This study examined the efficacy of the Decision Model (Umbreit, Ferro, Liaupsin, & Lane, 2007) for the development of function-based interventions for young children receiving special education services in inclusive preschool settings. Findings suggested interventions using the Decision Model were effective at decreasing the disruptive behavior of 3 young boys within inclusive early childhood classrooms. On-task behavior increased for each child following intervention implementation. Largest increases were noted with a 4.9 year-old with Autism and a 4 year-old with Down Syndrome. Data also suggested that the level of on-task behavior coincided with levels of intervention implementation. On-task behavior of a 3.9 year-old with language delay, demonstrated substantial increases when the intervention was implemented properly, but not when intervention elements were left out. Implications for future research were discussed.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 36 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2005. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 47 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: "The goal of university research is the creation, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge." – Steven E. Hyman, Provost of Harvard University 2001–2011 The Department of Trade and Industry recently identified the media and entertainment industry as a strategic sector in South Africa because of its growing contribution to economic development through both local and foreign investments, export opportunities and job creation potential, as well as the significant spill-over possibilities in industries like tourism and retail usually associated with emergent industries. However, deficient research and development has been identified as one of the notable constraints to ensuring sustainability and competitiveness of local cultural industries, in which annual expenditure currently amounts to R100 billion. This emergent nature of South Africa’s cultural industries, their strategic importance as part of South Africa’s growth path as dictated by the government and the current dearth of academic literature concerning entertainment technology innovations instigated a three-tiered research objective: First, to determine whether this industry is a legitimate subject for engineering management study by examining its technology-foundation; second, to examine the impact which technological change has historically had on the industry, building on theories by Meza (2007) and Burgelman and Grove (2007); and thirdly, to provide an analysis of the global trend of contention and convergence between content creators and technology companies. Integrating these objectives into one deliverable, the ultimate aim of this study is to establish a synthesised knowledge base on the media and entertainment industry for the Department of Industrial Engineering with specific emphasis on the intersection between technological innovation and business model innovation. A hybrid multiple-case study research approach is utilised to answer eight research questions which contribute to this research goal. Four notable insights gained from answering these are (1) entertainment companies have historically reacted to technological change in a very particular manner, reducible to a four-phase process: invention, ascension, contention and sensation – referring to the observation that incumbent organisations’ response to disruptive innovations is usually one of trepidation, a reaction which leads to legal battles and subsequent contention between technology and media content companies yet simultaneously providing opportunity for inter- and intra-industry convergence and for new business models to be developed; (2) cross-boundary disruptors are those organisations which have the capability of influencing not only inter-industry organisations but also how business is conducted in entirely-different industries; (3) industry effects account for more than 60% of profit variance in the Entertainment and Lodging economic sector, justifying a study of entertainment companies from an industry perspective; and (4) because of digitalisation, the Internet, exponentially increasing computing power and the proliferation of networking capabilities, the media and entertainment industry is transitioning from a business model which is based on media-directed “push” relationships, fragmented audiences and the provision of passive consumption to one which provides ubiquitous immersive experiences, multi-device operability and value-based content which may be customised to consumer requirements. As Porter (2008b) suggests, a historical analysis may prove to be not only informative but also instructive. The synthesised knowledge base and deductions made from this historical examination of disruptive innovation management in the media and entertainment industry may consequently be used as a basis for future research, for which a few possibilities are offered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Ons sal nie ophou verken nie, en die einde van al ons verkenning sal wees om te arriveer waar ons begin het maar om dan die plek vir die eerste keer te verstaan." — T. S. Eliot Die media- en vermaaklikheidsbedryf is onlangs deur die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid geïdentifiseer as 'n strategiese sektor in Suid-Afrika as gevolg van die groeiende bydrae wat hierdie industrie lewer tot ekonomiese ontwikkeling deur middle van plaaslike en buitelandse beleggings, uitvoergeleenthede en werkskeppingpotensiaal. Hierdie industrie beskik ook oor beduidende oorloopmoontlikhede in bedrywe soos toerisme en kleinhandel. Gebrekkige navorsing en ontwikkeling is egter geïdentifiseer as een van die vernaamste beperkings tot volhoubaarheid en mededingendheid van plaaslike kulturele industrieë, `n bedryf waarin jaarlikse besteding reeds R100 biljoen beloop. Die kombinasie van hierdie ontluikende aard van Suid-Afrika se kulturele industrieë, hul strategiese belangrikheid as deel van Suid-Afrika se Industriele Aksieplan en die gebrekkige akademiese literatuur met betrekking tot vermaaklikheidstegnologië het gelei tot 'n drie-ledige navorsingsdoelwit: Eerstens, om vas te stel of hierdie bedryf 'n legitieme akademiese onderwerp vir die ingenieursbestuur-dissipline is deur die aard en tegnologie-fondasie van die industrie te bestudeer; tweedens, om die impak wat tegnologiese verandering histories op die bedryf gehad het te ondersoek, met Meza (2007) en Burgelman en Grove (2007) se teorieë as fondasietekste; en derdens, om 'n analise te verskaf omtrent die wêreldwye mededinging en konvergensie tussen inhoudverskaffers en tegnologie-maatskappye. Geïntegreerd in een aflewerbare is die uiteindelike doel van hierdie studie om ‘n saamgestelde kennisbasis aangaande die media- en die vermaaklikheidsbedryf vir die Departement Bedryfsingenieurswese te lewer, met spesifieke klem op die ontmoetingspunt tussen tegnologiese innovasie en die innovasie van besigheidsmodelle. 'n Hibriede meervoudige-gevallestudie navorsingsbenadering is aangewend om uiteindelik agt navorsingsvrae te beantwoord. Hierdie vrae het gedien as riglyne om die doel van die tesis te bereik. Vier noemenswaardige insigte wat uit die beantwoording van hierdie vrae gekom het is (1) die vermaaklikheidsbedryf het histories op `n besondere wyse gereageer op 'n tegnologiese verandering, een wat gereduseer kan word tot 'n vier-fase proses: uitvinding, aanvaarding, mededinging en sensasie. Hierdie proses verwys na die waarneming dat bestaande organisasies aanvanklik met angs reageer tot ontwrigtende innovasies, 'n reaksie wat lei tot wetlike gevegte en daaropvolgende twis tussen tegnologie maatskappye en inhoudverskaffers, maar tegelykertyd geleentheid bied vir inter- en intra-industrie konvergensie sowel as vir die ontwikkeling van nuwe sake-modelle; (2) ontwrigtende innovasies bied geleentheid vir kruis-grens ontwrigters om die manier te beïnvloed wat ander organisasies, insluitende diegene in geheel-verskillende industrieë, besigheid doen (3) bedryfsfaktore is verantwoordelik vir meer as 60% van winsvariansie in die vermaaklikheidsbedryf, `n waarneming wat 'n studie van vermaaklikheidsbedryf vanuit 'n industrie-perspektief regverdig, en (4) digitalisering, die Internet, eksponensieel-groeiende berekeningspoed en die vermenigvuldiging van netwerke het veroorsaak dat die media- en vermaaklikheidsbedryf `n besigheidsmodelaanpassing moes ondergaan vanaf een wat gebaseer is op media-gerigte "stoot" verhoudings, gefragmenteerde gehore en die verskaffing van passiewe verbruik na een waar aanpasbare, waarde-gebaseerde inhoud alomteenwoordig beskikbaar is en verbruik kan word op veelvuldige toestelle volgens verbruikers se behoeftes. Porter (2008b) noem dat 'n maatskappy se geskiedenis nie slegs informatief is nie, maar selfs ook voorskriftelik. Gevolglik kan die afleidings wat gemaak is uit hierdie historiese ondersoek aangaande ontwrigtende innovasies in die media- en vermaaklikheidsindustrie gebruik word as `n fondasie vir toekomstige navorsing –`n paar aanbevelings hiervoor word in die gevolgtrekking van hierdie dokument gelys.

In recent years, start-ups and small to medium sized enterprises that operate globally from their inception have become commonplace. These companies often use shared leadership structures and aim to disrupt an existing market with a innovative product. This thesis intends to explore and understand the influence of shared leadership on disruptive innovation inside these international new ventures using a qualitative research approach, by gathering relevant theories of shared leadership, such as disruptive innovation and international new ventures and contrasting them in an abductive manner with the results of six interviews conducted with representatives of chosen start-ups. In these interviews the participants were questioned about shared leadership and disruptive innovation separately and try to integrate the results of shared leadership that relate to disruptive innovation in a positive or negative manner. Our findings suggest that creativity, efficiency, intrinsic motivation as well as cross-field knowledge have an incubative effect, while shared leadership itself, when managed poorly, can hamper disruptive innovation.

For decades, the speed of commercial aviation was constrained by the sound barrier. However, recent noticeable growth in air traffic and the recognition of the “time” as a valuable asset for passengers, call for more efficient, faster commercial transport. The commercial supersonic flight, able to fly above the speed of the sound has not been around ever since Concorde made its last trip in 2003, but it is promised to be on its way back. Currently, several existing and emerging companies are competing to revive the concept by developing and launching efficient supersonic plane between 2020-2025. The aircraft could operate on long-haul intercontinental flights about 2.6 times faster than current subsonic airplanes, targeting primarily business travelers. However, such a technological leapfrogging innovation embodies several engineering, economic, environmental and other factors, vital for its commercial success.                                The overall purpose of this master thesis is to investigate which factors could ensure the success of the upcoming supersonic commercial flight. The research will examine whether the new generation of supersonic planes can achieve maintainable commercial success by introducing industry expert opinions and exploring the perceptions of potential passengers towards supersonic flight as a possible future transportation mode.                               The limited literature on the subject created the need for descriptive research to expand the understanding. The chosen deductive approach relies on adopting the theoretical conceptions on the Theory of Disruptive Innovation and the Extended GAP Model of Service Quality. Pragmatic research philosophy is used due to the fact that it was deemed necessary to pursue multiple views to enable best answering the research questions. Qualitative interviews with ten industry experts have been conducted, capturing both the market specifications and the technical functions of the planes. Furthermore, 28 potential consumers who have flown in a business class on a long-haul flight gave valuable insights on the service quality perceptions.                                The results show that demand for supersonic flight exists and people are willing to use it as long as the plane satisfies their expectations of service quality. Based on the predictions of industry experts and the high level of curiosity of the potential customers interviewed, and their positive perceptions towards using it, the commercial  supersonic flight has the scale possibility to be highly successful. However, the upcoming supersonic aircraft should find a balance between the main service quality attributes, such as speed, comfort, convenience, and safety, in relation to the economic, environmental, and engineering challenges.

O mercado e os negócios na área da Contabilidade vêm sofrendo constantes mudanças nos últimos anos, sendo as novas exigências dos consumidores e a entrada de novas tecnologias as grandes influenciadoras dessa quebra de paradigma. Entretanto, a tecnologia por si só não é o agente causador de perturbações no mercado, mas sim a forma como ela é explorada, dentro dos modelos de negócios, para melhor atender às novas necessidades dos clientes que se apresentam. Dessa maneira, a disrupção dos modelos de negócios surge quando a introdução de novas tecnologias e inovações se tornam críticas nos modelos de negócios existentes, exigindo readequações organizacionais para a oferta de novos produtos e serviços. Diante desse contexto que se revela para o mercado contábil, a presente dissertação busca descrever as características dos potenciais modelos de negócios disruptivos existentes, atualmente, no mercado contábil nacional. Para tanto, a fim de atender ao objetivo de pesquisa proposto, esta dissertação é composta por quatro etapas, sendo cada uma representada por um artigo. A primeira etapa visa a realização um review sobre modelos de negócios disruptivos, a fim de trazer um melhor entendimento sobre o tema em discussão. A segunda etapa busca a consolidaçãodos conceitos e atributos apresentados sobre os modelos de negócios disruptivos na literatura, elaborando um conjunto de itens e características que conceituem e qualifiquem um modelo de negócio disruptivo A terceira etapa tem por objetivo a identificaçãodos modelos de negócios contábeis tradicionais do mercado, revelando a forma de organização estrutural e das características desses modelos de negócios. Por fim, a última etapa busca identificar no mercado os potenciais modelos de negócios disruptivos contábeis. De modo geral, pelos achados desta dissertação, percebe-se que algumas empresas contábeis estão surgindo com características de disrupção nos negócios, entretanto, os tradicionais modelos de negócios contábeis ainda estão sendo pouco perturbados por esses novos negócios. Nota-se, também, o uso intensivo de diferentes recursos tecnológicos nas atividades contábeis desses novos negócios, bem como a realização de atividades de maior valor agregado aos clientes, por meio de consultorias, análise de dados, estratégias de negócios e apoio nas tomadas de decisões, por exemplo. Assim, esta pesquisa contribui com a teoria da disrupção, ao fornecer um melhor entendimento das características dos modelos de negócios disruptivos; e com o campo, ao apresentar uma visão geral dos novos negócios contábeis, revelando algumas tendências de negócios de sucesso para o mercado atual. / The market and business in the area of Accounting have been undergoing constant changes in recent years, being the new demands of consumers and the entry of new technologies the major influencers of this paradigm break. However, technology alone is not the agent causing disruption in the market, but rather the way it is exploited, within business models, to better attend the new needs of the clients which appear. That way, the disruption of business models arises when the introduction of new technologies and innovations become critical in existing business models, requiring organizational adjustments for the provision of new products and services. In light of this context that is revealed for the accounting market, the present dissertation seeks to describe the characteristics of potential disruptive business models that currently exist in the national accounting market. For this, in order to attend the proposed research objective, this dissertation is composed of four stages, each one represented by an article. The first step is to conduct a review on disruptive business models in order to bring a better understanding of the subject under discussion. The second stage seeks to consolidate the concepts and attributes presented on the disruptive business models in the literature, elaborating a set of items and characteristics that conceptualize and qualify a disruptive business model The third step is to identify the traditional accounting business models of the market, revealing the form of structural organization and the characteristics of these business models. Finally, the last step seeks to identify potential disruptive business accounting models in the market. In general, based in the findings of this dissertation, it is noticed that some accounting firms are emerging with characteristics of disruption in the business, however,the traditional accounting business models are still being little disturbed by these new businesses. It is also noted the intensive use of different technological resources in the accounting activities of these new businesses, as well as the accomplishment of activities of greater added value to the clients, through consultancies, data analysis, business strategies and support in the decisions, for example. Thus, this research contributes to the theory of disruption,by providing a better understanding of the characteristics of disruptive business models; and with the field, by presenting an overview of the new accounting business, revealing some business trends of success for the current market.

Disruptive behavior problems are among the most commonly occurring forms of childhood psychopathology and show considerable stability beginning in early childhood. Investigations of the biological underpinnings of behavior problems have revealed that the influences of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system on cardiac functions are central to self-regulation. Parasympathetic regulation of heart rate is indexed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Suppression of RSA during challenging emotional and cognitive tasks is associated with better emotional and behavioral functioning in preschoolers. However, the relationship between RSA suppression and preschool social functioning is still unclear. Further, direct relationships between behavior problems and RSA reactivity within command-based play tasks (i.e., child instructed to build 3 towers) with parents and other adults have yet to be examined. The present study experimentally evaluated the relationship between child RSA reactivity and adult (mother vs. staff) commands requiring child compliance during command-based play tasks in children ages 3-8 with and without disruptive behavior disorders (N=43). Child RSA suppression in response to commands was examined as a predictor of child command compliance during experimental play tasks and of general child behavior problems, and was compared across command-based interactions with mothers versus staff. Less RSA suppression in the context of mothers’ play-based commands was associated with more severe behavioral problems (p=.046). In the context of staff play-based commands, more RSA suppression was associated with more severe behavior problems (p=.009), an effect that was significant only among boys (p<.000). Further, greater child RSA suppression predicted greater compliance with mother-given commands (p=.017), but was unrelated to compliance with staff-given commands. The relationship between child RSA suppression and compliance with mother-given commands was moderated by child age, such that the effect of RSA suppression on child compliance was stronger for younger children than older children. Findings suggest that RSA reactivity to social demands, and the functional association between RSA suppression and behavioral compliance, vary by social context (i.e., mother vs. other adult command-givers) and identify child factors (i.e., age, gender) that influence these associations. This work may inform efforts to identify a biomarker of early childhood behavior problems.

L’industrie des réplicateurs des disques optiques est menacée dans son existence et se trouve en face d’un déclin permanent. Son produit cœur, CD et DVD, est remplacé par des services virtuels. L’Internet facilite la dématérialisation de ces produits physiques : Une technologie, qui a créée des formes de consommation différente. Cette recherche par étude de cas présente le cas des firmes européennes de cette industrie et de leurs innovations dans l’effort de fuir la menace de l’obsolescence. Le but de cette dissertation est de trouver une réponse aux questions centrales, « comment » et « pourquoi » les réplicateurs des disques optiques innovent pendant le déclin et si leurs innovations sont efficaces pour faciliter la survie. Les découvertes de cette recherche qualitative sont catégorisées dans plusieurs façons : Elles sont étudiées sous les concepts de la logique conventionnelle vs la logique d’innovation de valeurs, le transilience map et un corps d’autres théories (Kim et al. 2005, Abernathy et al. 1984). Le système des géométries de la stratégie sert comme grille d’analyse des résultats (Keidel. 2010). Le résultat principal résultante est, que si cette industrie ne peut pas survivre dans sa structure présente, la majorité de ses innovations subit un effet de lock-in multiple : Technologie, liaisons au marché et motivation/qualification des managers manquante, qui empêche de renverser la donne majoritairement à n’être qu’incrémental. L’innovation nécessaire en phase du déclin et ici étouffée. / The replication industry of optical discs is threatened in its existence and confronted with permanent decline. Its core product, CD and DVD, is replaced by virtual services. The Internet facilitates the dematerialisation of the physical product: A new technology has shaped a different form of consumption.This research by case study presents the case of European firms of this industry and their innovations in the effort to escape the threat of obsolescence. The objective of this research is to find an answer to the central questions, “how” and “why” the replicators of optical discs innovate during decline and whether their innovations are effective to enable the firms’ survival.The discoveries of this qualitative study are categorised in various ways: They are studied by the concepts of conventional logic vs logic of value innovation, the transilience map and further relevant theories (Kim et al. 2005, Abernathy et al. 1984). The system of geometries of strategy is used as analytical structure (Keidel. 2010). The main result is that this industry cannot survive in its present structure, since the majority of its innovations is subject to the effect of a multiple lock-in: Technology, market linkages and the lack of managerial motivation/qualification are the main reason that this industry’s innovation is by its majority incremental. The necessary innovation during decline is eliminated here.

Submitted by Daniele Santos (danielesantos.htl@gmail.com) on 2017-01-18T19:14:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Belen Gallego .docx: 3702355 bytes, checksum: 2c55508bd93b9406cf83d52d1b05b1ad (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Janete de Oliveira Feitosa (janete.feitosa@fgv.br) on 2017-01-24T13:26:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Belen Gallego .docx: 3702355 bytes, checksum: 2c55508bd93b9406cf83d52d1b05b1ad (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-25T18:32:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Belen Gallego .docx: 3702355 bytes, checksum: 2c55508bd93b9406cf83d52d1b05b1ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-10 / This thesis analyses the case studies of disruptive energy companies SolarCity, RWE and d.light to identify whether each of them fit into one of the academic disruption models: ● Disruption from below. This theory maintains that disruption is when substandard or ‘inferior’ technology ● Disruption from above. This theory starts with a superior product or service which is much more capable than the existing mainstream technology provided ● Big Bang disruption, when products or services have both better performance and lower price and more customization than existing mainstream markets Analysing the SolarCity case study, it seems to fit well in a ‘Big Bang disruption’ model as it clearly changed the rules from day one by making available a completely different service from what the customers of utilities were used to. RWE suffered fits into the ‘disruption from above’ model because clean energy was providing an added value that fossil fuels could not. RWE is now looking to become the disruptor themselves. Analysing the d.light case, it appears in terms of technology the disruption fits in with the ‘disruption from below’ model. d.light works because it is very specific to the particular customer base that they serves and it would be unlike to succeed if the context was different or there was an alternative.