In the first chapter the author outlined the context of the study, the overview, terminology and the research aims, as well as research questions. The purpose of the study was to explore the management of change in schools of the Kavango region in Namibia. It aimed to determine the guidelines, factors that influence change, the role of the principals in managing change and strategies used to train school managers to cope with new demands and changes. The literature reviews, in Chapter 2, address the theories of change management. They further outline the role and successes of school principals in managing change. The literature revealed a lack of information-sharing and skill amongst staff members in general, and principals in particular. The description of the methodology in Chapter 3 addresses how the research questions were approached using purposeful sampling and semi-structured interviews as part of an interpretive approach. A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken from which important recurring concepts were derived. This process continued during data collection. The findings from the data analysis in terms of twelve themes (cf. 4.4) which were composed by grouping together related concepts are presented and described in Chapter 4. Findings showed that participating principals lack skills in managing change, but it appears that there is potential for improvement if they are trained to understand the management of change and leadership theories. A summary of the main findings of the study is found in Chapter 5, together with conclusions and recommendations. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are also addressed. An analysis of the study indicated that there is lack of support, monitoring and coordination of the management of change programmes at the regional level. Reference was made to leadership and management programmes such as the Education and Training Sector for Implementation Programme [ETSIP] initiated by the Ministry of Education [MoE] to assist principals. The findings suggest that programmes petered out because follow-up was limited. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

<p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Purpose</strong> - The purpose of the thesis is to record the content of the information shared by buyer to supplier in independent dyadic business relationships in the clothes manufacturing industry of Imbaba and Warrak, Great Cairo, Egypt. The objective is as well to describe how this sharing is managed in terms of communication frequency, order cycle time and information technology used.</p><p><strong>Methodology</strong> – A case study was performed on four companies in the clothes manufacturing industry of Imbaba and Warrak, Egypt. The empirical data was collected through six semi-structured interviews. The results were thereafter analyzed through a summarized framework.</p><p><strong>Findings</strong> - The content of shared information is mainly of traditional character, nevertheless do 50 % of the relationships as well include elements of additional soft information. When the information sharing is performed through regular communication do the frequency vary with an average of 0.43, once every 2.3 days. The order cycle times vary from delivery the same day as order placement to three days after order placement, with an average of 0.5 days. The information is shared through two different information technologies: face-to-face and telephone.</p><p><strong>Research implications</strong> – Imbaba and Warrak are considered one of the poorest districts in the Great Cairo region. The region has although seen great development the last 12-15 years and is today a main district for the industry of clothes manufacturing in Cairo. The role of information sharing yet appears to be poorly examined.</p><p><strong>Originality/value</strong> - Making the situation evident to the case companies will impact on their possibilities to make further improvements within the area of information sharing.</p><p><strong>Key words</strong> Information sharing, dependence, independence, dyad, content, frequency, order cycle time, information technologies.</p><p><strong>Paper type</strong> Bachelor Thesis</p><p> </p>

This thesis is about information sharing in interdisciplinary research practices. It reports one conceptual and three empirical studies. The studies have been conducted through focusing on the field of design research, and in particular on a Nordic network of design researchers. From a practice-based perspective, the exploration of the study object oscillates between three nested and interconnected frames. The main contribution of this thesis is that it illustrates how activities of information sharing not only contribute to, but actually play a central role in the shaping of the practice of design research. It is shown how information sharing works as a contributor to the development, maintenance and shaping of practices in 1) design research as it is conducted in the Nordic network; 2) in the field of design research; and 3) within interdisciplinary research. Without losing sight of the empirical material, the theoretical analysis has made it possible to illuminate the connection between activities of sharing and the enactment of a discipline. Through analysis and discussion of the four studies as a whole, the reciprocal relationship between information sharing and the area of design research is elucidated. It is shown how information sharing, as it emerges in this interdisciplinary practice, functions as a unifying force towards the probable goal of establishing a discipline. / <p>Academic dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Borås to be publicly defended on Friday 25 April 2014 at 13:00 in lecture room E310, the University of Borås Allégatan 1, Borås.</p>

The sharing of personal information among health and social service organisations is a complex issue and problematic process in present-day England. Organisations which provide services to children face enormous challenges on many fronts. Internal ways of working, evolving best practice, data protection applications, government mandates and new government agencies, rapid changes in technology, and increasing costs are but a few of the challenges with which organisations must contend in order to provide services to children while keeping in step with change. This thesis is an exploration into the process of sharing personal information in the context of public sector reforms. Because there is an increasing emphasis of multi-agency collaboration, this thesis examines the information sharing processes both within and among organisations, particularly those providing services to children. From the broad principles which comprise a socio-technical approach of information sharing, distinct critical factors for successful information sharing and best practices are identified. These critical success factors are then used to evaluate the emerging national database, ContactPoint, highlighting particular areas of concern. In addition, data protection and related issues in the information sharing process are addressed. It is argued that one of the main factors which would support effective information sharing is to add a timeline to the life of a dataset containing personal information, after which the shared information would dissolve. Therefore, this thesis introduces Dynamic Multi-Agency Collaboration (DMAC), a theoretical model of effective information sharing using a limited-life dataset. The limited life of the DMAC dataset gives more control to information providers, encouraging effective information sharing within the parameters of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Individer har en systematisk tendens att favorisera medlemmar i ens egen grupp och diskriminera de som tillhör en annan grupp, trots minimala grunder för gruppindelning. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka om social interaktion mellan individer i grupper påverkar denna särbehandlingstendens. I sådana fall, kan detta komma att yttra sig genom bland annat skillnader i kunskapsutbyte och spridning av information mellan de anställda på en arbetsplats. Grupper delades in slumpmässigt och särbehandlingen mättes via poängfördelning. Datainsamlingen skedde via både experiment (n = 41) och enkät (n = 135) samt med tre olika nivåer av social interaktion. Undersökningsdeltagarna fördelade mer poäng till sin egen grupp, än till den andra gruppen. Däremot påverkade varken grad av social interaktion eller typ av metod poängfördelningen. Vid samtliga tillfällen var det mellan en tredjedel till strax över hälften av undersökningsdeltagarna som särbehandlade. Slutsatsen är att även vid en slumpmässig gruppindelning så kommer en särbehandlingstendens att ske.

This research study is qualitative exploratory in nature, trying to gain insight into integrated communication at Eskom. The study presents the methodology of the investigation, the analysis of the data, the findings as well as the conclusion and recommendations. Data collection techniques include an online self-administered questionnaire, structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and content analysis of the organisations’ publications. The population selected consists of Eskom communication managers and professionals, human resources personnel and project managers to establish the extent to which integrated communication is practised within Eskom. Finally, the research findings are discussed and further recommendations proposed. The findings show that Eskom communication is predominantly top-down with the divisions still working in silos. Furthermore, a measuring instrument developed to evaluate the extent of integrated communication as proposed by Du Plessis and Scoonraad in Barker and Angelopulo (2006) were found to be applicable to the Eskom situation. / Communication Science / M.A. (Specialisation in Organisational Communication Research and Practice)

Cette recherche porte sur l’étude de l’impact du partage de plusieurs informations simultanément dans différentes configurations de chaînes logistiques. Celui-ci s’exprime en termes de réduction du coût logistique par rapport au scénario de non partage d’informations et est évalué au niveau de la chaîne logistique dans sa globalité, mais également au niveau de chaque coût élémentaire de chaque maillon. Le choix des informations partagées est basé sur leur importance dans la gestion de la chaîne logistique ainsi que sur leur provenance (amont et aval) pour permettre d’instaurer des mécanismes d’échange et de négociation entre les différents maillons. Notre approche est développée dans le cadre d’une chaîne logistique série mono-produit composée d’un fournisseur, d’un entrepôt, d’un détaillant et de clients. Nous avons développé un modèle mathématique permettant l’évaluation des gains de ce partage d’informations dans le cadre d’une décision décentralisée. Ce premier modèle nous a permis d’étudier les impacts du partage de ces informations dans des circonstances proches de la réalité suite à l’injection de perturbations même dans le cas de partage. L’étude expérimentale réalisée a permis de mettre en évidence la nécessité de mettre en place des mécanismes incitatifs de coopération entre les différents maillons de la chaîne logistique lorsque les gains ne bénéficient de manière quasi exclusive qu’à un seul des maillons ou s’avèrent particulièrement déséquilibrés, mécanismes visant à aboutir à des équilibres gagnant-gagnant entre les participants. Nous avons ensuite considéré le cas d’une décision décentralisée avec partage de deux informations simultanément. Cette partie de notre travail est réalisée sur une chaîne logistique divergente mono-produit intégrant plusieurs détaillants. L’affectation par l’entrepôt des produits aux détaillants est réalisée au prorata des commandes détaillants. Nous avons proposé de mettre en place des mécanismes de coopération nécessaires pour garantir un gain équilibré entre les différents maillons dans les différents scénarios de partage. Nous avons considéré par la suite une décision centralisée au niveau de l’entrepôt avec une affectation de produits minimisant le coût logistique de toute la chaîne. Pour terminer, notre approche a été étendue à l’étude de la répartition des gains entre détaillants dans différentes configurations de demande et ce dans les différents scenarii étudiés. Ceci nous a permis d’identifier les bénéficiaires de ce partage d’informations dans différents contextes. Nous avons conclu par le fait qu’une décision décentralisée avec partage d’informations est proche en termes de performance de celle obtenue dans un contexte centralisé et préconisé de poursuivre cette étude comparative en prenant en compte l’ensemble des coûts et bénéfices de ces deux modes de pilotage / We study the impact of sharing several informations simultaneously in different configurations of supply chains. The valuation is expressed in terms of logistics costs reduction compared to the scenario of non-information sharing. We have evaluated the gain in the overall supply chain, but also at each elementary cost of a particular link. The choice of the shared information is based on their importance in the supply chain management as well as their source (upstream and downstream) in order to establish different exchange mechanisms and negotiation between various links. We have studied the sharing of one, two and three informations simultaneously. Our approach is developed in the context of a mono-product serial supply chain consisting of one supplier, one warehouse, one retailer and customers. We have developed a mathematical model in order to evaluate the gains provided by the sharing of different kinds of information in the context of decentralized decision. In this model, we have injected a perturbation in the shared information in order to be more realistic. This experimental study has highlighted the necessity to establish incentive cooperation mechanisms between the various links in the supply chain, if the gains are benefic exclusively to only one of the links or are particularly unbalanced. These mechanisms are intended in order to lead to a win-win balance between participants. In the second part of our work, we have considered the case of a decentralized decision with sharing simultaneously two pieces of information. This part is carried out in the context of a mono-product and a divergent supply chain integrating several retailers. The quantities allocation from the warehouse to retailers is made in a prorata assignment policy based on retailers’ orders. We have noted that the sharing in its various forms has led to significant reduction cost for the overall supply chain. We have considered later the case of a centralized decision at the warehouse with an assignment of products in order to minimize the supply chain cost. Finally, our approach has been extended to the study of the distribution of gains between retailers for different customer demand configurations. This has allowed us to identify the beneficiaries of this information sharing in different studied contexts. The obtained gains are rarely balanced between links; this resulted in imposing the establishment of cooperative mechanisms incentive for sharing. We have concluded by the fact that a decentralized decision with information sharing is close in performance to a centralized context and we plan to continue this comparative study by taking into account all costs and benefits of these two pilot modes.

As colônias de saúvas e o ambiente em que vivem são sistemas de dinâmica independente, variável e, ainda assim, interativos. Nesse sentido, frente às demandas flexíveis do ambiente, as tarefas que uma colônia deve executar devem ser acompanhadas da flexibilidade comportamental necessária. Para isso, a transmissão de informação, seja para forragear ou explorar novas áreas, deve ocorrer. Dentro deste contexto, o trabalho investigou em formigas do gênero Atta sexdens rubropilosa, o comportamento em um labirinto em Y. Foi observado um conjunto de comportamentos em duas condições experimentais: (1) com o corredor de acesso anterior à bifurcação do labirinto em Y marcado com feromônio e (2) corredor de acesso anterior à bifurcação do labirinto em Y não marcado com feromônio. Em ambos os casos um dos braços sempre estava marcado por feromônio e levava para a bandeja com folhas e outro não estava marcado e levava para uma bandeja sem folhas. Foi medido o fluxo em cada lado do braço após o Y, o número de formigas que permaneciam nas bandejas, o número de encontros de cabeça entre as formigas e o momento em que houve o primeiro transporte de folha. Observou-se o efeito no fluxo de formigas no labirinto entre as condições (1) e (2), e escolha do braço com e sem feromônio. Em uma ANOVA, comparando a permanência dos indivíduos antes e depois do primeiro transporte de folha encontrou-se efeito no braço (com x sem feromônio), e de interação entre lado (com x sem feromônio) e momento (antes x depois do transporte da primeira folha), e no número de encontros das formigas. Foi possível observar que: (1) as formigas que se engajaram na atividade de exploração do trecho limpo do corredor de acesso à bifurcação não alteraram a composição comportamental das formigas que passaram por ele, reforçando que o limiar exploratório naquela condição, de todas as formigas, parece não diferir; (2) a dinâmica de transmissão de informação nas áreas com e sem feromônio foram distintas e ocorreram de forma dinâmica. O transporte da primeira folha (3) atuou como um sinalizador da atividade que deveria ser priorizada naquele momento e a partir dele, havendo um maior fluxo, permanência e engajamento na atividade de forrageamento. Isso parece reforçar a concepção que mais que apenas entender como as formigas agem coletivamente na solução de um problema, é necessário compreender como coletivamente elas estabelecem os mecanismos de seleção de tarefas em condições que há tarefas concorrentes / The leaf-cutter ants colony and the enviromento in which they live are dinamically independent systems, variable and interactive. In this sense, opposite the flexible demands of the environment, the tasks a colony must perform could be accompanied by required behavioral flexibility. For this, the information transmission, whether to forager or explorer new area, it should occur. Within this context, this research investigated in leaf-cutter ants of the genus Atta, the behavior in a Y maze. The behavior was observed in two experimental conditions: (1) the previous access marked with pheromone to the bifurcation in the Y maze. (2) the previous access to the bifurcation in the Y maze without pheromone. In both cases one branch was always marked by pheromone and it led to the leaves box and other branch was unmarked and it led for a box without leaves. The flow was measured on each branch after the Y maze, the number of ants that remained in the trays was counted, the number of head-on encounter was counted and the moment the first leaf was transport. The effect on the ants flow was observed among the conditions (1) and (2). And the choose the branch without or with pheromone was encountered effect. In an ANOVA comparing the individuals permanence before and after the first leaf transported was observed effect on the arm (with X without pheromone), and interaction among branch side (with X without pheromone) and time (before X after the first leaf transported), and the number of head-on encounters. It was observed: (1) the ants engaged in exploration activity clean stretch of the previous acess to the bifurcation did not alter the behavioral composition of the others that passed there. It reinforcing the exploratory threshold in that condition, to all ants does not seem to differ; (2) the dynamics of information transmission in areas with and without pheromone were distinct and occurred dynamically. The first leaf transported (3) served as a marker of activity that should be prioritized at the moment and from there, with a greater flow permanence and engagement in foraging activity. This seems to reinforce the concept that more than just understanding how ants act collectively to solve a problem, it is necessary to understand how collectively they establish mechanisms for task selection in conditions that no competing tasks

Our cities have been continually growing at an uncontrolled rate leading to the problem of trafficcongestion, which has discernable effects on all the aspects of sustainability, be it social,environmental or economical. This continual shift of increasing size of centre and decreasingsize of periphery poses huge sustainability challenge of meeting the consumption demands. Wepresently face the most unprecedented times in terms of the pace at which our natural resourcesare getting consumed. It is clear that replenishing some of these resources is totally out ofquestion. On the other side of the coin, the advances of human technology have provided itsgreatest gift of information &amp; communication technology (ICT). Today we have access to datafrom any point of the world to anywhere. There is a growing need to use this data andinformation with a holistic view to build more Intelligent Transport Systems. In our paper wediscuss how the advent of ICT can have an impact on bringing a sustainable transportationsystem. The work is divided in two folds, by first understanding the direct role of ICT intransport sustainability and then observing the direct correlation between usage of ICT andtravel demand. The problems of traffic congestion and its solutions like congestion pricing haveexisted in practice since ages; the perspective which we add to it is the role of ICT in making itbetter. The greater perspective that is being researched here is at an absolute fundamental leveland takes us to the question if and how ICT can work on root level challenges, like findingmethods to have a better traceability without compromising on privacy, changing driverbehaviour patterns and stopping the expansion of centre &amp; contraction of periphery.

<p>The current information society is collecting information about individual needs, wants and desires continuously with the help of new technologies. Information systems, such as consumer relationship management (CRM) have a crucial importance when providing personalized services to the customers. This is done by gathering, storing, maintaining and distributing important consumer knowledge throughout the organization. (Chen & Popovich, 2003) However as previous studies have shown, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about threats to their personal privacy when new technologies are integrated into the society (e.g. Cranor et al, 1999; Kervenoael et al, 2007). As these emerging issues are becoming more common in the consumers’ daily lives, it is of great importance to discover their perceptions about it. Hence, the purpose of this study is to examine the consumers’ perception about their privacy and how they affiliate with their personal information being processed in various organizations.</p><p>The theoretical framework suggests that several factors affects the consumers comfort in sharing personal information to companies, such as the physical environment of the organization, which type of information that is shared, what organization that stores and uses the information, the psychological distance the actors have to each other and how much control the consumers have over the use of their personal information. A selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The results showed that the majority of the respondents were concerned about the information that is gathered about them, which further emphasises the importance of this study. It was evident that the respondents were more willing to provide demographic and lifestyle information, rather than financial and purchase related information. The results also showed a variation depending on which organization that is considered. The various organizations were categorized into four different groups; Intimate distance, personal distance, social distance and public distance, depending on the respondents’ perceived comfort in sharing their personal information with them.</p><p>Some significant differences were observed between the various demographic groups as well. One of the findings indicates that men appear to be more comfortable in sharing their personal information to certain companies in comparison to women, due to a higher intellectual risk-propensity. It is argued that the consumers concern for privacy is an important issue to consider for companies. In order to maintain a strong relationship with their customers it should be integrated as an essential part of their CRM-strategies to make their information gathering techniques more efficient.</p>