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1
Hussey, Roger. "The provision of information to stakeholders." Thesis, University of Bath, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.384121.
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Argenton, Cédric. "Quality provision in duopoly /." Stockholm : Economic Research Institute, Stockholm School of Economics (EFI), 2006. http://www2.hhs.se/EFI/summary/704.htm.
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Mylonopoulos, Nikolaos. "The governance of information technology service provision." Thesis, University of Warwick, 1999. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/34705/.
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The governance of information technology (IT) service provision entails all those elements of the structure and process of contracting and organisation that are necessary in order to deliver effective and efficient IT services within today's organisations. This thesis develops a framework integrating those elements of governance with a view to explaining actual governance structures and to guiding relevant decisions in practice. Until the late 1980s, the principal concerns with respect to the organisation of IT activities revolved around the issues of centralisation versus decentralisation and end-user computing versus specialist control. Whilst contracts for various systems and services have always been a significant part of the IT department's activity, the issue of structuring such contracts took a prominent position on the management agenda in the beginning of 1990s with the proliferation of large contracts of the 'total outsourcing' kind. IT outsourcing rekindled interest in and reshaped the agenda of the organisation of IT provision. The debate on IT outsourcing provided the motivation and the starting point of this thesis. Thus, chapter 1 reviews this debate and, following on the opinion of others, recasts the question of 'whether to outsource or not' as 'how to set up the governance (i. e. the structure and process of contracting and organisation) of IT service provision'. In order to shed some light on the elements of governance, chapter 2 turns on a range of economic theories of the firm. These theories are critically reviewed and some preliminary suggestions as to how they might inform the governance of IT are put forth. The chapter concludes by setting the theoretical foundations for the rest of the thesis. The notion of a governance continuum between the ideal pure market and the ideal pure hierarchy is introduced. Actual governance structures, it is argued, can be placed on this continuum as individual instances. Before advancing onto more substantive work, chapter 3 pauses to reflect on the epistemological basis of this research project. The main principles of the epistemological position adopted here are taken from the philosophical arguments of transcendental realism. The implications of this epistemological position for the empirical methods and the theoretical claims made in this thesis are also examined. Chapter 4 documents an intensive case study at British Petroleum Plc. The purpose of this case study was to draw lessons from practice and to assess the relevance of the theories of chapter 2. This case study was an interactive learning process through which the researcher sought access to management practice in order to assess economic theories, while the managers at BP sought a broader understanding of IT outsourcing. The outcome of this interaction was the S-CAGE framework which coupled theoretical insights with practical relevance. The S-CAGE (Service Clustering And Governance Establishment) framework is described in detail in chapter 5. It is put forth as both an explanatory and a normative account of the governance of IT service provision. It is based on the notion of governance continuum, it introduces the idea of grouping services into clusters and it provides a classification of the elements of governance that should be customised to the characteristics of each cluster of services. Chapter 6 presents two further case studies aimed at evaluating the usefulness of SCAGE in understanding and explaining alternative outsourcing practices. ICI and Anglian Water have been visited for this purpose. On the basis of these cases, the concluding chapter summarises the strengths and limitations of the proposed framework. An attempt is also made to set forth some preliminary theoretical ideas extending the notions of clustering and governance continuum. The thesis concludes with a final short illustration of the use of the S-CAGE framework.
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Petri, Carl-Johan. "Organizational information provision : managing mandatory and discretionary utilization of information technology /." Linköping : Univ, 2001. http://www.bibl.liu.se/liupubl/disp/disp2001/tek720s.pdf.
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Kanyengo, Christine. "Information, women's health and development : strategies for information provision in Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9547.
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Bibliography: leaves 120-127.The literature relating to women's health in Africa focuses on health information seeking needs. It rarely focuses on how women's health information needs link to the development of the continent. The dissertation examines the interrelationships between women's health information needs and development. The study sought to establish the significance of information to women's health and development. In order to validate this link the study employed three data collection techniques - documentary research, interviews and electronic mail questionnaires. In illustrating that there is a relationship between women's health and development, the study argues that women's empowerment can only be achieved where sufficient information is provided for women to make informed independent decisions concerning health issues that affect them. This relates especially to when to have children; how to protect themselves against AIDS, what the early warning signals of breast and cervical cancer are, and how best to look after their children and the community at large. The study further argues that these types of challenges can only be met with an efficient and effective health information service that is both gender sensitive and context specific to the African continent.
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Piercy, Julie A. "The effect of information provision on trauma symptoms /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2005. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe18544.pdf.
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Makhdoumi, Ali (Makhdoumi Kakhaki). "Information provision in rating systems and traffic systems." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/120426.
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Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2018.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 133-141).
This thesis studies information provision in two contexts: online rating systems and traffic information systems. In the first part of the thesis, we develop a model of Bayesian learning from online reviews and investigate the conditions for asymptotic learning of the quality of a product. Moreover, we characterize the speed of learning under different rating systems and characterize the impact of information provision on the speed of learning. In the model, a sequence of potential customers after observing the ratings of the product, and based on their ex ante valuation, decide whether to purchase. If they purchase, the true quality of the product, their ex ante valuation and ex post valuation determine their overall satisfaction. Given the rating system of the platform, they decide to leave a review as a function of their overall satisfaction. We study learning dynamics under two classes of rating systems: full history, where customers see the full history of reviews, and summary statistics, where the platform reports some summary statistics of past reviews. In both cases, we characterize the asymptotic speed of learning and show that the incentivizes of the platform is aligned with maximizing the speed of learning. We then study the design of rating systems in terms of information collection and information provision schemes. In particular, we identify situations in which providing more information leads to slower learning. In the second part of the thesis, we develop a framework for systematically analyzing how changes in the information sets of users in a traffic network (e.g., due to route guidance systems) impact the traffic equilibrium, and show the conditions under which even those with access to additional information may suffer greater congestion. To this regard, we first introduce a new class of congestion games in which users have differing information sets about the available edges and can only use routes consisting of edges in their information set. We then define the notion of information constrained Wardrop equilibrium for this class of congestion games and establish its existence and uniqueness. Finally, we turn to our main question formulated in the forms of Informational Braess' Paradox (IBP), which extends the classic Braess' Paradox in traffic equilibria. IBP asks whether users receiving additional information can become worse off. We provide a comprehensive answer to this question by providing a tight characterization of network topologies under which IBP emerges.
by Ali Makhdoumi.
Ph. D.
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Lamont, Deborah Margaret. "Understanding and addressing dyslexia in travel information provision." Thesis, University of the West of England, Bristol, 2008. http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16861/.
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This thesis synthesises two previously disparate fields of study by investigating the attitudes and aspirations of dyslexic people regarding travel information provision. One of the first in-depth qualitative studies of its kind is presented, with the findings having significance for academia, professionals and government. There are four main parts to the thesis. Part 1 considers the literature review. Part 2 presents the empirical research strategy adopted (a series of focus groups and a travel ethnography study). Following this, Part 3 presents the empirical research findings. Finally, Part 4 concludes the thesis, introducing discussion of the key findings, the contribution of the research to the fields of study, and avenues for further research in this area. It is clear that the attitude towards disabled people is changing. However, dyslexic people are experiencing the benefits of the social model of disability at a considerably slower rate than other disabled people. This is clearly the case across the transport industry, particularly within travel information provision. At present the distinct needs of dyslexic people are being lost within a 'design-for-all strategy'. Essentially, dyslexic people are facing limited travel horizons and mobility-related exclusion as a result. This thesis effectively supports the drive towards greater recognition and awareness of (and support for) dyslexia within the transport industry. Although the research provides much to consider, it constitutes an important opportunity to positively change this aspect of life for dyslexic people. Dyslexic-friendly travel information can ameliorate the access barriers to transport, which in turn could broaden the travel horizons of these individuals. For Government, the subsequent effects of better information access upon public transport patronage and use of the road network (and the perceptions of the transport industry as a whole) could be extremely positive. It is also certain that the research has the potential to further embed the social model of disability within dyslexia. By changing the fundamental attitudes of the transport industry towards dyslexia would provide a positive step forward in achieving greater social inclusion for dyslexic people. This in turn could provide greater access to opportunities previously unavailable, create better social opportunities, and more positive life experiences.
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Matos, Everton de. "Context-aware information services provision for IoT environments." Pontif?cia Universidade Cat?lica do Rio Grande do Sul, 2016. http://tede2.pucrs.br/tede2/handle/tede/6836.
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The computing paradigm called Internet of Things (IoT) will connect billions of devices deployed around the world together in a near future. In the last years, IoT is gaining more attention. This paradigm has become popular by embedding mobile network and processing power into a wide range of physical computing devices used in everyday life of many people. An important element of the IoT is a middleware, which is a system able to abstract the management of physical devices and to provide services based on the information from these devices. The services provided are used by application clients to perform queries and obtain environmental information. In this way, it is already a subject in literature studies that address middleware systems not only interoperability of devices, but also context awareness feature. Context-aware is an important feature of IoT systems. This feature makes easy to discover, understand, and store relevant information related to devices. This information can be used for a refined provision of services based on the environment context and also for decision making. This work aims to present the Context-Aware System (CONASYS), that is a system to provide services of contextualized information about IoT devices in heterogeneous environments. The system is attached to COMPaaS IoT middleware and is able to act accordingly to the environment that it is inserted. We present in details the architecture of CONASYS, the technical issues related to the implementation of the system and perform some tests based in a real-world scenario. We also present some related work. Our objective is to provide a well-defined range of contextualized services that meet the users needs without specific knowledge of the environment, improving users Quality of Experience (QoE).
O paradigma da computa??o Internet das Coisas (IoT) ir? conectar bilh?es de dispositivos ao redor do mundo em um futuro pr?ximo. Nos ?ltimos anos, a IoT vem ganhando mais aten??o. Esse paradigma tornou-se popular por embarcar redes m?veis e pelo seu poder de processamento em uma vasta gama de dispositivos computadorizados utilizados na vida cotidiana de muitas pessoas. Um elemento importante da IoT ? o middleware, que ? um sistema capaz de abstrair a gest?o de dispositivos e prover servi?os baseados nestes dispositivos. Os servi?os providos s?o usados por aplica??es para obter informa??es do ambiente. Desta forma, existem muitas pesquisas relacionadas com o desenvolvimento de middleware que abordam n?o s? interoperabilidade dos dispositivos, mas tamb?m a caracter?stica de ci?ncia de contexto. Ci?ncia de contexto ? uma caracter?stica importante dos sistemas da IoT. Esta caracter?stica facilita o descobrimento, compreens?o e armazenamento de informa??es relevantes relacionadas aos dispositivos. Estas informa??es podem ser usadas para prover servi?os e tomada de decis?o com base no contexto do ambiente. para provimento de servi?os de informa??o contextulizada sobre dispositivos da IoT em ambientes heterog?neos. O sistema ? acoplado ao middleware COMPaaS e ? capaz de agir conforme o ambiente que est? inserido. A arquitetura do CONASYS ? apresentada em detalhes, assim como os testes realizados. Nosso objetivo ? prover servi?os contextualizados que atendam ?s necessidades dos usu?rios que n?o possuem conhecimento espec?fico do ambiente, melhorando assim a Qualidade da Experi?ncia (QoE).
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Eccleston, Anthony L., and n/a. "Coordinating information provision in government agencies using an integrated information management strategy." University of Canberra. Information, Language & Culture Studies, 1996. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060404.123006.
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The specific aims of this study were determined on a conceptual appreciation that
management of information assets and services in some government agencies was
deficient in meeting both existing and developing demands. This appreciation
manifested itself in a commitment to investigate the principles and processes
intrinsic to existing management methodologies, to relate these processes to the
needs of users, and to determine a strategy which could more ably meet the
information provision requirements of those users.
The achievement of these aims predicated the use of the case study research
method, selecting as the first case study the Department of Human Services and
Health (DHSH), an agency that had recognised that a problem existed in the
provision of information services, and had initiated action to address that
problem. As a counter, the Department of Defence, an agency which adrmts to a
problem, but which had yet to initiate an active, global program for its resolution,
was chosen as the second case study.
A theoretical model, which reflects extant international thinking and practice, was
initially constructed in order to establish a basis on which to ascertain and
evaluate the information management circumstances of the two case study
departments. This model specified the objectives considered to be fundamental
to effective information management in a public service environment. It included
studying the foundation repositories of information services from which
information in the portfolio domains of government are sought. These services
are the traditional records centres or registries, the library services which provide
a repository of published and grey material in printed, image and magnetic
formats, and the computerised networks holding electronic records at varying
levels of development.
An analysis of findings was carried out separately on each case study agency
before bringing the data together for cross-case analysis. In order to maximise
the veracity and validity of the data collected and its subsequent interpretation by
the researcher, the draft analysed case study findings were submitted to the
respective agencies for review and critique. All matters of substance received
have been incorporated in the final version.
The findings from the two case studies and the cross-case analysis confm that,
despite significant advances in some specific agencies, the initial hypothesis that
government agencies are still deficient in providing optimum services to meet the
information needs of users, is demonstrated. The advances that have been made,
however, similarly support the other thesis hypotheses that the implementation of
an integrated information management strategy in any government agency will
provide a foundation for improved information provision and the timely delivery
of relevant available information to the user.
Finally, a model of optimum processes involved in such a strategy, derived from
the theory and practical products of this study, is offered. This could be the
subject for future evaluation and testing for realistic and functional application.
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Ruttledge, Sylvia. "Information provision and kidney donor and recipient decision making." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.540765.
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Ruenwai, Narumol. "Science and technology information in Thailand : policies, strategies and provision." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2006. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/2975.
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The aim of the research was to investigate the current state of scientific and technological (S&T) information service provision in Thailand with a focus on its role of supporting research and development. The ultimate goal of the research was to develop a service model(s) which could aid the modernisation of the S&T information service. The information policies and strategic management at national and institutional levels were examined together with present and future roles in service provision and barriers to S&T information development. The research framework was constructed on the basis of theoretical models of the provision and management of effective information services. The institutions which participated in this research included 46 academic and special libraries in Thailand, hereafter called S&T information centres, and two funding agencies. The data were collected using a variety of research tools, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, namely, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. The questionnaires were distributed to five groups of respondents: executives, managers, librarians or staff, end-users, and executives or policy-makers of funding agencies. Two hundred and eighty-nine questionnaires were sent by post to 45 S&T information centres and two funding agencies whilst 703 questionnaires were also distributed to end-users. Interviews were performed with 55 executives and library managers. Three focus groups were organised on different topics, with a total of 36 participants. The major findings showed that national information policy in relation to S&T information was still relatively ineffective with roles and responsibilities of stakeholders not explicitly identified. In general, the results showed that institutional information policies exist but weak communication between executives, managers, and staff caused problems with implementation and interpretation. Most S&T centres were found to have strategic plans. The focus of these were on issues of integrated ICT infrastructure, acquisition of electronic resources, service improvement, communication with users and feedback, user education, cost effective use of resources, E-library transition and knowledge sharing. The development of resource sharing via computerised networks was considered to be paramount; progress to date was thought to be slow due to a lack of policies at national and institutional levels. Users' information literacy was still found to be an issue, particularly in respect of making effective use of electronic resources. The thesis provided recommendations for a national network for S&T information provision to be designed and managed by a hosting provider.
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Sweatman, Robert A. Palmer James C. "The focus of institutional research information provision in community colleges." Normal, Ill. Illinois State University, 2003. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ilstu/fullcit?p3106765.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2003.Title from title page screen, viewed October 12, 2005. Dissertation Committee: James C. Palmer (chair), W. Paul Vogt, Mohamed Nur-Awalch, Joseph Rives. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-172) and abstract. Also available in print.
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Borràs, Nogués Joan. "Semantic recommender systems Provision of personalised information about tourist activities." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/310219.
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Aquesta tesi estudia com millorar els sistemes de recomanació utilitzant informació semàntica sobre un determinat domini (en el cas d’aquest treball, Turisme). Les ontologies defineixen un conjunt de conceptes relacionats amb un determinat domini, així com les relacions entre ells. Aquestes estructures de coneixement poden ser utilitzades no només per representar d'una manera més precisa i refinada els objectes del domini i les preferències dels usuaris, sinó també per millorar els procediments de comparació entre els objectes i usuaris (i també entre els mateixos usuaris) amb l'ajuda de mesures de similitud semàntica. Les millores al nivell de la representació del coneixement i al nivell de raonament condueixen a recomanacions més precises i a una millora del rendiment dels sistemes de recomanació, generant nous sistemes de recomanació semàntics intel•ligents. Les dues tècniques bàsiques de recomanació, basades en contingut i en filtratge col•laboratiu, es beneficien de la introducció de coneixement explícit del domini.
En aquesta tesi també hem dissenyat i desenvolupat un sistema de recomanació que aplica els mètodes que hem proposat. Aquest recomanador està dissenyat per proporcionar recomanacions personalitzades sobre activitats turístiques a la regió de Tarragona. Les activitats estan degudament classificades i etiquetades d'acord amb una ontologia específica, que guia el procés de raonament. El recomanador té en compte molts tipus diferents de dades: informació demogràfica, les motivacions de viatge, les accions de l'usuari en el sistema, les qualificacions proporcionades per l'usuari, les opinions dels usuaris amb característiques demogràfiques similars o gustos similars, etc. Un procés de diversificació que calcula similituds entre objectes s'aplica per augmentar la varietat de les recomanacions i per tant augmentar la satisfacció de l'usuari. Aquest sistema pot tenir un impacte positiu a la regió en millorar l'experiència dels seus visitants.Esta tesis estudia cómo mejorar los sistemas de recomendación utilizando información semántica sobre un determinado dominio, en el caso de este trabajo el Turismo. Las ontologías definen un conjunto de conceptos relacionados con un determinado dominio, así como las relaciones entre ellos. East estructuras de conocimiento pueden ser utilizadas no sólo para representar de una manera más precisa y refinada los objetos del dominio y las preferencias de los usuarios, sino también para aplicar mejor los procedimientos de comparación entre los objetos y usuarios (y también entre los propios usuarios) con la ayuda de medidas de similitud semántica. Las mejoras al nivel de la representación del conocimiento y al nivel de razonamiento conducen a recomendaciones más precisas y a una mejora del rendimiento de los sistemas de recomendación, generando nuevos sistemas de recomendación semánticos inteligentes. Las dos técnicas de recomendación básicas, basadas en contenido y en filtrado colaborativo, se benefician de la introducción de conocimiento explícito del dominio. En esta tesis también hemos diseñado y desarrollado un sistema de recomendación que aplica los métodos que hemos propuesto. Este recomendador está diseñado para proporcionar recomendaciones personalizadas sobre las actividades turísticas en la región de Tarragona. Las actividades están debidamente clasificadas y etiquetadas de acuerdo con una ontología específica, que guía el proceso de razonamiento. El recomendador tiene en cuenta diferentes tipos de datos: información demográfica, las motivaciones de viaje, las acciones del usuario en el sistema, las calificaciones proporcionadas por el usuario, las opiniones de los usuarios con características demográficas similares o gustos similares, etc. Un proceso de diversificación que calcula similitudes entre objetos se aplica para generar variedad en las recomendaciones y por tanto aumentar la satisfacción del usuario. Este sistema puede tener un impacto positivo en la región al mejorar la experiencia de sus visitantes.
This dissertation studies how new improvements can be made on recommender systems by using ontological information about a certain domain (in the case of this work, Tourism). Ontologies define a set of concepts related to a certain domain as well as the relationships among them. These knowledge structures may be used not only to represent in a more precise and refined way the domain objects and the user preferences, but also to apply better matching procedures between objects and users (or between users themselves) with the help of semantic similarity measures. The improvements at the knowledge representation level and at the reasoning level lead to more accurate recommendations and to an improvement of the performance of recommender systems, paving the way towards a new generation of smart semantic recommender systems. Both content-based recommendation techniques and collaborative filtering ones certainly benefit from the introduction of explicit domain knowledge. In this thesis we have also designed and developed a recommender system that applies the methods we have proposed. This recommender is designed to provide personalized recommendations of touristic activities in the region of Tarragona. The activities are properly classified and labelled according to a specific ontology, which guides the reasoning process. The recommender takes into account many different kinds of data: demographic information, travel motivations, the actions of the user on the system, the ratings provided by the user, the opinions of users with similar demographic characteristics or similar tastes, etc. A diversification process that computes similarities between objects is applied to produce diverse recommendations and hence increase user satisfaction. This system can have a beneficial impact on the region by improving the experience of its visitors.
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Rupp, Thomas Manfred. "Supply information provision for co-operation in complex production networks." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.270502.
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Jobber, David. "A collection of publications in information provision and marketing management." Thesis, University of Bradford, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.376349.
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Andersen, Laura Mørch. "Information provision to consumers as an instrument of environmental regulation." Kbh. : Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen, 2008. http://www.econ.ku.dk/Forskning/Publikationer/ph.d_serie_2007-/red130.pdf.
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Cha, Inkyung. "Essays on the provision of public goods." Texas A&M University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/199.
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In Chapter 2, we present a model that allows us to study the effect of
increased competition among charities for donations, and show that it will
result in a lower provision of public goods. When charities get donations,
they must pay two fundraising costs: a travel cost and an extra cost, a
"premium" in our terminology. This
premium arises from the extra time, effort, or incentives a charity must
provide to garner a contribution from a donor who is solicited by other
charities. Increased competition raises this premium, which leads to
deadweight loss, so that revenue net of fundraising costs falls after a new firm
enters into the market.
A problem with public goods markets is asymmetric information between
charities and donors, such that donors do not know which charities will cheat. In Chapter 3, we show that honest charities can get more
donations than dishonest charities by investing in a capital stock. We study
a two-period model under two assumptions, one where first-period investment
does not affect the provision of public goods in the second period, and one
where first-period investment does affect the provision of public goods in
the second period. In the first case, we prove the existence of a separating
equilibrium where honest charities make an investment and dishonest charities invest nothing. Thus, donors will donate
more to charities that make investments, even if the investment is not used
to produce public goods. In the second case, honest charities may invest the
efficient amount, overinvest, or underinvest, depending on the donors'
beliefs.
In Chapter 4, we borrow parts of the models in the
previous two chapters in order to see what effect the signaling cost has on
the number of firms and average revenue. In our model, donor utility
increases when they give to a charity that matches their ideology. We are
interested in the long-run equilibrium, so unlike in Chapter 2, we assume
there is free entry in the market. The two important results are that the
number of firms decreases and average revenue increases if the required signaling cost
increases.
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Argenton, Cédric. "Quality provision in duopoly." Doctoral thesis, Handelshögskolan i Stockholm, Samhällsekonomi (S), 2006. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hhs:diva-495.
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This dissertation comprises three essays revisiting the classical topic of quality provision in a duopoly. Two essays consider a situation in which consumers cannot identify the origin of an individual product but observe or infer the average quality of the units brought to the market: Chapter 2 studies the case where the two producers bargain over a minimum quality standard before deciding about their own quality level, while Chapter 3 deals with the case where qualities are (exogenously) fixed and producers have to decide about the quantity they will offer for sale. The final essay (Chapter 4) switches to a perfect-information environment and asks whether the producer of an inferior variety is able to deter the entry of a superior product by having retailers sign onto exclusivity contracts.Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2006
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al, Musawi Hasham. "Information provision and retrieval in the farming industry in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/866.
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Agricultural information dissemination to farmers has been studied extensively. However, farmers preferred methods of delivery has not been investigated thoroughly within a Western Australia (WA) context.
Availability of different information delivery channels have led to the overwhelming and overlapping of information available to farmers. As a consequence, the type of information required by WA farmers should be considered as knowing information needs could allow farmers to access relevant, concise and timely agricultural information.
To answer the research questions, a survey was designed, using Likert-scale, close ended and open ended questions techniques, enabling qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The study‘s findings are relevant to agricultural information providers, government and public agencies, and other researchers who work in the agricultural and farming industries in Western Australia, and Australia.
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Cao, Han. "Crossmodal displays : coordinated crossmodal cues for information provision in public spaces." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/1813.
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This thesis explores the design of Crossmodal Display, a new kind of display-based interface that aims to help prevent information overload and support information presentation for multiple simultaneous people who share a physical space or situated interface but have different information needs and privacy concerns. By exploiting the human multimodal perception and utilizing the synergy of both existing public displays and personal displays, crossmodal displays avoid numerous drawbacks associated with previous approaches, including a reliance on tracking technologies, weak protection for user‟s privacy, small user capacity and high cognitive load demands. The review of the human multimodal perception in this thesis, especially multimodal integration and crossmodal interaction, has many design implications for the design of crossmodal displays and constitutes the foundation for our proposed conceptual model. Two types of crossmodal display prototype applications are developed: CROSSFLOW for indoor navigation and CROSSBOARD for information retrieval on high-density information display; both of these utilize coordinated crossmodal cues to guide multiple simultaneous users‟ attention to publicly visible information relevant to each user timely. Most of the results of single-user and multi-user lab studies on the prototype systems we developed in this research demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of crossmodal displays and validate several significant advantages over the previous solutions. However, the results also reveal that more detailed usability and user experience of crossmodal displays as well as the human perception of crossmodal cues should be investigated and improved. This thesis is the first exploration into the design of crossmodal displays. A set of design suggestions and a lifecycle model of crossmodal display development have been produced, and can be used by designers or other researchers who wish to develop crossmodal displays for their applications or integrate crossmodal cues in their interfaces.
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Grassi, Simona. "Essays on the Public Provision of Private Goods under Asymmetric Information." Thesis, University of York, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.503310.
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Zhang, Yizhou. "Real Time Crowding Information (RTCI) Provision : Impacts and Proposed Technical Solution." Thesis, KTH, Industriell ekologi, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-174113.
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The increasing population leads to higher passenger travel demand in Stockholm. The public transport becomes more and more crowded in rush hours. However, passengers carry out decisions usually based on limited traffic information and their travel experience. Passengers cannot take the initiative to avoid crowding based on existing SL traffic information. Real time crowding information (RTCI) research aims to help passenger to have more initiative to plan their travel in metro system, and assist operator to have higher space utilization efficiency. RTCI system contains4 subsystems: projection system, communication system, speaker system and recording system. The practical test was applied in Tekniska Högskolan metro station for two weeks in May 2015 with the permission from SL. The triangle analysis was applied to analyze the impacts of RTCI. The analysiscontains three analysis methods: passenger load data analysis, video record analysis and interview result analysis. The interview result shows RTCI increased round nine tenth of passengers ‘satisfaction and 43% of interviewees thought it was very useful for them. The calculation based on video record and interview result shows that 25% of passengers consulted this information and changed their behaviors on platform. According to the video record, the path became wider and passenger flow became smoother while RTCI system was activated. Passenger distribution was more even in metro based on passenger load data. The number of passengers who got into last unit train increased 8%, and the number in first and second unit train decreased 4% during RTCI practical test. The thesis mainly focused to analyze the impacts of RTCI instead of solving technical challenges. But the technical solution for RTCI system was proposed in thesis. The concept - “Smart Travel” was discussed in chapter11 which mainly considers travel time, crowding information and travel cost as most important factors to passenger.
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Kabakian-Khasholian, Tamar. "Improving women's health postpartum : the impact of provision of written information." Thesis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London), 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.269771.
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Basu, Abhishek Arunasis. "Data-driven customer segmentation and personalized information provision in public transit." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/119331.
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Thesis: S.M. in Transportation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2018.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-191).
To ensure customer satisfaction, a transit agency must strive to understand and cater to its users' needs. The goal of this research is to develop a framework that could help the transit agency to better understand its users and their behaviors. Segmentation of the market for transit users is the first step, since it allows for the understanding of heterogeneity in their characteristics and their varying requirements, at a granular level as opposed to an aggregate one. In this study, we create a framework, which uses smart card data, to identify customer segments. The framework developed in this study includes a segmentation scheme that creates segments based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of the travel behavior of customers. Data from Hong Kong's MTR system were used to demonstrate the practical application of the developed segmentation methodology. In doing so, a thorough analysis was conducted to interpret the specifics of the identified segments. The segmentation scheme created in this study is capable of catering to meaningful applications that could serve both the agency and the users of the transit system. A few applications explored in the context of this study include the use of the customer segmentation framework for the provision of personalized information. It was demonstrated how targeted information could be provided to users who may likely be affected by a particular service disruption event. In addition, the segmentation framework was used to understand the impact of changes in the network, through a before-and-after analysis where the impact on customer travel patterns due to the provision of service on the newly opened South Island Line is adopted as a case study. Lastly, a predictive transit smart card attrition model was developed by using the features created for the purpose of segmentation. The framework for segmentation developed in this study was found to be useful for multiple applications. Furthermore, the framework is flexible and, therefore, could be generalized for use to address other applications and across other agencies.
by Abhishek Arunasis Basu.
S.M. in Transportation
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Unnikrishnan, Avinash. "Equilibrium models accounting for uncertainty and information provision in transportation networks." [Austin, Tex. : University of Texas Libraries, 2008. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/etd/d/2008/unnikrishnana67041/unnikrishnana67041.pdf#page=3.
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Hagemeier, Nicholas E., Arsham Alamian, Matthew M. Murawski, and Robert P. Pack. "Factors Associated With Provision of Addiction Treatment Information by Community Pharmacists." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2015. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/1324.
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Community pharmacists in the United States have significant opportunity to engage in community-level prescription substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts, including dissemination of information specific to available addiction treatment options. Our cross-sectional study of Tennessee community pharmacists noted that 26% had previously provided addiction treatment facility information to one or more patients in the past. The purpose of this study was to employ multivariate modeling techniques to investigate associations between community pharmacist and community pharmacy factors and past provision of addiction treatment information to pharmacy patients. Multivariate logistic regression indicated having addiction treatment facility information in a pharmacy setting (aOR=8.19; 95% CI=4.36–15.37), having high confidence in ability to discuss treatment facility options (aOR=4.16; 95% CI=2.65–6.52), having participated in prescription opioid abuse-specific continuing education (aOR=2.90; 95% CI=1.70–4.97), being male (aOR=2.23; 95% CI=1.38–3.59), and increased hours per week in the practice setting (aOR=1.02; 95% CI=1.004–1.05) were all significantly associated with provision of information about addiction treatment. Dissemination of addiction treatment information, improvements in communicative self-efficacy beliefs, and dissemination of prescription opioid abuse-specific continuing education are modifiable factors significantly associated with increased provision of addiction treatment information by community pharmacists.
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Patsimas, Tatiana, Karen E. Schetzina, and Gayatri Bala Jaishankar. "Improving the Provision of Health Information for Families with Young Children." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2016. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/5038.
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Osinowo, Gbenga Ayodeji. "Internet and Telecommunications Companies' Provision of Customer Information to the Government." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7248.
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The strategy of the National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance program is to incorporate the private sector into the bulk data collection of customers information, yet there is little legislative and judicial oversight. As a result, internet and telecommunications companies participated, placing at risk protected privacy interests of their customers. Using policy feedback theory and narrative policy framework as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this qualitative, case study was to explore how the federal government gains compliance of the internet and telecommunications industry to engage in information sharing with NSA during post 9/11, 2001 terrorists' attack. Secondary data were collected about internet and telecommunications companies through document analysis, corporate records, and credible news sources. These data were compiled as raw data and developed into codes, which led to categories and eventually developed into themes. Findings indicate that private companies participated for three main reasons: first, an interest in preserving national security, second, they believed they had limited or no liability, and third, profit-making. At the same time, the participants expressed concerns that the government gained compliance via the use of coercion, influence, and persuasion. The positive social change implication of this study includes recommendations to public policy practitioners/evaluators that it is necessary to include private sector analysis in a comprehensive review of public policy because inter-dependencies of the private-public sector guarantees effective public policy implementation/ assessment.
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Crawford, John C. "Historical models of library provision : the example of Scotland." Thesis, Glasgow Caledonian University, 1993. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.385906.
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This study aims to construct a historical model of library provision in Scotland from the 16th century to the present day. It falls naturally into three parts: A first section covering the period 1560-1850 which discusses the origin and development of library provision and use in Scotland and identifies its main characteristics. A second section 'Sectoral Analysis' which is an analysis of the LIBSCOT file, a microcomputer held directory of library provision in Scotland in the 1890s. After an overview chapter each type of library in Scotland, derived from a classification devised by the author, is described in turn and its main characteristics, statistical and factual, are identified. A third section, Evaluation, which analyses the LIBSCOT file data in general terms, examines the development of policy for library provision in Scotland and considers how contemporary librarianship in Scotland has been shaped by the historical model. A final chapter considers the study's importance for library historiography. The historical model, briefly stated, suggests that library provision in Scotland has traditionally been based on small administrative, local community centred roots which originated in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. These traditions originated in small market towns and villages and although they spread to large towns and cities the small population unit remained the essential base for library provision. By the end of the 18th century a structure of library provision had emerged, based on small units which were amateur but not amateurish in character and were hostile to large bureaucratic units and an ideology of professionalism. The evidence of the LIBSCOT file shows that this picture was largely unchanged by the late 19th century. In the 20th century slow progress was made towards a new model of library provision, based on large administrative units and an ideology of professionalism was slow to develop. Attitudes did not change until the 1960s.
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Stamoulos, Marios Nikolaos. "Provision of better VLE learner support with a Question Answering System." Thesis, University of Sunderland, 2016. http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/6818/.
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The focus of this research is based on the provision of user support to students using electronic means of communication to aid their learning. Digital age brought anytime anywhere access of learning resources to students. Most academic institutions and also companies use Virtual Learning Environments to provide their learners with learning material. All learners using the VLE have access to the same material and help despite their existing knowledge and interests. This work uses the information in the learning materials of Virtual Learning Environments to answer questions and provide student help by a Question Answering System. The aim of this investigation is to research if a satisfactory combination of Question Answering, Information Retrieval and Automatic Summarisation techniques within a VLE will help/support the student better than existing systems (full text search engines).
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Ngobeni, Lulama Ntombana. "Assessing knowledge-transfer in sanitation projects to promote sustainable VIP latrine provision." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20560.
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The aim of this study was to assess how knowledge transfer through community engagement and public participation can be used to support the sustainability of VIP latrines, and hence address the negative perceptions that people have of the VIP latrine. In South Africa, the basic minimum acceptable level of sanitation is a lined Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine. Some sanitation projects utilising VIP latrines have, however, been unsuccessful as a result of the poor construction and design practices, and insufficient buy-in from latrine users. Successful VIP latrine sanitation projects have shown to use effective knowledge transfer through community engagement. The study comprises of a review of literature on community engagement, public participation, sustainable sanitation, VIP latrines and the transfer of knowledge in sanitation projects. The fieldwork study was a comparative assessment of two VIP sanitation projects implemented in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality: a project coordinated by an NGO appointed by the Department of Human Settlements as part of the Rural Household Infrastructure Programme; and another where the project was run by a project management firm appointed by the local municipality which used funding from the municipal infrastructure grant. For the NGO co-ordinated project, a community engagement approach was adopted, whilst the Project Management Firm co-ordinated project used a public participation approach. The projects were implemented in two villages both situated 10km North East of the town of Bushbuckridge. The comparative assessment was two-fold: an assessment of the sustainability of the VIP latrines, using the Integrated Assessment of Sustainable Development which was developed by Krajnc and Glavic (2004), and a Critical Systems Heuristics (CSH-developed by Ulrich in 1983) (Reynolds, 2007) analysis of the public participation and community engagement methods used in both projects.
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Nys, Emmanuelle. "Service provision and bank interest margins." Limoges, 2003. http://aurore.unilim.fr/theses/nxfile/default/bda23b6f-98e8-4321-9b04-ee313bfe26f9/blobholder:0/2003LIMO0497.pdf.
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Given the increasing share of non-interest income, the motivation behind this thesis is to understand how the major changes that took place in the banking industry may have affected banks' intermediation activity. The review of literature shows that the price setting of intermediation activity, the role of risk within this setting and the multi-production of banks have not been considered conjointly. After an empirical survey, we carry out our own test about the determinants of bank margins in Europe. We include fees as an explanatory variable, and find a negative impact of this variable on the margin. Our model, based on a principal-agent framework with adverse selection, underlines two major results: banks subsidise their lending rate as they desire to increase their sale of services, and a strategy to further increase service revenue decreases their incentives to screen firms' project, taking on higher credit risk. Then, our theoretical findings are assessed empiricallyL'objectif de cette thèse est de mettre en évidence les effets de la vente de services sur l'activité d'intermédiation des banques. Dans une revue de littérature, nous montrons que la formation des prix de l'activité d'intermédiation, le rôle fondamental qu'y joue le risque et les interactions liées à la nature multi-productrice de la banque - trois éléments essentiels de notre travail - ne sont jamais considérés conjointement. Après une revue empirique, nous menons notre propre analyse économétrique des déterminants de la marge en Europe. En y incluant les commissions provenant des services, nous montrons leur effet sur la marge. Notre modèle principal-agent avec anti-sélection montre que les banques, en concurrence sur le marché du crédit, diminuent leur taux débiteur pour attirer de nouveaux clients, et qu'elles tendent à prendre plus de risque en acceptant des projets qu'elles auraient auparavant refusés. Nous testons enfin nos résultats empiriquement
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Brine, Alan. "Information needs of historic houses." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2008. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/4323.
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In the United Kingdom (UK) historic houses form part of the tourism and leisure market. Heritage encompasses a wide variety of establishments including historic houses, historic gardens, heritage centres, town centres, countryside and museums. The UK has a vast cultural resource in this respect and the research intends to concentrate on establishments that are known as the "built heritage" and that are often described as "historic" or "country houses". Millions of visitors annually visit properties to experience an insight into earlier periods of British history and culture. Many operate similarly to small businesses and often have a more diverse range of needs. A model was developed for the study to show the information needs of historic houses and the information seeking behaviour of those managing historic houses. Data have been collected both via questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaires involved the investigation of those managing (owners, administrators, custodians) heritage establishments. The interview questions were put directly to individuals responsible for properties from a geographically dispersed area, with different categories of ownership (English Heritage, National Trust, private, local authority) and with different levels of visitor traffic. The survey focused on diversity of activities, information provision, use of information, developments (including technology) and collaboration. Historic houses have been part of a growing sector, allied to the growth in the leisure industry, which has led to increasing demands on their time and finances. In a world that increasingly provides more information than can be handled effectively by any one individual, properties need to be able to make effective use of this to protect the heritage for future generations. Building on the empirical work recommendations are made on policy making, education, audits, co-operation and technology to improve the provision and management of information within the sector to support these establishments. The research represents the first study to investigate the existing situation of historic houses and their information needs in the UK, to try and provide an overview of the sector and information provision and how that might be improved.
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Hall, Daniel Edward. "Understanding the provision and processing of information for information-intensive products as a basis for market segmentation." Doctoral thesis, KTH, Industriell marknadsföring, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-186353.
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This thesis helps to address the gap in literature relating to the study of the provision of information to consumers, consumer information search behaviour and consumer information processing and choice behaviour relating to information-intensive products. Throughout the thesis, wine is taken as an example of an information-intensive product. Through a series of four published papers in peer reviewed journals, the thesis examines how firms can control and manipulate the provision of information to consumers and that by restricting the availability of information, the firm can make its target consumers want the product even more. Although secrecy has existed for centuries, as a marketing tool it is relatively new and little is understood about its power or purpose in marketing strategy. The thesis also analyses how consumers process information relating to information-intensive products using mental shortcuts, or heuristics, to substitute price for product quality at increasing rates of product consumption. Finally, the thesis provides a new way in which to segment the luxury wine market based on consumer knowledge together with the timing of consumption. The thesis provides a number of interesting advancements in marketing and consumer behaviour research. The first advancement examines whether secret wine societies are actually that secret at all and finds that they are not; however this finding does not absolve the need for marketers to use secrecy as a marketing tool. The second advancement provides insight into advertising, blogs and consumer innovativeness and finds a positive relationship between attitude toward advertising and consumer innovativeness. The third advancement finds evidence that consumers’ process information by using the price-quality heuristic, for both sighted and blind tasting experiments. Furthermore, the study finds that blind tasting (deliberate thinking) reinforces sighted tasting (automatic thinking) which contributes to judgement errors about product quality. The fourth advancement is to provide a new way to segment the luxury wine market based on consumer objective knowledge, frequency of consumption and timing of consumption.QC 20160518
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Liu, Brooke Fisher Curtin Patricia A. "Playing politics in the development and provision of disaster information for Hispanics." Chapel Hill, N.C. : University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/u?/etd,345.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2006.Title from electronic title page (viewed Oct. 10, 2007). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication." Discipline: Journalism and Mass Communication; Department/School: Journalism and Mass Communication, School of.
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Lamb, Isobel. "The effect of provision of information on psychological outcome following subarachnoid haemorrhage." Thesis, Bangor University, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.318562.
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Ousmanou, Khadidjatou. "A Method for the Articulation of Users' Requirements for Personalised Information Provision." Thesis, University of Reading, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.486319.
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The knowledge economy and the wide dissemination of information supported by infonnation and communication technology (lCT) have created opportunities for people to access infonnation at anytime and from anywhere. They can be endorsed when constructing knowledge in a practical and real-time fashion. The technological advances have also increased the workload on individual users who have to sift through large volume of data to find relevant infonnation. Although search engines can return suitable infonnation sources based on users' queries, this is only to a point. While we live in a 'one size fits all' world, we are not all the same. Therefore there is a need to support a broad and diverse community of users when they require infonnation for improving qualifications or enhancing productivity in the workplace. However, the design of personalised infonnation provision is challenging because there is a need for mechanisms to assist the capturing of users' infonnation requirements. Infonnation provision to support .users' knowledge construction depends largely on understanding users' infonnation requirements. The requirements represent ,. personalised preferences for what infonnation content is required and how the selected content should be presented and delivered to meet individuals' needs. Modelling the personalised capability in users' requirements is essential for effective infonnation provision. Such modelling is required to produce a holistic and integrated representation of infonnation content provision which ensure individual users' satisfaction. Subsequently it imposes challenges to the existing methods, because they normally provide the techniques which focus independently on specific modelling aspects, e.g., processes, functions, data, and infrastructure. The requirements specifications generated by these techniques are sometimes fragmented and difficult to be coherently integrated. The main contribution of this PhD research lies in the delivery of a method for the articulation of users' requirements (MATURE) to assist personalised infonnation prOVISIOn in infonnation systems. The method has adopted Constructivism and Semiotics paradigms which enabled the rigorous examination of users' behaviours during infonnation requests. MATURE allows users to interactively specify infonnation requirements which are systematically encapsulated in a user requirements space. The users requirements are analysed and transfonned into infonnation provision specifications through the process of articulates, maps and configures. The ' MATURE ontology model conceptualises semantic units which represent processes with embedded nonns. The ontology controls systemically the process analysis and the documentation of infonnation provision specifications in an integrated manner. A number of techniques, such as user profiling, learning'object schema, nonn constructor, cognitive style assessment, and documentations of specifications, have been developed to enable the technical execution of the ontolqgy model. The infonnation provision specifications contribute to the packaging: of infonnation content that meet users' needs. The method has been applied and validated using case studies in e-Learning settings.
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Sutton, Yvonne Marie. "Knowledge transformation and representation : towards more informed provision and use of information." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2000. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/20411/.
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This thesis seeks to better understand the nature of, and relationships between knowledge, data and information. The context selected for this work was clinical practice in the UK National Health Service (NHS) beginning with the generation and use of clinical knowledge. The thesis undertakes a critical examination of the relationship between that knowledge and the data it produces, and the large-scale statistical data sets generated from it via a number of human, technological, systemic and mathematical processes. The statistical data sets were regarded as important because they were highly influential, being used as the basis for significant and far-reaching decisions about healthcare in the NHS. These decisions included policymaking, financial allocations, and allocations of services and other resources. This situation provided fertile ground for this research because the clinical knowledge and data were believed to be subjective to some unknown degree. The statistical data sets, however, were endowed with objective and scientific value. The thesis explores and explains this apparent contradiction. In addressing this issue, the thesis encompasses philosophical, sociological and technological concerns and develops explanatory theories grounded in data collected. Data was collected by a process of extensive qualitative field-based investigation undertaken with clinicians, and data collectors, handlers and users in their operating environments. Key concepts underpinning these theories involve the social construction of reality as a product of individual and group frames of reference; social construction of reality as a result of social arrangements for professional groups; social construction of reality as a result of the pursuance of ontological security; and lastly, the phenomena of structural contradiction and conflict. Of major relevance in this was Giddens' work (1976, 1984) on Structuration Theory, in particular in terms of exploring the effects of sociologically-based frames of reference on creation and transfer of meaning in informational terms. This work was also influential in terms of the notion of structural contradiction and conflict and its informational effects. Application of this abstract, meta-level theory to this real-world situation also led to one of the main contributions to theory. This engagement with reality enabled refinement of its underpinning model. It also demonstrated its explanatory power. This strengthens the validity of the theory and renders it more accessible to other researchers. The thesis indicates clinicians' use of information and subsequent recording of data represents a highly personalised area of professional activity. This does not subsequently translate easily into the data sets and statistical classification schemes that are in common usage in healthcare management. These findings led to conclusions which confirmed initial perceptions of statistical clinical datasets as having a tenuous connection with the clinical knowledge and events upon which they purport to be based. Drawing on evidence which describes knowledge as being situationally-dependent, the conclusions also assert that the transformation of original meaning this implies is largely due to social influences. Finally they claim that the apparent rationality of decisions made on the basis of the transformed meaning, while the result of calculative thought designed to justify related decisions, is misguided in that it has no foundation in the evidence presented. The document ends with a call for a fundamental reassessment of the types of knowledge processed routinely through systems, and of the ways in which those types are handled.
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Hasegawa, Satoshi, Kumi Sato, Shohei Matsunuma, Masaru Miyao, and Kohei Okamoto. "Multilingual Disaster Information System : Information Delivery Using Graphic Text for Mobile Phones." Springer, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2237/8651.
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Parker, Susan. "Provision of European information : Commission policy and its implementation in libraries and information services in the United Kingdom." Thesis, Robert Gordon University, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.400608.
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Phillips, Helen. "Information for elderly people : a vital but missing link in community care." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/805.
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The aim of this thesis has been to explore the interrelationship between elderly people and information. A case-study approach was adopted which examined whether the information needs of elderly people (consumers) in relation to community care had, in their perception. been addressed by the Information Strategy developed by the Social Services Department of one shire county (providers) in response to the Community Care Act 1990 to provide information about its services and how to access them. Two key findings emerge from the research. Firstly, elderly people's information needs in relation to community care have not been addressed by the Information Strategy. Secondly, the Strategy has encountered a number of implementation problems, namely communication difficulties, interagency issues and the gatekeeping role of frontline staff in information provision. The findings from the thesis suggest that a Community Care Information Strategy should be based on three key elements. It should acknowledge that elderly people are likely to comprise the largest single group in receipt of community care services. It should recognise that potential and current users of community care services are a heterogeneous group, with a diverse range of information and service needs. Finally, it should be based on an understanding of the information seeking behaviour of potential and current users of community care services and their preferred methods of information provision, and on an awareness of the likely barriers to information which may be in operation.
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Karelse, Cathy-Mae. "Alternative models of information provision with special reference to the International Research and Information Group and the Education Resource and Information Project." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13395.
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Bibliography: leaves 194-199.This study examines the contribution made by two alternative service or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the provision and delivery of information in South Africa. A brief analysis of the role of information in impacting on and/or reproducing social formations is undertaken to provide an understanding of the way in which information has been used in the South African context to repress transformation of the apartheid state. This discussion frames an investigation into ways in which NGOs have attempted to counter information control on the part of the apartheid regime by mediating information to their constituencies. The relationship between information, education and development is addressed, providing insight into the educational role which service organisations play in delivering an information service on the one hand, the information role they perform in providing an education service on the other, and the developmental role they assume in both instances. Particular attention is paid to the way in which these services relate to their users in the process of imparting information to them. In this regard the interface between NGOs and their users is investigated and the very nature of this interaction assessed.
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Chrisostomou, Charalambos Loizou. "An investigation of the information technology provision in initial teacher education in Cyprus." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.369376.
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Pullinger, Stephen Bernard. "Parliament and the defence debate : the generation, provision and use of specialist information." Thesis, University of Bradford, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.235642.
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Altuwaijri, Eman Ali S. "Supporting ambulance crews electronically through the provision of 'on-demand' patient health information." Thesis, Durham University, 2018. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/12754/.
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The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) does not have direct access to any information regarding patient health history, current medication, allergies, etc. that might assist an ambulance crew when they are dispatched to an emergency incident. Therefore, an ambulance crew responding to a call-out usually travels to the incident ‘information blind’ regarding the patient’s general health status. What makes the ambulance service in general, and the ambulance crew in particular, unique from other healthcare organizations is the spectrum of exposure to a diversity of health organizations (care homes, GPs, hospitals, etc.), and none-health organizations (police, social services, fire forces,etc.). This thesis describes an investigation into the feasibility of implementing a software Information Broker (IB) prototype, that has the ability to provide ‘on-demand’ electronic health information to ambulance crews while on scene, by accessing a set of autonomous databases containing patient records. This is to support the ambulance crew with reliable patient information in order to assist their decision-making process, therefore, reduce unnecessary patients’ conveyance to the Emergency Department (ED). The thesis also examines the sociotechnical issues surrounding health information transfer between and within the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) for patients with epilepsy (PWE), specifically in the North East region of England. A case study approach was employed as an overarching framework for the feasibility study of the IB prototype. This case study was centred upon studying the needs of people with epilepsy (PWE), as this group has been identified by NEAS as frequent users of the ambulance service. In many cases, if the ambulance crew are given adequate information to support their decision-making, they do not need to convey patients to a hospital ED unless necessary. Within the case study, a phenomenological approach was employed for the set of perspectives used for investigating the sociotechnical issues surrounding the IB. The three perspectives were the perceptions of NEAS operational and management staff, those of the JCUH staff and PWE/carers, and finally, the perceptions of the ambulance crew. The prototype IB technology has demonstrated the feasibility of using an information transfer broker to transfer information from autonomous organizations to the ambulance crew on scene. Overcoming technical challenges alone is not sufficient for this success. Stakeholders’ requirements, organization collaboration, compliance with national standards and targets, social and technical aspects, and so forth, are other issues that have been considered. Involvement of potential stakeholders in stages of any Health and Information Technology (HIT) development is an essential element to be included, as much as possible, to satisfy those requirements and needs of end-users. Improving the data availability to the ambulance crews on scene via an IB, means that they can perform better decision-making while on scene with a patient. The demonstration of the IB prototype has shown its potential for transferring patient health information from an autonomous database to ambulance crews. To increase opportunities of success, shared incentives and aims of the intra- and inter-organizational communication and collaboration should facilitate the implementation of HIT. Facilitating incremental improvements of systems and technologies may have an effect on the organization as a whole in terms of robustness of systems and technologies.
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Vasilica, Cristina Mihaela. "Impact of using social media to increase patient information provision, networking and communication." Thesis, University of Salford, 2015. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/38035/.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Social media are powerful communication systems that enable sharing, networking and information generation on an unprecedented scale. However, there is limited evidence as to how social media mechanisms are adopted by patients within health to engage with others, locate and generate information, or as a source of support. The primary aim of the study was to adopt social media to enable patients to engage in the process of producing and sharing health information and examine the impact of engagement on a patients’ self-efficacy. Research approach: A realist synthesis progressed in two phases (Oct 2011–March 2015) to determine the influential mechanisms (M) of the study, the context (C) in which they work and the outcome (O), known as CMO configurations. Phase 1: development of Greater Manchester Kidney Information Network (GMKIN), staff and patient training (Oct 2011–Sept 2013), moderation and site refinement (Sept 2013-Oct 2014). Phase 2: six steps of realist synthesis to identify, test, and extend a set of theories/ propositions (Oct 2011–March 2015); mixed methods realist evaluation, observation of on-line activity, self- efficacy scales, blogs and interviews (0/6 months) with 14 patients (Nov 2013–Sept 2014). Findings: The study strengthened evidence that engagement plays a crucial role in a healthcare social media intervention, building on an existing engagement model and knowledge. Three levels of engagement were identified: influencing roles, the conversationalists and general browsing. Engagement, an overarching mechanism, was a continuous process; influenced by attention, novelty, sociability, information and interactivity factors. Disengagement was characterised by inattention, triggered by environmental factors and decoupling, resulting from overwhelming information, health issues and negativity. Notifications often persuaded patients’ to re-engage. CMOs were identified and explored, outlining the role of each mechanism (Social Network Sites, Facebook, Twitter, blogging and forums) in triggering outcomes. Patients’ engagement contributed to information generation, which satisfied information needs. Satisfaction of information needs thorough social engagement influenced self-efficacy (in 13 of 14 people) and better management of illness. Social outcomes included seeking employment and getting involved in other things. Conclusion: This study refined and extended propositions based on a real life intervention. It combined Social Media mechanisms and engagement concepts in the context of health and tested what worked for whom, when and how. Using an innovative approach it generated new knowledge in understanding social media impact, health engagement practices and communities of practice.
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Hryhorevska, O. O. "Information and analytical provision of management of diversification of activities of business entities." Thesis, SSPG Publish, 2020. https://er.knutd.edu.ua/handle/123456789/17370.
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There is no doubt that high-quality information support will increase the validity, efficiency and analytical information on the development of a strategy to diversify the activities of economic entities in accordance with modern management requirements, strengthen the responsibility of performers and minimize risks. Thus, thanks to the information support system of diversification of business entities are able to adapt to the external business environment and risks of society, strengthen the competitive position, maximize and effectively use development opportunities.Якісна інформаційна підтримка підвищить обгрунтованість, ефективність та аналітичну інформацію щодо розробки стратегії диверсифікації діяльності суб'єктів господарювання відповідно до сучасних вимог управління, посилення відповідальності виконавців та мінімізації ризиків. Таким чином, завдяки системі інформаційного забезпечення диверсифікації суб’єкти господарювання здатні адаптуватися до зовнішнього ділового середовища та ризиків суспільства, зміцнити конкурентні позиції, максимізувати та ефективно використовувати можливості розвитку.
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Crone, Simon Michael. "Application of information systems in irregular settlement management and low-cost housing provision." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/17543.
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Bibliography: pages 105-107.Information Systems, both paper-based and computer-based, are integral in the management of irregular settlements and the process of delivering low-cost housing in South Africa. An Irregular Settlement can be defined as an area where the 'shacks' have no fixed street address. Due to policies by previous regimes, under whose rule irregular settlements were almost ignored, there is often little or no spatial or socio-economic data available about existing irregular settlements. Thus for the use of the community, or to organisations interested in helping to improve the quality of life of the residents living in these settlements. As a prerequisite to quality of life, the basic need of shelter, along with food, healthcare and education need to be made available. The emphasis today is thus being placed on the provision of low-cost housing. A need thus arises to have up-to-date information about these irregular settlements in order to plan either for the upgrading of the settlement or for the relocation to new low-cost housing developments. Currently mostly paper-based systems are being used in these developments. There are two opportunities where computer-oriented information systems could be used at this time in 1996 and 1997 to assist with the management and upgrading of irregular settlements. The first is the stage of managing an existing irregular settlement; the second is managing the process of housing provision, taking advantage of the project-linked subsidy scheme. Two Cape Town based projects provide case studies for the application of information systems at the two stages identified above. The first is the Marconi Beam 'From Shacks to Houses' project located in Milnerton. The second is the Integrated Services Land Project (iSLP) of the Cape Flats. The Marconi Beam Settlement is an irregular settlement that has been accepted as part of the 'Project-Linked Subsidy Scheme' for the provision of new low-cost housing. Previously only paper-based systems were being used to manage the settlement and its move to the new Joe Slovo Park formal housing development. There was also found to be a lack of appropriate tools and awareness of which technology could be used in the process. Some of the specific application areas in which we were able to provide solutions in Marconi Beam included: ■ the identification of people directly affected by the fire that swept through the settlement in October 1996; ■ the residents who would be affected by the construction of a new road through the one area of the settlement could be identified, facilitating their movement away from the area; and ■ a system of tracking the internal moves of residents was devised by which we were able to maintain a record of the internal movements of residents whilst the system of the lottery was in place. Subsequently, with the use of the Block System, the identification of residents who were required to come in and have their applications for new houses processed, as a result of their spatial location in the settlement, was accomplished. The Indlu Management System, a computer based system, resulted from the need to keep track of, and process, large amounts of socio-economic data in order to speedily process the large number of applicants applying for national housing subsidies. As a result of the implementation of this system, the processing times per applicant have been reduced from 30 minutes to 10 minutes per applicant. The successful use of these systems in the two projects demonstrate that there is thus a definite role to be played in the use of information systems in relation to the management of irregular settlements and the provision of low-cost housing.
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Purdy, Derek Ernest. "The effect of the provision of financial information upon the construing of employees." Thesis, London Metropolitan University, 1987. http://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/3377/.
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The research problem was to ascertain the effect of providing financial information to employees. After reviewing the different literatures concerned with financial information, industrial democracy, influence, power and social psychology, a model of the various types of financial information and contexts for its presentation was constructed. The model posited that over time an employee. with suitable opportunities for Involvement in decisions and training to understand the financial information, would desire to become involved at a higher level in the organisation with its concomitant increase in financial Information. As the intention was to find out what employees made of financial Information. It was considered logical to investigate their construing of the Information. This together with the difficulties of making the model operational and testable lead to an approach involving the psychology of personal constructs thus reformulating the problem in terms of personal constructs. Previous research was of orthodox experimental design and took an organizational or social view and rarely the view of the individual. Longitudinal field studies were conducted in three different organisations. These field studies were not orthodox in design for the approach was to focus on the individual and it was considered. In the main, more appropriate to use an idiographic analysis rather than the straight-jacket of orthodox (nomothetic) experimental design. It was found that the construing of employees generally altered after financial Information had been provided. The alterations were more profound in situations where some training relating to financial Information was provided. There are that in suitable conditions, employees do begin to understand the financial Information which becomes more Integrated into the construing of employees, simultaneously some employees construe more power, actual and desired influence, and wanted more financial Information. Future research could well pursue this rich area with studies of larger numbers in similar situations receiving more comprehensive training.