The notion that the value of information is significantly dependent on the context of use is widely accepted in information systems research. Context is however often conceived as given and exogenous to the use activity and hence beyond the control of the user. This study takes a dynamic and holistic view of context in which the purposes, processes and effects of information use are seen as inextricable from the structural and environmental factors that mediate such use in organisations. The concept of Information Use Situation (lUS) is employed to represent this view of context. An lUS framework is developed and used as a guide to explore, describe, and interpret a number of information use situations in four organisations in the service sector. The study draws on several context studies in information systems, work motivation and self-interest theories in social psychology, and a number of philosophical propositions on the nature of information and value, in highlighting the key features of the situations studied. The findings suggest that, in general, information use situations affect the value-in-use of information in at least three ways, by acting as filters, as mediators of use behaviour and as frames of reference for evaluating informational activities. The main contribution of this thesis to information systems research is in proposing and exploring the concept of information use situation as a more holistic view of context when studying the value of information in organisation. The thesis concludes that organisations need to recognise the diversity of information use situations they feature and to appreciate that the value of information depends significantly on the nature of the situation in which it is used. This requires managers to pay as much attention to the processes by which employees experience and appropriate information as to the quality of the formal information used if they are to realise the optimum value of their information resources.

No description available.

Holistic health care recognises that body, mind and spirit operate as an integrated whole yet spirituality remains a neglected element of total health care. A co-operative inquiry group, comprising staff from two cancer care centres, met for one year to explore spirituality. The aim of the inquiry was to explore participants' own spirituality with a view to how that affected their work. The eight health care professionals involved in the co-operative inquiry brought varied religious and non- religious perspectives as well as different professional roles. A church based journey into faith group also contributed to the research. A significant outcome of the co- operative inquiry group was the development of a continuing professional education module for health care staff about spiritual care. Although spirituality is a word used increasingly today, there seems little clarity about the concept. Confusion between spirituality and religion aggravates this lack of clarity. Significant influences in the development of the post modern, western world have marginalised the spiritual to the extent that it can be argued that people have lost a cohesive voice with which to discuss spirituality. For those contributing to this research, the experience of talking about spirituality with others in a safe but challenging environment was both enlightening and encouraging. From this experience emerged a greater clarity about spirituality which influenced both personal and professional experience. Clearer understanding led to greater confidence, enabling individuals from different professions to become more effectively involved in spiritual assessment and spiritual care. Continuing professional education about spirituality, particularly involving reflection on experience, offers an opportunity to extend this work to others.

No description available.

For almost three decades 'holistic health care' has been a widely invoked term. It is called upon as an antidote to mechanistic science, as justification for the use of alternative therapies, as instruction to good practice and even as a boundary marker in establishing professional identity. In the service of these intentions it has assumed various meanings. The first aim of this study is to identify from the literature, the illusion of shared meaning that saturates this term and to expose the implications of this lack of clarity. The elusive nature of the meanings attributed to holism and the problem of determining an appropriate method of pursuing these meanings is addressed. A particular understanding of conceptual analysis and practical reasoning are defended as adequate tools. The group of ideas from which the term holism can be distinguished, individualism, dualism and reductionism, form the context of the examination of understandings of wholeness. Eight distinctions of wholeness are examined and the common conceptual feature of 'purpose' is suggested. This requires considerable justification which is provided by an exploration of the notion of 'partness'. Recourse to the seminal work of Smuts (1926) is sought and the derivation of the idea of holism from evolution theory is explored. A key understanding explored is the nature of emergent properties and their role in the holistic doctrine, 'the whole is more than the sum of the parts'. Employment of the word holism in social science, philosophy, and biology is examined and a number of fallacies about holism exposed. With a somewhat clearer understanding of holism, and a working notion of wholeness, theories of health are discussed as contenders for a philosophical basis for 'holistic health care'. While several show some congruence, it is argued that the Foundations Theory of Health can be shown to demonstrate the characteristics of work for wholeness identified in this work. The conclusion that holistic health care is in essence working creatively with incipient wholes, is explained and justified by a discussion about how a health worker might become more holistic in her practice.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 121 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-109).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., 1999. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-168).

Thesis (M.A.B.S.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 1982. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-76).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, Ill., 1999. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-168).

Thesis (M.A.B.S.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 1982. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-76).