Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Bradford, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 375-412).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Los Angeles, 1993. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Aston in Birmingham, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 329-335).

Tesis (maestría en ciencias)--Colegio de Postgraduados, Escuela Nacional de Agricultura. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: leaves 135-137.

Thesis--University of Wisconsin. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: leaves 194-197.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)(Engineering Management)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 1984. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-139). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

A difusão da inovação determina o processo pelo qual uma inovação é comunicada, informada por determinados canais, em um espaço de tempo, entre membros de um sistema social. Já a inovação de serviços engloba a importância de diferenciação de serviços para a estratégia das organizações, o que pode deixar a organização em uma posição vantajosa, na busca de diferenciação em produtos ou serviços. A partir da Aprendizagem em nível organizacional as empresas podem tornar-se abertas as mudanças, o que permite o desenvolvimento dos funcionários de forma individual e grupal, formal e informalmente, tornando-se um fator relevante da competitividade das organizações. Esta pesquisa buscou analisar como ocorre a aprendizagem de natureza formal e informal, nos níveis individual e grupal, na difusão da inovação em serviços através da interação dos funcionários de uma instituição financeira com atendimento digital. Assim, este estudo se caracteriza como de caráter qualitativo, com objetivo exploratório e descritivo, tendo adotado como estratégia de pesquisa de estudo de caso. O estudo de caso envolve funcionários de uma instituição financeira, localizada na cidade de Caxias do Sul, na Serra Gaúcha, que possui diferenciação no atendimento, de forma presencial e digital. Foi utilizada a triangulação entre três procedimentos de coleta de dados: entrevistas semiestruturada, observação participante e análise documental. Foram realizadas nove entrevistas, até a obtenção da saturação teórica, a análise de dados foi efetuada com categorização a priori e posteriori. A partir da análise dos achados em campo foi possível propor um esquema conceitual, que considera a aprendizagem formal e informal como complementares, e apresenta a sua interação entre os processos, os grupos que se estabelecem e através disto, como ocorre a difusão da inovação e aprendizagem organizacional, com práticas, normas, aprendizagem individual e grupal. Desse modo, as formas de aprendizagem da organização estão sendo construídas com base na relação existente entre os processos de aprendizagem e difusão da inovação. / The diffusion of innovation determines the process by which an innovation is communicated, informed by certain channels, in a space of time, between members of a social system. Service innovation, on the other hand, encompasses the importance of service differentiation for the organizations strategy, that can leave the organization in an advantageous position in the search for differentiation in products or services. From organizational learning onwards, companies can become open to changes, since this allows the development of employees individually and in groups, both formally and informally, making it a relevant factor in the organizations competitiveness. This research sought to analyze how formal and informal learning at the individual and group levels occur in the diffusion of innovation in services through the employees interaction of a financial institution with digital attendance. Thus, this study is characterized as having a qualitative character, with an exploratory and descriptive objective, having adopted as a case study research strategy. The case study involves employees of a financial institution, located in the city of Caxias do Sul, in the “Serra Gaúcha”, which has differentiation in attendance, face-to-face and digital one. Triangulation was used between three data collection procedures: semi-structured interviews, participant observation and documentary analysis. Nine interviews were carried out, until theoretical saturation was obtained, data analysis was performed with a priori and posteriori categorization. From the analysis of the field findings, it was possible to propose a conceptual scheme, which considers formal and informal learning as complementary, and presents its interaction between the processes, the groups that are established and through this, how occurs the diffusion of innovation and organizational learning, through practices, norms, individual and group learning. Thus, the learning forms of the organization are being built based on the relationship between the processes of learning and diffusion of innovation.

There has been an increased interest on small-scale pumped irrigation (SSPI) in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), however little is known on the adoption processes behind this technology. Moreover, the conditions for successful SSPI adoption remain largely unexplored. This research aims to achieve a deeper understanding of the present adoption processes to inform future policy. The thesis was framed around the diffusion of innovations model (Rogers 2003), using the systematic review methodology and field surveys. Interviews involving 212 farmers and 25 other stakeholders were conducted between 2013 and 2014 within 3 districts in Malawi. The responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The systematic review revealed that evidence relating to pump performance in SSA was limited, lacked standards and confined within particular regions. The field surveys identified that four different pumped systems have been adopted by farmers in Malawi; group treadle, individual treadle, group motorized and individual motorized. Farmers generally prefer individually managed pumps that are easy to operate and fit in with their existing farming practices. Adoption is driven either by the attributes of self-motivated farmers or by incentives such as free or subsidized pumps. While adoption by self-motivated farmers is consistent with Rogers (2003) model, adoption due to incentives shows differences. The research proposes a modification to the Rogers (2003) model and revised definition of success in SSPI adoption, leading to a new framework showing pathways of success. This framework identifies the routes taken by farmers who successfully adopt or discontinue using pumps. Incentive farmers are typically the poorer; these need continued external support to survive the learning curve. For self-motivated farmers, their higher socio-economic status supports successful adoption. To ensure sustainability, SSPI promoters need to offer continued support to incentive farmers and/or reduce barriers to accessing the pumps for self-motivated farmers.