Dissertations / Theses: 'Executive understanding'

1

Pond, Clair. "Executive Functioning and the Emergence of Conversational Understanding." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.521834.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

2

Wallace, Joanne. "Understanding the neurobiology of executive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/1720.

Full text

Abstract:

Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are characterised by deficits in cognitive function, particularly in those executive functions subserved by the prefrontal cortex. In order to further our understanding of the neuropathophysiology of cognitive deficits in psychiatric disorders, this thesis examined structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in rodent models mimicking some aspects of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Chosen models were subchronic phencyclidine (PCP), chronic administration of corticosterone to flatten the glucocorticoid rhythm (CORT) and maternal immune activation (MIA). These models mimic glutamate hypofunction, hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis dysfunction and maternal infection, respectively. Behavioural studies established that PCP induced a selective deficit in attentional set shifting whilst CORT and MIA induced reversal learning deficits. In vitro electrophysiological studies established a novel model for measuring synaptic transmission in the infralimbic (IL) region of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Synaptic transmission was shown to be mediated by glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and to be subject to inhibitory modulation by serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA). Differential changes in both basal synaptic transmission and in the monoaminergic modulation of synaptic transmission were evident in the three animal models. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the three animal models induced differential changes in the numbers of particular subtypes of GABAergic interneurones, suggesting that GABAergic activity in the mPFC was altered. These studies demonstrate that models of select features of psychiatric disorders, glutamate hypofunction, HPA axis dysfunction, and prenatal infection, induce deficits in executive function present in psychiatric disorders. These differential behavioural outcomes might be explained by differential changes in synaptic transmission in the mPFC and in the expression of GABAergic interneurones in the mPFC induced in the three models.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

3

Moynihan, Peter. "Understanding higher command decision making and senior executive decision processes." Thesis, Royal Holloway, University of London, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.339359.

Full text

Abstract:

The initial aims of the project were to identify characteristics of the command process at Higher Command levels in the Royal Navy so that systems design could include decision aids at this important focal point"in the overall system (a naval Task Force). A prerequisite for formulating recommendations is an understanding "of the Task Force Commander's role and decision process. Consequently, an attempt was made early on to structure the Task Force command task. It became apparent that, without special measures, such a description could not be acquired. This thesis, therefore, is the story of a project about collecting data and informa tion, using it and then interpret ting it for the aboye purposes. Since there was little known about how to achieve an understanding of senior decision making, especially in potentially unstructured areas like the naval Higher Command function in a conflict environment, appropriate measures were developed to do so. The overall methodology designed consisted of: a) basic research; b) interview techniques; c) scientific gaming procedure; and d) a data collection-in-action regime. The methodology sought to use 'laboratory' techniques initially to acquire enough insight to then mount a study of clients "in action". It was considered necessary to supplement the former types of methods (interviews and gaming activities) with versions actually involving the clients when performing their role (in the form of a structured self-report study). The overall methodology was rooted in the systems ideas of Checkland (1981) and Bowen's views on the OR process (1981 and 1984) . Both authors react against the traditional prescriptive, normative approach of text book OR practitioners. The latter pursui t ignores messy, human aspects of organisational life and requires that a problem situation is well understood so that applied mathematical techniques can be used to formulate and then , solve' a problem. Most high-level decision problems, though, cannot be so formulated. This thesis is an attempt to formulate and understand high-level decision problems in a different way, using different techniques, but with a similar aim of arriving at useful and meaningful decision support recommendations. The methods to be described should start to fill the gap that exists at the moment in the OR repertoire of methodology catering for such needs. It was not possible to implement the overall methodology in the naval context. The industrial phase of the research was therefore initiated so that all of the phases could be tested in an albeit limited programme. Some preliminary insights and findings emerged in both contexts. Essentially, high-level decision makers approach their tasks differently. They have differing priorities also - as revealed by the interview and gaming phases. However, the data collection-in-action study (implemented in an industrial context only) revealed that what happens in reality (when they are at work) does not fully reflect the pattern of priorities revealed in the laboratory studies. Consequently, it is necessary to use other means to arrive at a complete picture of their decision making process. The overall methodology includes the interview and gaming phases because they are necessary to acquire enough insights to mount a data collection-in-action study later on. Also, they have other research and training uses. The ~hesis also includes the use of an analysis technique (based on Hogberg 1985) which assists with the appreciation of high-level decision making problems. The technique forms the basis of a proposed decision support system for both military and industrial contexts.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

4

Morgan, Heather. "The contribution of the voice of the executive coaching client in understanding the process of executive coaching." Thesis, Birkbeck (University of London), 2013. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.743088.

Full text

Abstract:

The contribution of the voice of the executive coaching client in understanding the process of executive coaching. The literature on executive coaching suggests that there is a need to have a greater understanding of the process of executive coaching and this study questions whether the voice of the executive coaching client is a critical missing factor in building this understanding. An explorative, phenomenological approach, gathering interpretive data using qualitative methodologies within a constructivist paradigm was used to allow the reality of the executive coaching clients to emerge. This approach facilitated the identification of common structural themes that help to inform the process of executive coaching for practitioners, executive coaching clients and organisations, thereby giving the process of executive coaching more structure, commercial usage and credibility. Following a discussion of common structural themes, three key contributions are posited to explain why - despite the common structural themes - there is such a high level of complexity and ambiguity in the process of executive coaching and why it is important that attempts to make executive coaching more structured do not stifle its originality and fluidity, but allow each coaching engagement to follow its own natural - and potentially undefined - path. This study argues that it is the methodology used in giving a voice to the executive coaching client and allowing their reality to emerge that has enabled these contributions to be posited and that the voice of the executive coaching client is indeed a critical factor in our understanding of executive coaching. The implications of the study for theory and practice, and suggestions for future research in relation to the process of executive coaching, are examined in the conclusion of the thesis.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

5

Chan, Man-kuen Sonia, and 陳文娟. "A comprehensive understanding of executive impairments in children with autism spectrum disorder." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/209702.

Full text

Abstract:

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by a triad of impairments in social interaction, communication, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. For children with autism especially those with high functioning (HFA), it is common to discover from clinical observation and from care-givers’ report that there are uneven performance in their cognitive profile and also executive difficulties. In recent years, there were enormous amount of researches attempting to delineate the cognitive deficits and the executive impairments in autism. Executive Functions (EF) was a widely studied construct in autism. The vast pool of researches establishes various focuses of investigation, including: (1) the biological level; (2) the cognitive level; (3) the task performance level; and (4) the everyday functioning level. Each of them has its own significance, and contributes distinctly in delineating the executive impairments in ASD. Taking into account the complexity of the EF construct and the far-reaching impacts it imposing on our everyday functioning, a comprehensive approach encompassing different levels of investigation in one research design is suggested to investigate the performance and specific areas of impairment of children with HFA in respective levels; and to explore the possible relationships between the levels of investigations. Methods: Forty aged 12-15 children participated in the research, twenty with HFA and twenty typically developing controls (TD), matched by gender, age and IQ. In the first part of the study, the participants were administered four traditional EF tasks including: inhibition, working memory, flexibility and planning to examine EF in the cognitive level. In the second part, they completed a novel multitasking test, the Battersea Multitask Paradigm (BMP) to examine executive difficulties in the task performance level. Parent ratings of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) were collected for further investigation of their executive difficulties in the daily functioning level. Results: The 3-levels of investigation demonstrated converged results in examining the executive ability of ASD. From the integrated analyses, more evidence was gained to speculate that the planning inefficiency of children with HFA was due to their inability to cognitively construct the plan rather than their ability to execute or implement the plan. In real-life situations, they have particular difficulties in time management, to prioritize multiple and interleaved tasks, and to coordinate intended actions for future goal attainment. Moreover, their cognitive inflexibility had a pattern of “get stuck” or perseverates on the same task till completion before moving onto the next task. Their inflexibility to switch seemed to be explained by the preference to follow a more structured kind of sequence or action, i.e. to persist and finish one task before moving to another one. They were actually excellent “rule follower”, might not be as rigid of not willing to change. Significant positive relationships were only observed between the EF measures and Multitask variables. published_or_final_version Educational Psychology Doctoral Doctor of Psychology

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

6

Al-Oadah, Awadh O. "Understanding stress : a focus on executive functions in Saudi Arabia : an exploratory study." Thesis, University of Hull, 2006. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:5630.

Full text

Abstract:

The dissertation brings together and reports the entire work presented and discussed throughout this pioneering and original research project. This exploratory study utilising primarily semi-structured, qualitative research methodology aimed to develop a model of executive stress by discovering, understanding, describing and sharing knowledge and experience of occupational stress caused by the basic executive functions, among the oil and gas executives in Saudi Arabia. These functions included planning, organising, leading and controlling. This interpretive investigation involved forty-three executives of five major oil and gas firms in Saudi Arabia purposively selected for participation in this exploratory study through audiotape-recorded interviews gathered over a period of eight months from June 2002 to January 2003. In addition, this primary data collection method was triangulated with other secondary methods of observations, focus groups and documentary analysis involving additional twenty executives from other neighboured Arabian Gulf countries. These considerable qualitative data were systematically managed through primarily manual analysis along with the aid of NUD*IST qualitative analysis computer program. Common recurring categories, themes and patterns were identified in relation to sources of stress, manifestations and coping strategies along with stressful factors related to internal and external environments. The study findings revealed four significant interrelated eustressful and distressful themes underpinning the basic executive functions of planning, organising, leading and controlling. These were related to information management, performance management, human resource management and strategic management. The findings revealed that the participants perceived these focused executive functions as a direct source of occupational stress instead of the basic executive functions that were thought of at the beginning of the research. The emerged key patterns related to these focused activities included difficulty of people management, micromanagement behaviour and engineering attitude. Moreover, the study resulted into additional stress factors related to the organisational structure and work style of the internal environment of the organisation. There were also other stressful contributing factors associated with Government interventions, market influences, media focus and social conflict of the external environment of the organisation. Furthermore, the study revealed important personal related factors that could shape and regulate the manifestations of executive eustress or distress. These included experience, personality type, cognitive appraisal and self-esteem factors. Accordingly, a comprehensive framework of executive stress process based on a dynamic system approach was developed summarising the explored executive stress process and its underlying attributes. This present qualitative study was designed interpretively and qualitatively for exploration or discovery of the topic under investigation. Further, the limitations of this approach were acknowledged, as being subjective perceptions, understandings and descriptions of the oil and gas executives under investigation. In view of that, this new and original study was hoped to add to the existing knowledge in various related areas such as occupational health and safety, industrial/ organisational psychology, human resource management, strategic management and organisational culture. This research could add value to the field of occupational stress in Arabic context in particular and the world in general since there was little research about the types and effects of job-related stress at the time of the study.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

7

Antoniou, Kyriakos. "The effects of childhood bilingualism and bilectalism on executive control and implicature understanding." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2015. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.708790.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

8

Wu, Xuefang. "Toward understanding factors affecting falls among individuals who are obese." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/73428.

Full text

Abstract:

The prevalence of obesity is high in the United States. One of the many concerns with the high prevalence of obesity is its association with an increased risk of falls and subsequent injury. Thus, it is important to understand factors affecting falls among individuals who are obese, to help develop effective intervention solutions to mitigate falls in this population. Obese individuals have been hypothesized to have an impaired plantar sensitivity, and this may influence their balance control, thus lead to more falls. Executive function deficits in individuals who are obese may affect their ability to allocate attentional resources to dual tasks (walking while performing other tasks), and may put them at higher risks of falls. Gait alterations and muscle strength deficits in individuals who are obese may also increase their fall risks. Therefore, three studies were carried out to provide better understanding into the factors affecting falls in individuals who are obese. The first study investigated the effects of obesity on plantar sensitivity, and explored the relationship between plantar sensitivity and postural sway during quiet standing. Plantar sensitivity was measured as the force threshold at which an increasing force applied to the plantar surface of the foot was first perceived, and the force threshold at which a decreasing force was last perceived. Measurements were obtained while standing, and at two locations on the plantar surface of the dominant foot. Postural sway during quiet standing was then measured under three different sensory conditions. Results indicated less sensitive plantar sensitivity and increased postural sway among individuals who are obese, and statistically significant correlations between plantar sensitivity and postural sway that were characterized as weak to moderate in strength. As such, impaired plantar sensitivity among individuals who are obese may be a mechanism by which obesity degrades standing balance among these individuals. The second study investigated the influence of obesity on executive function, and determined whether there is a relationship between executive function and fall risk (as estimated from selected gait parameters). Four major components of executive function were assessed, including selective attention, divided attention, semantic memory and working memory. Both single- and dual-task walking (walking-while-talking) were completed to evaluate fall risk during gait. Less effective selective attention, semantic memory, and working memory were found among young obese adults. Participants exhibited higher fall risks during dual-task walking, and executive function scores were associated with gait during dual-task walking. In conclusion, obese individuals exhibited less effective executive function, which may be associated with their increased fall risk. The third study explored differences in gait, plantar sensitivity, executive function, lower extremity muscle strength, and body size between fallers and non-fallers, and the strength of the association between the same factors and slip severity. Participants' gait, plantar sensitivity, executive function, lower extremity muscle strength, and body size measures were obtained. An unexpected slip was introduced in a laboratory setting to obtain slip severity related measures and slip outcome. Results indicated obese fallers exhibited better executive function (selective attention), stronger lower extremity muscle strength, lower BMI and smaller waist circumference. Results also indicated increased slip severity was associated with faster walking speed, longer step length, higher RCOF, worse executive function (working memory), and lower BMI. Slower reactive recovery response was also associated with lower BMI. As such, better selective attention and stronger muscle strength exhibited limited benefit in slip recovery among individuals who are obese. Altered gait pattern, and working memory may be factors by which obesity increased slip severity, and lower BMI among individuals who are obese may increase slip-induced fall risks. In conclusion, reduced plantar sensitivity, impairments in executive function, altered gait pattern were associated with deficits in standing and walking balance control, and increased slip severity among individuals who are obese. Therefore, appropriate fall prevention/intervention program targeting at some or all of these factors may be considered as solutions to decrease fall risks for obese individuals. Ph. D.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

9

Lewis, Jane. "Understanding the association between anxiety and academic achievement : an exploration of the central executive." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.548313.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

10

Grugle, Nancy Lynn. "Understanding the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Executive Function, Complex Task Performance and Situation Awareness." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/26645.

Full text

Abstract:

Both sleep deprivation and loss of situation awareness (SA) have been cited as primary causal factors contributing to the accident and injury rate in the military and civilian sector (e.g., transportation). Despite the numerous references to both factors as causal in nature, much of the literature on the effects of sleep deprivation on executive function is anecdotal. Research has produced mixed results regarding the nature and extent of performance degradation on a variety of lower-level and executive function tasks. Similarly, although SA has been cited as a significant contributor to operational performance, there is still considerable debate over the definition and construct validity of SA. Thus, a 29-hour hour sleep deprivation study was conducted to analyze the effects of sleep deprivation on both lower-order cognitive tasks (e.g., attention and working memory) and executive function tasks (e.g., reasoning, planning, decision making, and SA). In conjunction with the sleep deprivation analysis, the relationships among lower level cognition, executive function, and situation awareness were analyzed to form hypotheses about the SA construct and its relationship to complex task performance. Forty-eight participants were administered a series of cognitive tasks during baseline and sleep deprived testing sessions. Paired t-tests and additional post hoc analyses were conducted to determine the effects of sleep deprivation on cognition. Regression and factor analysis were used analyze the relationship among lower-order cognition, executive function, situation awareness, and complex task performance. Paired t-test results showed degraded vigilance in response to sleep deprivation, but did not indicate degraded executive function. Results of additional post-hoc analyses on executive function data indicated a trend toward degraded decision making and a trend toward increased planning errors in response to sleep deprivation. The results of the regression and factor analyses provided initial support for a dynamic, process definition of SA and illustrated the importance of considering SA as part of information processing as a whole in order to improve performance prediction. Based on the results of this dissertation, engineering recommendations were made for developing an â idealâ SA measurement technique and improving existing SA measurement techniques. Additionally, future sleep deprivation and situation awareness research directions were suggested. Ph. D.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

11

Clarke, Karen. "Understanding effective teaching : perceptions from students, staff and executive managers in a post-1992 university." Thesis, University of Wolverhampton, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2436/561197.

Full text

Abstract:

This study proposes a model for effective teaching based on the development of an affiliative culture for both students and staff. Characteristics such as respect, helpfulness, and approachability are combined with specific teaching skills that are perceived by staff and students to be effective both for displaying these traits and also to enhance teaching. Although the literature shows that qualitative attributes are not new, from the data gathered, it appears that they are not always recognised by staff as significant for students’ learning. The literature also indicates that there is a disjuncture in the perceptions of effective teaching from executive management, staff and students. The context of the research is in a post-1992 university and current trends indicate there has been a shift in higher education towards a more bureaucratic approach to accountability in terms of student numbers and financial aspects that have resulted in larger teaching groups especially for post1992 universities. Additionally, the student funding system has changed so that students are now responsible for paying all their tuition fees, albeit via student loans. The literature proposes that this means that students may consider themselves as customers which indicate a different kind of relationship with a university. The research literature posits that these reforms have led to increased pressures on teaching staff so that they do not have time to develop a climate of affiliation which encompasses openness, trust and a sense of belonging for the students which, in turn, leads to creating a positive learning environment and student success. The literature review considers the perceptions of effective teaching from academic teaching staff, students and executive managers. This research uses a case study approach with the research design set within an interpretivist paradigm whereby the opinions and perceptions of the respondents are explored. Data were gathered through multiple data collection tools, such as internal student surveys, a student focus group interview, and filmed teaching observations, stimulated recall discussions with staff and conversational interviews with executive managers. In addition, secondary data were used from the narrative comments in the National Student Survey, (NSS) (2012) to complement the internal survey. The research questions focus on the perceptions and strategies that are viewed as part of effective teaching from the three groups of participants. 4 From the findings, I have developed a model to promote effective teaching which proposes an alignment of affiliation with specific teaching skills that encourages participation from both staff and students so that learning is jointly constructed. The model presents a way that combines the personal qualities and values gathered from the data, with students’ preferred teaching strategies which are perceived to enable effective teaching to take place. The inter-relationship between specific teaching skills and personal characteristics, identified in the model, is unique because it is the only approach that combines teaching methods with a values base that encourages a culture of affiliation for both staff and students.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

12

Beutel, Lisa Mason. "Follow Her Lead: Understanding the Leadership Behaviors of Women Executives." University of Dayton / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1355424220.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

13

Mantha, Michèle Jeanne. "Preschoolers' Understanding of Future Preferences and Its Relation to Theory of Mind and Executive Function Abilities." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/34222.

Full text

Abstract:

The aim of this dissertation was to explore whether preschoolers understand that preferences differ over time and between people. The first goal was to determine if 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds could appreciate that their future or “grown-up” preferences may differ from their current ones (self-future condition). This understanding was compared to children’s understanding of the preferences of a grown-up (adult-now condition), or the grown-up preferences of a same-aged peer (peer-future condition). Results from 3 experiments (N = 240) suggest that these types of reasoning develop substantially over the preschool years, and that children are generally proficient by 5 years of age. Results also indicate that thinking about one’s own future preferences is more difficult than thinking about the (future) preferences of others. The second goal of this dissertation was to explore the relations between reasoning about preferences and theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF) abilities. Correlational analyses revealed that children’s reasoning about their future preferences and those of others was associated with EF skills, but not with ToM. These findings provide a timely contribution to the expanding research on children’s future-oriented cognition. Implications for theories about perspective-taking abilities, more broadly, and future research are also discussed.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

14

SENO, Yui, та 由衣瀬野. "幼児期の心の理解の発達 : 主な理論と今後の展望". 名古屋大学大学院教育発達科学研究科, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/2237/16121.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

15

Shimmon, Karen. "The development of executive control in young children and its relationship with mental-state understanding : a longitudinal study." Thesis, Lancaster University, 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.423905.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

16

El-Kordy, Manal Mohammed. "Understanding the utilisation of executive information systems using an integrated technology acceptance model : theoretical base and empirical validation." Thesis, City University London, 2000. http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/8107/.

Full text

Abstract:

Over the past decade, a growing number of organisations have been developing executive information systems (EIS) to enhance the performance of their executive managers and facilitate their work. Such systems cannot improve individual and organisational performance if they aren't used. Thus, understanding the key determinants of EIS utilisation is an essential step toward enhancing their impact on individual users and organisational performance. Numerous case studies and explorative surveys of EIS development and implementation have been conducted, but an extensive literature review has shown that theory-based systematic investigations of post implementation use of EIS are rare, especially in the UK. The study reported here developed and tested a model of EIS usage. The proposed model integrates key constructs from the information systems success factors research stream into the theoretical frame of the technology acceptance model and other theories from social psychology (the theory of reasoned action, the theory of planned behaviour, and the Triandis model of attitude and behaviour). According to the proposed model, EIS usage is determined by six independent variables, namely perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, information quality, involvement, subjective norm and facilitating conditions. In turn, perceived usefulness is influenced by perceived ease of use, perceived information quality, user involvement, subjective norm, and facilitating conditions. User involvement, perceived information quality and perceived ease of use are determined by four external factors, namely, user participation, information systems maturity, computer training, and user experience. The model was tested against data from 216 EIS users across various organisations. The results provided considerable support to the research model. In order of importance, subjective norm, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, information quality, and ease of use were found to explain 47.1% of the variance in EIS use. User involvement, information quality, subjective norm, ease of use, and facilitating conditions were found to explain 47.6% of the variance in perceived usefulness. Length of EIS use and computer use skill were found to explain 9% of the variance in perceived ease of use. IS maturity and user participation were found to explain 11% of the variance in EIS information quality. Finally, user participation was found to explain 2.4% of the variance in involvement. Implications of the study findings for practitioners and researchers are outlined.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

17

Wimmer, Marina Christine. "Children's perception and understanding of ambiguous figures." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/322.

Full text

Abstract:

Background Research has shown that people need to be pre-informed about the ambiguity in order to perceive both interpretations (reverse) of an ambiguous figure. Children younger than 4 years mostly do not experience reversal even when informed. This suggests that the processes involved in reversal develop at this age. Aim The aim of the studies reported here was to disentangle the cognitive processes (metarepresentation, executive function, mental imagery) and the role of eye-movements involved in reversal. Method Four studies (7 experiments), each involving around sixty 3-, 4- and 5-year-old children, using multiple tasks, were conducted. The primary tasks used were the Ambiguous Figures Production and Reversal tasks. The secondary tasks used were metacognitive, executive function and mental imagery tasks. New tasks were also implemented in order to assess reversal abilities. Results Between the ages of 3 and 4 children develop the basic conceptual understanding for reversal (Study 1), that an ambiguous figure can have two interpretations. This is associated with the understanding of false belief, synonymy and homonymy. Between the ages of 4 and 5 children develop inhibitory (Study 3) and image generation abilities (Study 4). These are key cognitive processes necessary for reversal. Contrary to previous research, when task demands were changed (Reversal Task Revised) children’s reversal is at ceiling by the age of 5 (Studies 3 and 4). Eye-tracking data suggests that appropriate eye-movements, focusing on particular parts of the ambiguous figure, are not a primary causal factor in the development of reversal abilities (Study 4). Conclusion The ability to reverse develops in two stages. During stage 1 (between 3 and 4 years) children develop the necessary conceptual understanding that an ambiguous figure can have two interpretations (top-down knowledge). During stage 2 (between 4 and 5 years) children develop the necessary cognitive processes for reversal to occur (inhibition and image generation).

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

18

Thompson, Rebecca. "Understanding Bulimia Nervosa from a neuropsychological perspective: Impulsivity and binge-purge behavior in adolescent and young adult women." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2010. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/49098.

Full text

Abstract:

School Psychology Ph.D. According to the biopsychosocial model of bulimia, neurobiological mechanisms called endophenotypes cause eating disordered behavior. Impulsivity has been identified as a possible endophenotype for bulimia nervosa, and individuals with bulimia who present with multiple forms of impulsive behavior are known to have worse prognoses. Executive dysfunction in impulse control purportedly manifests as behavioral under-regulation in binge-purge episodes. Neuropsychological assessments were used to analyze the relationship between impulsivity and symptoms of bulimia. Twenty-eight inpatient adolescent and young adult women with bulimia completed the D-KEFS Color Word Task, which is a version of the Stroop that contains four trials including the classic Stroop and a switching Stroop, as well as the age appropriate versions of the BRIEF rating scale and a Type-T Survey of thrill-seeking. Performance on these measures was correlated with measures of bulimia symptoms, including the EDI-3, EDE-Q, and variables of illness severity. Delay of gratification was assessed by offering subjects a choice of compensation that was either immediate and smaller or delayed and larger. Mixed results were found. The sample did not differ from the D-KEFS normative sample on total number of errors or on speed of task completion for the switching Stroop, and the sample demonstrated faster performance than the normative sample on the classic Stroop. However, a tendency to favor speed over accuracy of performance was identified. On the BRIEF rating scales, the sample self-reported significantly higher rates of executive dysfunction compared to the normative data. Additionally, some variables of impulsivity, including greater frequency of errors on cognitive tasks and self-reported deficits of executive functioning, were significantly correlated with variables of bulimia symptom severity, including self-reported bulimia symptomatology on the EDI-3 and frequency of bingeing and purgeing. Risk-taking was also found to be correlated with symptoms of bulimia. Differences were found between subjects who chose the immediate prize versus those who chose the delayed prize, including differences in cognitive task performance and symptom severity. Differences were also found for subjects with a comorbid disorder of impulse control, including bipolar disorders and substance abuse. In conclusion, a unilateral deficit of impulse control was not found to be characteristic of this sample; however, a multi-impulsive cohort was identified as having deficits of cognitive impulse control. Temple University--Theses

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

19

Balleny, Heather. "Are the concepts of 'Theory of Mind' and 'executive function' useful in understanding social impairment in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy?" Thesis, University of East Anglia, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.320812.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

20

Hjelström, Anja. "Understanding international accounting standard setting : a case study of the process of revising IAS 12 (1996), income tax." Doctoral thesis, Handelshögskolan i Stockholm, Redovisning och Finansiering (B), 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hhs:diva-525.

Full text

Abstract:

Considerable energy and resources continue to be expended on accounting rule-making, particularly through standard setting. This has been the case both at the national and international (global) level for a long time. Despite this, there is continuing dissatisfaction with what has been achieved. Criticism continues to be expressed over the rule-makers, their processes of setting rules as well as the rules being produced. Based on a detailed longitudinal case study of one process of setting an international accounting standard this study suggests a comprehensive model for understanding the (international) accounting standard setting process. In addition to the previously emphasised role of politics, it also recognises the potential significance of learning and executive concerns, as well as significant interactions between these three sub-processes of accounting standard setting. In doing this the suggested model provides a framework for approaching concerns regarding the prospects of, and problems involved in, accounting standard setting as a means of achieving (more) standardised accounting practices. A significant part of this book provides a detailed account explaining why the IASC published a standard on income tax requiring the balance sheet liability method in 1996. This case is especially interesting, not only because income tax constitutes a considerable expense for most companies, but also because the revised standard implied a change in financial accounting practices in most countries. The appendix contains several numerical examples illustrating the difference between alternative methods of accounting for income tax Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2005

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

21

Schnitzspahn, Katharina. "Understanding age-related prospective memory performance: The role of cognitive, motivational and emotional mechanisms associated with age differences in the delayed execution of intended actions." Doctoral thesis, Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2011. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-73859.

Full text

Abstract:

A pervasive real-world memory task is remembering to carry out intended activities at appropriate moments in the future, such as remembering to call one’s mother after returning from work or to hand a message to a colleague when seeing him in the office on the next morning. Such types of tasks are termed prospective memory (PM) tasks (Einstein & McDaniel, 1996). PM has been identified as one of the most frequent everyday memory challenges (e.g., Maylor, 1990), particularly in old age (McDaniel, Einstein, & Rendell, 2008) and an intact PM is considered to be crucial for the maintenance of independent living (Kliegel & Martin, 2003). Therefore, many researchers have focused on the exploration of possible age differences in PM. While age-related deficits were found in standard lab-based PM tasks, age-related benefits occured in naturalistic tasks that are carried out in participants’ everyday lives. This surprising pattern has been called the age-PM-paradox (Rendell & Craik, 2000). It has been supported by a meta-analysis comparing PM age effects found in studies that focused either on lab-based or on naturalistic PM tasks (Henry, MacLeod, Phillips, & Crawford, 2004). However, the mechanisms which are critical in determining the direction of age effects remain poorly delineated. Thus, the overall aim of the research programme presented in the present thesis was to investigate the age-PM-paradox as well as potential cognitive, motivational and emotional mechanisms and processes associated with age-related PM performance. For that purpose, three experimental studies were conducted testing adult age effects in different PM task settings with different task material. Furthermore, several possible underlying mechanisms suggested by the literature on age effects in PM were measured and/ or varied experimentally. The first aim of Study 1 was to cross-validate the age-PM-paradox within a single sample. The second aim was to empirically explore the relative importance of four recently proposed factors (motivation, metacognitive awareness, activity absorption, and control over the task) that may be associated with the direction of age effects inside and outside of the laboratory. For that purpose, 20 young and 20 older adults performed a lab-based and a naturalistic PM task, which were similar in structure and demand. The level of control was experimentally manipulated in both task settings. The remaining possibly influencing factors (motivation, metacognitive awareness, and activity absorption) were assessed via questionnaires in the laboratory and with a daily diary in the field. First, analysing mean level age differences, the paradox was confirmed. Second, exploring possible correlates of the paradox revealed that the level of daily activity absorption (i.e., everyday stress) was the most important mechanism in naturalistic PM performance. Further, high motivation and good metacognitive awareness were associated with age benefits in PM performance in the naturalistic task, while high ongoing activity absorption and low control over the PM cue were related to deficits in lab-based tasks. Thus, Study 1 confirmed the age-PM-paradox within one sample and with carefully matched lab-based and naturalistic tasks. In addition, the results indicate that the relative importance of the suggested factors may vary as a function of setting. While cognitive factors were most influential in the laboratory, motivational and knowledge-based factors were associated with high PM performance in the naturalistic task. The strong association between PM performance in the field and everyday stress highlights the need for future studies exploring the mechanisms underlying this effect. Results from Study 1 suggest that cognitive resources are most influential for PM age effects in the laboratory. Yet, it is not clear, which specific cognitive resources are needed for successful PM performance and if these processes differ between young and older adults. Thus, Study 2 explored the role of executive functions (i.e. shifting, updating and inhibition) as possible developmental mechanisms associated with PM age effects. 170 young and 110 older adults performed a battery of cognitive tests including measures of PM, shifting, updating, inhibition, working memory and speed. A comprehensive set of statistical approaches (e.g. median analyses, structural equation modelling) was used to analyze the possible cognitive correlates in predicting PM performance. First, age effects were confirmed in PM and also obtained in measures of executive control. Moreover, the facets of executive control differently predicted PM performance. Specifically, shifting was the strongest predictor of PM performance in young and older adults as well as for explaining age differences in PM. Thus, Study 2 clarified the role of different facets of controlled attention in age effects in PM and bears important conceptual implications: The results suggest that executive functions are important developmental mechanisms of PM across adulthood beyond working memory and speed. Specifically, shifting appeared to be an essential aspect of cognitive control involved in age-related PM performance. Moreover, examining PM as a latent construct confirmed the convergent and discriminant validity of PM. This demonstrates PM as a separate cognitive construct and suggests that PM is related to, but not identical with, executive control. Study 3 was set out to explore if the amount of cognitive resources needed to successfully perform a PM task in the laboratory can be influenced by the emotionality of the task material. First studies suggested that emotional task material may enhance PM performance in young and older adults by heightening the salience of the task and thereby reducing the need for controlled attention. However, the extent and mechanisms of this effect are still under debate. Therefore, Study 3 explored possible differential effects of PM target cue valence on PM age effects. For that purpose, 45 young and 41 older adults performed a PM task in which emotional valence of the PM cue was manipulated (positive, negative, neutral). Results revealed an interaction indicating that age differences were smaller in both emotional valence conditions compared to the neutral condition. This finding supports an emotionally enhanced memory effect in PM, but only for the older adults as PM performance in young adults was not affected by cue valence. From a conceptual perspective, the results from Study 3 may also contribute to the explanation of the age-PM-paradox, as they suggest that the neutral material usually applied in lab-based studies might overestimate PM age effects. In summary, the present thesis makes an important contribution to the ongoing conceptual debate concerning adult age effects in PM performance assessed in the laboratory versus participants’ everyday lives. Results strongly suggest that mostly different variables may be crucial for understanding PM age deficits in the laboratory and age benefits in naturalistic PM tasks. Successful PM performance in the laboratory seems to require high levels of cognitive resources. The present results suggest that shifting ability is especially relevant in this respect. On a task level the emotionality of the material seems to influence the required amount of cognitive resources as it reduced PM age effects. Everyday stress seems to be particularly important for successful PM performance in the field. Thus, possible future studies should specify the relation between stress and PM as outlined in the general discussion.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

22

Eugen, Kaya von [Verfasser], Onur [Gutachter] Güntürkün, Carsten [Gutachter] Theiß, and Andrew [Gutachter] Iwaniuk. "Understanding the building blocks of avian complex cognition : the executive caudal nidopallium and the neuronal energy budget / Kaya von Eugen ; Gutachter: Onur Güntürkün, Carsten Theiß, Andrew Iwaniuk ; International Graduate School of Neuroscience." Bochum : Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 2021. http://d-nb.info/1231545607/34.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

23

KHALIL, Radwa [Verfasser], Ben [Akademischer Betreuer] Godde, Ben [Gutachter] Godde, et al. "Understanding the Role of Executive Functions for Decision-Making and Creative Thinking: Computational and Experimental Approaches / Radwa KHALIL ; Gutachter: Ben Godde, Ahmed A. Karim, Sascha Frühholz, Marie Moftah, Sergio Angoli ; Betreuer: Ben Godde." Bremen : IRC-Library, Information Resource Center der Jacobs University Bremen, 2021. http://d-nb.info/1230136746/34.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

24

Khan, Aaisha Arbab. "Corporate social responsibility education : the study of the impact of CSR education during professional metamorphosis of business graduates." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Aix-Marseille, 2020. http://theses.univ-amu.fr.lama.univ-amu.fr/201124_KHAN_722yzfuqj226swzi310ifqtcl732tknvrz_TH.pdf.

Full text

Abstract:

L'intégration des pratiques de RSE dépend du développement de la conscience sociale du manager par l'éducation à la RSE (CSRE). Cette étude se concentre sur le rôle transformationnel de la RSE en répondant aux questions clés liées à la compréhension perceptuelle, intentions comportementales, motivations commerciales, compétences managériales et à la compréhension managériales de la RSE. L'étude adopte une méthode de recherche mixte. Les résultats ont révélé que la RSE a un impact sur la compréhension perceptuelle et les intentions comportementales des étudiants. La couche économique de la RSE a un impact sur la responsabilité, l'intelligence émotionnelle et l'orientation du système. Les motivations des entreprises en matière de durabilité ont un impact sur les compétences managériales. Managérial forgetfulness, les incohérences conceptuelles et le manque de stratégie sont les raisons de la participation inefficace aux pratiques de RSE. L'apprentissage par l'expérience et la pression des pairs permettent une participation efficace aux pratiques de RSE. En conclusion, cela implique que les diplômés des écoles de commerce et les cadres de l'organisation des entreprises font partie d'une société plus large et ont un impact sur les dimensions socio-économiques et environnementales du développement. La recherche conclut en proposant des orientations et des questions futures de la part de la RSE, des choix pédagogiques et une stratégie organisationnelle pour la RSE. La recherche suggère des académiciens pour la révision conceptuelle et l'innovation pédagogique pour la RSE. Il est conseillé aux praticiens de réévaluer la stratégie et l'institutionnalisation de la culture RSE Integration of CSR practices depends on the development of manager’s social conscience through CSR education (CSRE). This study focuses on transformational role of CSRE by answering the key questions related to perceptual understanding, behavioral intentions, business motives, managerial competencies and executives’ understanding of CSR. The study adopts mixed method research design wherein two quantitative studies were followed by a qualitative study. The results revealed that CSRE impacts perceptual understanding and behavioral intentions of business graduates. Economic layer of CSRE impacts responsibility, emotional intelligence, and system orientation. Business motives for sustainability impacts managerial competencies. Managerial forgetfulness, conceptual inconsistencies and lack of strategy are the reasons for ineffective participation in CSR practices. Experiential learning and peer pressure allows effective participation in CSR practices. Conclusively, it implies graduates from business schools, and managers/executives from business organization are part of greater society and impact the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of development. The research concludes by offering future directions and questions on the part of CSRE, pedagogical choices and organizational strategy for CSR. The research suggest academicians for conceptual revision and pedagogical innovation for dissemination of CSRE. Practitioners are advised to re-evaluate CSR strategy and institutionalization of CSR culture. Despite advancements, CSRE is still at embryonic stages and requires fundamental attention to understand its for sustainable development

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

25

Ogunyemi, Clement Olutayo. "Strategies Mortgage Loan Executives Need to Prequalify Mortgage Loan Applicants." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3571.

Full text

Abstract:

The mortgage industry played a major role in the recession faced by the U.S. economy in 2008, with approximately 8.8 million borrowers, or 10.8% of all homeowners, with negative equity in their homes. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies mortgage loan executives use to prequalify mortgage loan applicants. The target population consisted of 8 mortgage executives at 5 mortgage lending firms located in northwest Arkansas who demonstrated strategies to enhance the prequalification of mortgage loan applicants. The conceptual framework for the study was the theory of asymmetric information. In-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted and the home loan toolkit and standard disclosure packets were reviewed. The data analysis technique used in this study followed Yin's 5-step data analysis process. Each interview response was interpreted, synthesized, and shared with the participant for validation during the follow-up member checking meeting. I coded the data to identify similarities in the data and prevalent themes, and to align the new data with previous literature. Based on methodological triangulation and thematic analysis, 4 themes emerged: counseling, government guidelines and regulation, disclosure, and literacy. Social change benefits include a more knowledgeable mortgage consumer that will benefit from enhanced education by the mortgage lender, which may result in lower mortgage defaults. This can increase homeowners' self-esteem, provide for community growth and development, and stabilize, and eventually grow, property tax revenues that could strengthen communities by expanding services and improving infrastructure.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

26

Wilcox, M. "Multiple understandings of executive coaching : an exploratory study of Irish experiences." Thesis, Nottingham Trent University, 2010. http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/11/.

Full text

Abstract:

This research study explores executives’ perceptions of factors that impede and facilitate the effectiveness of a coaching intervention designed to enhance leadership skills. It also explores research participants’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the intervention. Because research studies have rarely given prominence to the voice of the executive (Kilburg, 2004, Lowman, 2005, Turner, 2006; Styhre, 2008), this aspect of coaching is still largely unexplored, thus the purpose of the research is to bring the voice of the executives to the fore via an instrumental case study whose focus is the experiences of the executives. A large indigenous Irish company facilitated the research, which took place in Dublin. The research design is a series of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a cohort of four executives who had engaged in a pilot coaching programme, with the HR Director who initiated the coaching intervention, with the Coach, and with the Divisional CEO whose budget paid for the coaching. The executives’ stories are told via a ‘montage’ of rich descriptions of their views on the organisation, their leader, and their coaching experiences. The views of the other players, (HR Director, Coach and CEO) are presented independently. A review of current literature on executive coaching discusses recent research studies and notes the dominance of North American research and the dearth of studies that address executives’ perspectives. The literature reviews salient inputs to the coaching process: the role of the organisation, the skill sets of the coach, and the readiness of executives to be coached. The research found that coaching yielded a number of positive outcomes for all executives, although perceptions of gains varied across all research participants; the most significant evaluation discrepancy was between the HR Director and the CEO. While the Coach had many strengths, which were acknowledged by all executives, his description of his ‘structured’ approach was at variance with that experienced by the executives, some of whom were frustrated by lack of continuity and by his failure to measure progress. The CEO, who had also taken part in the coaching programme, was particularly frustrated by what he saw as the lack of engagement by the Coach. Neither the executives nor the CEO challenged the Coach to change his approach. A key finding was that neither the Coach nor the Organisation (as represented by the HR Director and the CEO) managed the process to produce a satisfactory results oriented experience for all the executives. The findings from this research study inform a conceptual framework that highlights the facilitators and inhibitors of executive coaching as articulated by the stakeholders to the coaching programme. The findings have practical implications for coaches, HR professionals and executives on how to behave in a coaching situation and the study adds to the body of knowledge on what facilitates and hinders the success of executive coaching and the factors that influence executives’ evaluation of the coaching process.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

27

Stokes, Carmeda L. "A Case Study Understanding Employability Through the Lens of Human Resource Executives." Thesis, University of South Florida, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3589403.

Full text

Abstract:

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine HR executives' perspectives on employability enhancement for employees and how it is operationalized in their workplace. The exploratory questions that guided the study were, What are the perspectives of HR executives regarding employability enhancement for employees, and In what ways and under what conditions is organizational support of employability enhancement demonstrated through workplace learning initiatives? The conceptual framework for this study is based on Clarke and Patrickson's (2008) list of assumptions concerning employability as the premise for the new employment contract. Data collected consisted of background questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, organizational documents, and researcher reflective journal notes. Cross case analysis yielded four major themes of "Shared Responsibility," "The Power of Learning Attitude," "Assessment for Growth," and "Resource Availability." These four themes include discussions of the roles and responsibilities for employability, desired employee learning attitudes, recommended assessment activities, and conditions affecting development opportunities provided by organizations. Implications for organizations, their employees, and HRD professionals are described. This study contributes empirical research on today's employment contract based on an employability model from the organization's perspective. It also adds to the body of literature on employability rarely focused on, employability enhancement for employees.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

28

Cui, Peng. "Understanding brand managers' intangible capital and capability." [Kent, Ohio] : Kent State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=kent1216661247.

Full text

Abstract:

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Kent State University, 2008. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 10, 2009). Advisor: Michael Hu. Keywords: brand management; intangible capital; capability. Includes bibliographical references (p.100-115).

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

29

Irizarry, Amber H. "Understanding Diversity: Top Executives' Perceptions of Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Public Relations." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2012. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/communication_theses/92.

Full text

Abstract:

In public relations, minority public relations practitioners are feeling left behind by the profession (Ford & Appelbaum, 2005). Where do top executives stand on employment diversity within their organizations? An online survey of 20 top executives of small-sized public relations agencies explored how top executives’ perceptions of and normative beliefs about diversity practices were related to their future engagement in diversity practices at work. Based on the theory of reasoned action, this explanatory study found that executives’ perceptions of peer endorsement of diversity were associated with greater intention of organizational engagement in diversity practices. Neither perceived benefits of nor perceived concerns about diversity were related to future engagement. Recommendations for contacting this hard-to-reach audience, as well as suggestions for promoting diversity practices among top executives, were discussed.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

30

Murray, Elspeth J. "Bridging two solitudes, an examination of shared understanding between information systems and line executives." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0012/NQ40280.pdf.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

31

Ramanarayanan, Vikram. "Toward understanding speech planning by observing its execution -- Representations, modeling and analysis." Thesis, University of Southern California, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3643149.

Full text

Abstract:

This thesis proposes a balanced framework toward understanding speech motor planning and control by observing aspects of its behavioral execution. To this end, it proposes representing, modeling, and analyzing real-time speech articulation data from both `top-down' (or knowledge-driven) as well as `bottom-up' (or data-driven) perspectives. The first part of the thesis uses existing knowledge from linguistics and motor control to extract meaningful representations from real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI) data, and further, posit and test specific hypotheses regarding kinematic and postural planning during pausing behavior. In the former case, we propose a measure to quantify the speed of articulators during pauses as well as during their immediate neighborhoods. Using appropriate statistical analysis techniques, we find support for the hypothesis that pauses at major syntactic boundaries (i.e., grammatical pauses), but not ungrammatical (e.g., word search) pauses, are planned by a high-level cognitive mechanism that also controls the rate of articulation around these junctures. In the latter case, we present a novel automatic procedure to characterize vocal posture from rtMRI data. Statistical analyses suggest that articulatory settings differ during rest positions, ready positions and inter-speech pauses, and might, in that order, involve an increasing degree of active control by the cognitive speech planning mechanism. We show that this may be due to the fact that postures assumed during pauses are significantly more mechanically advantageous than postures assumed during absolute rest. In other words, inter-speech postures allow for a larger change in the space of motor control tasks/goals for a minimal change in the articulatory posture space as compared to postures at absolute rest. We argue that such top-down approaches can be used to augment models of speech motor control. The second part of the thesis presents a computational, data-driven approach to derive interpretable movement primitives from speech articulation data in a bottom-up manner. It puts forth a convolutive Nonnegative Matrix Factorization algorithm with sparseness constraints (cNMFsc) to decompose a given data matrix into a set of spatiotemporal basis sequences and an activation matrix. The algorithm optimizes a cost function that trades off the mismatch between the proposed model and the input data against the number of primitives that are active at any given instant. The method is applied to both measured articulatory data obtained through electromagnetic articulography (EMA) as well as synthetic data generated using an articulatory synthesizer. The paper then describes how to evaluate the algorithm performance quantitatively and further performs a qualitative assessment of the algorithm's ability to recover compositional structure from data. The results suggest that the proposed algorithm extracts movement primitives from human speech production data that are linguistically interpretable. We further examine how well derived representations of "primitive movements'' of speech articulation can be used to classify broad phone categories, and thus provide more insights into the link between speech production and perception. We finally show that such primitives can be mathematically modeled using nonlinear dynamical systems in a control-theoretic framework for speech motor control. Such a primitives-based framework could thus help inform practicable theories of speech motor control and coordination.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

32

Liu, Yin. "Methodologies, Techniques, and Tools for Understanding and Managing Sensitive Program Information." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/103421.

Full text

Abstract:

Exfiltrating or tampering with certain business logic, algorithms, and data can harm the security and privacy of both organizations and end users. Collectively referred to as sensitive program information (SPI), these building blocks are part and parcel of modern software systems in domains ranging from enterprise applications to cyberphysical setups. Hence, protecting SPI has become one of the most salient challenges of modern software development. However, several fundamental obstacles stand on the way of effective SPI protection: (1) understanding and locating the SPI for any realistically sized codebase by hand is hard; (2) manually isolating SPI to protect it is burdensome and error-prone; (3) if SPI is passed across distributed components within and across devices, it becomes vulnerable to security and privacy attacks. To address these problems, this dissertation research innovates in the realm of automated program analysis, code transformation, and novel programming abstractions to improve the state of the art in SPI protection. Specifically, this dissertation comprises three interrelated research thrusts that: (1) design and develop program analysis and programming support for inferring the usage semantics of program constructs, with the goal of helping developers understand and identify SPI; (2) provide powerful programming abstractions and tools that transform code automatically, with the goal of helping developers effectively isolate SPI from the rest of the codebase; (3) provide programming mechanism for distributed managed execution environments that hides SPI, with the goal of enabling components to exchange SPI safely and securely. The novel methodologies, techniques, and software tools, supported by programming abstractions, automated program analysis, and code transformation of this dissertation research lay the groundwork for establishing a secure, understandable, and efficient foundation for protecting SPI. This dissertation is based on 4 conference papers, presented at TrustCom'20, GPCE'20, GPCE'18, and ManLang'17, as well as 1 journal paper, published in Journal of Computer Languages (COLA). Doctor of Philosophy Some portions of a computer program can be sensitive, referred to as sensitive program information (SPI). By compromising SPI, attackers can hurt user security/privacy. It is hard for developers to identify and protect SPI, particularly for large programs. This dissertation introduces novel methodologies, techniques, and software tools that facilitate software developments tasks concerned with locating and protecting SPI.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

33

Zybrands, Helena. "An investigation of linguistic and cultural variation in the understanding and execution of academic writing tasks." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/1989.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

34

Behrens, Jennifer. "Leadership in collaborative governance: Understanding the relationship of leadership and collaborative performance of Local Departments of Social Services executives." VCU Scholars Compass, 2014. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/3341.

Full text

Abstract:

Public administration agencies are increasingly called upon to collaborate across organizational boundaries as a regular part of practice. Leaders in the organizations are expected to deliver positive outcomes from collaborations. Common sense implies that good leadership leads to successful collaboration within public administration agencies. However, the exact link between leadership and collaboration continues to be a puzzle for both practitioners and academics in the field. This study examines the relationship of leadership and collaborative governance within a group of social services executives, who are specifically chartered to collaborate with one another and across organizational boundaries for successful delivery of public welfare services. Relationship-based leadership orientation and trust-building leadership style are evaluated for main effects on perception of collaboration. Leadership satisfaction and performance satisfaction were evaluated for simple effects on the relationship between leadership orientation and leadership style on perception of collaboration. The results provide that there are no direct effects of leadership orientation and leadership style on perception of collaboration. Performance satisfaction moderated the association of both leadership orientation and leadership style on perception of collaboration. Leadership satisfaction moderated the relationship of leadership style with perception of collaboration. Implications from this study include the need for further study into a threshold of acceptable collaborative activities for practitioners.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

35

Nguyen, Tina. "Metamotivational Understanding of the Role of High-Level and Low-Level Construal in Self-Control and Behavioral Execution." The Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1524826761478275.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

36

Deacken, Nadia. "Le sentiment d'employabilité des cadres seniors, secteur privé français : définition, opérationnalisation et déterminants." Thesis, Aix-Marseille, 2015. http://www.theses.fr/2015AIXM1062/document.

Full text

Abstract:

La notion de Sentiment d’Employabilité est imbriqué dans le concept de l’employabilité et est peu évoquée au niveau des pratiques managériales modernes. Les travaux académiques sur le sujet sont limités à l’heure où les individus, évoluant sur le secteur privé, connaissent des difficultés de repositionnement en avançant dans l’âge. Cette situation se vérifie aussi pour les cadres. Une revue de littérature étayée des concepts permet de livrer une conceptualisation en lien, à la fois, avec l’individu, les variables socio-démographiques et le marché du travail. Une étude qualitative a été menée auprès de plus d’une trentaine d’acteurs. Ensuite, sur la base de plusieurs échelles validées portant sur l’employabilité et la perception individuelle de l’employabilité (et de nouveaux items issus de la recherche exploratoire), nous avons bâti un questionnaire. L’étude quantitative a ainsi permis d’opérationnaliser le Sentiment d’Employabilité comme un construit avec six dimensions : Compétence, Formation Continue, Sentiment d’Efficacité Personnelle, Réseau , Techniques de Recherche d'Emploi, Connaissance de la Réalité du Marché. L' outil montre l’influence du Sentiment d’Employabilité sur la situation professionnelle. Le modèle montre que le fait d’être en activité a aussi une influence sur ce sentiment. Cette étude a vocation à être transposée à d’autres publics (les juniors) et à d’autres contextes culturels Self-perceived employability as an integrated element of employability…nor has it been really mentioned in modern-day managerial practices. Academic research on the topic is quite limited. It’s almost non-existent when individuals are confronted with difficulties in changing jobs: a tricky context when they get older. An extensive literature review backs up these concepts and delivers an operationalization of the idea linked to the individuals versus socio-demographic variables and employment status. The suggested results are from a qualitative study carried out on more than 30 people. The results then led to a quantitative research on the operationalization of Self-perceived employability. Based on several confirmed scaled (with items linked to employability, and to a lesser extent, Self-perceived employability…and new items from the exploratory research), we built a questionnaire keeping in mind that this way could contribute to a new and innovative measurement of employability. The streamlined scale leads to a new construct with six statistical dimensions: Skills, Training, Sense of Self Efficacy, Networking (internal and external), Job Search Tools and realistic knowledge of the job market. All in all, the research offers a way which could forecast professional situations and allows a realistic evaluation of Self-perceived employability. This study also suggests that self-employability is linked to professional status (ie to be hired). This research could be used for other vulnerable groups (like junior workers) and also on different cultural contexts

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

37

Марушій, Олексій Антонович. "Забезпечення законності в діяльності органів виконавчої влади: адміністративно-правова характеристика". Diss., Національний університет "Львівська політехніка", 2021. https://ena.lpnu.ua/handle/ntb/56723.

Full text

Abstract:

Дисертація присвячена комплексній адміністративно-правовій характеристиці забезпечення законності в діяльності органів виконавчої влади. Проаналізовано історіографія проблеми та напрями дисертаційного дослідження, визначено теоретико-методологічні підходи до дослідження питання забезпечення законності в діяльності органів виконавчої влади, з’ясовано поняття та зміст законності в органах виконавчої влади в контексті сучасного праворозуміння Розкрито сутність та ознаки законності в діяльності органів виконавчої влади як об’єкта забезпечення, охарактеризовано законність в діяльності органів виконавчої влади як складову правового регулювання в умовах побудови правової держави. Визначено місце органів виконавчої влади у системі гарантій законності. Розглянуто право на звернення як засіб відновлення порушеного права та забезпечення законності в діяльності органів виконавчої влади. Здійснено аналіз діяльності органів виконавчої влади щодо протидії корупції як негативного чинника, що впливає на стан законності. Окреслено напрями удосконалення законодавства, що регулює питання забезпечення законності в діяльності органів виконавчої влади в умовах політичних і соціально-економічних змін в українському суспільстві. Диссертация посвящена комплексной административно-правовой характеристике обеспечения законности в деятельности органов исполнительной власти. Проанализированы историография проблемы и направления диссертационного исследования, определены теоретико-методологические подходы к исследованию вопроса обеспечения законности в деятельности органов исполнительной власти, установлено понятие и содержание законности в органах исполнительной власти в контексте современного правопонимания. Раскрыта сущность и признаки законности в деятельности органов исполнительной власти как объекта обеспечения, охарактеризованы законность в деятельности органов исполнительной власти как составляющую правового регулирования в условиях построения правового государства. Определено место органов исполнительной власти в системе гарантий законности. Рассмотрены право на обращение как средство восстановления нарушенного права и обеспечения законности в деятельности органов исполнительной власти. Осуществлен анализ деятельности органов исполнительной власти по противодействию коррупции как негативного фактора, влияющего на состояние законности. Определены направления совершенствования законодательства, регулирующего вопросы обеспечения законности в деятельности органов исполнительной власти в условиях политических и социально-экономических изменений в украинском обществе. Установлено, что в деятельности органов исполнительной власти законность должна обеспечить эффективный, справедливый и гуманный режим общественно-политической жизни через следующие принципы: 1) принцип единства и всеобщности законности, заключающийся в обеспечении единства понимания нормативно-правовых актов всеми участниками правоотношений каждым органом исполнительной власти ; 2) верховенство закона оказывается в высшей юридической силе закона по сравнению с другими нормативноправовыми актами. Значение этого принципа проявляется в том, что он обеспечивает соответствие системы подзаконных и индивидуальных актов закону; 3) взаимодействие законности и целесообразности заключается в возможности органов исполнительной власти принимать наиболее эффективные, целесообразные решения в рамках правового поля, определенного нормой права; 4) неотвратимость ответственности как принцип законности заключается в том, что за каждое ошибочное решение представитель органа исполнительной власти должен быть привлечен к ответственности. Констатировано, что законность является многогранным явлением, которое рассматривается как принцип формирования правового государства, как метод управления обществом и как режим точного исполнения закона. Законность стоит трактовать и как совокупность требований и гарантий, обеспечивающих порядок в правовом государстве. Установлено, что содержание принципа законности составляет система конкретных требований: 1) всеобщность законности, означает обязательность законов и других нормативно-правовых актов для всех участников общественных отношений без исключения; 2) строгое соблюдение закона всеми субъектами правоотношений; 3) верховенство закона в системе нормативноправовых актов; единство законности: 4) реальность законности, то есть фактическое выполнение требований, заложенных в юридических нормах, участниками правоотношений; 5) единственная нацеленность деятельности органов законодательной, исполнительной и власти; целесообразности законности: (выбор законных вариантов осуществления правотворческой и правоприменительной деятельности, является наиболее оптимальным мероприятием достижения цели правового регулирования); 6) обеспечение равенства всех перед законом, возможность наказания только за нарушение четко определенных положений закона; 7) неотвратимость наказания за совершенное нарушение закона; 8) установление действенного механизма внедрения принципа законности во всех сферах общественной жизни, создания системы гарантий, с помощью которых бы обеспечивалось соблюдение принципа законности. The dissertation is devoted to the complex administrative-legal characteristic of ensuring legality in activity of executive bodies. The historiography of the problem and directions of the dissertation research are analyzed, the theoretical and methodological approaches to the research of the issue of ensuring legality in the activity of executive bodies are determined, the concept and content of legality in executive bodies in the context of modern legal understanding is clarified. The essence and signs of legality in the activity of executive bodies as an object of provision are revealed, legality in the activity of executive bodies as a component of legal regulation in the conditions of building the rule of law is characterized. The place of executive bodies in the system of guarantees of legality has been determined. The right to appeal is considered as a means of restoring the violated right and ensuring legality in the activities of executive bodies. An analysis of the activities of executive bodies to combat corruption as a negative factor influencing the rule of law. The directions of improvement of the legislation regulating the issue of ensuring legality in the activity of executive bodies in the conditions of political and socio-economic changes in the Ukrainian society are outlined.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

38

Try, David Richard. "Using public value theory to assist in understanding how and why executives integrate results-based management exploratory case studies of the Canadian federal public sector /." Thesis, [Coventry, UK : D.R. Try], 2006. http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/300/david_richard_try/TryPhdThesis_FinalJune2006.pdf.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

39

Deacken, Nadia. "Le sentiment d'employabilité des cadres seniors, secteur privé français : définition, opérationnalisation et déterminants." Electronic Thesis or Diss., Aix-Marseille, 2015. http://www.theses.fr/2015AIXM1062.

Full text

Abstract:

La notion de Sentiment d’Employabilité est imbriqué dans le concept de l’employabilité et est peu évoquée au niveau des pratiques managériales modernes. Les travaux académiques sur le sujet sont limités à l’heure où les individus, évoluant sur le secteur privé, connaissent des difficultés de repositionnement en avançant dans l’âge. Cette situation se vérifie aussi pour les cadres. Une revue de littérature étayée des concepts permet de livrer une conceptualisation en lien, à la fois, avec l’individu, les variables socio-démographiques et le marché du travail. Une étude qualitative a été menée auprès de plus d’une trentaine d’acteurs. Ensuite, sur la base de plusieurs échelles validées portant sur l’employabilité et la perception individuelle de l’employabilité (et de nouveaux items issus de la recherche exploratoire), nous avons bâti un questionnaire. L’étude quantitative a ainsi permis d’opérationnaliser le Sentiment d’Employabilité comme un construit avec six dimensions : Compétence, Formation Continue, Sentiment d’Efficacité Personnelle, Réseau , Techniques de Recherche d'Emploi, Connaissance de la Réalité du Marché. L' outil montre l’influence du Sentiment d’Employabilité sur la situation professionnelle. Le modèle montre que le fait d’être en activité a aussi une influence sur ce sentiment. Cette étude a vocation à être transposée à d’autres publics (les juniors) et à d’autres contextes culturels Self-perceived employability as an integrated element of employability…nor has it been really mentioned in modern-day managerial practices. Academic research on the topic is quite limited. It’s almost non-existent when individuals are confronted with difficulties in changing jobs: a tricky context when they get older. An extensive literature review backs up these concepts and delivers an operationalization of the idea linked to the individuals versus socio-demographic variables and employment status. The suggested results are from a qualitative study carried out on more than 30 people. The results then led to a quantitative research on the operationalization of Self-perceived employability. Based on several confirmed scaled (with items linked to employability, and to a lesser extent, Self-perceived employability…and new items from the exploratory research), we built a questionnaire keeping in mind that this way could contribute to a new and innovative measurement of employability. The streamlined scale leads to a new construct with six statistical dimensions: Skills, Training, Sense of Self Efficacy, Networking (internal and external), Job Search Tools and realistic knowledge of the job market. All in all, the research offers a way which could forecast professional situations and allows a realistic evaluation of Self-perceived employability. This study also suggests that self-employability is linked to professional status (ie to be hired). This research could be used for other vulnerable groups (like junior workers) and also on different cultural contexts

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

40

Akade, Solace Aiwanfo. "Understanding the impact of culture on project execution in a developing country : an action research study of six international oil and gas companies in Nigeria." Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2017. http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3009605/.

Full text

Abstract:

Despite the research on project execution in developing countries and project practitioners executing projects in accordance with project management practices, projects in developing countries still experience a high rate of failure (Gu et al, 2013). Supporting this view, Nzekwe et al (2015) posit that project failure has become rampant in construction projects executed in developing countries. The researcher's organization is not exempted, hence the motivation for this research. This would suggest that project failure issues are not just due to technical factors, but encompass wider behavioural non-technical factors (Skok and Doringer, 2001). The aim of this study therefore was to contribute to project management literature by investigating the impact of culture on project execution in international organizations domiciled in a developing country. The overall goal was to understand and ameliorate the high rate of project failure in a developing country context with the objective to provide strategies for successful project execution. Applying a realist research approach, this research investigates project execution and management of a project team cultural variation from an industrial context. The methodology for the study was both quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative data was collected through survey questionnaire from 103 experienced project practitioners involved in projects execution in the six largest international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria. This sample was selected to close a research gap of limited studies in the oil industry of developing countries. The reliability of the data collected was established by the Cronbach coefficient alpha calculations. Qualitative data was collected through interviews with 20 respondents. Secondary data was sourced from review of literature. The results of the Frequency, Pearson Correlation and Coefficient of Determination analysis reveal a correlation between culture and project outcome, and also a correlation between culture and behaviour. The research concludes that culture has an impact on project execution in the IOC's operating in Nigeria, a developing economy. The results will benefit both practice and academics. In practice, this research provides insight regarding the challenges project managers face when leading culturally diverse teams and propose strategies aimed at curbing project failure. The recommendations will be synthesised into actionable items in the researchers practice as a deliverable of this Action Research approach. In academia, this research will serve as a resource base for secondary data for other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out research on the impact of culture on project delivery in a developing economy.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

41

Schnitzspahn, Katharina [Verfasser], Matthias [Akademischer Betreuer] Kliegel, and Peter [Akademischer Betreuer] Rendell. "Understanding age-related prospective memory performance: The role of cognitive, motivational and emotional mechanisms associated with age differences in the delayed execution of intended actions / Katharina Schnitzspahn. Gutachter: Matthias Kliegel ; Peter Rendell. Betreuer: Matthias Kliegel." Dresden : Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2011. http://d-nb.info/1067190619/34.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

42

Davies, Llewellyn Willis. "‘LOOK’ AND LOOK BACK: Using an auto/biographical lens to study the Australian documentary film industry, 1970 - 2010." Phd thesis, Canberra, ACT : The Australian National University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/154339.

Full text

Abstract:

While much has been written on the Australian film and television industry, little has been presented by actual producers, filmmakers and technicians of their time and experiences within that same industry. Similarly, with historical documentaries, it has been academics rather than filmmakers who have led the debate. This thesis addresses this shortcoming and bridges the gap between practitioner experience and intellectual discussion, synthesising the debate and providing an important contribution from a filmmaker-academic, in its own way unique and insightful. The thesis is presented in two voices. First, my voice, the voice of memoir and recollected experience of my screen adventures over 38 years within the Australian industry, mainly producing historical documentaries for the ABC and the SBS. This is represented in italics. The second half and the alternate chapters provide the industry framework in which I worked with particular emphasis on documentaries and how this evolved and developed over a 40-year period, from 1970 to 2010. Within these two voices are three layers against which this history is reviewed and presented. Forming the base of the pyramid is the broad Australian film industry made up of feature films, documentary, television drama, animation and other types and styles of production. Above this is the genre documentary within this broad industry, and making up the small top tip of the pyramid, the sub-genre of historical documentary. These form the vertical structure within which industry issues are discussed. Threading through it are the duel determinants of production: ‘the market’ and ‘funding’. Underpinning the industry is the involvement of government, both state and federal, forming the three dimensional matrix for the thesis. For over 100 years the Australian film industry has depended on government support through subsidy, funding mechanisms, development assistance, broadcast policy and legislative provisions. This thesis aims to weave together these industry layers, binding them with the determinants of the market and funding, and immersing them beneath layers of government legislation and policy to present a new view of the Australian film industry.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

43

Riley, Ramona Leonard. "Understanding the Team Dynamics of an Executive Virtual Team." Thesis, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2011-08-9938.

Full text

Abstract:

Organizations of all types are now able to operate in virtual capacities through time, space, and distance across multinational boundaries; therefore, geography no longer limits business functioning. In fact, many corporate executives and boards employ virtuality in their work regimen. Therefore, organizations employ virtual executives to work teams with ideal skill sets to effectively persevere and complete tasks through distance, space, and time. The purpose of this study was to identify and yet understand the experiences of executive multinational, virtual board members working as a team in a virtual environment. Through this research the virtual dynamics of the virtual team have been studied, prodded, purposely mismatched, and weaved together to understand the culture of the virtual environment in which the team members interact and perform duties. With this particular board, there has been a history of previous work experience or exposure in some capacity; however, it has no great impact on their interaction and work with the entire board. In this study, an exploratory look at the experiences, perceived team dynamics, and strategies used to successfully function as a virtual team are highlighted from a qualitative perspective. The purpose is to describe the individual perspectives of how a multinational executive virtual team best works. The findings of this study reveal that there are many ways to communicate utilizing technology, but the objective for this virtual team is to be multidimensional in use. That means that honest communication is necessary for the board to perform at their optimal level. Therefore, the theoretical framework is based on team performance as a teamwork process-based construct which depends on communication, relationship, and trust to add success for virtual teams The framework results in three step process for team flow and success i.e., the importance of face-to-face meetings; advantages of virtual teaming; and challenges of virtual teaming to result in virtual team performance dependent on the team having communication, relationship, and trust present.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

44

Simmons, Julie Marie. "Executive federalism after Charlottetown : understanding the role of non-governmental actors." 2005. http://link.library.utoronto.ca/eir/EIRdetail.cfm?Resources__ID=370854&T=F.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

45

Dietz, Albert Steven Davis O. L. "See-read-act exploring a conceptual framework for understanding executive problem recognition /." 2005. http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/1537/dietza69024.pdf.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

46

Dietz, Albert Steven. "See-read-act: exploring a conceptual framework for understanding executive problem recognition." Thesis, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/1537.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

47

Razza, Rachel A. "Relations among false-belief understanding, executive function, and social competence a longitudinal analysis /." 2005. http://etda.libraries.psu.edu/theses/approved/WorldWideIndex/ETD-800/index.html.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

48

"A phenomenological study exploring executive coaching: Understanding perceptions of self-awareness and leadership behavior changes." UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, 2009. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3324089.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

49

Turner, Kimberly Ann. "Understanding socioeconomic differences in kindergarteners' school success the influence of executive function and strategic memory /." 2010. http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.16/6031.

Full text

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

50

Molteno, Louise. "Understanding the potential of adult “third culture kids” as talents in multi-national corporations." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12497.

Full text

Abstract:

M.Phil. (Personal and Professional Leadership) Globalisation has dramatically impacted the way business is conducted. As business becomes more global, there is a growing need for employees, especially managers, with the right skillset to be successful in this international environment. Given the scarcity of internationally skilled employees, companies will have to look at new sources of potential talent. “Adult third culture kids” (ATCKs) are such a source of talent, as they have already acquired some of the skills necessary to be successful internationally, because of the way they had grown up. It appears, however, that ATCKs are an untapped talent source. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of managers within multi-national corporations (MNCs) regarding the potential of ATCKs as a source of talent. The study aimed to establish if awareness existed within MNCs of the ATCK phenomenon, and to explore some of the reasons for the apparent under-utilisation of this source of talent. A qualitative approach with a case study design was chosen to answer the research question, as this was deemed the best method to obtain an in-depth understanding of the perceptions within MNCs of the potential of ATCKs. Five research participants from five different MNCs were identified, based on their expertise in human resource management (HRM). Data were collected by means of individual, semi-structured interviews and supporting field notes. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse this data. Three dominant themes pertaining to the research question were identified. The findings of the research revealed that there is limited awareness of ATCKs within the MNCs selected for this study. Research participants acknowledged the characteristic skillset of ATCKs to be a valuable asset to their organisations. Possible reasons for the under-utilisation of this source of talent are the limited awareness of the ATCK phenomenon and the lack of knowledge of the actual contribution of ATCKs in the workplace.

APA, Harvard, Vancouver, ISO, and other styles

Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Executive understanding'

Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles