Comunicazione d'impresa in Alto Adige: Indagine sulle strategie di gestione del multilinguismo nelle PMI insediate in un territorio di contatto linguistico

La ricerca sulla comunicazione e gestione multilingue della conoscenza in azienda si è sinora concentrata sulle multinazionali o PMI in fase di globalizzazione. La presente ricerca riguarda invece le PMI in zone storicamente multilingui al fine di studiare se l’abitudine all’uso di lingue diverse sul mercato locale possa rappresentare un vantaggio competitivo. La tesi illustra una ricerca multimetodo condotta nel 2012-2013 in Alto Adige/Südtirol. Il dataset consiste in 443 risposte valide a un questionario online e 23 interviste con manager e imprenditori locali. Le domande miravano a capire come le aziende altoatesine affrontino la sfida del multilinguismo, con particolare attenzione ai seguenti ambiti: comunicazione multilingue, documentazione, traduzione e terminologia. I risultati delineano un quadro generale delle strategie di multilinguismo applicate in Alto Adige, sottolineandone punti di forza e punti deboli. Nonostante la presenza di personale multilingue infatti il potenziale vantaggio competitivo che ne deriva non è sfruttato appieno: le aziende si rivolgono ai mercati in cui si parla la loro stessa lingua (le imprese a conduzione italiana al mercato nazionale, quelle di lingua tedesca ad Austria e Germania). La comunicazione interna è multilingue solo nei casi in sia imprescindibile. Le “traduzioni fai-da-te” offrono l’illusione di gestire lingue diverse, ma il livello qualitativo rimane limitato. I testi sono sovente tradotti da personale interno privo di competenze specifiche. Anche nella cooperazione con i traduttori esterni si evidenza la mancata capacità di ottenere il massimo profitto dagli investimenti. La tesi propone delle raccomandazioni pratiche volte a ottimizzare i processi attuali e massimizzare la resa delle risorse disponibili per superare la sfida della gestione e comunicazione multilingue. Le raccomandazioni non richiedono investimenti economici di rilievo e sono facilmente trasferibili anche ad altre regioni multilingui/di confine, come ad altre PMI che impiegano personale plurilingue. Possono dunque risultare utili per un elevato numero di imprese.

Systems medicine and integrated care to combat chronic noncommunicable diseases

We propose an innovative, integrated, cost-effective health system to combat major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular, chronic respiratory, metabolic, rheumatologic and neurologic disorders and cancers, which together are the predominant health problem of the 21st century. This proposed holistic strategy involves comprehensive patient-centered integrated care and multi-scale, multi-modal and multi-level systems approaches to tackle NCDs as a common group of diseases. Rather than studying each disease individually, it will take into account their intertwined gene-environment, socio-economic interactions and co-morbidities that lead to individual-specific complex phenotypes. It will implement a road map for predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory (P4) medicine based on a robust and extensive knowledge management infrastructure that contains individual patient information. It will be supported by strategic partnerships involving all stakeholders, including general practitioners associated with patient-centered care. This systems medicine strategy, which will take a holistic approach to disease, is designed to allow the results to be used globally, taking into account the needs and specificities of local economies and health systems.

Exploring the effectiveness of development research with a monitoring and learning approach

There is a growing demand for better understanding of the link between research, policy and practice in development. This article provides findings from a study that aimed to gain insights into how researchers engage with their non-academic partners. It draws on experiences from the National Centre of Competence in Research North-South programme, a development research network of Swiss, African, Asian and Latin American institutions. Conceptually, this study is concerned with research effectiveness as a means to identify knowledge useful for society. Research can be improved and adapted when monitoring the effects of interactions between researchers and non-academic partners. Therefore, a monitoring and learning approach was chosen. This study reveals researchers' strategies in engaging with non-academic partners and points to framing conditions considered decisive for soccessful interactions. It concludes that reserachrs need to systematically analyse the socio-political context in which they intervene. By providing insights from the ground and reflecting on them in the light of the latest theoretical concepts, this article contributes to the emerging literature founded on practice-based experience.

Reshaping Rural Extension: Learning for Sustainability (LforS): An Integrative and Learning-Based Advisory Approach for Rural Extension with Small-Scale Farmers

This publication offers concrete suggestions for implementing an integrative and learning-oriented approach to agricultural extension with the goal of fostering sustainable development. It targets governmental and non-governmental organisations, development agencies, and extension staff working in the field of rural development. The book looks into the conditions and trends that influence extension today, and outlines new challenges and necessary adaptations. It offers a basic reflection on the goals, the criteria for success and the form of a state-of-the-art approach to extension. The core of the book consists of a presentation of Learning for Sustainability (LforS), an example of an integrative, learning-oriented approach that is based on three crucial elements: stakeholder dialogue, knowledge management, and organizational development. Awareness raising and capacity building, social mobilization, and monitoring & evaluation are additional building blocks. The structure and organisation of the LforS approach as well as a selection of appropriate methods and tools are presented. The authors also address key aspects of developing and managing a learning-oriented extension approach. The book illustrates how LforS can be implemented by presenting two case studies, one from Madagascar and one from Mongolia. It addresses conceptual questions and at the same time it is practice-oriented. In contrast to other extension approaches, LforS does not limit its focus to production-related aspects and the development of value chains: it also addresses livelihood issues in a broad sense. With its focus on learning processes LforS seeks to create a better understanding of the links between different spheres and different levels of decision-making; it also seeks to foster integration of the different actors’ perspectives.

Onlinestudie: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten im Web 2.0

Das Web 2.0 eröffnet Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern neue Möglichkeiten mit Wissen und Informationen umzugehen: Das Recherchieren von Informationen und Quellen, der Austausch von Wissen mit anderen, das Verwalten von Ressourcen und das Erstellen von eigenen Inhalten im Web ist einfach und kostengünstig möglich. Dieser Artikel thematisiert die Bedeutung des Web 2.0 für den Umgang mit Wissen und Informationen und zeigt auf, wie durch die Kooperation vieler Einzelner das Schaffen von neuem Wissen und von Innovationen möglich wird. Diskutiert werden der Einfluss des Web 2.0 auf die Wissenschaft und mögliche Vor- und Nachteile der Nutzung. Außerdem wird ein kurzer Überblick über Studien gegeben, die die Nutzung des Web 2.0 in der Gesamtbevölkerung untersuchen. Im empirischen Teil des Artikels werden Methode und Ergebnisse der Befragungsstudie „Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten im Web 2.0“ vorgestellt. Befragt wurden Nachwuchswissenschaftlerinnen und Nachwuchswissenschaftler in Deutschland zur Nutzung des Web 2.0 für die eigene wissenschaftliche Arbeit. Dabei zeigt sich, dass insbesondere die Wikipedia von einem Großteil der Befragten intensiv bis sehr intensiv für den Einstieg in die Recherche verwendet wird. Die aktive Nutzung des Web 2.0, z.B. durch das Schreiben eines eigenen Blogs oder dem Mitarbeiten bei der Online-Enzyklopädie Wikipedia ist bis jetzt noch gering. Viele Dienste sind unbekannt oder werden eher skeptisch beurteilt, der lokale Desktopcomputer wurde noch nicht vom Web als zentraler Speicherort abgelöst.

Social-Software-Portfolios im Einsatz

Die Dissertationsschrift widmet sich der Erforschung des Online-Lernens mittels Weblogs unter Anwendung der E-Portfolio Methode als einer seit mehreren Jahren verstärkt aufkommenden Lern- und Präsentationsform im Bildungskontext. Über mehrere Lehrveranstaltungen des Studiengangs "Angewandte Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaft" an der Technischen Universität Ilmenau hinweg wurden drei Fallstudien gebildet. Innerhalb dieser wurde das Führen von eigenen E-Portfolio Blogs durch Studierende über einen Zeitraum von etwa drei Jahren evaluiert. Als Evaluationsziel wurde anhand spezifischer Fragestellungen ermittelt, wie das damit einhergehende selbstgesteuert-konnektive Lernen zu entsprechendem Erfolg führen kann. Hierbei wurde insbesondere die Teildimension Medienkompetenz im Spannungsfeld von Lernaktivität, Wissenserwerb und Informations-/Wissensmanagement betrachtet sowie weitere intervenierende Variablen, wie zum Beispiel Aufwand oder Akzeptanz, berücksichtigt. Inhaltlich wurden zunächst begriffliche Grundlagen dargestellt, die Nutzung von E-Portfolios in Theorie und Praxis beschrieben, Medienkompetenz-Ansätze detailliert aufgezeigt sowie in den Kontext von E-Portfolios gebracht und schließlich eine umfangreiche Analyse des Forschungsstandes aufbereitet. Diese gingen mit Erkenntnissen aus einer qualitativen Vorstudie in Form von fünf leitfadengestützten Experteninterviews einher. Die darauf aufbauende Hauptstudie widmete sich anschließend der Erhebung und Auswertung quantitativer Daten anhand von Online-Befragungen mit den Studierenden zu fünf Zeitpunkten aus intra- und interindividueller Perspektive. Als markanteste empirische Erkenntnis der Arbeit kann festgehalten werden, dass es durch das selbstgesteuert-konnektive Lernen mit E-Portfolio Blogs zu einer nachhaltigen Förderung der Medienkompetenz kommt, die sich auch in signifikanten Zusammenhängen mit den anderen Teildimensionen und intervenierenden Variablen widerspiegelt. Darüber hinaus bieten sich aber auch Potenziale für eine steigende Lernaktivität, einen ansteigenden Wissenserwerb und ein verbessertes Informations-/Wissensmanagement, die es aber noch weiterführend zu erforschen gilt. Demgegenüber können allerdings der entstehende und kontinuierlich hohe Aufwand sowie die erforderliche (Eigen-) Motivation als entscheidende Herausforderungen dieser Lernmethode identifiziert werden.

Semantic Methods for Intelligent Distributed Design Environments

Continuous advancements in technology have led to increasingly comprehensive and distributed product development processes while in pursuit of improved products at reduced costs. Information associated with these products is ever changing, and structured frameworks have become integral to managing such fluid information. Ontologies and the Semantic Web have emerged as key alternatives for capturing product knowledge in both a human-readable and computable manner. The primary and conclusive focus of this research is to characterize relationships formed within methodically developed distributed design knowledge frameworks to ultimately provide a pervasive real-time awareness in distributed design processes. Utilizing formal logics in the form of the Semantic Web’s OWL and SWRL, causal relationships are expressed to guide and facilitate knowledge acquisition as well as identify contradictions between knowledge in a knowledge base. To improve the efficiency during both the development and operational phases of these “intelligent” frameworks, a semantic relatedness algorithm is designed specifically to identify and rank underlying relationships within product development processes. After reviewing several semantic relatedness measures, three techniques, including a novel meronomic technique, are combined to create AIERO, the Algorithm for Identifying Engineering Relationships in Ontologies. In determining its applicability and accuracy, AIERO was applied to three separate, independently developed ontologies. The results indicate AIERO is capable of consistently returning relatedness values one would intuitively expect. To assess the effectiveness of AIERO in exposing underlying causal relationships across product development platforms, a case study involving the development of an industry-inspired printed circuit board (PCB) is presented. After instantiating the PCB knowledge base and developing an initial set of rules, FIDOE, the Framework for Intelligent Distributed Ontologies in Engineering, was employed to identify additional causal relationships through extensional relatedness measurements. In a conclusive PCB redesign, the resulting “intelligent” framework demonstrates its ability to pass values between instances, identify inconsistencies amongst instantiated knowledge, and identify conflicting values within product development frameworks. The results highlight how the introduced semantic methods can enhance the current knowledge acquisition, knowledge management, and knowledge validation capabilities of traditional knowledge bases.

Micro-blogging adoption in the enterprise: an empirical analysis

Given the increasing interest in using social software for company-internal communication and collaboration, this paper examines drivers and inhibitors of micro-blogging adoption at the workplace. While nearly one in two companies is currently planning to introduce social software, there is no empirically validated research on employees’ adoption. In this paper, we build on previous focus group results and test our research model in an empirical study using Structural Equation Modeling. Based on our findings, we derive recommendations on how to foster adoption. We suggest that micro-blogging should be presented to employees as an efficient means of communication, personal brand building, and knowledge management. In order to particularly promote content contribution, privacy concerns should be eased by setting clear rules on who has access to postings and for how long they will be archived.

Agroecosystem resilience and farmers’ perceptions of climate change impacts on cocoa farms in Alto Beni, Bolivia

Cocoa-based small-scale agriculture is the most important source of income for most farming families in the region of Alto Beni in the sub-humid foothills of the Andes. Cocoa is grown in cultivation systems of varying ecological complexity. The plantations are highly susceptible to climate change impacts. Local cocoa producers mention heat waves, droughts, floods and plant diseases as the main impacts affecting plants and working conditions, and they associate these impacts with global climate change. From a sustainable regional development point of view, cocoa farms need to become more resilient in order to cope with the climate change related effects that are putting cocoa-based livelihoods at risk. This study assesses agroecosystem resilience under three different cocoa cultivation systems (successional agroforestry, simple agroforestry and common practice monocultures). In a first step, farmers’ perceptions of climate change impacts were assessed and eight indicators of agroecological resilience were derived in a transdisciplinary process (focus groups and workshop) based on farmers’ and scientists’ knowledge. These indicators (soil organic matter, depth of Ah horizon, soil bulk density, tree species diversity, crop varieties diversity, ant species diversity, cocoa yields and infestation of cocoa trees with Moniliophthora perniciosa) were then surveyed on 15 cocoa farms and compared for the three different cultivation systems. Parts of the socio-economic aspects of resilience were covered by evaluating the role of cocoa cooperatives and organic certification in transitioning to more resilient cocoa farms (interviews with 15 cocoa farmers combined with five expert interviews). Agroecosystem resilience was higher under the two agroforestry systems than under common practice monoculture, especially under successional agroforestry. Both agroforestry systems achieved higher cocoa yields than common practice monoculture due to agroforestry farmers’ enhanced knowledge regarding cocoa cultivation. Knowledge sharing was promoted by local organizations facilitating organic certification. These organizations were thus found to enhance the social process of farmers’ integration into cooperatives and their reorientation toward organic principles and diversified agroforestry.

The Interaction Between Forest Fires and Human Activity in Southern Switzerland

The impact of human activities on the fire regime in southern Switzerland was studied using (pre)historical charcoal and pollen data from lake sediments and statistical data from the 20th century. The cultural impact on forest fire was established by correlating charcoal-influx data with pollen percentages of anthropogenic indicators such as Plantago lanceolata, the Cerealia (sum of Avena t., Triticum t. and Hordeum t.) and Secale. During the 20th century, fire frequency was correlated with precipitation, dry and very dry periods and landscape management indicators. The effects of human activity on the fire regime are clearly recognisable since at least the Neolithic period. Using palaeoecological or statistical data, the variations in fire regime originating from anthropogenic actions may be differentiated from those due to climatic changes if they are sufficiently conspicuous.

Classification criteria and commercial profile re-definition of the Family Farm Agriculture in Chile, Maule region

In Chile, small-scale farmers are classified according to old approaches from 1993 that do not include changes occurred in the last two decades. Maule is the region with most rural population in Chile which represents a significant stratum for development, innovation and competitiveness. This study explores a new approach of small-scale farmers -associated with Family Farm Agriculture (AFC) - classification in Chile and it describes a commercial profile or AFC-1 for famers of the Maule Region. A Cluster analysis to determine AFC-1 farmers is used. The analysis includes four association variables: Total Assets, Farm Income, Production Costs and Management Indicators. The results suggest that 16.4% of the farmers have a commercial profile and they could stay out support provided by the National Institute for Agricultural Development (INDAP). This group of farmers would not belong to AFC in short terms. This fact could bring restriction to AFC-1 farmers such as lack of credit access, less investment incentives and technical assistance. Thus, it would expect low process of technology adoption and welfare improvement. New agrarian policies must be warranted to support this important group of famers with a commercial profile.

La gestión del conocimiento en las Bibliotecas Universitarias : ¿El qué, cómo y para qué?

El presente artículo tiene como propósito proponer la incorporación de la teoría administrativa denominada Gestión del Conocimiento (GC), en Bibliotecas Universitarias (BU). ¿El qué, el cómo y el para qué? Representa un reto de gestión que conlleva a la implementación de diversas estrategias para el cambio y la innovación (ECI). Hipotéticamente, el diseño de estrategias de gestión posibilita que la BU en los escenarios competitivos de la sociedad de conocimiento y el tercer entorno desarrolle nuevas competencias y directrices para el aprovechamiento de sus diversos recursos con eficiencia y logren alcanzar sus objetivos con eficacia. La innovación es otra de las variables que posibilita la transformación de los servicios que son ofertados a los usuarios, también denominados "socios estratégicos", bajo la visión de creatividad, sustentabilidad y bienestar

Comunidades y redes académicas en los ecosistemas de conocimiento

El artículo presenta una reflexión sobre el significado del trabajo en red para las comunidades académicas. La actuación en red se presenta como una alternativa para el fortalecimiento de los campos de conocimiento ante la emergencia de la cultura digital y los embates de otros modos de producción de saberes que compiten con los propósitos de los colectivos universitarios. El trabajo en red al desarrollarse en entornos digitales cuenta con sistemas de soporte como nunca los hubo antes, pero los desafíos son muchos, tanto para quienes deban aprender a habitar estos entornos y utilizar sus herramientas, como para quienes deban desarrollar tecnologías que faciliten la comunicación con la disposición de herramientas dialógicas en el núcleo de los ecosistemas de conocimiento. Se ofrece una compilación de estrategias dialógicas y herramientas útiles para el trabajo colaborativo en grupos académicos, así como una aproximación al concepto de competencia cibercultural, como una capacidad que atraviesa la gestión de la información y del conocimiento desde una perspectiva comunicativa.

La gestión del conocimiento en las Bibliotecas Universitarias : ¿El qué, cómo y para qué?

El presente artículo tiene como propósito proponer la incorporación de la teoría administrativa denominada Gestión del Conocimiento (GC), en Bibliotecas Universitarias (BU). ¿El qué, el cómo y el para qué? Representa un reto de gestión que conlleva a la implementación de diversas estrategias para el cambio y la innovación (ECI). Hipotéticamente, el diseño de estrategias de gestión posibilita que la BU en los escenarios competitivos de la sociedad de conocimiento y el tercer entorno desarrolle nuevas competencias y directrices para el aprovechamiento de sus diversos recursos con eficiencia y logren alcanzar sus objetivos con eficacia. La innovación es otra de las variables que posibilita la transformación de los servicios que son ofertados a los usuarios, también denominados "socios estratégicos", bajo la visión de creatividad, sustentabilidad y bienestar

Comunidades y redes académicas en los ecosistemas de conocimiento

El artículo presenta una reflexión sobre el significado del trabajo en red para las comunidades académicas. La actuación en red se presenta como una alternativa para el fortalecimiento de los campos de conocimiento ante la emergencia de la cultura digital y los embates de otros modos de producción de saberes que compiten con los propósitos de los colectivos universitarios. El trabajo en red al desarrollarse en entornos digitales cuenta con sistemas de soporte como nunca los hubo antes, pero los desafíos son muchos, tanto para quienes deban aprender a habitar estos entornos y utilizar sus herramientas, como para quienes deban desarrollar tecnologías que faciliten la comunicación con la disposición de herramientas dialógicas en el núcleo de los ecosistemas de conocimiento. Se ofrece una compilación de estrategias dialógicas y herramientas útiles para el trabajo colaborativo en grupos académicos, así como una aproximación al concepto de competencia cibercultural, como una capacidad que atraviesa la gestión de la información y del conocimiento desde una perspectiva comunicativa.