Les hauts de falaises littorales peuvent être considérés comme des systèmes socio-écologiques dans lesquels cohabitent des habitats rares (landes littorales et végétations de hauts de falaises) et de multiples usages récréatifs (tourisme, pêche, randonnée). Ces usages ont entraîné, depuis plus d’une cinquantaine d’années, des dégradations importantes sur les habitats de certains hauts de falaises. En réponse à ces dégradations, de nombreuses opérations de restauration ont été menées depuis près de 30 ans. L’objectif de cette thèse est de réaliser un bilan de ces opérations afin de développer les connaissances de ces systèmes pour optimiser les opérations de restauration futures. Pour cela, l’étude se base principalement sur 23 entretiens semi-directifs et deux ateliers menés avec des acteurs de la restauration, 465 suivis de végétation répartie sur 18 sites le long du littoral breton et un échantillonnage d’arthropodes réalisé sur trois sites d’études. À partir de ces données, des études sociologiques, méthodologiques, des successions végétales et des communautés végétales et d’arthropodes ont été menées afin de proposer un certain nombre de préconisations pour des opérations futures. Ce travail fait ressortir le besoin d’une meilleure réflexion sur les objectifs de restauration lors de la planification, en particulier concernant les objectifs sociaux. L’étude des dynamiques de restauration a quant à elle montré que la restauration passive, bien que lente, est efficace sur le long terme lorsque l’habitat n’est pas trop dégradé. En revanche, en milieu fortement dégradé, l’usage de méthodes actives semble nécessaire afin d’enclencher la restauration. Des études complémentaires sont nécessaires pour adapter les méthodes de restauration aux différents contextes des sites à restaurer. / Maritime clifftops might be considered as social-ecological systems where rare habitats (maritime heathland and clifftop vegetation) and multiples recreational uses (tourism, fishing, hiking) are coexisting. For more than fifty years, these uses are leading to important maritime clifftop habitat degradations. In reaction to these degradations, many restoration projects have been conducted for nearly 30 years. The thesis purpose is to carry out an assessment of restoration projects in order to improve future restoration projects by increasing knowledge about those social-ecological systems. This study is mostly based on 23 semi-structured interviews and 2 workshops conducted with restoration stakeholders, 465 vegetation monitoring plots set on 18 restored sites along Brittany’s coast and arthropods sampling conducted on three different sites.From these data, sociological, methodological, plant succession, arthropods and plant communities’ studies have been performed in order to put forward recommendations for future restoration projects planning and to highlight scientific needs. The need for a better consideration of restoration goals, in particular social goals, has been pointed out. Succession study has shown that, when habitat degradation is not too heavy, passive restoration is slow, but efficient on the long term. In highly degraded habitat thought, active restoration seems required to start restoration process. Complementary studies are still needed to adapt restoration method choice to different degradation and site contexts.

This research aims to add some understanding to the existing stakeholder management literature with a focus on the management of stakeholder communication. It explores how the Web can assist the management of the communication between a dairy co-operative and its farmer supplier-shareholders. An exploratory case study and semi-structured in-depth interview research design is used to collect, analyse, and present the perceptions of interview participants. This research highlights a paradox, which results from the inconsistent needs of the farmers as both suppliers and shareholders of the co-operative. A number of factors that have influenced farmer interviewees' decisions to either reject or embrace the Web are also identified. These factors are divided into two categories, those closely associated with individual characteristics, namely, perceived values, perceived self-efficacy, and awareness; and these outside the individual's control, namely, infrastructure and media conflict. These findings suggest that the Web adds flexibility to organisations' stakeholder communication strategies by offering an additional communication form. In particular, this research shows that the Web contributes to overall management of stakeholder communication through 1) increased accessibility to personalised and up-to-date information, 2) added flexibility to self-service programs, and 3) a recreated sense of 'conventional' community. Furthermore, the Web should be used as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, conventional communication forms in stakeholder communication strategies. Although the Web may not be the answer for all stakeholder communication challenges; what seems undeniable is the tremendous potential of the Web in facilitating and leveraging the management of stakeholder communication. Three considerations are proposed for organisations planning to include the Web as part of their stakeholder communication strategy: organisational needs, stakeholder characteristics, and communication media factors. Research limitations are discussed, and recommendations for further study are outlined in the conclusion.

The research question that forms the body of this thesis is: ‘What methods, skills and processes does the participatory development practitioner require for effective practice?’The intention behind this research topic has been to identify how to create socially relevant spaces within todays contemporary conditions of society. This is a reflection of an understanding of myself as someone within the ‘idealist’ stream of endeavour as defined by Charles Jencks in ‘Modern Movements in Architecture.’As I have a design background, I chose a design methodology to undertake the study. The methodology is documented by Donald Schön in the book ‘The Reflective Practitioner’ and is, in a general sense, also the methodology David Kolb documented in ‘Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development’. An element of this learning approach is for a designer to create a useful artefact that can be considered and evaluated, thus the thesis also comprises the DVD: ‘Outside the Gates, Development Processes for the Real World’.In writing the thesis I became aware that this learning process has been, and still is, central to development itself within our culture of generative change. I first arrived at this intuitively while building the DVD, but it became more explicit during the DVD evaluation. The thesis thus commences with a description and rationale for the methodology.After describing the methodology I devote three chapters to providing the background to both the form and content of the DVD. This draws almost exclusively from personal experience, though with references to architectural history, theory and practice. This includes observations on the theme of technological development, generative change and one of the real needs for our physical and psychological well being - shelter. Thus the DVD sits at a mid point in the thesis. Following the creation of the DVD, I have in accordance with the methodology evaluated its content. To do this I used a literature review generally based on Grounded Theory practice. There are four sections in the DVD, with a chapter dedicated to each of these sections.The thesis concludes with a chapter that fits in the final part of Kolb’s learning cycle, abstract conceptualisation, that considers the meaning of the findings. Ultimately there is an epilogue that outlines the next ‘concrete output’, a recently completed project based on the learnings from the thesis. This is a community engagement training course for project managers.[To view the content of the DVD: Outside the gates go to http://www.martinbutcher.com/Site/OtG.html]

With the first commitment of the Kyoto Protocol commencing in 2008, many signatory governments have identified bio fuels as a favoured response to the problem of fulfilling their countries' pledges to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. Despite the tendency for pressure over climate change to expedite the commercialisation process, detailed evaluation of the claimed benefits, likely efficacy or environmental impact of bio fuels in New Zealand in the form of the Bio fuels Sales Obligation policy (BSO): a mandate place on the Oil Companies to supply a percentage of bio fuel. Systems thinking propound the notion of complex interrelatedness: a pivotal concept in our current understanding of the cumulative effects of greenhouse gas emissions and their relationship to climate change. It also recognizes that the multiple ways in which different stakeholders perceive a contentious question are an integral feature of any problematical situation. By applying systems concepts to qualitative research, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is therefore particularly suitable for the analysis of multiple stakeholder discourse in this situation. The present study employs SSM to examine stakeholder opinion through the construction of conceptual models in the form of rich pictures and root definitions. The researcher invited diverse stakeholders to ‘see what they were thinking’ and reflect upon the beliefs and assumptions that informed their views with respect to New Zealand bio fuels development. With reference to official documentation arising from the policy development process and through a series of interviews and a focus group, the research examines perceptions of the consultation process on bio fuels development and its contribution to informed decision-making. The study data indicates that the scope of enquiry tended to be restricted by early presuppositions regarding the consultation process and its desired outcomes, which consequently shifted the focus of consultation the enquiry from an assessment of the desirability of bio fuels to an appraisal of the feasibility of government policy. However inadvertently, communication was distorted. The research examines the basic assumptions that shaped the discourse and enabled already established opinions to prevail. Furthermore, the thesis explores how using SSM to surface tacit assumptions and challenge proposed models of intervention can help improve the reflexivity of discourse and decision-making. By ensuring open communication remains at the centre of discourse, SSM could provide a means of establishing productive conditions for learning and co-creative dialogue. Consequently the study has important implications for how the ‘health’ of public discourse in New Zealand might be sustained when addressing other similarly complex issues.

In Australia, the development and implementation of National Training Packages has been a major tool in the drive to reform of the vocational education and training system. The main aim of the reform is to establish a national vocational and education system within a federal political system and to make vocational educations and training providers more responsive to the needs of industry, by industry specifying its skill needs through the mechanism of national Training Packages. The background to this workplace project, the Review of the Community Services Training Package, and this study, is established by a review of policy and literature in relation to national training reform issues and stakeholder management within a public policy context. This review established some principles of good practice in relation to stakeholder management. The industry context of the workplace project is discussed. The workplace project is then unpacked in some detail with specific reference to stakeholder management strategies and issues and some specific stakeholder groups. This exegesis goes on to explore stakeholder behaviour in this particular workplace project in its historical context of the introduction of Training Packages to the vocational education and training system. It explores the perspectives of teachers and industry on the implementation of Training Packages and in particular the gap between educational technologies and industry expectations of standards of work performance. The exegesis concludes with some suggestions of opportunities for enhanced workplace practice in stakeholder management and for further research. It also suggests a job of work for industry and teachers to develop new communities of practice around Training Packages as a means of bringing together their sometimes divergent interests.

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No description available.

<p>In today’s business world it is not just about doing business anymore, the need increases for organisations to take intangible resources, like the corporate reputation, into consideration. These corporate reputations have a multitude of positive functions for organisations. However, in times of crises these assets are most fragile and get damaged easily. This study therefore discusses how organisation can restore their corporate reputations after experiencing a crisis.</p><p>For the collection of empirical data three internationally operating organisations have been chosen, each having experienced a non-self-inflicted crisis over the last three years. With the use of semi-structured, telephone interviews, information was collected from these organisations. This was then compared with the theoretical framework with the intention of disclosing possible differences.</p><p>The main conclusions following this research are that the repair process consists out of two important aspects. The first is the preparation cycle; any organisation should set up a response program to facilitate fast reaction. The second cycle is that of the actual response, in which organisations should, based upon the set-up program, determine the unique approach for the situation. Within this second process both direct and indirect influencing factors should be taken into consideration.</p>

<p>I en allt mer globaliserad värld ökar betydelsen för ett lands ekonomi att stora konkurrenskraftiga bolag växer fram. First North är en handelplats som erbjuder små och medelstora företag en möjlighet att tillgå externa investerares kapital, vilket kan möjliggöra en omfattande expansion som annars ej hade varit genomförbar. För bolag listade på en handelsplats, är investerares förtroende något avgörande för att kunna växa. Något som dock skett under de senaste åren, är att ett starkt misstroende riktats mot handelsplatsen First North från affärsmedia och investerare. Kritikerna menar att bolagen på First North handlar girigt, och den svaga reglering som omfattar bolagen, inte garanterar en trovärdig förvaltning. Detta har lett till att börsvärdena för bolagen på First North har rasat, vilket försvårat möjligheterna för företagen att växa, samt att det hindrar nya bolag från att etablera sig på listan. Mot bakgrund av detta, har studiens syfte skapats, ”Genom empiriska studier öka förståelsen för oberoende analytikers åsikter till bolag listade på First North. Med denna information ska vi visa på vilka ageranden bolagen på First North kan göra för att stärka sitt förtroende gentemot investerare.” Undersökningen har genomförts via telefonintervjuer med fem stycken oberoende analytiker som följer bolag på First North. Oberoende analytiker har valts, då dessa inte sitter på dubbla stolar, och samtidigt hjälper företagen listade på First North med rådgivning. Orsaken till att valet föll på analytiker, är att dessa publicerar material som investerare läser, och därför har de en stor påverkan på vilken syn investerare har till bolagen på First North. Vi har använt oss av teorier gällande övergripande bolagsstyrning. Detta för att uppsatsen ska beröra samtliga bolag på First North. Teorierna har behandlat hur företagen ska agera gentemot olika intressenter, samt hur styrelsen föredras att se ut. Det vår forskning har kommit fram till, är att oberoende analytiker önskar se att företag listade på First North ska utöva affärsverksamhet utifrån ett brett förhållningssätt. Där flertalet intressenter tas i beaktande när beslut fattas. Flera målsättningar sågs inte som något motsättande, utan istället som något kompelementärt. Dock så framkom det att detta inte var motiverat med att företagen har något ansvar gentemot dessa, utan att företagets primära mål enligt analytikerna, är att uppnå uthållig tillväxt, vilket är bäst sammankoppalt med detta förhållningssätt. Gällande hur styrelsen ska se ut, ansåg analytikerna att det viktigaste var att minst en person gjort resan från litet till stort bolag tidigare, men också att styrelsens kompetenser ska vara diversifierade. Då företagen behöver hantera flertalet områden, är det nödvändigt att styrelsemedlemmarna besitter olika kunskaper. Med en mix av olika kunskaper, menar analytikerna att ett större förtroende finns, och att en bättre möjlighet finns för att skapa tillväxt än om en mer homogen styrelse existerar.</p>

<p>Bakgrund: I dagens kunskapssamhälle, som också benämns"den nya ekonomin", utgörs många företags värde inte längre av fastigheter och maskinpark utan istället av kundlojalitet, elektronisk infrastruktur, innovation och anställdas kunskap. Det blir allt viktigare för företagen att lyfta fram dessa tillgångar för att uppnå konkurrensfördelar. Dagens redovisning ifrågasätts av dem som förespråkar att humankapital skall värderas och aktiveras på balansräkningen. Motståndarna till en aktivering talar om en alltför låg grad av pålitlighet vad gäller den här typen av infomation.</p><p>Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte är att belysa humankapitalets roll utifrån ett stakeholderperspektiv samt att kartlägga hur IT-bolag idag redovisar sitt humankapital i årsredovisningen. Vi ämnar även att undersöka intresset för en genensam standardmodell. </p><p>Avgränsningar: Uppsatsen har begränsats till att gälla humankapital i marknadsnoterade IT-bolag. Vidare riktar sig vår studie enbart på hur företagen redovisar sitt humankapital externt. Hur företagen behandlar sitt humankapital internt tas inte upp i uppsatsen.</p><p>Genomförande: I uppsatsen kartläggs hur IT-bolag redovisar sitt humankapital som tilläggsinformation i årsredovisningen. Dessutom genomförs intervjuer med personer ur de olika grupper som vi identifierat uifrån gruppernas förmodade relation till begreppet humankapital. Grupperna är; företag, kapitalmarknad och revisorer.</p><p>Resultat: Företagen antas redovisa sitt humankapital för att marknadsföra sig. Kapitalmarknaden tillmäterinte tilläggsinformationen någon större vikt vid värdering av företag. En eventuell aktivering på balansräkningen ses som ogenomförbar av revisorn.</p>