This project focuses on the installation, teaching, and developing Information Technology in a self-maintained collective organisation: the Montessori Training Centre, Lushoto, Tanzania. Our practical endeavour consists in implementing modern technology in this environment. We have organised teachings for the staff of this organisation based on basic knowledge in computer use. We also studied how Information Technology may be implemented and its impact on their schooling system, their administrative tasks as well as their business activities (such as hostel and small scale manufacturing). The expected result of our work is to provide the Montessori personnel with independent means of computer management with built-in facilities for extensions, as well as technical means to maintain their technical equipment. / Ett försök att introducera modern teknologi i en skola för montessori förskolelärare. / Kristoffer Sakaria, 0708-284551

Abstract The development of new work practices requires the combination of several organizations. The interaction and knowledge formation of the participants are the essential factors. The aim of this study was to reveal their potential for forming new work practices to day-care centre work in the practice of Social Services (UAS) studies. The research focused on co-operative learning of the network of persons representing universities (academic and applied sciences) and day-care centres. The methodology of the study is based on developmental work research. Four different types of data were collected: 1. Discussion data of the Social Services (UAS) students, teachers and work place instructors during joint planning sessions, 2. Their stimulated recall -interview data, 3. The historical analysis of the day-care work, 4. Historical analysis of the transfer concept. The “expansive learning cycle” and historical analysis of the transfer were used as conceptual tools of analyzing teamwork and knowledge formation of the teams. The activity system model of developmental work research was used as conceptual tool of analyzing learning of the teams. Central themes were further elaborated using stimulated recall – interviews. The interaction mainly consisted of presenting one’s own view, and on the other hand, solving a common problem. The team did not question the interaction at a personal level. The team was not able to construct the common activity system and the boundary object between different institutions (the university, university of applied sciences and the day-care centres). Knowledge formation was conducted by reconstruction of existing knowledge and traditional transfer. On the other hand, regenerative learning and knowledge formation were developed in the activity system of the day-care centre and education. The team observed children’s learning and the contradictions of current activity and formed a new theoretical concept. It was applied as a tool for the activity of students. The new insight was not expanded to the work in day-care centres. Mere conversation is not sufficient - new work practices require mutual trust, strong network connections and the ability to assess and develop the attitude towards a more co-operative one. Knowledge formation provides regenerative learning. What is essential is questioning present practices, knowing the zone of proximal development of the work and modeling of new ideas. The most important in knowledge formation, interaction and learning are the theories of learning. The starting point to develop the work is to find the right object based on the needs of working life. / Tiivistelmä Uusien työtapojen kehittäminen vaatii useiden organisaatioiden yhteistoimintaa. Keskeistä on eri asiantuntijoiden vuorovaikutus ja tiedonmuodostus. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin kehittäjätiimin vuorovaikutuksen ja tiedonmuodostuksen suhdetta uusien työtapojen muodostumiseen sosionomi (AMK) -koulutuksen harjoittelussa. Tutkimus kohdistui yliopiston, ammattikorkeakoulun ja päiväkodin edustajien yhteistoiminnalliseen oppimiseen tavoitteenaan kehittävä siirtovaikutus. Tutkimuksen metodologia perustuu kehittävään työntutkimukseen. Tutkimus sisältää neljä aineistoa: 1. Sosionomi (AMK) -opiskelijoiden, opettajien ja työpaikkaohjaajien keskusteluaineiston, 2. stimulated recall -haastatteluaineiston, 3. päiväkotityön historiallisen kehityksen analyysiaineiston, 4. siirtovaikutuksen käsitteen historiallisen analyysiaineiston. Keskusteluaineiston vuorovaikutuksen analyysimenetelmänä käytettiin tiimityön analysoinnin käsitteellisiä välineitä. Tiedonmuodostusta analysoitiin ekspansiivisella oppimissyklillä ja siirtovaikutuksen kehitysvaihemallilla. Päiväkotityön historia-analyysiä käytettiin osallistujien kehittämiskohteen tulkintaan. Oppimista analysoitiin toimintajärjestelmän rakennemallilla. Stimulated recall -haastattelut täydensivät analyysejä. Kehittäjätiimin vuorovaikutuksessa korostui oman näkökulman esittäminen ja toisaalta yhteisen ongelman ratkaiseminen. Osallistujat eivät kyseenalaistaneet yksilötason vuorovaikutustaan. Tiimi ei pystynyt luomaan yliopiston, ammattikorkeakoulun ja päiväkodin edustajien yhteistä toimintajärjestelmää ja kehittämiskohdetta. Tiedonmuodostusta ohjasivat valmiin tiedon rekonstruointi ja staattinen siirtovaikutus. Toisaalta päiväkodin ja koulutuksen toimintajärjestelmässä kehittyi uudistavaa oppimista. Osallistujat käsittelivät lasten oppimista, nykytoiminnan ristiriitoja ja muodostivat uuden selitysmallin, jolla oli teoreettista merkitystä opiskelijan toiminnan välineenä. Uusi selitysmalli ei siirtynyt päiväkotityöhön. Pelkkä keskustelu ei riitä - uudet työtavat edellyttävät keskinäistä luottamusta, vahvoja verkostosuhteita sekä kykyä arvioida ja kehittää asennetta yhteistoiminnallisuuteen. Tärkeimmiksi tiedonmuodostusta, vuorovaikutusta ja oppimista sääteleviksi tekijöiksi nousevat oppimisteoriat. Uudistukset edellyttävät uudistavaa oppimista. Keskeistä on taito yhdessä kyseenalaistaa nykyistä toimintaa, hahmottaa työn lähikehitys sekä mallittaa uusia ideoita. Lähtökohtana ovat työelämän tarpeista nousevat kehittämiskohteet.

New information technology is developing faster than the models, metaphors and methods in use for conceptualizing the sharing and managing of information in organizations, in communities and in society in general. The way we utilize information technology today does not seem to succeed in supporting the everyday work practices through which organizations accomplish their work. In this PhD dissertation, the results of a research project about skill, cooperation and computer support in public service one-stop shops are presented and discussed. Based on these results, alternative metaphors are presented for understanding the constructive aspects of front office work practices, One hypothesis is, that there is added value in not only being aware of multiperspectivity as an issue, but of making use of it in design. A problem here is that many traditional research methods, as well as most methods for systems development, are designed to diminish rather than make use of ambiguity and diversity. The metaphor of inverted indexicality of language is introduced in order to conceptualize the construction of meaning in action. New ways of conceptualizing IT management on the shop floor - including design issues - are proposed. Metaphors like the art of IT management, gardening and caring for are indicative of the issues at stake. / <p>This book is for sale! The Hardcopy-version of this thesis is available for 200 SEK, not including postage. Please contact the author if you are interested! mailto:sara.eriksen@bth.se</p>

(in English) The main goal of the diploma thesis "The Possibility of Social Work in Rural Areas. On the Example of the Village Majdalena" is to introduce possible implementations of social work in villages or rural communities on the example of Majdalena, a village located in the South Bohemia region, Czech Republic. The theoretical portion of this thesis describes different approaches to social work and the status of a small community in the Czech welfare system, primarily with focus on social work. Legislative background of social work in a village and community social worker's job duties and responsibilities are also discussed in the thesis. The hands-on research presented in this work focuses on Majdalena, Czech Republic. A sociodemographic analysis and a field survey were conducted to characterize the investigated community, in addition to two case studies targeting Majdalena citizens. Finally, conclusions include suggestions of particular goals and objectives for a social worker in Majdalena.

No description available.

No description available.

Social work and social work practices are today heavily influenced by efficiency ideologies and society’s ongoing digitalisation process. Social workers themselves are educated to handle the tension between the ethical and judicial aspects of their jobs within the context of today’s social situation. However, the discretions needed for social workers to do so requires that they have the right conditions for learning at work. The purpose of this qualitative single-case study is to explore what significance digitalisation has had on social workers conditions for learning. Focus lies on concepts such as learning, competence and communication. The gathered material is mainly based on interviews with 10 peopleholding different positions within a government administrative body in which social work takes place. Results shows that while many have faith in the strengths and the future possibilities of digitalisation toimprove competency, communication and learning through digital efficacy and jurisprudence, this isn’t necessarily the case when applied to the everyday workings of social work practices. While the generalperception seems to be that these discrepancies are due to varying levels of digital competencyconnected with age, results show that this is only partially true, especially if competency is to mean more than individual capabilities or skill. Results have also shown that competency, communication and learning interlock with one another, and that it is difficult to achieve one without the other. Competency prerequisites the right conditions for learning, which in turn prerequisites good communication, and good communication prerequisites competence. My conclusion is that social work agencies such as the one in this case study need to plan and organise the digitalisation of their social work agency in such a way that includes learning, communication, and competence as three important aspects of digitalisations rather than relying on the digitalisation process to solve aspects of learning, communication and competence that do not live up to the ideologies of todays ideologies.

The release of ex-president Nelson Mandela on 10 February 1990, introduced transformation in South Africa. The road to transformation, in a post apartheid era, placed pressure and demands on the social work profession and the professionals. Change was inevitable (Lesnik 1997:164) while the inequities and the disparities of the past had to be eliminated and replaced with transformed services. This study explores the transformational challenges experienced in contemporary social work practice at The Department of Social Development, Johannesburg, South Africa. A non-probability sample was selected (Babbie and Mouton 2004:166). A combination of the qualitative and the quantitative approaches, with more emphasis on the quantitative approach was utilized. Questionnaires were used for data collection and analysis was done according to the framework as described by Tesch in De Vos et al., (1998:343). The transformational challenges were identified and guidelines are drafted to assist in addressing the identified challenges. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Social Work)

Background: The implementation of the Care Matters: Transforming the Lives of Children and Young People in Care Green Paper (Department for Education and Skills, (DfES) 2006) and the subsequent Care Matters: Time for Change White Paper (DfES, 2007), witnessed the consolidation of a universal ambition to improve the opportunities for all children living in care. Arguably, the most important recommendation in this pursuit is reflected in the need to provide people who have lived in care as children with independent support, which enables them to discuss their experiences, and suggest ways in which the care system might be improved. However, whilst this recommendation has been implemented with a diverse range of care leavers, the impact of the experience of living in care and the associated disadvantage experienced by Travellers and Gypsies remains under researched, understated, and unacknowledged (Cemlyn et al., 2009). Methodology: Guided by the philosophical assumptions of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), this study represents and constructs the experience of living in public care by focusing on the voices 10 Travellers and Gypsies who lived in care as children. Testimonies were collected through a wide variety of methods that included face-to-face interviews, focus groups, telephone interviews, blogs, emails, letters, song lyrics, and poems. Findings: Following a considered application of IPA, six main themes emerged from the analysis. These were social intervention; an emotional rollercoaster of separation, transition, and reincorporation; a war against becoming settled; leaving care and the changing relationship with the self and others; inclusion and strength; and, messages for children living in care. In line with the tenets of phenomenology, these findings are presented in such a way to as to invite the reader to move away from their own personal understanding of the world in order to enter the ‘lifeworld’ (Husserl, 1970, 1982) of Travellers and Gypsies who lived in care as children. However, to assist in this sense making activity, this study also provides a discrete interpretation of the findings before developing this knowledge to form a more detailed theoretical construct entitled ‘the model of reflective self-concepts’. Taken together with the testimonies of each person who took part in the study, the thesis enables an understanding of how the experience of living in care is inextricably linked to a process of social and psychological acculturation. By staying close to the experiences provided, it reveals how a process of change is determined, more often than not, by a sense of personal resilience directly related towards a Traveller or Gypsy self-concept. In attempt to move towards service improvement, this thesis offers a series of recommendations and conclusions which aim to support social workers and carers empower Traveller and Gypsy children to develop a secure Traveller and Gypsy self-concept thus enabling them experience improved outcomes including those opportunities set out in Care Matters social policy agenda (DfES, 2006; 2007).

從工業革命以來，科技造成人類社會快速的進步，而從二十世紀至今，科技導入、科技創新等相關的研究，便成為商業、組織管理、科技管理與心理學領域爭相研究的重點議題，許多證據指出，科技所帶來的結果，卻不如管理者或學者原本所預期，產生了許多「非預期的創新」。 本研究認為，非預期創新的產生，是因為過去的研究與觀察，是從一個巨觀的角度分析科技所帶來的影響。本研究架構於漸衍過程(emergent)的觀點，以詮釋型(interpretive)質性的研究，透過使用者工作實務(work practice)微觀層次的觀察，來呈現科技與組織的演化。 透過鼎華科技導入衛星派遣系統成立台灣大車隊的歷程，本研究呈現台灣大車隊中的司機在科技導入前、後的工作方式，以及與科技互動下產生的創新結果。本研究發現，經過七年的時間，台灣大車隊的司機，已經發展出許多不同的創新工作實務，包括預期型工作實務、品牌型創新工作實務與科技型創新工作實務，並且於三種類型的工作創新之中，存在有更豐富、更多元的創新。 而透過個案的觀察，本研究認為，一種科技可以造成如此迥異的科技採用與結果，可以歸因於產業情境所造就的多樣化工作實務。而本研究的研究方法與結論，可以做為組織與企業進行科技導入與轉移時的參考。