Research Libraries and Research Data Management within the Humanities and Social Sciences

Research Data Management (RDM) is a process that is designed to deliver high quality datasets, which comply with scholarly, legal and ethical requirements. There are two outputs of the RDM process: 1. Long term preservation of datasets through archiving 2. Sharing and reuse of datasets for further research and other purposes in society at large. This proposal outlines the creation of a coherent Research Data Management organization at Lund University that utilizes existing resources both within and outside the university and establishes new organizational units and information systems, specific to this new task. We propose the establishment of a new unit for Research Data Management and Coordination at the University Library whose responsibility would be to coordinate the network of existing agents who support research activities such as faculty libraries and ethical, legal, archival and data management experts. We further propose the creation of a new information system, the Lund University Dataset Directory, which will facilitate management of datasets and information retrieval throughout the data lifecycle. We expect that research datasets could be deposited for sharing at national or disciplinary repositories and eventually archived when a solution is in place at the University Archive. Advanced RDM - like semantic web technologies - will require online data services not currently provided by national agents. We therefor propose a Data Laboratory within the RDM network at Lund University. Finally, it's important to recognize that Research Data Management is a new way of organizing information with its own set of tasks for the library organization. Our efforts in RDM will require us to invest significant effort in learning new systems, ways of working and collaboration

Applicability of Public Participation for the Finnish Forest and Park Service

Under what circumstances and in what ways can public participation be utilized in managing Finland's national forests? In the first chapter, a framework for answering this question is set by analyzing Finnish legal, cultural, historical and political background. The frame defines the Finnish Forest and Park Service's (FPS) decision making space within Finnish society. After the frame is set up, the needs, premises and requirements for participatory decision making within national forest management are evaluated. In the second chapter, literature is reviewed on how public participation is currently being applied within natural resource decision making in the US and Canada. First, the usefulness and necessity of public participation is analyzed from a natural resource agency perspective. Then, the most salient bathers for effective public participation are identified along with strategies suggested for effective public participation. Based on this literature review, criteria for effective public participation in Finnish Forest and Park Service are defined. In the third chapter, a public participation model is presented for the Finnish Forest and Park Service. The proposed public participation model integrates the current multiple use planning approach with the participatory planning system. The model is organized into four phases suggesting a clear temporal flow for the decision making process: (1) defining the planning situation, (2) direction setting, (3) implementation and (4) evaluation. Based on phase one, public participation will either be initiated or the conventional multiple use forestry planning approach will be applied. The assessment of recommended level of shared decision making authority is the single most important factor in differentiating between these approaches. The step by step process described includes identifying the key attributes and making recommendations to approach constructively unique planning situations. In addition, information exchange and participatory planning techniques are analyzed and categorized. Some promising participation techniques for the Finnish context are described in more detail, and a model for infonnation exchange is presented. hi the fourth chapter, implications of the Finnish Forest and Park Service's current approach to forest plamung are assessed. Then the likely benefits from implementing a participatory planning system are explored. In light of these results, it is recommended that the Finnish Forest and Park Service continue strengthening its voluntary approach to institutionalizing public participation as an integral part of the agency's natural resource decision making. This might be done by initially adopting the public participation model developed by the author

Research on approaches to public funding and development of tertiary education within selected OECD nations

No abstract available

Comparative analysis of decision-making processes with respect to U.S. armaments procurement: a case study of the F-16

The overall purpose of this thesis is to question the value of the use of models regarding decision-making as it effectively operates within the environment of US armaments procurements. For example, conceptual framework models such as bureaucratic politics, organisational outputs, incrementalism, and others are far too simplistic in their application to this subject - they only tend to distort reality. The thesis argues that the process is far too complex with decisional centres shifting throughout the life of any one given system, thus necessitating a more realistic conceptual approach. Evidence of this is provided throughout the discussion of the organisational processes and the roles of those involved in the procurement process. Moreover, it becomes apparent that those in the highest positions of decision-making (for example, Presidents, Secretaries of Defense, etc.) are at times least likely to be involved in decisions, dependent on the stage of development of the weapon system. Further, other groups (for example, Congress, Joint Chiefs, etc.) commonly perceived as the decisional centres have little, if any involvement during the earlier stages in the life of a weapon system. The possibility of their involvement increases as the system enters what the author refers to as the hardware phase, when monies must be appropriated. In other words, the system becomes politicised and the expertise of those in higher positions becomes salient, because they are chosen for their political and managerial skills - not their expertise in detailed defence matters. Even the weight of their decisions during the hardware phase is questionable due to the fact that lower level "experts", referred to as DoD Components, with longer periods of tenure, are consistently directing upwards their appraisals of new systems requirements, threats, etc., thus setting the parameters for the higher positioned decision maker. Following the description of the organisational processes and the roles of those involved, the discussion turns to the case study of the F-16 to validate these points. The purpose is not to research a case study and then attempt to extrapolate from it axioms of weapons procurement. The exercise is intended to yield credence to the points referred to above

Transport Efficiency: Analysing the Transport Service Triad

This thesis deals with transport services and transport efficiency. There are growing environmental concerns for many industries and the freight transport industry in particular faces challenges in reducing its CO2 emissions. It has been argued that technical advancements on their own are insufficient in dealing with environmental impact from road freight transport and that one way forward could be to look at how firms organise and exchange transport services. The exchange of transport services are highly dependent on the exchange of goods since every exchange of goods generates a demand for transport services. The Transport Service Triad (TST) is introduced as a unit of analysis to explore the connections among firms involved in the exchange of transport services and the exchange of goods. Hence, the aim of this thesis is to study how the organising of transport services impacts on transport efficiency by taking a triadic approach.The theoretical framework is based on the Industrial Network Approach. This approach, with its three interrelated concepts; activities, resources, and actors, are used to capture transport efficiency on various levels in the network. A single case study approach is used to study a focal TST that illustrates the business relationships among three actors, the seller of transport services (a haulier), the seller of goods (a technical wholesaler), and the buyer of goods (a construction firm). The study shows how a TST approach provides a broader scope for analysis of transport efficiency than a firm or dyadic perspective since it captures all relevant parties in the exchange of transport services. Moreover, the study shows how improving transport efficiency from one actor’s perspective might not align with other actors’ views on improved transport efficiency or might conflict with other aspects of efficiency. To manage these issues interaction among firms is necessary to secure that the needed adjustments and adaptations of activities and resources are accomplished

Physiotherapy as a profession.

This case study of the physiotherapy profession is practitioner research, undertaken in the unique research role in which the researcher was also the manager of the organisation being researched and a member of the profession being researched. The dual aim of the study was to contribute to the theory of professions, as well as the practice of managing a profession in the context of an organization (the NHS). The theoretical aim was fulfilled by establishing the "specific pattern of profession" of physiotherapy; its practical contribution was the identification of factors of a management model which were critical to implementing professionalism in the organizational context of the NHS. The factors were: "diffuse organization" in "highly organic, fluid and self-generating" specialist team structures, located at the middle stratum of the organization, which gives the incumbents of "technical" (clinical) knowledge a role on shaping the context to clinical work (in operational and strategic planning). This new professional role of "research-orientated managing clinician" includes the evaluation of work based on research and other investigative procedures. This was at a time when the state bureaucracy's interests coincided with the profession's interests in establishing professional autonomy in physiotherapy and a professional type of knowledge and skill system. Guided by the concept of profession proposed by Kocka and Torstendahl (1990), this case study identified the details of professional knowledge and skill systems and constructed a physiotherapy-specific typology of knowledge and skills (based on the literature about professional knowledge systems and interviews). The typology was used to test the knowledge and skill base in physiotherapy practice by in-depth interviews. Research methods were both conceptual as well as empirical. The empirical part was predominantly based on a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews. The data was supplemented by documentary evidence and my observations as a participant observer. The study contributes to our knowledge and understanding of the physiotherapy profession and the new concept of profession by establishing the specific pattern of profession for physiotherapy. The role of "organization" (a "professional resource" in the actor-based framework) was found to be critical for the implementation of professionalism in practice. "Organization" was specified on the basis of this case study as "organic, fluid and selfgenerating". New knowledge and skill categories were identified in this study. These categories were: breadth of knowledge, the ability to generalise from the technical to nontechnical domains ("knowledge and skill transfers"), "organic" type of communication and confidence. The study also contributes to our understanding of the research methods of practitioner research from this unique triple role

International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers: Canada

[Excerpt] The International Research Project on Job Retention and Return to Work Strategies for Disabled Workers is an initiative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Global Applied Research and Information Network on Employment and Training (GLADNET). It reflects ILO and GLADNET joint aims of establishmg a base for cross-national research and strengthening links between research analysis and policy reform in the field of employment of disabled people. The Project is a response to a combination of developments which highlight the need for more effective policies and practices in support of workers whose prospects of remaining in employment are jeopardised by work injury, illness or disability. Persons with disabilities are increasingly claiming rights to stay in work as well as to access employment. Pressures on state budgets, the rising costs of compensation claims and disability benefits, and changes in the structure of the labour market are strengthening policies in favour of job retention and return to work. Enterprises are developing their own strategies to minimise the costs of disability and to retain valued employees. Overall, the balance of responsibility is shifting from the state to the enterprise. Policies and practices to prevent disabled workers from leaving work unnecessarily, and to facilitate rapid return to employment if job loss cannot be prevented, are recent developments in many countries. The cross-national exchange of information on initiatives and their effects is limited. The first aim of this Project has been to gather information about what has been attempted, by whom, for what purposes, in which contexts and to what effects. The second, more ambitious, aim, is to examine the interaction between the various policies and practices, identify dysfunctions, and work towards more coherent and cost-effective strategies for job retention and return to work which might be applied in different national systems. The ultimate objective is to identify strategies which can be put into effect in the workplace

Social isolation, loneliness & older people: Study of neighbour aid home visiting service

The purpose of this research study is to investigate social isolation and loneliness and its impact it has on a person's well being. Social isolation and loneliness occurs in people of all ages but with older generation more vulnerable to its development. The emphasis of this study is placed upon social isolation and loneliness among older people who are receiving a Home and Community Care funded service called Neighbour Aid Home Visiting in the Parramatta Local Government of NSW. This service provides volunteer workers to visit housebound and isolated clients and provide them with companionship and practical assistance to alleviate some of the social isolation and loneliness they encounter. The service not only provided individuals with social companionship, but also offered a range of other benefits. These other benefits were ongoing learning/sharing of wisdom, empowerment and helping the participants to deal with loss and grief issues. These outcomes assisted the individuals to improve their social skills and develop self-esteem and ultimately to improve their quality of life. The results show the service was instrumental in alleviating social isolation and feelings of loneliness among the sample group