Since the establishment of the wireless sector, design has been playing a wide range of roles. Specialized literature has been extensively reporting the use of this discipline associated with NPD, focusing on hardware and software development in the mobile communications. On the other hand, evidences of its use to support forecasting are scarce and generic. Finally, formal publications addressing future forecasting from a design perspective in the context of mobile communications have never been reported, leading to a knowledge gap that needs to be addressed. This research investigates the strategic roles, applications and contributions of design and designers for future forecasting in the wireless telecom sector. As a comprehensive discipline, it is used to examine and identify a number of factors that might influence/impact in the development of visionary solutions supporting the design team of traditional handset manufacturers to make better decisions in order to ‘shape’ the future in the wireless industry. Considering these ideas, the aim of this research is to create a ‘design-led future forecasting model for mobile communications’ to assist and support traditional manufacturers’ design team. This PhD study relies on a qualitative methodology comprising a number of data collection and analysis tools (e.g. literature review, case studies analysis, in-depth experts’ interviews, workshops and Grounded Theory). To create the intended framework, extensive secondary and primary data; theoretical and practical inputs were brought together, analysed and combined. The proposed model was evaluated through two rounds of experts’ interviews complemented by two workshops with potential users (e.g. design students) to check and explore its practicalities when applied to design for the future. Finally, this study bridges future forecasting and the wireless telecom through the use of design to address the literature gap. The richness of the developed model provides practical assistance to traditional manufacturer’s design team informing about a broad spectrum of aspects that should be considered when designing for the future in the mobile telecom industry, supporting strategic decision making in different stages of the future-led design process.

Originating in, and framed by, warfare, the term strategic management first appeared in the business literature in the 1950s (Carter et al., 2008). The term then started to gain more importance as organisations’ needs for implementing strategic changes increased significantly. Despite this importance, the concept is still considered to be under-developed, with complications arising from a wide variety of disciplines. In the early literature two major schools of thought could be identified: Porter’s economic deliberate content (Porter, 1979), and Mintzberg’s emergent process view (Mintzberg, 1979). The literature has shown that the majority of studies have mainly focused on large organisations, taking the traditional Porter’s content approach. However, relatively few cases have considered smaller organisations and/or explored cases from the contemporary process view, which is considered more realistic in today’s dynamic world, where extra flexibility and speed are paramount. This thesis builds on the work of Pettigrew (1987), who viewed strategy implementation (SI) as a process. His work is extensively analysed and some recommendations are made to strengthen his ‘Triangle Model’. These recommendations allow for the development of a primitive framework for SI. The framework provides a deeper understanding of contemporary SMEs and their surrounding contexts, and can be useful for future exploratory studies of undiscovered contexts and/or for organisations of differing sizes. The paucity of research on SI in SMEs in general, and particularly in the non-Western context (e.g. Middle East, and Gulf Cooperation Council), is the major motivation for this research adopting an interpretive, qualitative and exploratory approach. Using inductive semi-structured interviews, data have been collected on the SI process of SMEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). SMEs represent 96% of the country’s enterprises and contribute to almost one third of the national economic activity (Bokhari, 2013). Their development is a major concern of the Saudi government, which aims to reduce the dependency on the oil sector (Bokhari, 2013; Sfakianakis, 2014; McKinsey Global Institute, 2015). In addition, SMEs have the potential to contribute to reducing the accelerating unemployment rate among the ever increasing youth population (Bokhari, 2013).Theoretically, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of SI and its enablers/ barriers in the SME sector. Following the approach suggested by Stacey (1996a), Mintzberg et al. (1998), and Okumus (2001), this research provides a more holistic understanding of the SI process. It sheds light on the individual dynamics of strategy implementation, as well as the organisational and external environment perspectives. By exploring these factors over the longitudinal process of SI (including initiation, process, and outcome), this research contributes a SI framework based on Mintzberg’s (1979) and Pettigrew’s (1985a) emerging process view. In so doing, this research adds to the SI process literature at the individual level, as an epistemological tool, and does so in order to consider the dynamic nature of SMEs and the impact that non-controllable events have on their daily routines, on ontological ground (Hart, 1992). At the methodological level, evidence from multiple cases in different Saudi industries is provided, reflecting a developing country context, rather than the dominant Western views (Okumus, 2003; Van der Maas, 2008). From the empirical research, lessons are identified to inform owners of SMEs, policy makers and future research.

La recension de la littérature sur la créativité en psychothérapie renseigne principalement sur trois axes : la personne, le produit et le processus créatifs. D’abord, plusieurs modèles d’études sur la personne créative semblent s’accorder sur certaines qualités du thérapeute créatif, notamment la flexibilité, l’ouverture à l’expérience et la persistance face à une tâche. Au regard du deuxième axe, certains auteurs évoquent la relation thérapeutique comme principal produit créatif en contexte clinique et donc comme cible prioritaire à laquelle s’intéresser. Dans cette optique, le troisième axe que représente le processus créatif, fréquemment défini comme un processus de résolution de problèmes, permettrait en principe aux thérapeutes d’exercer leur propre créativité au profit de la relation thérapeutique, notamment pour résoudre des impasses relationnelles. Toutefois, peu de recherches outillent concrètement les thérapeutes quant aux moyens ou à la manière de développer et d’exercer leur créativité en ce sens. La présente étude, bien qu’elle s’intéresse aussi aux deux premiers axes, se propose d’offrir des pistes pour pallier cette lacune liée au troisième axe. Un devis qualitatif heuristique et, plus spécifiquement, l’application heuristic self-search inquiry (HSSI) ont été privilégiés afin de proposer un modèle personnel des facteurs favorables au processus de développement et de mise en pratique de la créativité relationnelle du thérapeute pour résoudre les situations d’impasses relationnelles. La question de recherche propose d’explorer comment le thérapeute peut développer et mettre en pratique sa créativité face aux impasses relationnelles de sa vie courante, tant au niveau professionnel que personnel. Les sous-questions suivantes ont permis d’approfondir les analyses : 1) Quelles caractéristiques personnelles permettent de favoriser le dénouement d’impasses relationnelles? 2) Comment se manifeste concrètement la créativité relationnelle lorsqu’une situation d’impasse survient en contexte relationnel? 3) Quels moyens peuvent être pris pour nourrir l’habileté à assumer un processus créatif de résolution de problèmes face aux impasses relationnelles? Deux instruments de cueillette de données ont été privilégiés pour cette étude, soit le journal de recherche et l’entretien d’explicitation. Puis, les données ont été soumises à une analyse en mode écriture. Deux principaux apports de la thèse se dégagent des résultats obtenus. D’abord, ils mettent en lumière des caractéristiques de l’individu créatif rarement évoquées dans la littérature, soit la capacité à nourrir l’espoir et la croyance en un potentiel créatif, tant face à soi-même qu’envers autrui. Deuxièmement, ils proposent un modèle d’application de la créativité relationnelle, incluant des pistes d’action concrètes pour favoriser le développement d’une telle créativité et y recourir en situations d’impasses relationnelles. La discussion établit des liens entre ces résultats et la documentation existante. Elle aborde également comment le modèle proposé peut servir d’appui concret aux thérapeutes, tant dans leur vie personnelle que professionnelle. Les contributions particulières de la méthode HSSI privilégiée dans la thèse, tant pour l’avancement des connaissances scientifiques que pour le développement professionnel des thérapeutes, sont également discutées. Enfin, les retombées des résultats notamment au niveau de la formation des thérapeutes, ainsi que de nouvelles avenues de recherche sur la créativité relationnelle sont abordées.

Abstract By acknowledging pain as subjective and only fully perceived by the person in pain, the main aim of this study was to report on the use of qualitative child interviewing and drawings as a research method to elicit hospitalized children’s perceptions and descriptions of their pain experience. Further, the second aim was to contribute to the improvement of pain assessment and management in hospitalized children by approaching the question from the children’s point of view through their words and drawings. Forty-four children in four paediatric units in a university hospital participated in the study. The data were collected by means of qualitative interviews and thematic drawings. The interview data were analysed using inductive content analysis. The drawings were sorted into categories on the basis of contents, and cognitive competence and emotional disturbances by the Draw-A-Person procedure, and a comparison was made of the data from hospitalized children and healthy control groups. All the children had experienced pain in different situations while hospitalized. The pain experiences came from four main sources: 1. pain caused by a diagnosed basic illness, 2. pain caused by medical and diagnostic procedures and basic nursing, 3. pain caused by accidents, and 4. inexplicable pain not caused by a particular illness or injury and imaginary pain. In describing their pain, the children emphasized the multidimensional nature of pain and used a number of self-reported pain words to describe physical and psychic pain, as well as evaluative aspects of pain. The children had difficulties in finding positive aspects about pain. The drawings of the hospitalized children frequently depicted medical procedures, whereas the drawings of the healthy controls depicted more family relations. The hospitalized children showed a lower level of cognitive capacity, whereas the healthy control group children revealed a higher level of emotional disturbance. The variety of children’s responses to pain management suggests that children try and can alleviate their pain. The children reported their expectations of professional help and valued the care and attention provided by significant others. The findings provide research-based knowledge for carrying out research with children, and for healthcare professionals in their assessment and management of children’s pain in more holistic and child-centred way. Children’s competence to describe their pain supports encouraging their involvement as social actors in pain assessment and management in partnership with health care professionals and significant others. This has to be done with respect for their rights as individuals and the desire to give them a sense of ownership of what happens during hospitalization.

When shopping for apparel, many consumers seek advice from friends and family or store personnel. In-store kiosk systems might serve as an alternative decision support system. In the present study we address the key question of how such kiosk systems are evaluated by consumers. We conducted three focus group discussions with regular apparel shoppers aged between 23 and 39 years. In sum, qualitative information from 15 participants was subject to a qualitative content analysis with the aim of gaining a more comprehensive understanding of how apparel shoppers experience the shopping process. Getting a more in-depth understanding of the needs and wishes associated with the apparel shopping process gives a basis for evaluating the potential acceptance of electronic decision support systems in apparel shopping. Although our study is exploratory in nature, we are able to draw an initial picture of how kiosk systems could be used in apparel shopping. (authors' abstract)

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common neurocognitive disorder in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Delirium is a disorder that is poorly understood, frequently unrecognized and associated with numerous adverse outcomes including longer hospital stays, significantly higher costs and increased morbidity and mortality. While there has been a great deal of research on proposed etiologies, risk factors and outcomes of delirium, few studies have explored the patient’s subjective experience of the phenomenon. Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative descriptive research was to investigate the patient experience of postoperative delirium and measure the distress associated with the experience. The Delirium Symptoms Experience Model (DSEM) provided the theoretical framework in which to understand the postoperative delirium experience. The three specific aims used to guide the investigation were: 1) Identify patient age, gender, race, type and length of surgery, past medical and surgical history, length of admission, delirium subtype (if known), and medications (including anesthetic agents) used in the perioperative period to better characterize the sample and provide context for the qualitative findings; 2) Describe the postoperative patients’ experience of being and feeling delirious; and, 3) Measure the distress associated with the recall of delirium using the Delirium Experience Questionnaire (DEQ) Methods: Ten participants ranging in age from 33-75 years (mean = 66.2 years of age) who experienced postoperative delirium were interviewed. Patients were screened for persistent delirium or cognitive impairment as assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method and the Mini-Cog™ Instruments. Results: Three organizing themes emerged from the content analysis: 1) Altered Perceptions of Reality; 2) Stuck in the Confusion; and, 3) Seeking Reality. The analysis of the quantitative measures and descriptive data demonstrated a high rate of psychological distress associated with delirium recall with 80% participants reporting it caused severe to very severe distress. The anesthetic drug propofol was the common medication prescribed in the perioperative period and given to all ten participants. Conclusion: Understanding this phenomenon from the patients’ perspective may provide a better understanding of the delirium experience and aid in the development of interventions and treatments to improve care and reduce suffering.

My own experiences of disjuncture sparked questions related to how practical nursing education is situated within the larger nursing disciplinary landscape. On acute care nursing units, work relationships are changing between RNs and LPNs as new collaborative care models are introduced, creating ambiguity and confusion with increasingly overlapping scopes of practice. Gaps remain in knowing how RNs and LPNs experience changes in these intra-professional team contexts, and how patient care, nursing work, and nursing education may be influenced by these new collaborative models. This has been the foundation for the journey towards graduate study and this dissertation work. In this dissertation I address the overarching research question: How are registered and practical nurses’ experiences of learning to work together being organized by educational and work contexts? This question consists of two sub-questions: 1) What are the experiences of pre-licensure health professional students and educators learning to work in intra-professional teams? and, 2) How are institutional texts organizing post-licensure nurses’ experiences of learning to practice on intra-professional teams? The first sub-question is addressed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) qualitative systematic review methodology to reveal what is currently known about how pre-licensure health professional students learn to work on intra-professional teams. The second question is approached using an institutional ethnographic analytic lens to explore how post-licensure nurses’ (RNs and LPNs) work is socially organized via educational, union, health authority, and regulatory texts and how this social organization impacts intra-professional relationships. Taking a plural approach to knowledge construction allows for a multi-perspectival view of RNs and LPNs experiences and the role of educational and work contexts in shaping how they learn to work together. Incorporating methodologies as diverse as a JBI systematic review and institutional ethnography raises methodological tensions. Each has its own philosophical assumptions, reflecting particular strengths and limitations in the production of knowledge. The challenges of employing a plural approach are explored alongside new knowledge and possibilities for exploring and understanding how best to care for patients and educate students within complex, collaborative environments. / Graduate / 2018-08-29

There is little doubt that social and interpersonal processes are key factors in the development and maintenance of, as well as recovery from, psychosis. Many aspects of the social world have been researched in relation to psychotic experiences and much learnt about the impact of early family life, difficulties in social cognition and the importance of social support, rejection and stigma. However, little is understood about the lived experiences of these interpersonal processes from the point of view of those with psychosis themselves. The aim of the following study was to explore how people with psychosis experience other people and make sense of their interpersonal experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two men and five women experiencing psychosis. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the verbatim transcripts, from which three master themes emerged. These were: 'Finding a place in society', 'Interpersonal mistrust' and 'Undermined by inner/outer disturbance'. These findings are discussed in relation to the literature on interpersonal processes and psychosis along with the limitations of the current study. Implications and suggestions for future research and clinical practice are also discussed.

Fertility studies using quantitative methods often present individuals or couples as autonomous decision-makers who make deliberate fertility decisions and have a fairly clear and consistent preference for family size and the timing of parenthood. This study aimed to explore the extent this view reflects experiences by examining how individuals talked about and made sense of parenthood and family. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen women and twelve men residing in Scotland between February 2009 and May 2010. Respondents were first asked to respond to vignettes of fertility scenarios, designed to elicit discussions around the limits to reproductive autonomy. Using a life grid, respondents were also asked to reflect on their experiences and intentions around the issue of parenthood and family. During the interviews, respondents spoke about the reasons for and against having children, their preferences for and expectations of family size, the timing of parenthood and communicating with their partners in relation to parenthood. Respondents' accounts were analysed reflexively, focusing on the references they drew upon when constructing their accounts and locating the interview as a setting in which these accounts were generated. Respondents' accounts highlighted the tension between the affirmation of personal choice and autonomy in principle and their subscription to a variety of powerful social norms. Respondents’ rhetorical commitment to women’s reproductive autonomy was very strongly articulated in their response to the vignettes. When accounting for their own fertility preferences and decision-making processes respondents referred to a range of social conventions and constraints limiting their choices. Parenthood was described as a normative transition in terms of being ‘natural’ and ‘expected’ in the life course. Respondents, who identified as ‘childfree’ however, presented themselves as being made accountable for making the decision to not have children. A majority of respondents expressed a clear family size preference of two, but in practice respondents qualified this by taking into consideration a variety of biological, material and social circumstances. Respondents saw parenthood as being constrained by the fulfilment of a range of common ‘preconditions’, which included the completion of education, being in secure employment, being in a stable relationship and having material and social resources for raising children; the postponement of parenthood until these preconditions were met was presented by respondents as being ‘responsible’. Further, the varying degrees of communication respondents said they had with their partners around the issue of parenthood, and the nature of that communication, suggested that fertility behaviours were rarely the outcome of explicit, conscious negotiations and joint decision-making by partners. This study demonstrated that fertility decisions are guided by social norms around parenthood and negotiated constantly in response to changing personal and social contexts. The heterogeneity of the sample enabled a rich analysis of the role of gender and age on the differential experiences and expectations expressed in respondent’s’ accounts. This study adds to the small but growing body of literature that highlights the value of applying qualitative research methods to the study of fertility, which is particularly useful in gaining a deeper understanding of fertility as a social process.

Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are a stated preference valuation method. As a ubiquitous component of healthcare delivery, risk is increasingly used as an attribute in DCEs. Risk is a complex concept that is open to misinterpretation; potentially undermining the robustness of DCEs as a valuation method. This thesis employed quantitative, qualitative and eye-tracking methods to understand if and how risk communication formats affected individuals’ choices when completing a DCE and the valuations derived. This thesis used a case study focussing on the elicitation of women’s preferences for a national breast screening programme. Breast screening was chosen because of its relevance to primary care and potential contribution to the ongoing debate about the benefits and harms of mammograms. A DCE containing three attributes (probability of detecting a cancer; risk of unnecessary follow-up; and cost of screening) was designed. Women were randomised to one of two risk communication formats: i) percentages only; or ii) icon arrays and percentages (identified from a structured review of risk communication literature in health).Traditional quantitative analysis of the discrete choices made by 1,000 women recruited via an internet panel revealed the risk communication format made no difference in terms of either preferences or the consistency of choices. However, latent class analysis indicated that women’s preferences for breast screening were highly heterogeneous; with some women acquiring large non-health benefits from screening, regardless of the risks, and others expressing complete intolerance for unnecessary follow-ups, regardless of the benefits. The think-aloud method, identified as a potential method from a systematic review of qualitative research alongside DCEs, was used to reveal more about DCE respondents’ decision-making. Nineteen face-to-face cognitive interviews identified that respondents felt more engaged with the task when risk was presented with an additional icon array. Eye-tracking methods were used to understand respondents’ choice making behaviour and attention to attributes. The method was successfully used alongside a DCE and provided valid data. The results of the eye-tracking study found attributes were visually attended to by respondents most of the time. For researchers seeking to use DCEs for eliciting individuals’ preferences for benefit-risk trade-offs, respondents were more receptive to risk communicated via an icon array suggesting this format is preferable. Policy-makers should acknowledge preference heterogeneity, and its drivers, in their appraisal of the benefits of breast screening programmes. Future research is required to test alternative risk communication formats and explore the robustness of eye-tracking and qualitative research methods alongside DCEs.