Planning is essential for an action-oriented, goal-driven software agent. In order to achieve a specific goal, an agent must first generate a plan. However, as the poet Robert Burns once noted, the best laid plans can often go awry. Each step of the plan is subject to the possibility of failure, a truth particularly relevant in the realworld or a realistic simulated environment. External influences not originally considered can often cause sudden, unanticipated consequences during the execution of the plan. When this happens, an intelligent software agent needs to answer the following important questions: What are the consequences of this event on its plan? How will the plan be affected? Can the plan be adjusted to accommodate the unanticipated effects? The research described in this thesis develops a model whereby intelligent agents can automatically determine consequences of unplanned events. Such a model provides agents with the ability to detect if and how events will affect the plan. This allows agents to subsequently modify the plan to mitigate unfavorable consequences or take advantage of favorable consequences.

Research Background: There is a growing focus on the sustainability implications of digitalisation in research, industry and politics. While digitalisation offers economic benefits and potential environmental solutions, it also brings unintended consequences known as rebound effects. These effects, amplified by the widespread impact of digitalisation on economies and societies, have drawn attention to the need for mitigation strategies. However, current research primarily focuses on defining and studying rebound effects rather than on mitigation. Existing mitigation strategies mainly involve fiscal and policy measures, but alternative approaches that address underlying principles are needed. Further research is crucial for exploring effective strategies to mitigate rebound effects caused by digitalisation.  Research Purpose: This thesis aims to identify mitigation strategies for the digital rebound effect employed by companies by understanding the contributing factors to this complex phenomenon.    Method: A qualitative method was used to investigate strategies for companies to mitigate the digital rebound effect amid digitalisation and sustainability concerns. Through exploratory research, we aimed to comprehensively understand underlying factors, mitigation strategies and associated challenges. Semi-structured remote interviews were chosen for data collection to provide detailed insights. Purposive sampling was employed to identify suitable participants for the research topic. Our analysis and presentation of empirical findings followed an abductive approach.  Conclusion: Our framework, based on Bohnsack et al. (2021) model, delves into the unintended consequences of digital technology by incorporating stakeholder perspectives. Key contributing factors include personal challenges and resource-related issues. Addressing these factors requires fostering a learning culture and technical competence. Mitigation strategies in the thesis focus on the firm and individual levels. Stakeholder involvement is crucial for effective problem-solving. Our framework aligns with stakeholder theory, enhancing understanding and mitigation of digital rebound effects.

Text in Afrikaans / Students who study part time find themselves in a situation, with much pressure, which causes stress. The reason for this study was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Therapy as a coping technique for students in order to handle stress. A qualitative analysis was conducted and data was gathered primarily through group therapy and interviewing. The results of the research led to the conclusion that Rational Emotive Therapy could be effectively applied by students as a stresscoping mechanism / Educational Studies / M.Ed.

Introduction: En réponse aux exigences du gouvernement fédéral en ce qui concerne les temps d'attente pour les chirurgies électives d’hanche et du genou, les Organismes Canadiens de santé ont adopté des stratégies de gestion pour les listes d'attente. Cependant, il n'existe pas actuellement aucune information disponible concernant les effets imprévus, positive ou négative, de ces stratégies. Méthodologie: Un modèle qui a été construit est tombé en panne la gestion de la chirurgie d’hanche et du genou en différentes étapes, afin d'identifier les effets imprévus possibles pour chaque étape; le modèle a été validé auprès d'un panel d'experts. Cette étude a choisi quatre études de cas en fonction de leur durabilité: un cas qui a été durable, un cas qui a été modérément durable, et deux cas peu probable d'être durable. Dans cette étude qualitative, nous avons mené 31 entretiens semi-structurés entre Novembre 2010 et Juin 2011 avec les gestionnaires, les infirmières, les thérapeutes et les chirurgiens impliqués dans la gestion des stratégies du temps d’attente pour les chirurgies électives d’hanche et du genou. Les quatre cas ont été sélectionnés à partir de trois provinces / régions. Nous avons analysé les conséquences non intentionnelles aux niveaux systémique et organisationnelle en utilisant les stratégies dans chaque contexte. Enregistrements des entrevues ont été transcrits mot à mot et soumis à l'analyse du cadre. Résultats: Les effets négatifs sont la précarité des stratégies en raison du non-récurrente financement, l'anxiété chez les patients qui ne sont pas prêts pour la chirurgie, une redistribution du temps de chirurgie vers l’orthopédie au détriment des autres interventions chirurgicales, tensions entre les chirurgiens et entre les orthopédistes et anesthésistes, et la pression sur le personnel dans le bloc opératoire et postopératoire. Conclusion: La stratégie d’implémentation aux niveaux national et local devrait prendre en compte les conséquences potentielles, positives et négatives. Il y a des conséquences inattendues à chaque niveau de l'organisation des soins de santé. Individuellement et collectivement, ces conséquences peuvent positivement et négativement affecter les résultats. Par conséquent, la planification de la santé doit analyser et prendre en compte les conséquences inattendues en termes de bonnes résultats inattendues, compromis et les conséquences négatives afin d'améliorer les résultats. / Introduction: In response to federal government requirements regarding wait times for elective hip and knee surgeries, Canadian healthcare organizations have adopted wait list management strategies. However, there is currently no information available regarding the unanticipated effects, positive or negative, of these strategies. Methodology: A model was constructed that broke down the management of elective hip and knee surgery into different steps, in order to identify the unanticipated potential effects for each step; the model was validated with a panel of experts. This study chose four case studies based on their sustainability: one case that was sustainable, one case that was moderately sustainable, and two cases considered unlikely to be sustainable. In this qualitative study, we conducted 31 semi-structured interviews between November 2010 and June 2011 with managers, nurses, therapists and surgeons involved in wait time management strategies for hip and knee surgeries. The four cases were selected from three provinces/areas. We analyzed potential unintended consequences at the systemic and organizational levels of using these strategies in each setting. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and subjected to framework analysis. Results: Negative effects were the strategies’ precariousness due to non-recurrent funding, anxiety in patients not ready for surgery, a redistribution of surgical time toward orthopaedics at the expense of other surgeries, tensions between surgeons and between orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthesiologists, and significant pressure on personnel in the operating suite and in post-operative care. Conclusions: Strategy implementation at the national and local levels should take into consideration any potential consequences, positive and negative. There are unintended consequences at each level of healthcare organization. Individually and jointly, these consequences can positively and negatively affect outcomes. Therefore, health planning should analyze and take into account unintended consequences in terms of serendipities, trade-offs and negative consequences in order to improve results.

Introduction: En réponse aux exigences du gouvernement fédéral en ce qui concerne les temps d'attente pour les chirurgies électives d’hanche et du genou, les Organismes Canadiens de santé ont adopté des stratégies de gestion pour les listes d'attente. Cependant, il n'existe pas actuellement aucune information disponible concernant les effets imprévus, positive ou négative, de ces stratégies. Méthodologie: Un modèle qui a été construit est tombé en panne la gestion de la chirurgie d’hanche et du genou en différentes étapes, afin d'identifier les effets imprévus possibles pour chaque étape; le modèle a été validé auprès d'un panel d'experts. Cette étude a choisi quatre études de cas en fonction de leur durabilité: un cas qui a été durable, un cas qui a été modérément durable, et deux cas peu probable d'être durable. Dans cette étude qualitative, nous avons mené 31 entretiens semi-structurés entre Novembre 2010 et Juin 2011 avec les gestionnaires, les infirmières, les thérapeutes et les chirurgiens impliqués dans la gestion des stratégies du temps d’attente pour les chirurgies électives d’hanche et du genou. Les quatre cas ont été sélectionnés à partir de trois provinces / régions. Nous avons analysé les conséquences non intentionnelles aux niveaux systémique et organisationnelle en utilisant les stratégies dans chaque contexte. Enregistrements des entrevues ont été transcrits mot à mot et soumis à l'analyse du cadre. Résultats: Les effets négatifs sont la précarité des stratégies en raison du non-récurrente financement, l'anxiété chez les patients qui ne sont pas prêts pour la chirurgie, une redistribution du temps de chirurgie vers l’orthopédie au détriment des autres interventions chirurgicales, tensions entre les chirurgiens et entre les orthopédistes et anesthésistes, et la pression sur le personnel dans le bloc opératoire et postopératoire. Conclusion: La stratégie d’implémentation aux niveaux national et local devrait prendre en compte les conséquences potentielles, positives et négatives. Il y a des conséquences inattendues à chaque niveau de l'organisation des soins de santé. Individuellement et collectivement, ces conséquences peuvent positivement et négativement affecter les résultats. Par conséquent, la planification de la santé doit analyser et prendre en compte les conséquences inattendues en termes de bonnes résultats inattendues, compromis et les conséquences négatives afin d'améliorer les résultats. / Introduction: In response to federal government requirements regarding wait times for elective hip and knee surgeries, Canadian healthcare organizations have adopted wait list management strategies. However, there is currently no information available regarding the unanticipated effects, positive or negative, of these strategies. Methodology: A model was constructed that broke down the management of elective hip and knee surgery into different steps, in order to identify the unanticipated potential effects for each step; the model was validated with a panel of experts. This study chose four case studies based on their sustainability: one case that was sustainable, one case that was moderately sustainable, and two cases considered unlikely to be sustainable. In this qualitative study, we conducted 31 semi-structured interviews between November 2010 and June 2011 with managers, nurses, therapists and surgeons involved in wait time management strategies for hip and knee surgeries. The four cases were selected from three provinces/areas. We analyzed potential unintended consequences at the systemic and organizational levels of using these strategies in each setting. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and subjected to framework analysis. Results: Negative effects were the strategies’ precariousness due to non-recurrent funding, anxiety in patients not ready for surgery, a redistribution of surgical time toward orthopaedics at the expense of other surgeries, tensions between surgeons and between orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthesiologists, and significant pressure on personnel in the operating suite and in post-operative care. Conclusions: Strategy implementation at the national and local levels should take into consideration any potential consequences, positive and negative. There are unintended consequences at each level of healthcare organization. Individually and jointly, these consequences can positively and negatively affect outcomes. Therefore, health planning should analyze and take into account unintended consequences in terms of serendipities, trade-offs and negative consequences in order to improve results.

Text in Afrikaans / Students who study part time find themselves in a situation, with much pressure, which causes stress. The reason for this study was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Therapy as a coping technique for students in order to handle stress. A qualitative analysis was conducted and data was gathered primarily through group therapy and interviewing. The results of the research led to the conclusion that Rational Emotive Therapy could be effectively applied by students as a stresscoping mechanism / Educational Studies / M.Ed.

Syftet med denna studie var att få en djupare förståelse om professionellas upplevelser av nätmobbning bland ungdomar 14-16 år. För att besvara syftet har sex halvstrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med professionella som arbetar i nära kontakt med ungdomar inom skolväsendet och socialt arbete. För att analysera resultatet har symbolisk interaktionism använts samt begreppen attityder och normer. Resultatet påvisade att ungdomar som utsätts för nätmobbning kan uppvisa depressiva symtom, självskadebeteende samt, i vissa fall, har självmordsförsök utförts. En bidragande faktor till varför nätmobbning förekommer i den utsträckning som det gör är att ungdomar kan vara anonyma på internet. Anonymiteten bidrar till att ungdomar kan vara elaka mot varandra utan att ta ansvar för sitt handlande. Genom att informera och upplysa ungdomar om följderna av att utsätta någon för nätmobbning ansågs vara det effektivaste verktyget för att förebygga att nätmobbning förekommer enligt intervjupersonerna. / The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the professionals experiences of cyber bullying among teenagers of the age 14-16. To answer the purpose of the study six semi-structured interviews were performed with professionals who work in close contact with teenagers within the school system and social work. To analyze the results symbolic interactionism is used as well as concepts of attitude and norms. The results demonstrated that teenagers that have experienced cyber bullying can exhibit symptom of depression, self harming behavior and in certain cases performed suicide attempts. One contributing factor to why cyber bullying present to the extent it does is because teenagers are able to be anonymous on the internet. Being anonymous contributes to teenagers being able to act cruel towards each other with little repercussion. By informing teenagers and drawing attention to the impact cyber bullying have on a person is considered the most effective way to prevent cyber bullying to present itself according to interviewed people.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur skolkuratorer uppmärksammar barn som bevittnat våld i hemmet samt hur barnpsykiatrikuratorer uppfattar att barnen påverkas av detta. Vi har valt att använda en kvalitativ metod och samlat in material från respondenterna genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Enligt tidigare forskning kan barn påverkas negativt av att bevittna våld i hemmet, vilket visas genom inåtagerande eller utåtagerande beteende samt genom att barnet upplever somatiska besvär. Resultatet från respondenterna överensstämmer till stor del med forskningen gällande hur barnen visar att de inte mår bra samt hur de kan påverkas både kort- och långsiktigt. Slutsatserna för denna studie är att barnen oftast uppmärksammas av skolkuratorer genom att en lärare eller skolsköterska gör dem medvetna om att ett barn har problem, samt att en empatisk kurator i en inbjudande miljö skapar trygghet för barnen. Det behövs dessutom mer resurser vid vidarehänvisning av barnen, för att de skall få nödvändigt stöd och skydd. Ytterligare slutsatser är att det inte finns några specifika signaler som barnen uppvisar vid den här problematiken, utan det kan vara inåtagerande likväl som utåtagerande signaler, samt psykosomatiska signaler. Barnen kan få både kort- och långsiktiga symtom i form av till exempel koncentrationssvårigheter, aggressivitet och passivitet. / The aim of this study is to research how school counselors note children that has witnessed domestic violence and how child psychiatry counselors perceive that children are affected by this. We have chosen to use a qualitative method and collect material from respondents through semi-structured interviews. According to previous research children can be adversely affected by witnessing domestic violence, as shown by the inward or outward behavior, and by the child experiencing somatic pains. The result from the respondents comply largely with the research regarding how children show that they aren’t doing well and how they can be affected both short and long term. The conclusions of this study show that children often are encountered by school counselors through a teacher or school nurse making them aware of a child that has problems, and that an empathetic counselor in an inviting environment creates security for the children. At times of referring the children further for necessary support and protection, there is a need for more resources. Further conclusions are that there are no specific signals that children exhibit at this problem, but it can be inward as well as outward behavior signals, as well as psychosomatic signals. The children can have both short and long term symptoms such as, for example, concentration difficulties, aggression and passivity.

In contemporary society, work and home represent the two most significant domains in the life of a working individual. In order to help an individual live optimally, the work and personal life domains must no longer be regarded as separate domains, but as highly interrelated. The work and personal life domains must influence each other in a positive way to assist the individual in his daily responsibilities at work and in his personal life. A high proportion of employed workers, however, have serious difficulties in combining obligations in their work and personal lives. Educators are one of the occupations that may find it difficult to integrate their work and personal life. The objectives of this research were to determine how Afrikaans-speaking educators experienced Work-Personal Life Interaction (WPLI), to determine the domains in Afrikaans-speaking educators' lives that could interact with one another, to determine the main antecedents and consequences of WPLI for Afrikaans-speaking educators and to investigate which strategies Afrikaans-speaking educators used to deal with WPLI issues. A non-probability purposive voluntary sample (N = I I) of Afrikaans-speaking secondary school educators was used from the North West Province (in the Potchefstroom and Promosa areas). A qualitative design from a phenomenological approach was used to determine educators' experience of WPLI. Content analysis was used to analyse, quantify and interpret the research data. The results indicated that educators experienced certain aspects in their work environment and personal lives as demanding. Certain dimensions were identified in both their work and personal lives. As a result of a demanding work environment, they experienced time and strain-based conflict between their work and personal lives. However, it was found that educators possessed various factors that facilitated their WPLI and strategies they used to deal with WPLI issues. Recommendations were made for the organisation and for future research. / Thesis (M.Comm. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Effectiveness, productivity and motivation of police members are important factors that contribute to a country's stability, economic growth and development. As such, understanding experiences that police members might have with regard to the relationship between their work and personal life is the main focus area in this study. The objectives of this study were to determine how Afrikaans speaking police members experience work-personal life interaction, and secondly, to determine the main dimensions in the lives of Afrikaans speaking police members that is in interaction with each other, and thirdly, to determine the major antecedents and consequences of work-personal life for Afrikaans speaking police members, and fourthly, to determine which strategies Afrikaans speaking police members use to deal with work-personal life issues. Unstructured interviews were conducted with ten males and females in the police stations based in the Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp areas. Qualitative interviews based on the phenomenological paradigm, were used to determine police officers perception regarding work and personal life interaction. A Content analysis was used to analyse, quantify and interpret the research data. Police members reported experiencing their work as stressful, in that it interfered negatively with their lives and also had certain health implications. They further experienced some aspects in their personal lives (e.g., household duties, family responsibilities) interfering with their work. Furthermore, they reported using certain strategies (e.g., communication, support from a spouse) as a way of bettering the interaction between their work and personal lives. Recommendations for future research were made, / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.