Esta pesquisa objetiva compreender o processo de estruturação das redes sociais virtuais organizacionais, as quais são espaços de colaboração, interação e compartilhamento de conhecimentos, ideias e projetos. As redes foram estudadas a partir da Teoria da Estruturação, de Giddens (2009), destacando-se a dualidade da estrutura e as reflexões quanto ao contexto de ação (dimensões tempo e espaço). A pesquisa compreendeu um estudo de caso em uma Instituição de Ensino Superior, tendo três redes sociais virtuais organizacionais, denominados “Fóruns”, como unidades de análise. A organização está distribuída geograficamente em 10 Campi localizados em diferentes cidades, de modo que essas redes têm o papel de integrar os atores e possibilitar as trocas de experiências, auxiliando no processo de construção da identidade das áreas e da Universidade. Os Fóruns têm como propósito discutir e deliberar sobre assuntos relacionados aos cursos de graduação em diferentes níveis de conhecimento, sendo caracterizados pelas diversas áreas do conhecimento e possibilitando a participação espontânea dos atores em qualquer tempo. A investigação deu-se através de observação participante, entrevistas e análise de documentos. Os resultados apontam que as redes constituem-se à medida que os grupos determinam os seus objetivos de trabalho, o que remete à definição de uma agenda de trabalho, de recursos, papéis e estruturas. Cada rede possui um coordenador responsável, que se configura como o mediador e o incentivador das interações que ocorrem presencial e virtualmente. As ferramentas virtuais, também, são determinadas pelos atores com base nas atividades a serem desenvolvidas, podendo abranger tecnologias de comunicação ou instrumentais como editores de texto colaborativos. Foram elencados os elementos constituintes das redes sociais virtuais organizacionais, os quais não são estanques e podem alterar-se conforme os Fóruns mudam os seus propósitos de ação. Percebe-se que, a cada encontro, ou quando determinados novos objetivos e tarefas, ou nas inserções de novos membros, a rede reconfigura-se, reproduzindo outras características, alterando a sua composição, emergindo novas estruturas, novos papéis e novas regras, os quais são definidos pela coletividade. Os resultados apontam que a rede é um espaço participativo de integração e de construção da identidade dos cursos, das áreas de conhecimento e da Universidade. Para que a rede tenha significado para os atores é necessária à existência de elementos que sirvam como elo entre os atores e que justifiquem o trabalho coletivo. A rede torna os atores mais reflexivos e é um espaço de reflexão sobre a Universidade e a atuação docente, desenvolvendo as interações pela lógica do debate. Os participantes utilizam os seus conhecimentos e as experiências para reforçar os discursos, assim como as normas norteiam e justificam as ações dos atores. A rede dá acesso a todos os níveis hierárquicos da organização e a recursos materiais, financeiros, informacionais e de conhecimentos. Portanto, a rede é um ambiente de articulação e legitimação das decisões e das normas organizacionais, dando substancialidade para a organização. Dessa forma, as redes consolidam-se a partir da rotinização das práticas, formando estruturas, construindo uma identidade compartilhada que serve de elemento agregador para o grupo. / This research aims to understand the structuration process of organizational virtual social networks, which are opportunities for collaboration, interaction and sharing of knowledge, ideas and projects. The networks were studied based on the Theory of Structuration, Giddens (2009), highlighting the duality of structure and reflections on the action context (time and space dimensions). This research is a case study performed in a Higher Education Institution, and the analysis units were three organizational virtual social networks, called ‘Forums’. The organization is geographically distributed in 10 campi located in different cities, and the networks have the role to integrate the actors and enable the sharing of experience, assisting in the process of the identity construction of the areas and the University. The Forums aimed to discuss and deliberate on issues related to undergraduate courses at different levels of knowledge. They were characterized by different areas of knowledge and allowed the spontaneous participation of the actors at any time. The investigation was carried out through participant observation, interviews and document analysis. The results show that networks are formed as the groups determine their work objectives, which lead to the definition of a work schedule, resources, roles and structures. Each network has a coordinator responsible for being the mediator and the instigator of the interactions that occur in person and virtually. The virtual tools are determined by the actors based on the activities to be developed, and they may include communication or instrumental technologies such as collaborative text editors. We listed the elements constituent of organizational virtual social network, which are not steady and may change as they change their Forum purposes of action. Therefore, it is clear that at each meeting, when some new goals and tasks are determined, or in the insertion of new members, the network reconfigures itself, reproducing other features, changing its composition, and bringing out new structures, roles and rules, which are defined by the community. The results show that the network is a participative space of integration and identity construction of courses, areas of knowledge and the University. The network is meaningful if the actors identify elements that serve as a link between them and justify the collective work. The network makes the actors more reflective and is a reflection about the University and the teaching practice, developing the interactions by the logic of the debate. Participants use their knowledge and experiences to strengthen the speeches. The norms guide and justify the actions of actors. The network gives access to higher levels of the organization as well as to material, financial, informational, and knowledge resources. Therefore, the network is an environment of articulation and legitimation of decisions and organizational norms, giving substantiality to the organization. Networks are consolidated from the routinization of practices, forming structures and the establishment of a shared identity that serves as an aggregating element to the group.

Les « gels attractifs » constituent une catégorie particulière de fluides complexes. Ces gels sont formés à partir d’une suspension de particules attractives en faible concentration volumique. La microstructure du gel est très facilement modifiée par l’application d’une contrainte. Ainsi, il est possible de structurer ces gels par un cisaillement dans une géométrie suffisamment confinée. Nous avons étudié en détail ce phénomène dans des gels de noirs de carbone ainsi que dans des suspensions de billes de verre dans de l’huile rendues attractives par la présence d’une faible quantité d’eau. Nous avons reproduit ce phénomène dans des simulations numériques de dynamique moléculaire, ce qui permet d’étudier les conditions nécessaires à l’apparition de telles structures. Enfin, en géométrie peu confinée, le mécanisme de rupture et d’écoulement de ces gels en volume est complexe puisque leur rupture est en perpétuelle compétition avec leurcinétique de reformation. Nous avons étudié la rupture des gels de noir de carbone en couplant des techniques classiques de rhéologie avec une technique de mesure locale de déplacement par ultrasons. Ces expériences nous ont permis d’établir un lien entre le comportement global du matériau (sa rhéologie macroscopique) et la dynamique locale de fluidification. / Attractive gels are made of weakly aggregated colloidal particles dispersed in a liquid at lowvolume fraction. Their microstructure can easily be modified when submittedto a shear stress. For instance, those gel can form structures in response to flow under strong confinement. This work is a detailed study of this phenomenon in carbon black gels and in glass beads suspensions in oil made attractive by addition of a small amount water. Those structures are also reproduced in molecular dynamics numerical simulations which allow us to study the conditions for such structures to appear. When sheared in a large gap, yielding and flow of those gels is complex due to the competition between shear-induced aggregation and breakup. Yielding of carbon black gels has been studied by coupling global rheological measurements with local ultrasonic velocimetry providing a link between the global (macroscopic) behaviour and the local dynamics.

Qu'est-ce qui fait de la philosophie une discipline autonome par rapport aux sciences ? Centrale dans l’œuvre de Granger, cette question nous conduira à examiner l'opposition entre deux procédés : la structuration scientifique et l'interprétation philosophique. La première construit l'expérience dans des structures d'objets, tandis que la seconde la commente dans des systèmes de significations. Nous montrerons comment ces deux procédés prolongent une distinction plus fondamentale qui se situe au niveau même de la réalité : le virtuel et l'actuel. En reconnaissant que le parcours de la connaissance est un va-et-vient constant entre l'actualité brute de l'expérience et sa virtualité construite, le chemin de la science à la philosophie se tracera ainsi : au point de départ - les sciences formelles - lieu de naissance du virtuel ; à une étape intermédiaire - les sciences empiriques - moment de confrontation du virtuel à l'actuel ; à l'aboutissement - la philosophie - champ d'unification de la réalité dans la totalité de ses aspects. / What makes philosophy an autonomous discipline regarding sciences? Central in the oeuvre of Granger, this question will lead us to examine the opposition between two procedures: the scientific structuration and the philosophical interpretation. The first builds the experience in structures of objects, whereas the second comments it in systems of significations.We will demonstrate how these two procedures extend a more fundamental distinction that lies in the very level of reality: the virtual and the actual. Acknowledging that the course of knowledge is a constant back and forth between the crude actuality of experience and its built virtuality, the way from science to philosophy can be drawn as follows: at the starting point - formal sciences - birthplace of virtual; to an intermediate stage - the empirical sciences - moment of confrontation between the virtual and the actual; and ultimately - the philosophy - unification field of the reality in the totality of its aspects.

Cette thèse traite de la structuration issue des activités de consommation ordinaires (Gronow et Warde, 2001 ; Carù et Cova, 2003, 2007). La structuration renvoie au "procès des relations sociales qui se structurent dans le temps et dans l'espace via la dualité du structurel", c'est-à-dire que les individus et les collectifs (qui s’interpénètrent dans des systèmes sociaux) se co-construisent dans des structures. Dans cette perspective, « les systèmes sociaux sont à la fois des conditions et des résultats des activités accomplies par les agents qui font partie de ces systèmes" (Giddens, 1987). Nous proposons une étude de cas reposant sur l’intérêt d’adopter deux perspectives théoriques pour éclairer de façon inédite la structuration issue de la consommation. Notre cas est basé sur l’examen de récits de vie relatifs aux trajectoires des consommateurs sur les forums de discussion en ligne, et en particulier les forums de la communauté Jeuxvideo.com. Alors que dans la première étude, la structuration est éclairée par un examen de la construction du sens dans les expériences de consommation ordinaires qualifiées d’interactionnelles ; dans la seconde étude nous proposons un approfondissement de la connaissance relative aux mécanismes de la construction du soi appréhendée dans sa complexité. Cette thèse entend contribuer tout autant à développer une nouvelle approche de la consommation qu’à approfondir la connaissance de la structuration. / This thesis deals with structuration in ordinary consumption activities (Gronow and Warde, 2001 ; Carù and Cova, 2003, 2007). Structuration is about the process of social relationships that structure in time and space through the duality of the structural. This means that individuals and collectives that interrelate in social systems, are co-created in structures. In this framework, social systems are both conditions and results of activities performed by agents who belong to these systems (Giddens, 1987). We propose a case study that builds on two different theoretical perspectives to investigate structuration in ordinary consumption. Our case is mostly built on consumers’ narratives about their trajectories in online discussion forums, and especially one of them called Jeuxvideo.com. In the first study, structuration is enlightened by revealing sensemaking processes in ordinary consumption experiences. In the second study, we focus on the mechanisms leading to the construction of the self considered in its complexity. This thesis intends to contribute both to a development of a new approach of consumption and to a better knowledge about structuration.

Syfte: Syftet är att skapa förståelse för den påverkan som implementering av lean har på arbetsmiljön ur ett medarbetarperspektiv. Metod: Studien genomförs som en kvalitativ fallstudie enligt hermeneutiskt tolkningsperspektiv där primärdata samlas in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Sekundärdata har huvudsakligen samlats in genom vetenskapliga artiklar och litteratur på området. Resultat & slutsats: Studien visar att implementering av lean påverkar medarbetarnas arbetsmiljö och att faktorer som delaktighet, kommunikation, utbildning och inte minst ledarskapet är viktiga faktorer för en god arbetsmiljö. En initial motvilja har efterhand som konceptet inarbetats bytts ut mot en positiv inställning och ett nytt sätt att arbeta. Examensarbetets bidrag: Studien bidrar till att skapa förståelse för hur implementering av lean påverkar arbetsmiljön. Genom förståelse för hur externa strukturer påverkar interna strukturer och därigenom medarbetarnas agerande vill vi belysa vilka faktorer som företag bör rikta fokus mot för att bibehålla en god arbetsmiljö under implementering av lean. Studiens resultat kan inte direkt generaliseras till andra arbetsplatser, men erbjuder en möjlighet att testa samma metod för att se hur arbetsmiljön påverkas. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Studien är relativt liten och medarbetarna har arbetat tillsammans under lång tid, därför kan framtida studier med fördel utföras på företag med större personalomsättning, annat företag i servicebranschen eller som en jämförande studie mellan två olika företag för att se påverkan på arbetsmiljön. / Aim: The aim of the study is to create understanding of the implications of lean implementation on the work environment seen from the coworker perspective Method: Qualitative case study with primary data collected by interviews of managers and employees at ICA Maxi Special in two different cities. Secondary data was collected from scientific articles and relevant literature regarding previous research in the field. Result & Conclusions: The study reveals that implementation of lean affects the coworkers' perceived work environment and that factors such as participation, meaningfulness, autonomy, communication and education are important factors for a good work environment. The initial reluctance experienced by coworkers when implementing the concept was later exchanged for a positive attitude and a new way of work, which consequently led to a better working environment in general. Contribution of the thesis: The findings of this study contribute to research by understanding and highlighting the factors that influence the employees work environment. By understanding the effect of external structures, such as lean and how it affects internal structures, and such as the actions and reactions of coworkers, companies can mitigate the impact on the work environment when implementing lean. Suggestions for future research: The study is rather small and conducted at a workplace where most of the employees have worked together for several years. Therefore, we suggest that future studies can be conducted at companies with a larger employee turnover, or at a different type of company in the service industry, or as a comparative study between

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Until fairly recently studies of children as actively engaged in the production of meaning making in their social lives has been overlooked, ignored or received marginal attention within the contemporary social sciences (Caputo 1995). There has since however been considerable growth in literature dedicated to extending our understanding of childhood (Hardman 1973; Caputo 1995; Waksler 1996; Morss 2002; Korbin 2003; Sawyer 2002). This has resulted in an emergent sense of legitimacy and focus on the role of children "as active and creative social actors" in society, particularly in the field of anthropology of children (Reis, 2006) and the establishment of the 'new' sociology of childhood. The point of departure for these emergent theoretical frameworks concern the traditional devaluing of childhood and children's perspectives in favour of "...a recurring set of dominant ideas within political and academic domains that draws a generational boundary between adults and children, in the process restricting children to subordinate and protected social roles" (Wyness 200:1 in Smith 2009:253). According to James & James (2004:76 in Smith 2009:252) law is a centrally important mediating influence in the social construction of childhood as vulnerable passive bystanders. This resonates with Moses who states that the rights prioritised for children within the South African Constitution are "protection-oriented conceiving children as vulnerable citizens rather than citizens with agency" (2008:329). Furthermore, according to Moses (2008:333) the conception of children in South African policy and that which underlies national service delivery, belies or contradicts perceptions of children as "active, meaning-makers, employing a range of coping strategies". This research therefore explores the representation of children and childhood within the Children‘s Amendment Act (41 of 2007); that is whether they are displayed as "active, meaning-making" citizens or passive vulnerable bystanders; and seeks to contrast that representation with the reality of children's worldviews, decision-making capabilities in their social lives in an attempt to highlight children as citizens with agency. The study used a qualitative exploratory approach which employed a range of qualitative research tools. Data was collected through a policy analysis, research workshops and focus 2 group discussions. Purposive sampling was used to compile a child sample composed of nine girls and ten boys. A social constructionist framework was used to thematically analyse the data. The results suggest that there are two general representations of children and childhood within the Act (41 of 2007); namely "the vulnerable child" and "the child as citizen and agent". The study offers recommendations for further research and improvements for service provision directed toward children, child welfare and childcare.

The successful institutionalisation of digitally-enabled service transformation (DEST) in the UK public sector has always been a challenge for the government. Associated with technology and managerial impediments, the derailment of several DEST projects in recent years has attracted much scholarly debate. Nonetheless, overt emphasis on the antecedents and effects of DEST institutionalisation has concealed the real events underpinning the transformation process, especially the 'social' interactions between the institutional actors and structures, as well as their role in the DEST institutionalisation process. Hence, this research aims to explore the roles of the actors and structures in DEST institutionalisation as working practice in public institutions. To do so, this research develops a conceptual framework grounded on Institutional Theory and Structuration Theory concepts, derived from the analysis of four past DEST cases in the UK. The framework is used in a qualitative enquiry that explores the well-publicised Universal Credit transformation case through interviews, focus groups and review of documentary and parliamentary-select-committee-media evidence. The findings offer insights into the deinstitutionalisation and structuration processes in the study of DEST institutionalisation to better understand the implementation of change in public institutions. This study concludes that actors and structures play important roles in structuring the DEST institutionalisation process as working practice in public institutions. Actors could manipulate structures of meaning, power and norms to promote desired actions in shaping practices that support DEST institutionalisation.

In the current era of globalization, knowledge-based innovations are critical for socio-economic development. In most African countries, however, the level of African-based research and development is minuscule. In addition, there continues to be a considerable gender gap in higher education throughout Africa, where male enrolments far outweigh female enrolments, particularly in the science and technology (S&T) fields. This gender discrepancy has raised concerns about the factors that underlie reduced female enrolment in S&T programs in African universities. Equally intriguing, in view of the relative scarcity of women in the S&T fields, there is surprisingly little knowledge concerning the attributes and the experiences of those African women who do enrol and teach in S&T fields, and who thus can serve as role models for younger girls who have an interest or the potential for pursuing studies in these fields. In Ghana, although policy initiatives have been undertaken to increase women’s participation in higher education, women remain underrepresented in science and technology (S&T) fields, particularly, at the graduate education level. To gain a better understanding of how some women have overcome longstanding obstacles to gender equality in S&T, my dissertation focused on the evolving status of 24 African women in three S&T graduate education programs – Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) – in two universities in Ghana. To shed light on the factors that facilitate or hinder women’s participation in S&T graduate programs, a qualitative inquiry, into the experiences and perceptions of these women was undertaken. The conceptual framework presents the sequence of three approaches: (a) advocacy to raise consciousness about underlying gender-disparity issues; (b) a gender-affirmative-action approach to recruit and train a critical mass of female scientists and researchers; and (c) promotion of gender mainstreaming as a way of bringing gender perspectives into the universities’ cultures. This framework has been complemented by the structuration theory that has been useful in illuminating the experiences and perceptions of the women in the S&T ACE graduate programs in Ghana. These conceptual and theoretical frameworks have helped elucidate how the development and effective implementation of gender policies and procedures can lead to the transformation of institutional, social and global structures. Structures in turn can impact women’s agency and help overcome gender disparity in S&T higher education. The analysis of the women’s stories provided insights into the intersection of gender, socio-cultural factors, organizational cultures, and how gendered challenges impacted the professional aspirations of the women academics in the two public universities studied in Ghana. Beyond a better understanding of women’s experiences, this study helps us understand gender inequalities and the societal norms and practices, as well as patriarchal forces that permeate societies and impose structural barriers to women’s advancement. The study also helps to address a major research gap concerning the forces that affect, for better or worse, women’s experiences and potential academic contributions in S&T in Ghana and elsewhere in the world and adds to the broader literature on women’s experiences in male-dominated fields.

This longitudinal case study examines how the process of radical organizational change unfolded within EES Consulting (EES). EES was an international engineering and environmental services consulting firm that experienced significant internal cultural difficulties in the early 1990s, such that OCI Consulting predicted the firm would fail within 18 months. This study focuses upon the Canadian operations, and their experience in becoming a top company to work for in Canada following their adoption of the Balanced Scorecard in 1999. The study employed a mixed-methods methodology, involving semi-structured and informal interviews, participant observation, third-party survey data, and internal corporate documents. Based upon this data, EES’ experience did not conform to that described by traditional change models (Lewin’s three-stage, punctuated equilibrium, or organizational development models) in terms of the pace, sequence, or linearity of change. Rather, EES’ experience was more consistent with recent conceptualizations of change as a continuous, emergent process, involving loops and iterations. Although EES members suggested that change was attributable to their adoption of the Balanced Scorecard, this technology merely served as the catalyst for subsequent organizational social dynamics that produced change. Specifically, change at EES occurred through negotiated redefinition of the social structures governing members’ actions. Thus, radical organizational change represented an act of social construction between members. This study’s key contribution is the development of a theoretical extension to Giddens’ (1984) structuration theory, involving a synthesis with the concept of organizational identity. Organizational identity is defined as the key interpretive scheme mediating the relationship between the institutional realm and action. Modifying identity enables alternative conceptualizations of structure, which consequently enable new courses of action by members. However, lasting change depends upon the continued legitimation and reproduction of these alternative structures, combined with the abandonment of previous structures. / Organizational Analysis

ERP systems which initially were developed for manufacturing organizations have in recent years spread to public sector organization. It is put forward that public sector organization differ from private organization and this might affect how successfully an ERP system is implemented. ERP systems are rarely studied in public sector organization and few researchers have explored the fit between ERP system and organizational structures. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore what relationship that exists or do not exist between ERP system and organizational social structures in a military organization, and how this has affected the implementation and use. This is done through a qualitative case study of the Swedish Armed Forces with data from semi-structured interviews with 14 platoon commanders and 3 company commanders. The findings suggest that there is a misfit between the ERP system, PRIO, and the social structures in the organization which have made the implementation and use problematic. The technical shortcomings, such as the user interface, are not the main problem and employees might have been negative about the system anyway. This since platoon commanders and company commanders do not think platoon commanders are the best suited to do the tasks with PRIO.