The emerging knowledge economy necessitates rapid skills development, to ensure that organisations sustain a competitive edge. Rapid skills acquisition would enable organisations, whether public or private sector, to take advantage of new emerging opportunities and improve performance by ensuring that their employees are well equipped with relevant skills. The South African labour market has, however, been engulfed by both a skills shortage and a brain drain, which has worsened performance in the public sector – as is evident from the widespread public protests. In this study, the researcher conducted an explorative investigation to gain an in-depth understanding of factors that could influence e-Learning diffusion as an innovative way of facilitating rapid skills acquisition. In order to conduct this investigation, the researcher employed qualitative techniques in the form of a case study, using grounded theory analysis techniques. Grounded theory analysis results enabled the researcher to formulate propositions. Furthermore, these propositions were used to formulate important factors and questionnaire items that were used to test proposed findings, using a survey research design. Findings revealed that the public sector, as with society at large, is adopting sociallyorientated computing practices, to open up social platform integration into the employee learning experience. Findings reveal that social platform integration would be fruitful, if the entire instructional design was based on social constructivist, epistemological principles, with the appropriate social technology. / Thesis(PhD (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The emerging knowledge economy necessitates rapid skills development, to ensure that organisations sustain a competitive edge. Rapid skills acquisition would enable organisations, whether public or private sector, to take advantage of new emerging opportunities and improve performance by ensuring that their employees are well equipped with relevant skills. The South African labour market has, however, been engulfed by both a skills shortage and a brain drain, which has worsened performance in the public sector – as is evident from the widespread public protests. In this study, the researcher conducted an explorative investigation to gain an in-depth understanding of factors that could influence e-Learning diffusion as an innovative way of facilitating rapid skills acquisition. In order to conduct this investigation, the researcher employed qualitative techniques in the form of a case study, using grounded theory analysis techniques. Grounded theory analysis results enabled the researcher to formulate propositions. Furthermore, these propositions were used to formulate important factors and questionnaire items that were used to test proposed findings, using a survey research design. Findings revealed that the public sector, as with society at large, is adopting sociallyorientated computing practices, to open up social platform integration into the employee learning experience. Findings reveal that social platform integration would be fruitful, if the entire instructional design was based on social constructivist, epistemological principles, with the appropriate social technology. / Thesis(PhD (Computer Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The continued growth of service industries and the development of the experience economy has highlighted the need for employees to have extensive social and interpersonal skills. The need for employee interpersonal skills is further emphasised by the extensive interaction between employees and customers, during the provision of customer service, in full service hotels. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the customer service environment, management expect that a consistent level of service will be maintained, while customers desire a unique experience that meets or exceeds their individual expectations. To ensure that both the needs of the organisation and customers are consistently met, management control of employee actions and behaviours is required.The aim of this study was to identify how hotel organisations and managers control employee interpersonal interactions with customers. The research also sought to identify the interpersonal and emotional capabilities employers require from employees to meet the needs of customers and present the desired corporate image. A qualitative, case study, research methodology was applied to understand the expectations of managers, the issues concerning managing employee interactions with customers, perceptions of employee capabilities, and beliefs about current management control strategies in a hotel environment. The research was conducted at four hotel properties belonging to one international hotel group. The data gathering methods included semi-structured interviews, documentation review and field notes.The research concluded that effective alignment of employee and management goal congruence first requires the alignment of managers' goals to the organisation. To ensure management's expectations, customers' expectations and employee actions and behaviours are aligned, management must also have a sound understanding of the organisation's brand and desired image. Cultural and social control mechanisms were found to be important, as they provided a consistent method of aligning employees' behaviour with the goals and expectations of management. The development of social cohesion and norms, through serial and investiture socialisation mechanisms, also helped to create self-managing teams that reinforced the goals of management. The study suggests that, due to the increasing diversity of the stakeholders' views and goals, some of the traditional management perspectives of hospitality may need to change to meet the needs of contemporary employees.

Bibliography: leaves 272-280. / xi, 280 leaves : col. ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Computer Science, 2000

The continued growth of service industries and the development of the experience economy has highlighted the need for employees to have extensive social and interpersonal skills. The need for employee interpersonal skills is further emphasised by the extensive interaction between employees and customers, during the provision of customer service, in full service hotels. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the customer service environment, management expect that a consistent level of service will be maintained, while customers desire a unique experience that meets or exceeds their individual expectations. To ensure that both the needs of the organisation and customers are consistently met, management control of employee actions and behaviours is required.The aim of this study was to identify how hotel organisations and managers control employee interpersonal interactions with customers. The research also sought to identify the interpersonal and emotional capabilities employers require from employees to meet the needs of customers and present the desired corporate image. A qualitative, case study, research methodology was applied to understand the expectations of managers, the issues concerning managing employee interactions with customers, perceptions of employee capabilities, and beliefs about current management control strategies in a hotel environment. The research was conducted at four hotel properties belonging to one international hotel group. The data gathering methods included semi-structured interviews, documentation review and field notes.The research concluded that effective alignment of employee and management goal congruence first requires the alignment of managers' goals to the organisation. To ensure management's expectations, customers' expectations and employee actions and behaviours are aligned, management must also have a sound understanding of the organisation's brand and desired image. Cultural and social control mechanisms were found to be important, as they provided a consistent method of aligning employees' behaviour with the goals and expectations of management. The development of social cohesion and norms, through serial and investiture socialisation mechanisms, also helped to create self-managing teams that reinforced the goals of management. The study suggests that, due to the increasing diversity of the stakeholders' views and goals, some of the traditional management perspectives of hospitality may need to change to meet the needs of contemporary employees.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Computer Science, 2000. / Bibliography: leaves 272-280.

Modern data intensive applications, such as multimedia systems require the ability to store and manipulate complex data. The classical Database Management Systems (DBMS), such as relational databases, cannot support these types of applications efficiently. This dissertation presents the salient features of Object Database Management Systems (ODBMS) and Persistent Programming Languages (PPL), which have been developed to address the data management needs of these difficult applications. An 'impedance mismatch' problem occurs in the traditional DBMS because the data and computational aspects of the application are implemented using two different systems, that of query and programming language. PPL's provide facilities to cater for both persistent and transient data within the same language, hence avoiding the impedance mismatch problem. This dissertation presents a method of implementing a PPL by extending the language C++ with pre-compiled classes. The classes are first developed and then used to implement object persistence in two simple applications. / Computing / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

Bakgrund: Lagbollsport i idrottsundervisningen har kritiserats för att likna föreningslivets resultatorienterade sätt att bedriva den. Något jag märkte när jag gjorde min idrottslärarpraktik var att många elever inte blev delaktiga under lektionerna då lagbollsport utövades. Kan man som idrottslärare genom att påverka motivationsklimatet få flertalet elever att uppleva mer glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära nytt i lagbollsport? Syfte: Syftet med fältexperimentet är att skapa två olika motivationsklimat, processorienterat/resultatorienterat, samt utföra dem under fyra idrottslektioner i fotboll. Detta för att kunna påvisa eventuella för- och nackdelar mellan de båda motivationsklimaten genom resultaten från elevers upplevelser i glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära nya saker. Metod: I studien användes en kvantitativ metod i form av enkäter. Totalt deltog 45 årskurs 7 elever från en skola i södra Värmland. Resultat: Resultaten visade att eleverna upplevde båda experimentsituationerna/lektionerna processorienterade och inga större skillnader kunde mätas gällande glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära sig något nytt. Totalt sett så upplevde båda könen ett starkare samband mot samtliga bakgrundsvariabler (glädje, delaktighet, variation, tid att lära nytt) i ett upplevt processorienterat motivationsklimat jämfört med ett upplevt resultatorienterat. Vid könsjämförelser hittar man starka samband att speciellt flickor som upplevt motivationsklimatet resultatorienterat kände mindre glädje, delaktighet, variation och tid att lära sig nya saker jämfört med pojkar. Diskussion: Idrottslektioner är olikt föreningsidrotten i stort då flickor och pojkar idrottar tillsammans, detta är en viktig del av utbildningen i det sociala och livslånga färdigheter av sammarbete samt fysisk aktivitet. Då ett processorienterat motivationsklimat tyder på effektivare inlärningsstrategier samt tron på idrott och hälsa är till för att utveckla sociala och livslånga färdigheter borde varje idrottslärare vara medveten om vad som händer med en grupp om man påverkar motivationsklimatet process- eller resultatorienterat. / Background: Team ball games in physical education have been criticized for resembling association’s ego-oriented way of conducting it. Something I noticed when I did my PE internship was that many students were not involved in class when team ball game was exercised. Can you as a PE teacher by influencing the motivational climate get most of the students to experience more enjoyment, participation, variety and time to learn new things in team ball games? Aim: The aim of the field experiment is to create two different motivational climates, task-oriented / ego-oriented, and conduct them to four PE lessons in football (European).This to demonstrate any advantages or disadvantages between the two motivational climates by using the results of students' experiences in enjoyment, participation, variety and time to learn new things. Method: The study used a quantitative method in the form of questionnaires. A total of 45 grade 7 students participated in the study.  Result: The results showed that students experienced both experimental situations task-oriented and no major differences were noticed regarding to enjoyment, participation, variety and time to learn new things. Overall, both genders correlated stronger against all background variables (enjoyment, participation, variety, time to learn new things) in an experienced task-oriented motivational climate compared to an experienced ego-oriented. In gender comparison you can find strong correlations that especially girls who have experienced the motivational climate ego-oriented felt less enjoyment, participation, variety and time to learn new things compared to boys. Discussion: PE lessons are different compared to association’s sports in overall when it includes girls and boys playing sports together. This is an important part of education in social and life-long skills of cooperation and physical activity. As a task-orientated motivational climate proves to be more effective in learning strategies and the belief that physical education is to develop social and life-long skills every PE teacher should be aware of  the consequences both motivational climates (task-orientate/ego-orientated) influences a group.

The purpose of this essay is to examine how peace journalism was expressed in Swedish newspapers´ reporting on the war in Georgia 2008. We did this by analyzing whether the reporting was elite- or people-orientated depending on how suffering was expressed and how the war players were described. The method we used was Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). It was applied on news articles from four Swedish newspapers that covered three different happenings in the war in Georgia. We found out that the reporting was mainly elite-orientated, both when it comes to how suffering was expressed, as well as how the war players were described. The newspapers tended to focus on only one party’s suffering and one party as evil-doer, which is elite-orientated reporting and also an indication of war journalism rather than peace journalism.

Modern data intensive applications, such as multimedia systems require the ability to store and manipulate complex data. The classical Database Management Systems (DBMS), such as relational databases, cannot support these types of applications efficiently. This dissertation presents the salient features of Object Database Management Systems (ODBMS) and Persistent Programming Languages (PPL), which have been developed to address the data management needs of these difficult applications. An 'impedance mismatch' problem occurs in the traditional DBMS because the data and computational aspects of the application are implemented using two different systems, that of query and programming language. PPL's provide facilities to cater for both persistent and transient data within the same language, hence avoiding the impedance mismatch problem. This dissertation presents a method of implementing a PPL by extending the language C++ with pre-compiled classes. The classes are first developed and then used to implement object persistence in two simple applications. / Computing / M. Sc. (Information Systems)