The purpose of this study was to develop a competency framework to shape development of a professional education program for master strategists in national security. The research problem focused on the absence of a competency framework to guide professional education of strategists who must be capable of conceptualization and innovation master strategists. The outcome of this study was a set of the most important components that constitute a professional education framework for master strategists. This Web-based study followed a RAND Delphi heuristic model that is qualitative in nature. Instrumentation for the first round consisted of a short vignette that placed panelists in a unique situation of being able to engage a "time traveler" from 20 years in the future. The time traveler represented a source of perfect knowledge, but could provide only a "yes" or "no" response to panel member questions concerning master strategist professional education needs in the year 2022. In the subsequent two Delphi rounds, the instruments consisted of panel member questions from the previous round. The panel of experts consisted of 12 professional strategists in the field of national security strategy. The results of the study provided support to the description of master strategists as strategic leaders, strategic theoreticians, and strategic practitioners. Panelists highlighted four content domains of personal attributes, security framework, theorybased knowledge, and culture and values that encompass the range of competencies for a master strategist professional education framework. Panel members detailed a need for master strategists to have a higher order temporal perspective to conceive time as epochs and ages, defined as shifts in development punctuated by events and prominent periods in progress, respectively. Panelists described a master strategist professional education framework that mirrored the theory of profound knowledge with meta-competencies as the basic building blocks.

Denna uppsats ämnar att undersöka de kommunikativa processer för blockedjeteknologi startups som ska lansera en så kallad “initial coin offering” och således mynta sin egna kryptovaluta, såsom till exempel bitcoin. Vi avser att undersöka det strategiska kommunikation processerna detta involverar. Från ena perspektivet är ett decentraliserat blockkedjesystem högt värderat på grund av det faktum att det jämställer samtliga medverkande och på så vis skapar en “perfekt demokrati”, å andra sidan argumenterar många att centralisering behövs för att bibehålla tillit. Tillit till organisationer skapas genom vetandet att det finns konsekvenser till dess handlingar som kan införas av högre auktoriteter ifall dessa handlingar faller utanför ramarna av vad som anses accepterat (De Fillipe & Wright, 2015). Utan en högre auktoritet som kan implementera detta blir tillit svårare att upprätthålla. Dock verkar blockkedjeteknologi motbevisa detta koncept. Hur är det möjligt för organisationer utan någon reglering från centrala myndigheter att skapa legitimitet och tillit för att på så sätt kunna få investeringar? Resultaten vi fann ställdes i jämförelse sig till våra tre legitimitets teorier som var kognitiv legitimitet, moral legitimitet och pragmatisk legitimitet, samt centrala teman och nyckelord. Att etablera en levande närvaro på sociala medier som till exempel Twitter, LinkedIn och framför allt Telegram grupper var mycket relevant. I telegram grupper sågs en grupp med många aktiva medlemmar och snabb svarsfrekvens från organisationen som mycket betydelsefullt, samt att ha botar som städar upp irrelevant material utan att deltagarna upplever detta som automatiserat och genuint. Att delta på event och etablera relationer med andra individer inom området och även närliggande områden som till exempel banksektorn var centralt, målet med detta var i många fall att kunna få betydelsefulla individer i sin styrelse av rådgivare vilket ökar legitimiteten. Att kunna ställa organisationens implementering av decentraliserad blockkedjeteknologi i jämförelse med den nuvarande centraliserade lösningen var essentiellt för att locka investerare som var villiga att riskera kapital för en ny modernare lösning.

In today’s society, strategy becomes more important because of the ever fast changing environment. Companies all around the world set strategies, in order to grow and earn a profit, and wish for them to be implemented the way they were intended to be. Therefore, we believe it is important to investigate individuals’ perceptions of firm strategy. The purpose of this thesis is therefore to investigate individuals’ perception and understanding of firm strategy, and to see how these perceptions show similarities and differences. Our aim is also to see how cognitive mapping in relation to a strategic model can be helpful both for practitioners and researchers. Collection of primary data was done by interviewing five employees on different hierarchical levels in Company X that is active in multiple different business areas both in Sweden and abroad. The interviews were later analysed with the help of theories such as cognitive structures and maps, and Whittington’s (2001) generic perspective of strategy. This model recognizes four approaches to strategizing, namely Classical, Evolutionary, Systemic and Processual. The two former ones have a Profit-maximizing outcome, while the latter two are Pluralistic in outcome. During the analysis we found some similarities and differences. It was found that not all employees, individually or together, could be categorised under one specific approach. It is hypothesized that this could be because of the fact that they are at different levels and positions in the company, but they had similar perception on long-term planning as a firm strategy. The interviewees in Company X have shown different perceptions when relating to strategy. We come to the conclusion that it is important for managers and strategic decision makers that they understand and take the differences and similarities under consideration when delegating and injecting new strategies into a company. We think this could then help them to enhance an understanding of their own strategic organisation. Although case studies tend to be subjective, this is pointed out as the main limitation of the methodology. The researchers’ interpretation of the interviews lay as the foundation of the analysis and conclusion, and in order to make the study as objective as possible, clear and relevant selection of theories and literature was used to support the claims made in the thesis.

<p>In today’s society, strategy becomes more important because of the ever fast changing environment. Companies all around the world set strategies, in order to grow and earn a profit, and wish for them to be implemented the way they were intended to be. Therefore, we believe it is important to investigate individuals’ perceptions of firm strategy.</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is therefore to investigate individuals’ perception and understanding of firm strategy, and to see how these perceptions show similarities and differences. Our aim is also to see how cognitive mapping in relation to a strategic model can be helpful both for practitioners and researchers.</p><p>Collection of primary data was done by interviewing five employees on different hierarchical levels in Company X that is active in multiple different business areas both in Sweden and abroad. The interviews were later analysed with the help of theories such as cognitive structures and maps, and Whittington’s (2001) generic perspective of strategy. This model recognizes four approaches to strategizing, namely Classical, Evolutionary, Systemic and Processual. The two former ones have a Profit-maximizing outcome, while the latter two are Pluralistic in outcome.</p><p>During the analysis we found some similarities and differences. It was found that not all employees, individually or together, could be categorised under one specific approach. It is hypothesized that this could be because of the fact that they are at different levels and positions in the company, but they had similar perception on long-term planning as a firm strategy.</p><p>The interviewees in Company X have shown different perceptions when relating to strategy. We come to the conclusion that it is important for managers and strategic decision makers that they understand and take the differences and similarities under consideration when delegating and injecting new strategies into a company. We think this could then help them to enhance an understanding of their own strategic organisation.</p><p>Although case studies tend to be subjective, this is pointed out as the main limitation of the methodology. The researchers’ interpretation of the interviews lay as the foundation of the analysis and conclusion, and in order to make the study as objective as possible, clear and relevant selection of theories and literature was used to support the claims made in the thesis.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-02T21:42:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CiroAFer.pdf: 1355849 bytes, checksum: eff7fccf2fafdac63587259fd45cde39 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-01 / Visando garantir a sustentabilidade,as organizações procuram sucessivamente por estratégias que alinhem seus processos e estruturas às exigências impostas pelos fatores ambientais, bem como as necessidades de seus clientes. Tradicionalmente o planejamento estratégico privilegia as competências essenciais, que são as competências específicas às áreas vitais da organização, isto é, aquelas que diferenciam a empresa perante os concorrentes e clientes. Nesse caso, o foco está especificamente no processo, e por mais que o indivíduo seja o responsável pela realização da tarefa, aquele segue normas de conduta e padronização, em detrimento das capacidades individuais, aas quais estão atreladas a teorias focadas nos aspectos da personalidade ou aptidões pessoais, e que também interferem no desempenho organizacional. Por conta da relação que há entre estratégia e aqueles que a realizam, surgem os agentes estratégicos, os quais podem ser definidos como indivíduos que por suas habilidades e competências possibilitam às organizações a obtenção de vantagem competitiva. Esse papel de agente estratégico pode ser direcionado àquele responsável pelo planejamento estratégico e por sua execução, que é o estrategista, o qual, prioritariamente para efeito dessa pesquisa está localizado no nível estratégico máximo dentro da organização. Esse interesse pelo estrategista, apesar de ainda tímido, vem crescendo ao longo dos últimos anos, destacando a estratégia como prática como um dos temas que mais prosperam nessa área, tendo como objetivo compreender como os estrategistas se comportam dentro do processo estratégico organizacional, e como ação e teoria se articulam na execução e articulação da estratégia. A pesquisa aqui realizada, apesar de não ter o mesmo foco da estratégia como prática, pretende complementar o estudo sobre o estrategista, uma vez que objetiva compreender como são formadas as suas competências. A metodologia utilizada para entender como as competências dos estrategista são formadas foi a fenomenologia, uma vez que se pressupõe que isso ocorra nas experiências vividas pelo indivíduo, transformado, posteriormente em um conhecimento, dando origem a uma determinada competência. Quanto ao método de coleta de dados, optou-se pela história oral, a qual oferece interpretações qualitativas de processos históricos-sociais do entrevistado e permite o aprofundamento nas diversas fases e etapas do exame histórico, enfocando a problemática que se insere no objeto de pesquisa, ampliando os procedimentos heurísticos adequados e que permitam encontrar respostas, mesmo que ainda imperfeitas, mas viáveis e aceitas do ponto de vista científico. Para a análise dos resultados, recorreu-se a análise proposicional do discurso, a qual é uma espécie de análise de conteúdo e que tem objetivo inferencial, trabalhando com o significado dos enunciados. Os resultados dessa pesquisa sugerem que há uma real possibilidade de que a formação do estrategista se inicie nas relações familiares, escolares e profissionais permitindo a construção de valores que irão balizar suas ações e posturas no decorrer de sua vida.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rogerio Torres de Lima.pdf: 1726061 bytes, checksum: 06149ff9f133a33183a46a4fc6609aff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-09 / This dissertation is a multiple case study with exploratory and qualitative characteristics. It s about the process of strategy as a practice in Small and Medium Business (SMB) for creating or developing of innovation in newspaper segment. This study is divided into chapters that are meant to develop practical topics such as strategy, innovation of SMB in order to understand the correlation between the subjects and to analyze the capacity of the sector development. The study presents the rationale and theoretical definitions about strategy as a practice and innovation in the SMB printed newspaper industry. Starting from three units of analysis (three firms) differentiated by their size defined by revenue, interviews are applied with the objective of being able to check the purpose of this work, that is the development of innovation through the use of strategy as a practice. It is observed that in the companies surveyed, this practice is already carried out / Estudo de caso múltiplo com característica exploratória e qualitativa sobre o processo de estratégia como prática em MPME´s que proporcionem a possibilidade de criação ou desenvolvimento de inovação no setor de jornais impressos. Este trabalho é dividido em capítulos que procura desenvolver os temas estratégia como prática, inovação e MPME´s para que se possa entender a correlação entre os temas a fim de verificar a capacidade de desenvolvimento do setor. Para alcançar este objetivo são desenvolvidos capítulos que apresentam a fundamentação e definições teóricas sobre estratégia como prática e inovação, caracterização de MPME´s do setor de jornais impressos. A partir de três unidades de análise diferenciadas por seu porte em função do faturamento, aplica-se entrevistas com a perspectiva de poder visualizar o objetivo de estudo desta dissertação que é o desenvolvimento de inovação a partir de utilização de estratégia prática. Observa-se que nas empresas pesquisadas esta prática é realizada

This study examines the representation of women in public relations industry publications. The three publications published by the Public Relations Society of America and International Association of Business Communicators were content analyzed to determine the inclusion of women. Findings suggest that women are not represented in industry publications at the percentages of which they represent the field. Results of this study suggest that the contributions and value of women in public relations may still be overlooked despite the feminization of the field. The largest benefactors of this research will be future female practitioners currently enrolled in undergraduate and graduate level public relations programs. An understanding of women’s contributions to the profession is important for many reasons. The scholarly and tactical contributions of women provide examples to future professionals of what can be done in the field as well as the impact they can expect to make in the field. / Department of Journalism

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-10-11T11:12:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 camillademedeirosdecarvalho.pdf: 2802334 bytes, checksum: 24c8eb756878e03e092c98273834a1a8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-10-11T15:56:30Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 camillademedeirosdecarvalho.pdf: 2802334 bytes, checksum: 24c8eb756878e03e092c98273834a1a8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-11T15:56:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 camillademedeirosdecarvalho.pdf: 2802334 bytes, checksum: 24c8eb756878e03e092c98273834a1a8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-17 / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / No presente estudo, foram elucidados aspectos da história de vida e morfologia do gastrópode terrestre Leptinaria unilamellata (d’Orbigny, 1835), além disso, foi verificada a ocorrência de variabilidade nos padrões conquiliomorfológicos e conquiliomorfométricos, assim como na morfologia do sistema reprodutor de moluscos provenientes de diferentes populações. A estratégia de história de vida da espécie foi caracterizada. Foram determinados os padrões de crescimento, reprodução e longevidade e elucidada a estratégia relacionada ao desenvolvimento dos embriões. Com base nos resultados obtidos, L. unilamellata foi classificada como espécie K-estrategista, ovovivípara, cujo padrão de história de vida é determinado pela alocação diferencial de energia para diferentes funções biológicas, nas diferentes fases do ciclo de vida. O sistema reprodutor foi caracterizado anatomicamente e histologicamente. Os resultados forneceram informações até então inexistentes, a cerca da morfologia microscópica do sistema reprodutor dessa espécie, corroborando aspectos comportamentais, como o hermafroditismo simultâneo e a ovoviviparidade. Foram observados o padrão geral da morfologia da concha de L. unilamellata e sua variação entre os espécimes das localidades de Juiz de Fora, MG; Cruzília, MG; Barra Mansa, RJ, e Floriano, distrito do município de Barra Mansa, RJ. O padrão de crescimento da concha foi descrito através do estudo da alometria do crescimento de moluscos de diferentes idades. As relações entre os padrões morfométricos dos diferentes morfotipos demonstraram a presença de dois grupos similares, um composto pelos morfotipos de Barra Mansa e Floriano, e outro pelos morfotipos de Juiz de Fora e Cruzília. O estudo permitiu o conhecimento sobre o padrão de formação da concha ao longo do desenvolvimento, bem como as relações entre as diferentes medidas lineares aferidas. Foi investigada a variabilidade morfológica do sistema reprodutor de espécimes de L. unilamellata das localidades de Juiz de Fora, MG; Cruzília, MG; Belo Horizonte, MG; Barra Mansa, RJ e Floriano, distrito do município de Barra Mansa, RJ. Os moluscos provenientes das diferentes populações estudadas apresentam diferenças na morfologia do sistema reprodutor, podendo assim ser reconhecidos como morfotipos distintos. Entretanto, tais morfotipos não puderam ser distinguidos pelo perfil molecular gerado através da técnica de PCR-RFLP. Os resultados do estudo da morfologia e análises morfométricas confirmaram a maior semelhança entre os morfotipos de Barra Mansa e Floriano, e entre os morfotipos de Juiz de Fora e Cruzília. A morfologia e morfometria dos moluscos de Belo Horizonte mostraram-se mais relacionadas àquelas dos dois últimos 9   morfotipos. As variações foram verificadas principalmente nos órgãos da região proximal do sistema reprodutor, os quais, provavelmente por estarem envolvidos no sucesso do acasalamento, sofrem maiores pressões seletivas. O presente estudo representa uma contribuição para o melhor entendimento da biologia reprodutiva de L. unilamellata. O estudo da conquiliomorfometria foi uma ferramenta útil para o conhecimento do padrão de crescimento dos moluscos e para a detecção de variabilidade morfológica interpopulacional. O conhecimento da morfologia do sistema reprodutor permitiu compreender aspectos da história de vida e distinguir morfotipos provenientes de diferentes populações. A combinação das diferentes abordagens utilizadas constitui um modelo que pode ser empregado para o melhor conhecimento da biologia de diferentes espécies de invertebrados. / In this study, were elucidated aspects of life history traits and morphology of the terrestrial gastropod Leptinaria unilamellata (d'Orbigny, 1835). In addition, was verified the occurrence of variability in patterns of shell morphology and shell morphometrics, as well as morphology of the reproductive system of snails from different populations. The life history strategy of L. unilamellata was characterized. We determined growth, reproduction, and longevity patterns of this species and the strategy related to development of embryos were determined. We might conclude from the results that L. unilamellata is a K-strategist species, ovoviviparous, whose life history patterns are determined by the differential allocation of energy for different biological functions, in different stages of life cycle. The reproductive system was characterized in terms of anatomical and histological aspects. The results provided new information about histological morphology of reproductive system of this species, corroborating behavioral aspects, such as simultaneous hermaphroditism and ovoviviparity. We were observed the general pattern of shell morphology of L. unilamellata and its variation among populations from Juiz de Fora, MG; Cruzília, MG, Barra Mansa, RJ, and Floriano, district of Barra Mansa, RJ. To describe the shell growth pattern, was accomplished the study of growth allometry with molluscs of different ages. The relationships between morphometric patterns of the morphotypes demonstrated the presence of two similar groups, one comprising the morphotypes of Barra Mansa and Floriano, and another by morphotypes of Juiz de Fora and Cruzília. The results of the present study clarified the shell growth pattern during the snails’ development, and the relationships between different shell linear variables. There was investigated the morphological variability of the reproductive system of specimens of L. unilamellata from Juiz de Fora, MG; Cruzília, MG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Barra Mansa, RJ and Floriano, RJ. As a result, were found differences in morphology of the reproductive system between molluscs from different populations, especially regarding the penial complex. So, snails from each locality could be recognized as distinct morphotypes. However, such morphotypes could not be distinguished through the molecular profile generated by PCRRFLP. The length of bursa copulatrix, width of epifalo, width of flagellum and width of oviduct were the linear measurements that differed more between snails from different localities and these, therefore, are the variables with greater strength for the distinction of morphotypes. The results of the morphological and morphometric studies, as well as the Euclidean analysis and cluster analysis, confirmed the greatest similarity between the 11   morphotypes from Barra Mansa and Floriano, and between morphotypes from Juiz de Fora and Cruzília. The morphology and morphometry of reproductive system of molluscs from Belo Horizonte were more related to those of the last two morphotypes. The patterns of similarity resulting from discriminant analysis confirmed these results. The variations were observed mainly in organs of the proximal region of reproductive system, probably because they are involved in success of mating, and consequently, more exposed to selective pressures. The present study represents a contribution to a better understanding of the reproductive biology of L. unilamellata, focusing on both biological and behavioral aspects, such as morphology of reproductive system and shell. The study of shell morphometrics has been proved to be a useful tool for understanding the pattern of growth of snails over lifetime and also for detection of morphological interpopulation variability. Similarly, knowledge of reproductive system morphology clarified aspects of life history and allowed distinguish morphotypes from different populations. The combination of the different approaches used in this study constitutes a study model that can be used for reach a better understanding about the biology of different invertebrate species.

This diploma thesis deals with the strategic analysis of Skoda Auto a. s. and its current strategy. Also, it deals with verifying of given hypotheses to effectively determine the future operational strategy. The first part is the theoretical and methodological, which explains the key concepts of strategic analysis of a company. It's followed by the practical part, which translates the theory of strategic analysis into the practice, analyzes modern trends and via the synthesis method it achieves the objective of this thesis: to specify strategic recommendations for Skoda Auto and to verify the hypotheses specified in the beginning.

La bio-augmentation des stations d’épuration est parfois envisagée pour faire face à des situations transitoires au cours desquelles la capacité nitrifiante des boues activées est insuffisante pour traiter efficacement la charge reçue par l’installation. Le succès de cettestratégie repose sur l’activité nitrifiante de la biomasse ajoutée ainsi que sur sa capacitéd’adaptation et de maintien dans les boues activées en place.L’objectif de ce travail était d’évaluer la possibilité d’adaptation des micro-organismes d’une solution commerciale nitrifiante dans une station d’épuration municipale à très faible charge.Les populations nitrifiantes composant la solution étudiée ont été comparées à celles des boues activées de treize stations d’épurations, échantillonnées en été et en hiver. Une démarche couplant des outils de la biologie moléculaire et du génie des procédés a été mise en oeuvre afin d’analyser et de comparer ces populations selon trois axes : diversité, abondance et activité. Cette comparaison a été complétée par une expérience de bio-augmentation en réacteur fermé. D’après les profils obtenus en DGGE, les communautés nitrosantes des stations d’épuration à très faible charge sont généralement dominées par une même espèce appartenant au groupe Nitrosomonas oligotropha.Les biomasses nitrosantes et nitratantes ont été chacune estimées entre 0,5 et 3,5 % de la biomasse totale des boues activées par marquage FISH. La solution commerciale comporteune seule espèce nitrosante, du groupe N. europaea, qui représente 45 % de sa biomasse.Les analyses cinétiques, réalisées par suivi direct des vitesses de réaction (analyses chimiques) et/ou par respirométrie, indiquent que N. europaea adopte une stratégie de type –r contrairement aux bactéries autochtones des boues activées (stratégie de type –K). Ces résultats expérimentaux laissent supposer une faible capacité d’adaptation de la biomasse nitrifiante de cette solution commerciale aux conditions environnementales des stationsd’épuration à très faible charge. En revanche, l’expérience de bio-augmentation a montré sa capacité d’intégration aux flocs, et le maintien de son activité lors de son mélange à des boues activées. / Bio-augmentation is sometimes proposed to cope with transient situations in wastewatertreatment plants, when the nitrifying capacity of the autochthonous biomass is insufficient totreat the nitrogen load.The success of such a strategy is conditioned by the nitrifying activity of the added biomass,its adaptation to local conditions and its residence time in the system.This work aimed at evaluating the adaptation of nitrifying microorganisms from a commercialsolution in very low loaded municipal wastewater treatment plant. Nitrifying populations ofthe studied solution were compared to those of thirteen wastewater treatment plants (activatedsludge), observed in summer and in winter. The analysis and the comparison of the biomasseswere performed using tools from two disciplines: molecular biology and processengineering. Three points were especially characterised: the diversity, abundance and activityof the biomasses. A bio-augmentation experiment performed in a batch reactor completed thecomparison. DGGE profiles showed that Ammonia Oxidising Bacteria (AOB) communities from lowloaded wastewater treatment plants are mostly dominated by the same species related to theNitrosomonas oligotropha.The abundance of ammonia oxidising bacteria and of nitrite oxidising bacteria, estimatedusing the FISH technique, was almost similar, ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 % of the total biomass.The AOB species present in the commercial solution is identified as Nitrosomonas europaea,and represents 45 % of the solution’s total biomass.Kinetic analyses carried out by chemical analysis and/or by respirometry indicate that N.europaea behave as –r strategist, whereas activated sludge’s bacteria are –K strategist. These results suggest a slight adaptation capacity of the commercial solution’s nitrifyingbiomass to environmental conditions prevailing in low loaded municipal wastewater treatmentplants. On the other hand, bio-augmentation experiment showed the capacity of the addedmicroorganisms to integrate the activated sludge flocs and to maintain its activity when addedto activated sludge.