La popularité de la certification forestière est croissante à l'échelle mondiale. Les superficies certifiées ne cessent de grimper. Simultanément, la capacité des États à gérer adéquatement les ressources forestières est questionnée. En plus, les ressources gouvernementales disponibles pour le contrôle des pratiques décroissent de jour en jour. La certification apparaît alors comme un élément de solution pour la gestion des forêts. La certification est un processus volontaire et transparent visant à évaluer la qualité d'un aménagement forestier selon des exigences prédéterminées. Elle est mise en oeuvre par l'industrie forestière. Au Québec, trois normes sont en usage : la Forest Stewardship Council, la Sustainable Forestry Initiative et la norme CSA/Z809. Dans cette recherche, nous avons analysé ces nonnes dans la perspective d'un système de gouvernance. Le concept de gouvernance renvoie à une gestion coopérative par les acteurs concernés par un domaine d'activité. Dans le domaine forestier, ces acteurs proviennent de la société civile, du gouvernement et de l'industrie de la transformation de la matière ligneuse. L'objectif principal de cette recherche est de démontrer comment la certification forestière agit en tant que système de gouvernance dans le contexte des forêts publiques québécoises. Pour ce faire, nous avons privilégié une approche qualitative. Plus précisément, la cueillette de données s'est fait à l'aide d'un sondage, d'entrevues et d'analyses documentaires. Les résultats démontrent que dans le contexte québécois, la certification ne représente pas un système de gouvernance autonome. Néanmoins, elle influence et modifie la gestion des forêts publiques à divers titres. Particulièrement aux plans de la participation des acteurs et de la performance environnementale, les entreprises certifiées se démarquent. Cependant, le fonctionnement parallèle de la certification et du régime forestier présente des lacunes en termes d'efficacité et d'imputabilité. Une impartition de certaines activités de l'État pounait optimiser la qualité de l'aménagement forestier durable. La certification forestière représente un outil de gestion complémentaire au système traditionnel. Elle ne possède pas les attributs nécessaires à un système de gouvernance autonome qui pounait prendre le relais du régime forestier public au plan des opérations tenitoriales.

Critical teacher shortages in special education have led to revisions in certification and licensure policies in some states and implementation of initiatives to attract special education teachers in other states. Some of these revisions have allowed unendorsed teachers to be assigned to special education classrooms. The reliance on unendorsed teachers to fill special education vacancies means those working with students with the greatest educational needs may have the least amount of training or teaching experience. However, there have been no investigations of unendorsed special education teachers. / Ed. D.

This study of the relationship between teacher attributes and student scores on the SOL Algebra I Test in Grades 9-12 focused on three prominent teacher attributes: certification, specialization in math, and years of experience teaching math. The study also assessed two additional relationships: 1) the relationship between student socioeconomic status, as reflected in the percentage of students who receive free or reduced fee lunch, and the SOL test score; and 2) the association between teacher perceptions of Stronge's (2002) domains of effective teaching and achievement on the SOL Algebra test. Teachers who taught high school Algebra I in the Commonwealth of Virginia voluntarily completed a questionnaire about their experiences and educational preparation, and their perceptions of teacher attributes that contribute to student achievement in Algebra. The study found no significant relationships between the teacher attributes and student achievement on the Algebra I SOL test. Only two of Stronge's domains of effective teaching, <i>Teacher as a Person </i>and <i>Monitoring Student Progress and Potential </i>, were statistically significant. These findings affirm recent reports that traditional measures of teacher quality such as seniority or certification, or established views of effective teaching may not be related to student achievement. The study found that the students' socioeconomic status had a statistically significant association with student achievement on the Algebra I SOL test. Although the study findings are limited because of the small sample size and the homogenous sample of Virginia teachers, the findings are consistent with recent reports on effective teaching, and widespread educational reform. Studies that are specifically focused on the teaching of subjects such as Algebra could help to identify the characteristics of great math teachers and the unique teaching strategies these teachers use to help students successfully learn math. New research that utilizes qualitative research methods has the potential to identify additional classroom strategies and approaches used by great teachers. In 2009, No Child Left Behind requires that all schools find, hire, and retain highly qualified teachers for core subject areas. The findings of this study suggest that traditional measures for hiring and rewarding teachers may need to be expanded to include new perspectives on selecting effective teachers. / Ed. D.

Sustainable development reflects an emphasis on integrated solutions to economic development, socio-political stability and environmental health in the global community. In the same context the concept of security is no longer applied only to the military realm, but also to the economic, the societal, the environmental, and the political fields. The forestry sector provides a good illustration of the links between sustainable development and security in both its narrow (military security) and its broad (non-military security) sense. The forests have a substantial impact on the Earth¿s climate, the loss of forests is devastating to biodiversity and timber sales have been used to fund both state and non-state combatants in a variety of civil conflicts. Timber certification has been put forward as a viable alternative to existing regulations and practices and as one capable of contributing to the mitigation of both climate change and conflict. This paper outlines the evolution of timber certification initiatives. The identities and roles of different stakeholders are discussed, followed by an evaluation of certified forest areas and the implications of forest management for post-war economies. Finally, the role of timber certification and its possible impact on peaceful and sustainable development are discussed

Graduates of the Wilderness Education Association (W.E.A.) were surveyed by mail to investigate the effects of their certification on safety, ecological impact, and curriculum standardization of their subsequent leadership activities. Self-reports showed a slight, but not statistically significant, decrease in the number of post- W.E.A. course evacuations and rescues. Graduates reported a moderate W.E.A. influence on their accident records, and knowledge of W.E.A. standard safety practices was low. W.E.A.'s reported influence on the ecological impact of current outdoor leadership activities was stronger than its influence on safety, but graduates revealed only a moderate level of knowledge about ethical use practices. Graduates reported implementing a mean of 4.54 out of 16 W.E.A. curriculum areas into current programs. Thirty-three and one-half percent of the graduates reported not implementing any curriculum areas into current programs. W.E.A. graduates indicated that the course had the greatest influence on the implementation of their outdoor education curriculum areas which had previously not been highly standardized. Implications for certification of outdoor leaders are discussed. / Master of Science

Labeling is a product differentiation mechanism which has increased in prevalence across many markets. This study investigated the potential for a labeling program applied in ornamental plant sales, given key ongoing issues affecting ornamental plant producers: irrigation water use and plant disease. Our research investigated how to better understand the market for plants certified as disease free and/or produced using water conservation techniques through segmenting the market by consumers' environmental preferences. Latent class analysis was conducted using choice modeling survey results and respondent scores on the New Environmental Paradigm scale. The results show that when accounting for environmental preferences, consumers can be grouped into two market segments. Relative to each other, these segments are considered: price sensitive and attribute sensitive. Our research also investigated market segments' preferences for multiple certifying authorities. The results strongly suggest that consumers of either segment do not have a preference for any particular certifying authority. / Master of Science

With the increasing digitalization of society, where threats of data breaches and information leaks are growing exponentially, the importance of a structured and effective management of information security has become increasingly apparent. This realization has contributed to organizations prioritizing efforts to ensure the secure management of information, making information security management systems (ISMS) a prominent component among organizations. With the increased demand for this, ISO 27001 certification has emerged as a key strategy for organizations to increase information security. Given the lack of research on this certificate, especially inthe Swedish context, this study aims to investigate what effects small to medium-sized organizations experience after an ISO 27001 certification. Using a qualitative research method, eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted where the results were discussed and compared with previous research in the field. The results indicate that organization experiences a lot of improvements after the ISO 27001 certification, which are both internal and external improvements. The findings show that organizations experience efficiency improvements, improved security and risk management, business benefits, and better customer relations. In addition, the findings also indicate that the certificate is fulfilling its purpose and that organizations are satisfied with the end result and choose to recertify.

In a world increasingly driven by environmentally conscious consumer behaviour, the effects of product labelling on sustainable purchase intentions remain a critical area of marketing research. In order to understand the complex relationship between labels and consumer decisions, this research explores the interesting dynamics of label influence using theories including Goal-framing Theory, Reasoned Action Theory, the SHIFT model, and Information Asymmetry. This research reveals, by using a thorough method that combines quantitative surveys with experimental methods, that even environmentally conscious consumers find it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and copycat certificates. The results strongly imply that consumers are much more likely to purchase goods with legitimate certificates than those with copycat certificates or none at all, when information asymmetry doesn’t exist. This realisation creates new opportunities for NGOs, government departments, and marketers to create better and more knowledgeable labelling plans, which will increase consumer trust and promote more environmentally friendly purchase behaviours.

Nous avons utilisé un sondage en méthode-Q – une technique d’étude de la subjectivité – pour explorer les différentes perceptions de la certification forestière au Québec. Nous avons découvert trois discours distincts. Aussi, nous avons effectué une analyse des changements institutionnels en cours dans le milieu forestier québécois. Nous prévoyons que le régime forestier subira un important effort de décentralisation et que la certification forestière y jouera un rôle. Si cela s’avère vrai, ceux qui perçoivent la certification comme un outil de gestion feront valoir le leadership des industriels forestiers en matière de certification. Ils voudront sécuriser le rôle traditionnel d’aménagiste et de gestionnaires des forêts publiques assumé par les firmes privées. D’autre part, ceux qui voient la certification comme un outil de relation publique devrait s’opposer à la réforme envisagée. Ils demanderont des preuves de l’efficacité de la certification forestière pour améliorer l’aménagement forestier. Finalement, ceux qui voient la certification comme un outil de gouvernance approuveront la réforme et chercheront à la catalyser. Ils demanderont à ce que les processus de participation publique soient précisés de manière à améliorer le partage des pouvoirs et la distribution équitable des responsabilités en aménagement forestier. / We have used a Q-methodology survey – a subjectivity studying technique – to explore different perceptions of forest certification in Quebec. Three different viewpoints were discovered. We have also done an analysis of institutional changes within Quebec's forest sector. As a result, we expect Quebec's forest regime to undergo an important effort of decentralization in which forest certification will play an important role. First, we have individuals who primarily view certification as a tool of management and who may place greater importance on forest industries' certification leadership. People in this category may want the traditional role of private firms as developers and managers of the crown's forests to be secured. On the other hand, there are people who view certification as a tool for public relations and who may be opposed to preserving the traditional role of private firms. For this group of people, proof of improvement of certified forest practices would be a requirement. Finally, people who view certification as a tool of governance may approve of reform and thus, try to catalyze it. Such individuals will demand an enhancement of public involvement processes in the forest sector. This group of people will want forest management responsibilities and power to be more equitable.

Au Québec et dans le monde, la construction préfabriquée en bois est en plein essor depuis plusieurs années grâce aux nouvelles technologies, aux nouveaux savoir-faire et aux nouvelles consciences politiques et publiques pour l'utilisation de matériaux biosourcés dans le cadre d'une décarbonation de l'économie. Aujourd'hui, des entreprises de différentes tailles se disputent le marché local de l'industrie de la construction au Québec, et c'est dans ce cadre-là que cette recherche a eu lieu. L'objectif général de ce projet de recherche est d'aider les petites et moyennes entreprises (PMEs) québécoises de construction préfabriquée en bois à comprendre les contraintes réglementaires en vue d'exporter leurs produits dans les états de la Nouvelle-Angleterre. En facilitant l'accès à ce marché local (1000km par transport routier), ces PMEs pourront peut-être accéder à des projets jusque-là inaccessibles par manque de compréhension des différentes réglementations et certifications en place. Cette recherche s'est donc divisée en deux grands axes. Il s'agit de créer un outil d'aide à la décision en caractérisant les contraintes réglementaires liées à la certification de l'exportation de produits de constructions préfabriquées en bois par des entreprises québécoises vers la Nouvelle-Angleterre. Cet objectif a fait l'objet d'un article scientifique introduit dans ce mémoire. Le second travail réalisé lors de cette maîtrise est d'avoir créé un guide à l'exportation des sections préfabriquées de bâtiment depuis le Canada vers les États-Unis au profit des non-initiés ou des professionnels de la construction souhaitant en apprendre plus. Ce document permet de résumer le cadre standard des projets de construction préfabriquée en identifiant les différentes réglementations, certifications et sources d'information pour pallier aux contraintes liées à l'exportation. Ces deux objectifs posent les bases de futures recherches sur le sujet. / In Quebec and around the world, prefabricated wood construction has been booming for several years thanks to new technologies, new know-how and new political and public awareness for the use of biosourced materials in the context of decarbonization of the economy. Today, companies of different sizes are competing for the local market of the construction industry in Quebec, and it is in this context that this research took place. The general objective of this research project is to help small and medium-sized Quebec prefabricated wood construction companies (SMEs) to understand the regulatory constraints in order to export their products to the New England states. By facilitating access to this local market (1000km by road transport), these SMEs may be able to access projects that were previously inaccessible due to a lack of understanding of the various regulations and certifications in place. This research is therefore divided into two main areas. The first is to create a decision support tool by characterizing the regulatory constraints related to the certification of prefabricated wood construction products exported by Quebec companies to New England. This objective was the subject of a scientific article introduced in this thesis. The second work realized during this master's degree is to have created a guide to the export of prefabricated building sections from Canada to the United States for the benefit of non-experts or construction professionals wishing to learn more. This document summarizes the standard framework for prefabricated construction projects by identifying the various regulations, certifications and sources of information to address the constraints associated with export. These two objectives lay the foundation for future research on the subject.