O objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para uma compreensão mais clara sobre o desenvolvimento de intranets e portais corporativos nas organizações, através da análise do principal determinante do sucesso desses projetos: o uso efetivo da tecnologia. Para atingir esse objetivo, esta pesquisa adota uma visão multidimensional, considerando tanto a perspectiva individual como a organizacional. O suporte teórico advém de extensa revisão das pesquisas já publicadas sobre o tema, compreendendo elementos retirados da teoria da estruturação de Giddens e de modelos consagrados de aceitação da tecnologia, como UTAUT e TAM. A metodologia consiste de estudo de caso em três organizações do setor público, com estruturas bastante semelhantes, mas que desenvolveram suas intranets de modo independente. A análise dos contextos organizacionais demonstrou que o uso da tecnologia nos casos estudados, na prática, ainda é muito limitado. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam que esse uso é resultado da conjunção de complexos elementos. Além das deficiências na funcionalidade da tecnologia, os indivíduos não reconheceram a utilidade prática das intranets e, do mesmo modo, não se sentem estimulados a usar a tecnologia. Essa realidade é consequência de problemas na gestão da tecnologia, como a falta de participação efetiva de setores estratégicos, que aliados a aspectos estruturais das organizações, como a divisão entre os setores e a acentuada especialização funcional, contribuem para a manutenção desse quadro. Em sua maioria, esses elementos constituem práticas já institucionalizadas nas organizações, reforçadas pelo comportamento de seus membros no fluir de suas interações. / The goal of this paper is to help provide a clearer understanding of the development of intranets and corporate portals in organizations, by examining the main determinant behind the success of these projects: the effective use of technology. To achieve this goal, this study uses a multidimensional approach, considering both the individual and organizational perspective. The theoretical support is based on an extensive review of already published research on the subject, including elements drawn from Gidden's theory of structuration and renowned technology acceptance models, such as UTAUT and TAM. The methodology consists of a case study in three public sector organizations, with very similar structures, but which developed their intranets independently. The analysis of the organizational contexts demonstrated that the use of technology in the cases studied is still, in practice, very limited. The research findings show that using it is the result of a complex conjunction of elements. Besides the shortcomings in the functionality of the technology, people have not recognized the usefulness of intranets and, likewise, do not feel attracted to use the technology. This reality is a consequence of problems in technology management, such as lack of effective participation of strategic sectors, which combined with structural aspects of organizations, like the division between sectors and accentuated job specialization, contribute toward maintaining this state of affairs. Most of these elements are already institutionalized practices in organizations, reinforced by the behavior of their members in the course of their interactions.

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2017-04-10T18:23:48Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação de Mestrado_PROPAD_UFPE_Ijon Santos.pdf: 3007544 bytes, checksum: c798b542d8e9f98334c33dbb694d633e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-10T18:23:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação de Mestrado_PROPAD_UFPE_Ijon Santos.pdf: 3007544 bytes, checksum: c798b542d8e9f98334c33dbb694d633e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-31 / A presente dissertação busca explicar os fatores condicionantes para a adoção efetiva de Big Data e Business Analytics por parte das Organizações Privadas de Pernambuco em termos de atitudes, aptidão e resultados. Para esse fim, um apanhado teórico-conceitual é reunido sobre o avanço no tráfego de dados na era da Revolução Digital e a predisposição das organizações em se apropriar das tecnologias compatíveis de informação e comunicação que transformam o modus faciendi e o modus pensandi da sociedade. No corpus de pesquisa se destacam duas teorias fundamentadoras: A Teoria da Mediação Cognitiva e a Teoria da Estruturação (base do Modelo de Estruturação de Tecnologia). Ambas exploradas no cerne da questão da dualidade tecnologia-uso, em que o convívio com artefatos tecnológicos em interação com as ações humanas inicia um processo mútuo de influência entre esses elementos, constituindo uma nova modalidade de mediação denominada Hipercultura. Em um método quantitativo de pesquisa, tais construtos serão relacionados entre si e investigados em 183 líderes estratégicos pernambucanos, além de comparados com indivíduos equivalentes de outras naturalidades e nacionalidades por meio de um formulário especialmente preparado. Os resultados obtidos indicam o nível de prontidão das empresas sobre este tema e a relação com o sucesso ou fracasso, quando considerados os níveis de hipercultura, de capacidade analítica e das condições de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação existentes nas empresas. Ao final do estudo, são levantados possíveis desdobramentos para os conceitos introduzidos. / The present dissertation seeks to explain the determining factors for the effective adoption of Big Data and Business Analytics on Pernambuco’s Private Organization in terms of attitudes, skills and results. For this purpose, a theoretical-conceptual caught is gathered about the progress in data traffic in the Digital Revolution age and the willingness of organizations to take ownership of supported technologies of information and communication that transform the modus faciendi and the modus pensandi of the society. In the research corpus stand two essential theories: The Cognitive Mediation Networks Theory and the Structuration Theory (base Structurational Model of Technology). Both explored the matter of duality-use technology, in which the interaction with technological artifacts interacting with human actions starts a process of mutual influence between these elements, constituting a new form of mediation called Hyperculture. In a quantitative search method, such constructs will be related to each other and investigated 183 strategic leaders from Pernambuco, and equivalents compared to individuals with other places of birth and nationality using a specially prepared form. The results may indicate the level of readiness of the companies on this issue and if there is, or not, relation with success or failure, when considering the hyperculture levels, analytical capacity and conditions of information and communication technologies in the existing companies. At the end of the study a several possible developments, implications, and applications for the concepts introduced are presented.

The theoretical and conceptual maturity, the debate between environmental sciences and late modernity, through discussion of issues relating to the reproduction of socioeconomic disparities en environmental transformations. Thus, this research seeks to answer: The implementation of the National Park of Serra de Itabaiana, as the embodiment of preservation initiative, has contributed to the overcoming of social inequalities in villages Rio das Pedras, World, Gandu I, Gandu II, Lake of the Ovens I and II, the city Itabaiana of Chico Gomes, Areia Branca. What are the economic strategies used by potters and pottery found in the vicinity of Parnassus, to enable their activities? What is the responsiveness of pottery and ceramics to legal requirements arising from implementation of the park? So the objective is to: 1) characterize the economic strategies and capacity of pottery and ceramics of these villages to fulfill legal requirements arising from implementation of Parnassus, 2) identify the possible use of funds from the pottery and ceramics by Parnassus, 3) analyze transformations experienced by these units of production as a result of actions of sustainable development and its possible role in rebuilding social inequalities. To answer the questions and achieve the proposed objectives, we will use the concepts of modernity, environmental conflict and criticism of the notion of sustainable development. This explains the theoretical interconnectivity between different areas of knowledge, predominantly complexity, global and interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems. The investigation of processes of modernization, based on structuration theory, the idea is hypothesized that the creation of Parnassus is configured in the act of entering the region in late modernity in favor of the holders of power, personified in the potters. The methodological approach for the execution of the research is based on qualitative research associated with the ethnographic method. Instruments such as field research, semi-structured interviews with audio recording, document research, were the tools of data collection. The investigation relied on interviews with the owners of the pottery and ceramics and researchers involved in the implementation of Parnassus. Analysis of the interviews was operationalized through the dismemberment of the text, examining the complex variables and phenomena relating to the theory of the structure and concepts of modernity, based on the thematic oral history. Os findings affirm the invisibility of social actors in the institutionalization of the park, This context creates the prerequisite for social and environmental conflicts. The environmental problems that region falls within the overall context of modernity partially excluding the potteries of some modern institutional dimensions. / O amadurecimento teórico-conceitual, no debate entre ciências ambientais e modernidade tardia, via discussão das questões referentes à reprodução das disparidades socioeconômicas em áreas ambientalmente protegidas, é essencial para a reflexão sobre a compreensão das transformações socioambientais. Desse modo, essa pesquisa busca responder: A implantação do Parque Nacional da Serra de Itabaiana como materialização de iniciativa preservacionista, tem contribuído para a superação das desigualdades sociais nos povoados Rio das Pedras, Mundês, Gandu I, Gandu II, Lagoa dos Fornos I e II, município de Itabaiana e Chico Gomes, município de Areia Branca? Quais as estratégias econômicas utilizadas por olarias e cerâmicas localizadas no entorno do PARNASI para viabilizar suas atividades? Qual a capacidade de resposta das olarias e cerâmicas às exigências jurídicas decorrentes da implantação do parque? Assim objetiva-se: 1) caracterizar as estratégias econômicas e capacidade das olarias e cerâmicas dos referidos povoados de cumprir as exigências jurídicas decorrentes da implantação do PARNASI, 2) identificar a possível utilização de recursos oriundos do PARNASI pelas olarias e cerâmicas, 3) analisar as transformações vivenciadas por essas unidades de produção como resultado de ações do desenvolvimento sustentável e seu possível papel na recriação de desigualdades sociais. Para responder às questões e atingir os objetivos propostos, recorreremos aos conceitos de modernidade, conflito ambiental e de crítica à noção de desenvolvimento sustentável. Essa fundamentação teórica explicita a interconectividade entre diversas áreas do saber, predominando a complexidade, o caráter global e interdisciplinar da problemática ambiental. A investigação dos processos de modernização, fundamentada na teoria da estruturação, tem como hipótese a ideia de que a criação do PARNASI se configura numa ação de inserção da região na modernidade tardia favorecendo os detentores de poder, personificados nos ceramistas. O recurso metodológico para efetivação da pesquisa fundamenta-se na investigação qualitativa, associada ao método etnográfico. Os instrumentos como pesquisa de campo, entrevista semiestruturada, com gravação em áudio, pesquisa documental, constituíram as ferramentas de coleta de dados. A investigação contou com entrevistas aos proprietários das olarias e cerâmicas e pesquisadores envolvidos na implantação do PARNASI. A análise das entrevistas foi operacionalizada através do desmembramento do texto, examinando as variáveis complexas e relacionando os fenômenos com a teoria da estruturação e concepções da modernidade, fundamentada na história oral temática. Os resultados afirmam a invisibilização dos atores sociais durante a institucionalização do parque, esse contexto configura pressuposto para os conflitos socioambientais. A problemática ambiental insere essa região no contexto global da modernidade excluindo parcialmente as olarias de algumas dimensões institucionais modernas.

Percebe-se no mercado brasileiro que a área de suprimentos - Procurement - nas empresas do segmento de real estate de construção civil se apresenta, tanto em termos de estrutura quanto em procedimentos, de diferentes formas. É possível observar estruturas centralizadas responsáveis por toda a gestão na companhia, enquanto há outras em que as obras são autônomas com suporte corporativo. Para cada estrutura, as formas de atuação das áreas diferem, objetivando satisfazer as premissas gerenciais de cada companhia. A análise do espectro existente resulta em razoável incerteza para se afirmar quais práticas são mais eficazes em termos de desempenho e geração de resultado. Enquanto estruturas mais centralizadas conduzem para menos autonomia para as obras com sistemas corporativos mais robustos, estruturas autônomas possibilitam maior agilidade e rapidez nas tomadas de decisão. Neste cenário, o objetivo desta dissertação é analisar as diferentes composições estruturais das áreas de suprimentos existentes nos subsetores de construção civil: infraestrutura e edificações a fim de propor um modelo adequado de estruturação e atuação, visando proporcionar uma melhor forma de atuação das áreas de suprimentos no setor de construção brasileiro. Para tanto, foi realizado uma revisão bibliográfica a respeito dos temas: estruturas e procedimentos de suprimentos em real estate e riscos e oportunidades das vertentes estruturais. Em seguida foi realizada uma enquete com algumas das principais empresas de ambos subsetores objeto deste estudo. Tal pesquisa permitiu identificar os principais aspectos de cada vertente estrutural de procurement em construção civil e assim identificar as caraterísticas necessárias para a proposição do modelo. Dessa forma, foi proposto o modelo de atuação adequado para as empresas desse setor, onde se espera contribuir para que a gestão de suprimentos nessas empresas de construção brasileiras seja tratada de forma estratégica, adicionando valor e competitividade às organizações a qual fazem parte. / It is perceived in Brazilian market that procurement in real estate companies is presented differently both in terms of structure and procedures. It is possible to observe centralized structures responsible for all management in the company, while there are structures in which the works are basically autonomous with corporate support. For each structure, the procedures of the areas differ, aiming to meet the managerial assumptions of each company. The analysis of existing spectrum results in reasonable uncertainty to assert what practices are most effective in terms of performance and result generation. While more centralized structures lead to less autonomy for works with more robust enterprise systems, autonomous structures enable greater agility and quickness in decision-making. In this scenario, the goal of this dissertation is to analyze the different structural compositions of existing supplies areas in the subsectors of civil construction: infrastructure and building in order to propose a suitable model of organization and operation. Still, this works aims to provide a better way of operation of the supply areas in the Brazilian construction sector. Therefore, a literature review was conducted on the themes: infrastructure and supply procedures in real estate and risks & opportunities of the structural aspects. Then a survey had been done in some of leading companies in both subsectors object of this study. This research allowed recognizing the main aspects of each structural procurement component in construction and consequently identifying the characteristics necessary for the model proposition. Finally, it was proposed the appropriate operational model for companies in this sector, which expects to contribute to supply management be treated in a strategic manner from now on in Brazilian construction companies and adding value and competitiveness to organizations to which they belong.

Today's technological development means that organizations are constantly evolving. This means that the market, which the organizations operate in, is constantly changing and becoming more complex to interpret. This development increases the demand to forecast possible outcomes and receive real-time information from the operations – i.e., obtain the most accurate data for decision-support. To make this possible, organizations need so-called ‘decision support systems’; IT-tools that rapidly provide decision makers with information based on relevant data. To obtain the highest possible value from the systems, they must seamlessly integrate and interact with the organization. This study examines how decision support systems, organizations and users relate to each other in an organizational context. The aim is to provide an insight into the limitations and possibilities of human behaviour, technological development and organizational structure to create and enable relevant and effective decision support systems. The paper’s theoretical framework is based on Orlikowski’s (1992) structurational model. The empirical material consists of semi-structured interviews, which are analysed based on Orlikowski’s model. The results show that although there is a common understanding on how the different factors should interact in order for the decision support systems to function the respondents neglected their own influence as users of the systems. / Dagens teknikutveckling medför att organisationer hela tiden utvecklas och förändras. Det i sin tur medför att den marknad organisationer agerar på förändras och blir alltmer komplex att tolka. Denna utveckling ökar efterfrågan att förutspå sannolika utfall, få information om verksamheten i realtid, kort sagt få ett korrekt beslutsunderlag. För att detta ska vara möjligt behövs IT-verktyg som snabbt kan förse beslutsfattare med underlag som grundar sig på relevanta data, så kallade beslutsstödsystem. För att få ut mesta möjliga värde från beslutsstödsystemen ställs höga krav på att de integreras och samverkar med organisationen. I studien undersöks hur beslutsstödsystem, organisationer och användare förhåller sig till varandra i en organisatorisk kontext. Målet är att ge en inblick i de begränsningar och möjligheter människors agerande, teknikens utveckling och organisationens struktur skapar för att möjliggöra relevanta och effektiva system för beslutsstöd. Studiens teoretiska ramverk tar sin utgångspunkt i Orlikowskis (1992) struktureringsmodell. Det empiriska materialet utgörs av semistrukturerade intervjuer som analyseras med utgångspunkt från Orlikowskis modell. Resultatet visar att även om det överlag finns en förståelse för hur olika faktorer bör samspela för att beslutsstödsystemen ska fungera, tonar respondenterna ner sin egen betydelse som användare av systemen.

Les estuaires sont généralement soumis à des phénomènes de comblement sédimentaires. Dans cette partie des systèmes fluviaux du territoire, l'accumulation des matériaux fins modifie radicalement la morphologie de l'estuaire, et conditionne la présence des espèces animales et végétales et on distingue un impact fort sur le plan économique, social et industriel. Les comblements compliquent la circulation dans les estuaires, compliquent les activités de pêches, de loisirs, modifient les propriétés des écoulements et constituent un facteur risque sur les zones d'habitations voisines. Des solutions temporaires consistent à curer les estuaires et des solutions d'aménagement des estuaires peuvent être envisagées. Néanmoins, il ressort de la littérature un manque important sur la caractérisation des mélanges liquides-solides et sur les mécanismes de structuration. Ce travail s'inscrit dans le contexte de l'étude des mécanismes de structuration des matériaux sédimentaires dans les estuaires afin de mieux comprendre les remplissages des zones estuariennes et surtout d'envisager des solutions durables de « nettoyage » de ces zones. L'estuaire de la Rance est particulièrement ciblé par notre étude. Le but est de donner des éléments de réponse sur le comportement rhéologique des vases naturelles en distinguant les échelles les plus significatives afin de détecter les facteurs structurants qui influencent les paramètres rhéologiques. La rhéologie des sédiments est ainsi étudiée à l'aide du rhéomètre Kinexus, géométrie plan-plan. On a pu alors détecter un comportement visco-plastique Bighamien. L'influence du diamètre moyens et de la fraction volumique solide sur la viscosité et le seuil de la contrainte de cisaillement dynamique du modèle de Bingham sont ainsi analysés. Ensuite, nous avons étudié grâce à des sédiments sans sel et sans matière organique, l'influence de ces deux composés chimiques sur le comportement rhéologiques des sédiments et puis leurs influences sur le vieillissement des sédiments. Une étude statique est également réalisée à l'aide du Va ne test permettant le calcul de la contrainte de cisaillement seuil. •Enfin, une assimilation du piège du Lyvet est réalisée grâce à des colonnes de sédimentation dans des conditions assez proches des conditions naturelles. Un processus de sédimentation-tassement-consolidation sous poids propre est recréé en laboratoire. Les sédiments sont amenés à vieillir cette fois pour des longues durées allant jusqu'à 9 mois. Au terme de périodes de vieillissement retenues, le massif créé est caractérisé depuis l'interface fluide-sédiments. Cela nous a permis d'étudier la répartition granulaire des sédiments après structuration et la variation de la contrainte de cisaillement seuil selon la profondeur de la colonne et la durée du vieillissement. Ce type d'essai est aussi réalisé pour les sédiments sans sel et sans matières organiques. / Estuaries are generally subject of sedimentary filling phenomena that alter their morphology and affect subsequently the economic, social and industrial plans. In this part of the fluvial systems of the territory, the accumulation of fine materials radically modifies the morphology of the estuary, and conditions the presence of animal and plant species and cause a strong impact on the economic, social and industrial. Filling complicates navigation in estuaries, fishing, recreational activities and modifies flow properties and is a risk factor in neighboring housing areas. Temporary solutions consist of cleaning estuaries and estuarine management solutions can be considered. Nevertheless, the literature shows a significant lack of characterization of liquid-solid mixtures and structuring mechanisms. This work is in the context of the study of structuring mechanisms of sedimentary materials in estuaries to better understand the fillings estuarine areas and specially to consider sustainable solutions of "cleansing" of these areas. The Rance estuary is particularly targeted by the study. The aim is to provide answers on the rheological behavior of natural vessels by distinguishing the most significant scales to detect structural factors influencing the rheological parameters. The rheology of the sediments is studied using the Kinexus rheometer, plan-plan geometry. A Bighamien visco-plastic behavior was then detected. The influence of the mean diameter and the solid volume fraction on the viscosity and the threshold of the dynamic shear stress of the Bingham model are thus analyzed. Then, using sediments without salt and organic matter, we studied the influence of these two chemical compounds on the rheological behavior of the sediments and their influence on the aging of the sediments. A static study is also carried out using the Vane test allowing the calculation of the threshold shear stress. Finally, an assimilation of the natural filling phenomenon is achieved in columns under conditions similar to natural conditions. These columns are then filled with natural sediments, washed sediments and sediments free of organic material and left for ages ranging from one week to 9 months. Then, the columns will be disassembled and rheological tests with the Brookfield Rheometer will be performed throughout the depth of the columns as well as measurements of water content and grain size. These tests allow us to study sediment structuring in the long term and also to identify the effect of salt and organic matter on sedimentation.

Une micro-structuration de surface peut améliorer les propriétés en frottement d’un contact lubrifié grâce à la génération de pression hydrodynamique. Ce travail s’inscrit dans le cadre du projet ANR MicroGaMe, dont l’objectif était de structurer la surface d’une garniture mécanique en acier inoxydable austénitique. Nous avons développé un procédé basé sur l’utilisation des traitements thermochimiques à basse température (nitruration et carburation) assisté par plasmas froids. L’étude des couches obtenues après traitements a permis d’améliorer la compréhension de leur nature et de leur formation et de mettre en évidence la présence de précipités nanométriques. Lors des traitements, une déformation dans la direction perpendiculaire à la surface (appelée « gonflement »), et qui est la conséquence de fortes contraintes internes, peut être utilisée de façon originale comme moteur de structuration. Afin d’obtenir un motif « positif », nous avons traité les échantillons à travers des plaques d’acier percées par laser. La réalisation d’un motif « négatif » (cavité) nécessitant l’utilisation d’un masque discontinu, nous avons testé plusieurs voies de dépôts. La forme et les dimensions spécifiques à la garniture mécanique ne pouvant être obtenu par cette approche, nous avons également développé un procédé de gravure ionique, qui a pu être appliqué avec succès aux pièces à taille réelle / Surface patterning can improve friction properties of a lubricated contact by the generation of hydrodynamic pressure. The objective of the ANR project MicroGaMe was to pattern the surface of a mechanical seal in austenitic stainless steel. We developed a process based on the use of low-temperature plasma-assisted thermochemical treatments (nitriding and carburizing). The study of the treated layers leads to a better understanding of its nature and of the formation mechanisms and also reveals the presence of nanoprecipitates. During the treatments, a deformation occurs in a direction perpendicular to the surface (called “swelling”) as a consequence of high internal stresses, which can be used as an original patterning driving force. To obtain a “positive” pattern, we treated samples through laser-cut steel plates. A “negative” motif (cavitie) requires the use of a discontinuous mask so we tested different deposition techniques. As the specific shape and dimensions needed for the application to a mechanical seal cannot be obtained with this approach, we also develop an ion etching process, which has been successfully applied to real size piece

One of the key challenges in information and communication technologies for socio-economic development (ICT4D) is that the contribution of ICT to development is difficult to describe and assess. This is particularly true when looking beyond the immediate context of an ICT4D project, to its impact on the larger social system within which the project is introduced. This problem can benefit from a systems approach. Systems thinking is concerned with the performance of the total system, when changes are made to a part of the system. Systems thinking recognises that the performance of a subsystem relative to its own goals does not necessarily lead to increased performance of the larger system. However, in the field of ICT4D, systems approaches are seldom used, and appropriate ways to describe and assess a social system are lacking. The study aims to contribute theoretically as well as empirically to the social systems body of knowledge in ICT4D. A particular social systems approach or framework is developed, based on structuration theory and autopoiesis. The framework is attractive because it provides a way to describe and assess the sustainability and state of development of the total system. The theoretical component of the thesis concerns the development of a social systems framework. This is done in a conceptual study that draws on systems literature and social theory. The empirical component concerns the application of the systems framework in an ICT4D case study. A descriptive, longitudinal case study is performed in a rural settlement in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Data is collected by means of interviews and participant observation during several visits to the settlement. Data analysis is done making use of the concepts in the systems framework. The result of the data analysis is a description of the larger social systems where the ICT4D project is implemented, as systems served, and the ICT4D project, as serving system. By studying the mutual influences between the serving system and systems served, the contribution to socio-economic development of the serving system is assessed. The study’s research contribution is to indicate how a social systems framework can be used to assess an ICT4D project’s contribution to the socio-economic development of the social systems it serves. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Informatics / unrestricted

The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model is used increasingly in the public sector in the Middle East. This thesis addresses a shortage of empirical research in this field and extends the, so called, dynamic capabilities perspective by investigating how the EFQM model can contribute to developing organisational capabilities. A research model was developed based on the theory of structuration and the dynamic capabilities perspective. A multiple case study design was used in three public sector organisations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The unit of analysis was the activity configuration involved in the deployment of the EFQM model. This research investigates how activity configurations changed over time, their effect on the organisational social structure and their outcomes in developing new capabilities. In-depth data were collected using interviews and archival sources. The thesis suggests that motives for using the EFQM model represent an important factor in defining the type of activities in its deployment and for its success. It was found that external and internal motives can both have positive impact. The findings showed that organisations experienced with the EFQM model tend to follow similar paths of deployment and achieve comparable results. An indicative model is proposed describing the three stages the organisation can go through in the deployment of the EFQM model. Firstly, the organisation develops the capability to understand the benefits of the model and to plan for its successful deployment. Secondly, the organisation focuses on developing operational capabilities, using the EFQM model. Thirdly, the organisation improves existing capabilities and develops new ones in a recurring cycle, referred to as the cycle of dynamic capabilities. This research contributes to the perspective of dynamic capabilities by investigating the sources of capabilities and how they are shaped through the deployment of the EFQM excellence model. The theoretical background and the research methodology used in this research extend the research application of the structuration theory by linking it with the dynamic capabilities perspective. Suggestions for further research include investigation of the learning cycle of dynamic capabilities through the lens of organisational learning. The research methodology can also be extended to consider strategy formation. An investigation of the EFQM model, which is the basis for assessment in the government award scheme, carries inevitable sources of limitations and bias. A significant proportion of the data collected and analysed was confidential in nature and presented challenges in relation to dissemination of the results.

Cette thèse décrit la préparation de matériaux hybrides organiques-inorganiques aux propriétés ciblées. Dans la première partie de ce travail, le procédé sol-gel a été couplé aux techniques d'auto-assemblage pour la préparation de matériaux hybrides organiques-inorganiques. Cette combinaison est d'un grand intérêt, non seulement d'un point de vue fondamental, mais aussi parce qu'elle permet la production de nouveaux matériaux hybrides fonctionnels à structuration hiérarchique. Deux familles ont été étudiées, avec deux types de liens : urée ou uréthane. L'influence de paramètres tels que la longueur des chaînes alkyle et alkylène et le solvant sur la nanostructure a été analysée. Le comportement hystérétique d'une classe des matériaux à liens uréthane a été exploité. Dans la seconde partie de ce manuscrit, le procédé sol-gel a été utilisé pour préparer des électrolytes hybrides organiques-inorganiques composés de biohybrides siloxane/poly(e-caprolactone) à liens uréthane, contenant des proportions fortement variables de triflate de potassium dans un cas, et un mélange de triflates de lithium et d'europium dans l'autre exemple. Dans les deux cas, des prototypes de dispositifs électrochromes ont été construits, avec une structure sandwich constituée de quatre couches comprenant deux couches externes formées de films d'oxyde conducteur transparent, un film électrochrome d'oxyde de tungstène (WO3) et une couche active conductrice d'ions constituée des échantillons d'ormolyte. Les transmittances optiques moyennes, les contrastes de couleur et les temps de réponse associés aux processus de coloration/décoloration ont été déterminés. Le changement de couleur a été quantifié dans le prototype à base du mélange Li/Eu.Le carbonate de calcium (CaCO3) est un composé minéral très important dans la Nature, qui peut exister sous six formes polymorphiques différentes. Parmi elles, la phase amorphe (ACC) métastable est utilisée par beaucoup d'organismes comme intermédiaire transitoire pour former des objets composés de monocristaux de calcite ou d'aragonite à morphologie élaborée. L'ACC a un potentiel inédit dans le domaine de l'orthopédie étant donné sa vitesse de croissance, son caractère immunogène et les propriétés mécaniques des os qui en dérivent. Dans cette étude, nous avons utilisé une méthode de synthèse faisant appel à la poly(vinylpyrrolidone) pour retarder la cristallisation de l'ACC et à plusieurs liquides ioniques et tensio-actifs pour changer la morphologie de calcite. / This thesis is focused on the preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid systems with targeted properties. In the first part of the work, the sol-gel process and self-assembly techniques were employed for the preparation of organic-inorganic hybrid materials. This combination is of great interest, not only from the fundamental point of view, but also because it allows the production of novel functional and hierarchically structured hybrid materials. Two families of materials were obtained, featuring two different types of cross links: urea and urethane. The influence of parameters such as the alkyl and alkylene chain length and the solvent on the nanostructure was analyzed. In the second part of the work the sol-gel method was used to prepare organic-inorganic hybrid electrolytes composed of novel di-urethane cross-linked poly(e-caprolactone)/siloxane biohybrids incorporating a wide range of potassium triflate concentration in one example and a mixture of lithium triflate and europium triflate in the other example. In both cases prototype ECDs have been constructed using a four layer-sandwich configuration comprising two outermost layers composed of transparent conducting oxide (TCO) films, an EC film of tungsten oxide (WO3) and an IC active layer of selected ormolyte samples. The average optical transmittance, colour contrast, optical density and device response time associated with the colouring/bleaching processes have been determined. The colour change has been quantified in the prototype based on the Li/Eu mixture. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an important biomineral in Nature, that can exist in six different polymorphic forms. Among them, the metastable amorphous CaCO3 phase (ACC) is used in many organisms as a transient intermediate to form single crystals of calcite and aragonite with elaborate shapes. ACC has a tremendous potential in the orthopedic field. Herein we have employed poly(vinylpyrrolidone) to retard the crystallization of ACC. In addition, several ionic liquids and surfactants were employed to tune the morphology of calcite.