Effective principal's instructional leadership yields high achieving schools (Dhlamini, 2008:105; Hallinger and Heck, 1998; Hargreaves, 1994; Hopkins, 2001; Effective principal’s instructional leadership yields high achieving schools Khuzwayo, 2005; Kruger, 1999; Mbatha, 2004; Mthombeni, 2004). Annual National Assessment (ANA) (DoE, 2009) and Systemic Evaluation (SE) in 2001 and 2007 (DoE, 2008) revealed that South African learners are not able to read and write, and that their numeracy skills are not well developed. The performance is also evident in the Grade 12 performance which has not shown great improvement over the years. In an effort to address the poor performance as experienced in schools, the department of education introduced Resolution 1 of 2008 (DoE, 2008) which requires principals to provide professional leadership which is based on curriculum management; and to take accountability for the quality of learning that takes place within the school. The poor learner achievement in schools triggered the question about the quality of education provided in the primary schools and the instructional leadership provided by primary school principals as it is a foundation to the schooling system. A qualitative approach was used to explore the practices of primary school principals as instructional leaders and the implications for learner achievement. Six primary schools in the Tshwane West district in Gauteng province were sampled for the research. The research revealed the following distinguishing factors by those schools that performed extremely well in the Annual National Assessment (ANA) (DoE, 2009) and Systemic Evaluation (SE) in 2001 and 2007 (DoE, 2008): <ul> <li> The principal has to establish good relations amongst and between educators and learners and also foster two-way communication.</li> <li> The principal should make sure that academic results are analysed and interventions strategies are followed to improve learner achievement.</li> <li> Educators should be encouraged by the principal to perform a self-reflection of their teaching performance. The principal has to provide support for underperforming educators and encourage them to develop themselves professionally.</li> <li> The principal needs to conduct class visits.</li> <li> The principal should ensure that teaching and learning time is protected and that educators and learners attend classes punctually.</li> <li> The principal needs to keep abreast of the curriculum and instruction changes and provide the necessary support and guidance.</li> <li> The principal has to ensure that instruction is given priority and is central to the school’s activities.</li></ul> The above-mentioned factors proved to be essential in the instructional leadership of the primary school principal in ensuring improved learner achievement in schools. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att få en större förståelse för vilka tankar och känslor kommunikationsansvariga i åtta svenska kommuner har kring begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation”, om och i sådana fall hur begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation” och forskning kring begreppet påverkar hur man planerar för och arbetar med sin kommunikation samt vem som gynnas av begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation”. Fokus i denna studie ligger på att undersöka tankar kring den ”kommunikativa organisationen” (Heide et al, 2019) men också på om och i sådana fall på vilket sätt den kommunikativa organisationen skiljer sig från andra liknande organisationsetiketter, till exempel den lyssnande organisationen, den innovativa organisationen eller organisationen som baseras på tillitsbaserad styrning (Bringselius, 2017).  Frågeställningar:  Hur tänker kommunikationsansvariga kring begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation”? Påverkar forskningen kring begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation” hur man planerar för organisationens kommunikation? Skiljer sig begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation” från andra organisationsetiketter? Vilka professioner gynnas av just begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation”? Teorier: Studien ingår främst i det kommunikationsteorietiska forskningsfältet och fokuserar mer specifikt på begreppen ”kommunikativ organisation” (Heide et al, 2019). Studiens teoretiska ramverk utgörs av Heides sju steg för en kommunikativ organisation samt forskning kring organisationsbegrepp och professionsforskning med fokus på kommunikatörer. Dessa teorier stödjer denna studies resultat och analys genom att åskådliggöra på vilket sätt ett begrepp påverkar hur de intervjuade kommunikationsansvariga benämner, strukturerar, paketerar och arbetare med sina organisationers kommunikation. Metod: För denna studie har ett operationaliseringsschema utifrån studiens syfte och frågeställningar kopplat till det teoretiska ramverket för begreppet ”kommunikativ organisation”, organisationsteori och professionsforskning satts upp. Därefter har individuella kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med kommunikationsansvariga på åtta svenska kommuner genomförts. Efter genomförda intervjuer har insamlad data transkriberats och bearbetats genom kodning i analysprogrammet NVivo. Där har olika teman framträtt och utifrån detta har analys och diskussion samt slutsats arbetats fram. Slutsats: Ingen av de tillfrågade kommunikationsansvariga i de åtta kommunerna säger sig ha infört eller ha planer på att införa den ”kommunikativa organisationen” till punkt och pricka så som den beskrivs i forskningen (Heide et al, 2019). Det vill säga ingen av de intervjuade kommunerna hade någon form av styrande dokument eller plan för samtliga sju delar som slutrapporten ”Den kommunikativa organisationen” ställer upp för att man ska vara en kommunikativ organisation. Flera av de tillfrågade kommunerna säger sig dock arbeta med forskningsmaterialet som underlag för att vidareutveckla kommunens kommunikation och samtliga säger att det är viktigt och att man vill vara en kommunikativ organisation. / Purpose: The purpose of this study is to gain a greater understanding of what thoughts and feelings communication managers in eight Swedish municipalities have about the concept of "communicative organization", if and in such cases how the concept of "communicative organization" and research on the concept affect how one plans for and works with their communication and who benefits from the concept of "communicative organization". The focus of this study is on examining thoughts about the "communicative organization" (Heide et al, 2019) but also on whether and in such cases how the communicative organization differs from other similar "organizational labels"; for example, the listening organization, the innovative organization or the organization based on trust-based governance (Bringselius, 2017). Research question:  What do communication managers think about the concept of "communicative organization"? Does research on the concept of "communicative organization" affect how to plan for the organization's communication? Does the term "communicative organization" differ from other "organizational labels"? Which professions benefit from the very concept of "communicative organization"? Theories: The study is primarily part of the communication theory field of research and focuses more specifically on the concepts of "communicative organization" (Heide et al, 2019). The theoretical framework of the study consists of Heide's seven steps for a communicative organization as well as research on organizational definitions and profession research with a focus on communicators. These theories support this study's results and analysis by illustrating how a concept affects how the interviewed communication managers name, structure, package and work with their organizations' communications. Method: For this study, an operationalization schedule based on the purpose and questions of the study linked to the theoretical framework for the concept of "communicative organization", organizational theory and professional research has been set up. Since then, individual qualitative semi-structured interviews with communication managers at eight Swedish municipalities have been conducted. Since then, individual qualitative semi-structured interviews with communication managers at eight Swedish municipalities have been conducted. After conducting interviews, collected data has been transcribed and processed by coding in the analysis program NVivo. There, different themes have emerged and from this analysis and discussion and conclusion have been developed. Conclusion: None of the communications managers surveyed in the eight municipalities claim to have introduced or have plans to introduce “the communicative organization” to the letter as described in the research (Heide et al, 2019). That is, none of the municipalities interviewed had any kind of governing document or plan for all seven parts that the final report "The communicative organization" sets up for being a communicative organization. However, several of the municipalities surveyed say they are working with the research material as a basis for further developing the municipality's communication and all say that this is important and that they want to be a communicative organization.

This study aims to show how Swedish municipalities are differentiating in the hiring of communicators in order to practice internal and external communication. By contacting 50 randomly selected municipalities, an overview of their communication force could be established. The results showed great variance between municipalities. The following three hypotheses were then constructed to explain the variance between the municipalities. 1) Factors that will damage reputation will lead to an increase in communicators. 2) There will be a positive linear relationship between communicators and the organization’s size. 3) Municipalities with weak economies will have fewer communicators than municipalities with strong economies. These hypotheses were then tested through an ordinary least square method. This study concludes that from the selection used there were no relationship between economic situation and factors presumed to damage the municipality’s reputation, and investment in communicators, operationalized in hired communicators per hundred thousand inhabitants. A linear relationship between organization size and hired communicators could, however, be proven, thus indicating a strong belief in the gains of internal communication.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)

This thesis discusses the benefits of using plain language in legal documents and the role technical communicators can play to help implement plain language. Although many definitions for plain language exist, it is best described as reader-focused communication that presents information in a manner that makes it easy for a reader to find, understand, and use the information. Plain language facilitates comprehension by using shorter, less complex sentences; active voice; and common words. All these elements aid in processing and understanding information, especially unfamiliar concepts. Laypeople, unversed in the law, frequently have difficulty understanding traditional legal writing. The complex sentences, wordiness, and redundancy that characterize traditional legal writing often inhibit comprehension and become barriers to understanding. To demonstrate how plain language can improve legal writing, this thesis reviews before-and-after versions of documents that were revised to incorporate plain language as well as common documents that laypeople might encounter. The studies and research discussed in this thesis demonstrate that readers achieve greater comprehension with plain language documents. Technical communicators, the language experts, can work with legal professionals, the content experts, to help encourage plain language use in legal writing. By emphasizing plain language use in legal formbooks, law school courses, and continuing legal education courses, plain language will become more dominant. Technical communicators can work with governments and law firms to develop and run in-house writing programs. When organizations realize how plain language can benefit them, both economically as well as in improved consumer relations, they will be motivated to adopt plain language into their legal writing.

This study examines how new technologies, particularly generative artificial intelligence (AI), have become an innovative tool for communicators and how it affects their productivity and creativity. Through a combination of literature review, theoretical frameworks, and empirical research, we analyze how communicators integrate generative AI into their work process and how this affects their workflow and conditions. The study is based on the following questions: How are software-based text chat robots used by communicators in their professional role; To what extent do communicators perceive that there is an impact on creativity and productivity when co-writing between human and machine; What opportunities and challenges do communicators imagine that software-based text chat robots can contribute to? The findings indicate that generative AI has the potential to transform the communications industry by increasing efficiency and freeing up time for more strategic thinking and creativity. Communicators report increased productivity and that generative AI has the ability to help communicators manage large text bases in an agile way. At the same time, the study also identifies challenges and potential risks with the use of generative AI. Among these challenges are issues related to ethics, quality assurance and the need to maintain human control and creative input in the creation process. Communicators are aware of these challenges and emphasize the importance of balancing automation with human skills and insight. Finally, the study highlights the opportunities and challenges of the use of generative AI for communicators and identifies areas for future research and development. By understanding the potential benefits and limitations of this technology, communicators can develop strategies to maximize its positive effects and manage its challenges effectively.

No description available.

No description available.

This research builds on previous studies that have documented evidence of Professor Anna Craft’s concept of ‘Possibility Thinking’ (PT) as at the heart of creativity which involves children transitioning from ‘what is this?’ to ‘what can I or we do with this?’ as well as imagining ‘as if’ they were in a different role. My thesis titled “Communicating Possibilities” examines English nursery children's emergent creativity, exploring the three to four-year-old child as an artistic communicator and possibility thinker through a case study approach situated in one primary school in South West England. Three main research questions were posed concerning the ‘what, how, and why’ of creativity when children communicated through art; as well as exploring the nurturing role of others, and identity manifest through voice and learning experience. This doctoral study is essentially interpretivist in nature seeking to explain how people make sense of their social worlds, and is an exploration framed by culturally negotiated, shared meanings, and complex social relations. Data was collected over one school year, in three nine-week research phases by the following ethnographic methods: naturalistic observations; researcher diary; children’s creative journals; and practitioner interviews. These methods were repeated for each phase. Inductive and deductive data analysis was conducted. Undertaken over time as the project unfolded, a grounded theory approach was applied in total to 27 episodes. Micro event analysis of creative behaviours in action and narrative discourses of two kinds: peer-to-peer, and child-to-adult (teacher, early years practitioner, and my researcher dialogue) revealed four broad critical themes: Observing and documenting children’s creativity; What children can do together- recognising differences; Pedagogy of possibilities- developing a role; and The value of artistic communication in the nursery classroom. Each is discussed in terms of the key implications these themes hold for theory, policy, and early years practice.

Vårt samhälle idag präglas av ett ökat flöde av varor, tjänster och information och avståndet till världen runt omkring oss krymper. För organisationer innebär detta att kravet på effektivitet har blivit ett faktum och i samband med information kan begreppet strategisk kommunikation vara nyckeln till framgång. Vi som studerar medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap funderar ofta på vilka krav och förväntningar kommande arbetsgivare har på oss kommunikatörer som snart ska ut på arbetsmarknaden. Vi har också funderat på vilka arbetsgivare som bäst kommer att kunna möta vår strävan efter intressanta och utvecklande arbetsuppgifter. I den diskussion som just nu pågår har vi uppmärksammat att många ser organisationer inom den privata sektorn som mer attraktiva än organisationer inom den offentliga. Denna förutfattade mening gjorde oss intresserade av att undersöka om det finns några skillnader av upplevd yrkesstatus mellan kommunikatörer anställda inom de olika sektorerna. Är det någon skillnad och i så fall vilka faktorer är det som påverkar och orsakar dessa skillnader? För att vi skulle kunna belysa och diskutera frågan om det fanns någon skillnad av upplevd yrkesstatus hos kommunikatörer i privat respektive offentlig sektor, valde vi att studera tillfredsställelse och stolthet i yrkesrollen. Ett mål för studien var även att ge förslag på åtgärder som kunde höja kommunikatörers yrkesstatus oavsett vad den är idag. Vi utgick från en kvalitativ ansats och genomförde åtta intervjuer med yrkesverksamma kommunikatörer inom de båda sektorerna. Resultatet av studien visar att samtliga intervjupersoner upplever tillfredsställelse och stolthet i yrkesrollen men att faktorerna som påverkar denna upplevelse skiljer sig åt mellan de båda sektorerna. Inom den privata sektorn tenderar intervjupersonerna att sträva efter yttre bekräftelse medan intervjupersonerna inom den offentliga sektorn tenderar att sträva efter inre bekräftelse. I resultatet kan vi även skönja en förändring i klimatet inom den privata sektorn. Den tidigare så goda tillgången på resurser har minskat och har fått konsekvenser för intervjupersonerna. Kravet på lönsamhet gör att några organisationer inom denna sektor har koncentrerat och flyttat sina kommunikationsenheter till storstäder. Därmed har möjligheterna till personlig utveckling och till avancemang inom organisationen begränsats. En tolkning som vi gör utifrån diskussionen kring centralisering är även att den externa kommunikationen har prioriterats på bekostnad av den interna. För den som är intresserad ser vi här en möjlighet att bygga vidare på vår studie genom att undersöka hur kommunikatörens yrkesstatus har förändrats i organisationer som har centraliserat sina kommunikationsverksamheter. / Today’s communities are characterized by a torrent of goods, services and information and the world around us is getting smaller. That leaves consequences for organisations by demands on effectiveness and the concept strategic communication may be the key to success. We who are studying media and communication are often thinking about which demands and expectations our future employers have on us as communicators. Other thoughts we have around this are which employees that best can meet our endeavor after interesting and developing working tasks. We have noticed that the discussion about employees among students often includes that it is more interesting to work in the private sector than in the public sector. The discussion made us more curious about how the communicators working in respective sectors experienced their own professional status. We wondered if there was any differences, and if, which factors the possible differences was affected and caused by? To be able to discuss and illustrate the question about differences in experienced professional status between communicators working in the public or private sector, we chose too study satisfaction and pride in the professional role. One further goal was to give proposals on measures that could raise communicator’s professional status irrespective of what it is today. We had a qualitative approach and we interviewed four professional communicators in each sector. The result from our study shows that all of the interview persons experience satisfaction and pride in their professional role but the factors that affects the experience is different between the two sectors. The interviewed persons working in the private sector tend to strive against outer confirmation and the interviewed persons in the public sector tend instead to strive against inner confirmation. We can also discern a change in climate in the private sector. The organisations in the private sector are concentrating their communication units to big cities as a result of high demands on profitability. With that has the opportunities of individual development and the chance to advance within the organization been restricted. Our interpretations about concentrating the communication units to bigger cities are that we believe that the external communication will be prioritized on the expense of the internal communication. For those who are interested we here see an opportunity of further studies about the professional role and status of communicators that works in organisations that has concentrated their communications units and see if a difference can be seen.