The purpose of this study was to explore how living outside of the passport country during the developmental years affected the experiences of adult Third Culture Kids (TCKs). Individual interviews were conducted with 15 adult TCKs who had lived at least one year outside of their passport country prior to age 18 and had returned to their passport country for at least one year. They were asked questions about how their experiences living outside of their passport country affected them. Data analyzed from the interviews generated 13 themes: (a) broader understanding of the world and the differences of people, (b) developing a support system of genuine relationships based on support and understanding, (c) development of an identity that integrates experiences and cultures, (d) feeling misunderstood, isolated, and different, (e) experience resulted in opportunities and skills sets that are not traditional in the passport country, (f) challenges of returning to the passport country, (g) internal struggles in relating to others and developing effective coping skills, (h) ability to negotiate change and a lack of fear of change, (i) difference in understanding of wealth and financial management, (j) view experience as positive and life-changing, (k) challenges in adjusting to a different culture, (l) variation in relationships with family, and (m) desire to travel and be in other places. These themes and their repeating ideas generated a grounded theory about the experiences of TCKs. This theory represents the relationships between the themes and the research questions. The theory consisted of six elements: (a) development of a global perspective, (b) affirmation of the complexity of relationships, (c) struggle to achieve cultural efficacy, (d) confirmation of the value of the experience, (e) challenge of acculturation, and (f) change as a source of achieving equilibrium. Findings from this study demonstrated that the experience of growing up outside of the passport country during the developmental years was perceived as a valuable and beneficial experience that significantly affected the participants. The results also identified challenges of the TCK experience and the influences these had in participants’ lives. Research and practice implications are presented. Results of this study may assist mental health professionals to understand the term TCK and the challenges with which they may present for treatment. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Fordham University, 2008. / Adviser: Henry M. Schwalbenberg. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 230-267).

Thesis (D.P.A.)--Arizona State University, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [184]-194).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 287-326).

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Wien, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 282-303)

C. Fred Bergsten, William R. Cline, John Williamson. / "April 1985." / Includes bibliographical references.

The evidence of project management is known for centuries as can be observed from the construction of the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China. In the modern age, project-based approaches are increasingly being adopted in almost all areas of product development. Project management has emerged as a specialised discipline since the importance of completing projects within time, cost and quality constraints is crucial for organisations to continue to survive in the competitive world. Project Management, in general, has been developed under the assumption of economic, political, cultural and social rationality. Little is known about indigenous project management in developing countries. The concepts and principles put forward in Western/European countries have been applied to developing countries without much prior studies. Developing nations are struggling constantly to maintain their projects within the constraints of time, cost and quality. Software development companies have found it difficult to adopt methodologies/models/standards that have shown evidence of success in the developed world. This thesis comprises the study of software project management in developing countries. Mauritius, as an instance of developing countries, with problems related to social, economic, cultural and political conditions are discussed. However, these conditions differ from country to country. It is believed that adjustments are required in a software project management framework to fit the requirements of a country. An evolutionary software project management maturity model is proposed for managing software development in developing countries. This model adopts an evolutionary approach, whereby areas of interest (called key process areas) progressively attain maturity. Three levels of maturity are defined along with key process areas that are applicable over all the maturity levels (called the i continuous process improvement group of KPAs). The model is also applied to two software projects in Mauritius to test its effectiveness. Given the studies carried out and its successful application to the Mauritian context, this model for software project management is expected to contribute towards a higher software project success rate. Notwithstanding the application in the Mauritian context, it is plausible that other developing countries may also customise this model as similar problems occur across these countries. / Computing / D.Phil. (Computer Science)