Knowledge and policy action in urban development: if we know so much, why is the urban condition not improving?

In spite of the wealth generation potential of the world's large metropolitan cities, poor living conditions for much of the world's urban population persist. Although the city has been widely studied, urban policy often remains ineffective. The paper adopts a policy process approach to analyze the relationship between knowledge and governmental action. Impediments to improving urban policy are found in the inadequate capacity of government to act and in the politics of democratic decision-making. The paper recommends that a pragmatic view of knowledge generation be adopted.

Knowledge cities: a taxonomy for analyzing software and information service clusters

Software and information services (SIS) have become a field of increasing opportunities for international trade due to the worldwide diffusion of a combination of technological and organizational innovations. In several regions, the software industry is organized in clusters, usually referred to as "knowledge cities" because of the growing importance of knowledge-intensive services in their economy. This paper has two primary objectives. First, it raises three major questions related to the attractiveness of different cities in Argentina and Brazil for hosting software companies and to their impact on local development. Second, a new taxonomy is proposed for grouping clusters according to their dominant business segment, ownership pattern and scope of operations. The purpose of this taxonomy is to encourage further studies and provide an exploratory analytical tool for analyzing software clusters.

WHAT IS THE USE OF A SINGLE-CASE STUDY IN MANAGEMENT RESEARCH?

The purpose of this article is to present a defense of the use of single case studies in management research. The defense is necessary because this type of research has been relegated to a secondary role, or even rejected, by many researchers, who consider it unscientific. Evidence of this low status is the fact that most reputable academic journals in management publish few articles based on single-case studies. In this paper, we examine in detail the objections to the use of such cases in management research. We show the efforts made by some researchers to answer these objections and we show quality criteria for research that are alternatives to the criteria used in the so-called "scientific method." Our analysis suggests that a better understanding - by researchers with different methodological preferences - of the arguments for each particular use of the single-case study as a research method would allow a better dialogue between researchers and benefit management research as a whole.

Network dynamics in scientific knowledge acquisition: an analysis in three public universities in the state of Bahia

This paper aims to cast some light on the dynamics of knowledge networks in developing countries by analyzing the scientific production of the largest university in the Northeast of Brazil and its influence on some of the remaining regional research institutions in the state of Bahia. Using a methodology test to be employed in a larger project, the Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA) (Federal University of Bahia), the Universidade do Estado da Bahia (Uneb) (State of Bahia University) and the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (Uesc)'s (Santa Cruz State University) scientific productions are discussed in one of their most traditionally expressive sectors in academic production - namely, the field of chemistry, using social network analysis of co-authorship networks to investigate the existence of small world phenomena and the importance of these phenomena in research performance in these three universities. The results already obtained through this research bring to light data of considerable interest concerning the scientific production in unconsolidated research universities. It shows the important participation of the UFBA network in the composition of the other two public universities research networks, indicating a possible occurrence of small world phenomena in the UFBA and Uesc networks, as well as the importance of individual researchers in consolidating research networks in peripheral universities. The article also hints that the methodology employed appears to be adequate insofar as scientific production may be used as a proxy for scientific knowledge.

Ultrapassando as dificuldades da dislexia através da arte

Resumo: A intervenção em crianças disléxicas nem sempre é fácil uma vez que, à partida, serão crianças desmotivadas por insucessos repetidos, complexos de inferioridade, timidez, baixa autoconfiança e auto-estima, com pouca capacidade de atenção e concentração. A família, a escola e a sociedade em geral têm um papel decisivo, não deverão exigir nem impor metas complicadas, adaptando sempre uma postura de compreensão da criança. A criança disléxica aprende num ritmo diferente, como tal, precisa que a escola adeqúe as suas práticas educativas tendo em conta as suas características e especificidades. Pretende-se com este trabalho aprofundar conhecimentos sobre a temática da dislexia e sua aplicação, dentro da sala de aula, na disciplina Educação Visual e Tecnológica, numa turma do 2º Ciclo do Ensino Básico que inclui uma aluna considerada disléxica. Começámos por caracterizar a turma, a aluna e os contextos envolventes em que as mesmas se inserem, seguidamente fez-se uma intervenção estruturada, a longo e curto prazo, numa dinâmica de planificação, acção e reflexão, numa perspectiva de educação inclusiva, com práticas educativas cooperativas e diferenciadas. Ao longo das sessões de trabalho, a turma teve a oportunidade de se manifestar nas assembleias de turma, na negociação das actividades, de trabalhar em pares, em grande e pequeno grupo, criando desta forma um clima de inter-ajuda e de cooperação na sala de aula, funcionando com as duas professoras da disciplina, partilhando momentos de aprendizagem e socialização de saberes. A aluna considerada disléxica passou a interagir na turma com os colegas, de forma positiva, e estes com ela. As suas dificuldades foram superadas com a ajuda dos colegas, partilhando os seus saberes, dúvidas e experiências. Foi uma experiência positiva para o grupo, para a aluna e para as professoras da turma. Abstract: The intervention in dyslexic children is not always easy from the start, a priori, children will be discouraged by repeated failures, inferiority complexes, shyness, low selfconfidence and self- esteem, with little attention span and concentration. The family, school and society in general have a decisive role, should not require or impose complicated goals, always adapting an attitude of understanding of the child. The dyslexic children learn at a different pace, as such, requires the school to adjust its educational practices in view of their characteristics and specificities. The aim of this work to deepen knowledge on the subject of dyslexia and its application in the classroom, Visual and Technological Education as the subject, in a class of the 2nd Cycle of Basic Education that includes a student considered dyslexic. We have began by characterizing the class, the student and the surrounding contexts in which they are involved, then became a structured intervention in the long and short term, in order of creating a dynamic planning, action and reflection, with a inclusive education perspective, with cooperative practical education and differentiated. During the work seasons, the class had the opportunity to express themselves in class meetings, the negotiation activities, working in pairs, in large and small groups, thus creating a climate of mutual help and cooperation in the classroom, working with two teachers of the subject, sharing moments of learning and socialization of knowledge. The student consider as dyslexic has started to interact in the class with the colleagues in a positive way, and they with her. Their difficulties were overcome with the help of colleagues, sharing their knowledge, doubts and experiences. It was a positive experience for the group, to the student and the teachers of the class.

Colmatando as dificuldades especificas do grupo e com o grupo no jardim de infância

RESUMO: Este trabalho é um relatório de um projecto de investigação-acção, no âmbito do Mestrado em Ciências da Educação - Educação Especial: domínio cognitivo e motor. É um trabalho de investigação que pretendeu implicar os vários intervenientes educativos e os próprios pares no desenvolvimento de uma criança, em idade pré-escolar, com atraso global do desenvolvimento e com problemas acentuados ao nível da linguagem, em contexto de sala de aula. Este trabalho foi realizado pela educadora da sala da aula. É um projecto que pretendeu promover o desenvolvimento da linguagem, através de um sistema de comunicação aumentativa, vocabulário Makaton. Este vocabulário foi utilizado por nós e pelas crianças do grupo em sala de aula, pela professora de educação especial, pelos técnicos que dão apoio à criança e pela família da referida criança. Pretendeu-se assim, promover o diálogo, a partilha de conhecimentos e os espaços escolares, entre os vários intervenientes educativos; professores, técnicos e família, com o intuito de desenvolver um trabalho assente em respostas inclusivas dirigidas à criança, aos seus pares e à sua família. Da partilha de conhecimentos e opiniões, resultou um trabalho para o grupo e com o grupo do jardim de infância. ABSTRACT:This work is one report of an action research project within the Master’s Degree in Educational Sciences - Special Education: motor and cognitive domain. It is a research project that seeks to highlight the role of the educational actors in the development of a child in preschool, with global developmental delay, with problems more pronounced at the level of language, in the context of the classroom. This work was carried out by the educator's classroom is a project that aims to promote language development through an augmentative communication system, Makaton vocabulary. This vocabulary was used by us and by the group of children in the classroom, the teacher of special education, by giving technical support to the child and the family of that child. It was intended thus to promote dialogue, knowledge sharing and school spaces between the various educational actors, teachers, coaches and family in order to develop a work based on inclusive responses directed to the child, their peers and his family . Sharing knowledge and opinions resulted in a job for the group and the group of kindergarten.

Inovação escolar e organização curricular

RESUMO: O presente estudo teve como objectivo investigar os principais impedimentos que ocorrem nos estabelecimentos de ensino relativamente à aplicabilidade dos Programas Nacionais de Educação Física (PNEF). Considerando as particularidades do grupo disciplinar, as instalações da escola ou o meio cultural envolvente, pretende-se perceber as razões para que no panorama nacional, a grande maioria das escolas resista a esse processo de mudança, não criando condições para o desenvolvimento de iguais oportunidades na disciplina de educação física no currículo de todos os alunos. Este estudo ambiciona ser um contributo para que a educação física (EF) dê um passo no desenvolvimento qualitativo da realidade educativa, ao destacar os pontos comuns e mais importantes reunidos nas escolas de referência que aplicam os PNEF. A metodologia desenvolvida apresenta duas fases na análise de dados, sendo que a primeira extrai os pontos em comum e personalizados do grupo de professores entrevistados pertencentes ao grupo A, constituído pelos autores dos PNEF e por uma especialista na área de desenvolvimento curricular. A segunda fase, segue a lógica anterior para o grupo B, grupo que reúne professores em contacto directo no dia-a-dia das escolas. A consciência e o conhecimento dos problemas apresentados nas escolas que não seguem os programas, torna-se importante pois possibilita a procura de soluções para esses mesmos problemas. Desta forma será possível desenvolver as inovações escolares, proporcionando aos alunos a oportunidade de crescer no seio das inúmeras qualidades que a disciplina de educação física pode oferecer e desenvolver. Um crescimento baseado na autonomia, na cooperação e no desenvolvimento de hábitos de vida saudável enquanto futuros cidadãos. ABSTRACT: This study aimed to investigate the main issues that prevent the physical education programs to be applied on the Portuguese schools. Considering the disciplinary group particularities, the school facilities or the environment, we intend to understand the reasons that may explain why the majority of the Portuguese schools resist to this change process, not creating conditions for the development of equal opportunities on the physical education of every student. This study intend to be a contribute for the physical education development on the educational reality, highlighting the common factors of the reference schools that apply the physical education programs. The method integrates two phases of development: the first one extracts the common and custom factors between the Group A professors, consisting of physical education programs authors and one expert in the field of curriculum development. The second phase follows the previous logic for the Group B, a group that meets professors with direct contact of schools day-to-day. The consciousness and knowledge about the existing problems in schools that don‟t apply physical education programs it‟s important, because it enables the search for solutions. This will allow innovations development, giving students the opportunity to grow within the many qualities that the discipline of physical education can provide and develop. Growth based on autonomy, cooperation and development of healthy lifestyle habits as future citizens.

A gestão do conhecimento na administração pública municipal em Curitiba com a aplicação do método OKA - Organizational Knowledge Assessment

O presente artigo objetiva analisar como a gestão do conhecimento se manifesta na administração pública da Prefeitura Municipal de Curitiba; para tanto, buscou-se a aplicação do método Organizational Knowledge Assessment (OKA), criado pelo Banco Mundial e organizado pela Escola Nacional de Administração Pública (Enap). No que tange aos procedimentos metodológicos, utilizou-se o estudo de caso como instrumento de pesquisa e coleta dos dados. Como resultado, identificaram-se o processo de avaliação organizacional, indicando as similaridades e distinções do desenvolvimento do método de cada área-fim, e a importância de implantar sistematicamente um processo de avaliação aliado ao planejamento da organização pública com estratégias para disseminar, compartilhar e aplicar o conhecimento produzido.

Health knowledge of prostitutes in Saigon, Vietnam: a study of health attitudes and habits relating to venereal diseases taken from a group of prostitutes

A study of health knowledge and practices of prostitutes is presented here. The study took place at the V. D. Center in Saigon, Vietnam. It was designed with the objective of obtaining information to be used in preparing an educational program to be offered to the prostitutes at the Center, and for using, in preparing educational materials with focus on V. D. prevention. The outline of a course is also presented.

Learning and Knowledge in the Context of Absorptive Capacity

Develop a new model of Absorptive Capacity taking into account two variables namely Learning and knowledge to explain how companies transform information into knowledge

Web 2.0 and its impact on knowledge and business organizations

Today, information overload and the lack of systems that enable locating employees with the right knowledge or skills are common challenges that large organisations face. This makes knowledge workers to re-invent the wheel and have problems to retrieve information from both internal and external resources. In addition, information is dynamically changing and ownership of data is moving from corporations to the individuals. However, there is a set of web based tools that may cause a major progress in the way people collaborate and share their knowledge. This article aims to analyse the impact of ‘Web 2.0’ on organisational knowledge strategies. A comprehensive literature review was done to present the academic background followed by a review of current ‘Web 2.0’ technologies and assessment of their strengths and weaknesses. As the framework of this study is oriented to business applications, the characteristics of the involved segments and tools were reviewed from an organisational point of view. Moreover, the ‘Enterprise 2.0’ paradigm does not only imply tools but also changes the way people collaborate, the way the work is done (processes) and finally impacts on other technologies. Finally, gaps in the literature in this area are outlined.

Building a knowledge and learning society in Portugal: adult students in technological schools and higher education institutions

Lifelong learning (LLL) has received increasing attention in recent years. It implies that learning should take place at all stages of the “life cycle and it should be life-wide, that is embedded in all life contexts from the school to the work place, the home and the community” (Green, 2002, p.613). The ‘learning society’, is the vision of a society where there are recognized opportunities for learning for every person, wherever they are and however old they happen to be. Globalization and the rise of new information technologies are some of the driving forces that cause depreciation of specialised competences. This happens very quickly in terms of economic value; consequently, workers of all skills levels, during their working life, must have the opportunity to update “their technical skills and enhance general skills to keep pace with continuous technological change and new job requirements” (Fahr, 2005, p. 75). It is in this context that LLL tops the policy agenda of international bodies, national governments and non-governmental organizations, in the field of education and training, to justify the need for LLL opportunities for the population as they face contemporary employability challenges. It is in this context that the requirement and interest to analyse the behaviour patterns of adult learners has developed over the last few years