Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Delphi methodology'

Distance education is one means of delivering theological education which is being used increasingly. This delivery method is particularly helpful to nontraditional students who desire higher education but who cannot leave family and work commitments for residential study. For some in both developing and developed countries, distance education is the only route open to higher theological education. Criteria for assessing effective delivery of distance education have not been established in the literature. The purpose of this study was to identify such criteria. Data were collected with a three-round Delphi from an international panel of seventy-four members comprised of denominational and non-denominational educational administrators and distance educators, denominational district representatives, accreditation representatives, and adult education representatives. Two pilot studies were conducted to test the questions used for round one. Criteria statements were retained if they were deemed "important" or "very important" by at least 80 percent of the respondents on rounds two and three. The panel's responses were found to be independent of respondent location--national or international--and the category of the respondent's group membership. The findings of the study led to the identification of a set of thirty-one criteria in eight categories which may be useful for evaluating existing distance education programs or guiding the development of new programs. The eight categories were ethical concerns, commitment, curriculum, evaluation, support, technology, feedback, and faculty. There was a 100 percent consensus in rating these thirty-one criteria as "important" or "very important" by the panel members.
Ph. D.

Mestrado em Gestão de Sistemas de Informação
Devido aos recentes avanços tecnológicos, as organizações atualmente enfrentam grandes mudanças em seu trabalho. Assim, é importante que as empresas possam conectar e satisfazer seus clientes por meio de experiências baseadas em software. É isso ou elas serão deixadas para trás. Para ajudar as organizações a repensar suas estratégias de acordo com o desenvolvimento de habilidades para responder aos desafios da atual transformação digital, onde a transição da organização digital não é um processo prosaico, este estudo pretende contribuir com a literatura existente e tem como objetivo identificar as competências digitais que são importantes no ambiente de trabalho das organizações de hoje. A fim de fornecer uma visão geral atualizada do desafio da lacuna de competências digitais resultante da transformação digital, estruturar nossos conhecimentos existentes neste domínio, e para melhor compreender a relevância de cada uma das competências identificadas, decidiu-se colocá-las a  disposição de um painel composto por 16 profissionais de forma a criar uma ordenação de acordo com o grau de importância. Para este processo foi utilizado a metodologia de rankings Delphi, dividida em duas fases e com duas rondas. De acordo com os resultados obtidos as cinco competências digitais mais importantes são: (1) avaliação de dados, informações e conteúdo digital; (2) navegação, pesquisa e filtragem de dados, informações e conteúdo digital; (3) integração através de tecnologias digitais; (4) gestão de dados, informações e conteúdo digital; (5) colaboração através de tecnologias digitais.
Due to recent technological advances, organizations currently face massive changes in their work. So, it is important that companies be able to connect and satisfy their customers through software-based experiences. Is this or will they be left behind. In order to help organizations rethink their strategies according to the development of competencies to respond to the challenges of the current digital transformation, where the transition of the digital organization is not a prosaic process, this study intends to contribute the existing literature and aims to identify the digital competencies which are important in today's organization's workplace environment. In order to provide an up-to-date overview of the challenge of the digital competencies gap resulting from digital transformation, to structure our existing knowledge in this field, and to better understand the relevance of each of the identified competencies, it was decided to make them available to a panel of 16 professionals in order to create an ordering rank according to the degree of importance. For this process was used the Delphi rankings methodology, divided into two phases and with two rounds. According to the results obtained the five most important digital competencies are: (1) evaluating data, information and digital content; (2) browsing, searching and filtering data, information and digital content; (3) interacting through digital technologies; (4) managing data, information and digital content; (5) collaborating through digital technologies.
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This thesis examines the views of A.C.T. primary school teachers about their work to build a picture of the culture of primary school teacher work of primary schools in the Australian Capital Territory. I define teaching culture to mean the behaviour, work practices, beliefs and possible habits teachers display in their efforts to perform the task of teaching. This description of teaching is possibly similar to what some authors describe as the 'sociology' of teaching (e.g. Barton and Walker, 1981). It is also a reflection of Deal's suggestion that culture describes 'the way things are done around here1 (Deal, 1985:605). In this case the study builds a picture of primary school teacher perceptions of the way things are, the culture of primary school teacher work, in the A.C.T. primary teaching system. The study has been designed to identify key workplace issues which preoccupy A.C.T. primary school teachers now and what they perceive to be the significant issues of the future, that is by the year 2005. The Delphi methodology was chosen to be the means to gather and refine information and perceptions from teachers its ability to clarify and refine issues and because the Delphi has amongst its advantages anonymity for participants and the use of experts in the data gathering. The study found that a high proportion of teachers feel stressed about attending meetings, yet wanting at the same time a say in the running of their school. Other results were that teachers considered they are poorly supported by the wider community and that a significant reward of the job was the interaction with the children. Teachers also believe that instructional methods will be radically different by 2005. The study aims to provide current information about the culture of primary school teacher work to teachers themselves and to present to interested authorities and institutions, such as the Department of Education and Training and The University of Canberra or the Australian Catholic University, recommendations for further research and practice to assist in policy design regarding the work teachers do. Some recommendations to the Department of Education and Training include: · the culture of primary school teacher work should be actively promoted to inform the community of the complexity of teacher work and to attract quality applicants to the profession; · that classroom teachers are resourced, at comparable levels to Public Servants or Departmental officers, with equipment such as computers and furniture; · that consideration be given to providing more inservice opportunities for teachers to pursue during stand-down (school holiday) time. Recommendations made to teacher-training institutions include: · regular research and reviews of teacher-training programs, with particular emphasis placed on beginning teacher needs and competencies and to highlighting areas newly recruited and experienced teachers consider require more training; · the design of comprehensive upgrading programs catering for the needs of newly appointed and experienced teachers.

Proceedings of the European Conference on Knowledge Management, ECKMVolume 2, 2017, Pages 730-74118th European Conference on Knowledge Management, ECKM 2017; International University of CataloniaBarcelona; Spain; 7 September 2017 through 8 September 2017.
Universities' knowledge management processes are critical to accomplishing their role of integrating individuals and countries in the competitive global knowledge economy through teaching, research and technology transfer (Sam and Van der Sijde, 2014; Welch, 2011). This role is particularly critical for universities in emerging economies, like Peru, that seek to integrate into this knowledge economy by diversifying their economies and reducing dependence on raw materials exports (Ministerio de la Producción del Perú, 2014). To do so, the article proposes an academic knowledge management model for Peruvian universities that integrates their processes and key actors. The authors analyzed current academic knowledge management models at five Peruvian universities using multiple case study methodology. The universities are among the highest ranked Peruvian universities in the QS University Rankings: Latin America (2016), such that the resulting model is applicable to universities in Peru and other emerging economies. The data collection protocol was validated by experts using the Delphi method and pilot tested at a sixth university. The results indicate that knowledge at these universities is managed intuitively or by tradition, not in a way that systematically integrates processes and participants. The critical success factors to managing academic knowledge effectively were identified as qualified staff, responsible and committed to research; engagement and commitment from senior management; an organizational culture that encourages knowledge creation, sharing and use; and staff attitude and learning ability. The research also identified criteria that measure the model impact in terms of its stages (creation, exchange and use) and university processes (teaching and learning, research, and transfer of services to society). The article concludes that the model is applicable to the current knowledge management practices identified in the case study and includes basic components (planning, management processes, principles, methods, technologies, etc.) in a system whose indicators fulfill the university mission and goals.

Background The Australian nurse practitioner (NP) role is represented by over 1,400 endorsed NPs practising in over 50 different specialty areas. Generic standards have broadly supported the role’s behavioural, professional and expanded practice expectations since 2006, and have been used for the accreditation of NP Masters programmes nationally. The need for consistent and flexible specialty clinical education for NP students has been described in the Australian literature. The clinical learning and teaching of Australian NP specialty roles has traditionally occurred in the student’s workplace, within a specified area of practice. Jurisdictional differences at state/territory and local levels have influenced how NP students develop and enact their roles once endorsed. Factors such as the student’s clinical supervisor, local legislation and policy, role ambiguity, restrictive local clinical guidelines and protocols influence what NP students learn in their clinical learning environments. These factors contribute to a highly differentiated NP workforce, with differing clinical skills, knowledge and abilities noted within the same specialty area. Similar difficulties have led to the development of broad specialty areas in the United States of America. To better complement the generic learning and teaching students receive through their academic programmes, this research aims to validate a specialist clinical learning and teaching framework for Australian nurse practitioners. This framework will not only enhance consistency in their specialty clinical learning and teaching, but create greater workforce flexibility. A consensus-based research methodology was needed to validate the specialty clinical learning and teaching framework. Delphi Technique is a consensus-based research methodology commonly employed in nursing research to explore solutions to questions that have unclear or indeterminate answers. It aims to achieve a pre-determined level of consensus on a research question, using content experts through an anonymous and iterative process. Critical to the method’s validity is the participation of a heterogeneous group of experts with advanced knowledge of the content area, and whose feedback to other panelists is controlled to minimise social influence. Individual participant characteristics, such as experience level and confidence in decision-making, and the influence of these upon consensus are poorly described in the Delphi literature. There was little previous empirical research to inform how to best describe heterogeneity of opinion informing the specialty clinical learning and teaching framework using nurse practitioners. Aims - To validate a specialty clinical learning and teaching framework for Australian NP students. Specific objectives that addressed this aim were: - To validate a previously developed Australian NP metaspecialty taxonomy. - To validate supporting clinical practice standards used for the metaspecialty taxonomy. - To contribute knowledge of how consensus is achieved when using Reactive Delphi methodology. Specific questions that addressed this aim were: - Does Reactive Delphi methodology potentiate the negative influence of the bandwagon effect in Delphi panelists? - What effect does panelist confidence have on decision-making in Delphi panelists? - How can experience level be objectively demonstrated in individual Delphi panelists? - What effect does experience level have on decision-making in Delphi panelists? - Does confidence relate to opinion change in individual Delphi panelists? - What effect does panel composition have on consensus outcomes? - To demonstrate the application of web-based methods in Delphi research. Specific objectives that addressed this aim were: - Describe the advantages of using a web-based Delphi method. - Describe the risks of using a web-based Delphi method. - Describe how panelist feedback was managed during six concurrent Delphi studies. Methodology and Methods This mixed-methods research used Delphi Technique to achieve consensus on, and therefore validate, a NP specialty clinical learning and teaching framework. Two sequential 3-round Reactive Delphi surveys were used to achieve the research aims. The first Delphi survey was designed to validate a proposed broad Australian NP specialty taxonomy previously established by the 2014 CLLEVER (CLinical LEarning goVERnance) study. The second Delphi survey was designed to validate clinical practice standards, which would support and provide definition to the specialty taxonomy. Together, the taxonomy and standards informed the proposed specialty clinical learning and teaching framework. Consensus Development Conference methodology was used to refine the proposed specialty clinical learning and teaching framework. Data collected during the conduct of the first Delphi survey achieved the second research aim. The third research aim was achieved by using metadata, paradata and embedded data in an advanced web-based survey design for both Delphi surveys. Purposive sampling and snowballing techniques were used to recruit from an eligible population of NPs, endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, with at least 12 months’ post-endorsement experience (N=966). Web-based survey technology was used to collect data. Data were analysed using content analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics. The Content Validity Index and non-parametric testing using McNemar’s Test for Change were used to determine consensus that informed the proposed framework. Results Approximately 20% of the eligible Australian NP population contributed to both Delphi surveys. Six broad specialty areas, termed metaspecialties, were validated for the proposed specialty taxonomy. A Consensus Development Conference refined the names of two metaspecialties. The metaspecialties served as a foundation for validated clinical practice standards, which provided substance and definition to the final specialty clinical learning and framework. Heterogeneity of expert NP opinion informing the framework was demonstrated using professional activities representative of advanced practice nursing. There was no indication of negative social influence determining the manner by which panelists achieved consensus on the proposed framework. A novel method of using metadata, paradata and embedded data in web-based surveys was applied, which supported high survey response rates and identified non-response bias. A novel application of web-based surveys allowed the researcher to concurrently conduct six Delphi surveys nested within a larger research project. Conclusion This research demonstrates a rigorous approach in validating a proposed specialty clinical learning and teaching framework for Australian NP students. It contributes new knowledge on the internal and external validity of Reactive Delphi methodology.

Mestrado em Gestão de Sistemas de Informação
Due to the rapid global spread of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, companies and institutions were forced to take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of contagion, such as asking employees to work remotely from their homes. In this scenario, cloud computing technology has proven to be a great ally of companies to overcome the crisis caused by the pandemic.The adoption of Cloud Computing technology has accelerated in recent years and, according to a forecast made by the International Data Corporation (IDC), investment in cloud services will exceed US $ 1.0 trillion in 2024, which represents a rate of annual growth of 15.7% (Villars et al., 2020).In an attempt to help organizations plan their strategies for adopting cloud computing, the present study intends to contribute to the existing literature on the subject, aiming to identify the main factors that influence the adoption of such technology during the Covid-19 pandemic crises.For this purpose, 18 factors identified during the literature review and were presented to 11 experts in the field of cloud computing technology, in order to seek a consensus regarding the order of importance of these factors.Through the Delphi method, divided into two phases and with two rounds, a list was obtained, ordered according to the degree of importance of the main factors that influence the adoption of cloud computing. After analyzing the data, the results obtained show that the six most important factors are: (1) Adoption, Migration and Acquisition Cost; (2) Availability and Accessibility; (3) Scalability; (4) Cost of Data Confidentiality and Availability Loss; (5) Security and (6) Customization.
Devido à rápida disseminação global da pandemia causada pelo novo coronavírus, empresas e instituições foram forçadas a tomar medidas de precaução para reduzir o risco de contágio, como pedir aos funcionários que trabalhassem remotamente das suas casas. Nesse cenário, a tecnologia de computação em nuvem tem se mostrado uma grande aliada das empresas para superar a crise provocada pela pandemia.A adoção de Computação em Nuvem tem se acelerado nos últimos anos e, segundo previsão da International Data Corporation (IDC), os investimentos em serviços em nuvem ultrapassarão US $ 1,0 milhão de bilhões em 2024, o que representa uma taxa de crescimento anual de 15,7% (Villars et al., 2020).Na tentativa de auxiliar as organizações no planeamento das suas estratégias de adoção da computação em nuvem, o presente estudo pretende contribuir com a literatura existente sobre o assunto, e tem como objetivo de identificar os principais fatores que influenciam a adoção dessa tecnologia durante a crise pandêmicas de Covid-19.Nesse sentido, 18 fatores identificados durante a revisão da literatura foram apresentados a 11 especialistas na área de tecnologia de computação em nuvem, a fim de encontrar um consenso quanto à ordem de importância desses fatores.Através do método Delphi, dividido em duas fases e com duas rondas, foi obtida uma lista ordenada de acordo com o grau de importância dos principais fatores que influenciam a adoção da computação em nuvem. Após a análise dos dados, os resultados obtidos mostram que os seis fatores mais importantes são: (1) Custo de Adoção, Migração e Aquisição; (2) Disponibilidade e acessibilidade; (3) Escalabilidade; (4) Custo de perda de confidencialidade e disponibilidade de dados; (5) Segurança e (6) Personalização.
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Most individuals travel in order to participate in a network of activities which are important for attaining a good standard of living. Because such activities are commonly widely dispersed and not located locally, regular access to a vehicle is important to avoid exclusion. However, planning transport system provisions that can engage members of society in an acceptable degree of activity participation remains a great challenge. The main challenges in most cities of the world are due to significant population growth and rapid urbanisation which produces increased demand for transport. Keeping pace with these challenges in most urban areas is difficult due to the widening gap between supply and demand for transport systems which places the urban population at a transport disadvantage. The key element in mitigating the issue of urban transport disadvantage is to accurately identify the urban transport disadvantaged. Although wide-ranging variables and multi-dimensional methods have been used to identify this group, variables are commonly selected using ad-hoc techniques and unsound methods. This poses questions of whether the current variables used are accurately linked with urban transport disadvantage, and the effectiveness of the current policies. To fill these gaps, the research conducted for this thesis develops an operational urban transport disadvantage framework (UTDAF) based on key statistical urban transport disadvantage variables to accurately identify the urban transport disadvantaged. The thesis develops a methodology based on qualitative and quantitative statistical approaches to develop an urban transport disadvantage framework designed to accurately identify urban transport disadvantage. The reliability and the applicability of the methodology developed is the prime concern rather than the accuracy of the estimations. Relevant concepts that impact on urban transport disadvantage identification and measurement and a wide range of urban transport disadvantage variables were identified through a review of the existing literature. Based on the reviews, a conceptual urban transport disadvantage framework was developed based on the causal theory. Variables identified during the literature review were selected and consolidated based on the recommendations of international and local experts during the Delphi study. Following the literature review, the conceptual urban transport disadvantage framework was statistically assessed to identify key variables. Using the statistical outputs, the key variables were weighted and aggregated to form the UTDAF. Before the variable's weights were finalised, they were adjusted based on results of correlation analysis between elements forming the framework to improve the framework's accuracy. The UTDAF was then applied to three contextual conditions to determine the framework's effectiveness in identifying urban transport disadvantage. The development of the framework is likely to be a robust application measure for policy makers to justify infrastructure investments and to generate awareness about the issue of urban transport disadvantage.

This dissertation addresses the problem of how to manage environmental resources to improve the prospects that resource allocation activities will make the greatest possible contribution to social well-being. The study had two major aims. One aim was to provide a rational philosophical framework for guiding resource evaluation and decisionmaking processes. The second - and principal - aim was to develop a reliable and practical method for evaluating those resource allocation proposals which are particularly controversial. As part of the philosophical framework, a modification of the social welfare function is specified which explicitly addresses the well-being of future generations. This form of the social welfare function is based on certain a priori premises, which are used to define the goal and objectives of resource allocation, and to identify appropriate evaluation criteria. These evaluation criteria are then used to devise a resource management strategy and to develop an environmental evaluation methodology to serve that strategy. The methodology consists of both formal and informal methods of evaluation, but special attention is given to developing a formal method of evaluation that is simple and inexpensive to apply, and therefore particularly suited for Third World conditions. The principal research objective was to develop a useful method for evaluating those resource allocation proposals which are especially controversial. The method that has been developed - the Panel Evaluation Method - utilizes a cost-benefit framework and employs procedures modeled on the Delphi Method. The Panel Evaluation Method features three techniques for accomplishing a formal evaluation of competing proposals: the Impact Identification Technique is used to identify and define all the impacts of concern; the Significance Measurement Technique is used to judge the relative significance of the impacts; and the Criteria Trade-off Technique is used to determine which proposal best satisfies specified evaluation criteria. The Panel Evaluation Method was applied to several case studies with positive results. For example, the central feature of the method - the Significance Measurement Technique - was found to be capable of producing reasonably replicable results, and so is considered to provide an acceptable way to determine whether the costs of a proposal would exceed its benefits. The method thus serves to extend the capabilities of both Environmental Impact Assessment and Cost-benefit Analysis, and to link these two widely-used tools for guiding resource allocation decisions into a more powerful and versatile decisionmaking tool.

Ultimamente as empresas têm buscado entender e aprimorar a confiabilidade de seus produtos para atender a crescente exigência dos clientes quanto à qualidade. Desta forma, as empresas também visam aumentar seus lucros, reduzir gastos com garantia e transmitir uma boa imagem de sua marca. Como contribuição a este tema, a presente dissertação apresenta um estudo de confiabilidade de um produto, baseado em recursos de baixo custo disponíveis nas empresas, os quais consistem os dados de garantia e a análise qualitativa dos especialistas. O objetivo do estudo representa desenvolver um método para modelar a vida útil de sistemas e componentes, e apresentar esta através da aplicação em um estudo de caso de certo equipamento agrícola. Para fundamentar a elaboração do método, o trabalho apresenta uma revisão bibliográfica sobre confiabilidade e análise qualitativa. O estudo explora o comportamento dos dados de garantia da empresa, a metodologia Delphi para obtenção da opinião dos especialistas, e a multiplicação de duas funções Weibull para consolidação dos resultados. Como principais resultados são apresentados: a curva de confiabilidade do sistema; o comportamento de falha dos componentes; e avaliação sobre o funcionamento do método.
Lately, companies have been urged to understand and improve their product reliability in order to meet the increasing costumer demand for quality. In doing so, the companies also aims at increasing its profits, reducing warranty claims’, and transmitting a good image of its brand. As a contribution to this subject, this dissertation presents a product reliability study based on low cost resources available in the companies, such as warranty data and experts’ qualitative analysis. The aim of this study is to develop a method to model the life cycle of systems and components, and demonstrate this method through a case study of agricultural equipment. This study presents a bibliographical review on reliability and qualitative analysis as well as other relevant subjects to support the method development. The study explores the company warranty data behavior, the Delphi methodology to obtain the experts’ opinions, and the multiplication of two Weibull distributions for the outcome consolidation. The main results presented are: the system reliability curve; the components failure analysis; and a method evaluation.

Relatório de Estágio de Mestrado em Enfermagem Perioperatória apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Enfermagem Perioperatória
No âmbito do 1º Mestrado em Enfermagem Perioperatória (MEPO) da Escola Superior de Saúde – Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, sistematiza-se no presente relatório o processo desenvolvido para a aquisição das competências do Enfermeiro Mestre em Enfermagem Perioperatória. O Estágio realizado em ambiente perioperatório contemplou a realização de um projeto sobre a área que constatámos ser a mais carente de intervenção. Recorremos à Metodologia de Projeto e através do método de análise do tipo e efeito da falha (FMEA), aferimos que o problema que veio motivar o desenvolvimento desde projeto foi o comprometimento da qualidade dos cuidados de enfermagem prestados no Bloco Operatório, devido à inexistência de visita pré-operatória (VPO). A VPO é o alicerce de todo o processo de cuidados perioperatórios e a sua importância reflete-se em termos de melhoria da qualidade de vida da pessoa submetida a cirurgia e diminuição da ansiedade. Esta permite ainda conhecer a pessoa, identificar os seus problemas e elaborar o plano de cuidados de acordo com os dados colhidos. Nesse sentido foi definido o seguinte objetivo geral: contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade dos cuidados prestados no Bloco Operatório através da proposta de uma Norma de Orientação Clinica da VPO. Através da elaboração de uma Revisão Sistemática sobre a importância da VPO, da realização de Visitas Pré-operatórias exploratórias e do Método de Delphi, foi possível obter como resultado, a validação de uma Norma de Orientação Clinica da VPO. O trabalho desenvolvido ao longo do MEPO e concretamente durante a realização do Projeto foi um importante contributo para construir conhecimento e evidência científica na área das Normas de Orientação Clinica da VPO. A nível individual, o MEPO facultou-nos momentos de reflexão, análise e prática clínica que conduziram ao desenvolvimento das competências de Mestre em Enfermagem Perioperatória.
Abstract: 8 ABSTRACT Within the 1st Master in Perioperative Nursing of Escola Superior de Saúde – Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, the present report systematizes the whole process developed in order to acquire the skills required to nurses Master in Perioperative Nursing. The internship conducted in the Operating Room included the realization of a project on the area that we found to be the most needed of intervention. We resorted to the project´s methodology and by the method of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), we verified that the problem that motivates the development of this project was the quality commitment of nursing care provided in the Operating Room, due to the inexistence of the preoperative visit. The preoperative visit is the foundation of the entire perioperative care process and its importance is reflected in terms of improvement of quality of life of the person undergoing surgery, decreased fear and anxiety. It allows knowing the person, identifying its problems and developing a care plan according to the data collected. Therefore we defined the following objective: contribute to the improvement of the quality of care provided in the operating room through the proposal of the preoperative visit’s guideline. Developing a Systematic Review on the importance of Preoperative Visit, conducting exploratory Preoperative Visits and Using the Delphi Method was possible to obtain as a result, the validation of the preoperative visit’s guideline. The work developed along this Master in Perioperative Nursing and specifically during the development of the Project was an important contribution to acquire knowledge and scientific evidence in the area of pre-operative visit’s guidlines. At the individual level, it has provided us moments of reflection, analysis and clinical practice that led to the development of the skills of Master in Perioperative Nursing.

This thesis aims to propose an alternative model for the management of academic knowledge in Peruvian universities, to integrate their processes and principal users. This descriptive research uses Multiple Case Study methodology in five Peruvian universities (two private and three public). To validate the data collection protocol of the Multiple Case Study, the Delphi methodology is employed, which was validated by experts in knowledge management and management of universities. As well, a Pilot Case Study is conducted at a sixth university to test the protocol in a real situation. This research generated three results. First, by analyzing the academic knowledge management models applied at the five Peruvian universities studied, it identifies three different approaches that management executes intuitively or by tradition, not systematically, and without integrating all processes and main participants. Second, the critical success factors with the greatest impact on the effective management of academic knowledge, according to the universities studied, are the following: the presence of qualified personnel, who are responsible and commited to investigation; commitment and convlction of senior management; an organizational culture that encourages the creation, sharing and use of knowledge; and the attitude and learning ability of the university staff. Third, it detects the components that measure the impact of the academic knowledge management model proposed for the Peruvian universities in tenns of the academic knowledge management stages (creation, exchange and use) and university processes (teaching and learning; research; transfer or services to the society). lt concludes that the alternative model for the academic knowledge management proposed through this research, applies to the three approaches identified in the universities that were part of the Multiple Case Study. lts basic components include planning, monitoring, management processes, principies, methods, techniques, tools and technologies, combined into a system to obtain a result whose indicators show compliance with the mission and goals of the university
Esta tesis tiene como objetivo plantear un modelo alternativo para la gestión del conocimiento académico en las universidades peruanas que integre a sus procesos y principales responsables. Se trata de una investigación descriptiva que emplea el método del Estudio de Casos Múltiple en cinco universidades peruanas (dos privadas y tres públicas). Para validar el protocolo de recogida de datos del Estudio de Casos Múltiple, se utiliza la metodologfa Delphi, consultando con expertos en gestión del conocimiento y en gestión de universidades. Asimismo, aplica un Estudio de Casos Piloto en una sexta universidad con el fin de probar dicho protocolo en una situación real. Presenta tres resultados. Primero, al analizar los modelos de gestión del conocimiento académico que aplican las cinco universidades estudiadas, identifica que dicha gestión es concebida bajo tres enfoques distintos y se realiza de manera intuitiva o por tradición, no de forma sistemática y sin integrar a todos sus procesos y principales responsables. Segundo, los factores criticas de éxito con mayor impacto en la gestión eficaz del conocimiento académico, según las universidades estudiadas son: personal calificado, responsable y comprometido con la investigación; compromiso y convicción de la alta dirección; cultura organizacional que fomente la creación, intercambio y utilización del conocimiento; y, actitud y capacidad de aprendizaje del personal de la universidad. Tercero, detecta los componentes de medición del impacto del modelo de gestión del conocimiento académico propuesto para las universidades peruanas por etapa de la gestión del conocimiento académico (creación, intercambio y utilización) y por proceso de la universidad (enseñanza y aprendizaje; investigación, y transferencia o servicios a la sociedad). Concluye que el modelo alternativo para la gestión del conocimiento académico desarrollado en esta investigación, es susceptible de ser aplicado en los tres enfoques identificados en las universidades que formaron parte del Estudio de Casos Múltiple. Sus componentes fundamentales incluyen el planeamiento, el seguimiento, la gestión de los procesos, los principios, métodos, técnicas, herramientas y tecnologfas que se combinan en un sistema con el fin de obtener un resultado cuyos indicadores evidencian el cumplimiento de la misión y los objetivos de la universidad.

A comercialização de produtos florestais não madeireiros (PFNMs) popularizou-se como atividade promotora do desenvolvimento socioeconômico de comunidades florestais com baixo impacto ambiental. Há evidências, contudo, de que a exploração possa produzir efeitos ecológicos e socioeconômicos negativos, sugerindo que é necessário monitorar tais iniciativas. A comercialização frequentemente ocorre em áreas remotas e em contextos de pobreza, como é o caso de muitas daquelas da Amazônia brasileira. Desta forma, é necessário que o monitoramento restrinja-se a avaliar os efeitos evidenciados como mais comuns em estudos anteriores. Este estudo revisa e sintetiza as evidências científicas dos efeitos da exploração de PFNMs sobre parâmetros ecológicos e socioeconômicos e, a partir daí, indica aqueles mais relevantes ao monitoramento. O estudo também levanta até que ponto o monitoramento é implementado no contexto da Amazônia brasileira e avalia quais os parâmetros importantes e viáveis de monitoramento neste caso específico. Para isso, foram realizadas revisões sistemáticas da literatura e a consulta a profissionais da área através do método Delphi. Os resultados indicam que efeitos ecológicos negativos são frequentes, principalmente quando se coletam folhas ou cascas. Alterações em órgãos ou processos fisiológicos e a taxa de sobrevivência dos espécimes explorados são parâmetros que devem ser monitorados, em particular quando se coletam frutos e partes vegetativas. Para todos os tipos de PFNMs, o tamanho e a estrutura populacional são parâmetros prioritários ao monitoramento. A riqueza de espécies da comunidade explorada merece atenção, principalmente quando se coletam frutos. Para os aspectos socioeconômicos, efeitos positivos foram mais frequentes que negativos. A contribuição da renda monetária obtida com o comércio na renda total, a regularidade de ingresso desta renda e o papel dos PFNMs como recursos de salvaguarda são parâmetros do capital financeiro prioritários ao monitoramento. Para o capital social, o empoderamento feminino, a coesão de grupo e o acesso aos benefícios gerados pela comercialização devem ser monitorados. Na Amazônia brasileira são poucas as iniciativas de implementação do monitoramento da comercialização de PFNMs. Embora este seja considerado importante, existem dificuldades que derivam principalmente da falta de apoio institucional, políticas de incentivo e de recursos financeiros. Os profissionais participantes do Delphi consideram que os parâmetros ecológicos mais importantes a monitorar neste contexto são o tamanho e a estrutura populacional do recurso explorado, o aumento da taxa de mortalidade, a quantidade total de recurso extraída e a técnica de coleta utilizada. Para os parâmetros econômicos, aspectos do mercado, como o preço pago ao coletor, a demanda e a qualidade do produto, bem como a renda monetária obtida pelos indivíduos são os parâmetros considerados mais importantes. Por fim, para os aspectos sociais, os efeitos na cultura, na qualidade de vida e na organização interna da comunidade foram priorizados. Os profissionais indicam que é viável estabelecer o monitoramento dos parâmetros levantados.
Amazon, non-timber forest products, ecological effects, socioeconomic effects, monitoring.

碩士
國立高雄大學
亞太工商管理學系碩士班
99
Foresight programs in science and technology policy across Europe have been examined as responses from government to the changes and uncertainty in the future. The foresight studies have become a common tool to investigate what priorities should be set and how the resources will be allocated. However, there are not sufficient foresight researches on the biopharmaceutical industry in Taiwan. Although the cooperation of the government and stakeholders contribute enormously to the industry competition, there may be the existence of conceptualizing differentiation among them which results in inconsistency in policymaking and implementation. Therefore, this study aims to find out what the biopharmaceutical industry will be like in the next 20 years. Q methodology integrates qualitative and quantitative techniques to reveal social perspectives, and is often used to handle multi-view issues which are helpful for the interviewees to raise the real point of view on the research topic. This research aims at investigating officials’ and stakeholders’ patterns of cognitions toward policy foresight of biotechnology in Taiwan by using Q method. As mentioned above, biopharmaceutical industry is one of the main economical development objectives which were set by Taiwan government. This research aims to find out: 1. What opportunities and challenges will Taiwan’s biopharmaceutical industry encounter in the next 20 years? 2. Is there any existence of cognitive differences toward biopharmaceutical industry among the sectors of industry, government, academia, and research institution? And what are the policy preferences of the stakeholders? 3. How does Taiwan government foresee the future of the bio-pharmaceutical industry in Taiwan? In this research, 130 statements were collected from varied literatures published by OECD, American and European government to form a concourse. At the same time, a factorial design was formulated for this research based on the industrial value chain and competitive conditions matrix to make 24 statements. The 24 statements which are based on an extensive review of the biopharmaceutical literature were applied to conduct the modified Delphi survey. After two rounds of Delphi survey, 24 modified or new statements will become 24 Q cards to exam 30 interviewees’ points of view. In the end, the consensus would be formed and the priorities would be set. Moreover, policy instruments will be applied to provide policy suggestions and resources will be allocated to the right place and in the right time in the future. After applying the Q methodology, I found out the policy priorities which come from the interviewees’ perspectives could be ordered and divided into four patterns: indirectly supported policy, directly supported policy, investment in R&D and collaboration. The main priorities for the biopharmaceutical industry in Taiwan are directly and indirectly supported policy and collaboration. The findings in this study are: cognition gap among stakeholders, uneven information between the government and the industry, increase R&D resource and investment, and collaboration with cross-field. This research suggested that the government should apply policy marketing strategies to bridge the cognition gaps and policy instrument to bridge the policy gaps. Meanwhile, policy instruments and policy marketing will be given to suggest how to distribute resources and bridge the cognition gap while Taiwan has the determination to cultivate the biopharmaceutical industry for next 20 years. The contributions of this study are to provide some directions for the government, which wants to cultivate the biopharmaceutical industry, to know the developing priorities, and then to allocate resources with limited budget.

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The design of compulsory schooling is a construct of the Industrial Revolution that has changed little over time. Many educational experts now believe schooling and the systems around schooling need major overhaul. The purpose of this thesis was to examine how futures methodologies may be utilised to create new models of schooling. The overall research question, “What if compulsory education was a 21st century invention?” was framed as a counterfactual problem and explored through a set of five papers in this thesis by publication. The first peer-reviewed paper describes findings from the systematic reviews of empirical studies comparing traditional and alternative approaches to instruction or assessment, as part of examining the potential for compulsory schooling to be redesigned. Counterfactual thinking and foresight strategy were utilised to identify sixteen weak signals for future practice. The second paper, a peer-reviewed book chapter, conceptualises possible models for a future system of compulsory schooling arising from an analysis of contemporary catalysts for remodelling. A comparative analysis of cities that have been designed utilising sustainable urban ecology concepts provides a springboard for exploring the impact of changing employment, economic, technological and social change on future schooling models by utilising anticipation as a futures approach. The third, fourth (peer-reviewed) and fifth (peer-reviewed) papers share findings from a modified Delphi process that sought responses from an expert panel to the overall research question, including what might be changed or lost in relation to (a) the purpose of schooling, (b) the role of teacher and learner, (c) physical design, and (d) system design. A framework of 29 Future School Elements and five scenarios have been distilled to inform future schooling models. Respectively, the papers describe (i) the use of participant developed scenarios to extend the traditional objective of seeking consensus using Delphi processes, (ii) a futures approach to policy making, and (iii) the use of backcasting to establish preferred futures for schooling.