Framing the socialisation process of the DBA candidate : what can universities offer and what should candidates bring?

In Australia, the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) remainsa popular program but considerable anguish persists within theuniversity sector over just what it is offering students. In thisarticle, we use the process of postgraduate socialisation tounderstand how candidates, supervisors and administratorsnavigate pathways to successful completion and offering of a DBAprogram. We identify four modes of knowledge applicable to theDBA and suggest that universities and candidates may draw onone another’s cultural capital to determine which mode(s) can beoffered. We also illustrate how candidates exercise agencythrough their cultural and social capital as they move through theprogram. We present a conceptual framework to help guidefuture research, and resource allocation on the DBA.

Using business intelligence to support the process of organizational sensemaking

Making sense of an organization overwhelmed with data becomes a problem for decision makers at all levels of business planning and operation. Although scholars have suggested several technological solutions such as business intelligence as being useful in helping busy executives to make decisions, we still know little about assisting business stakeholders in the process of understanding their organizational complexity before such decisions could even be formulated. In this paper, we investigate the opportunities in using BI technologies to make sense of a business environment. We analyze the views and opinions of developers, analysts, consultants, and users of business intelligence, who are experienced in using the technology beyond decision making to support organizational sensemaking. Our results highlight the need for creating and maintaining individual; and organizational identity and enacting this identity on the business and its environment.

Using business intelligence to support the process of organizational sensemaking.

Morteza’s thesis investigated the opportunities in using BI technologies to make sense of a business environment. The results of his research highlighted the need for creating and maintaining an identity for Business Intelligence at both individual and organizational level and enacting this identity on the business and its environment.

Enhanced degradation efficiency of toluene using titania/silica photocatalysis as a regeneration process

Three kinds of titania/silica pellets were prepared using the sol-gel method with surface areas of 50.4m² g-1, 421.1m².g^-1 and 89.1m².g^-1. An annular reactor was designed and built to determine the degradation efficiency of toluene and to investigate the relationship between the adsorption and desorption-photocatalytic processes. Surface area is an important factor influencing the adsorption-photocatalytic efficiency. Higher surface areas of pellets contribute to high rates of conversion of toluene. Un-reacted toluene and reaction intermediates accumulating on their surface deactivated the titania/silica catalyst. To overcome this problem, the adsorption and regeneration process were alternated in a dual reactor system. Connecting or disconnecting the toluene feed gas enabled one reactor to adsorb toluene, while the second reactor was regenerated by photocatalysis. Using UV irradiation and titania/silica pellets with high BET surface area (421.1 m².g^-1), the alternating adsorption/regeneration processes kept the degradation efficiency of toluene at 90% after 8 hours operation. By improving the adsorption-photocatalysis efficiency, and minimising the generation and accumulation of intermediate on the surface of pellets, the method extended catalyst life and maintained a high degradation efficiency of toluene.

Degradation of VOCs using non-film titania in a hybrid process

This study reports the preparation and characterization of titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based non-film catalysts, reactor design and their utilization in a hybrid dynamic degradation of acetone and toluene. The behaviours of deactivation and regeneration of catalysts are explored as well. The regression equations of conversion rate in differing operating modes are concluded.

`Building bridges`: a case study of a collaborative research process

'Building bridges' is a metaphor we have used to describe a collaborative research process involving social work academic and senior practitioners from government and non-government child protection and family service organizations in Victoria, Australia. The purpose of the research was to develop a 'practice-generated approach to policy implementation' in child protection practice. The research sought to explore the appropriateness of social constructionist approaches for child protection practice that might enhance the existing risk paradigm. This article aims to critically evaluate the process of 'building bridges' and its outcomes, by focusing on how potential and actual differences between organizational contexts, namely universities and various serviceproviding organizations, may influence relationships between theory and practice. We critically reflect on our research process comparing it with idealized forms of collaborative research discussed in the literature.

Miscibility, crystallization κinetics and real-time small-Angle x-ray scattering investigation of the semicrystalline morphology in thermosetting polymer blends of epoxy resin and poly(ethylene oxide)

Thermosetting polymer blends of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and bisphenol-A-type epoxy resin (ER) were prepared using 4,4′-methylenebis(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline) (MCDEA) as curing agent. The miscibility and crystallization behavior of MCDEA-cured ER/PEO blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The existence of a single composition-dependent glass transition temperature (Tg) indicates that PEO is completely miscible with MCDEA-cured ER in the melt and in the amorphous state over the entire composition range. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) investigations indicated hydrogen-bonding interaction between the hydroxyl groups of MCDEA-cured ER and the ether oxygens of PEO in the blends, which is an important driving force for the miscibility of the blends. The average strength of the hydrogen bond in the cured ER/PEO blends is higher than in the pure MCDEA-cured ER. Crystallization kinetics of PEO from the melt is strongly influenced by the blend composition and the crystallization temperature. At high conversion, the time dependence of the relative degree of crystallinity deviated from the Avrami equation. The addition of a non-crystallizable ER component into PEO causes a depression of both the overall crystallization rate and the melting temperature. The surface free energy of folding σe displays a minimum with variation of composition. The spherulitic morphology of PEO in the ER/PEO blends exhibits typical characteristics of miscible crystalline/amorphous blends, and the PEO spherulites in the blends are always completely volume-filling. Real-time small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments reveal that the long period L increases drastically with increasing ER content at the same temperatures. The amorphous cured ER component segregates interlamellarly during the crystallization process of PEO because of the low chain mobility of the cured ER. A model describing the semicrystalline morphology of MCDEA-cured ER/PEO blends is proposed based on the SAXS results. The semicrystalline morphology is a stack of crystalline lamellae; the amorphous fraction of PEO, the branched ER chains and imperfect ER network are located between PEO lamellae.

Rapid determination of papaver somniferum alkaloids in process streams using monolithic column high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

We have combined high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separations using a monolithic column with acidic potassium permanganate and tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chemiluminescence detection in a rapid and highly sensitive method to monitor the process of extracting opiate alkaloids from Papaver somniferum. Due to the high flow rates allowed with the monolithic column and the inherent selectivity of the chemiluminescence reactions, the four predominant alkaloids – morphine, codeine, oripavine and thebaine – were determined in less than 2 min. The results obtained with numerous process samples compared favourable with those of the standard HPLC methodology. Limits of detection were 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ M, 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ M, 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ M and 1 × 10⁻⁹ M, for morphine, codeine, oripavine and thebaine, respectively.

Conceptual framework of the precautionary principle approach in the decision-making process

This article reviews the precautionary principle as an approach in addressing decisions with far reaching environmental consequences under scientific uncertainty. The precautionary principle is intended to assist with structuring environmentally risky decisions toward sustainable development. It responds to the lack of scientific evidence of a potential environmental problem. There is currently no framework to assist with the process indicating the areas of importance and stages of decisionmaking. This paper suggests a framework to assist with the process of decision-making for complex environmental problems. The main areas of concern are the issues relating to the costs, risks, and benefits assessments. The main stages of the framework includes; definition of the problem, analysis of the potential environmental risks, assessments of specific anticipated legal, social, economic, political, and technological impacts, review of the key players (social, organisation and government) obligations, comparison of alternatives available, determination of accountability, implementation, decision making, monitoring and control processes.

Conversion stories as shifting narratives of organizational change

This paper is concerned with how employees talk about their experiences of organizational change and focuses specifically on the construction of conversion stories. These are particularly positive narratives that consider change as a turning point in which individuals depart from an old way of life pre-change to embrace a post-change organization. In this study, employees seek conversion into management groups and report the values and philosophies of management in their narratives, thus highlighting the benefits of change while suppressing any negative aspects. This paper draws attention to the dramatic nature of the conversion story and explores the sharp distinction between the reporting of experiences prior to and after change. We also investigate the relationship between constructing conversion stories and gaining personal and career advancement at work and suggest that beneath the positive exterior of the conversion narratives lies a theme of silence, which may be related to career advancement. Our findings suggest that such stories of silence complicate the conversion story as an example of positive organizational change and discuss implications for both the theory and practice of narrative change research.

Canadian therpists' experiences while implementing the model of human occupation remotivation process

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study conducted in Quebec, Canada, with occupational therapists working in mental health. Data were gathered through self-reported narratives of four occupational therapists over the 2 years it took to implement the Remotivation Process (de las Heras, Llerena, & Kielhofner, 2003) and develop a research protocol. Through the descriptive analysis of their narratives, the positive changes this intervention approach had on clients and on occupational therapy practice are highlighted. The experience of the therapists in developing a research protocol is addressed. Finally, the research protocol evaluating the effect of the Remotivation Process on the recovery process of people with depression is presented.

Process for the production of ultrafine powders

A process for the production of ultrafine powders consisting of individual particles with sizes in the range of 1 nm to 200 nm, which is based on the mechanical milling of two or more non-reacting powders. The process includes subjecting a suitable precursor metal compound and a non-reactant diluent phased to mechanical milling which through the process of mechanical activation reduces the microstructure of the mixture of the form of nano-sized grains of the metal compound uniformly dispersed in the diluent phase. Heat treating the milled powder converts the nano-sized grains of the precursor metal compound into a desired metal oxide phase. Alternatively, the precursor metal compound may itself be an oxide phase which has the requisite milling properties to form nanograins when milled with a diluent. An ultrafine powder is produced by removing the diluent phase such that nano-sized grains of the desired metal oxide phase are left behind. The process facilitates a significant degree of control over the particle size and size distribution of the particles in the ultrafine powder by controlling the parameters of mechanical activation and heat treatment.

A hermeneutic study of pattern mining as a knowledge creation process : exploring multimedia design practices

In this paper, we discuss a special case of knowledge creation via pattern mining that was studied using a hermeneutic approach. The reported study explores the nature of knowledge creation by domain practitioners who do not communicate directly. The focus of this paper extends the traditional view of a knowledge creation process beyond organisational boundaries. The proposed knowledge creation framework explains the facilitated process of knowledge creation by its qualification, combination, socialisation, externalisation, internalisation and introspection, thus allowing the transformation of individual experience and knowledge into formalised shareable domain knowledge.

The value of experiential learning for providing a contextual understanding of the construction process

This research investigates effectiveness of real site visits within an undergraduate course. Experiential learning is a process of providing education, based on the experiences and observations of real-world examples. Some of the theory of experiential learning has been used to examine whether site visits assist the students learning experience.

The results of the research show that students generally have a positive attitude towards site visits and see them as beneficial. Although the study identified that some aspects of construction technology could be easily replaced by computer simulations and the like, other aspects of the curriculum are more effectively taught by retaining real site visits. The research was intended to provide a more structured approach to determining the value of site-based learning in construction-related courses.

A mystery to the medical world : Florence Nightingale, Rosendo Salvado and the risk of civilisation

In 1860 Florence Nightingale conducted a study on the mortality rates of indigenous children attending native colonial schools across the British Empire. Her study was driven by the question: ‘Can we civilise the natives without killing them?’ One colonial school that participated in the survey was New Norcia Benedictine mission in Western Australia. When Rosendo Salvado, the mission’s superintendent, responded, he drew on his daily encounters with the Yuat people, his statistics on the mission residents and his Benedictine philosophy of civilisation and conversion of colonised peoples. The correspondence between Salvado and Nightingale took place in the climate of intense debates about Aboriginal health, colonisation and extinction in Britain and the colonies. While many settlers and colonial observers understood Aboriginal depopulation to be the result of either the vices and diseases of unprincipled Europeans or an unstoppable destiny, whether Divine Providence or natural selection, Nightingale and Salvado shared a belief in practical solutions to what they understood to be a practical problem. Their collaboration is an example of the humanitarian opposition to the racial pessimism of Social Darwinism. They both sought to use the recently influential intellectual discipline of social statistics to support their conviction that Aborigines, if patiently and carefully handled, would survive the admittedly risky process of civilisation.