Dissertations / Theses: 'Expanding knowledge in commerce'

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Ratute, Ashley. "Expanding social justice knowledge with sweatshop history." [Ames, Iowa : Iowa State University], 2010. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:1476340.

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Griffith, Alan. "Expanding knowledge and practice of construction management systems and procedures." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2006. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/20163/.

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This submission is a highly focused collection of research-based and scholarly publications in the specialist field of Construction Management. Emphasis is placed on management systems and procedures involved in the procurement and production phases of the total building process. A coherent, original, independent and significant contribution to the advancement and application of knowledge has been made through applied research and dissemination of findings to academic peers, construction industry professionals and students in higher education. This has been achieved through: academic, professional and research-based textbooks; research monographs; refereed papers in learned journals; refereed papers to premier national and international conferences; and papers to foremost construction industry professional institutions. Textbooks have been published by Macmillan, Thomas-Telford in collaboration with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Longman and Palgrave with three commissioned by and contributing to the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) 'Education Framework' for construction industry. Peer-reviewed papers have been published by eminent journals based within the UK, North America, Australia, Hong Kong and China whilst refereed conference papers have been published both in the UK and internationally at leading research symposia. Among the refereed journal and conference papers presented, a number have merited prestigious awards reflecting "the outstanding contribution to research knowledge and communication within the construction industry" (ciob, 1988) and in recognition of "making a practical and lasting contribution towards the improvement of standards in building practice and education in building"(CIOB, 2004).This submission reflects a distinguished level of dissemination of applied research and scholarship over a twenty year period. The body of work presented has established a highly significant and authoritative contribution to the better understanding of construction management systems andprocedures. Furthermore, it has influenced, where applicable, thinking and practice within the subject field within research groups, higher education, the professions and the construction industry.

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Garza, Moreno Laura. "Expanding knowledge on Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae gilt acclimation, vaccination and genetic variability." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/667223.

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Esta Tesis Doctoral está constituida por tres estudios. El primer estudio consistió en identificar las estrategias actuales de adaptación de la reposición frente M. hyopneumoniae utilizadas en las granjas porcinas de Europa. Para alcanzar este objetivo, se diseñó un cuestionario centrado en las diferentes características de la explotación, la reposición y el proceso de adaptación. Los resultados obtenidos indicaron que la vacunación frente M. hyopneumoniae con múltiples dosis, fue la estrategia más utilizada, sola o en combinación con otros métodos, para la adaptación de la reposición frente a este patógeno en Europa. No obstante, el efecto de la vacunación de la reposición se desconocía. Para conocer el efecto de la vacunación de la reposición frente a M. hyopneumoniae, se evaluaron diferentes programas vacunales en el segundo estudio de esta Tesis. Para ello, se seleccionaron 180 cerdas negativas frente a M. hyopneumoniae en la unidad de adaptación de una granja positiva a M. hyopneumoniae y se distribuyeron según el programa vacunal en tres grupos: (A) cuatro dosis de una vacuna comercial contra M. hyopneumoniae a las 2, 4, 6 y 8 semanas tras la entrada (spe) en la adaptación, (B) dos dosis de vacuna a las 2 y 6, y dos inyecciones de solución salina tamponada con fosfato (PBS) a las 4 y 8 spe, y (C) cuatro dosis de PBS a los mismos tiempos. Los grupos vacunados (A y B) mostraron una proporción significativamente más baja de nulíparas excretoras y niveles de anticuerpos más elevados en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los protocolos de vacunación con cuatro o dos dosis en términos de excreción y niveles de anticuerpos Respecto a los lechones al destete, todos fueron negativos a M. hyopneumoniae por PCR en tiempo real, independientemente del programa de vacunación administrado a sus madres. Por otro lado, la proporción de lechones seropositivos y los niveles de anticuerpos fueron mayores en los lechones provenientes de los grupos vacunados. Este estudio demostró por primera vez que la vacunación de la reposición frente a M. hyopneumoniae puede ser una herramienta eficaz para reducir la presión de infección y la variabilidad de M. hyopneumoniae en lotes de reposición, así como proporcionar una inmunidad humoral a largo plazo para la reposición y sus lechones. El tercer estudio de esta Tesis tuvo como objetivo evaluar la variabilidad genética de M. hyopneumoniae en cerdos no vacunados y vacunados que presentaban lesiones pulmonares asociadas a M. hyopneumoniae en los mataderos. Asimismo, se evaluó la variabilidad genética de las vacunas comerciales frente a M. hyopneumoniae utilizadas en las granjas vacunadas. Para lograr este objetivo, se seleccionaron diez granjas de cerdos de engorde vacunadas y diez no vacunadas, positivas a M. hyopneumoniae. En el matadero, se evaluaron las lesiones pulmonares compatibles con M. hyopneumoniae de un lote por granja y se recogieron muestras de los tres pulmones con la lesión más extensa. Las muestras positivas a M. hyopneumoniae por PCR se genotiparon contando el número variable de repeticiones en tándem (del inglés, variable number of tandem repeats) en dos (P97, P146) o cuatro genes (P97, P146, H1 y H5) y se les asignó un perfil de tipificación (TP) de M. hyopneumoniae. Se detectó una elevada variabilidad entre granjas, mientras que la variabilidad dentro de las granjas fue limitada usando dos o cuatro genes. Curiosamente, Cuanto mayor fue el número de genes estudiados, mayor variabilidad. No obstante, se detectó un TP por pulmón y los TPs detectados en cerdos de granjas vacunadas fueron diferentes de la cepa vacunal utilizada en la granja.
The present PhD Thesis consisted of three studies. The first study sought to identify the current gilt acclimation strategies against M. hyopneumoniae performed in European pig farms. To reach that goal, a questionnaire focused on different features of the recipient herd, incoming replacements and acclimation process, was designed. Obtained results indicated that the most common strategy used for M. hyopneumoniae gilt acclimation was vaccination based on multiple doses programs. However, the effect of such process was unknown. In order to know the effect of vaccination against M. hyopneumoniae during the acclimation period in gilts and their piglets, different gilt vaccination schedules were evaluated in the second study of this Thesis. One hundred-eighty gilts were distributed according to the vaccination program into three groups: (A) four doses of a commercial vaccine against M. hyopneumoniae at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks post entry (wpe) into acclimation unit, (B) two vaccine doses at 2 and 6, and two doses of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 4 and 8 wpe, and (C) four doses of PBS at the same time points. Vaccinated groups (A and B) showed significantly lower proportion of shedding gilts and higher levels of antibodies compared to the non-vaccinated group after acclimation. However, no significant differences in terms of shedding or levels of antibodies were found between vaccination programs with four or two doses. Sampled piglets at weaning were M. hyopneumoniae negative by real time PCR (rt-PCR) independently of gilt vaccination program administered. In contrast, the proportion of seropositive piglets and levels of antibodies were higher in those coming from vaccinated groups. The present work represents the first attempt to demonstrate that gilt vaccination against M. hyopneumoniae can be an effective tool to reduce the infectious pressure and bacterium variability into replacement batches, as well as provide a long-term humoral immunity to gilts and their offspring. The third study aimed to evaluate the M. hyopneumoniae genetic variability in non-vaccinated and vaccinated pigs showing M. hyopneumoniae-like lung lesions at slaughterhouses, as well as in the vaccines used in each vaccinated farm. To achieve this objective, ten vaccinated and ten non-vaccinated fattening farms positive to M. hyopneumoniae were selected. At slaughterhouse, M. hyopneumoniae-like lung lesions from one batch were scored and three lungs showing the most extensive lesion were collected per batch. Positive samples were genotyped by counting the variable number of tandem repeats of two (P97, P146) or four loci (P97, P146, H1 and H5), and a M. hyopneumoniae typing profile (TP) was assigned. High inter- and limited intra-farm M. hyopneumoniae genetic variability among non-vaccinated and vaccinated fattening farms in Spain using two and four loci. Interestingly, the higher the number of tested loci, the higher the variability. Despite this, only one TP was detected per sample and the TPs detected in pigs from vaccinated farms were different from the strain of the corresponding vaccine used. Furthermore, this study provides novel and interesting data for future discussion regarding the influence of the number of loci tested on the M. hyopneumoniae genetic variability.

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Poveda, Narejos Elena, and Luca Maria Fossati. "E-commerce going global : the case of a Latvian e-tailer expanding over borders." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Företagsekonomiska institutionen, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-203217.

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This paper identifies, analyzes and interprets key challenges that e-retailers face when they decide to expand their e-business into a new market. The main topics are the cross-border factors and e-commerce strategies based on theories from previous studies to drive profitable growth. The paper illustrates the case study of an e-retail company, Dateks, in expansion in the Baltic countries. The findings show that the localization strategy in e-retail companies is more highly used when expanding to a new market. The challenge for an e-retailer in expansion is to be cost-effective.

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Brogan, Mark P. "Transformation theory and e-commerce adoption." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2006. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/51.

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This thesis investigates business transformation on the Internet; particularly the nature and significance of Cyber transformation theory and the Marketspace Model as a framework for E-commerce adoption. E-commerce can raise a firm's productivity, transform customer relationships and open up new markets. The extent to which nations become adopters of E-commerce is set to become a source of comparative national competitive advantage (or disadvantage) in the twenty first century.

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Lundkvist, Robert. "Expanding the use of contract inspections in construction : An approach to inter-project knowledge diffusion?" Licentiate thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Byggkonstruktion och -produktion, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-26285.

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This licentiate thesis presents a taxonomic approach to classification of defect information in construction projects. A conceptual model, based in a frame of reference consisting of the concepts of Continuous Improvement, Performance Measurement, Knowledge Management, as well as the current Quality Management regime of the industry helps to understand how the use of Contract Inspections can be developed towards facilitating inter-project knowledge diffusion and continuous improvement in construction.Three research questions were formulated:RQ I:How is information from inspection reports currently used?RQ II:How could information from inspection reports be utilised further?RQ III:How should information from inspection reports be structured and codified, to enable storage and future data analysis to facilitate continuous improvement?Qualitative as well as quantitative data has been collected in three different studies. In the first contractors were surveyed through a questionnaire about their use of different suggested experience feedback concepts, such as contract inspections. In the second other project participants than contractors was an interviewed, asking them how they use inspections and how the current usage could be extended. In the third study, a single case study about the inspection activities in one construction project, the purpose was to analyse the method and results of Pre- and Final Inspections. These results were interpreted through classification theory. It is further suggested how inspection data could be enhanced for the purpose of database storing, transforming, and easy access.The thesis concludes that both contractors and the other project roles currently use and view inspections as they are prompted in the General Conditions (AB 04), i.e. as an activity that document what defects there are for the contractor to rectify. Several companies have started to store inspection reports on project-dedicated servers, a routine that is thought to enhance the access to information to some extent. Several respondents have also introduced the compilation of defect statistics.Except automating the compiling of descriptive defect statistics, a system for managing inspection information, giving the widest access to the information about previously experienced defects, is expected to serve a Continuous Improvement process with input for identifying reoccurring problems in the production process. This system could as well be utilised for giving performance feedback to contractors and suppliers. Through continual surveying of the performance of current projects, the performance of the production process can be monitored. Based on the analysed reports, and the literature on taxonomy, the conclusions for RQ III identifies 15 different types of data tags, or types of information, that should be used as structure for the defects’ information: Unique Project Identifier, Unique Defect Identifier, Inspection Identifier, Responsibility, Defect Serial Number, Floor level, BSAB 96 Space Code, BSAB Object code, Defect type, Defect description, Rectification measure, Flag for Safety Issue, Cause, Date logging, and Photos.Future research should focus on the validation of the proposed model and system, suggested through case studies.
Den här licentiatavhandlingen presenterar ett taxonomiskt upplägg för att klassificera informationen om de fel som uppkommer i byggprojekt. Tre forskningsfrågor formulerades:FF I: Hur används informationen i besiktningsutlåtandena i nuläget?FF II: Hur kan användningen av informationen i besiktningsutlåtandenavidareutvecklas?FF III: Hur bör informationen från utlåtandena struktureras och kodifieras, för att tillåta lagring samt framtida dataanalys, till hjälp för Ständiga förbättringar?Kvalitativ, såväl som kvantitativ, data har samlats in över tre olika studier. I den första tillfrågades Sveriges byggentreprenörer genom en enkät hur de använder olika typer av föreslagna erfarenhetsåterföringsaktiviteter, t.ex. entreprenadbesiktningar. I den andra studien intervjuades övriga projektroller om hur de använder besiktningsinformationen, samt hur det nuvarande användandet kan utökas till andra områden. I den tredje studien, en singel-fallstudie över besiktningsaktiviteterna i ett större byggprojekt, analyserades och klassificerades informationen om felen från projektets besiktningsutlåtanden utifrån det svenska klassificeringssystemet för byggbranschen, BSAB 96.Resultaten visar att alla tillfrågade projektroller idag har den syn på besiktningar som de är tänkta från början, som de presenteras i AB 04, d.v.s. som en aktivitet som dokumenterar de fel som finns i ett projekt och som entreprenören måste åtgärda innan besiktningen blir godkänd. Ett flertal företag har dock börjat spara de färdiga besiktningsutlåtandena på projektportaler, en rutin som torde öka möjligheten till spridning av besiktningsinformationen något. Några respondenter har även börjat med att sammanställa enklare statistik över fel inom produktionen i företaget. Baserat på de analyserade besiktningsutlåtandena och litteraturen om taxonomier så föreslås även 15 olika klassificeringsbegrepp, med syftet att förädla informationen om felen i utlåtandena: Unikt Projekt-ID, Unikt Fel-ID, Besiktnings-ID, Ansvar, Löpnummer fel, Våning, BSAB 96 Utrymme-kod, BSAB element/objekt-kod, Feltyp, Felbeskrivning, Åtgärd, Flagga för säkerhetsproblem, Orsak (förslagsvis grundorsaksanalys), datumloggning och foton.Förutom att kunna automatisera statistikframställning, så ger en systemlösning för att hantera besiktningsinformation möjligheter till att kunna sprida informationen om tidigare producerade fel. Systemet antas kunna förse en process för Ständiga förbättringar med input för att kunna identifiera systematiskt återkommande fel och därav problemområden för förbättringsorganisation att arbeta med.Baserat på idéerna om Ständiga förbättringar, prestationsmätningar och Knowledge Management utvecklades en modell för hur arbetet med entreprenad-besiktningar kan utvecklas till att kunna hjälpa vid med kunskapsspridning mellan projekt samt Ständiga förbättringar. Framtida forskning bör framförallt fokusera på att validera den föreslagna modellen och systemet, förslagsvis genom fallstudier.
Godkänd; 2011; 20111115 (roblun); LICENTIATSEMINARIUM Ämnesområde: Byggproduktion/Construction Engineering Examinator: Professor Thomas Olofsson, Institutionen för samhällsbyggnad och naturresurser, Luleå tekniska universitet Diskutant: Filosofie doktor Kajsa Simu, NCC Construction, Luleå Tid: Fredag den 16 december 2011 kl 10.00 Plats: E246, Luleå tekniska universitet

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Gutin, Sarah Anne. "Expanding contraceptive options in South Africa : knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding the intrauterine device (IUD)." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25805.

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The intrauterine device (IUD) is a safe, effective, convenient, reliable, inexpensive, and cost-effective form of reversible contraception. It rivals female sterilization, injectables, and implants with respect to effectiveness in pregnancy prevention. Once inserted, IUDs are nearly maintenance free; some IUDs can even be used for over a decade. In many settings however, the utilization of this form of contraception is poor and a number of barriers to usage exist. These barriers often relate to lack of knowledge and misperceptions among both potential users and healthcare providers. The IUD is a reliable option that may be an ideal form of contraception for many women in South Africa. In order to make this method available on a wider scale, it is necessary to provide correct information to women and health care professionals and to increase the availability and use of this highly effective method. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study designed to assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of potential users and health care providers with respect to the IUD. We recruited 205 women between 15 to 49 years of age who were attending family planning and ST! care services at four primary level public clinics (two in the more urban Western Cape Province and two in the rural Eastern Cape Province in South Africa). In addition, we interviewed 32 providers from 12 clinics (six clinics per province). Ethical approval for this research was obtained from both the University of Cape Town and Walter Sisulu University (formerly the University of the Transkei). Permission was also given by the local and provincial health services. Among clients, knowledge of the IUD was poor. About 26% of women had heard of the IUD. After the method was explained to them, 89.7% of women believed that there were advantages to using the IUD and 72.7% of women said that they would consider using the JUD in the future. Also, women thought the IUD was an easier contraceptive method to use than oral contraceptive pills, injectables, male and female condoms, and female sterilization. Logistic regression modelling showed that, after adjusting for level of education, being from the Western Cape, older age, and having heard of emergency contraception all independently predicted awareness of the IUD method. For the most part, providers knew how the IUD worked to prevent pregnancy; however, providers were lacking in more detailed knowledge about the method and had misinformation about the IUD. Almost all (93 .6%) of providers recognized their need for more information and training about the IUD. Providers reported that barriers to IUD usage in South Africa were lack of knowledge of the method on the part of providers (84.4%), a lack of trained providers to insert or remove the IUD (62.5%), limited availability of the device at health facilities (56.3%), and a lack of knowledge on the part of potential users (46.9%). Despite these barriers, 81 % of providers believed women would be interested in the IUD if they knew about it and 73.3% believed the IUD should be promoted in South Africa. Our results suggest that the IUD would be a welcome addition to the contraceptive method mix in South Africa and that both clients and providers would be interested in this method. It is clear that awareness campaigns among women seeking contraception would be necessary for building support and publicizing the IUD. It will also be necessary to train and educate providers, focusing on up to date information, dispelling myths, and proper insertion and removal techniques. South Africa could re-introduce the IUD into the contraceptive method mix and increase women's choice by adding this valuable, viable, and sustainable option to the contraceptive method mix. The findings of this study, which was requested by the provincial health services, will be used to inform policy and as a starting point for assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a greater role for the IUD in the contraceptive method mix in South Africa.

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Oh, Kum-Sik. "Reverse knowledge transfer from subsidiaries to multinational corporations : evidence from Korea." Thesis, University of Huddersfield, 2016. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/31089/.

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Knowledge is a source of competitive advantage which strengthens multinational corporations’ (MNCs) market position, and thus they set up overseas subsidiaries partly to access other firms’ knowledge which resides in local markets. From the MNC viewpoint, overseas subsidiaries have a chance to access local market information (LMI), develop new competences themselves and share this information with their headquarters; thereby contributing to the formation of MNCs’ competitive advantage. This study posits that the extent to which overseas subsidiaries reversely transfer local information is influenced by their knowledge transfer capacity and relational capital, both of which enhance the learning environment which facilitates the knowledge exchange process. In this context, the research objective is to identify the effects of factors encompassing knowledge transfer capacity and relational capital on the reverse transfer of LMI from subsidiaries within MNC networks. In addition, this study also tries to examine the different influences of those determinants on different sizes of organisation. Although study on reverse knowledge transfer (RKT) from subsidiaries to its headquarters is becoming increasingly prominent, the debate discussing the key determinants which affect it has not reached an academic consensus. By integrating both knowledge transfer capacity and relational capital as overarching theoretical lenses and exploring cause-and-effect relationships, this study fills certain extant research gaps. A conceptual framework is developed and then it is investigated empirically, using a sample of 432 subsidiaries operating in the Korean market. OLS regression and Spearman rank order correlation coefficients are used to interrogate the data. The OLS regressions find that knowledge development capability, subsidiary willingness and autonomy are critical factors affecting RKT within MNC networks. Both socialisation mechanisms and trust are the primary facilitators of relational capital between subsidiaries and MNCs and extend RKT from the former to the latter. In addition, the key drivers for RKT for large-sized subsidiaries are knowledge development capability, subsidiary autonomy and trust. For medium-sized subsidiaries, the key drivers are subsidiary willingness, trust and organisational distance. For small-sized subsidiaries, the key drivers of RKT are knowledge development capability, subsidiary autonomy and socialisation mechanisms. Based on the results, the contributions of this study are three-folds. First, the research identifies what determines RKT from subsidiaries to MNCs in the Korean context. Second, in doing so, it corporates both the relational capital and knowledge transfer capacity perspectives. Thus, it theoretically contributes to those perspectives. Third, it also elucidates the effect of organisational size on RKT.

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Liu, Youzhong. "Rule warehouse system for knowledge sharing and business collaboration." [Gainesville, Fla.] : University of Florida, 2001. http://etd.fcla.edu/etd/uf/2001/anp4027/Youzhong%5FLiu%5FDissertation.pdf.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 2001.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 121 p.; also contains graphics. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-120).

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Berri, Bersisa Gutema. "Exploring the integration and application of knowledge in a charitable non-government organisation." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2015. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/5647/.

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Although the strategic importance of knowledge is widely recognised, there is no unified concept of the characteristics and role of knowledge within organisations, and the process of knowledge application remains theoretically underdeveloped. Organisations therefore often lack clear frameworks for integrating and applying their dispersed knowledge. Using a case study in international development non-government organisation, this study describes the nature of knowledge in an organisation and explores Knowledge Integration (KI) and application from multiple stages-multiple factors perspective. Data was gathered from 42 individual interviews, document analysis and participant observations and analysed using template analysis technique. The findings show that knowledge in an organisation is seen as continuously evolving holistic variable resource. KI and application is a complex process and influenced by multiple and interrelated individual knowledge sharing behaviours, organisational knowledge governance practices and informal social interactions characteristics. This study introduced new ‘multiple stages- multiple factors approach’ to KI and application process. From a practical perspective, this study provides managers with better understanding of the features of knowledge in organisations and clarifies how knowledge dispersed in an organisation can be effectively and efficiently integrated and applied to accomplish organisational tasks and enhance competitive advantage. Limitations of this study are noted together with proposed directions for future research.

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Johannesson, Emelie. "Video games – A tool for expanding English vocabulary knowledge? : A study of video games potential impact on English vocabulary knowledge in Swedish upper secondary students." Thesis, Karlstads universitet, Institutionen för språk, litteratur och interkultur (from 2013), 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-78802.

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This study researches the possibility of video games being a helpful tool when it comes to English vocabulary knowledge, by comparing the English vocabulary knowledge of those that play video games to those that do not play video games. The study also focuses on comparing the English vocabulary knowledge of those that play video games frequently to those that play video games seldomly and discuss why this might make a difference. 37 students were asked to fill in a questionnaire with questions focusing on if they play video games or not, how often they play and what sort of games they played. The second part of the study was a vocabulary test containing 51 words one might encounter whilst playing video games, in this vocabulary test the students were asked to give an English synonym and a Swedish translation of these words. The results of the study revealed that there were differences between the groups, as those that did play video games scored higher on the vocabulary test compared to those that did not play video games. There was also a difference in terms of performance on the vocabulary test depending on how often the students played video games.
Denna studie undersöker videospels möjlighet till att vara ett hjälpmedel när det gäller kunskaper i engelskt ordförråd genom att jämföra ordförrådskunskaperna hos de som spelar videospel med de som inte spelar videospel. Studien fokuserar också på att jämföra de engelska ordförrådskunskaperna hos dem som ofta spelar videospel med de som sällan spelar videospel och diskuterar varför detta kan göra en skillnad. 37 elever ombads att fylla i ett frågeformulär med frågor med fokus på om de spelar videospel eller inte, hur ofta de spelar och vilken typ av spel de spelade. Den andra delen av studien var ett ordförrådstest innehållande 51 ord som kan stötas på i videospel, i detta ordförrådstest ombads eleverna att ge en engelsk synonym och en svensk översättning av dessa ord. Resultaten av studien visade att det fanns skillnader mellan grupperna, eftersom de som spelade videospel fick högre poäng på ordförrådstestet jämfört med de som inte spelade videospel. Det fanns också skillnader prestationsmässigt i ordförrådstestet beroende på hur ofta eleverna spelade videospel.

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Mukwambo, Muzwangowenyu. "Exploring and expanding situated cognition in teaching science concepts: the nexus of indigenous knowledge and Western modern science." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/8382.

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Certain teaching and learning strategies are appropriate in the context of exposing learners to modern science in situated cognition (SC) - the theory that posits that knowing is inseparable from doing - during, for example, visits to industrial operations. The distance and cost of travel, however, excludes most rural teachers and their learners from such SC exposure to Science and technology in industrial settings. To fill this gap between knowledge and practice in the curriculum experience for rural schools, this research investigated the extent to which a SC approach could be used in relation to indigenous knowledge practices (IKP) that have relevance to science teaching for rural science teachers. The study was conducted in three schools in the Zambezi Region of Namibia whereby six science teachers participated in the study. Also, to generate data from the community, the study included Indigenous community members as participants. Only three selected members from the community participated as representatives of the whole community. Essentially, the study explored and expanded possibilities for rural school teachers to use IKP as sites of SC in relation to concepts of pressure in particular and other science concepts. The research thus studied teaching practices as activity systems related to concepts in the school curriculum and the activity system of Indigenous community members. The patterns, regularities and irregularities provided the framing which was used to view SC through the lens of IKP. This framing of SC within the school curriculum was explored using cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) and Engestrom’s expansive learning cycle (ELC). The study was organized into two phases; exploration and the expansive phase. In the exploration phase, interviews, community analysis, document analysis, brainstorming, reflections and audiovisual evidence were used to generate data. The expansive stage used brainstorming, reflections, and interviews, an experimental test, audio-visual evidence, and interviews. Inductive and abductive modes of inference were used to come up with explanations of the research questions. Explanations proceeded using the frameworks of socio-cultural theory and social realism. Some findings from the data generated from the exploration phase revealed that science teachers in the schools studied do not always engage in a SC approach on account of a lack of Western modern science (WMS) resources and factors related to economic marginalization of the learners. Data generated in the same phase revealed that science teachers can engage the SC approach through embracing indigenous knowledge practices (IKP) reflecting Science whereby they can apprentice learners. Some of the other findings from the expansive learning phase show that science teachers in under-resourced schools can engage the SC approach if IK practices are used as mediational tools which can be used as models, icons/symbols, vocabulary, patterns, case studies and practical activities anchored in IKP. From the findings obtained the contribution which the study made was to come up with some methods of infusing indigenous knowledge systems in science teaching. The trend in research related to IK is more aligned to policies rather than how IK can be usefully used for the benefit of science teaching. As the study only looked into the IKP reflecting Science which the participating teachers brainstormed, it provides an insight into how and which other IK practices can be woven into WMS to encourage social transformation accommodative of Afrocentric world views which allows scientific literacy to be achieved.

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Ali, Akeel Ellafi. "Examination of effects of expanding cities on peri-urban agricultural areas : implications on farmers' livelihoods in Qarabulli District in the eastern part of Tripoli, Libya." Thesis, University of Huddersfield, 2017. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/34004/.

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Many countries in the southern hemisphere are still in the process of developing. In North Africa to be specific, the development process is bringing about various degrees of land use and land cover changes which are having various levels of impact on people’s lives both in urban and peri-urban areas among others. The core causes of these changes vary, but literature indicates that the process of urbanization is the main cause since as cities and town areas urbanization, deforestation, soil erosion and the sale of land by rural farmers are encouraged. Implications of land use and land cover changes are broad and vary across geographies. It is the variations of the impact of such changes that motivated this researcher to conduct this research with the aim of analyzing effects of urbanization and expanding cities on the surrounding agricultural area. The research zeroed in on trying to understand how peri urban farmers and their livelihoods are being impacted by various land use and land cover changes that are emerging from the expansion of Tripoli, the capital of Libya. This study examined the impact, both positive and negative, that the expansion of Tripoli has had on the livelihoods of these rural households in Qarabulli. It further sought to identify the way affected farmers and households cope and react to the various changes the expansion of Tripoli is exposing them to. The research also looked at the context in which the poor rural households pursue livelihoods, and discussed factors that make their livelihoods vulnerable. The forms of capitals, named livelihood assets, available to the rural households are also examined. The livelihood outcomes of the farmers, the strategies and the coping measures employed by affected peri urban farmers are identified and discussed. Through the utilization of a mixed methods research approach, a mix of qualitative and quantitative data were collected, and analyzed. Data collection was done in two stages. The first stage looked at land use and land cover changes through a critical analysis of land degradation and this was done using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. Image Classification, multi-temporal Landsat TM, and ETM+ imagery were used to determine and detect land use and land cover changes during the periods 1986 to 2009. The second stage of the research data collection process, collected qualitative data using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods to explore farmers’ experiences and feelings on how the land use changes are impacting their livelihoods. Through the use of Remote Sensing and GIS techniques, the study area is divided into four categories: urban area, forest land, irrigated farmland and bare land. Land use and land cover changes during the years 1986 and 2009 were noted and analyzed based on satellite images. The study found that throughout 1986 up to 2009, the size of land classified originally as urban area changed from the original size of 4,997 hectares to 9,653 hectares while within the same time span, land originally classified as forest land reduced in size by 1,793 hectares. Further to these changes, land classified as bare land increased in size by 2,353 ha while the original size of land classified as irrigated farmland reduced by nearly 2,204 hectares. These observed changes are significant, hence pose a growing threat to agricultural land in Libya which could impact food production and water quantity and quality thus potentially destabilizing food sufficiency and sustainability of the whole nation. Key findings concerned the identification of water quality and quantity as the main challenges faced the agricultural sector. As a way of managing this problem, the farmers asked for a speedy intervention of the Libyan government through greater regulation and investment in the agricultural sector. Further to the land use and land cover changes that were noted through the use and analysis of the satellite images, the study also noted that livelihoods of rural farmers in the periphery of Tripoli are threatened by the expansion of the city. The expansion, which is the core reason why the images are displaying the various changes noted, confirm that land originally used for agriculture has changed its use and is now used as urban land where urban settlements and associated infrastructure have been constructed thus making farmers lose the land on which rural households activities were being conducted. The study also found that there are both positive and negative outcomes to the rural households when cities like Tripoli expand. The expansion of Tripoli enabled some of the affected households to access new livelihoods through migration and securing of alternative sources of income in the urban area. On the other hand, the loss of land by the farmers means that there is shortage of land for agriculture. Coupled with poor water and soil qualities, the direct consequences of reduced farming activities have been low food production at household level which has negatively affected rural people’s livelihoods. The study is the first of its kind to be conducted in Libya and among others differs from other studies conducted on urbanization and livelihoods area in Libya because of the nature of study methods. No study prior to this has ever employed a combination of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) strategies, Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) approaches in one study that sought to better understand the impact of land use and land cover changes on livelihoods of peri-urban farmers.

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Puhl, Aaron A., and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Expanding our knowledge of protein tyrosine phosphatase-like phytases : mechanism, substrate specificity and pathways of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate dephosphorylation." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2006, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/526.

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A novel bacterial protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-like enzyme has recently been isolated that has a PTP-like active site and fold and the ability to dephosphorylate myo-inositol hexakisphosphate. In order to expand our knowledge of this novel class of enzyme, four new representative genes were cloned from 3 different anaerobic bacteria related to clostridia and the recombinant gene products were examined. A combination of site-directed mutagenesis, kinetic, and high-performance ion-pair chromatography studies were used to elucidate the mechanism of hydrolysis, substrate specificity, and pathways of Ins P6 dephosphorylation. The data indicate that these enzymes follow a classical PTP mechanism of hydrolysis and have a general specificity for polyphosphorylated myo-inositol substrates. These enzymes dephosphorylate Ins P6 in a distributive manner, and have the most highly ordered pathways of sequential dephosphorylation of InsP6 characterized to date. Bioinformatic analyses have indicated homologues that are involved in the regulation of cellular function.
x, 138 leaves ; 29 cm.

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Roberts, Shantale D. "EXPANDING OUR PRESENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE NON-FICTIONAL WORLD: AN ANALYSIS OF TRANSPORTATION AND IDENTIFICATION WITH VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS." Cleveland State University / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1529075576461922.

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Vasireddy, Pavan. "Customer Knowledge Management in organisations : developing a practice framework to achieve 360 degree view of customer." Thesis, University of Bolton, 2016. http://ubir.bolton.ac.uk/929/.

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With emergence of knowledge economy and shift in power towards customers, the way of performing business and managing customer markets in organisations has changed significantly. Organisations which are typically reliant on internal knowledge have been setting their sight on customers as a valuable new source of external knowledge. This led to the wide acknowledgement of Customer Knowledge Management (CKM) in both business and academic fields within the last decade. Extant CKM literature has highlighted the need for 360 degree view of customer but there is significant gap regarding how to achieve this in organisations. Thus, the main motivation for this research is to develop theory in terms of practise framework to enable organisations to achieve 360 degree view of customer while taking into consideration the challenges identified in practising CKM. This thesis attempts to address the complex research problem – 'how to manage customer knowledge to achieve 360 degree view of customer in organisations'. The research problem developed for the study led towards interpretivist paradigm to interpret and understand various relevant organisational phenomena and research is carried out using qualitative approach. The empirical data is collected using case study research method from five large organisations from India, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In-depth case studies were conducted in Biocon, Daimler, Genpact, Honeywell-ADI, and University of Bolton. The empirical data collected was analysed using techniques from grounded theory approach. This thesis presents findings of the study in the form of five core categories and twenty seven constituent factors influencing the customer knowledge management practice in large organisations. The empirical findings associated with each of these core categories and identified factors have been discussed in the light of current literature. Based on these core categories and constituent factors, a comprehensive CKM practice framework has been developed to achieve 360 degree view of customer, among organisations. This thesis has been concluded with evaluative discussions on theoretical and practical contributions to knowledge, validity of the findings, limitations of the study, and implications for further research.

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Jaillet, Hélène France. "Consumer search behavior in online shopping : the effects of novice versus expert product knowledge /." Access restricted to users with UT Austin EID Full text (PDF) from UMI/Dissertation Abstract International, 2001. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/utexas/fullcit?p3035955.

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Finnegan, David Jesse. "Knowledge sharing in the introduction of a new technology : psychological contracts, subculture interactions and non-codified knowledge in CRM systems." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2005. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/1186/.

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This longitudinal comparative study using a multidisciplinary approach, applies a processual analysis (Pettigrew, 1985; Pettigrew, 1990; Pettigrew, 1997) from a knowledge sharing perspective, to the implementation of what the literature shows to be a relatively under researched area of Customer Relationship Management( CRM) systemsi n contemporary (2001-2004) situations within Birmingham City Council and IBM. A specific focus is given to areas neglected in previous CRM studies - sub-cultures, psychological contracts, how tacit/non-codified knowledge is surfaced and shared, and with what effects on implementation. It investigates how the system stakeholders and the information system (IS) itself evolved through encountering barriers, sharing knowledge, finding new uses and inventing workarounds. A rich picture emerges of how sub-cultural silos of knowledge linked with psychological contracts and power-based relationships influence and inhibit adoption and acceptance of the CRM system. A major contribution of this processual study is to focus on the relatively neglected 'R' in CRM systems implementations. Hitherto, there has been little attempt to analyse the micro elements in the implementation of CRM systems using the lens of a multidisciplinary approach in a longitudinal study. The investigation of knowledge sharing (in particular non-codified knowledge sharing) across the key sub-cultures in the implementation process of CRM systems remains understudied. Scholars such as Lawrence and Lorch (1967), Boland and Tenkasi (1996), Newell et al. (2002) and Iansiti (1993) write of 'knowing of what. others know', 'mutual perspective taking', 'shared mental space' and 'T- shaped skills', as aids to tacit /non-codified knowledge sharing. However, they do not address fully the micro processes that lead to the above. This research aims to fill this knowledge gap, by investigating the micro elements (including in our study the psychological contracts) that lead to 'mutual perspective taking', enabling tacit/noncodified knowledge sharing across the key sub-cultures and their impacts on the adaptation and acceptance of a CRM system. This processual study lays a strong foundation for further research along the route of investigating multiple micro level elements in the process of implementation of a CRM system in order to enhance understanding of such phenomena in a contemporary situation. This qualitative study compares the CRM implementations at IBM. COM and Birmingham City Council. It penetrates the knowledge sharing issues faced by practitioners in a system integration environment. We highlight and discuss the importance of psychological contracts and their interdependencies on sub-cultural interactions and knowledge sharing. We have been able to relate and discuss real life issues in the light of existing academic theories, in order to enhance our understanding of the relatively neglected knowledge sharing phenomena in a CRM environment. The processual analysis framework extensively used and further developed in this research provides keys to its further use in enhancing the richness of future IS implementation studies at a micro level. The research contributes to the study of IS development by providing an integrative approach investigating the existing academic understandings at a micro level in a contemporary situation. A major contribution is also a detailed insight into the process of Boland and Tenkasi's (1996) 'mutual perspective taking' through the investigation of psychological contracts and their interdependencies on sub-cultural interaction and knowledges haring. An interesting finding has been that the distinctive contexts of the two cases have had lesser effects than the distinctive nature of CRM Systems and the implementation processes adopted. The study shows that irrespective of sectoral backgrounds the two organisations studied in this research failed to address adequately a range of common issues related to human behaviour, psychology, organisational characteristics, sub-cultural interactions and knowledge sharing. According to our research findings these factors have greater explanatory power for the results achieved than the distinctive contexts in which the two organisations operated.

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Schreiber, Raphael, and Moisin Monica Bota. "Rebranding “Made in India” through Cultural Sustainability : Exploring and Expanding Indian Perspectives." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Akademin för textil, teknik och ekonomi, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-25395.

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This exploratory study is a first attempt to translate the Indian cultural context from a socio-cultural, and legal perspective by identifying the values attributed to Indian textile craftsmanship by Indian textile and fashion stakeholders, and how their perspective is influenced by the global recognition and perception of Indian textile crafts and connotation of “Made in India”. At the same time the study investigates the meaning of “sustainability” in the Indian cultural context, in relation to textile craftsmanship, and how this relates to the Western concept of “sustainability”. Through field research in conjunction with a series of in-depth unstructured interviews, this study reveals that Cultural Sustainability is the dominating narrative in the Indian cultural context due to the prevalence of culturally embedded sustainability practices and the role of textile craftsmanship in sustaining livelihood, being a unique exercise of positioning Indian textile craftsmanship within a framework of cultural heritage as a valuable source of knowledge for sustainable practices in the fashion and textile industry. Unique about this study are the India-centric approach combined with the ethnicity of the subjects interviewed - who are, without exception, Indian nationals, whose work, voice and reputation are shaping India's contemporary textile craft -sustainability narrative (being referred to as the “Indian textiles and fashion elite”) and the framing of traditional craftsmanship from a legal perspective, introducing the notion of legal protection of traditional textile knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.

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Lee, You Na. "Expanding understanding of the innovation process: R&D and non-R&D innovation." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/53903.

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Innovation is widely recognized as a key to economic growth. Most research on the innovation process has focused on the results of R&D projects. The positive relation between R&D intensity as an input and innovative performance as an output has become the canonical image for research on innovation. While R&D is an important input to innovation, there is growing evidence that a significant share of innovation is not born from R&D. Much of this non-R&D innovation consists of incremental improvements to existing products, or process innovations, although non-R&D innovation is not limited to these kinds of improvements. Non-R&D innovations can also come from problem solving activities or pursuit of new product ideas outside of a formal R&D project. Such activities would be missed in innovation accounts based on regular, formal R&D. Given the importance of innovation for the sociology and economics of science, and the central role of innovation in policy debates, this study expands the study of innovation to include non-R&D innovations and analyzes the drivers and outcomes of non-R&D compared to R&D-based innovations, with the goal of improving science and innovation policy by: examining the concept of innovation from different theoretical perspectives (Chapter 2), creating new measures and improving understanding of existing measures (Chapter 3), developing new models of the innovation process based on knowledge and learning that expand beyond the existing emphasis on R&D inputs (Chapter 4), and different participation of R&D and non-R&D innovations in markets for technology (Chapter 5). The main results show that the relative effectiveness of learning by R&D and non-R&D for innovation is contingent on nature of knowledge, characterized by generality (i.e., high mobility/transferability) and visibility (i.e., tighter links between actions and outcomes), and that non-R&D inventions are less likely to engage in the licensing market, but are more likely to have exclusivity clauses than R&D inventions. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for management of innovation and innovation policy.

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Hill, LeRoy. "A learning design approach for exploring a framework for mediating collaborative knowledge-building in the Caribbean Educators Network." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2011. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/12356/.

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Collaborative knowledge-building (CKB) in online social networking settings is an area of concern among educators and researchers alike. The focus however, seems to be on how social networking sites mediate the process of CKB while neglecting the role of design in making such knowledge-building and collaboration a sustainable activity. The relative lack of attention to design, points to the need for methods to guide the development of CKB environments. Additionally, despite the increasing use and benefits of informal online learning approaches for professional development, many Caribbean educators are still not making effective use of this approach to their professional development. This thesis addresses these issues and contributes to work in the field of learning design in the social networking setting. This thesis therefore draws on a three-year designing for learning action research exploration in the Caribbean Educators Network (CEN) which aimed to establish possible benefits from a framework-driven approach, given that the development of informal online social networking environments are not traditionally driven by any particular theoretical or design frameworks. Using the research findings, guided by activity theory (Leont'ev 1978; Engeström 1987), group cognition (Stahl 2005; Stahl 2006), community of inquiry (Garrison et al 2001), I advanced a conceptualisation of a framework to mediate collaborative knowledge-building in the CEN. The framework is a focus on processes (what is done) and presences (the environment or condition) and is expressed along 4 themes: community presence, cognitive presence, moderating presence and 'artefactization' presence. In addition to the development of the mediating framework, the exploration also resulted in a meaningful experience and approach that revealed design for learning in the informal online social networking settings as a dynamic, living, messy, critical-reflective and participatory process of meaning-making.

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Sjunner, Roger. "Traditional knowledge and global politics : the promotion of Inuit culture." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=31139.

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This thesis investigates, through primary research, the role of traditional knowledge in regional, national, and international political activities of Canadian Inuit. The links between an increasingly postmodern West, global environmental discourse, and the role of traditional knowledge in Inuit self-identity and self-government issues are outlined and set in relation to anthropological theory on globalization. The research indicates that Inuit engagement in competition over resources and power is complemented by a competitive cultural imagery, which draws on and contributes to a discourse on global cultural exchange. Subordinate groups' uses of such imageries have been discussed in anthropology, and are discussed further in the thesis. It is argued that deconstructive critiques of these imageries are problematic, but the need for research about cultural imageries is acknowledged as well. It is suggested that analyses of the politicization of cultural imageries should include political and philosophical contexts in order to lessen their potentially harmful consequences.

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Luchinskaya, Daria. ""It's not already laid out for you in a small company" : UK graduates' knowledge and skills utilisation in small and large businesses." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2016. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/80140/.

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Small firms have been highlighted by the UK government as potential graduate employers, in the context of an expanding higher education system and slow growth in 'traditional' graduate jobs. But it is unclear whether graduates working in small firms would have similar opportunities to use their knowledge and skills and develop their careers as would graduates working in large companies. This thesis investigated this issue using a mixed-methods approach informed by small business and career theories. A targeted statistical analysis of a national longitudinal dataset of UK graduates currently in their early careers (Futuretrack) was followed up with interviews with a strategically selected sub-sample of 20 graduates employed in business and public service associate professional occupations. Little association was found between employer size and graduates' use of the knowledge and skills developed during their university degrees. However, some evidence suggested that the ways in which graduates were taking on additional responsibilities differed by employer size: larger companies were more likely to have formal career development programs in place and graduates were able to take opportunities, while small companies tended to have less formal arrangements, so that graduates had to be more self-reliant and make opportunities to develop their jobs. However, graduates in small businesses tended to reach a career plateau relatively quickly, which compelled them to change employers. Most of these graduates, however, thought that their experience in small businesses had helped them go on to get better jobs. The main contribution of this thesis is the finding that, even in a narrowly defined occupation and industry group, business size has a partial and qualified effect on graduates' experience of work and career development. The findings also have significant implications for policy, recommending that graduates' career development opportunities be taken into account when encouraging graduates to work in small firms.

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Tribiahn, Jan. "Managing knowledge in IT-based innovation : the case of business-to-business electronic commerce implementation." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2002. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3042/.

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This thesis is concerned with understanding the way in which knowledge is managed in IT-based innovations. Although there is a growing body of research on how to leverage knowledge to improve organisational performance, particularly in the field of "knowledge management", most studies divorce knowledge from its context and fail to consider the purpose for which knowledge is managed. One such purpose is the integration of IT-based innovations, during which knowledge about complex IT is integrated with context-specific organisational knowledge, in order to develop firm-specific solutions. However, existing research in IS implementation and IT-based innovation tends to be fragmented and falls short of providing a comprehensive analytical framework for understanding the management of knowledge in IT-based innovations. An analytical framework based on the processes of knowledge creation, sharing and retention is developed by reviewing literature in the area of knowledge management, IS implementation, IT-based innovation and organisational knowledge. As this research adopts a constructivist view of IT and knowledge, an interpretive case study approach was selected for the empirical investigation. The implementation of B2B e-commerce was selected, as it has been commonly described as knowledge-intensive. This research provides both a chronological and thematic description guided by the analytical framework of the integration of B2B e-commerce at ComCo and AutoCo, two large original equipment manufacturers in the vehicle manufacturing sector. One major contribution of this research is the development of an analytical framework that focuses specifically on understanding the management of knowledge in the integration of IT-based innovations. The analysis has revealed the existence of "knowledge phases" - periods of time in which the relationship between knowledge creation, sharing and retention is based on a stable pattern of organisational activities in order to serve a specific purpose.

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Zhang, Si Qi. "Knowledge discovery in medical diagnosis data." Thesis, University of Macau, 2005. http://umaclib3.umac.mo/record=b1445896.

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Wang, Ping An. "The Effect of Knowledge of Online Security Risks on Consumer Decision Making in B2C E-Commerce." NSUWorks, 2010. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/332.

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This dissertation research studied how different degrees of knowledge of online security risks affect B2C (business-to-consumer) e-commerce consumer decision making. Online information security risks, such as identity theft, have increasingly become a major factor inhibiting the potential growth of e-commerce. On the other hand, e-commerce consumers lack knowledge and awareness of security risks in the online shopping environment and make decisions under conditions where precise probabilities of risks are not available. Based on research in the decision theory field, a person's knowledge of a risk is assumed to fall under one of four states: known certainty, known uncertainty, unknown uncertainty, and unknowable uncertainty. A theoretical model was developed in this study, and based on the model explicit hypotheses were stated which relate a consumer's degree of risk knowledge and the consumer's online security risk evaluation and purchase decision making. This research used an experimental approach to study the effect of different levels of consumers' knowledge of a typical online security risk on their purchase behavior. Following a pilot experiment to test and refine the experimental design, a between-subjects experiment was conducted with the four knowledge states as treatments among 160 subjects. Results indicated that the consumers' willingness to pay to avoid risks and their intention to purchase online vary systematically under different knowledge conditions. Results suggested that people can distinguish between risk and uncertainty and will pay a premium to avoid uncertainty. Specifically, this research suggests that people can judge risky versus ambiguous situations in real-life tasks such as judging the risk in conducting e-commerce transactions. Under ambiguous conditions, people would like to pay more to avoid the ambiguity. This has implications for communicating e-commerce risks to consumers.

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Diemers, Daniel. "Virtual Knowledge Communities : erfolgreicher Umgang mit Wissen im digitalen Zeitalter /." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2001. http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service&doc_library=BVB01&doc_number=009584931&line_number=0001&func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA.

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Alotaibi, Arif Nasser. "The role of reward in individuals' motivation to share knowledge : a case study of two healthcare hospitals in Saudi Arabia." Thesis, University of Kent, 2014. https://kar.kent.ac.uk/47986/.

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Organisations leverage their knowledge assets through the implementation of knowledge sharing. This process enables the movement of knowledge from the domain of the individual into the domain of the organisation. Since individuals are the primary actors in knowledge sharing activities within the organisation, they also incur the costs that are associated with them. Previous research has investigated how reward outweighs the involved costs, with a view to identifying how individuals can be encouraged to engage in knowledge sharing. Knowledge sharing is mainly perceived as being driven by intrinsic motivation. However, there is scant research evidence examining the role of motivation in the relationship between reward and knowledge sharing. This study explores the effect of reward on individuals‘ motivation to share knowledge within the healthcare sector of Saudi Arabia. A multiple-case design was used, as informed by Yin (2003), within the real-life context of two knowledge-based hospitals in the region. A sequential, exploratory mixed-method approach was used for data collection purposes with employees. This comprised a qualitative phase of 30 semi-structured interviews with managers and other employees, followed by a quantitative phase of a survey of 480 employees, who completed and returned questionnaires. The research findings from the qualitative analysis revealed that managers consider knowledge sharing to be a new concept; hence, it is not adequately implemented. However, knowledge sharing is considered to be important to employees. Motivational factors such as self-development and reciprocal relationships were identified as antecedents of employees‘ knowledge-sharing attitudes. These factors reflect the needs for both knowledge holders and knowledge seekers to engage in knowledge sharing. The quantitative analysis of the survey results revealed that these motivational factors significantly influence employees‘ intentions to share knowledge, and they are also significantly influenced by reward. The research study concludes that reward has a significant role in motivating employees to share knowledge. Therefore, non-financial rewards, such as training and recognition, are important motivational factors in employees‘ willingness to engage in knowledge sharing.

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Simonato, Pierluigi. "Evaluating and expanding knowledge and awareness of health professionals on the consumption and adverse consequences of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) through innovative information technologic tools." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/16557.

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Background: The rapid diffusion of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) constitutes an important challenge in terms of public health and a novelty in clinical settings, where these compounds may lead to erratic symptoms, unascertained effects and multi-intoxication scenarios, especially in emergency situations. The number of NPS available on the illicit drug market is astonishing: official reports suggest the appearance of a new drug every week. NPS may be enlisted in many different families such as synthetic phenethylamines, tryptamines, cathinones, piperazines, ketamine-like compounds, cannabimimetics and other plant-derived, medical products and derivatives. Therefore, healthcare services and professionals are often called to face this unknown 'galaxy' where NPS users seem to perceive traditional services 'unfitting' for their needs, requiring an attention which is quite different from known classic drug abusers. In this context, the Recreational Drugs European Network (ReDNet), a research project funded the European Commission and led by the University of Hertfordshire, aimed to explore the NPS galaxy and develop information tools for vulnerable individuals and professionals working with them. This initiative reported specific Technical Folders on new drugs and disseminated the collected information through innovative communication technologies (e.g. multimedia tools, social networking and mobile phone services) internationally. Aim and objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate and contribute to expand the knowledge of health professionals on NPS. The key objectives are: 1) to assess the level of knowledge on NPS amongst a sample of Italian healthcare professionals; 2) to evaluate the effectiveness of dissemination tools developed by ReDNet, including an SMS-Email/mobile service (SMAIL); 3) to understand the clinical impact of NPS by providing four Technical Folders and collecting two clinical cases on NPS. Methodology: According to the objectives, the methodological approach has been articulated in the following three phases. Phase 1: investigating knowledge and preferred channels of information via an online survey among health professionals in Italy. This first Italian study on NPS awareness had been online from February to July 2011, recruiting participants from Departments of Addiction, Psychiatry and other services. Phase 2: evaluating the ReDNet initiative. An evaluation questionnaire was designed and disseminated online to assess the various resources provided by ReDNet project; it had been online from April to July 2013, targeting professionals registered to ReDNet services. This phase also investigated the SMAIL service, a mobile application that was the latest technological tool developed by ReDNet team. Phase 3: promoting evidence based work in clinical practice through the preparation of four Technical Folders and two case reports. Technical Folders followed the methodology optimised during the ReDNet experience, organising NPS data under specific headings, measured for the need of health professionals. Case reports were collected in a Dual Diagnosis Unit in Italy ('Casa di Cura Parco dei Tigli'); assessed patients revealed for the first time the use of NPS; clinical interviews were conducted to collect a full anamnesis while for the first time psychopathological characteristics were measured in NPS abusers, using a psychometric instrument (MMPI-2). Results: In Phase 1 Italian services, in particular interviewees (n=243) from Departments of Psychiatry and Addiction, showed a strong interest for the subject but a poor understanding of NPS: 26.7% of respondents did not know if their patients ever used NPS; at the same time they considered this phenomenon as very relevant to their profession (e.g. psychomotor agitation [75.7%], errors in the assessment [75.7%], management of the clients [72%]); in addition less of a quarter of them had reliable information on new substances. Interviewees also reported the need for easily accessible channels of information to expand their expertise in the field (including emails [70%] and dedicated websites [51.9%]). The ReDNet initiative (Phase 2) reached professionals (n=270) from European countries and various other regions; they appreciated the website above all (48.5%), which provided access to other information (in form of academic papers, news, technical folders, etc.). The integration of technological-based and classic educational resources was used to self-educate professionals (52.6%) and supply information for research (33.7%) with up-to-date and 3 reliable information; in the same Phase the SMAIL service was analysed in its first 557 searches: in the pilot period 122 professionals used SMS inquiries (95%), asking information on NPS while highlighting the increasing number of NPS available on the market. Technical folders (Phase 3) described two new phenethylamines (Bromo-dragonfly and 25I-NBOMe), a novel ethno drug (Kratom) and a new synthetic cathinone (alpha-PVP) whose severe effects were also described in one of the clinical cases. The first case report (Alice) involved a clubber who used mephedrone and other NPS with a severe worsening of her psychiatric disturbances; the second one (Marvin) described a patient who was referred by a psychiatric service and revealed himself as a 'psychonaut' with an intense abuse of alpha-PVP. Conclusions: The exploration of the NPS galaxy is a new challenge for healthcare professionals. In this study, Italian services seemed to be unprepared to face the emergency and requested rapid access to reliable information; the ReDNet project provided both technology-based and traditional resources to expand knowledge on NPS, making professionals more aware of emerging issues and helping especially clinicians working in the field (e.g. via SMAIL service and Technical Folders). Overall, it can be observed that effective information services on NPS targeted at professionals initiatives should include an online interface integrating up-to-date information, describing NPS through specific Technical Folders and disseminating scientific literature; the use of technological tools, including mobile applications, is an important strategy to support health professionals in their activity. Finally, more 'visual' guidelines, possibly in the form of a 'map' of these heterogeneous compounds, could be a useful framework to describe NPS to physicians and other professionals who are often unprepared and unconfident to face such an expanding galaxy.

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Bell, Robin Stuart. "A study into the direct export stage of the internationalization of manufacturing small to medium sized enterprises from China : the influence of experiential knowledge and entrepreneurial input on the perception of barriers to export." Thesis, University of Gloucestershire, 2012. http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/1221/.

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The Uppsala Process Theory of Internationalization (PTI) and the International New Venture Theory of Internationalization (INV) are two of the most influential and well researched behavioural theories of internationalization to have emerged from the internationalization literature stream. They offer alternative descriptions of the path that enterprises take to internationalization and have both led to streams of literature focusing on different aspects of the internationalization process. Both models explain how an enterprise moves from an initial ‘low’ domestic starting point and progresses to become an international enterprise. The two models both explain the behaviours and attributes that are necessary in order to successfully develop along their respective predicted international trajectories. These behaviours and attributes highlighted within each model are said to be highly influential in helping to overcome and/or mitigate the barriers on the predicted trajectory to internationalization. However, the impact that these behaviours/attributes have on the perception of barriers to export has rarely been tested directly. This research is designed to investigate the relationship between experiential knowledge (a fundamental concept within the PTI model) and entrepreneurial input (a fundamental concept within the INV theory), on the perception of a range of selected barriers to manufacturing export, from the Chinese province of Ningxia. This research developed a conceptual framework and testable models based on experiential knowledge and entrepreneurial input. It then identified a selection of barriers to manufacturing export from the Chinese province of Ningxia. These were selected from the export barrier literature stream. This research took a positivist view and quantitative data was obtained from the use of structured self-administered questionnaires administered through judgement sampling techniques at business seminars and consultancy sessions. A total of ninety-eight valid responses were used for quantitative analysis. Correlation and regression techniques were used to analyse the data and new combined models from the experiential knowledge and entrepreneurial input model variables were developed using Stepwise Regression. The study found, in the majority of cases, that as the individual experiential knowledge and entrepreneurial input model variables increased, the perception of difficulty of the individual selected barriers to export decreased. The experiential knowledge model could best explain the reduction in the perception of twelve of the barriers to export, whereas the entrepreneurial input model could best explain the reduction in the perception of six different barriers. Of the eighteen selected barriers to export, the constructed combined models better explained the reduction in the perception of the individual barriers to export in thirteen cases. Other findings of this research include; the ‘export intensity’ variable best explained the reduction in the perception of nine of the eighteen barriers to export; the ‘attitude to risk’ variable best explained the reduction in the perception of four barriers; the ‘years of international involvement’ best explained the reduction in the perception of two barriers, and finally the ‘level of education of the decision maker’ variable best explained the reduction in the perception of two barriers, which included the ‘identification of new markets’ and ‘overcoming unfamiliar documents and procedures’ barriers. The research ends with a discussion of SME development policy in the light of the research findings.

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Ibáñez, de Opacua Amaia. "The relationship between knowledge management, information and communication technologies and performance from the resource-based view in small and medium manufacturing firms." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2006. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/977/.

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Although much has been written about knowledge management and information systems, there is little empirical evidence of their actual effect on organisational performance and their interrelationship. Aiming at addressing this gap, this thesis investigates the relationships between knowledge management capabilities, information and communication technologies (ICT) capabilities and organizational performance in SMEs. Drawing mainly on the knowledge-based view (KBV) theory, this study suggests that knowledge management capabilities and ICT capabilities are potential sources of competitive advantage and, thus, those firms possessing these capabilities will achieve superior organisational performance. Building upon the KBV and other complementary theories such as the dynamic capabilities and evolutionary theories, a conceptual model is developed, which a range of research questions and hypotheses emerge from. These hypotheses are tested on a sample of 159 manufacturer SMEs within the mechanical engineering sector and located in the UK, using diverse statistical techniques. The results suggest that knowledge management capabilities have a significant and positive impact on innovation, responsiveness and adaptability, while they barely influence results such as success, market share, growth and profitability. On the other hand, both human and technical capabilities regarding ICT have an impact on all types of performance indicators. Interrelationships between knowledge management and ICT capabilities are found, supporting the idea of capabilities complementarity. The level of turbulence which firms undergo has also been found an important influence on innovation, responsiveness and adaptability. Based on these findings, practitioners and policy makers are given advice about which aspects they should focus on, in order to implement knowledge management practices and manage ICT successfully.

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Goch, Caspar Jonas [Verfasser], and Uwe [Akademischer Betreuer] Oelfke. "Expanding Graph Theoretical Indices to Include Medical Knowledge - An Assessment of Classiﬁcation Accuracy in the Case of Autism Spectrum Disorders / Caspar Jonas Goch ; Betreuer: Uwe Oelfke." Heidelberg : Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg, 2014. http://d-nb.info/1179925386/34.

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Ado, Abdoulkadre. "Learning and knowledge transfer in Africa-China joint ventures : an exploratory study." Doctoral thesis, Université Laval, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/26507.

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À l’heure des diverses controverses sur la présence de la Chine en Afrique, les études sur la nature et l’ampleur des relations qu’entretiennent ces deux régions continuent d’affluer. La Chine, puissance économique en émergence, continue d’accroître son internationalisation vers l’Afrique. En effet, la Chine est aujourd’hui le premier partenaire économique et commercial de l’Afrique. Le continent africain est aussi en émergence avec notamment plusieurs pays au plus haut taux de croissance économique au monde. Ces dynamiques se traduisent par des rapprochements croissants notamment entre les entreprises des deux régions. Cette thèse s’intéresse à cet émergent rapprochement. Elle apporte ainsi une contribution dans le débat sur les motivations et retombées de ce rapprochement. Le premier article aborde la controverse sur la présence chinoise en Afrique particulièrement en contrastant les regards occidentaux et du sud à travers une revue exhaustive et critique de la littérature relative aux discours dominants ou marginalisés. Les résultats indiquent que les études existantes restent discutables et nécessitent davantage de rigueur scientifique. Le deuxième article examine 29 coentreprises sino-africaines dans 12 pays d’Afrique sous l’angle d’apprentissage et du transfert de connaissances. Les résultats indiquent que les partenaires chinois emploient cinq stratégies majeures pour monopoliser leurs connaissances en fonction du pouvoir disponible et du type de connaissances. L’article propose un modèle dynamique de gestion de connaissances. Le troisième article aborde l’apprentissage et le transfert de connaissances selon la perspective du capital social et des informalités organisationnelles. Les résultats indiquent des Africains entreprenants, ayant souvent utilisé des mécanismes sociaux informels, voire même clandestins, pour acquérir des connaissances. Le quatrième article analyse les faiblesses des Africains en matière de transfert de connaissances. Il combine les perspectives stratégique et institutionnelle pour un meilleur transfert de connaissances. L’analyse souligne la nécessité de corriger ces faiblesses et d’adopter une démarche dichotomique pour développer un cadre intégrateur de formulation de politiques et stratégies de développement de connaissances. La conclusion présente les contributions théoriques et pratiques de l’étude et la portée des résultats. Elle souligne aussi les limites de l’étude et propose des perspectives futures de recherches. Mots-clés : Apprentissage organisationnel ; transfert de connaissances ; acquisition de connaissances ; partage de connaissances ; apprentissage ; Afrique ; Chine ; sino ; coentreprise ; alliance ; stratégie ; gestion de connaissances ; politique.
Amidst various controversies concerning China’s influence in Africa, studies on the nature and extent of the relationship between these two regions are increasing. China, an emerging economic power, continues internationalization into Africa. China is now the largest trading partner of Africa, a continent emerging with one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. These dynamics have resulted in increasing rapprochement between companies from the two regions. The current research focuses on the emerging debate on African and Chinese motivation for this rapprochement. The first paper in this dissertation discusses Chinese presence in Africa and contrasts the Western and Southern perspectives through a comprehensive and critical review of the literature. The results indicate that greater scientific rigor is required in existing studies that are considered controversial. The second paper examines learning and knowledge transfer in 29 Africa-China joint ventures in 12 African countries and proposes a dynamic model for knowledge control. Chinese partners employ five strategies to control their knowledge assets according to the available power and the type of knowledge. The third paper discusses learning and knowledge transfer from the perspective of social capital and organizational informalities. The results indicate that entrepreneurial Africans use informal or sometimes unconventional social mechanisms to acquire knowledge. The fourth paper analyzes Africans’ institutional and organizational weaknesses with respect to knowledge transfer. This paper combines strategic and institutional perspectives toward better transfer of knowledge. The results indicate major weaknesses and suggest an approach toward an integrative framework for strategy and public policy formulation for knowledge development. The conclusion presents the theoretical and practical contributions of this study, highlights its significance, underlines the limitations, and finally offers research avenues. Keywords: Organizational learning; knowledge transfer; knowledge acquisition; knowledge sharing; learning; Africa; China; Sino; joint venture; alliance; strategies; knowledge management; policy.

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Elgin, William Blanke. "The Itinerary of Jan Huygen van Linschoten: Knowledge, Commerce, and the Creation of the Dutch and English Trade Empires." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1617724657737613.

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Sun, Yanxue. "How recipient firms benefit from international joint ventures : resource and knowledge transfer, learning mechanisms and technology spillovers in the China context." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2009. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/2290/.

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This research contributes to the literature on resource, knowledge and capability transfer in international joint ventures. In mainstream international business literature, few empirical studies have been undertaken at the micro-organization level on the extent to which, and ways in which recipients benefit from the resources and knowledge transferred from the foreign partner in an IJV. This study explores the transfer content, context, process and effects from the recipient’s perspective. Measures of the acquisition/learning intentions of the recipient firm and the transfer benefits, including transfer channels and learning mechanisms, are drawn from a synthesis of international business, international management, knowledge management and knowledge transfer and learning literature. A business function-related knowledge typology by Pak and Park (2004) among a number of other knowledge typologies was adapted to specifically examine the types and extent of resources and knowledge transferred from the foreign partner to the recipient firm among four Sino-foreign IJVs in the auto parts and animal feed sectors. They were compared using quantitative and qualitative measures of the types and levels of acquisition and learning intentions, the transfer benefits within and outside the IJVs, and transfer channels and learning mechanisms they have developed. The findings highlighted the micro-organization processes of transfer and learning in IJVs that bring together parent firms from very different business contexts. Firstly, the ‘alignment’ or ‘fit’ between the source and recipient in the JV partnership influences the nature and level of resulting benefits. The measures of ‘success’ vary from firm to firm, being strongly influenced by the learning intentions in line with the initial level of resources, experience and knowledge of the recipient firm. Cross-sector differences, especially the combination impact of different levels of Chinese Government departments on the learning intentions and transfer benefits were revealed. Transfer channels and learning mechanisms vary according to the type of knowledge that is transferred, and the source and recipient firms’ particular organizational characteristics. The recipient firm’s organizational development strategy, aspects of wider organizational absorptive capacity and the motives of individuals were found to be important in facilitating technological spillovers and counteracting the foreign partner’s efforts to protect certain knowledge and processes. Overall, this research adds insights to previous studies of IJVs by emphasizing the context-specific nature of the transfer and acquisition/learning intentions, processes and outcomes.

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Dean, Anthony Francis. "Australian universities in the information economy electronic commerce and the business of distance education /." Access electronically, 2004. http://www.library.uow.edu.au/adt-NWU/public/adt-NWU20050929.114913/index.html.

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Wallace, Candice Y. "FIRM CHARACTERISTICS AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE: THE EFFECTS OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE IN THE UNITED STATES MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY." UKnowledge, 2015. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/geography_etds/35.

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This dissertation seeks to provide insight to how e-commerce adoption and utilization change the condition of U.S. Manufacturing establishments, by answering two interrelated questions: (1) What are the characteristics of manufacturing establishments that were early adopters of e-commerce activities?; (2) Once e-commerce is adopted, how has adoption affected employment within manufacturing establishments? The U.S. manufacturing industry was selected for analysis as manufacturing has been and continues to be an important sector for employment and the overall U.S. economy and has been the primary sector responsible for the majority of Business-to-Business e-commerce activity. Using two econometric models, seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and three stage-least squares (3SLS), this dissertation confirms previous research pertaining to the characteristics of firms that were early adopters of e-commerce. However, this dissertation also provides insights for how manufacturing firms change after the implementation of e-commerce. Specifically, findings suggest that e-commerce adoption has a negative effect on manufacturing jobs between 1999 and 2005. Simultaneously, the loss in jobs does not translate into an increase in wages for those still employed. The findings of this dissertation also do not provide a positive outlook for a “spatially equitable landscape” to develop via the dissemination of e-commerce in the U.S. manufacturing industry. Rather, the results suggest that the application of e-commerce will continue to reinforce the geographical advantages of firms in urban areas verses those located in more rural areas.

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Jawawi, Rosmawijah. "Conceptions of economics pre-service teachers' use of subject knowledge in teaching economics and commerce at secondary schools in Brunei Darussalam." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2009. http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/10019880/.

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Stoedinova, Sashka Dragomanova. "The relationship between research & development stock of knowledge and firm performance indicators : size, exports and productivity in the UK economy : does investing in R&D pay off, when and for whom?" Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2017. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/7295/.

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Although the ‘endogenous growth’ theory links macroeconomic growth to firms’ R&D, still, there is no comprehensive and conclusive research showing how undertaking R&D affects individual firm performance. Using several market indicators such as size, exports and productivity, this study provides a valuable input in the UK context by analysing a panel of 956 firms during 2003/4 – 2013/14, employing an empirical approach. We find no significant relationship between a firm’s R&D stock of knowledge and its size (measured in terms of both absolute size and size relative to its industry) across ‘All-Firms’ dataset as well as a subset of only highly innovative firms. Employing the Generalised Structural Equation Modelling, we evidence two-way causality between a firm’s R&D stock of knowledge and its exports, both positively affecting each other, depending on firm productivity. In line with Bravo-Ortega et al. (2013), we find that at a firm-level, R&D stock of knowledge affects productivity by two channels; directly and indirectly through export levels. However, we find no evidence of ‘selection’ bias in both export and R&D activities. Contrary to the ‘learning by exporting’ hypothesis, we evidence a negative relationship between a firm’s labour productivity and its export intensity (running in both directions).

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Kwon, Kyung-Joon. "The role of knowledge share, satisfaction, social commerce usage experience on smart mobile device users' purchase intentions : evidence from South Korean consumers." Thesis, University of Westminster, 2018. https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/q5521/the-role-of-knowledge-share-satisfaction-social-commerce-usage-experience-on-smart-mobile-device-user-s-purchase-intentions-evidence-from-south-korean-consumers.

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This thesis analyses the factors that contribute to consumers’ intention to make online purchases via smart mobile devices. To examine consumers’ purchase intentions, frameworks described in the marketing and information system literatures were integrated, and a theoretical framework was then proposed. In total, 498 Korean consumers were recruited to participate in the study, and structural equation modelling was used to examine the proposed model. The results confirm that (1) consumers’ mobile commerce usage experience positively influences their usage experience with social commerce sites, their satisfaction toward social commerce sites, and their intentions to share knowledge; (2) usage experience with social commerce sites has a significant impact on consumers’ intention to purchase; (3) satisfaction toward social commerce sites has a positive influence on consumers’ intention to purchase; and (4) consumers’ intention to share knowledge positively influences their intention to purchase. Implications are drawn for both academics and practitioners, providing directions for future research.

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Santos, Albert Tiago. "Um estudo do impacto das redes sociais nos modelos de negócio e poder da informação." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/14479.

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Mestrado em Gestão de Sistemas de Informação
A gestão do conhecimento desenvolvida pelas redes sociais através de mecanismos de big data impulsionou, nos últimos anos, reformas significativas nas estratégias de negócio das organizações, facto que, existe actualmente uma estreita relação entre redes sociais e organizações na dinamização do e-commerce, sendo o conhecimento caracterizado como um recurso fundamental ao desenvolvimento de estruturas de suporte à decisão e obtenção de vantagem competitiva no mercado. Este estudo exploratório centra-se nesta crescente dependência das organizações relativamente ao conhecimento desenvolvido pelas redes sociais e o modo como este impulsiona e favorece estrategicamente as organizações no e-commerce. Através da aplicabilidade do método qualitativo com recurso a entrevistas a peritos foi possível desenvolver um íntegro cenário de entendimento sobre a forma como as redes sociais desempenham um papel de intermediários nas relações do e-commerce, de que forma são favorecidas pelos seus mecanismos de big data e em que medida as organizações dependem das redes sociais. As conclusões contribuem para o impulso de novas investigações no âmbito das estratégias de big data aplicadas nas tecnologias de informação e comunicação e ao poder do conhecimento inerente ao sucesso destes mecanismos.
The knowledge management developed by social networks through big data mechanisms has led, in the recent years, to significant reforms in organizations business strategies. In fact, nowadays, there is a close relationship between social networks and organizations in the dynamization of the e-commerce, wich knowledge is the essential resource to development decision support structures. This exploratory study focuses on the growing dependence of organizations to the knowledge developed by social networks and how the knowledge drives and support strategically the organizations on e-commerce. Through the application of the qualitative method with recourse to interviews with experts, it was possible to develop a comprehensive undertanding of how social networks play a role as intermediaries in e-commerce relations, how they are favoured by their large data mechanisms and to what extent the organizations depend on social networks. The findings will contribute to development of new investigations in big data framework strategies applied to information technology mechanisms and the importance of knowledge in the power of information.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

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Thanagopal, Thannaletchimy. "Estimating price and quality elasticities of international trade." Thesis, Paris 1, 2014. http://www.theses.fr/2014PA010070.

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Estimer le prix et la qualité de l'élasticité du commerce international
This thesis is a compilation of three essays that estimate the ‘true’ trade price elasticity of demand while adjusting for the effect of quality in the trade models. Quality in this thesis is introduced via our own proxy for quality known as ‘knowledge’. This proxy takes into account not only direct expenditures (and hence stocks) spent on research and development but also indirect expenditures (and stocks) through positive externalities originating from innovation efforts by other countries and other industries. In addition, the main trade database used in this thesis is the WIOD (World Input-Output Database) which provides bilateral trade ﬂows, at the industrial level for 35 industries in manufacturing and services based on the ISIC Rev. 2 (International Standard Industry Classiﬁcation Revision 2) over a period of 17 years (from 1995 to 2011). The ﬁrst essay, “Analyzing BRIC Competitiveness in EU-14, Japan, US and Norway” looks at the competitiveness of the emerging nations notably the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) compared to the EU-14 countries (excluding Luxembourg), Japan, the United States and Norway in 15 distinct manufacturing goods industries over a period of 16 years (1996 to 2011). We use the CMSA (Constant Market Share Analysis) econometrically to dissect the competitive effect of the BRICs in terms of price and quality effects. The CMSA is useful in explaining the gain in export market shares of a country through two terms - the structural effect and the competitive effect. However, the model fails to deﬁne the type of competitiveness - whether a country is competitive in terms of prices (price competitiveness) or in terms of non-price factors such as quality and variety (non-price competitiveness). This essay attempts to improve this analysis by estimating individual price and non-price competitive effects using an export market share equation. We ﬁnd evidence of the competitive effect in BRIC exports towards major industrialized countries namely EU-14 (excluding Luxembourg), Japan, United States and Norway. We also ﬁnd that the gain in BRIC export market share is largely attributed to better price competition rather than non-price competition. The industrial results, however, indicate the presence of non-price competitiveness in selected homogeneous product industries during this period, suggesting the beginning of a shift in BRIC export competitiveness. […]

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Mansfield, Glen Martin. "A strategic architecture and its role in enhancing the performance of commercial web-enabled enterprises." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1434.

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Pinat, Magali. "Global linkages, trade network and development." Thesis, Paris 1, 2018. http://www.theses.fr/2018PA01E031/document.

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Cette thèse doctorale étudie l’impact des effets de réseau sur le commerce et la finance internationale. Le premier chapitre évalue le rôle que joue la centralité des partenaires commerciaux dans la diffusion des connaissances et conclut que l’importation de biens provenant de partenaires situés au cœur du réseau est génératrice de croissance économique. Le deuxième chapitre étudie le rôle des communautés de commerce dans la vitesse d’adoption de nouvelles technologies et établit que la diffusion des idées est encouragée au sein des pays appartenant à la même communauté. Le troisième chapitre souligne le rôle que jouent les partenaires financiers dans le choix d’investir dans une nouvelle destination et montre que les pays sont plus susceptibles d’investir dans un nouveau pays si un de leurs partenaires actuels y a déjà investi. Le quatrième chapitre évalue l’impact de l’importation des produits à risque et estime qu’une augmentation d’un pourcent des importations de produits fragiles provenant d’un pays touché par une catastrophe naturelle est associée à une réduction de 0,7 pourcent des exportations nationales
This doctoral dissertation investigates the impact of networks effects on international trade and finance. The first chapter estimates the role a trade partners’ centrality plays in the diffusion of knowledge and finds that importing from countries at the core of the network leads to a significant increase in economic growth. The second chapter investigates the role of clusters in the speed of technology adoption and concludes that the diffusion of ideas is fostered among countries belonging to the same cluster. The third chapter emphasizes the role of current partners in choosing a destination for new investments and finds that countries are more likely to invest in a new destination if one of their existing partners have already made some investments in the location. The fourth chapter evaluates the impact of importing risky products on the economy and finds that the elasticity of a country’s exports with respect to its import share of fragile products from a partner impacted by a natural disaster is -0.7 percent

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Handtrack, Christian. "Aude sapere - knowledge management and its implications for strategic management in organisations : an analysis of small and medium enterprises in New Zealand and the United Kingdom based on an original knowledge management model." Diss., Lincoln University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10182/1089.

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This study set out to provide important empirical evidence on the role of knowledge management (KM) within Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and to explore how such companies handle their planning and strategic choices. In today’s knowledge economies the management of knowledge has become vital. In the context of SMEs, this is even more critical because they often operate under difficult conditions and are subject to global pressures from large corporations and demanding customers. In spite of the significance of SMEs as essential for any nation’s growth and success, and even though many scholars and business managers claim that knowledge management is highly relevant for SMEs, there has been little research about this concept in SMEs, in general, and in New Zealand, in particular. The few studies in the literature conclude that this concept is mostly neglected by SMEs even though it is vital and has high potential benefits for them. A quantitative research method approach was adopted. Self-completion questionnaires were sent to the senior management of firms with 100 employees or less, from a cross-section of industries. As part of this process an original knowledge management model was developed. The basic research questions were deduced from this model and the items in the questionnaire were created to answer these research questions. In New Zealand, a total of 417 SMEs were contacted by mail and 180 useable questionnaires were returned. In the United Kingdom, 1268 SMEs were contacted and 241 useable responses were received. The response rates of 43.2% in New Zealand, of 19% for the United Kingdom and of 25% in total, are satisfactory. Therefore, the basis of this study was a large (421 responses) and high quality transnational sample, which allowed for sound quantitative analyses. The claim by previous researchers that knowledge management in the SME sector is not yet fully developed appears to be supported by the results of this research. The large majority of respondents regard themselves as not familiar enough with the concept of knowledge management to actually benefit from it in practice. Even though the respondents in both countries seem to appreciate knowledge management as a relevant and useful concept with potential, many do not seem to be sufficiently informed about this concept. Few have a knowledge management initiative in place or are planning or in the process of setting up one. The responses, which vary little between the two sub-samples, point to a short-term rather than a long-term management perspective being dominant. Major barriers in terms of the deliberate creation and sharing of knowledge are a lack of time and higher importance given to daily operational activities. The respondents - predominantly senior managers - indicate that they primarily consider themselves to be responsible for ensuring that knowledge is captured and shared and relatively little responsibility is given to other employees or specialists. SMEs do apply several aspects of knowledge management, however, this is generally informal and with an operational rather than a strategic focus. From the responses it is apparent that knowledge is shared internally mostly via people-based mechanisms. More advanced measures such as the systematic collection, organisation and storage of knowledge are less common. The results indicate a number of differences between the respondents. In this regard it is most evident that the more familiar respondents are with the concept of knowledge management the more proactive they are in terms of managing knowledge on an operational and strategic level. This transnational research strongly links knowledge management to strategy and it clarifies how this concept can impact the formulation of strategy and the strategic competence of SMEs. Therefore, the results add new knowledge to the areas of SME research and strategic knowledge management.

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Khan, Khalid. "The violation of psychological contract : possible causes for the failure of organizational incentive systems to motivate knowledge sharing : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Human Resource Management, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand." Massey University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10179/1223.

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Researchers and practitioners have linked the survivability of organization to their ability to manage their knowledge resource. This ability of the organizations depends on providing the technological support for the creation of knowledge, organizational structures (such as the organization reward systems) and the willingness of their employees to share their knowledge. Developments in information and communication technologies have facilitated organizations in developing the infrastructures that are required for the dissemination of knowledge. Organizations are thus left with the challenge of developing organizational structures that will motivate knowledge sharing among its employees. The knowledge sharing problem, which was once seen as an issue of capturing can codifying information, is now seen as a challenge of motivating individuals, the true owner of knowledge, to share their valuable resource. Behavioural scientists have taken interest in knowledge sharing as a form of helping behaviour which is directed at the organizations or member within the organizations. Although organizations have great desire that their managers engage in this behaviour, it is the discretion of their employees whether they want to share or withhold their knowledge. Organizational structural control mechanisms (such as the performance evaluation systems) have limited success in enforcing such behaviour as there are no means of measuring its outputs. Organizations depend on their incentive systems to motivate knowledge sharing. Research into motivation indicates that there is no easy fix to achieve this. Organizations have to balance the use extrinsic and intrinsic motivators, considering the specific motivational requirements of their employees. Motivational interventions, such as the use of incentives, are dependent on the level of trust the employees have in their managers and the organization in whole to deliver on those incentives in a fair and equitable manner. Where trust levels are not sufficient, employees tend to ignore such incentives and tend to further disinvest discretionary efforts. The current study used the psychological contract theory as a frame work for understanding the dynamics of the employee-employer exchange. The central premise of the theory is that employees tend to lose trust in the organization or the agent of the organization, when they perceive that their expectations have not been met. In addition to the lost of trust, psychological contract violation is also negatively associated with desirable organization behaviours and attitudes – such as commitment, in-role and extra-role effort – and is positively associated with undesirable organization behaviours and attitudes such as intention of turnover. The current study used a qualitative research design to investigate how the violation of the psychological contract can add to the ineffectiveness of the organization incentive system to motivate knowledge sharing. Using semistructured interviews the participants were provided with short scenarios (vignettes) which simulated occurrences of psychological contract violation. The participants, acting as informants, responded to question with regards to how the situations depicted in the vignettes would affect the vignette characters’ work behaviours, specifically their desire to share knowledge.

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Hagy, Michael Richard. "TRUST AT NO SIGHT: ESTABLISHING TRUST IN THE PROCESS RATHER THAN IN THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF A GLOBAL VIRTUAL TEAM." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2018. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/518760.

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Business Administration/Strategic Management
D.B.A.
Current research has established the importance of establishing individual trust in global virtual teams to achieve project success. Global virtual teams (GVTs) emerged as a result of the growth of multi-national corporations (MNCs) conducting business operations in more than one country. This research explores eliminating the need to establish individual trust among the members of short-lived global virtual teams and suggests an institutional trust in the project’s processes can suffice. Beginning with an exploration of various aspects of trust, it draws from the current literature on individual and institutional trust in the real and virtual worlds. The data were gathered using two versions of an online survey administered to global virtual teams working for Infosys®, Inc., a global leader in technology services and consulting. The analysis was limited to small, short-lived Information Technology (IT) virtual teams of four to six members. Survey responses were received from 273 managers and 195 virtual team members. The results found support for institutional trust in the process, established through the team members’ favorable perception of their project’s online processes, as having a significant effect on supporting both individual trust among the team members, as well as ensuring project success. The paper concludes with potential costs and benefits to multi-national companies in their management and training of virtual teams. Finally, I provide suggestions for further research into the elimination of trust building exercises for short-lived virtual teams, as well as implications of these results for academicians and practitioners. Key words: trust, trustworthiness, reliance, process knowledge, multi-national Companies (MNCs), global virtual teams, computer-mediated environments
Temple University--Theses

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Wai, Casper Koh Chek, and 許仄偉. "Expanding the e-commerce market for Japanese groceries in Singapore." Thesis, 2016. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/09985908114739653585.

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Abstract:

碩士
國立臺灣大學
企業管理碩士專班
104
This work defines the e-commerce expansionary strategy for a Singapore-based Japanese grocery provider and critically evaluates the internal constraint and professional guidance to determine how it might be achieved. It considers methodologies to analyze the underserved segmentation needs and demands, review the business landscape and identify the potential market strategy and operation plans. Primary research through questionnaire interviews is conducted as part of this work identified circumstantial factors that correlate to the fluctuating sales. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) The Delta Model provided a guiding framework to generating new consumers through a combination of Best Product strategy and Consumers Solution strategy that introduce the otherwise unreachable segment of the targeted population. Besides developing new business through executing the consumer’s solution strategy, it serves as a continual attempt to stay close and relevant to consumers changing needs and demands. To bridge further gaps in the academic framework, the study also considered the scope and activities of marketing and its cost-benefit analysis to deliver a feasible recommendation.

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49

HsiangWang, Tai, and 王泰翔. "On Complementary Knowledge Product Recommendation for Knowledge Commerce." Thesis, 2010. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/79857364556916242451.

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Abstract:

碩士
國立成功大學
製造資訊與系統研究所碩博士班
98
In the rapidly changing business environment, enterprises or individuals encounter more difficulties and challenges, and their encountered problems are also more complex and diverse. To sustain their competitive advantage, knowledge requirements need to be able to acquire knowledge quickly to solve their problems. Knowledge commerce (k-commerce) brings innovative thinking and profit models of knowledge assets management for enterprises. However, knowledge product is private, and search a desired knowledge product by hand form a lot of knowledge products is very time-consuming. Besides, a single knowledge product usually cannot satisfy the complex problem. Therefore, how to recommend the appropriate combination of knowledge products for satisfying customized knowledge requirement is an important issue. To overcome the above problem, this study develops a complementary knowledge product recommendation mechanism according to knowledge requesters’ requirements. At first, this study designs a structured representation model of knowledge requirement. Subsequently, this study proposes a similarity approach to match related knowledge products based on the knowledge requester’s requirement from the knowledge product ontology base. Finally, this study proposes a knowledge product combination approach using genetic algorithms to recommend the optimal combination of knowledge products according to knowledge product combination indicators. The mechanism effectively provides the desired knowledge for knowledge requester, thus facilitates successful knowledge products transactions.

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50

Lin, Hsueh-Lan, and 林雪蘭. "An Approach to Knowledge Service Team Formation for Knowledge Commerce." Thesis, 2009. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/62281630395764254674.

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Abstract:

碩士
國立成功大學
製造工程研究所碩博士班
97
Knowledge commerce (k-commerce) brings innovative thinking of knowledge asset management and new profit models to enterprises. Through re-assembling or customizing, knowledge can create profit for individuals and enterprises. However, in knowledge service processes, complex knowledge-based services are difficult to be solved by a single knowledge worker. Therefore, forming a multiple functional virtual knowledge service team is a proper solution for offering customized knowledge service to knowledge requesters. This study proposes a knowledge service team formation approach that consists of a team member selection method and a team combination method. The former includes a fuzzy aggregation operation and a composite index method, which are developed based on the characteristics of knowledge commerce and virtual team, related member selection indicators and correspondent indicator quantified methods. The latter includes an optimization mathematical model for virtual team combination and a genetic algorithm for seeking feasible solutions. Finally, the prototype of a knowledge service team formation system is developed for verifying the feasibility of these methods proposed by this study. The proposed approach considering individual member’s capabilities and the cooperative harmony between team members can form virtual knowledge service teams that can offer optimal knowledge service to requesters.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Expanding knowledge in commerce'

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