Importance-satisfaction analysis for marine-park hinterlands: A Western Australian case study

Tourist use of national and marine parks continues to increase worldwide. Effective management depends on being able to evaluate the quality of visitors' experiences, as well as protecting the natural environment. In tourism management, importance-performance analysis (IPA) has been used as part of quality management. It has recently been applied to national park management. This paper reconceptualises this analysis to one of importance satisfaction, enabling a focus on the quality of experience. Two methods, importanceperformance analysis and service quality gap, were modified and applied in the hinterland of Swan Estuary Marine Park in Western Australia. Both provided data useful for evaluating satisfaction, with the choice of method depending on the end user's resources and requirements as well as cognisance of each method's limitations. For most of the Marine Park attributes, satisfaction exceeded importance and hence no management attention is needed. Exceptions were the condition of the Swan River and associated footpaths, and the presence of litter and wildlife. For these, satisfaction was lower than importance, suggesting management attention is needed

Requirements engineering for computer integrated environments in construction

A Computer Integrated Environment (CIE) is the type of innovative integrated information system that helps to reduce fragmentation and enables the stakeholders to collaborate together in business. Researchers have observed that the concept of CIE has been the subject of research for many years but the uptake of this technology has been very limited because of the development of the technology and its effective implementation. Although CIE is very much valued by both industrialists and academics, the answers to the question of how to develop and how to implement it are still not clear. The industrialists and researchers conveyed that networking, collaboration, information sharing and communication will become popular and critical issues in the future, which can be managed through CIE systems. In order for successful development of the technology, successful delivery, and effective implementation of user and industry-oriented CIE systems, requirements engineering seems a key parameter. Therefore, through experiences and lessons learnt in various case studies of CIE systems developments, this book explains the development of a requirements engineering framework specific to the CIE system. The requirements engineering process that has been developed in the research is targeted at computer integrated environments with a particular interest in the construction industry as the implementation field. The key features of the requirements engineering framework are the following: (1) ready-to-use, (2) simple, (3) domain specific, (4) adaptable and (5) systematic, (6) integrated with the legacy systems. The method has three key constructs: i) techniques for requirements development, which includes the requirement elicitation, requirements analysis/modelling and requirements validation, ii) requirements documentation and iii) facilitating the requirements management. It focuses on system development methodologies for the human driven ICT solutions that provide communication, collaboration, information sharing and exchange through computer integrated environments for professionals situated in discrete locations but working in a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary environment. The overview for each chapter of the book is as follows; Chapter 1 provides an overview by setting the scene and presents the issues involved in requirements engineering and CIE (Computer Integrated Environments). Furthermore, it makes an introduction to the necessity for requirements engineering for CIE system development, experiences and lessons learnt cumulatively from CIE systems developments that the authors have been involved in, and the process of the development of an ideal requirements engineering framework for CIE systems development, based on the experiences and lessons learnt from the multi-case studies. Chapter 2 aims at building up contextual knowledge to acquire a deeper understanding of the topic area. This includes a detailed definition of the requirements engineering discipline and the importance and principles of requirements engineering and its process. In addition, state of the art techniques and approaches, including contextual design approach, the use case modelling, and the agile requirements engineering processes, are explained to provide contextual knowledge and understanding about requirements engineering to the readers. After building contextual knowledge and understanding about requirements engineering in chapter 2, chapter 3 attempts to identify a scope and contextual knowledge and understanding about computer integrated environments and Building Information Modelling (BIM). In doing so, previous experiences of the authors about systems developments for computer integrated environments are explained in detail as the CIE/BIM case studies. In the light of contextual knowledge gained about requirements engineering in chapter 2, in order to realize the critical necessity of requirements engineering to combine technology, process and people issues in the right balance, chapter 4 will critically evaluate the requirements engineering activities of CIE systems developments that are explained in chapter 3. Furthermore, to support the necessity of requirements engineering for human centred CIE systems development, the findings from semi-structured interviews are shown in a concept map that is also explained in this chapter. In chapter 5, requirements engineering is investigated from different angles to pick up the key issues from discrete research studies and practice such as traceability through process and product modelling, goal-oriented requirements engineering, the essential and incidental complexities in requirements models, the measurability of quality requirements, the fundamentals of requirements engineering, identifying and involving the stakeholders, reconciling software requirements and system architectures and barriers to the industrial uptake of requirements engineering. In addition, a comprehensive research study measuring the success of requirements engineering processes through a set of evaluation criteria is introduced. Finally, the key issues and the criteria are comparatively analyzed and evaluated in order to match each other and confirm the validity of the criteria for the evaluation and assessment of the requirements engineering implementation in the CIE case study projects in chapter 7 and the key issues will be used in chapter 9 to support the CMM (Capability Maturity Model) for acceptance and wider implications of the requirements engineering framework to be proposed in chapter 8. Chapter 6 explains and particularly focuses on how the requirements engineering activities in the case study projects were handled by highlighting strengths and weaknesses. This will also include the experiences and lessons learnt from these system development practices. The findings from these developments will also be utilized to support the justification of the necessity of a requirements engineering framework for the CIE systems developments. In particular, the following are addressed. • common and shared understanding in requirements engineering efforts, • continuous improvement, • outputs of requirement engineering • reflections and the critical analysis of the requirements engineering approaches in these practices. The premise of chapter 7 is to evaluate and assess the requirements engineering approaches in the CIE case study developments from multiple viewpoints in order to find out the strengths and the weaknesses in these requirements engineering processes. This evaluation will be mainly based on the set of criteria developed by the researchers and developers in the requirements engineering community in order to measure the success rate of the requirements engineering techniques after their implementation in the various system development projects. This set of criteria has already been introduced in chapter 5. This critical assessment includes conducting a questionnaire based survey and descriptive statistical analysis. In chapter 8, the requirements engineering techniques tested in the CIE case study developments are composed and compiled into a requirements engineering process in the light of the strengths and the weaknesses identified in the previous chapter through benchmarking with a Capability Maturity Model (CMM) to ensure that it has the required level of maturity for implementation in the CIE systems developments. As a result of this chapter, a framework for a generic requirements engineering process for CIE systems development will be proposed. In chapter 9, the authors will discuss the acceptance and the wider implications of the proposed framework of requirements engineering process using the CMM from chapter 8 and the key issues from chapter 5. Chapter 10 is the concluding chapter and it summarizes the findings and brings the book to a close with recommendations for the implementation of the Proposed RE framework and also prescribes a guideline as a way forward for better implementation of requirements engineering for successful developments of the CIE systems in the future

Ensuring compliance and diversity in MENA higher education

This paper reviews the impact of quality assurance agencies on higher education and the extent to which these agencies can improve the quality of higher education in the MENA region, in particular. The main part of this paper is conceptual and based on higher education literature, reviews and reports. The methodology is qualitative, and the research tool is document analysis. The paper reviews key longitudinal studies on the impact of external monitoring bodies in the MENA region to understand experiences and quality standards compliance. This helps to identify opportunities to develop quality practices in that are more appropriate to the context of the MENA region. It is concluded that a collaborative approach among all parties in the higher education system is critical to develop diversity among higher education institutions while achieving compliance requirements and internal improvement

Attributes of effective interprofessional placement facilitation

Background: The quality of facilitation is an important influence on the efficacy of interprofessional education (IPE) delivery. The research objective was to increase understanding of the attributes of effective facilitation of students during external IPE placements in primary care situations. Methods and Findings: A thematic analysis of the experiences of academics, students, and placement-site staff at three placement sites was employed to explore participants’ perceptions of the attributes of effective IPE facilitators. These attributes included experience in an interprofessional context, together with an understanding of the specific clinical and assessment requirements of different disciplines. Facilitators also needed empathy with respect to the requirements of the external IPE placement sites and the ability to liaise between student and site needs. Conclusions: Models of IPE placement facilitation were most effective when, while following general principles, facilitators tailored them specifically for the individual situations of the placement sites and the learning requirements of particular groups of students. The most rewarding IPE learning experiences occurred when IPE facilitators provided sufficient clinical opportunities for students to work collaboratively with individual clients, provided the students perceived that their participation was relevant to their own discipline.Australian office of Learning and Teachin

Attributes of effective interprofessional placement facilitation

Background: The quality of facilitation is an important influence on the efficacy of interprofessional education (IPE) delivery. The research objective was to increase understanding of the attributes of effective facilitation of students during external IPE placements in primary care situations. Methods and Findings: A thematic analysis of the experiences of academics, students, and placement-site staff at three placement sites was employed to explore participants’ perceptions of the attributes of effective IPE facilitators. These attributes included experience in an interprofessional context, together with an understanding of the specific clinical and assessment requirements of different disciplines. Facilitators also needed empathy with respect to the requirements of the external IPE placement sites and the ability to liaise between student and site needs. Conclusions: Models of IPE placement facilitation were most effective when, while following general principles, facilitators tailored them specifically for the individual situations of the placement sites and the learning requirements of particular groups of students. The most rewarding IPE learning experiences occurred when IPE facilitators provided sufficient clinical opportunities for students to work collaboratively with individual clients, provided the students perceived that their participation was relevant to their own discipline

WORLD EXPO 2010 SHANGHAI: EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL VISITORS’ EVALUATIONS OF EXPERIENCE QUALITY

Large international events provide unique opportunities for individuals to engage in cross-cultural experiences. When individuals have positive/meaningful experiences, they are more likely to recommend the event or attend similar events in the future. Previous studies have mostly examined the effects of motivations and individual evaluations of service quality without considering the potential for interaction effects from additional factors related to the experience. This study explored how experience quality at international events such as the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai may be explained by the relationships observed between visitor motivations, perceptions of service factors, and reactions to various experiential factors. The hypotheses for this study included: (1) variances in international visitors’ evaluations of experience quality is explained by variables including gender, age, and previous experience including visits to Shanghai, attending national celebration events in China, and/or at a prior World Expo; (2) variances in international visitors’ evaluations of experience quality is explained by variables of experience factors, visitor motivations, and service quality; and (3) variances in international visitors’ evaluations of experience quality is explained by the interaction between variables of experience factors, motivations, and service quality. Secondary analysis was conducted on a total of 168 questionnaires completed by visitors to the World Expo 2010 Shanghai. The first hypothesis was tested using one-way ANOVA analysis and found no significant difference for the variables based on gender; however, there were significant differences in evaluations of experience factors and overall experience quality for individuals based on age. Visitors aged 25-34 had noticeably lower average scores than other age groups. Correlation analysis was used to test the second hypothesis. Significant correlations were found to exist between each of the variables. Finally, multiple regression analysis found visitor motivations and experience factors to have significant effects on the evaluation of overall experience quality. The effects of service quality on the remaining variance were negligible. Results suggest that experience factors, visitor motivations, and the performance/quality of service factors may positively influence the experience quality for visitors to large international events. Furthermore, when considering future examinations of experience quality, visitor motivations and reactions to experience factors are more significant than the performance/quality of service factors.A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree for the Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Studies in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Indiana University April 201

A View of the Cardiovascular Device Industry

This record of study details the experience and the knowledge applied by an engineering doctoral candidate during two internships with two separate organizations in the cardiovascular device industry. The first internship was with an early startup company with a large focus in early research and design. The second was in a more mature organization with a focus in process control and increasing efficiencies. The startup company provided the appropriate dynamic for applying engineering design methods such as generating customer requirements, generating product functional requirements, building a quality function deployment, and proposing a basic high level design approach. With the mature company the focus was on investigating procedural inefficiencies through root cause analysis and mitigating the inefficiencies through integrated software solutions. The detailed accounts of these experiences provide a broad overview of the many challenges facing the cardiovascular device industry and the organizations involved. These accounts also illustrate the importance and value of engineering design principles and systems based engineering management in the industry

Educators’ relational experiences with learners identified with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

The focus of this research is educators’ relational experiences with learners presumed to have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in a South African school community. Although relational interaction (usually seen as trusting and caring) is an integral aspect of the learning environment, relational functioning within this context is seriously challenged when educators are working with FASD learners. A qualitative approach was used and 14 educators were selected as participants from a rural school community in the Western Cape Province. Data were collected via semi-structured individual interviews and two focus groups. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that the relational quality of educators’ experiences is determined by their practical knowledge of the limited intellectual abilities, and impaired social functioning within the learning environment of learners with FASD; the negative impact of these experiences on educators’ personal resources and job satisfaction; and, educators’ relational experiences with learners identified with FASD entail a unique blend of challenges and competencies. Recommendations include specialised training for all South African educators to deal with the particular educational requirements of learners with FASD, and the requisite relational competencies, so as to actualise these learners’ full potential.Keywords: educators; learners identified with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD); learning environment; relations; social skills; wellbein