Disruptive Technologies can assist an organisation to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Different terminology is used in the literature to describe disruptive technologies associated with uncertainty and risk. The term “disruptive technologies” is described and explained in comparison to sustaining technology. The aim of the research is to determine the impact of disruptive technologies on the ICT environment of an organisation. The impact of disruptive technology is discussed in terms of the business value of information technologies, the value network of the organisation, the current security framework of the information technology architecture, business processes and standards, approaches to business strategy, involvement of executive management and influence on customers and clients of the organisation. Three organisations within the South African environment agreed to be the subjects of the case studies. These were described and recommendations were made at the completion of the research. / Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Informatics / unrestricted

MSc (Med) (Child Health Neurodevelopment), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Background Disruptive behaviour is the most commonly reported mental health problem in individuals with learning disability. Pharmacotherapy is part of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of disruptive behaviour. Risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic drug, is the most commonly used treatment for symptom improvement. It is therefore important to establish the efficacy and safety of risperidone therapy in this dependent, vulnerable and young population, given the well documented adverse effects and the potential for long term treatment. Objectives To assess the effects of risperidone for disruptive behaviour in children and adolescents with learning disability. Search strategy The following electronic databases were searched: CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials); MEDLINE; PsycINFO; CINAHL; Clinicaltrials.gov; National Research Register (NRR). In addition, reference lists of relevant publications and narrative reviews were checked; handsearches were done; authors of published trials and pharmaceutical manufacturer of risperidone (Risperdal) were contacted. Selection criteria All randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of risperidone versus placebo (or no treatment) for children and adolescents (age less than 18 years) with a diagnosis of learning disability and disruptive behaviour were considered. Data collection and analysis Trial eligibility and data quality were evaluated and analysed by the author and independently verified by an additional reviewer. Unpublished data were considered for inclusion and relevant authors were contacted in the case of incomplete data. Results Four randomised controlled trials involving 279 children and adolescents were identified. The majority of the children were living at home and not institutionalised. Meta-analyses of the primary outcome scales (Nisonger Child Behaviour Rating Form, Aberrant Behaviour Checklist, Behaviour Problem Inventory) measuring several core symptoms of disruptive behaviour, namely conduct problems, self-injury, irritability, aggressive / destructive behaviours and stereotypy suggest statistically significant improvement in disruptive type behaviours in children treated with risperidone compared to placebo. Adverse event data showed that the prevalence of adverse effects viz. weight gain, sedation / somnolence and raised prolactin levels were significantly higher in the children receiving risperidone. Conclusions In the studies included in this review, risperidone treatment for disruptive behaviour in learning disabled children and adolescents appears to have a beneficial effect on certain symptoms of disruptive behaviour. However, the applicability of these findings to wider clinical practice remains unclear, due to poor methodological quality, inadequate study sample size and short duration of treatment of the included studies. Long term safety has not been established and serious adverse effects, affecting growth, are of concern. Further research is required to establish the efficacy and safety of risperidone for disruptive behaviour in learning disabled children and adolescents in clinical practice.

This study explored the stability and heritability of novelty seeking, defiance, and rule-breaking in early childhood using a twin sample. Parent reports of novelty seeking were assessed at ages 3 and 4, parent reports of rule-breaking were assessed at ages 5 and follow-up (6-16), and observer reports of defiance were assessed at age 5. Results showed that novelty seeking increased between ages 3 and 4, and rule-breaking remained stable from age 5 to follow-up (6-16). All constructs demonstrated significant heritability. Finally, neither novelty seeking nor defiance predicted 5-year-old rule-breaking. Defiance was the only construct that significantly predicted follow-up rule-breaking. Defiance and rule-breaking in early childhood were predictive of later rule-breaking, indicating that children may benefit from early intervention to reduce later rule-breaking behaviors.

Research has indicated that negative parenting practices are associated with disruptive behavior in offspring. Extant research also has indicated that disruptive behavior in offspring affects parenting practices. Thus, the current study examined the relationship between parenting and disruptive behavior. It was hypothesized that symptoms of ODD have a more negative influence on parenting than symptoms of CD and ADHD, and parental mental health mediates the relationship between disruptive behavior and parenting. Results of the current study indicated that, as hypothesized, for maternal and paternal parenting and discipline, ADHD had no association with parenting or discipline practices. Symptoms of ODD and CD had an equivalent association with maternal positive parenting only. Complete mediation of the associations of ODD and CD by maternal mental health occurred when examining maternal positive parenting only. Partial mediation of these relationships occurred for maternal and paternal positive discipline and paternal positive parenting.

Previous research indicates that significant environmental factors, parenting styles in particular, have an influence on a child's likelihood to develop disruptive behavior. Higher reported levels of affective empathy are associated with lower rates of disruptive behavior. Further, authoritative parenting style and parental involvement has been associated with lower disruptive behavior rates. Fathers who are involved equally as much or more than the mother are described as egalitarian. The current study examined the effects of parenting, particularly egalitarian parenting, on empathy and disruptive behavior. Results indicated affective and cognitive empathy correlated negatively with disruptive behavior, egalitarian characteristics in fathers were correlated positively with cognitive and affective empathy and negatively with disruptive behavior, and empathy did not mediate or moderate the relationship between fathers' egalitarian parenting and disruptive behavior. Lastly, results indicated emerging adults from families with a biological mother and stepfather had higher empathy ratings compared to other household structures.

This study postulates that the current incumbents in the SA mobile telecommunications industry are still relying on old working mobile technologies even though new types are emerging within the industry. The telecommunications industry is undergoing radical changes of its own; some examples include global liberalization of trade and investment in telecommunications, as well as national deregulation and privatization. Thus, SA telecommunications businesses are facing a double dilemma: while the telecommunications technology and industry are being rapidly redefined, the markets are being opened to local and global competition.

This study postulates that the current incumbents in the SA mobile telecommunications industry are still relying on old working mobile technologies even though new types are emerging within the industry. The telecommunications industry is undergoing radical changes of its own; some examples include global liberalization of trade and investment in telecommunications, as well as national deregulation and privatization. Thus, SA telecommunications businesses are facing a double dilemma: while the telecommunications technology and industry are being rapidly redefined, the markets are being opened to local and global competition.

Objective: Adolescence is a period of crucial neuropsychological development. Executive control functions (ECF) develop during adolescence and are constructs involving the planning, initiation, and regula¬tion of goal-directed behaviour. ECFs include impulse control critical for behavioural regulation. Training approaches for improving inhibitory control (IC) and impulsivity in young people (YP) are in their infancy, although some positive effects have been found in adults. This research aimed to test the hypothesis that IC intervention would improve IC and impulsivity (direct, near and far-transfer effects) and improve behavioural-control (mid and far-transfer effects) in YP. Methods: Six healthy YP, aged 11-16 years, attending mainstream education, participated in this single-case, multiple-baseline experimental design. The participants completed assessments at three phase-change points and completed continuous measures of their own impulsivity and behaviour goals. Each participant completed a baseline and intervention phase of differing randomised lengths within the 20 day study. The data were analysed visually using non-parametric tests of difference, randomisations tests and indices of reliable change. Results: IC and impulsivity were not observed to improve with intervention based on direct and far-transfer effects and limited improvement was observed based on near-transfer effects. Overall, behavioural control was not observed to improve with intervention based on near and far-training effects, but limited improvements were observed for some individual participants. Conclusion: The intervention was not observed to be effective in reducing IC or improving behavioural control overall, with very limited effects found in individual cases, which are discussed in directions for future research.

每一個企業都是希望憑藉著其核心能力追求持續性的成長與獲利。不幸的是，在快速變動的商業競爭領域，新進的挑戰者進行市場顛覆已是一常態。 本論文研究採用個案研究法，主要是探討中小型的網路通信企業，在經歷網路泡沫以後，如何檢視自身的競爭優勢，將破壞式創新、科技產品行銷等學理引用於新產品的開發設計與行銷上。本論文研究以「組織」、「新產品開發與策略」、「行銷通路的策略與管理」三項變數進行個案公司經理人訪談、資料收集與研究，期望瞭解個案公司的實務作為，與破壞式創新、核心競爭力、科技產品行銷理論、產業聚落等學理的結合性。 從個案中，我們可以得知如下： 一、 因應高科技產業的不確定性，企業對於外在環境變化的資訊收集（創新理論中的變化跡象），是企業進行策略分析的一項基本工作。 當企業了解外在環境不斷地動態性變遷時，凝聚企業組織內部的共識對於執行策略目標有助益。明確的目標及賞罰分明的組織，對於執行策略時，會有比較高的成功機會。 二、 由顧客價值鏈的變化，所擬定的新產品策略與開發，與克里斯汀生創新理論相符合。 三、 顧客的情境模擬有助於新產品概念的形成，並讓顧客、夥伴及行銷單位充分參與其中，是減少事後修正及補足的不二法門。 / Each enterprise is relying on its core competence to pursue continuative growth and profits. Unfortunately, in the rapid changes of commercial competition domain, new challengers carry on the market subversion already is a norm. This research is a case study to mainly discuss the small and medium broadband company, after experiencing the Internet bubble, how to inspect its own competitive advantage, apply Disruptive Innovation, High-Tech Product Marketing and other theoretical references in new product development, design and marketing. This research aspect is "New product development and strategy". By interviewing with company’s managers and gathering and studying company’s data, we expect to find correlations between firms’ practices and theoretical references as like Disruptive Innovation, Core Competence, High-Tech Product Marketing, Industry Cluster…and so on. From the case, we can learn the following: 1. In accordance to the high tech industry's uncertainty, the enterprise regarding the external environmental variation's information (changing sign) collection and identification are important for the enterprise strategy analysis. When the external changes are confirmed, in responses to the external environment's change, strengthening and condensing the enterprise internal consensus is the fundamental work. Meanwhile, if there are the explicit goal and an impartial rewards and punishments rules in the organization, carrying out the strategy will have the quite high possibilities of success. 2. Drawing up product strategy and development by the customer value chain's change is complied with Christensen, Clayton M.'s innovation theory. 3. The customer's application scenario is useful to a product concept. At product developing stage, sales, marketing team and customer's joining are much efficient for reducing cost and product post-adjustment.

No description available.