The thesis examines how the social construction of African women in development discourse transformed from the 1970s to the 2000s, focusing in particular on the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). From the 1970s to the 1990s representations of African women were based on women’s economic potential. The mainstreaming of gender in the 1990s resulted in women being represented as agents of change. This approach gave women an opportunity to play roles in decision-making but led to policies that failed to challenge the established institutions. The emphasis on women as agents of change opened doors to some African women but with implications for the women’s movement. Only some middle-class women appear to benefit but their gains have been marginal in comparison to the gender inequalities that persist. The thesis uses secondary sources and interviews with development practitioners in Ottawa to understand the representation of African women as agents of change.

How to make teams Flexible without sacrificing their Efficiency? This is an important question especially in the context of Product Development (PD) organizations, as they operate in a dynamic environment and are highly team-driven. The answer to this question lies in understanding the role of all individual constituents that contribute to building Team Flexibility. One such constituent is teams’ Structure. This research work examines the role of Structural antecedents in building Flexibility into PD teams. This study considers PD Team Flexibility as a means to deal with both change and uncertainty. A conceptual framework of structural practices was developed to reflect this perspective. An ex-post facto survey based research design with Convenient Sampling technique was adopted for this study. Data was collected from 108 PD teams (both public and private sector) about their current structural practices, complexity of product development activity and their performances. The information collected from these teams was analysed to determine the key factors which would result in building Team Flexibility. The analysis of the data resulted in producing five antecedents. The results from the study suggest that, in general, designing structural practices centered on team ‘Participation and Control’ and ‘Time Bound Formalization’ antecedents helps in simultaneously achieving high Flexibility and Efficiency. The result also hints at the possibility of Large teams achieving both Flexibility and Efficiency with the introduction of appropriate practices designed around these antecedents. A caveat to the above claim is that complexity of PD activity would moderate the effectiveness of these antecedents and hence should be borne in mind before implementing them.

The thesis examines how the social construction of African women in development discourse transformed from the 1970s to the 2000s, focusing in particular on the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). From the 1970s to the 1990s representations of African women were based on women’s economic potential. The mainstreaming of gender in the 1990s resulted in women being represented as agents of change. This approach gave women an opportunity to play roles in decision-making but led to policies that failed to challenge the established institutions. The emphasis on women as agents of change opened doors to some African women but with implications for the women’s movement. Only some middle-class women appear to benefit but their gains have been marginal in comparison to the gender inequalities that persist. The thesis uses secondary sources and interviews with development practitioners in Ottawa to understand the representation of African women as agents of change.

<div>The purpose of this research was to develop and validate an instrument designed to assess programming of youth development organizations. The instrument can be used by leaders of youth development organizations to monitor the organization’s performance in developing productive and engaged citizens. This research viewed youth development organizations as a microsystem that youth interact with (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 2006). A complete review of the literature on youth development organizations was conducted to determine the components of positive youth development organizations. The resulting conceptual framework consisted of project, skills and knowledge, community contribution, high-density experiences, environment, non-parental adult, and near-peer role models.</div><div><br></div><div>An item pool was developed based on the literature available on youth development organization programming. This item pool was reviewed by experts in youth development organization programming and inclusion. Then the items were entered into two tools to assess grammar and concise language. Third, the items were administered to a small sample then analyzed for correlations and contributions to reliability. Items were eliminated if they correlated too highly with other items and if they did not contribute to the reliability of the scale. Fourth, the items were administered to a broader sample and correlations and reliability measures were analyzed again with more items removed. Finally, the items were administered to another sample and analyzed for multicollinearity and reliability. The final sample took the survey a second time and responses were compared based on paired t-tests to establish test-retest reliability.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The 15-item instrument exhibits appropriate measures of validity and reliability to recommend its usage by youth development organization leaders to evaluation programming. The instrument is parsimonious so leaders can add program-specific questions while avoiding participant fatigue. A complete version of the instrument is available in the appendices.</div>

With the changing political, economic, cultural and environmental landscape of global societies, journalistic writings on social development issues and concerns have become more relevant in recent times. Through civic advocacy journalism (CAJ), the agenda and programs of social development movements, civil society groups, international development organizations and non-government organizations are promoted and advanced. It is essential to understand the forms and representations of CAJ in practice, concepts and theories in the light of its relevance to media practice and to society at large. However, there is very little literature on the scope and extent of CAJ knowledge and practice. A researcher needs to look into actual practice and connect this with available literature to establish the application of CAJ. For this study, a qualitative content analysis method was used to assess CAJ practice in online print media reports at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit.

This paper uses the current organizational ecology theory to clearly define organizational population ecology constructs of non-governmental development organizations, and offers specific terminology and understanding of main organizational forms and relational dynamics that define the population ecology of these organizations. The paper examines closely the significance of such interaction and interdependence through transactional relationship of obtaining and distributing of resources and forces of competition. Original organizational theory frameworks are offered for future NGDO organizational research.

Social economy community development organizations (SECDOs) are social service organizations that provide poverty relief but do not necessarily inspire a counter-hegemonic antipoverty strategy against a neoliberal welfare state. Tension between providing human social services and engaging in advocacy is at the core of how SECDOs may be both complicit to as well as working against the neoliberalization of the welfare state. This study explores how SECDOs can nurture a new paradigm for community economic development organizations. Through a case study of a Canadian settlement house, the research demonstrates how transforming work may encourage a culture of organic intellectualism or, a culture of emancipatory consciousness-raising. By re-organizing workplace practices, such as working collaboratively, providing a hub for services and engaging in popular education, transformative SECDOs help provide the conditions for citizens to affect governance. The research theorizes how SECDOs may foster a culture of organic intellectualism to promote the transformative social economy.

Social economy community development organizations (SECDOs) are social service organizations that provide poverty relief but do not necessarily inspire a counter-hegemonic antipoverty strategy against a neoliberal welfare state. Tension between providing human social services and engaging in advocacy is at the core of how SECDOs may be both complicit to as well as working against the neoliberalization of the welfare state. This study explores how SECDOs can nurture a new paradigm for community economic development organizations. Through a case study of a Canadian settlement house, the research demonstrates how transforming work may encourage a culture of organic intellectualism or, a culture of emancipatory consciousness-raising. By re-organizing workplace practices, such as working collaboratively, providing a hub for services and engaging in popular education, transformative SECDOs help provide the conditions for citizens to affect governance. The research theorizes how SECDOs may foster a culture of organic intellectualism to promote the transformative social economy.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Technology: Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2013 / The alignment between business and information technology (IT) strategies has been a challenge for many years. Strategic alignment models and enterprise architecture methodologies and frameworks have been developed to assist business and IT managers with improving alignment between business and IT strategies. The business analyst, systems analyst and project manager are key role players in delivering the information systems (IS) needs of business and therefore key in aligning business and IT strategies. Despite literature and research suggesting a positive influence of emotional intelligence on occupational performance in various industries, the development of emotional intelligence of the business analyst, systems analyst and project manager is neglected by software development organisations. Emotional intelligence is neglected in industry IS competency models as well as documented standards for the business analysis and project management profession (BABOK and PMBOK). Emotional intelligence is not addressed in strategic alignment models and enterprise architecture methodologies and frameworks. Emotional intelligence is equally neglected in IS literature. Systematic research investigating the impact of emotional intelligence on occupational performance of IT professionals remains sparse. The purpose of this study was to determine which emotional intelligence competencies are needed to improve the occupational performance of business analysts, systems analysts and project managers in delivering business information system needs. The study took the form of a multiple interpretive case study. Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from 20 software development organisations utilising the roles of the business analyst, systems analyst and project manager. Quantitative data was collected using the Genos Emotional Intelligence Inventory with the aim of identifying the patterns of emotional intelligence visible in the sample of business analysts, systems analysts and project managers assessed. The study suggests emotional intelligence has a role to play in alignment between business and IT strategies. It is proposed that industry IS competency models as well as the standards for the business analysis and project management profession as documented in BABOK and PMBOK include specific emotional intelligence competencies. The study also proposes that higher education institutions in IT/IS such as universities of technology, as well as training providers focusing on business analysis, systems analysis and project management, should focus not only on technical skills but emotional intelligence skills as well when developing the supply pipeline of business analysts, systems analysts and project managers. Keywords: Emotional intelligence, business – IT alignment, information technology, enterprise architecture, business analyst, systems analyst, project manager, competencies, non-technical skills.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:30:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leticia Rodrigues da Fonseca.pdf: 1750631 bytes, checksum: 386ec52022d302b9f42a054db2a46380 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-19 / Faculdade Cenecista de Varginha / The Brazilian market for software and services has grown considerably in recent years. According to the Brazilian Association of Software Companies (ABES, 2011), Brazil occupies the eleventh position on the world stage, moving 19.04 billion dollars, equivalent to 1.0% of gross domestic product (GDP), this total, 6.74 billion refer to software production, representing 2.2% of the world market. However, fierce competition manifests itself in the same proportion opportunities. The national software compete with themselves and with those from other countries, because there are not yet many barriers or legal restrictions against marketing of international products (TONINI et al, 2008). This sector is still characterized by evolving at a rapid pace, which causes frequent changes related to products, services, processes and technology itself (MAURER et al, 2002; NIASI, 2009). Therefore, it is believed to be fundamental for Software Development Organizations (ODSs) create a work environment that supports continuous learning to cope with the challenges of the new economy and remain competitive in the market. In this context, this study aims to understand how learning occurs continuously of ODSs that have deployed MPSBR and identify which of its aspects favor the individual and collective learning. By this, we carried out a qualitative study of type multicase in four ODSs three classified at Level C and a level F. It was used as a method of data collection to semi-structured interview. We interviewed individuals involved in software development and representatives of the group responsible for the implementation of MPSBR. The analyzes were performed using software for qualitative analyzes that allowed Weft_QDA from the transcript of the interviews, the establishment of analytical categories for the constructs and verifying relationships between their categories. By the results was possible to understand how MPSBR can contribute to the establishment of a software process quality and affordable, understand how MPSBR can encourage continuous learning through their assumptions and developers understand how these companies learn at level individual and collective. / O mercado brasileiro de software e serviços tem crescido consideravelmente nos últimos anos. Segundo a Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Software (ABES, 2011), o Brasil ocupa a décima primeira posição no cenário mundial, movimentando 19,04 bilhões de dólares, o equivalente a 1,0% do produto interno bruto (PIB) brasileiro; desse total, 6,74 bilhões referem-se à produção de software, o que representa 2,2% do mercado mundial. Contudo, a concorrência acirrada manifesta-se na mesma proporção das oportunidades. Os softwares nacionais competem entre si e com aqueles provenientes de outros países, pelo fato de ainda não existirem muitas barreiras ou restrições legais contra a comercialização de produtos internacionais (TONINI et al, 2008). Esse setor é ainda caracterizado pela evolução em ritmo acelerado, o que ocasiona mudanças frequentes relacionadas aos produtos, serviços, processos e à própria tecnologia (MAURER et al, 2002; NIASI, 2009). Portanto, acredita-se que seja fundamental para as Organizações de Desenvolvimento de Software (ODSs) instituir um ambiente de trabalho que apóie o aprendizado contínuo, para lidar com os desafios da nova economia e manterem-se competitivas no mercado. Diante desse contexto o presente estudo propõe-se a compreender como ocorre a aprendizagem contínua no ambiente de trabalho de ODSs que implantaram o MPSBR e identificar quais de seus aspectos favorecem a aprendizagem individual e coletiva. Para isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa do tipo multicaso em quatro ODSs, sendo três classificadas no Nível C e uma no nível F. Utilizou-se como método de coleta de dados a entrevista semi-estruturada. Entrevistaram-se os indivíduos envolvidos no processo de desenvolvimento dos softwares e os representantes do grupo responsável pela implantação do MPSBR. As análises foram realizadas por meio do software para análises qualitativas Weft_QDA que permitiu, a partir da transcrição das entrevistas, o estabelecimento de categorias analíticas para os construtos e a verificação de relações entre as suas categorias. Ao final, foi possível compreender como o MPSBR pode contribuir para o estabelecimento de um processo de software de qualidade e a um custo acessível, compreender como o MPSBR pode incentivar a aprendizagem contínua por meio de suas premissas e entender como os desenvolvedores dessas empresas aprendem no nível individual e coletivo.