A CONCEPUTAL FRAMEWORK OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF E-LEARNING OFFERINGS FROM A PRODUCT SERVICE SYSTEM PERSPECTIVE

The term e-learning subsumes all forms learning where electronic media is used for the presentation and distribution of thecourse content. Although various guidelines and models exist, the development and operation of e-learning offerings hasshown to be a difficult task. Often existing approaches focus on single aspects such as technical details or the content ofteaching, while neglecting other aspects such as level of service requirements. As e-learning offerings are IT-based systemsconsisting of hardware, software, and services that have to be considered from a lifecycle perspective, they exhibit similarcharacteristics as Product Service Systems. We, therefore, suggest designing e-learning offerings from a systems perspective.As a first step, we synthesize a requirements framework for e-learning offerings from the e-learning and PSS literatures. Weenrich the framework with examples from a real-life e-learning offering and argue why the PSS approach is useful for thedesign of e-learning offerings

Absorbing customer knowledge: how customer involvement enables service design success

Customers are a knowledge resource outside of the firm that can be utilized for new service success by involving them in the design process. However, existing research on the impact of customer involvement (CI) is inconclusive. Knowledge about customers’ needs and on how best to serve these needs (articulated in the service concept) is best obtained from customers themselves. However, codesign runs the risk of losing control of the service concept. This research argues that of the processes of external knowledge, acquisition (via CI), customer knowledge assimilation, and concept transformation form a capability that enables the firm to exploit customer knowledge in the form of a successful new service. Data from a survey of 126 new service projects show that the impact of CI on new service success is fully mediated by customer knowledge assimilation (the deep understanding of customers’ latent needs) and concept transformation (the modification of the service concept due to customer insights). However, its impact is more nuanced. CI exhibits an “∩”-shaped relationship with transformation, indicating there is a limit to the beneficial effect of CI. Its relationship with assimilation is “U” shaped, suggesting a problem with cognitive inertia where initial learnings are ignored. Customer knowledge assimilation directly impacts success, while concept transformation only helps success in the presence of resource slack. An evolving new service design is only beneficial if the firm has the flexibility to adapt to change

The Development Of A Model For Preparation Of Educational Administrators With Implications For Iran

The purpose of this dissertation was to develop a model for the preparation of Iranian educational administrators through a comprehensive review of the literature

Standards in Disruptive Innovation: Assessment Method and Application to Cloud Computing

Die Dissertation schlägt ein konzeptionelles Informationsmodell und eine Methode zur Bewertung von Technologie-Standards im Kontext von Disruptiven Innovationen vor. Das konzeptionelle Informationsmodell stellt die Grundlage zur Strukturierung relevanter Informationen dar. Die Methode definiert ein Prozessmodell, das die Instanziierung des Informationsmodells für verschiedenen Domänen beschreibt und Stakeholder bei der Klassifikation und Evaluation von Technologie-Standards unterstützt

Threading the Needle of Entrepreneurial Orientation of Firms: The Effects of Disruptive Threats and Turbulence on Corporate Social Responsibility Actions and Competitiveness

Exploring the entrepreneurial actions of firms continues to be popular in management research, whereas literature on disruptions caused by business threats in those firms is limited. The research builds on the analysis of the complex disruptions that can threaten a firm. When firms are faced with unexpected circumstances, a business threat creates an inflexion point for the organization. This study examines the influence of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and corporate social responsibility on competitive advantage and how business threats transform these relationships. EO is recognized as a multi-dimensional managerial process representing a strategic orientation. The conceptualization of EO is manifested in firms by three specific characteristics of risk-taking, proactiveness and innovation. These dimensions contribute to the evolutionary process of managing opportunities through innovation, risks, and proactively addressing organizational threats. The study includes data from 142 entrepreneurs and managers using a cross sectional survey and SmartPLS for data analysis. Findings conclude that there was not a relationship between the mediator corporate social responsibility and entrepreneurial orientation or competitive advantage. Furthermore, moderation was tested as the level of concern for business threats. The moderator revealed no effect on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and corporate social responsibility, and therefore business threats did not change the entrepreneurial actions of the firm

A conceptual framework of curriculum for higher education for Bendel State, Nigeria : aesthetics and moral education as integrative factors of development

The intent of this dissertation was to provide a broad conceptual framework of curriculum for use in the higher education system of Bendel State, Nigeria. The framework is a direct consequence of the need which the author identifies for bridging the gap that exists between the secondary school and university levels in the state's educational system. Based on analyses and considerations of the goals of and resources in the state, the conclusion was reached that mass higher education is the only means for transforming the state from rural to modern, technological society. The methodology used included collection of information and materials about Bendel state from primary sources and library research on education and society leading to convergent views, opinions, and theories that emphasize education as a vital means for individual and national development. The thrust of the framework is on the education of the individual with necessary competencies for positive action toward changing his society for personal and societal benefits

WiMax - a critical view of the technology and its economics

University of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment School of Information and Electrical EngineeringMobile Broadband is now more of a necessity than a luxury, especially amongst the younger generation, irrespective of where they live. Mobile WiMax and LTE, the latest and fastest Mobile Broadband technologies, mark significant improvements over 3G networks because they use IP (Internet Protocol) end-to-end. To end-users, this means faster network speeds, better quality services, and increased coverage area. To the Network Operators, this means simplified network architectures, efficient use of resources, and improved security. In this report, the different issues and challenges related to deploying Mobile WiMax (802.16e or 802.16m) in rural South Africa, were identifed and explored. In this project, Atoll, SONAR, and Touch Point analysis tools were used to determine which Mobile Broadband technology is economically and technically suited for rural South Africa. It was found that LTE yields superior performance results than WiMax, which in turn yields superior performance results to all other existing 3G technologies. However it will take time for LTE to reach rural areas therefore WiMax can be considered as a solution to extend Broadband services to rural South Africa and thus assist in bridging the digital divide. Recommendations on how best to deploy Mobile WiMax are made based on observations made from the experimental work.MT201

Fight or flight? : resilience and vulnerability in rural Fiji

Increasing awareness of the likely effects of climatic change, particularly on small Island states, has had several implications for these nations. The vulnerabilities of island communities are likely to increase if climatic change predictions eventuate. However, their vulnerability has not only risen out of the physical threat that is climate change. It has also arisen out of historical processes that have structured the lives of these communities and made them more or less vulnerable. Critical importance is given to the role of social processes in rendering these communities vulnerable and when the issue of climate change is added to the social element, the degree of vulnerability is likely to be even higher. This thesis considers the experiences of two local communities in Fiji that adapted in two different ways to storm surge and coastal erosion. The village of Solodamu relocated almost its entire village while Rukua village constructed a seawall and undertook land reclamation works. The impacts that arose out of the two different measures that they embarked upon are studied here and their experiences are used as case studies. The research found that the vulnerabilities of these communities changed over time and was more the result of social processes rather than climatic change and environmental variations. The process of development, while benefiting these communities in certain ways has also increased their vulnerability and reduced their ability to cope with natural hazards and market perturbations. The growing reality that is climate change is likely to add a further dimension of vulnerability to these island communities. However, not everything is as bleak as it seems. These communities have shown resilience in the face of upheaval and continue to adapt their circumstances to fit the situation that they find themselves in