency framework, the core competency framework by the Medical and Dental Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the Essential Competency Profile for physiotherapists in Canada. Research was conducted at the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of the Western Cape. Purposive sampling was undertaken with the sample population having consisted of six third- and six final-year physiotherapy students for the focus group discussions and seven lecturers formed the sample for the semi-structured interviews as well as sixteen physiotherapy module outlines. Data was collected and focus group discussion and interviews were transcribed verbatim. An inductive content analysis of the transcribed data was conducted and compared to the Pedagogical framework. Content analyses of module outlines were conducted drawing on Biggs work on constructive alignment and compared to the Pedagogical framework. Ethical clearance was received from the Senate Research Committee of the University of the Western Cape. Results: Participants showed a keen knowledge on the importance of collaboration in the teaching and clinical environment. It had relevance for personal development and learning as well as for interprofessional collaboration. Interprofessional education and group work were thought to be instrumental in collaborative learning but a lack of congruency of learning activities could be a barrier to learning. The clinical environment was highlighted as beneficial to developing collaboration through interprofessional observation and interaction but high patient loads and a lack of understanding of the roles and responsibilities of all healthcare professionals were identified as barriers. To a lesser degree, communication, conflict management and confidence were identifiable skills physiotherapy students should have to be effective collaborators. Conclusion: Students are well-positioned to participate within interprofessional team but have inadequately developed collaborative competencies. These include interprofessional role understanding and skills in conflict management, confidence and communication. Constructive alignment of curriculum by aligning learning outcomes and learning activities to develop collaboration including interprofessional learning activities would better prepare students for interprofessional collaboration.

Magister Educationis (Adult Learning and Global Change) - MEd(AL) / This study investigates how students in an online Masters Programme in Adult Learning, although geographically dispersed used SNs to develop a supportive environment that enables collaborative learning to support and deepen their learning. Web 2.0 social software provided the tools for various forms of communication and information sharing amongst student within the social networks. This study shows how the use of Web 2.0 tools such as wikis, podcasts, blogs, chat rooms, social networking sites and email have the potential to expand the learning environment, increase participation and enrich the learning experience. Rapid technological developments transform our world into a global society which is ever changing and interconnected. The SNs as a learning environment in this technological driven global society is complex and not clearly defined; therefore it was not easy for me to understand the nature of the SNs as learning environment. The social nature of this study has therefore urged me to use social constructivism as a conceptual framework to gain insights into how students have used the social networks to develop a supportive environment that enables collaborative learning to support and deepen their learning. The utilisation of social constructivism as theoretical lens has helped to broaden my perceptions of the SNs as learning environment, to deepen my understanding of how learning occurs in the SNs and to comprehend learner behaviour within this pedagogical space. Social constructivists view learning as a social process in which people make sense of their world by interacting with other people (Doolittle & Camp, 1999). Social constructivists belief in the social nature of knowledge, and the belief that knowledge is the result of social interaction and language usage, and, thus, is a shared, rather than an individual, experience (Prawat & Floden, 1994). Furthermore, they believe that this social interaction always occurs within a socio-cultural context, resulting in knowledge that is bound to a specific time and place (Vygotsky, 1978).

Class of 2005 Abstract / Objective: To determine the effect that a pharmacist run diabetes mellitus (DM) care clinic has on glycemic control, as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. The baseline comparison group is the current standard of care consisting of physician only treated DM patients. Methods: This project is a retrospective cohort analysis of clinical data obtained from patient charts, patients were matched on age. The pharmacist treated group, from a community health center clinic with a collaborative care agreement for the treatment of DM (Group 1), provided comprehensive DM treatment based upon a prearranged treatment protocol with clinic physicians. The physician treated group, is from an outpatient clinic situated at a community hospital (Group 2). The primary outcome was change in HbA1c over at least a 6 month period of time. Patients from both groups were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, >18 years of age, and enrolled in an Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Medicaid insurance program. Patients could be treated with oral antidiabetic medication, an insulin product, or a combination of both. Results: A total of 321 patients were included in the study, Group 1 n=161, Group 2 n=160. Ages were similar, mean age=57.7 (SD=12.2) for Group1 and mean age=57.4 (SD=12.3) for Group 2. Gender (male=33.5% and 37.5% respectively) and ethnicity were also similar (p>0.45). The average HbA1c levels at baseline and at the end of treatment were as follows; Group 1 (9.8 and 7.8), and Group 2 (8.8 and 8.9) p<0.001 for post treatment comparison. Implications: This study indicates that physician pharmacist collaborative care improves glycemic control, as shown by significantly lower HbA1c levels than the physician treated group.

There is often a misalignment between requirements for keeping data owners' information private and real data processing practices, and this can lead to violations of privacy. Specifying and implementing appropriate policies to control a user's access to a system and its resource is critical for keeping data owners' information private. Traditionally, policy specification is isolated from requirements analysis, which often results in data processing practices that are not in compliance with data owners' requirements. This thesis investigates a development scheme that integrates policy specification into requirements analysis and approach design. It suggests that, while we derive specification from requirements analysis, we can also improve requirements and approach design through privacy preservation specification by clarifying ambiguities in the requirements and resolving inconsistencies between requirements and data processing practices. This claim is supported by the requirements analysis and specification of a purpose based access control approach for privacy preservation. The purpose-based access control method consists of an entity of purpose, which expresses requirements for keeping personal information private from a data owner's point of view. The requirements analysis is helped by the specification of the entities, the relationships, the invariants corresponding to the requirements, and the model operations along with proof obligations of their satisfiability. That specification results in a complete purpose based access control model in the case of an intra-organisation scenario. The development scheme has also been applied for privacy preservation in distributed collaborative environments. Distributed computing environments pose further challenges for keeping personal information private. Design considerations are taken for ensuring that personal information is accessed from two or more parties only if agreed privacy policies and privacy preferences are satisfied, and for facilitating privacy policies matching and privacy preference compliance among distributed collaborative organisations. The work presented in this thesis should be of value to researchers on privacy protection methods, to whom the purpose-based access control model has been made available for privacy property verification, and to researchers on privacy specification, who will be able to incorporate specification into the requirements analysis.

Dynamic networking is a key factor for successful transnational organizations. The transcultural shift is a critical process that can enable cultural hybridization so as to inspire consensual identity and learning aptitude amongst worldwide members. The Global Learning Organization (GLO) model is re-conceptualized to bring about this cultural shift. E-learning seems an appropriate tool to generate effective transcultural communication for both culture and learning perspectives under the GLO model. A qualitative case study using document analysis and interviews is conducted to understand how transcultural communication is generated via e-learning under the GLO model in two fields. Findings reveal that firstly, trust is a core element in generating transcultural communication and the combination of face to face and e-learning can enable trust to be activated and developed. Secondly, the way to build trust varies depending on task characteristics: the detail-oriented tasks require more intense face to face communication than the concept-focused tasks. This study illustrates that design of various mixed learning pattern with strategies to build trust through the affective dimension will be key for the successful GLO.

The study reported in this thesis investigates how change was managed within one school with a view to drawing out implications for the relationship between school improvement and leadership. Significantly, it examines the challenge of bringing about school improvement in a highly centralised education system, using the example of Cyprus.

Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVE) have been with us for some years however the way people utilise them is evolving and their potential is unclear. This research attempts to achieve a better understanding of retail in CVEs by comparing this channel with the competing retail channels of ‘bricks and mortar’, or offline, and two dimensional navigation websites (2D websites), in order to identify their respective Relative Advantages (RA). This is investigated from the consumer viewpoint, as they are the ones who will ultimately shape CVEs by voting with their feet, clicks or virtual feet. By exploring the literature a model was chosen to guide the research. Furthermore, based on this model and other literature five key objectives were identified for further investigation. These objectives are categories of RA that must be explored when comparing retail channels. The first research objective is as follows: A RA of CVEs to the 2D websites for e-commerce may be the aspects of offline retail it includes that do not exist in the 2D websites. The second research objective is: A RA of CVEs retail compared to offline retail may be aspects of 2D e-commerce it includes that are not included in the offline retail environment. The third research objective is: Consumers may vary their intended usage of CVEs across the different stages of the purchase process because the significance of the dimensions of RA may vary across those stages. The fourth research objective is: Consumers’ usage of CVEs may be different for simple and complex products. The fifth research objective is: CVEs such as Second Life (SL) may have the RA of a higher degree of institutional trust compared to the 2D websites. The first stage of data collection used focus groups to clarify the objectives identified from the literature. The second stage involved interviews where these objectives were explored with participants that had relevant experience. Both stages were analysed using template analysis. The first contribution was verifying the relevance of the five objectives and identifying significant dimensions within them. The second contribution was to develop the model used for comparing retail channels by adding enjoyment to the criteria. The third stage of this research is a survey. This quantitative analysis supplemented the two qualitative stages by gauging the significance of the objectives and their dimensions. This enables the findings to be more useful to retailers in making the strategic decisions to achieve the optimum synergies within and between channels. Participants showed a preference for offline and 2D in most situations however there was evidence that enjoyment, entertainment, sociable shopping, the ability to reinvent yourself, convenience and institutional trust were RA of SL in comparison to one of the other two channels.