The goal of this study was to investigate whether the association Värmlandsleder work process is an example of how collaborative governance works. To do this I have conducted an evaluation of the work process of the association Värmlandsleder. I have used semi structured interviews and have interviewed members in the association to gather materials for the study.What the study has showed is that Värmlandsleders work process is close to the process in collaborative governance, but it does not go all the way. The area where there is the largest development needed is trust building but there is also room for development in face to face dialogue, shared understanding and intermediate outcomes. In trust building there was no traces of collaborative governance and for Värmlandsleder to react collaborative governance there is much work needed in that part of the collaborative governance process. The only part of the process where there was no room for improvement was commitment to the process.

We examine which capabilities technologies provide to support collaborative process modeling. We develop a model that explains how technology capabilities impact cognitive group processes, and how they lead to improved modeling outcomes and positive technology beliefs. We test this model through a free simulation experiment of collaborative process modelers structured around a set of modeling tasks. With our study, we provide an understanding of the process of collaborative process modeling, and detail implications for research and guidelines for the practical design of collaborative process modeling.

Over the past two decades, the mountain pine beetle (MPB) has killed millions of acres of forest across western North America. In addition to extensive environmental disturbance, the MPB epidemic has deeply impacted human systems, including motivating the formation of novel environmental governance arrangements. In Colorado, the Colorado Bark Beetle Cooperative (CBBC) formed as a collaboration between federal, state, and local stakeholders to address the epidemic. This study used a combination of GIS analysis and qualitative document analysis to understand how the CBBC has been able to respond adaptively to changes in the landscape pattern of MPB damage. I found that the CBBC was able to respond adaptively to changes in the MPB outbreak through shifting their organizational direction and activities. However, the adaptive capacity of the group was constrained by logistical factors, the declining importance of MPB at a national level, and the ways in which the group framed the MPB problem.

Collaborative robots have many advantages and have proven to be useful, although there are still currently very few actual implementations of collaborative robots on the industrial shop-floors. One major reason for this is the high safety requirements within the industry and the difficulties to fulfil current safety regulations when using collaborative robots. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the most important safety aspects in collaborative robot applications and to discuss how different solutions can aid in fulfilling current safety regulations. In order to fulfil the purpose, a physical demonstrator will be developed in collaboration with Volvo Cars Engine that can be used for evaluation and testing. To investigate what the general opinion of the automotive industries thoughts are on collaborative robots, a questionnaire based survey was conducted with 143 participants. The survey result show that the majority thinks that collaborative robots can benefit them in their own work, and that assembly- and material handling tasks is well suited applications for collaborative robots. The literature review of the thesis project is focused on collaborative robot safety peripherals for minimizing injury by collisions, but also to investigate other related work with collaborative robots. Input from the survey and the literature review clarifies the problem at hand and tentative idea of a physical demonstrator is suggested. The demonstrator which resembles an industrial assembly station with bolt tightening, has been created using a light weight structure UR10 robot from Universal Robots. Together with the operator, a work sequences was proposed for both the human and the robot, and once implemented, three optional scenarios where recorded for evaluation. By observing the recordings it is identified that a seamless workflow can be achieved even though the robot and human works in the same area and on the same work piece. Other benefits include improved ergonomics and reduction of operator physical fatigue. To evaluate the demonstrator further, experiments with test- and control groups were proposed as future work.

The autoethnographic research project #selfie investigates the effects of the social media platform Instagram on the well-being of users aged 15–28 years. It focuses on the physical, psychological and psychosocial aspects of this user group’s behaviours, thoughts, and feelings. A review of current research shows that while Instagram usage can enhance short-term well-being by triggering positive emotional responses, the long-term consequences can include information overload and stress phenomena, which can lead to a decreased ability or even inability to focus on one specific thing or moment. The present thesis examines the effect of this decreased or lacking ability on individuals’ competence of reflective thinking and “mindfulness,” a competence which can be linked to living a lifestyle of sustainability. Without reflective thinking, individuals are unable to determine their own standpoint when it comes to issues related to sustainability. The review of current research is juxtaposed with excerpts from interviews and conversations with the investigated user group, as well as autoethnographic investigation and reflective illustrations based on the author’s own experience with Instagram. Through this, the actuality of prevailing opinions in current literature is discussed critically. This research suggests that design can and should bring issues such as extensive Instagram usage and its possible effects to public attention by offering an approach that can be as informative as appealing, making it attractive to commit to reflective thinking and encouraging the audience to broaden their horizon on the issue. The design proposal of this project consists of an illustrated graphic story which combines comics, illustration and text in the form of a zine which opens up a platform for dialogue on Instagram usage, therefore challenging readers to reflect on their own experiences and guiding them on their way to mindful social media use.

Within the context of multiple crises and change, a range of practices discussed under the umbrella term of collaborative (or sharing) economy have been gaining considerable attention. Supporters build an idealistic vision of collaborative societies. Critics have been stripping the concept of its visionary potential, questioning its revolutionary nature. In the study, these debates are brought down to the local level in search for common perceptions among the co-creators of the concept in Vienna, Austria. Towards this aim a Q study is conducted, i.e. a mixed method enabling analyses of subjective perceptions on socially contested topics. Four voices are identified: True Believers, Market Optimists, Dedicated Critics, and Healthy Sceptics, each bringing their values, visions, and practical goals characteristic of different understanding of the collaborative economy. The study questions the need for building a globally-applicable definition of the concept, calls for more context-sensitivity, and the need for further exploratory approaches. (author's abstract) / Series: Ecological Economic Papers

This paper reports on an on-line collaborative design project of which the final outcome was a comprehensive, international World-Wide Web database of experts in the field of Instructional Technology as part of a learning task for post-graduate students in the same field. The main objective of the study was to determine the extent to which computer-supported collaborative design without face-to-face contact could be used to create a useful resource in this field. Sub-questions that arose were: How does a computer-supported collaborative design process evolve in an open-ended learning environment? What support could student designers working on a real-life project expect from their peers and experts in the field? How does one judge the success of such a project? What direct benefits can students derive from computer-supported collaborative design? The iterative design process was explored by means of an action research case study methodology. Three sets of issues fundamental to constructivist learning in an open-ended virtual environment came under scrutiny, viz. collaborative and participatory design, computer-mediated collaboration and collaborative learning. lt was found that computer-supported collaborative design could be a highly effective method both of learning and of producing a valuable artefact. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2001. / gm2014 / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

Doctor Of Philosophy / Department of Secondary Education / Diane McGrath / How does collaborative software help in the formation of a learning community? This study looks at the experiences of students in a first level Computer Science class as they use Manhattan Virtual Classroom (MVC). Although this case study began with the assumption that a learning community would form, it quickly became obvious that student participation in the MVC was a larger issue. The course chosen for this study was CSC-150 - Foundations of Computer Science, as taught in the Spring 2004 semester at a Midwestern university. Two traditional (face-to- face) course sections were given access to Manhattan Virtual Classroom for the purpose of discussions, comments, questions, and virtual office hours. Many students did not take advantage of this collaborative tool. Several reasons are considered, the reluctance of freshmen to participate (Goldberg, 1997; Carlson et al., 1996), professor teaching style, and student perceptions of their own contributions to the class. Several conclusions are drawn from this study how to increase student participation. These include better training in the use of the software, use of smaller groups within the Manhattan Virtual Classroom environment, clearly stated professor expectations, and a general adoption of this technology for other classes.

In order to prepare students to be globally competitive, teachers must equip them with the knowledge and skills to be successful in the 21st century. To this aim, school spending on e-books and e-readers is at an all-time high, but evidence indicates teachers are not fully integrating them into the reading classroom. This qualitative study was grounded in sociocultural theory and explored veteran primary teachers’ knowledge of and persistent attitudes about using e-books in reading instruction. Within a collaborative inquiry group, five teachers explored the way to best use e-books in their primary reading classrooms. Through the cyclical process of planning, observing, acting, and reflecting, the teachers explored e-books during the meetings and then took them into the classroom to use with their students. Data sources included semi-structured interviews, participant observation notes, transcribed audio recordings, and reflective journals. Thematic and directed content analyses were used on the data, and findings of both analyses were presented in a pleated text that framed analytical texts with researcher notes. Findings demonstrated that there was an emotionality to reading books in traditional and electronic format, but by experimenting with the e-books in the supportive, dialogic context of the collaborative inquiry meeting, teachers changed both their knowledge of and persistent attitudes about electronic books. Important implications were noted for professional development coordinators, administrators, and policy-makers.

Inter-organizational collaboration based on the use of IT systems is now essential for organizations working as Collaborative Networked Organizations (CNOs). However, little research has been done to examine the critical success factors involved in shared IT governance among members of a CNO. Accordingly, this research develops a model of inter-organizational IT-governance composed of critical success factors (CSFs) and key performance indicators. The study defines fourteen CSFs that are classified under the main four categories of IT governance, which include strategic alignment, resource management, value delivery and risk management, and performance measurement. In addition, the study identifies key performance indicators that measure the CSFs and evaluate the effectiveness of how partners work together in joint processes for a common goal. The main dimensions of the KPIs include consensus, alignment, accountability, trust, involvement and transparency. The model was validated by gathering feedback from participants in a healthcare on the importance of the CSFs and performance indicators. The findings confirm the importance of the CSFs but suggest that they could be ranked in order of criticality. In addition, certain CSFs were re-defined based on the experience of CNO participants and questions were raised related to the context of the CNO, which influences participant perceptions, as well as the degree of formalization noted in the CNO.