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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

A Contextual Approach To Design And Development Of Interfaces For Search Engines, Using Activity Theory As The Basis For Informing Design Decisions, Joseph A. Meloche, Li Cheng Jan 2005

A Contextual Approach To Design And Development Of Interfaces For Search Engines, Using Activity Theory As The Basis For Informing Design Decisions, Joseph A. Meloche, Li Cheng

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The goal of this study is to support the design of more effective search engines. The research presented in this chapter investigates the design of search engines in the context of information seeking
activities. This study is also informed by Activity Theory and considers Information Seeking to be a Keystone Activity. This improvement in search engine design takes into consideration the context of users, and elicits and captures users' explicit and implied requirements. The study uses Q-methodology to elicit the subjective understanding of the participants thought the phases provided by the methodology. This entails collecting, sorting and analysis of detailed …


A Contemporary Coaching Theory To Integrate Work And Life In Changing Times, Lindsay G. Oades, Peter Caputi, Paula Robinson, Barry Partridge Jan 2005

A Contemporary Coaching Theory To Integrate Work And Life In Changing Times, Lindsay G. Oades, Peter Caputi, Paula Robinson, Barry Partridge

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In this chapter we argue that common approaches underpinning coaching, including cognitive-behavioural frameworks and the concept of work–life balance, are not well suited to form the conceptual basis of practice to assist people in a dynamic contemporary society. These mechanistic approaches originate from the industrial revolution and are based on the root metaphor of person as machine. With the changing labour market, the impact of information and communication technologies and the fragmentation of traditional meaning systems into a more cosmopolitan society, there is a need for coaching approaches that emphasise change and adaptation. Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), an …


Nexus Of Silence: A Grounded Theory Of Organizational Behaviour Behind The Cover-Up Of Deviance, Michael Gross Jan 2005

Nexus Of Silence: A Grounded Theory Of Organizational Behaviour Behind The Cover-Up Of Deviance, Michael Gross

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

In 2002, the Boston Globe newspaper revealed the cover-up by the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston of sexual abuse of children by clergy. A grounded theory investigation to answer the question "how could authorities allow this to happen?" revealed a 'nexus of silence' as the central phenomenon that allowed the deviance to continue in Boston and throughout the wider institution of the church. Over decades, linked to avoiding scandal, a 'nexus of silence' prevented disclosure of the sexual abuse problem, understanding of the nature and scale of the deviance, and provision of controls to protect children. This paper explains the 'nexus …


The Network Centric Environment Viewed Through The Lens Of Activity Theory, Irena Ali, Leoni Warne, Helen M. Hasan Jan 2005

The Network Centric Environment Viewed Through The Lens Of Activity Theory, Irena Ali, Leoni Warne, Helen M. Hasan

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A network centric (NC) environment has the potential to transform the ways in which people gather, share, and process information with connectivity achieved thorough technological and social networks. This is of relevance to the military environment which is
characterised by constant change and uncertainty, and exposed to the vagaries of the political and economic climate. This chapter will analyse human activities in the military network centric context
through the lens of the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory. Based on current research findings it is proposed that the activity of sense-making is central to common awareness and decision making, through information sharing, in …


Using Institutional Theory To Develop A Conceptual Framework For Benchmarking, Edmund W. Watts, Amanda Mead Jan 2005

Using Institutional Theory To Develop A Conceptual Framework For Benchmarking, Edmund W. Watts, Amanda Mead

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The objective of this research was to develop a conceptual framework based on institutional theory to explain the key drivers or mechanisms behind the adoption and use of the business practice of benchmarking. The paper commences with the conceptualisation of benchmarking identifying the four dimensions of benchmarking, internal, direct competition, industry, and best-in-class. This was followed by the development of a construct for investigation using institutional theory through its major components, organisational isomorphism, organisational dependency, and organisational legitimacy. Overlaying the benchmarking and institutional theory literature on the four dimensions of benchmarking and the institutional theory construct a conceptual crossover was …


Articulating Knowledge Work: The Contributions Of Activity Theory And Task-Based Knowledge Management, Henry Linger, Frada Burstein, Helen M. Hasan Jan 2005

Articulating Knowledge Work: The Contributions Of Activity Theory And Task-Based Knowledge Management, Henry Linger, Frada Burstein, Helen M. Hasan

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This chapter addresses issues of knowledge work in organisations with a concern that mainstream knowledge management (KM) has fallen short of expectations. The real nature of knowledge work remains hidden, and thus inaccessible, to those who are trying to improve organisational outcomes through KM practices. The authors have conducted independent research within a new discourse on knowledge work in the context of modem complex organisations, the results of which are converging to a common understanding of this critical phenomenon. Their two theoretical frameworks, one task-based and one activity-based, are described here as eminently suited to this research. Two sets of …


Inter-Activity: An Activity Theory Model For Socio-Technical Work Spaces, Alanah Kazlauskas, Kate Crawford Jan 2005

Inter-Activity: An Activity Theory Model For Socio-Technical Work Spaces, Alanah Kazlauskas, Kate Crawford

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The issues that face human society are often addressed in a sociotechnical context that utilizes both social and technical tools. Such socio-technical milieux do not just happen but evolve over time. The ongoing emergence of more and more complex socio-technical contexts presents challenges to those involved as well as for sociocultural researchers. Vygotsky's (1978) Cultural Historical Activity Theory has been expanded upon by a number of researchers including Engestrom (1999) in order to develop understandings of work-based activity systems with a view to the identification of tensions within and to further development of those activity systems. Other researchers (Lave & …


Asean+3 And Rtas And Their Impact On Asia-Australia Trade And Growth: Econometric Evidence From An Extended Gravity Theory, Van Hoa Tran Jan 2005

Asean+3 And Rtas And Their Impact On Asia-Australia Trade And Growth: Econometric Evidence From An Extended Gravity Theory, Van Hoa Tran

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.


Eliciting And Specifying Requirements For Highly Interactive Systems Using Activity Theory, Robert B. K. Brown, Peter Hyland, Ian C. Piper Jan 2005

Eliciting And Specifying Requirements For Highly Interactive Systems Using Activity Theory, Robert B. K. Brown, Peter Hyland, Ian C. Piper

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

The processes of eliciting user requirements and formalising these into specifications are critical for the success of highly interactive systems. These processes are still poorly understood, partly because current methods are usually ad hoc and lack any theoretical basis. A number of researchers have used Activity Theory (AT) to refine these processes and have met with some success. To date, this approach has been more useful explaining the processes post hoc. This positional paper proposes an AT method for requirement elicitation and specification definition. The method is sufficiently prescriptive and well formed that it does not require any detailed understanding …


Beliefs And Attitudes Associated With Erp Adoption Behaviours: Grounded Theory From The It Managers And End-Users Perspective, S Arunthari, Helen M. Hasan Jan 2005

Beliefs And Attitudes Associated With Erp Adoption Behaviours: Grounded Theory From The It Managers And End-Users Perspective, S Arunthari, Helen M. Hasan

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.