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Autonomous agent-based simulation of an AEGIS Cruiser combat information center performing battle air-defense commander operationsCalfee, Sharif H. 03 1900 (has links)
The AEGIS Cruiser Air-Defense Simulation is a program that models the operations of a Combat Information Center (CIC) team performing the ADC duties in a battle group using Multi-Agent System (MAS) technology implemented in the Java programming language. Set in the Arabian Gulf region, the simulation is a top-view, dynamic, graphics-driven software implementation that provides a picture of the CIC team grappling with a challenging, complex problem. Conceived primarily as a system to assist ships, waterfront training teams, and battle group staffs in ADC training and doctrine formulation, the simulation was designed to gain insight and understanding into the numerous factors (skills, experience, fatigue, aircraft numbers, weather, etc.) that influence the performance of the overall CIC team and watchstanders. The program explores the team's performance under abnormal or high intensity/stress situations by simulating their mental processes, decision-making aspects, communications patterns, and cognitive attributes. Everything in the scenario is logged, which allows for the reconstruction of interesting events (i.e. watchstander mistakes, chain-of-error analysis) for use in post-scenario training as well as the creation of new, more focused themes for actual CIC team scenarios. The simulation also tracks various watchstander and CIC team performance metrics for review by the user. / Lieutenant, United States Navy
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Knowledge Sharing: An Empirical Study of the Role of Trust and Other Social-cognitive Factors in an Organizational SettingEvans, M. Max 05 March 2013 (has links)
Effective knowledge sharing within project teams is critical to knowledge-intensive professional service firms. Prior research studies indicate a positive association between trust, social-cognitive factors, and effective knowledge sharing among co-workers. The conceptual framework proposed here builds on these studies, and draws from theoretical foundations from the organizational behavior, psychology, information studies, sociology, and management literature on organizational trust and knowledge sharing, and identifies the most significant factors found to influence organizational knowledge sharing directly and indirectly through trust. The study makes methodological contributions in the form of conceptualizations for knowledge sharing behavior, trust, and tie strength. Also, it provides a more nuanced and focused analysis, by factoring for knowledge type and co-worker working relationship.
Data were collected from 275 knowledge workers (‘legal professionals’ and paralegals) engaged in shared legal project work, at one of Canada’s largest multijurisdictional law firms. The nature of their work required a significant reliance on co-workers, for both explicit and tacit knowledge. Multiple regression analysis, among other statistical techniques, was used to test the hypotheses and determine significant relationships.
Of the factors examined in the study, the three found to have the strongest effect on respondents’ trust in their co-workers were shared vision, shared language, and tie strength. Furthermore, the two factors found to have the strongest effect on organizational knowledge sharing behavior were trust and shared vision. Overall trust was also found to have a mediating effect between shared vision and knowledge sharing behavior, and between shared language and knowledge sharing behavior.
A significant implication for practitioners is that effective knowledge sharing among co-workers requires a nurturing manager to work on developing co-worker trust and shared vision. Furthermore, a manager wanting to promote trust between co-workers must nurture shared language and shared vision.
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Knowledge Sharing: An Empirical Study of the Role of Trust and Other Social-cognitive Factors in an Organizational SettingEvans, M. Max 05 March 2013 (has links)
Effective knowledge sharing within project teams is critical to knowledge-intensive professional service firms. Prior research studies indicate a positive association between trust, social-cognitive factors, and effective knowledge sharing among co-workers. The conceptual framework proposed here builds on these studies, and draws from theoretical foundations from the organizational behavior, psychology, information studies, sociology, and management literature on organizational trust and knowledge sharing, and identifies the most significant factors found to influence organizational knowledge sharing directly and indirectly through trust. The study makes methodological contributions in the form of conceptualizations for knowledge sharing behavior, trust, and tie strength. Also, it provides a more nuanced and focused analysis, by factoring for knowledge type and co-worker working relationship.
Data were collected from 275 knowledge workers (‘legal professionals’ and paralegals) engaged in shared legal project work, at one of Canada’s largest multijurisdictional law firms. The nature of their work required a significant reliance on co-workers, for both explicit and tacit knowledge. Multiple regression analysis, among other statistical techniques, was used to test the hypotheses and determine significant relationships.
Of the factors examined in the study, the three found to have the strongest effect on respondents’ trust in their co-workers were shared vision, shared language, and tie strength. Furthermore, the two factors found to have the strongest effect on organizational knowledge sharing behavior were trust and shared vision. Overall trust was also found to have a mediating effect between shared vision and knowledge sharing behavior, and between shared language and knowledge sharing behavior.
A significant implication for practitioners is that effective knowledge sharing among co-workers requires a nurturing manager to work on developing co-worker trust and shared vision. Furthermore, a manager wanting to promote trust between co-workers must nurture shared language and shared vision.
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Difficulties in the comprehension and interpretation of a selection of graph types and subject-specific graphs displayed by senior undergraduate biochemistry students in a South African universityVan Tonder, André 11 1900 (has links)
A carefully constructed set of 16 graphical tasks related to key biochemistry concepts was designed and administered to a group of 82 students in their final year of B.Sc. study.
The test mean score of 48,3% ( 12,1) was low and characterised by gender and ethnic differences. There was a moderate linear relationship between biochemistry grades obtained by the students over two years of study and their graphical literacy (r = 0,433). The majority of the students exhibited slope/height confusion and only seven students (8,5%) were able to answer the two items corresponding to Kimura‘s Level F, the most complex and difficult level of graphical literacy.
Eye tracking data gave valuable insights into different strategies used by students while interpreting graphs and is a valuable tool for assessing graphical literacy.
These findings confirmed other studies where researchers have found a widespread lack of graph comprehension among biological science students. / Institute of Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Science Education)
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Barriers to learning English as a second language in two higher learning institutions in NamibiaFrans, Thulha Hilleni Naambo 01 1900 (has links)
The effectiveness of language requires that users of a language be provided with the right knowledge to cope with its complexity and demanding nature especially in the area of writing. In this sense, this thesis sought to draw attention to some of the important features of writing and speaking skills in the English language at two higher learning institutions in Namibia. English is a second language for students at these institutions. Articles 3 and 20 of the Namibian Constitution stipulate that the language policy must promote the use of English in schools (The Constitution of Namibia (1990). It is now 24 years since English as medium of instruction was introduced in schools and tertiary institutions, but some students’ English proficiency is still relatively poor, especially in writing and speaking communication skills. This study investigated the barriers that prevent students to write and speak English well at University A and University B. The writing and speaking skills were investigated through the lens of syllabi/study guides, and lack of practical teaching of oral communication and writing skills inter alia morphology and syntax. Fifty-seven respondents took part in the research, comprising Heads of Departments (Language, Communication and Language Centre), Course Coordinators, lecturers and students in the English field at the two institutions investigated. Students were deliberately selected for the questionnaire to illustrate the difficulties they face when writing and speaking English as a second language. The lecturers were also deliberately selected because they were the ones who were with the students in classrooms. This study used qualitative research to gather information through methods such as observation, interviews, open-response questionnaire items, document analysis and verbal reports.
The following were the main findings. There was a lack of specific teaching objectives in oral communication and written skills in the syllabi, while the inability of students to write correct sentences, and the limited time allocated to these courses also played a role.
The conclusion drawn from this study is that students’ communicative competency is very poor. Therefore, it is the opinion of this researcher that improvement is much needed regarding syllabi content, teaching approaches of speaking and writing skills, students’ admission criteria and the time frame allocated for the different courses. To answer the research question: firstly the time allocated to some of the English courses is short, there is lack of teaching and learning of oral and writing skills approaches and, the syllabi were planned and design in a way that do not enhance much the teaching and learning of the second language. There are not many activities in the study guides that could be used to enhance students’ communicative competency. Such activities should include subject and verb agreement, passive and active form, sentence construction, word-building using prefixes and suffixes, auxiliaries or activities which give the students a chance to practice a certain aspect of language. Also, since English is a second language for students in Namibia, the institutions must seriously look at the time allocated to the courses they offer so that lecturers can appropriately apply proper approaches to teach writing and speaking skills. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)
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High school learners' perceptions of accounting as a career path in the Mafikeng area / Hoërskoolleerders se persepsies van rekeningkunde as 'n loopbaanrigting in die Mafikeng-area / Megopolo ya barutwana ba sekolo se segolwane malebana le palotlotlo jaaka tselana ya tiro mo tikologong ya MafikengOben, James Ako 02 1900 (has links)
Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Setswana / The study was prompted by the decline in accounting enrolments and the ongoing criticism due to learners’ poor performance in the Accounting subject in South Africa.
Given the increasing need for accounting graduates and, more importantly, qualified
accounting professionals, this study investigated the preconceived perceptions
participating high school learners in selected schools in the Mafikeng area had about
the accounting profession at the time of this study.
The study drew on a rich body of existing literature and adopted the social cognitive
career theory of Lent, Brown and Hackett (1994) to explore the factors influencing
career interests of learners in accounting as a career path. A quantitative research
approach with a survey questionnaire, framed within a positivist paradigm, was used
to elicit opinions from learners. The findings revealed that work satisfaction, earnings
potential, self-efficacy, personal interest, offering Accounting as a subject and having
an accountant in the family are among the factors that significantly influenced
participating learners’ career interests in accounting. / Die studie is aangespoor deur die afname in rekeningkunde-inskrywings en die deurlopende kritiek van leerders se swak prestasie in rekeningkunde in Suid-Afrika.
Gegewe die toenemende behoefte vir rekeningkundegegradueerdes en, meer
belangrik, gekwalifiseerde rekeningkundepraktisyns, ondersoek hierdie studie die
huidige vooropgestelde persepsies wat hoërskoolleerders in Suid-Afrika van die
rekeningkundige beroep het.
Die studie benut die omvattende bestaande literatuur en aanvaar die sosiaal
kognitiewe loopbaanteorie van Lent, Brown en Hackett (1994) om die faktore te
ondersoek wat die belangstelling van leerders in rekeningkunde as 'n loopbaanrigting
beïnvloed. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering met 'n opnamevraelys, binne 'n
positivistiese paradigma, is gebruik om menings van leerders te ontlok. Die bevindings
het gewys dat werksbevrediging, verdienstepotensiaal, selfwerksaamheid, persoonlike
belang, die aanbied van rekeningkunde as 'n vak en 'n rekeningkundige in die gesin
van die faktore is wat leerders se loopbaanbelangstelling in rekeningkunde beduidend
beïnvloed / Thutopatlisiso e tlhotlheleditswe ke kwelotlase ya ikwadiso ya dithuto tsa Palotlotlo le
go kgalwa go go tswelelang pele ga tiragatso e e bokoa ya barutwana mo Palotlotlong mo Aforikaborwa. Ka ntlha ya tlhokego e e oketsegang ya dialogane tsa Palotlotlo le,
sa botlhokwa tota, baporofešenale ba ba nang le borutegi jwa palotlotlo, thutopatlisiso
eno e batlisisa megopolo e e gona ya ga jaana ya barutwana ba dikolo tse dikgolwane
mo Aforikaborwa malebana le porofešene ya bobalatlotlo.
Thutopatlisiso e dirisa letlotlo le le gona la dikwalo mme e dirisa tiori ya tselana ya tiro
ya tlhaloganyo ya loago ya ga Lent, Brown le Hackett (1994) go sekaseka dintlha tse
di susumetsang kgatlhego ya tselana ya tiro ya barutwana mo palotlotlong jaaka
tselana ya tiro. Go dirisitswe mokgwa wa patlisiso o o lebelelang dipalopalo ka
dipotsolotso tsa tshekatsheko, mme e agilwe mo mokgweng wa kelotlhoko go bona
megopolo ya barutwana. Diphitlhelelo di bontsha gore go kgotsofalela tiro, kgonagalo
ya letseno, go ikemela, dikgatlhego tsa sebele, go rebolelwa Palotlotlo jaaka serutwa
le go nna le mmalatlotlo mo lelapeng ke dingwe tsa dintlha tse di nang le tshusumetso
e kgolo mo dikgatlhegong tsa barutwana tsa tselana ya tiro mo palotlotlong. / Financial Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)
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High school learners' perceptions of accounting as a career path in the Mafikeng areaOben, James Ako 02 1900 (has links)
Summaries in English, Afrikaans and Setswana / The study was prompted by the decline in accounting enrolments and the ongoing
criticism due to learners’ poor performance in the Accounting subject in South Africa.
Given the increasing need for accounting graduates and, more importantly, qualified
accounting professionals, this study investigated the preconceived perceptions
participating high school learners in selected schools in the Mafikeng area had about
the accounting profession at the time of this study.
The study drew on a rich body of existing literature and adopted the social cognitive
career theory of Lent, Brown and Hackett (1994) to explore the factors influencing
career interests of learners in accounting as a career path. A quantitative research
approach with a survey questionnaire, framed within a positivist paradigm, was used
to elicit opinions from learners. The findings revealed that work satisfaction, earnings
potential, self-efficacy, personal interest, offering Accounting as a subject and having
an accountant in the family are among the factors that significantly influenced
participating learners’ career interests in accounting / Die studie is aangespoor deur die afname in rekeningkunde-inskrywings en die
deurlopende kritiek van leerders se swak prestasie in rekeningkunde in Suid-Afrika.
Gegewe die toenemende behoefte vir rekeningkundegegradueerdes en, meer
belangrik, gekwalifiseerde rekeningkundepraktisyns, ondersoek hierdie studie die
huidige vooropgestelde persepsies wat hoërskoolleerders in Suid-Afrika van die
rekeningkundige beroep het.
Die studie benut die omvattende bestaande literatuur en aanvaar die sosiaal
kognitiewe loopbaanteorie van Lent, Brown en Hackett (1994) om die faktore te
ondersoek wat die belangstelling van leerders in rekeningkunde as 'n loopbaanrigting
beïnvloed. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering met 'n opnamevraelys, binne 'n
positivistiese paradigma, is gebruik om menings van leerders te ontlok. Die bevindings
het gewys dat werksbevrediging, verdienstepotensiaal, selfwerksaamheid, persoonlike
belang, die aanbied van rekeningkunde as 'n vak en 'n rekeningkundige in die gesin
van die faktore is wat leerders se loopbaanbelangstelling in rekeningkunde beduidend
beïnvloed. / Thutopatlisiso e tlhotlheleditswe ke kwelotlase ya ikwadiso ya dithuto tsa Palotlotlo le
go kgalwa go go tswelelang pele ga tiragatso e e bokoa ya barutwana mo Palotlotlong
mo Aforikaborwa. Ka ntlha ya tlhokego e e oketsegang ya dialogane tsa Palotlotlo le,
sa botlhokwa tota, baporofešenale ba ba nang le borutegi jwa palotlotlo, thutopatlisiso
eno e batlisisa megopolo e e gona ya ga jaana ya barutwana ba dikolo tse dikgolwane
mo Aforikaborwa malebana le porofešene ya bobalatlotlo.
Thutopatlisiso e dirisa letlotlo le le gona la dikwalo mme e dirisa tiori ya tselana ya tiro
ya tlhaloganyo ya loago ya ga Lent, Brown le Hackett (1994) go sekaseka dintlha tse
di susumetsang kgatlhego ya tselana ya tiro ya barutwana mo palotlotlong jaaka
tselana ya tiro. Go dirisitswe mokgwa wa patlisiso o o lebelelang dipalopalo ka
dipotsolotso tsa tshekatsheko, mme e agilwe mo mokgweng wa kelotlhoko go bona
megopolo ya barutwana. Diphitlhelelo di bontsha gore go kgotsofalela tiro, kgonagalo
ya letseno, go ikemela, dikgatlhego tsa sebele, go rebolelwa Palotlotlo jaaka serutwa
le go nna le mmalatlotlo mo lelapeng ke dingwe tsa dintlha tse di nang le tshusumetso
e kgolo mo dikgatlhegong tsa barutwana tsa tselana ya tiro mo palotlotlong. / Centre for Accounting Studies / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)
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