This thesis investigates how to create an environment for organizational change within the Market Research Department at the Gangler Company (a US-based consumer products company). I explore what is influencing the current cultural environment and which of those influencers can be shifted to encourage organizational change toward the “ideal” culture that the organization has identified. Using new institutionalism as the theoretical approach, I discuss the significance of institutional forces (such as the economy and the rise in technology) on the cultural elements (i.e. behaviors, ideas, material artifacts and social structures) in the Market Research Department. Lastly, I show that by understanding those institutional influences, I can better assess what cultural elements can be shifted and which cannot. Of the cultural elements that are able to be shifted, I recommend three interventions that the organization should employ: 1) from a contrive culture to a culture of candor, 2) from a culture of division to a culture of cohesion, and 3) from a culture of knowing to a culture of learning.

The second and third “middle year” curricula of typical undergraduate electrical and computer engineering (ECE) programs consist of technical courses that teach students the fundamentals of their field. Project-based learning that involves more authentic applications of knowledge is often absent from these courses. These years have notable attrition, but relevant design projects can motivate engineering students by reminding them what they enjoy about the field and showing them that their work can benefit society. In this paper, the author describes a project for a second-year ECE laboratory design course where students design a miniature autonomous tractor robot. This project was created to use skills across first- and second-year courses to make a challenging but achievable capstone aligned with Virginia Tech’s ECE curriculum revision that expands the range of disciplinary experiences for students. The foundational knowledge students will be required to integrate into their de- sign are a simple controls system, microcontroller programming, Bluetooth communication, and circuit design. This paper gives all project assignment materials and an example solution, which is detailed in the sub-system unit tests. The effectiveness of this project in terms of the quality of the materials, the alignment of skills to course goals, the appropriateness to the relevant student population, and encouraging student engagement were qualitatively assessed by pilot studies of usability and faculty assessment. The results verified that this project was designed well and is a good fit for the course. Other benefits of the project’s design are that its context and goals can be adapted between semesters to prevent cheating or to scale the difficulty for the students. The amount of support provided to students from the setup materials can be adapted based on student experience. The assessment of this project showed many options to extend the hardware, software, or theoretical difficulty if needed. When implemented, this project should lead to the integration of technical skills between courses, expose gaps in knowledge, and encourage students to engage with a relevant design context. / M.S. / The second and third years of typical undergraduate electrical and computer engineering (ECE) curricula consist of technical classes that teach students the fundamentals of their field. Project-based learning (solving authentic engineering problems) is often absent from these courses. These years have notable attrition, but relevant design projects can motivate engineering students by reminding them what they enjoy about the field and showing them that their work can benefit society. In this paper, the author describes a project for a second-year ECE laboratory design course that engages students in designing a miniature autonomous tractor. This project was created to use skills across first- and second-year courses to make a challenging but achievable capstone aligned with Virginia Tech’s ECE curriculum revision that expands the range of disciplinary experiences for students. This paper provides all project assignment materials, an example solution, and assessment from faculty and more advanced students. The results verified that this project was designed well and is a good fit for the course. Other benefits of the project’s design are that its context and goals can be adapted between semesters to prevent cheating or to scale the difficulty for the students. When implemented, this project should lead to creative solutions from students that use their prior knowledge in a relevant context.

This work examines sustainable functions for another workwear. It argues fora culture shift within many fields: private, politically, global, local as well as infashion. The background is earth and human beings current situation whichneeds to be changed in order to create a sustainable living. This is understoodin the ecological, sociocultural and economical sustainable model and contextualixedfor agricultural workwear.The issue of construction methods in workwear is examined and understoodin relationship to the non-rationale and aesthetical function; the need to workand the need to dwell.New ideas of rationale function workwear is proposed which argues for theneed of a greater look upon sustainability and non-rationale ideas within thefield of current workwear.This includes:1. Construction methods for a. Greater movement, b. Fewer stretch pointswithin garments and c. Advanced vs. simplicity.2. Aesthetic forms exploring a. Aesthetic as sustainable, b.The two natures ofworking and dwelling spoken is terms of construction and empty space, c.Different cultures of old and new.3. Material: a. sustainable raw fibers as organic Hemp and Cotton b. Secondhand material as deadstock, surplus and waste, c. Performing materials fordifferent occasions4.Colour and structure: a. Bio-organic natural Indigo dyeing vats, b. Dyeingwith natural dyes as Madder, Brazil Wood and Acorns on cellulose basedmaterial, c. D.I.Y coating with Beewax, Flax Oil and Parafine, d. The spectrumof new/clean and patina of age/worn.which all are used as expressive research tools to understand different perspectivesof sustainable function for another workwear within a culture shift;the background of the past, the beauty of life and finally proposals for a futureseen as the ecological age. / Program: Modedesignutbildningen