Abstract: This study focuses on the role of senior management in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition of a private, alternative faith-based school by a public provincial school board, both located in Canada. To keep the anonymity of these organizations in this study, the organizations were given pseudonyms. These were « Biblical School », for the private alternative faith-based school and « School Board », for the public provincial school board. The organizations came together in July of 2015, in a deal that was officially referred to as an « acquisition », with the School Board as the acquiring organization. However, the acquisition negotiations began several months earlier. In the agreement, the Biblical School would gain access to resources held by the School Board, while the School Board would take over the two campuses belonging to the Biblical School. Additionally, the School Board would be responsible for the provincial school program, whilst the Biblical School would be left with some responsibilities, including alternative faith-based education programs and some logistics components. Senior managers from both organizations were involved through all the stages of the acquisition, from the negotiations, to the transfer of knowledge during the transition. This thesis focuses on these roles by studying the perceptions of senior managers, middle managers, teachers and support staff, drawn from both organizations. In order to clarify the role of the senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition, the literature review explores the concept of mergers and acquisitions, the knowledge transfer, the role of senior management and the proximity factors in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. Under mergers and acquisitions, the literature helps understand the concept and the importance of supporting organizations to transfer or consolidate their assets, including knowledge. In the following section, the literature reveals th e definition of knowledge transfer, how it can be achieved, the factors that affect it and its importance in mergers and acquisitions. Then, in the role of the senior management component, the literature identifies the role of senior managers in supporting an effective transition in a merger, or an acquisition. Finally, the factors of influence regarding the role of senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition are revealed in the literature as geographical, cognitive and organizational proximity. Nonetheless, time is also mentioned in the literature as a major factor of influence. The aim of this qualitative and exploratory study is to understand the role of senior management in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. It is based on a case study carried out within the two institutions previously mentioned, where semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 29 participants. The results of the study help the researcher to identify the pillars around the role of senior management and in the process meet the three objectives of the study which are : a) to describe and understand the role of senior management in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition, b) to highlight the best practices of senior management in order to improve the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition, and c) to identify the factors that influence the role of senior management in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. From the results emerged a model that illustrates the role of senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. The model includes the categories, strategies, best practices and factors of influence surrounding the role of senior management in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. First, the model presents the role played by senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition, which is divided into three main categories; knowledge management, communication management, and transition management. These categories are viewed through the lenses of the pre-acquisition and post-acquisition phases. Each category is divided into different strategies. The strategies under the knowledge management category are identified as: 1) performing research on the acquired organization, 2) creating and implementing the knowledge transfer plan, and 3) providing resources for the knowledge transfer. These strategies fall under both pre and post-acquisition phases. Next, the strategies related to the communication management category, which also fall under both pre and post-acquisition phases, are primarily identified as: 1) setting up communication channels, 2) setting and communicating expectations clearly and transparently, and 3) being receptive to the employees’ ideas and concerns. In the last category, the strategies under transition management are underlined as 1) be ing physically present and organize meetings, 2) offering employees support during the transition, and 3) providing the necessary tools during the transition. These strategies fall only under the post-acquisition phase. Second, the model highlights the best practices of senior managers in the knowledge process during an acquisition. These best practices are divided into three main categories: forecasting, relationship building, and training. Each category of best practices is linked to a specific category related to the role of senior management. Forecasting is linked to the knowledge management category, relationship building to the communication management category and training to the transition management category. Under relationship building, the perceived best practices are creating and partaking in relationships between employees in both organizations, encouraging an open-door and teamwork culture and showing appreciation to employees. Under forecasting, creating a plan to support the transition, assigning someone on-site to manage the transition and learning from previous experiences are revealed as the perceived best practices. Lastly, under training, identification of employees’ levels of knowledge, the offer of training programs to facilitate the knowledge transfer and providing expert speakers, trainers and mentors, are revealed as the perceived best practices. The model also showcases four factors of influence around the role of senior management in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. These factors are: geographical proximity, cognitive proximity, organizational proximity and time. Under geographical proximity, distance in relation to physical presence and distance in relation to communication flow are identified as the two characteristics that affect the role of senior managers. Also, in terms of cognitive proximity, shared knowledge vs knowledge gaps and employees’ professional experiences, are revealed as the main cognitive proximity characteristics that should be taken into consideration when looking at the role of senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. Additionally, similarities or dissimilarities of the organizational cultures and the similarities or dissimilarities of the organizational structures are identified as the organizational proximity characteristics. Lastly, the time factor, including time adequacy and transition timeline, is identified as another factor that affects the role of senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. In conclusion, the theoretical contributions of this study are to improve the understanding of the relationship between the knowledge transfer process and mergers and acquisitions, to enhance the understanding of the role of senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition, to improve the understanding of the theoretical bridges between the role of senior managers in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition and proximity factors and finally, to contribute to the understanding of the time factor around the role of senior management in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition. The study also presents practical contributions, including useful ideas and actions around the role of senior managers, the best practices and the factors of influence in the knowledge transfer process during an acquisition.

This thesis deals with an analysis of the status of the elderly population in the Czech society in terms of demographic, socio-economic and regional point of view. The demographic part discusses the structural evolution of the Czech population over the time, with emphasis on its senior component. The demographic analysis examines reasons for these structural changes and their current impact. It includes also predictions of the course of the future development. The regional part reflects various differences that exist in populations (both general and elderly) in particular regions of the Czech Republic, and how have these populations changed over the last ten years. The socio-economic perspective includes social and psychological aspects of the conversion to the economically inactive part of life, it takes into account the financial provision and also analyses the offer of social services in terms of financial and regional aspects. The thesis concludes with a summarization of opportunities that are offered by governmental and private subjects for the pursuit of an adequate active life of seniors.

Class of 2008 / Objectives: To determine the number of senior communities within the Tucson area that have access to automated external defibrillators (AED). Methods: Publicly available internet search engines were used to identify a number of various senior communities within the Tucson area. The various communities included senior apartment communities, recreational vehicle parks, and manufactured home parks. A representative employee of the community was interviewed to determine if an AED was accessible to the residents of the community. Results: Thirty senior apartments, eight manufactured home, and twelve RV communities were identified. The communities ranged in size from 22 to 1576 units, with the average being 222 units per community and the mean 232 units per community. IF the 50 senior communities identified only 2 of them had an AED on the premises. Both of the communities that had an AED on premise were RV parks that had a paid security crew that was trained in the use of the AED. Conclusions: In the Tucson senior communities there is a gross under availability of access to life saving equipment in a population that has a higher risk heart attacks and could benefit from having access to an AED.

While undergraduate enrollment of all racial groups in United States higher education institutions has increased, 6-year graduation rates of Blacks (39%) remain low compared to other races; Asians (69%), Whites (62%), and Hispanics (50%; NCES, 2010). Women’s graduation rate is higher than men’s; 58% compared to men’s at 53% in public institutions (IPEDS, 2011). Retention literature does not address the perceptions of Black ethnic groups’ experiences in college, particularly in Hispanic serving institutions. Informed by Tinto’s (1975, 1987, 1993) student academic and social integration model, Guiffrida’s (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) model of relationships while at college, and ex-post facto research design, the study investigated personal and institutional factors that relate to Black students’ self-efficacy and persistence to the senior year in college. Data about Black ethnic undergraduate seniors’ (N = 236) academic and social experiences in college were collected using the Student Institutional Integration Survey (SIIS), an online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to collect background information about the sample, correlation was calculated to indicate the degree of relationship between the variables, and multiple linear regressions were used to identify variables that are predictors of self-efficacy of persistence. Independent samples t-test and analyses of variance were computed to determine whether differences in perceptions of personal and institutional factors that relate to self-efficacy of persistence to the senior year in college could be identified between gender and ethnicity. Frequency was summarized to identify themes of participants’ primary motivation for finishing undergraduate degree programs. These themes were: (a) self-pride/personal goal, (b) professional aspiration/career (c) motivation to support family, (d) desire to have financial independence/better job, (e) to serve community, (f) opportunity to go to college, (g) being first-generation college student, and (h) prove to family the value of higher education. The research findings support the tenets of academic and social integration theories which suggest that students’ interaction with peer and faculty, relationships with family and friends, and involvement in institutional activities and organizations influence their persistence in college. Implications based on the findings affect institutional policy, curriculum, and program improvements that relate to Black undergraduate students’ academic and social support.

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In this study, I explore how the senior leadership team at an Academy Trust in England understands and operationalizes inclusion, particularly for pupils whose learning profile includes autism. England’s policies regarding inclusion appear to focus on the placement of pupils with disabilities in the mainstream provision; however, the Academy Trust, a specialist provision, suggests their school is inclusive. Gaining insight into the senior leadership team’s understandings and operationalization of inclusion will provide further understandings of inclusion in Multi Academy Trusts that are specialist provisions. In this study, I examine the understandings of eight members of a senior leadership team at a Multi Academy Trust. Participants were recruited through the Director of Research and Development at the Trust during their regularly scheduled meetings. Data were collected and triangulated though interviews, document reviews, and a focus group. Data was analyzed through qualitative thematic analysis. This study highlights the importance of strategic planning, Trust structure, pupil placement, curriculum, and evaluation systems in operationalizing inclusions for pupils with disabilities including autism. The findings also suggest inclusion, for senior leaders at the Multi Academy Trust, means meeting the individual needs of pupils, facilitating pupil voice, facilitating a sense of belonging, promoting independence, and maximizing pupil potential.

Title: The relationship of body composition and aerobic fitness in the elderly Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the aerobic fitness of students at University of Third Age at the UK FTVS and to investigate whether there exists an association between body composition and aerobic fitness. Methods: The research involved 54 seniors (age 64 ± 2.71 years, body height 163.23 ± 6.05 cm) who studied at University of the 3rd Age at the UK FTVS at the time of research. The original sample of probands was 91, but people aged over 70 years and people taking heart-rate medications had to be excluded. Measurments of body composition was performed using BIA 2000M multifrequency bioimpedance analysis. The investigated parameters were total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW) in litres, fat free mass (FFM) in kg, percentage of body fat (% BF) and extracellular and body cell mass ratio (ECM/BCM). Measurement of aerobic fitness was performed by a 2 km test pass, evaluated by Stejskal at the athletic stadium UK FTVS. Time and heart rate were scanned by sporttester (Polar S 610i). The data was processed using the IBM SPSS statistics 22. Results: The results showed that our group belongs to "avarage seniors" in terms of aerobic fitness. A significant relationship...

The main objective of the thesis is to find out whether and how the policy of active aging in the region of Zlín is implemented in connection with the labor market. The diploma thesis contains an overview of the theoretical knowledge from the field of active aging and after is elaborated for analysis based on realized collection of primary and secondary data. In conclusion, the problem areas are identified and there are proposed measures to improve the current situation.

The doctoral thesis offers a comprehensive view of income situation of the elderly and evaluates methodological procedures and indicators used for assessing the standard of living of seniors in the Czech Republic. This thesis describes status of the elderly in society according to the amount of their income. Furthermore, it offers an analysis categorised by regions. Moreover, it deals with depth of poverty and amount of funds needed, and it also compares differences between the working and non-working seniors. The thesis combines qualitative and quantitative data from the EU SILC and Household budgert survey (HBS) surveys, and from a primary survey in a form of a questionnaire. The results might be applied in social policy and in developing indicators of living standards.

Retiring from work is a major personal and professional transition and has a major influence on one's life. It is imperative that these retired individuals endeavor to adjust to this life and change and learn to effectively manage their time. Tourism and gerontology researchers have been aware of the importance of seniors tourism and leisure activities to enhance their well-being. However, limited attention has been recently devoted to senior consumers, who are still often not included in a range of marketing practices in tourism studies. Therefore, this dissertation focuses on senior tourists who are over the age of 65 and retired, and mainly focuses on a senior's travel motivation, and examines the antecedents of travel motivation; personal values and travel constraints and their consequences; satisfaction with salient life domains of QoL, and overall QoL. The sample population of seniors residing in Jeju, South Korea was surveyed. A final sample of 328 were subjected to data analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM), Chi-square difference test, independent t-tests, and multi-group analysis were performed to test the hypotheses. The findings of this dissertation revealed that a positive relationship between personal values and travel motivation of seniors. This means that if the senior tourists with strong personal values, then they are more motivated to go travel. On the other hand, travel constraints did have negative significant influence on travel motivation. Another finding of the study showed that travel motivation affect their satisfaction with different life domains; if they are highly motivated, they are more satisfied with their life domains including family, social, emotional, leisure and health life, which in turn contribute to their overall quality of life. Findings also indicated that statistical significance of the moderating effect in the model, thus suggesting that there were some meaningful moderating effects of the type of leisure activity patterns on the relationship between satisfaction with life domains and overall quality of life. The study also provided managerial implications for tourism marketers and destination managers. / Ph. D.