By means of a systemic approach toward analysis and design of complex systems, we introduce the issue of implementing open computational systems on service-oriented architectures. We start by studying general systems theory, as it accounts for analysis and modeling of complex systems, and then compare three different implementation strategies toward system implementation. As such, the comparison is grounded in the notion of supporting architectures and, more specifically, in the practical case of a service-oriented layered architecture for communicating entities (SOLACE). / More material can be found on http://www.soclab.bth.se

This thesis discusses how Multi-agent Systems (MAS) should be designed in the context of diabetic health care. Three fields are touched: computer science, socio-psychology and systems science. Agent Technology is the core technology in the research. Theories from socio-psychology and systems science are applied to facilitate the discussion about computer agents. As the integration of socio-psychology and systems science, Activity Systems Theory is introduced to give a synthesized description of MAS. Laws and models are introduced with benefits on both individual agent and agent communities. Cybernetics from systems science and knowledge engineering from computer science are introduced to approach the design and implementation of the individual agent architecture. A computer agent is considered intelligent if it is capable of reactivity, proactivity and social activity. Reactivity and proactivity can be realized through a cybernetic approach. Social activity is much more complex, since it considers MAS coordination. In this thesis, I discuss it from the perspectives of socio-psychology. The hierarchy and motivation thinking from Activity Systems Theory is introduced to the MAS coordination. To behave intelligent, computer agents should work with knowledge. Knowledge is considered as a run-time property of a group of agents (MAS). During the MAS coordination, agents generate new information through exchanging the information they have. A knowledge component is needed in agent’s architecture for the knowledge related tasks. In my research, I adopt CommonKADS methodology for the design and implementation of agent’s knowledge component. The contribution of this research is twofold: first, MAS coordination is described with perspectives from socio-psychology. According to Activity Systems Theory, MAS is hierarchically organized and driven by the motivation. This thesis introduces a motivation-driven mechanism for the MAS coordination. Second, the research project Integrated Mobile Information Systems for health care (IMIS) indicates that the diabetic health care can be improved by introducing agent-based services to the care-providers and care-receivers. IMIS agents are designed with capabilities of information sharing, organization coordination and task delegation. To perform these tasks, the IMIS agents interact with each other based on the coordination mechanism that is discussed above.

Communication has been identified as an essential part of a successfully perpetuating system. In conjunction with systemic feedback processes, communication, by its very nature, plays an integral role in the way that the system operates and continues to survive. General systems theory sees communication and feedback as being understood within the context in which they appear as well as in the context of the larger system. This dissertation provides an examination of communication process within the system of a marketing research organisation. Particular attention was given to the departments within the organisation that oversee the research process as a whole. Since the organisation relies heavily on processes, systems and communication to effectively and successfully manage a research project, these aspects were examined from a systems theory perspective in order to identify areas of concern and to provide appropriate recommendations for improvement. The research design was qualitative, and data were collected by means of fourteen in-depth interviews conducted with relevant role players representing management and team members from three areas of expertise. Additional depth to the data was provided through triangulation, using conferences and observation of meetings as additional information sources. Through concept mapping and thematic analysis of the transcripts and other data, four main, interrelated themes relating to communication within the organisation emerged. These are (1) lack of vision, referring to a general and specific lack of a sense of a common goal; (2) inefficient communication processes that cause a gap between top management and other employees regarding decision making, and a lack of feedback and follow-through on expectations; (3) lack of team cohesion, creating a sense of isolation between teams, uncertainty about expectations, and a vagueness regarding roles and responsibilities; and lastly (4) skills and resource limitation, indicating a lack of training and supervision, and a lack of adherence to procedures. In order to improve communication and feedback processes, it is recommended that the organisation clearly communicates goals and objectives to employees; formalises project planning procedures; instates regular meetings that include all staff; implements sufficient and effective supervision and training; and applies a multirater evaluation and appraisal programme. / Dissertation (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

Leaders in some narcotics treatment programs struggle with change development and implementation. The objective of this single-case study was to explore strategies used by leaders in a narcotics treatment program to develop and implement organizational change initiatives successfully. Participants included 4 leaders who had developed and implemented successful change initiatives repeatedly for more than 10 years in a narcotics treatment program in the southeastern United States. Bertalanffy's general systems theory was the basis for the conceptual framework. Data collection included semistructured interviews of leaders of a narcotics treatment program and collection of archival data, such as reports relating to strategic planning, core value analysis, and risk assessments. Data analysis, using qualitative analysis software revealed 3 themes: communication, education through research, and resistance. The identified themes aligned with the conceptual framework, as the themes work together as a unit. Recommendations for action include further research for the application of social media in the treatment of patients. Leaders of narcotics treatment programs may use the findings to improve the success of social change development and implementation. Successful social change within these programs could result in the betterment of community relations and an increase in productive members of society who contribute to the economic health of the community.

Placering i familjehem är en vanlig insats när barn och unga inte bedöms kunna få sina behov tillgodosedda i sin ursprungsfamilj, de utgör i Sverige majoriteten av placeringar i samhällsvård. De barn som blir placerade i familjehem för stadigvarande vård och fostran har rätt till en stabil och trygg vård. Trots detta sker sammanbrott vilket kan försätta barnen i ytterligare en utsatt situation. Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie har varit att undersöka socialarbetares tankar om och arbete för att förebygga sammanbrott hos barn som är placerade i familjehem. Frågeställningar i studien har varit: Vilka är orsakerna till att sammanbrott sker? Vilka former av adekvat stöd minskar risken för sammanbrott?I studien genomfördes fem intervjuer med socialsekreterare i två medelstora kommuner i Stockholm. I analysen framkom tre huvudteman;  Matchning, det vill säga hur väl, samt vilka förutsättningar det finns att matcha det placerade barnet med det tilltänkta familjehemmet.  Sammanbrott och omplacering, med det menas att barnet behöver flytta till en ny placering innan att vådbehovet uppfyllts. Nätverkshem, de hem som tar emot barn som de känt sen tidigare, dessa kan vara vänner till familjen eller släktingar.  Den analyserade empirin har sedan tolkats med hjälp av systemteori och tidigare forskning. I studien framgår att den främsta orsaken till sammanbrott är en bristfällig matchning mellan barn och familjehem. Det framkom även att placering av ett barn behöver göras med ett helhetsperspektiv där matchningsprocessen innefattar rätt skolform, ett familjehem som har förstått uppdraget samt rätt stöd från socialsekreterarna. Helhetsperspektivet jämförs i studien med det systemteoretiska synsättet. I studien framgår även att socialsekreterarna på familjehemsenheten inte är huvudansvariga när det kommer till att matcha familjehem och barn utan att det snarare är handläggare på utredningsenheten samt familjehemsrekryterare i samråd med sina chefer som sköter matchningsprocessen. Utredningsenheten är den enhet där barnet och familjens behov först kartläggs. De kan även besluta om andra stödinsatser, exempelvis familjebehandling, kontaktperson etc. Vid de fall ett barn inte bedöms kunna få sina behov tillgodosedda i det egna hemmet fattas beslut om placering i jourhem alternativt familjehem. När barnet placeras i familjehem är tanken att det ska vara en långvarig placering då bedömningen är att det krävs mer jobb i familjen innan barnet kan flytta hem. Oftast är målet en hemflytt till ursprungsfamiljen, det vill säga den biologiska familjen. När barnet blir familjehemsplacerat är det socialsekreterarna (barnhandläggare och familjehemssekreterare) på familjehemsenheten som tar över ansvaret för placeringen. Det framkommer att relationen mellan, handläggare på utredningsenheten och handläggare på familjehemsenheten är kortvarig, de samverkar enbart under överlämningen av ärendet. / Placement in foster care is a common intervention when children and young people are not able to have their needs met in their biological family. Foster homes are the most frequent form of placements in community care in Sweden. Children who are placed in a foster home for permanent care and upbringing have the right to a stable and safe care. Despite this, breakdowns occur, which can put the children in another vulnerable situation. The purpose of this qualitative study has been to investigate how social workers work to prevent breakdowns in the care of children that are placed in foster homes. Questions in the study have been: What are the reasons why breakdowns occur? What forms of adequate support reduce the risk of breakdown? In the study, five interviews were conducted with social workers in two medium-sized municipalities in Stockholm. In the analysis, three main themes emerged:  Matching, namely, how well the social workers can match the child with the foster care homes.  Breakdowns and relocations, when the child has to move before the care needs are fulfilled Network homes, the foster homes that care for someone that they know, it can be the child of a friend or a relative. The analyzed empirical evidence has then been interpreted with the help of systems theory and previous research. The study shows that the main causes of breakdowns are a poor match between children and foster homes. It also emerged that placement of a child needs to be done with a holistic perspective where the matching process includes the right type of school, a foster home that understands the mission and the right support from the social workers. In the study, the holistic perspective is synonymous with general systems theory. The study also shows that the social workers in the family home unit are not primarily responsible when it comes to matching family homes and children, it is rather the investigation unit and foster home recruiters in consultation with their managers. The investigation unit is the unit that charts the families and the children's needs. They can also make decisions regarding if the family need other support efforts, such as contact persons or family treatments. If the family is assessed that the other support efforts are not sufficient, they can decide to put the family in foster care. If the foster care is assessed to take longer time the matter gets transferred to the family unit. In cases where a child is judged not to be able to have their needs met in their own home, a decision is made to place them in an emergency home or a family home. When the child is placed in a family home, the idea is that it should be a long-term placement, as the assessment is that more work is required in the family before the child can move home. Most often, the goal is a move home to the family of origin, namely the biological family. When the child is placed in a family home, it is the social workers (child caseworkers and family home secretary) at the family home unit who take over responsibility for the placement.

Denna studie avsåg att bättre förstå social isolation bland unga från perspektivet av en socialarbetare genom att svara på följande frågor: Hur arbetar socialarbetare med isolerade unga, varför blir unga isolerade och slutligen vilken konsekvens social isolation får för de som är isolerade. Studien använde sig av en kvalitativ forskningsansats för att svara på dessa frågor genom att använda sig av semistrukturerade intervjuer som analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Det empiriska materialet analyserades utifrån ett systemteoretiskt perspektiv och analys utifrån den sociala modellen. Empirin i studien kommer från sex stycken intervjuer med socialarbetare. Resultatet av studien tyder på att socialarbetare använder sig av olika verktyg för att arbeta med socialt isolerade ungdomar, samtliga tar upp relationsskapande som ett exempel. Anledningarna till att ungdomarna blir isolerade kan vara olika, gemensamma resultat var autism, depression, avsaknad av socialt sammanhang, otillräckligt stöd från föräldrar och slutligen internetanvändning. Konsekvenser för de socialt isolerade ungdomar varierar mellan ungdom till ungdom men återkommande tema var försämrad sociala färdigheter, fysisk hälsa och mental hälsa. Vår slutsats blev att social isolation är ett omfattande problem med ett flertal olika aspekter som behöver särskild hänsyn och socialarbetare arbetar ständigt med sin förståelse av situationen och utgår främst från den unge själv och i sitt arbete ändvänder de sig av relationskapande som sitt främsta verktyg. / This study sought to better understand social isolation among youths from the perspective of social workers by answering the following questions. How do social workers work with isolated youths, why do youths become isolated and finally what consequences does social isolation cause for youths. The study used a qualitative research approach to answer these questions by also using qualitative content analysis along with perspectives rooted in general systems theory and the social model. The empirical data in this study comes from six interviews with social workers along with prior research. The results of this study suggest that social workers use various tools when working with socially isolated youths, among these all six social workers mention relationship building as an example. The reasons youth socially isolate can vary, common results were autism, depression, a lack of social context, lacking support from parents and finally internet use. Personal consequences for socially isolated youths varied from youth to youth but recurring themes were weakened social skills, physical health and mental health. Our conclusion became that social isolation is a broad problem with several different aspects that need special consideration and social workers are constantly working with their understanding of the situation and proceed from the youths themselves by utilizing relationship building techniques as their primary tool.

Previous research has shown that separately and in some combinations internal and external variables (e.g., fashion consciousness, the weather), in addition to the demographic variables of the individual (e.g., gender, age), can affect dress choice. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between the variables within the Choice of Professional Dress system and businesswomen's choice of professional dress along the classic–innovative fashion continuum (e.g., whether the professional dress is considered by the dress adopter as more classic or more innovative). A model was developed for this study to illustrate the relationships between multiple variables that are proposed to influence an individual's choice of professional dress. A survey questionnaire was created to investigate businesswomen's choice of professional dress along the classic–innovative fashion continuum in regards to variables within two of the internal subsystems, the demographic subsystem, and the two external subsystems of the Choice of Professional Dress system. Data was collected via an online survey managed by a marketing research company. Participants were predominately married, Caucasian, businesswomen between 30 and 40 years old who held primarily occupations such as office and administrative support or management and financial operations. Multiple regression analyses and ANOVA were employed to test the relationships between the Choice of Professional Dress variables and businesswomen's selection of professional dress for work, as proposed in five main hypotheses. Results of the multiple regression analysis and ANOVA indicated significant relationships between businesswomen's choice of professional dress along the classic–innovative fashion continuum and demographics (i.e., age, education), as well as internal variables (i.e., fashion consciousness, professional image/role, comfort, appearance labor, availability of professional dress) and external variables (i.e., company culture, company dress policies, profession). These results contribute to academia by providing a deeper and richer understanding of businesswomen's professional dress choice as well as the placement of these choices by businesswomen on the <i>Fashion Continuum</i>. Based on the findings, academic and practical suggestions as well as recommendations for future research were provided. / Ph. D.

The aim of this study was to do group work with 10 girls staying in a shelter in order to contribute to their adjustment. Lewin's field theory and the General Systems Theory were utilized to ground the group work. The epistemological framework of the study was exploratory and involved an in depth analysis of the group experiences of the participants. Unstructured interviews were also conducted with the participants. Hermeneutics as a method of analysis was applied to analyse data. The following themes captured the experiences of the girls: trust versus mistrust, connection and disconnection, alienation and isolation, emotionally overwhelmed versus security, being labeled/stigmatized, security versus insecurity, and hope versus hopelessness. This study provides a better understanding of the life worlds of girls staying in a shelter. It could also contribute to a greater awareness of the experiences of abused girls who stay in a shelter. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

High-quality group psychotherapy training is considered more important than ever in the current mental health care environment. With the need for ongoing education and development in the field of group psychotherapy, concern has been raised regarding the lack of group psychotherapy training guidelines for trainee psychologists. Findings from numerous empirical studies show that at present, most training courses often maintain a rather unstructured format for fostering an experiential group process. The literature suggests that without standardized course objectives, students are vulnerable to harm, they are ill equipped to meet professional demands, and trainers are not provided with adequate guidelines for instruction. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to review the relevant literature in order to describe the principles of group psychotherapy as they manifest in group interaction, and to compare the subjective experiences of trainee group psychotherapists with the findings from the literature. The aim of this investigation was to generate hypotheses about the effectiveness of the use of an experiential group as a training medium, in group psychotherapy. Further objectives included exploring the merits of an experiential approach to training in group psychotherapy, and identifying factors that could potentially aid/hinder trainee development. In order to adhere to the objectives of the investigation, a qualitative, exploratory research design was used. Data for the study was gathered by means of a client-centered interview conducted with five group psychotherapy trainees who received training in a Clinical Psychology Masters program. In addition, these trainees were also required to complete a semi-structured questionnaire. The interview focused on how the trainees' subjective, affective experiences influenced their perceptions of the qualitative aspects of group life, while the questionnaire was designed to elicit information about the ways in which trainees cognitively conceptualized their understanding of group process, group dynamics and group facilitation skills. The results of the study were analysed through the qualitative method of content analysis. Results showed that, while trainees may have perceived that they gained tremendous benefits through exposure to the experiential group, an analysis of their interaction patterns highlighted certain areas which can be considered problematic. For example, it was found that trainees did not have a theoretical understanding of group process and group dynamics, and were therefore, not equipped with the necessary skills required to facilitate groups. This is further substantiated by the finding that the group facilitator had a pervasive influence on the development of the individual trainee and on the development of the group as a whole. Furthermore, results obtained raised certain concerns regarding the suitability and adequacy of using an experiential group as a tool for training, in group psychotherapy. The research findings suggest that, while the experiential group may provide the trainee with an invaluable experience, it alone is insufficient as a training method, in group psychotherapy. This study also raises questions about the ethics of such a training program in its current form. One of the major conclusions of this investigation is that there is a need for ongoing research and evaluation of the training programs. Finally, recommendations are made for improving the group psychotherapy training experience. These recommendations are based on the evaluation of the trainees' subjective experiences / Psychology / (M.A.(Clinical Psychology))

The aim of this study was to explore the role of feedback in managing resistance to organisational change. A general systems theoretical model of individual resistance to change was developed. It describes the origin, function and outcomes of individual resistance to planned organisational change. The role of feedback within this process was identified as a central one and feedback was therefore identified as an important point of leverage in managing resistance to change. The survey feedback approach was adopted in a retail organisation undergoing significant change. Staff were asked to respond to a survey on their experience of the change. Results were analysed and then fed back to them during group discussions. The process was repeated. It was concluded that the survey feedback approach significantly contributed to a reduction in resistance to change and that both survey feedback approach and the model of individual resistance to change merit further investigation. / Industrial Psychology / M.A. (Industrial Psychology)