Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Intention description'

Le Cloud Computing permet une optimisation des coûts de déploiement et de maintenance des applications. Grâce au cloud, celles-ci peuvent être déployées et reconfigurées en l'espace de quelques minutes. La nécessité pour une application d'être en permanence à la juste taille afin que celle-ci maintienne continuellement une qualité de service suffisante sans pour autant utiliser trop de ressources, requiert de mettre en place l'élasticité des applications dans le cloud. Cependant, l'état de l'art montre que les solutions actuelles de gestion de l'élasticité sont restreintes à des applications multi-tiers tout en limitant fortement les scénarios possibles. Le cloud est effectivement un paradigme jeune et les différents acteurs du marché ont rapidement cherché à offrir l'élasticité. Si cette élasticité présente l'avantage indéniable d'apporter une mise place rapide et simple de l'élasticité, celle-ci n'obéit pas aux besoins de nombreux utilisateurs.Afin de repousser les limites actuelles de l'élasticité, les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit proposent un outil de spécification de l'élasticité nommé Vulcan. A la fois simple et complet, Vulcan montre qu'il n'existe pas de corrélation entre la complétude de la solution et la complexité de son utilisation. Basé sur une approche autonomique, Vulcan apporte les contributions suivantes : - un modèle d'applications élastiques : celui-ci permet de décrire selon un mode dit "par intention", la façon dont l'application doit évoluer au cours des reconfigurations induites par l'élasticité. Le formalisme de ce modèle est à la base de la simplicité recherchée quant à l'utilisation de la solution.- un algorithme de planification : cet algorithme permet la résolution des différents paramètres lors de l'élasticité tout en offrant une compréhension simple à l'utilisateur de Vulcan.- un prototype qui met en oeuvre l'ensemble des concepts mis en avant dans ce document.Reposant sur des principes à la fois novateurs mais également issus de solutions éprouvées, des expérimentations ont démontré tant les capacités d'intégration de Vulcan vis-à-vis de l'existant, que la viabilité des concepts proposés ou le potentiel de l'approche. Il en ressort une solution générique, sans restriction quant aux applications gérées et qui repousse les limites actuelles en matière d'élasticité
Cloud computing permits cost optimization of both deployment and maintenance applications. Thanks to the cloud, applications can be deployed and reconfigured in a few minutes. Each application can thus be continuously maintained at a fair size, so that it can continuously maintain a sufficient quality of service without using too many resources. This adaptation is achieved thanks to the feature named « elasticity ». However, the state of the art shows that current solutions for the management of elasticity are restricted to multi-tier applications and do not manage all possible scenarios. The cloud is actually a young paradigm and the various market providers manage to offer elasticity. If the provided elasticity has the undeniable advantage of being a fast and easy mean to manage basic cases, it does not address the needs of many users.To tackle the current limits of elasticity, the work presented in this manuscript propose a tool for the specification of elasticity that is named Vulcan. Besides being simple and complete, Vulcan shows that there is no correlation between the completeness of a solution for the management of elasticity and the complexity of its use. Based on an autonomous approach, Vulcan brings the following contributions :- a model for elastic applications : it is used to describe how an application should evolve over the reconfigurations induced during elasticity. This description is done at a high level said « by intension » thanks to an innovative formalism. The proposed formalism is at the basis of the Vulcan simplicity of use.- a scheduling algorithm : this algorithm resolves various parameters during elasticity while providing to the user of Vulcan an easy comprehension. - a prototype that implements all of the concepts described in this manuscript.Making use of both innovative concepts and principles from proven solutions, Vulcan has shown its capabilities to push the current limits of elasticity

The intent of this study was to examine the suicidal intentions among a select group of African American male college students. The survey drew responses and information from these students within several major categories: (1) demographic and familial background, (2) personal and male modes of feeling, and (3) conditions surrounding suicidal intentions. Twelve of the students were unique in that these characteristics were outstanding compared to the expected responses of the population: more than expected (1) lived in a single room, (2) were only children, (3) were first born, (4) had self—destructiveness and loneliness in the family, (5) had a father as a suicidal model, (6) had prolonged pain when there was loss or separation, and (7) experienced spontaneous zaniness and risk taking. Therefore, further investigation might be waranted in the area of intervention on college campuses to address and process these special areas in African American males, as well as youth generally.

Prescription drug misuse is growing among college students. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 559 full-time college students begin non-medically using prescription pain relievers every day. Within the last 12 months, nearly 12% of college students reported using prescription medications prescribed to a different person. Count It! Lock It! Drop It! is an initiative of the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition in Coffee County, Tennessee that educates the public on how prescription drug misuse can be prevented by counting, locking, and disposing of unused or expired medication. In collaboration with Count It! Lock It! Drop It! developers, a multi-pronged campaign using printed flyers and posters, residence hall door hangers, residence hall advisor t-shirts, campus yard signs, as well as digital and social media was developed and implemented in fall 2017 at East Tennessee State University. The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess exposure to the Count It! Lock It! Drop It! campaign among college students; and 2) examine perceptions and behaviors concerning medication storage and disposal among college students. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted in November-December of 2017. Study participants were recruited from a series of listservs and included students 18 years of age and older currently enrolled at the University (n=274). Study variables included if and how students were exposed to the campaign, if they possessed expired or unused medications, if they counted, locked, or disposed of medication, and the likelihood of completing these tasks. Descriptive analyses were conducted using SPSS, version 24. Students reported print materials such as flyers as the most common channel of exposure. Among students reporting unused or expired medications in their household, a small percentage locked medication in a secure location in the past 30 days (13.7%), with a smaller percentage counting medication in the past 30 days (4.8%). The most common method of disposal was to discard of medication in the household trash, while the least common was to give to a friend or family member. Only 7.7% donated medications at a live take-back event, while 23.1% donated at a permanent disposal location. Students’ intentions for counting, locking, and disposing of medications varied. More students strongly disagreed than agreed that counting medications would become part of a two-week routine. More students disagreed than agreed with placing medications in a secure location, but results were more evenly dispersed relative to those for counting medications. Students generally agreed with disposing of expired or unused medications. Overall, this study suggests printed materials are a good way to reach college students for the Count It! Lock It! Drop It! initiative, that students do not commonly count or secure medications, and that students do not agree that counting or securing medications will be part of their standard routine.

The consumption of meat and meat products has been cited as the most critical area to be addressed if we are to meet a sustainable future diet, regarding the impact on climate change and health. The numerous sustainability concerns that have been raised have stimulated calls to reduce the quantity of meat people in general eat, and have created an on-going global debate among policymakers, academics and practitioners. This research makes use of the Integrative Model of Behavioural Prediction (IMBP) in order to isolate the key determinants of what drives the intentions of middle to upper-income South Africans to engage in a meat-reduced diet (MRD). A two-phase methodology was utilised, by firstly conducting an elicitation study to identify the salient beliefs present in the population, and secondly by conducting a population survey to quantify the cognitive foundation of this behaviour. The empirical results showed that the areas of cognition which most strongly predict whether one intends to engage in an MRD were instrumental attitude, experiential attitude and injunctive norms. This study makes three primary contributions. Firstly, a theoretical contribution, through providing insight into how behavioural themes and beliefs materialise into changes in meat-consumption. Secondly, marketing practitioners can benefit from the insight offered by IMBP, which is valuable as it helps to identify what behavioural shift is required to promote MRDs. Lastly, this study contributes to the methodology utilised when applying the IMBP by applying the model to dietary behaviour, which has received comparatively less attention in the past.

Risky sexual behavior (RSB; i.e., behavior that increases the risk of contracting an STI and/or unplanned pregnancy) is common on college campuses and poses serious health risks to students. Yet, little research has examined the factors impacting students’ engagement in RSB. The current study examined the role of gender and social media in college students’ peer norms of and intentions to engage in RSB. An experimental design was used in which participants were exposed to one of four conditions (i.e., neutral or RSB content, within and without a social media platform) and then asked to report on peer norms of RSB and their own intentions to engage in RSB. Results demonstrated that, contrary to hypotheses, there was no significant interaction between experimental condition and gender in predicting descriptive norms of risky sexual behavior and intentions to engage in risky sexual behavior. Result did, however, demonstrate a main effect of gender for peer norms of RSB; female participants reported significantly higher peer norms of RSB than male participants. No other statistically significant main effects were found.

Results emphasize the ubiquity of RSB among college students and the large discrepancy between students’ peer norms of RSB and actual behavior. The significant difference between female and male students’ perceptions of peers’ engagement in RSB is an important finding in the context of inconsistent previous research on gender differences in peer norms of RSB. Possible explanations for the non-significant findings in the current study are discussed as well as implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing college students’ engagement in RSB.

Forecasts reveal an increase in the percentage of mid to older adults in the U. S. and the need of educational programs for lifelong learners. In recognition of changing demographics, the American Association of Museums urged its member institutions to place a high priority on adult programs and research into learning. While museums have experienced changes in adapting to environmental conditions and more explicit educative mission, professionals have noticed the emergence of a meaning-making, constructivist paradigm.;Previously, no study dealt with the mental constructions adults have or form as they interface with a multi-faceted museum program such as the History Forum at Colonial Williamsburg. Using a conceptual framework based on Mezirow's (1991) work, this study explored, described, documented, analyzed, and interpreted the meanings intended by program planners and constructed by audience members. Furthermore, it interpreted changes in meaning audience interviewees reported. The study was phenomenological in orientation and employed various qualitative methods, such as a questionnaire, multiple interviews, and an evaluation form.;Findings indicated that the planners wanted to provide diverse opinions so that the audience could increase their perspectives, form their own opinions, and become more intelligent contributors in dealing with modern-day problems. The audience interviewees spoke of similar program aims, but they also variously addressed finding little diversity of opinion, difficulty in expressing their opinions, and no way to take further action in their everyday lives based on what they had learned.;Whereas the content of the forum provoked participants' thoughts about the program's topic and an eighteenth-century way of thinking, it also raised concerns about race and gender and political and religious issues. Throughout the interviewees' almost paradoxical statements about similarities and differences between now and then, a strong theme emerged--namely, that there has been very little change in the last 200 years. The findings also revealed some audience interviewees' uncritical attitudes, the importance of visual materials, and the power of interpretive drama. Although inferences should not be made about other audiences, this study may be enlightening to all educators concerned with andragogical strategies and who wonder what meanings adults form from a particular program.

A rising problem for social enterprises within South Africa is that consumers tend to display mixed interests towards their marketing campaigns. The technological revolution has allowed consumers to become more adept and ethically sensitised at identifying deceptive marketing ploys. In light of the growing competition among many SSEs in attaining donations, managers of these organisations have realised the value in managing their organisations as brands. However, SSEs should remain aware of distinguishing their marketing from corporate brands. Past literature revealed that organisations which behave socially responsibly elicit more positive attitudes from consumers. Thus, SSEs adopting socially responsible marketing could allow them to be perceived as devoted towards their social missions, which could attract more volunteering and monetary donations. The study investigated the impact of branding on support intentions towards supported social enterprises: the case of The Big Issue South Africa. A descriptive research design was adopted. This included an online survey method that was used to acquire quantitative data from 200 participants in Cape Town, which was required to interpret conclusive findings to this investigation. The findings of the study were that consumer-brand relational authenticity (CBRA), brand trust, and customer-brand identification (CBI)] had a direct positive influence on support intentions. Attitude toward helping others (ATHO) was determined as a negative moderator between the relationship of CBI and support intentions. Alternatively, altruistic values were determined to not possess any moderating influence on the relationship between brand trust and support intentions. The findings therefore fill theoretical gaps on CBRA, brand trust and altruistic values that remained unexplored in the past. The study produced a conceptual framework explaining the branding factors that have the most significant impact in driving support intentions. This framework can be beneficial to managers of SSEs with regard to leveraging support from a local and international standpoint. However, marketers in the corporate field who are designated to attracting corporate social investment (CSI) can also draw on insights from the study in order to attract support for these CSI initiatives. The study is thus beneficial to corporate organisations as well.

The thesis aims to deconstruct the traditional dualities between design and use and blend the boundaries between them. It characterises design as a process that is complex, dynamic, and integral to other processes, such as use. The thesis utilises Latour's concept of the collective. Although this concept has been applied to architectural contexts in previous studies, this thesis expands the collective to include actors of use. The thesis elaborates on the inscription and description of technologies inspired by Akrich (1992). It shows how the collective is shaped and reshaped through such processes. Building parallels with previous studies, it analyses the importance of fluidity and fluid actors in de-scribing technologies and reshaping the collectives. The thesis utilises the case of Masdar City, which has been designed in the UK by the architectural and urban planning firm Foster + Partners and implemented in the Middle East, specifically in the United Arab Emirates. The thesis focuses on its first developed stage represented by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). Based on a qualitative and inductive approach, the conducted research utilises interviews and site observations with the designers, users, and other main contributors. Through this approach, the thesis reflects on the concept of sustainability that is itself contested, changeable, and vague. The thesis concludes that sustainable design processes should be seen as continuous loops between design and use. In acknowledging this, it is further suggested that concepts such as the living laboratory, which support the adaptation of designs and learning from use, are adopted at the outset in architectural production.

Cette recherche doctorale a pour objectif d'étudier le rôle des entreprises dans la réussite duprocessus d'entrée organisationnelle des nouveaux embauchés (évaluée au regard d'indicateurstels que le bien-être, la socialisation organisationnelle, l'intention de rester dans l'entreprise,etc.).Trois études ont été réalisées à partir d'une méthodologie qualitative (étude 1) et quantitative(étude 1, 2 et 3). Les principaux résultats obtenus dans la première étude (N1 = 21 recruteurset N2 = 77 nouveaux embauchés) mettent l'accent sur l'importance d'apporter des informationsclaires durant le recrutement et permettent de dégager les pratiques d'intégration et leursstratégies de mise en oeuvre les plus efficaces (eg. visites des sites de l'entreprise informelle,formations collectives, etc.). L'étude 2 consistait à identifier, à partir d'une revue de lalittérature, les composants de la qualité de vie au travail et d'en proposer uneopérationnalisation. Ainsi, une démarche de validation a été réalisée auprès de 277 salariés.L'étude 3 avait pour objectif de mettre à l'épreuve plusieurs modèles multifactoriels prédisantl'intention de rester dans l'entreprise (N = 359). Les résultats nous permettent de confirmer lerôle déterminant des entreprises dans la réussite de l'entrée organisationnelle à travers lespratiques de recrutement et d'intégration et la qualité de vie au travail.La conclusion générale de cette étude nous amène à : 1) proposer un modèle théoriqueexplicatif et multifactoriel de la réussite de l'entrée organisationnelle qui conviendrait de testerdans des recherches futures et 2) envisager des perspectives appliquées concernant laformation des recruteurs et des acteurs de l'entreprise (à leurs différents niveauxhiérarchiques) sur les éléments fondamentaux relatifs à l'entrée organisationnelle desnouveaux embauchés
This doctoral research was aimed at examining the role of companies in the success ofnewcomers' entry process into the organization (estimated through indicators such as wellbeing,organizational socialization, intent to stay in the company, etc.).Three studies were realized using a qualitative (study 1) and quantitative methodology (study1, 2 and 3). The main results of study 1 (N1 = 21 recruiters and N2 = 77 newcomers) revealedthe importance to provide clear information during the recruitment and shed in lightintegration practices and their most efficient strategies of implementation (eg. informal visitsof the sites'company, collective trainings, etc.). Study 2 was aimed at identifying, based on aliterature review, the components of the quality of work life and proposing anoperationalisation. Thus, a validation was realized on 277 employees. Study 3 was aimed totest several multifactorial models predicting the intention to stay in the company (N = 359).The results confirmed the role of companies in the success of newcomers' entry process intothe organization through the recruitment and integration practices and the quality of work life.In conclusion, this research led to 1) propose an explanatory and multifactorial theoreticalmodel of the success of organizational entry which could be tested in future researches and 2)consider applied perspectives in recruiters and companies actors (various hierarchical levels)training on fundamental elements of newcomers' organizational entry

Previous research in the activity area has found that descriptive norms can influence individual activity (Crozier, 2014; Priebe & Spink, 2014; 2015). While important, studies examining other important outcomes in the activity area have not been conducted. For example, no research has examined whether normative information can be used to influence athletes' intentions to intervene with other teammates. In an effort to address this gap in the literature, the purpose of the current experiment was to examine whether descriptive norms, that were either supported by a coach or not, would influence a player’s intentions to intervene when teammates made technical errors or did not exert enough effort. Canadian adult soccer players (N = 106) were recruited to participate in this online experimental study. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: normative (teammates intervene)/coach support, normative (teammates intervene)/coach not support, or attention control. Participants in both of the normative conditions read two short vignettes describing how the players and coach on a hypothetical soccer team responded to a teammate’s technical mistakes and lack of effort, respectively. While imagining themselves as a member of this hypothetical team, participants then rated their intentions to intervene with other members of this team. Results from ANCOVAs (controlling for previous intervening behaviour) revealed different results for intentions to intervene following technical mistakes versus lack of effort. Results for technical mistakes revealed a significant main effect for condition F(2, 102) = 4.98, p < 0.01. Post hoc results revealed that those in the normative condition that was supported by the coach reported greater intentions to intervene in the future than those in the control condition (p < 0.05, adj Cohen's d = 0.71). Conversely, intention to intervene did not differ between those in the normative condition that was not supported by the coach and those in the control group (p > 0.05, adj Cohen’s d = 0.13). There was no significant main effect for condition with respect to teammates exhibiting a lack of effort F(2, 95) = 1.82, p > 0.1). Results from this experiment provide initial evidence that descriptive norms supported by a coach may influence players' intentions to intervene when a teammate makes a mistake.

Two studies investigated the moderating effects of a series of variables on the relation between subjective norms and behavioral intentions. Study 1 probed the moderating effects of real vs. hypothetical construal of behavioral engagement on the relation between subjective norms and intentions to donate money. Contrary to hypotheses, expectations of real behavioral engagement attenuated the relation between subjective norms and behavioral intentions. In support of hypotheses, descriptive norms proved to be a more accessible source of normative information. Study 2 probed the moderating effects of experience with the target behavior and framing of the behavior for binge drinking. While there was no effect of experience with the target behavior on the descriptive norm-intention relation, experience served to attenuate the injunctive norm-intention relation. There was no effect framing of the behavior on the relation between subjective norms and behavioral intentions. While increases in social desirability lead to stronger relations between subjective norms and behavioral intentions for donating money, there were no moderating effects of social desirability on the relations when it came to drinking behaviors. There were also no moderating effects of need for cognition on the relations for either behavior.

Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Hospitality Management
Kevin R. Roberts
In 2015, 902 foodborne illness outbreaks were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resulting in 15,202 illnesses, 950 hospitalizations, and 15 deaths. Previous literature from both survey and observational studies have reported low conformity with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code guidelines. To effectively reduce foodborne illnesses, foodservice managers and food handlers must perform proper food safety behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to identify and explain the unobserved cognitive processes within food safety behavioral intention. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was utilized. First, a systematic review and meta-analyses of the existing literature were conducted to quantify statistical power better and summarize the effect sizes with conflicting studies. Then, an in-depth qualitative study was conducted to help explain the statistical results. Using existing observed cognitive variables grounded by the Theory of Planned Behavior, the key idea is that the qualitative inquiry was built on the quantitative results. Thus, the syntheses of both studies help explained the unobserved heterogeneity information. Study 1 included a total of 1,550 studies for screening with 46 records meeting the inclusion criteria for analyses. The overall random effect size (r) was 0.282 (p < 0.001) providing collective evidence that the TPB constructs predict food safety behavioral intention. Subjective norms were noted as the most influencial variable to food safety behavioral intention. Studies with employee motivational constructs tend to show the most positive effect on food safety intention relationships. However, the Theory of Planned Behavior model only explained a combined 22% of total true effect variance. Thus, a considerable amount of the variance (78%) within food safety behavioral intention is still unexplained. Study 2 used an online questionnaire to measure individual-level norms. Open-ended questions (14) helped create qualitative narrative texts for analyses and establishing a demographic profile of the participants. A total of 104 responses from foodservice and restaurant employees were documented for coding. Most participants were female, with a mean age of 36 with an average of about 11 years of foodservice industry experiences. The results indicated that employees are usually not influenced of other managers or coworker’s approval or disapproval of their behavior. Rather, their behavior is guided by an innate motivation for moral consideration and ethical reasoning. The data further indicated that participants experience injunctive (subjective) norms, but more from a retrospective formation, rather than a forward-looking expectance regarding food safety practices. Intrinsic motivation should be an important antecedent to form normative beliefs of food safety-related behaviors. The findings of the study results challenge the previous understanding of path directions regarding normative pressure. Limitations and future studies related to maximize food safety behavioral intentions were discussed.

Counterfeiting is an illegal activity that continues to boom in the 21st century. Many research studies regarding counterfeiting undertaken in the past have had a strong focus on the supply side of the industry, whereas few studies look to consumer demand and even fewer towards consumer demand for counterfeit products in an emerging African market. The aim of this research study, therefore, was to provide a descriptive analysis of the South African consumers‟ intention to purchase authentic luxury fashion brands versus counterfeit products and secondly, to examine if various demographic groupings differ in their purchase intentions. In order to achieve the research objective, an extensive literary review was conducted on the global counterfeit problem with specific focus on the South African counterfeit industry. The concept and value of branding was highlighted, followed by a discussion on consumer behaviour in conjunction with the decision-making process and the consumers‟ intention to purchase. An empirical study was conducted with UNISA students residing within the areas of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape through a mixed method approach. Qualitative research formed the first leg of the study and assisted in identifying past purchase behaviour of authentic and counterfeit luxury fashion brands. Once identified, these brands were then utilised in a quantitative survey to satisfy the research objectives. The results of this research study indicate that South African consumers‟ have a high intention to purchase authentic luxury fashion brands versus a low intention to purchase counterfeit products.
Business Management
M. Com. (Business Management)

Through a post-test only design, students’ knowledge and behavioral intentions toward their peers with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) were investigated. Students were shown a video that provided them with factual information about AD/HD. The experimental group viewed a video that contained descriptions of personal experiences (e.g., seductive information) in addition to factual information, while the control group received factual information only. Results show that adding descriptions of personal experiences to facts about AD/HD may be enough to enhance learning, but may not be enough to change behavioral intentions. On the knowledge scale, there is an interaction between the two knowledge-question categories (those addressed with facts only and facts with descriptions of personal experiences) and both experimental and control groups. This effect was such that the experimental group had a higher score on the knowledge-question category that addressed the descriptions of personal experiences than those addressed by facts only. Future researchers should focus on eliminating ceiling effects caused by inadequate measures and exploring the causal mechanisms behind the interaction.