This study explores interagency collaboration among agencies within the executive branch of the federal government. Given the mandate to collaborate, conveyed through the Government Results and Performance Act Modernization Act (2010), along with the well-documented institutional challenges of working across agency borders in highly bureaucratic cultures, empirical studies to advance theoretical development are much needed. Cross-boundary studies are often conducted under the umbrella of network theory; however, they have generally explored collaboration across different levels of government (i.e., Federal, state, and local), across sectors (public, private, and non-profit), and among private-sector firms. This study, while likewise exploring multi-organizational collaboration, is situated within the context of public-to-public interorganizational collaboration. The study draws from a sample of interagency groups characterized as examples of action (Agranoff, 2007), transformational (O'Toole, 2014), or orchestrated networks (Müller-Seitz, 2012; Provan and Kenis, 2008). These interagency groups were created expressly to solve a collective problem, with support from an organizing entity. This study adopts from network theory the premise that organizations purposefully working together can achieve better results jointly than independently (O'Toole, 1997; Agranoff and McGuire, 2003; Koliba, et al. 2010; Keast, et al., 2014). It also draws from the few extant empirical studies of public-public collaborative efforts (Jensen, 2017; Scott and Thomas, 2015; Fountain, 2013; Lambert, et. al, 2013; Bardach, 1998; Lynch, 1997; Raach and Kass, 1995; Guetzkow, 1950), from which I surmised that interagency collaboration might be influenced by the differing allegiances of the individual members: (a) their organizational allegiances, (b) their professional allegiances, and (c) the relational allegiances that permeate day-to-day operations and create the structures needed to sustain the group's ongoing legitimacy. As several scholars have noted, more research is needed on the motivational underpinnings of individuals within interorganizational networks (Das and Kumar, 2011; Tasselli, Kilduff and Menges, 2015); such research might advance a fundamentally new understanding of how to manage, structure and govern interorganizational networks (Provan and Lemaire, 2012). This empirical study examined the allegiances that motivated individuals within four interagency working groups to contribute to the aggressive government-wide goals mandated by GPRAMA. Using a mixed-methods approach, my study featured the use of an original survey, complemented by in-depth interviews, administered to a sample of experts. My data suggested an inverse relationship between organizational allegiance and the perceived effectiveness of interagency working group efforts. My data also suggested that the motivational value of professional allegiance varies by type of professional, that weaker allegiances may signal the willingness to compromise, that the power of relational allegiances becomes stronger over time, that relational allegiance is especially important during a change in leadership, and that conscious design of interagency working groups can promote the likelihood of successful collaborations. Through this work, I hope to contribute to the scholarship on purpose-oriented interorganizational networks, while also helping public managers to collaborate across agency borders in order to better achieve results. / Doctor of Philosophy / This study probes the unique motivations of federal workers to collaborate across agency borders. The Government Results and Performance Act Modernization Act (GPRAMA, 2010) mandated greater collaboration among agencies; GPRAMA, along with the well-documented institutional challenges of horizontal collaboration within highly bureaucratic cultures, there is great need for empirical studies to advance theoretical development. Such cross-boundary studies are often conducted under the umbrella of network theory; however, they have generally explored collaboration across different levels of government (i.e., Federal, state, and local), across sectors (public, private, and non-profit), or among private-sector businesses. My research, while likewise exploring multi-organizational collaboration, is situated within the specific context of public-to-public interorganizational collaboration among executive branch agencies – entities with generally equal standing. Moreover, I will be studying interagency working groups that exemplify action (Agranoff, 2007), transformational (O'Toole, 2014), or orchestrated (Müller-Seitz, 2012; Provan and Kenis, 2008) networks. Interagency working groups are created expressly for the purpose of solving a collective problem, with support from an organizing entity such as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. My study adopts from network theory the premise that organizations purposefully working together can achieve better results jointly than independently (O'Toole, 1997; Agranoff and McGuire, 2003; Koliba, et al. 2010; Keast, et al., 2014). It also draws from the few empirical studies of mostly public-public collaborative efforts that currently exist (Jensen, 2017; Scott and Thomas, 2015; Fountain, 2013b; Lambert, et. al, 2013; Bardach, 1998; Lynch, 1997; Raach and Kass, 1995; Guetzkow, 1950). The earliest study (Guetzkow, 1950) focused on bureaucratic processes such as frequency and duration of meetings and tightness of agendas, finding that 55 to 60 percent of judged effectiveness was not associated with any of the factors studied. Both Raach and Kass (1995) and Lambert, Lewis and Seawall (2013) posited that interagency efforts were riddled with ad hoc processes and personality-driven deliberations, and that inexperienced leaders tended to decrease group effectiveness. Thus, they stressed the criticality of having effective processes in place (a notion that goes back to Hult and Walcott, 1990) for the crises that will inevitably erupt. Bardach (1998) acknowledged the barriers to interagency collaboration, but also highlighted "value creating opportunities" (p. 53) that could motivate individuals to contribute to the collective effort. His empirical data suggested that, while good leadership helps, it is not essential. Fountain (2013) lamented the lack of empirical studies to help advance cross-agency collaboration theory, but pointed to "narratives of promising practice" (p. 109). It is widely accepted that trust and attraction (i.e., "relational allegiances," Bryson, Crosby and Stone, 2006) can stimulate positive results in networks (Issett, 2011), but interagency working groups are often comprised of individuals previously not known to one another, so other variables should also be studied. Scott and Thomas (2015) highlighted the importance of just the collaborative group itself, but to the multiple institutions within which the group was embedded. Jensen (2017) suggested that results-oriented interagency efforts might be predicated upon the motivation to be part of something novel, important, and ultimately rewarding. Summarizing the literature to date, I surmised that interagency collaboration could be influenced by the differing allegiances of the individual members: (a) their organizational allegiances, (b) their professional allegiances, and (c) the relational allegiances that permeate day-to-day operations and create the structures needed to sustain the group's ongoing legitimacy. As several scholars have noted, more research is needed on the motivational underpinnings of individuals within interorganizational networks (Das and Kumar, 2011; Tasselli, Kilduff and Menges, 2015). Such research might advance a fundamentally new understanding of how to manage, structure and govern interorganizational networks (Provan and Lemaire, 2012). Given the recent mandate to collaborate, the need for theoretical development in the realm of public-to-public collaboration is particularly acute. This empirical study examined the allegiances that motivated the individual members of four interagency working groups to contribute to the aggressive government-wide goals mandated by GPRAMA. Using a mixed-methods approach, my study featured the use of an original survey, complemented by in-depth interviews, administered to a sample of expert individuals. My data suggested an inverse relationship between the strength of organizational allegiance and the perceived effectiveness of interagency working group efforts. My data also suggested that the motivational value of professional allegiance varies by type of professional, that relatively weak allegiances, overall, may signal the willingness to compromise, that the power of relational allegiances becomes stronger over time, that strong relational allegiance is especially important when it is necessary to maintain continuity during a change in leadership, and that conscious design of interagency working groups can promote the likelihood of successful collaborations. Through this work, I hope to contribute to the scholarship on multiple allegiances within purpose-oriented interorganizational networks, while also helping public managers to collaborate across agency borders in order to in order to better achieve results.

The earth and its global economy are faced with many environmental considerations. Among those are limited resources such as food, energy, and water, as well as a myriad of complex issues including global warming and population growth. These environmental problems are not recent developments, and in attempting to remedy them in the past we have created solutions within the existing scientific and economic framework. However, in recent decades it has become apparent that these problems encompass more than simply science and economics, and an innovative model is supplanting traditional decision-making methods. This new model is collaborative environmental planning (CEM). Collaborative environmental planning differs from traditional problem solving methods in several critical ways. It goes beyond economics and science, incorporating values and norms. Collaborative planning views problems not as belonging to a single discipline, but rather in a holistic, multi-disciplinary manner. In addition, collaborative approaches focus on the process of problem solving, which means involving all stakeholders--in an effort to produce better solutions. The collaborative process ensures that all interested parties (stakeholders) have a voice in shaping solutions. This necessitates incorporating various competing interests from the beginning, thus framing problems in a different manner. Allowing stakeholders to participate and contribute their perspectives means that problems are defined differently than if one or two "experts" look at the same situation. It means that solutions are not necessarily defined by the "experts", or agencies, but within and from the community. Currently, we see this practice manifest in many community initiatives and it seems to be spreading. State and federal agencies are participating in collaborative partnerships as well, and the idea of collaborative planning is infusing into the mainstream of policy and planning. One area of particular interest with regards to collaborative environmental planning is rural resource-based economies. Many of these locales have many inherent features, such as strong ties to the land, that can create a successful platform from which to launch collaborative efforts. Many such communities suffer from resource depletion, loss of economic base, environmental degradation and a host of other resource issues, and face a rather unique situation. These communities depend on the environment in a way urban areas do not. For rural resource-based economies, the environment provides their livelihood and they must change the way that they interact with that environment. These areas must view environmental protection and economic development as one in the same, rather than as two irreconcilable goals. Collaborative environmental planning is using resources which exist within rural communities to create a new problem-solving framework in an effort to create self-sufficiency and positive change. This paper begins with an introduction to the history and theoretical components of collaborative environmental planning in Chapter Two, and then defines the concept by operationalizing several elements of the model in the subsequent chapter. Chapter Four examines rural communities, specifically the issues many currently face, and how collaborative environmental planning is assisting in the revitalization of faltering resource-based economies. Chapter Five provides an in-depth look at three rural collaborative environmental planning efforts, and the uncertainties and accomplishments of each. The final chapter provides lessons that can be applied to collaborative environmental planning and sustainable rural development. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Centralized systems are easier to build and maintain as compared to completely distributed systems. However, distributed systems have the potential to be responsive and robust relative to centralized systems. This thesis proposes an architecture and concurrency algorithm for collaborative editing that lies between these extremes and preserves the advantages of both approaches while minimizing their shortcomings The Jupiter collaboration system at Xerox PARC uses a 2-party synchronization protocol for maintaining consistency between two users performing unconstrained edits to the document simultaneously. The primary goal of our work has been to extend this 2-party synchronization protocol to an n-way synchronization algorithm. NetEdit is a prototype collaborative editor built to demonstrate this n-way protocol. It uses a replicated architecture with the processing and data distributed across all the clients and the server. Due to replication, the response time of the local edits performed by the users is quite close to a single user editor. The clients do not need to be aware of other clients in the system since each of them synchronizes with their counterpart at the server. All communication regarding editing operations takes place through this server. As a result this system is quite scalable (linear growth) relative to distributed systems (quadratic growth) in terms of number of communication paths required as the number of clients grow. I discuss the details of this extension and illustrate it through an editing scenario. NetEdit uses groupware widgets (telepointers, and radarview) to distribute awareness information between participants. It supports completely unconstrained editing and allows late joining into a session. It does not assume any structure in terms of roles of participants or protocol for collaboration and thus allow users to form whatever protocol suits them. The results and conclusions derived from a preliminary usability study of NetEdit, discuss its efficacy. They also investigate the role of communication and its use in a groupware setting. / Master of Science

Given the mission of community colleges, their leaders are often responsible for developing resources to support student success and improve relationships with surrounding communities. To accomplish these goals, community college leaders sometimes participate in cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) since CSPs can strengthen relationships and develop resources across sectors. However, little is known about campus and community leaders' perceptions of forming CSPs and the value they generate. This study examined campus and community leaders' perceptions of CSP participation, specifically the formation process and the value created. Guided by the Collaborative Value Framework (Austin and Seitanidi, 2012a), I conducted a multi-site case study of four community colleges in western rural North Carolina, with each college participating in a CSP designed to support adult students through a workforce development program. Findings revealed intricacies of the CSP formation process and the rich array of value created from CSP participation. Further, each case held a distinct personality, represented by a metaphor to highlight its unique findings: The Phoenix, The Beehive, The Compass, and The Treasure. Finally, leaders perceived CSP participation to be so enriching that each organization planned to continue, expand, or create new CSPs to meet additional shared needs. Leaders revealed a learning process connected to CSP participation that resulted in continual refinement and enhanced plans for future CSPs, illustrating the benefits of CSPs for addressing shared campus and community goals. Findings offer several implications for campus and community leaders, as well as future research and policymaking related to campus and community CSP participation. / Doctor of Philosophy / Given the mission of community colleges, their leaders are often responsible for developing resources to support student success and improve relationships with surrounding communities. To accomplish these goals, community college leaders sometimes participate in cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) between organizations. However, little is known about campus and community leaders' perceptions of forming CSPs and the value they generate. This study examined campus and community leaders' perceptions of CSP participation, specifically the formation process and the value created. I conducted a multi-site case study of four community colleges in western rural North Carolina, with each college participating in a CSP designed to support adult students through a workforce development program. Findings revealed the importance of establishing solid practices when initially forming a CSP to strengthen the collaboration. A wide variety of rich types of value creation was developed over the course of these CSPs, going well beyond the traditional expectations of simply sharing basic resources between organizations. Further, each case held a distinct and insightful personality, represented by a metaphor to highlight its uniqueness: The Phoenix, The Beehive, The Compass, and The Treasure. Finally, leaders perceived CSP participation to be so enriching that each organization planned to continue, expand, or create new CSPs to meet additional shared needs. Leaders learned new ways to improve current and future CSPs. This study can help campus and community leaders make decisions about the feasibility of participating in a CSP to address a shared goal more effectively rather than tackling a more complex problem single handedly.

Extreme weather events are becoming more commonplace in the United States and across the globe. Infrastructure cannot be built to completely withstand damage from these extreme events, thus communities must prepare themselves to recover quickly and efficiently to limit disruption to community members' livelihoods. Non-coastal, rural communities in the Appalachian region are affected by many of the same barriers to recovery as more populated suburban and urban communities, however, they can also face unique circumstances due to heightened vulnerability caused by depressed socioeconomics, reduced access to public services, and nominal capabilities of small, rural town governments. Rural communities face challenges to disaster recovery, but they can also benefit from increased social capital and population homogeneity that reduces cultural and language barriers and has the potential to improve coordination and collaboration. Financial and coordination barriers, such as the late or slow allocation of funding and limited management capacity of local governments during disaster recovery, are prevalent in rural Appalachian communities. Legal and socio-cultural barriers to rural disaster recovery include historical development patterns in and around floodplains, higher percentages of vulnerable populations, and difficulty navigating the federal disaster aid application process. Collaborative planning efforts and capacity building through the cultivation of relationships among disaster recovery stakeholders are necessary to provide an efficient and effective recovery. Additional funding, and more timely funding, are often proposed to solve a variety of challenges, but money alone will not be enough to overcome many prominent barriers. By adopting planning and cross-sector collaborative practices, local governments can better leverage available resources and facilitate the recovery process for the benefit of the affected communities. The 2016 West Virginia floods served as a case study and recovery strategies used following this event provide lessons learned to mitigate disaster recovery barriers in the future. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 people from 15 organizations ranging from state cabinet secretaries and mayors to engineers and nonprofit workers. Interviews were transcribed and coded using qualitative data analysis software. Site visits accompanied interviews and thematic content analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts and supporting documentation. Codes were validated by an independent, third-party coder. / Doctor of Philosophy / A recent increase in natural disasters in the United States, and the recognition that infrastructure cannot be built to completely withstand damage from these extreme events, has created a greater interest in disaster recovery. Communities must prepare themselves to recover quickly and efficiently following events like flooding to limit disruption to community members' livelihoods. Rural communities in Appalachia are affected by many of the same barriers to recovery as suburban and urban communities, but they often also face unique circumstances due to heightened vulnerability caused by fewer financial resources, reduced access to public services, and limited capabilities of small town governments. Rural communities face challenges to disaster recovery, but they can also benefit from increased trust among community members and population homogeneity that reduces cultural and language barriers and has the potential to improve coordination and collaboration. Financial and coordination barriers, such as the late or slow allocation of funding from government agencies and limited management capacity of local governments during disaster recovery are common in rural Appalachian communities. Legal and socio-cultural barriers to rural disaster recovery include historical development patterns in and around areas prone to flooding, higher percentages of vulnerable populations like those over 65 years of age, and people's difficulty applying for federal disaster aid. Collaborative planning efforts and capacity building through the cultivation of relationships among disaster recovery stakeholders help provide an efficient and effective recovery. Additional funding, and more timely funding, are often proposed to solve a variety of problems, but money alone will not be enough to overcome many prominent barriers. By adopting planning and cross-sector collaborative practices, local governments can use available resources more wisely and facilitate the recovery process for the benefit of the affected communities. The 2016 West Virginia floods served as a case study and recovery strategies used following this event provide lessons learned to mitigate disaster recovery barriers in the future. Interviews were conducted with 25 people from 15 organizations ranging from state cabinet secretaries and mayors to engineers and nonprofit workers. Interviews were transcribed and coded using qualitative data analysis software. Site visits accompanied interviews and thematic content analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts and supporting documentation. Codes were validated by an independent, third-party coder.

Les Programmes Cadres de Recherche et développement technologique (PCRDT) sont les principaux instruments dont dispose l’Union Européenne (UE) pour, d’une part favoriser la recherche et l’innovation sur le territoire européen et améliorer la compétitivité des firmes européennes, d’autre part faire émerger un Espace Européen de la Recherche (EER). Les collaborations formées entre les acteurs de la recherche et l’innovation, grâce aux projets financés par les PCRDT, forment des réseaux complexes. L’objectif de la thèse est de montrer de quelle manière l’analyse réseau constitue une perspective intéressante pour mieux appréhender les PCRDT et évaluer l’impact des politiques d’innovations de l’UE. Cette analyse permet à la fois d’examiner les propriétés de la structure des collaborations formées dans le cadre des PCRDT et de rendre comptedes déterminants des collaborations au sein de ces programmes. Les travaux menés dans la thèse portent sur deux domaines technologiques, issus de la thématique Information Society Technology (IST) du 6ème PCRDT et qui sont des domaines clés de l’innovation dans l’UE : les Télécommunications et l’Electronique-Microélectronique. Dans un premier temps, nous étudions les réseaux formés par les collaborations entre agents dans les deux domaines technologiques retenus ainsi que dans le réseau agrégé de ces deux domaines. Nous nous intéressons aux propriétés générales de ces réseaux et cherchonsà vérifier s’ils possèdent les propriétés des “small-world networks” reconnus dans la littérature comme des réseaux favorisant l’innovation. De plus, nous observons si ces réseaux évoluent de manière positive dans le temps. Après avoir étudié les réseaux de manière globale, nous nous intéressons aux agents qui composent le réseau en montrant notamment l’existence de “hubs”. Dans le cadre de cette analyse, nous sélectionnons les indcateurs adéquats et si nécessaire mettons ne place de nouveaux indicateurs comme le degré renforcé. Nous menons ainsi une analyse à deux niveaux : au niveau macroéconomiqueet au niveau microéconomique. Enfin, nous construisons des réseaux agrégés au niveau des régions afin de ne pas étudier seulement les réseaux de collaborations au niveau des agents mais aussi au niveau des territoires. De cette manière, il est possible d’observer dans quelle mesure les PCRDT impulsent un développement harmonieux de l’innovation au sein de l’UE.Dans un second temps, nous nous concentrons sur les déterminants qui peuvent inciter deux agents à collaborer. Pour cela, nous nous intéressons plus particulièrement aux agents qui ont déjà une expérience dans les PCRDT. Parmi ces déterminants, on retrouve ceux de la littérature traditionnelle comme les moyens en R&D, la proximité géographique,. . . En outre, nous mettons également en exergue le rôle prépondérant joué par les réseaux de la période précédente dans les choix de collaboration et la constitution des réseaux présents. Nous étudions à la fois l’existence d’une collaboration entre deux agents mais aussi l’intensité de ces collaborations. Enfin, afin d’approfondir l’analyse menée dans le cadre de collaborations bilatérales, nous étudions la formation de triades en cherchant à montrer l’existence du phénomène de “triadic closure” tout en observant le rôle joué par les déterminants cités précédemment. / The Framework Programs (FPs) are the European Union’s (EU’s) main tools for the promotion of research and innovation within the European territory. They both improve the competitiveness of European firms and promote the emergence of a European Research Area (ERA). Complex networks arise from the collaborations formed between the actors of research and innovation, through projects funded by the FPs. The objective of this thesis is first of all to show how network analysis provides an interesting perspective for a better understanding of FPs and then to assess the impact of innovation policies within the EU. This analysis will then enable an examination of the structural properties of collaborations formed under the FPs as well as a report on the determinants of collaborations within these programs. The work in this thesis focuses upon the Information Society Technology (IST) of the 6th FP. Two technological fields are used : Telecommunication and Electronics-Microelectronics.Initially, we study the networks formed by collaborations between two agents from selected technological fields and the aggregated network formed by these two fields of research. We study the general properties of these networks. We aim to verify whether or not these networks have the properties of “small-world networks”. This type of network is known in the literature to foster innovation networks. We also observe the characteristics of their evolution over time. Then, we study the agents which compose the networks and particularly we highlight the existence of “hubs”. We select the appropriate indicatorsand, where necessary, we develop new indicators as the strengthened degree for example. We conduct the analysis at both macroeconomic and microeconomic level. Finally, we construct networks which are aggregated at the regional level in order to study regional collaborations. Thus, it is possible to observe whether the FPs permit harmonious development within the EU and involve the construction of an ERA. In a second part, we study the determinants which may induce both agents to collaborate. We are particularly interested in agents who have experience in FPs. We study the role played by the traditional determinants as the means for R&D, geographical proximity,. In addition, we emphasize the role played by previous networks in collaboration choices. We study both the existence of collaboration between two agents and the intensity of these collaborations. Finally, in order to extend the analysis of the FPs, we study the formation of triads and particularly we show the existence of the phenomenon of “triadic closure”.

Collaboration has become an integral part of software engineering. The widespread availability and adoption of social channels has led to a culture where developers participate and collaborate more frequently with one another. While collaboration in software engineering has been studied extensively, models and frameworks do not adequately capture how development team members “regulate” themselves, one another, and their projects. I borrow the term “regulate” from the learning sciences to refer to mindful processes developers engage in to determine what tasks they need to complete and who should be involved, what their goals are relative to those tasks, how they should meet their goals, what domain knowledge needs to be manipulated, and why they use a particular approach or tool. This research starts by borrowing constructs from the theory of regulated learning in the learning science domain, adapting and extending them as a model of collaboration for software engineering: the Model of Regulation. This model was composed to capture how individuals self-regulate their tasks, knowledge and motivation, how they regulate one another, and how they achieve a shared understanding of project goals and required tasks. The model provides a vocabulary for comparing and analyzing collaboration tools and processes. In this thesis, I present the Model of Regulation as a new and complementary theoretical model of collaboration for software engineering and showcase its potential by using the model to analyze features of a collaborative tool, gain insights into an open-source software development community and to create an instrument that investigates about collaboration practices and tool support in units of collaboration (e.g., group, project, community). / Graduate

Thesis advisor: Susan Kelly-Weeder / Background: Addressing childhood obesity requires a multidisciplinary approach. School based BMI screening and referral provided an opportunity for school nurses (SNs) and pediatric primary care physicians to collaborate. Understanding the capacity to collaborate, as well as the barriers and benefits, help to support interprofessional care. Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to determine SNs’ and pediatric physicians’ attitudes toward collaboration as well as the presence of successful collaboration proposed in the Four Dimension of Collaboration Model (FDCM). Methods & Sample: An exploratory, cross-sectional mixed methods study of SNs’ and pediatric physicians’ attitudes and practices regarding collaboration was conducted using a combination of web-based and mailed survey instruments utilizing both open and closed-ended questions. One hundred and fourteen school nurses and sixty-three pediatric physicians completed the study. Results: While SNs and physicians both reported high scores on the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes toward MD-RN Collaboration (JSAC) indicating a positive attitudes toward physician – nurse collaboration; SNs scores were significantly higher than physician scores (55.05 + 3.30 v 52.42 + 5.74, p = .001). A regression model identified that physician’s age, community location, and having a moderate percentage of obese patients within their practices were associated with positive (age) and negative (community and moderate percent obese patients) effects on attitude toward collaboration. Providers’ responses indicated deficits throughout the FDCM. Dimension indicator, “mutual acquaintanceship” indicated that 37% physicians did not know any SNs. Similarly, 24% SNs reported that they did not “trust” local physicians to listen to their concerns. Qualitative analysis indicated the myriad of challenges faced by both providers. Benefits and barriers were similar for SNs and physicians; however, their experiences suggested a lack of mutual knowledge. Conclusions: Collaboration around childhood obesity is a unique struggle due to its multifaceted nature. School nurses and physicians showed positive attitudes toward collaboration; however, their capacity to act was limited. School nurses and pediatric physicians recognized the value of interprofessional collaboration recommending improvements to the current system. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Connell School of Nursing. / Discipline: Nursing.

Information technology offers many tools for promoting collaboration and communication in architectural design. A growing number of companies and individuals are adopting computer-based techniques to facilitate remote collaboration between geographically distributed teams. Thus, it is important to investigate the use of technology in developing collaborative tools for architects, especially as required training in architectural education. This research explores the feasibility of augmenting communication in the design studio using a web-based collaboration tool. A prototype was developed for an integrated system that allows for streaming media, real-time collaboration, and multi-way video, audio and text messaging, tailored specifically to the needs of a distributed architectural design studio. The Collaborative Online Architectural Design Studio (COADS) is based on a three-tier client-server structure consisting of an interface tier, an application-logic tier and a data tier. COADS allows role-based participation for students and teachers, facilitating collaboration over design sketches and presentations using personal computers equipped with a microphone and a web-cam. The system was developed and subjected to usability testing in a design studio consisting of graduate-level students of architecture. The participants were required to use COADS for conducting peer evaluations of designs for their class project and subsequently, to answer a questionnaire assessing the usability of the system. The analysis showed that COADS has definite advantages as a tool to augment communication in the design studio. The biggest advantage was that participants could get immediate feedback about their designs from their peers, irrespective of their location. COADS was also relatively easy to set up on end-user machines and provided an integrated point for accessing relevant studio resources from a single location. The disadvantages were mostly due to the limitations of the hardware on end-user machines such as small screen sizes, low quality microphones and web-cams. Further, the collaborative whiteboard within COADS lacked essential tools, such as pan/zoom and erase/undo tools, which reduced its usability. In conclusion, systems such as COADS can effectively augment communication within the architectural design studio. However, they need to be integrated closely with the course structure, right from the introductory stage of the project to the final presentation stage.

This qualitative study explores six English teachers’ perceptions regarding teaching collaboration. In open-ended interviews, the teachers responded to questions regarding the extent to which they were able to engage in meaningful collaboration. The study’s focus was to gain insight on the most valuable dimensions of informal and formal collaborative activities. The outcome of the study indicated that although many teachers engage in self-motivated collaborative activities, they wished to build on their experiences in different ways, incorporating more formal activities and professional development opportunities. Peer observations, feedback and discussions were found to be effective means of increasing teachers’ repertoire of teaching skills. The teachers in this study perceived collaboration as a positive and productive dimension of both teaching and learning. A broader implication of the study’s results is that these teachers’ perceptions reflected a bottom-up approach to school development addressing teachers’ actual concerns, rather than a top-down approach as imposed by the school administration.