Significant changes in demographics, including a growing ageing population and a larger number of people with disabilities, have made inclusive design an increasingly relevant notion in the design of products, services, and environments. However, there is considerable concern that the concept of inclusive design is rather limited in its current definition and applications and has not yet been thoroughly applied. This is possibly due to the conventional understanding and application of inclusive design, mainly rooted in and focused on physical aspects of inclusion, such as accessibility, usefulness, and usability. This limited focus has led various voices in design academia and industry to speak of the need for further consideration of the psychological and social aspects of inclusive design as the next step to facilitate inclusive design, and make impact. In this research, inclusivity on psychological and social levels, is referred to as "psychosocial inclusivity". The concept of psychosocial inclusivity, including a clear definition thereof and its application, is rather limited in the existing literature. Therefore, this PhD research aims to further explore this concept by establishing a clear definition and the dimensions thereof. In order to achieve this, an initial definition and dimensions of the psychosocial inclusivity in design are established through a critical review of existing literature from both social science and design perspectives. The initial definition and dimensions are then developed, refined, and evaluated through four empirical studies: the Delphi study (expert survey); field study I (ethnographic interviews with mobility scheme users); field study II (ethnographic interviews, creative workshop, and observation of older individuals); and an evaluation study (online survey of design academics and professionals). These studies have been designed based on a triangulation approach in order to enhance the reliability and validity of the outcomes. At the end of this research, the definition and dimensions for psychosocial inclusivity in design (Cognitive, Emotional, Social, and Value dimensions) are proposed. The outcomes of this research can enhance the understanding and knowledge of the concept of psychosocial inclusivity in design. Also, the definition and dimensions can be used by design academics and professionals or third parties to consider psychosocial aspects. The dimensions also can be developed as a complete set of framework or toolkit through further research.

This study aimed to explore the present state of educational administration scholarship in Turkey as perceived by the educational administration scholars working actively at universities in Ankara. In this study, qualitative research technique was employed. It was conducted in Educational Administration Programmes of Departments of Educational Sciences at the three state universities in Ankara. The participants were 8 professors, 1 associate professor and 10 assistant professors from Ankara University, Hacettepe University and Gazi University. The main data collection instrument was the semi-structured interview. The data were analyzed using content analysis technique. Based on the review of the literature and the results of the study, the findings revealed that the present state of the educational administration scholarship is in kind of a turmoil related with some concerns and problems in the field as perceived by the scholars in Ankara.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Nursing. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on November 15, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

When children face separation from their parents as a consequence of state action in the family courts, their best interests are the paramount consideration of the court and they have legal representation. Children who face separation from their mother as a consequence of sentencing proceedings in the criminal courts are neither represented nor acknowledged. The thesis analyses this differentiated treatment and explores its consequences for children, society and the state. Explanations for the differentiated treatment are tested with reference to existing literature and original empirical research. The impact on children of imprisoned mothers is investigated to determine whether or not they suffer harm. The parameters of the state duty of care towards children are explored, to see if children of defendant mothers fall outside of it, and the way sentencing judges construct and interpret their duty towards mothers and their children within the sentencing process is examined. This thesis establishes that without legal or moral justification, children of maternal defendants are treated without the concern given to children who face separation from their parents in the family courts. Children of defendant mothers suffer as a consequence of the 'secondary prisonisation', 'secondary stigmatisation' and 'confounding grief' which they experience, and the state has failed to uphold their rights under Articles 3, 12 and 20, and is in breach of its duty under Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989. The guidance and mechanisms for considering their welfare exist but are not engaged with by the sentencing courts, local authorities, legislators or policy makers. This has negative consequences for children, their caregivers and wider society. The thesis concludes with consideration of the implications of these findings for the state and suggests changes to ensure equitable treatment of children of defendant mothers in England and Wales.

Research questions: This research was focused on exploring the impact of communication technologies on rural populations in the Congo. In particular, this research posed two questions: 1. Do mobile phones produce development in rural areas of the Congo? 2. Do mobile phones improve the living conditions of people? The questions helped examine ways in which mobile phones were or were not engendering development among these populations. Methods: The research was undertaken using four methods: 1. Phenomenology, 2. Sen's capability approach, 3. Participatory method, and 4. Ecological method. Phenomenology aimed to cater to the experiences and meanings of mobile phone uses. Sen's capability approach allowed the interviews to be focused on the basic needs of the poor. Participatory method provided a greater participation of respondents in discussion groups, and ecological method helped achieve a higher inclusion of key players in the targeted area. Major findings: The major findings of this study included: 1. Much of the literature on mobile phones and development was not representative or inclusive of key players and their day-to-day lives. 2. Studies have tended to present snapshots or single-focused accounts of mobile phone and development. 3. Authors of mobile phone research have tended to see rural populations with an urban-led bias, leaving aside the actual characteristics of rural areas. 4. Mobile phones were not limited to a person and her properties, but rather mobile phones were owned and shared by the community. 5. Participants expressed a need for technical skills and means to be available to the community and their members. 6. Households were not separated, but rather they were connected to allow people take care of one another. 7. People were connected through collective solidarities in order to come to the aid of those with special needs. 8. Literature and mobile phone sponsors or companies were disseminating mobile phones with an extractive and commercial tendency, focused principally on fees of batteries, chargers, and prepaid cards. Major contributions: The major contributions of this research revolved around the focus on: 1. technology to enhance the needed technical skills among concerned populations. 2. shared ownership of mobile phones to cater to both users and non-users of mobile phones among concerned populations. 3. connected households to capitalize on the dynamics of family among concerned populations. 4. collective solidarities to accommodate the processes of aiding one another among concerned populations. 5. capabilities, from a commercial or extractive aspect to capabilities to enhance the capabilities of people to afford mobile phones fees. 6. capabilities, from a corporate or business aspect to capabilities to enhance the capabilities of people who did not and could not own a business. 7. human basic needs to enhance the capabilities of mobile phone users with regard to human basic needs. 8. outliers or the marginalized to attend to those left out among concerned populations. 9. mobile phone-centric libraries to enhance the storage and retrieval of needed information among concerned populations.

Budgetary control has been used and researched for years by both Western academics and practitioners. In China, it is re-emerging as a tool to implement management control, but might be used in different ways both in terms of understanding and operation. The research objective of this thesis is to examine the applicability of Western theories of change in management accounting in the context of budgeting in Chinese corporations. Challenges can exist because of the differences between Western assumptions and Chinese reality. The current thesis focuses on difficulties Chinese companies encounter in practical and deeper ideological ways: firstly, Western market-based ideology conflicts with an ideology which has been shaped by central-planning for decades; secondly, difficulties stem from the different cultural context of China which emphasizes hierarchical politeness, kinship ties, trust based on personal relationships, collectivism and social harmony, diligence and individual modesty, and less developed modern legal regulatory systems – these all contribute to China’s own way of doing things. This thesis also focuses on the transition process in China. Based on the assumption that budgetary changes do not happen in isolation from other management accounting changes, this thesis discusses these changes which synchronically took place while the case-study companies were implementing budgetary systems. This thesis adopts a longitudinal and in-depth qualitative case study research design, after adjustments made during the learning experience of the pilot study. It takes an interpretive and constructive philosophical underpinning, which allows the researcher to observe and understand the process of change, as well as the differences between Chinese practices and Western theories. Findings show that certain Western management accounting theories of change and Western theories of budgeting work in the case study Chinese corporations. Management accounting theories using an interpretive approach (for example, Berry et al., 1985; Scapens and Roberts, 1993; Ahrens and Chapman, 2002) lead the researcher to interpret management accounting practices from the practitioner’s points of view, and they have provided a range of terms to explain success or failure of management accounting changes. This approach together with Scapens et al.’s Institutional theory approach in management accounting have been found especially useful, in explaining the differences between Chinese vs. Western context. Furthermore, the contingency theory approach in management accounting gives a ‘platform’ which allows the researcher to assess a wide range of possible factors and their relationships with budgetary systems in studied companies. This approach is found useful in this thesis to present changes in other management accounting perspectives. Last but not least, this thesis finds existing Western literature in technical perspective of budgetary objectives, budgetary evaluation and participation, and budgetary effectiveness useful in a different context of China. By describing the change management process, an aspect which is not addressed frequently in the research literature, this thesis argues that to sufficiently understand Chinese companies’ budgetary changes, one also needs to understand unique cultural, social-economical and religious circumstances, and to adjust literature and methodology to adapt to these circumstances. This thesis provides an empirical experience concerning these issues. This thesis contributes to the understanding of management accounting change in China, and the tension which exists when Chinese companies are moving into Western management accounting practices.

This diploma thesis deals with the ethics of marketing research conducted with underage respondents. Child security is a very hot topic these days; therefore the field of market research should use only methods tolerated by parents. Global as well as local market research associations regularly publish codes of conduct and guidelines dealing with the ethics in market research. However, they define only basic rules and regulations and do not reflect the specificity of each method and technique. The goal of this diploma thesis is to identify methods used in market research that are not perceived as ethical by parents. Results should motivate research agencies to eliminate using such methods or at least modify them to decrease the level of controversy among general public. In order to identify unethically perceived market research methods, the author of the thesis conducted a quantitative research among the needed target group: parents of school kids. The survey found 5 methods that are considered ethical and thus do not pose any significant threat to the industry of market research: taste test, observation, product test, eye-tracking and communication test. Two methods were labeled as unethical by the respondents: field experiment and online discussion groups. Those methods can be used without any major changes provided that agencies communicate openly with parents all details regarding the research. They have to make sure that parents understand the methodology and are sure to let their children participate in such a project. Finally, three methods were recognized as highly unethical or even illegal: neuromarketing, netnography and geolocation (geomarketing). These methods carry a high probability of damaging the positive image of market research industry among general public. Less than one quarter of respondents consider these methods as suitable for use with kids and at the same time more than 25 % of parents think that those methods are illegal. In case of neuromarketing, it is recommended to firstly explain the used methodology in detail and, if possible, demonstrate its 100 % safety in presence of a doctor. Netnography was evaluated as highly unethical. On the other hand, it is a type of observation; therefore, its use in reality is unlikely to be registered by public. As a result, there does not have to be any severe steps taken to regulate this method. Geolocation scored as the most unethical market research method in the survey. This method is therefore not recommended for use as it carries an enormous risk of damaging the whole market research industry.

The aim of the thesis is to undertake primary and secondary market research for a well established company selling musical instruments. The theoretical part of the thesis is focused on explaining the problems of marketing research and business environment of the enterprise. The practical part of the thesis is engaged in the implementation of primary research focused on the analysis of customer´s satisfaction. In addition to primary research, practical part deals with the secondary research, which focuses on the comparison of services offered by analyzed company and its competitors.

Die Anpassung allgemeiner Managementprinzipien auf den Wissenschaftsbereich hat in den vergangenen Jahren das Berufsbild des Wissenschaftsmanagers hervor gebracht. Dieser Berufszweig versteht sich als Schnittstelle zwischen Verwaltung und Wissenschaft und muß sich wie jeder andere auch mit aktuellen technologischen Trends wie der Entwicklung von Web 2.0-Werkzeugen und deren Verbreitung in unterschiedliche gesellschaftliche Bereiche auseinandersetzen. Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt zunächst die Bedingungen, Potenziale und Grenzen des Einsatzes von Web 2.0 im Wissenschaftsmanagement als einem hierarchisch geprägten und wenig Technik affinen Bereich auf und verdeutlicht die Thesen anhand eines aktuellen Anwendungsbeispiels der Gerda Henkel Stiftung.

Mit dem Ziel, das Publizieren von Artikeln, Forschungsdaten und wissenschaftlicher Software gemäß den FAIR-Prinzipien zu unterstützen, wurde am HZDR ein integriertes Publikationsmanagement aufgebaut. Insbesondere Daten- und Softwarepublikationen erfordern die Entwicklung bedarfsgerechter organisatorischer und technischer Strukturen ergänzend zu bereits sehr gut funktionierenden Services im Publikationsmanagement. In der Zusammenarbeit mit Wissenschaftlern des HZDR und internationalen Partnern in ausgewählten Projekten wurde der Bedarf an Unterstützung im Forschungsdatenmanagement analysiert. Darauf aufbauend wurde schrittweise ein integriertes System von Infrastrukturen und Services entwickelt und bereitgestellt. In einer seit Mai 2018 gültigen Data Policy wurden die Rahmenbedingungen und Regelungen sowohl für wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter als auch für externe Messgäste definiert. Im Vortrag wird auf die Erfahrungen im integrierten Publikationsmanagement für Artikel, Forschungsdaten und Forschungssoftware eingegangen und daraus resultierend werden die nächsten Aufgaben und Ziele entwickelt.