237 results for Auckland University of Technology, Doctoral
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Thermomechanics, material flow and microstructure evolution during Friction Stir Processing of light cast alloys
Cui, Song (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyFriction Stir Processing (FSP) is a solid-state processing technique which can be used to refine and modify as-cast microstructures for superior properties. The aim of the present research is to investigate the following fundamental aspects associated with FSP cast Al and Mg alloys: the quantitative relationships between processing speeds (rotation and linear speeds: ω and v) and the thermomechanical responses (tool torque–M, power–P, specific energy–Es and material flow volumes–Vflow); the details of material flow/deformation and microstructural evolution during FSP of a cast Al-Si alloy; the mechanism governing the removal of Beta-Mg17Al12 particles during FSP of cast Mg-Al alloys. Experimentally, FSP of A356 cast alloy were performed with wide ranges of ω and v. M was measured during each FSP experiment, and temperature (T) at various locations were monitored for selected experiments. Based on M, P and Es were calculated. Stir zone areas (Aflow) were measured using the metallographic samples to estimate Vflow values. FSP experiments, using tool-pin-breaking technique, were conducted on A356 plates under two representative conditions. Macro-scale flow, micro-scale deformation, and microstructural evolution were studied by means of Electron Backscatter Diffraction technique. Pin-breaking FSP experiments were also conducted on AZ91/AM60 cast alloys during which T was monitored, based on which the thermomechanical and metallurgical explanations for the removal of Beta-Mg17Al12 particles were investigated. The relationship between M and ω is found to be well described by an exponential decay function: M = Mo + Mfexp(–nω); while the influence of v on M can be described reasonably well by linearly relating Mo, Mf, and n to v. Together with the consideration of temperature data obtained, M is shown to intimately relate to material flow resistance to tool motion. Thus n and Mf can be adjusted for alloying effect in the low ω range, while such effect diminishes as ω increases. It is shown that tool shoulder flow volume generated per revolution (VS–rev = Ashouderv/ω) relates to M, which can be interpreted as energy input per revolution, in a form of M = Mo + Mf[1 – exp(–γVS–rev)]. The tool-pin flow volume does not require a proportional amount of energy input. The larger diameter of the shoulder compared to the pin, coupled with higher material flow stress near shoulder region are the fundamental causes of this. A new flow mechanism that explains the formation of the non-ring nugget during FSP A356 was identified. It is shown that regardless of the processing condition, the highly refined portion of the nugget zone clearly segregates from the less refined portion. How this macro-segregation relates to the difference in flow regime inside and outside thread spaces is demonstrated in detail. The deforming dendrites located ahead of the pin were traced and based on this the strain and strain rate during FSP were directly estimated. The mechanism governing the recrystallization of α-Al dendrites was identified primarily as Geometrical Dynamic Recrystallization. Recrystallized α-Al grains around the pin displayed a dominating “A” shear texture, although the local “A” texture must undergo a degree of rotation to obtain the ideal “A” texture due to the local texture frame misaligned with the ideal texture frame. It was found that this misalignment is closely related to the direction of material flow at the location under consideration. Finally, detailed evidences suggest that the major mechanism governing the removal of the eutectic beta-Mg17Al12 particles is through a sequence of incipient melting of beta-phase, Al rich liquid wetting recrystallized α-Mg grain boundaries thus leading to a significant increase in liquid/solid interface, transfer of Al solute from liquid to interiors of α-Mg and the growth of α-Mg into the liquid (resolidification).
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Modelling co-creation and its consequences: one step closer to customer-centric marketing
Devasirvatham, Edwin Rajah (2012)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThis is a study of co-creation and its marketing outcomes. The theoretical and conceptual literature on co-creation suggests causal paths between co-creation and its consequences. This study develops a research model to test the causal relationships between co-creation and the marketing outcomes of satisfaction, trust, relationship strength, attitudinal and behavioural loyalty. While the concept of co-creation is not new, Vargo & Lusch (2004) highlight the relevance of co-creation as a customer-centric means of generating value in contemporary market conditions. Most early empirical research on co-creation adopts interpretive methods to explore the value-generation capacity of the concept. More recently, positivist studies on co-creation have emerged, however they investigate the issue in a narrow context and offer only a partial view of the consequences of co-creation. This study adopts a positivist stance to study the influence of co-creation on a nomological net of marketing outcomes. Additionally, this study investigates the causal paths between co-creation and trust and co-creation and relationship strength, two paths which are theoretically postulated, but not yet tested. This study adopts a two-stage, quasi-experimental research design. The quasi-experiments are operationalised by means of experimental scenarios and survey questionnaires. The scenarios provide the means to vary the level of co-creation and the questionnaire captures the participants’ perceptions of co-creation and, its influence on the dependent marketing outcome variables. Stage 1 of this study is a pilot, where a student sample is adopted to test co-creation and its marketing outcomes in a single B2C service context. Structural equation modelling analysis of the dataset shows that, as postulated, co-creation has a positive influence on marketing outcomes and this preliminary study has been published (Rajah, Marshall, & Nam, 2008). The quasi-experiments for the main study comprise a within-subject, multiple business context research design. The aim of the multiple contexts is to investigate whether co-creation is generalisable across different business contexts. The main study institutes both theoretical and methodological refinements into the research model developed in the pilot. Specifically, the work institutes improvements to the new co-creation and relationship strength scales, measures attitudinal and behavioural loyalty as separate constructs, and develops new scenarios for the multiple business contexts. The within-subjects design for the main study means each participant provides data for two scenarios. Thus 290 non-student participants yield 563 good responses. Analysis of the dataset for the main study, through structural equation modelling, shows a good measurement model yielding robust statistics of reliability, convergent and discriminant validity for the constructs. Overall, the structural model provides confirmatory support for the positive influence of co-creation on marketing outcomes. Multi-group invariance testing (MGIT) shows similarities in structural paths for the marketing outcomes for the B2B and B2C market contexts, and only moderate differences in the structural paths for the product and service business contexts. Thus, the results of the research provide confirmatory evidence of co-creation’s influence on marketing outcome constructs, hitherto only postulated. The contributions of the study are first, it provides empirical support for the influence of co-creation on downstream marketing outcome constructs. The results show that co-creation is closely related and is part of the nomological net of marketing outcome constructs in the research model for this study. Second, the thesis contributes by synthesising an operational definition of co-creation. Third, the study contributes by developing new scales for the co-creation and relationship strength constructs. Finally, the multi group invariance testing reveals results show that co-creation is generalisable across several business contexts. Post-hoc analysis indicate that co-creation could occur in the forms of transactional and relational marketing exchanges.
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Mana Wāhine in Information Technology: Ngā Kaiwhatu Kākahu Me Te Kākahu
Hamilton-Pearce, Janette (2010)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThis thesis argues for an Indigenous women’s cultural construction of information technology (IT). In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori women have established Mana Wāhine discourses, principles, theories and practices (Evans, 1994; Hutchings, 2002b, 2005; Irwin, 1990, 1992b; Jahnke, 1997b; Pihama, 2001; Smith, 1992; Te Awekotuku, 1991). Mana Wāhine is the power, legitimacy, authority and spirituality of Māori women as determined by mātauranga wāhine [Māori women’s knowledge and epistemology] (Jenkins & Pihama, 2001). Mana Wāhine is about theorising, analysing and conducting research for, by, and with, Māori women (Pihama, 2001). Māori women have always been IT professionals through Ngā Kaiwhatu Kākahu Me Te Kākahu [The Cloak Weavers and the Cloak]. The overall intent of this research is to develop a Mana Wāhine in IT conceptual framework. The research aim is to identify the key discourses, principles and theories of Mana Wāhine for an Indigenous Māori women’s cultural construction of IT? IT has the cultural constructs of the dominant society, which design and shape it (Dirksen, 2001; Stewart, 1993). The herstories of twenty-four Indigenous Māori women in IT provide lived experiences of colonising, decolonising and indigenising of IT. The colonial oppression within IT education and the workplace underpin the hegemonic ‘geek neo-colonial male’ culture. Indigenous Māori women’s culture is constructed as the ‘Other’. The Indigenous peoples’ literature disregards gender and white women in IT literature disregard ethnicity, race and colonisation. The joint effects of being Indigenous Māori women are fraught with complexity. For Indigenous women to participate in IT means assimilating into geek neo-colonial and male beliefs maintaining culture-neutral ideology, as a new form of cultural imperialism. Through such power relations, cultural identity is left at the door when entering IT where Māori women define themselves as the only lonely, the only Indigenous Māori woman. The decolonising and indigenising of IT is where Māori women assert their cultural rights to participate as Mana Wāhine in IT – Ngā Kaiwhatu Kākahu Me Te Kākahu. In future, research needs to assert that Indigenous women be first beneficiaries of IT (Kamira, 2000b). Mana Wāhine deconstructs colonising and culture-neutral ideologies forming a localised view to indigenise IT for women. IT cannot be at the expense of Mana Wāhine. For the benefit of our people, children and ourselves, Mana Wāhine in IT will always fight for cultural survival.
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Tourism industry responses to the rise of sustainable tourism and related environmental policy initiatives: the case of Hue City, Vietnam
Bui, Duc Tinh (2009)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyTourism is promoted by the governments of many developing countries because it offers the potential for creating jobs, thus generating income for the country and revenue for the government. However, the tourism industry can also be viewed as a destructive force, associated with negative externalities such as the loss of natural landscapes, congestion, and environmental and cultural degradation. These problems are more likely to be exacerbated where there is a lack of well-designed planning and effective management of tourism development. An essential component of any management of tourism is the ability to engage with, and get a positive response from, the tourism industry. There are a wide range of enterprises involved in providing tourist products and experiences, and in many nations, both developing and developed, a large number of these businesses are small and medium in size and tend to operate at a local scale. The informal nature of tourism enterprises in the developing world can make it difficult to spread awareness of tourism policy and to measure moves towards more sustainable performance on the part of the industry. Using the case study of tourism in the city of Hue, this thesis argues that it is essential to understand both what tourism enterprises know about sustainable tourism practice and policy and also how they respond to its adoption, if we are to more fully understand tourism and its links to sustainable economic development. Located on the central northern coast of Vietnam, Hue is well known for its cultural resources and natural beauty, and the province has become a major tourism centre in Vietnam. The city of Hue itself is recognized as having international heritage value and was listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1993. During the last decade, tourism revenues have increased by nearly 35% per annum, and Hue has made great efforts to both stimulate and cater for increasing demand for its tourism products and services. The Vietnamese government has introduced a number of policies designed to enhance environmental quality generally and, more specifically, to improve the sustainability of enterprises in the tourism sector. This thesis examines the degree to which tourism enterprises in the city of Hue are aware of the broad concept of sustainable tourism and of the specific legislation designed to influence the sustainability of their businesses. I examine the structure and make-up of the industry and then analyse whether characteristics such as size, ownership type and sectoral focus play a role in influencing awareness of, and response to, government policy. The research triangulates data-gathering methods: secondary data, literature reviews, semi-structured interviews and an enterprise survey are all used to gain insights into the core research questions. Each method feeds into and is strengthened by the others, and their combination (including 50 interviews and 180 survey responses) provides a robust data set to work from. The findings reveal that many of the firms operating in the Hue tourism industry are characterized by weak institutional practices, low financial capacity, poor facilities and a lack of broader awareness of policies that influence sustainable tourism practice. The tourism industry’s awareness of general sustainable development issues is low, and much business practice focuses on short-term rather than long-term perspectives. This limits the use of environmentally friendly practices by firms, especially small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), in their daily business activities. The study reveals that there is no significant variation in the adoption of sustainable tourism practices according to the size of enterprises, especially if the practices in question are simple and can be introduced with cost savings. However, as the cost and complexity of introducing environmental measures increases, we see a greater ability on the part of larger enterprises to adopt such actions – partly because they are in a stronger position to bear the short-terms costs of implementing such approaches. There are a wide range of factors that constrain the Hue tourism industry from adopting more sustainable tourism practices. Internal constraints such as limited financial and human resources are combined with external constraints such as increasing cost-based competition, the lack of enforcement of government policies, and limited awareness of sustainable tourism pracitces. All of these factors play a crucial role in shaping the actions of enterprises in relation to sustainable tourism practices and policies. The results of this study also point to the fact that government sustainable tourism initiatives that rely on ‘command-and-control’ approaches will have limited effect; instead, a variety of institutional economic instruments offer greater potential to overcome deficiencies in the ability of the market to drive tourism enterprises towards more sustainable business practices. The thesis also argues that it is important to develop approaches that can cope with the special challenges attached to management of sustainable tourism development in destinations that are dominated by SMEs. The thesis contributes to the growing body of theory and literature in sustainable tourism development and tourism-enterprise behaviour. It also makes an important contribution to our understanding of tourism enterprises in the developing world. In particular, the findings add an important layer of understanding to those attempting to develop a more sustainable tourism industry in Vietnam. Specifically, it provides policy-makers with important insights into the ways in which different types of tourism enterprises respond to initiatives that relate to improved business sustainability.
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Enhancing the effectiveness of online groups: an investigation of storytelling in the facilitation of online groups
Thorpe, Stephen John (2009)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyBuilding relationships in the world of online groups is a recent, exciting and challenging area for the field of group facilitation. Evidence has shown that online groups with strong relationship links are more effective and more resilient than those with without them. Yet, the processes and techniques to effectively facilitate the building of these online relationships are not yet understood and there is scant empirical knowledge to assist practicing group facilitators in this important task. Challenges arise when many of the embodied aspects of inter-personal communication, such as body language, tone of voice, emotions, energy levels and context are not easily readable by group members and facilitators. Many of the well established group processes and interventions that facilitators rely upon in face-to-face situations do not translate effectively or are simply not available in an online group situation. Storytelling, however, presented one approach from the domain of face-to-face group facilitation that might translate well online. Storytelling is well known as an enabler for people to connect at a deeper and an embodied level. It can be highly effective at building strong social ties and group resilience – right across a wide range of settings. This thesis inquired into storytelling’s potential for online facilitation practice with the question of how is storytelling beneficial in building relationships in a facilitated online group? Starting with the premise that storytelling will be an effective approach, eighteen facilitators from the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) came together to collectively research the area using a participative approach. The intent of the approach was to involve online facilitation practitioners in the research so that their motivations, ways of looking at things, and questions could have value and that their experiences would be at the heart of the data generated. A variety of online software tools were used including: email, Skype™ conferencing, telephone conferencing, video and web conferencing, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), blogging, online surveys and within the 3-D interactive world of Second Life™. The study affirmed that storytelling assisted relationship development across a range of online settings. As anticipated, storytelling aided identity creation; scenario description; describing conflict and to articulate learning edges. The availability of an extra text channel during a primarily oral communication is seen as a potentially valuable contribution to the art of storytelling. In addition, the study offers a challenge to the storytelling field in proposing that direct contact between teller and listener is not always a priori requirement. The blending of roles raises some ethical challenges for online facilitation practice. The also inquiry confirmed that software tool selection was critical for ensuring full participation and buy-in to online group decisions. The 3-D, avatar-based medium of Second Life™ assisted with emotional connections. A range of new opportunities emerged through co-researchers engaging with the research process that inform the practice of group facilitation. They expand the role and horizons of the online facilitator in relation to the wider profession of group facilitation. Reflections are made about the International Association of Facilitators Statement of Values and Code of Ethics for Group Facilitators and IAF Core Competencies and some guidelines for the practice of online facilitation are offered.
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Success factors for community organisations in Tai Tokerau (Northland) New Zealand
Darkins, Christine Laurel (Tina) (2010)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThis project was prompted by a concern that an unacceptable number of Northland non-profit community organisations were failing, causing distress to the communities they serve and a loss of taxpayer monies. I could find no reliable source of information about the size and effectiveness of the health and social services provided by community organisations in the Northland region or any documented understanding of the difficulties they face. This project, therefore, explored the issues confronting non-profit community organisations delivering services to the community in the areas of health and social services in Northland. It aims to identify the factors that contribute to the success of community organisations with a view to assisting them to identify and overcome the difficulties they face. A mixed-method study based on the development design outlined by Greene, Caracelli and Graham (1989) was used to answer the research question: What factors make a community organisation successful? The development design facilitated four sequential phases purposely chosen for their ability to produce sufficient information within each phase to inform the next phase, as follows: 1. Phase 1 was a demographic profile of community organisations. The purpose was to produce a current and accurate document to inform Phases 2, 3 and 4 of the project. The inclusion criterion was that the community organisation was to be non-profit and deliver health or social services to the communities of Northland. A total of 1177 organisations were identified. 2. Phase 2 involved qualitative key informant interviews of community organisation representatives (n=12). The participants were chosen by random selection from the Phase 1 database. The purpose of the interviews was to identify the reported reasons for the success or difficulties experienced by their organisation, with a view to informing the development of a mail survey. The twelve interviews included three interviews within each of the four selected organisations: one each from a board member, manager and staff member. The data were then analysed using an inductive approach to develop themes. The purpose was to reduce the data into a set of summary themes that could be used to inform the Phase 3 mail survey. Twenty-eight survey themes were constructed. 3. Phase 3 was the development, piloting and distribution of a survey sent to 900 members of 300 health and social service community organisations in Northland, representing board, management and staff. On completion of the survey (n=222) the data was analysed to identify underlying dimensions using an exploratory factor analysis with principal components analysis and varimax rotation (used because the orthogonal rotations made the loadings clearer). Three key factors were extracted. Cronbach's alpha was used to refine the factors into three scales which were used for the subsequent analyses. Analyses included comparison by: position within the organisation (of board, management or staff); geographical location within Northland (of Whangarei, Kaipara and Mid-Far North); and service type (of health or social services). The first four to five items in each scale gave the best indication of the features essential for a successful community organisation. The three scales and associated items were as follows: i. Effective board, management and staff relationships • establishing a working relationship with the local community that is based on mutual trust and support; • clear lines of responsibility within the organisation; • the presence of mutual respect and support between board, management and staff; • clear and appropriate job descriptions; and • a clear and achievable mission statement. ii. Good external links with government and community • the level of performance of government departments that work with community organisations; • government departments understanding the difficulties faced by community organisations; • there being sufficient volunteers to provide the help needed by community organisations; and • there being sufficient people with the skills and experience needed to run community organisations in the community. iii. Funding insecurity • managing staff burnout; • alleviating funding uncertainty; • securing adequate funding; and • educating volunteers. (Funding insecurity is a negative factor but overcoming this becomes a success factor). These three factors for success have strength in that they were common to all groups, in all regions, both sectors and by status and came directly by the members of community organisations themselves. Board members showed significantly more agreement with Scale 2 measuring “good external links with government and community” compared with managers and staff members F (2,219)=6.91, p<0.001. This reflects their strategic role. The differences were small and non-significant in other comparisons among position, geographical locations, and service type. 4. Phase 4 was a hui to discuss, challenge and confirm the research findings. The three factors for success were used as the basis for discussion. This was attended by representatives of Northland community organisations and the government departments that provide funding for community organisations in Northland. The attendees participated in a workshop where four groups were formed: board members, managers, service delivery staff and funders. The critical components of a successful community organisation were confirmed. This project sought to increase the body of knowledge pertaining to community organisations in the areas of health and social services. It has highlighted difficulties including the haphazard way the sector has evolved, the problems of accounting for the distribution of funds and for measuring success. The results of this project have shown that success for Northland community organisations depends on three main factors: 1. Having the ability and skills to build and maintain effective board, management and staff relationships. 2. Establishing and maintaining good external links with government and the community. 3. Managing funding insecurity. Central to achieving maximum benefit from organisations human resources is the board, management and staff relationships. The main factors in establishing such relationships are clear lines of responsibility between governance, management and staff and developing clear role definitions that are supported by job descriptions. In addition, the project has identified many features which, if understood and acted upon by individuals establishing a community organisation or who are already involved in community-based service provision, will greatly improve their likelihood of success.
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Between class and gender: female activists in the Illawarra 1975-1980
Laneyrie, Frances (2010)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThis thesis examines the historical relationships between two peak bodies at critical moments in the emergence of a new form of feminist activism in the Illawarra region of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The two organisations are the South Coast Labour Council (SCLC), the region's peak union body, and the Wollongong Women's Information Centre (WWIC), the region's peak feminist body. The Illawarra is one of the most significant historical examples of Australian regional peak unionism (Markey & Nixon, 2004) with a rich history of union-community relationships. The WWIC claims to be the earliest feminist organisation of its kind in non-metropolitan regional Australia. The WWIC was originally proposed by an SCLC standing committee of female and male activists and when formed maintained a close relationship with the SCLC and its feminist activists. Labour historians in Australia have ignored the relationships between trade unions and feminist organisations. The thesis argues that there are four trends in industrial relations and labour history literature that can benefit from this study: first, an ongoing concern by feminist labour historians about the invisibility of women activists and their agency in institutional studies (Brigden, 2003; Cooper, 2002); second, a renewed focus on the historically changing but creative tensions between class-based and gender-based theories in industrial relations (Cobble, 2007); third, a growing interest in relationships between peak union bodies and community organisations (Ellem, Markey & Shields, 2005); and fourth, increased attention to the role of spatial analysis in understanding the nature of institutional relationships in peak union literature (Ellem & Shields, 1999). Two in-depth case studies are developed that acknowledge and describe a large number of regional female activists. Subsequently, the impact of class-based and gender-based theories on the reconstruction of stories about women's activism are analysed. While a range of frameworks are utilised, two currently relevant theories are prioritised. First, a class-based theory, Ellem & Shields's (2004) dimensions of peak union bodies, is applied to a broad history of the SCLC. Second, a gender-based theory, Connell's (2002) gender regimes, is applied to explore the changes in women's activism in the region between 1975 and 1980. The major theoretical contribution of the thesis is to argue that underlying assumptions about power within peak body relationships constrain the range of explanatory narratives possible about feminist activists and their organisations. Implicit in the current discussion of union-community relationships are notions of 'power over' and 'power for'. Consequently, the organisational power of peak bodies is represented as agentic and instrumental. These underlying assumptions continue to reproduce homo-social patterns underlying theories about personal and organisational relationships and continue to reproduce celebratory or heroic histories. They fail to recognise the dynamic and reciprocal growth (or not) of all parties involved (Fletcher, 1999), they marginalise accounts of peak union relationships which feature women, and they reaffirm artificial divides between class and gender that are ideological, epistemological and material. What is missing is the crucial concept of 'power with'. In conclusion, I argue that future developments that combine a feminist standpoint epistemology with relational theory have the potential to constructively analyse the contributions of individual female trade union and feminist activists with the broader patterns of historical engagement of women in and with union organisations.
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Injuries in rugby league: incidence, influences, tackles and return to play decisions
King, Douglas Alistair (2010)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyRugby league is an international collision sport. Players complete physically demanding activities such as running, tackling and passing which often result in musculoskeletal injuries. Injury rates increase as playing level increases. From 1999 to 2007 there were 42,754 rugby league claims costing Accident Compensation Corporation $48,704,704. Moderate to severe injury claims (MSC) represented 14% of these claims but 88% of costs. New Zealand Maori recorded significantly more injury claims and total injury entitlement costs than all other ethnic groups. Soft tissue MSC injuries were common (47%) for females. Concussions accounted for 70% of total rugby league injuries to the head while the knee represented 23% of total injury claims and 20% of injury costs. Neck and spine injuries accounted for 6% of total MSC injury claims but 16% of total MSC costs. In video analysis of 80 games at international, national and youth competition levels, 50% of tackles involved tacklers from behind the visual fields of the ball carrier, either two or three tacklers, and contact with the mid-torso or hip-thigh region. From the prospective injury analysis of one professional team over two consecutive years, tackle-related injuries occurred more to the ball carrier when tackled at shoulder or mid-torso height, in their blind vision, with two or more tacklers, and in the fourth quarter of matches. Tackle-related injury type and site varied by positional group. Hit-up forwards and outside backs recorded more tackle-related injuries as the ball carrier than the tackler. In the prospective study of 63 amateur rugby league players, 80% of players injured as a result of match or training activities saw a health professional as part of their rehabilitation. Team coaches asked players to return to rugby league activities in 28% of cases for training participation and 29% of cases for match participation. In the cross sectional study assessing 95 rugby league support personnel's first aid, injury prevention and concussion knowledge, only 2% achieved an 80% pass mark, 39% incorrectly stated loss of consciousness was required for concussion and only 24% of coaches had a rugby league coaching qualification. This PhD research has contributed knowledge regarding costs and characteristics of injuries to amateur rugby league participants analysed by ethnicity, gender, injury site and injury type. Changes in anthropometric characteristics and speed in regards to incidence of injury, characteristics of tackles in match situations and common tackling positions and positional groups where injuries occur, player perspectives on why they return from injury to participation in rugby league, and the lack of first aid knowledge for rugby league personnel, have all been described.
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International negotiation styles: a perspective of Malaysian diplomats
Mohd Hashim, Hishamuddin (2010)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyNegotiation competency is an important focus of all countries as negotiation is a core event in international relations and diplomacy. Malaysia is no exception. Existing literature indicates that there has never been any research to study the Malaysian practice in international negotiations. As far as diplomatic negotiation is concerned, there is also a dearth of literature on what is going on at the negotiation table due to its secretive nature. Most of the research conducted on negotiation has originated from Western concepts of negotiation, and there is a lack of research concerning non-Western and specifically Malaysian notions of negotiation. A number of studies have been carried out to identify negotiation styles of some countries in Asia, and research on Malaysian negotiation is merely a descriptive explanation of Malaysians’ business negotiation behaviour. Furthermore, there is a growing need of research that employs varieties of methods in studying negotiation as most of the overseas studies were quantitative in nature. Thus, researching into the Malaysian practice of international negotiation will help to close the gaps in the literature because: (1) it will address the lack of research on Malaysian negotiating styles from the viewpoint of the public sector, as opposed to the business sector; (2) it will extend the work on non-Western perspectives on diplomatic negotiation by injecting Malaysian notions of international negotiation, as seen by Malaysians; (3) it will enrich the current literature on negotiating styles of countries in Asia; (4) it will add to the small amount of international scholarship on diplomatic negotiation and (5) this research will employ a mixed-method approach, and this will complement the need to employ varieties of research methods in negotiation research. The main aim of this research is to explore and highlight the key features of Malaysian negotiating practice in international negotiations from the perspectives and experiences of Malaysian diplomats. This research adopted a mixed-methods approach. An interpretive approach with some elements of phenomenology, symbolic interactionism and systems theory was the main paradigm adopted for the qualitative study while a questionnaire survey was employed for the quantitative study. Key-informant interviews with 22 former diplomats were conducted and a survey of 39 respondents amongst in-service Malaysian diplomats was successfully carried out. The research contributes to understanding of Malaysian negotiating practice in international negotiations and generates important insights for diplomatic training providers in setting-up relevant training modules. It also helps negotiators from different nations to comprehend the negotiation practice of Malaysia and helps to eliminate stereotyping and biases. In addition, since international negotiation is a universal phenomenon, the findings of this study are not only applicable to Malaysia but to other nations as well. Important key and relevant points that could contribute to international negotiation knowledge were identified and discussed. Finally, based on the research, policy recommendations were proposed to enhance negotiation competency in any international negotiation, and future research was identified and suggested for the benefit of international negotiation knowledge and scholarship.
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The lived experience of liver transplant recipients in New Zealand
Wainwright, Bethli (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThis thesis reports on phenomenological research into the lived experience of liver transplant recipients in New Zealand in 17 qualitative interviews, and a qualitative survey of 49 liver transplant recipients across New Zealand. A new survey tool was developed for this work. A brief background to liver transplantation in New Zealand and internationally is provided. The perspectives of liver transplant recipients are then shown in relation to their experiences on becoming unwell, waiting for transplantation, in Intensive Care and the ward, and their way of coping with a donor liver from another human being. The thesis concludes with recommendations for immediate implementation by the New Zealand Liver Transplantation Unit. Appendices include survey responses on an Excel spread sheet and a database of references on liver transplantation to assist further research in this field.
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Pacific business sustainability in New Zealand: a study of Tongan experiences
Prescott, Semisi Manisela (2009)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyPacific business sustainability in New Zealand is important for the economic and social wellbeing of the Pacific Island people who have chosen New Zealand as their home. As with many ethnic minorities businesses overseas, Pacific businesses struggle to survive in a foreign commercial environment that is often not aligned to the value systems and customs of their country of origin. This study seeks to determine the key financial and entrepreneurial drivers of business sustainability for Tongan businesses as a specific group within the Pacific Island business sector. The study takes an ethnic specific view of business sustainability drawing on the experiences of twenty Tongan businesses, three Pacific business consultants and the wider Tongan community. The data was captured in a series of talanoa sessions (a traditional and preferred form of communication based on face to face discussion) carried out in 2006 and 2007. Throughout the study, attention was given to Tongan protocols, cultural nuances and sensitivities to ensure the context in which these Tongan businesses operate was captured. The study concludes by making several contributions to the literature. The first includes the contribution to methodology through to use of talanoa in a business context. The second is the contribution to embeddedness theory through the analysis of specific Tongan business experiences and lastly the empirical contribution to the Pacific Island business literature. The findings have been analysed from a number of perspectives including; financial accounting, business finance, management accounting and business related challenges. The empirical findings highlight that differences in culture and traditional Tongan protocols influence business practice. The impact of Tongan culture on business sustainability is both complementary and inimical. Tongan business sustainability in New Zealand is therefore a product of business practices that incorporate embedded Tongan culture and the western commercial paradigms within which they operate.
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The potential for a novel alcoholic drink prepared from the New Zealand native plant Cordyline australis (ti kōuka)
Patel, Minaxi (2010)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologySome New Zealand indigenous plants may offer unique qualities that can be used to secure an exclusive niche in the alcoholic drinks market in the same way that Scotch whisky and tequila are strongly identified with the country of origin, Scotland and Mexico. Tequila is a spirit distilled from a fermented agave, dry adapted lily. Agave is in the family Agavaceae, a notable New Zealand member of which is the common cabbage tree or ti kōuka (Cordyline australis). Similarly, to the agave having a fermentable core, ti kōuka has carbohydrate (inulin) content in its young stems and roots that can be hydrolysed in acidic suspensions or by enzyme hydrolysis to yield fructose. The main objective of this thesis was to systematically research the feasibility of the production of a tequila-like spirit from ti kōuka stem, profiling the chemical properties of the spirit with a view of future commercial production of an iconic New Zealand spirit. The initial stage of the thesis focused on extracting inulin from the ti kōuka stem and hydrolysing (by both acid and enzyme) it to yield reducing sugar. The sugar concentration yielded was too low (~ 10 to 15%) to be fermented and distilled economically. Rather, the ti kōuka extract was evaporated to produce flavoured products by the Maillard reaction, a reaction between amino acids and sugars. The flavoured compounds were then infused with potable ethanol. In outline, the dried stem was hydrolysed with an inulinase at 60°C for 1 hour. The pH was adjusted to 10 with sodium hydroxide and evaporated at 60°C for 65 hours. The dried extract was reconstituted with water, centrifuged and the supernatant infused with portable ethanol to yield final different concentrations of 80, 67, 57 and 50%. The ethanol treatments simultaneously extracted flavour and colour to varying degrees. Next, sugars and amino acids were analysed in the ti kōuka stems by liquid chromatography. The most abundant sugar present in the ti kōuka after inulinase hydrolysis was fructose and the dominant amino acids were arginine, leucine, lysine, and aspartic acid/aspargine and glutamic acid/glutamine. Amino acids and reducing sugar were also analysed at different stages of the spirit production. The reducing sugar content decreased during each step of the process. The relative concentrations of arginine, leucine and lysine decreased while that of aspartic and glutamic acids increased during the whole process of making the spirit. Model systems were then used to simulate the reactions taking place between the amino acids and reducing sugar present in the ti kōuka extract. The colour of the models became darker as a function of time, accumulating more brown pigment containing the flavoured compounds. Increasing the pH and concentration of the amino acids in the reaction mixture also increased the browning pigment formation. Dichloromethane and n-pentane and diethyl ether solvent extraction of the spirits and analysis of volatiles by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry revealed that the chemical profiles of the spirits were different from those of the commercial spirits, gin, tequila and whisky. Sensory evaluation was performed on four variations of the spirit, and demonstrated that the creations were consumer-acceptable. The costs and other issues involved in producing and marketing such a spirit were identified, the major selling point being geographical exclusivity.
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Keep Sunday free: social engineering through shop trading hours in New Zealand
Kennedy, Ann-Marie (2010)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThe purpose of this thesis is to explore Social Engineering and how marketing communications may be able to affect it. This research takes a step back from other research in the area and considers the decision makers behind Social Engineering, instead of Social Engineering interventions. One way for stakeholders to influence Social Engineering is through influencing the initial decision of which Social Engineering intervention to use. The influence of marketing communications is considered using diffusion theory, which uncovers how marketing communications diffuse through and influence a decision making group. First, the research uncovers the Social Engineering Decision Making Process. This is the decision making process of Governments for Social Engineering Decisions. The Social Engineering Decision Making Process is the combination of Podgórecki’s Sociotechnical Paradigm (1990) and Roger’s Innovation Diffusion Process (2003). The research then explores this framework through its illustration in a retailing context. The Social Engineering intervention chosen for this research is the shop trading hour legislation in New Zealand. The Social Engineering decision studied is the decision to introduce Sunday trading through the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (1990). An historical analysis explores the Social Engineering of shop trading hours, in line with an Historical methodology and Constructivist and Hermeneutic viewpoint. This narrative is created through document analysis and semi-structured in-depth interviews with five different stakeholder groups from the decision to introduce Sunday trading. The historical narrative also illustrates the Social Engineering Decision Making Process. Lastly, to uncover the influence of marketing communications and the media on the Social Engineering Decision Making Process, a content analysis of marketing communications and media over the time of the decision to introduce Sunday trading occurs. Government discussions and reports regarding the decision are also analysed. If the communications influence the Government discussions, then their themes would be present in Government documents directly following the communications. The results lend support to the Social Engineering Decision Making Process. Results outline the aspects of the legislative process that reflect each stage of the Social Engineering Decision Making Process. Findings also find support for the influence of Marketing communications and media on the Government’s decision making. The three most effective times for stakeholders to try to influence the process, through either mass or interpersonal communications are also identified.
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Coloured-edge graph approach for the modelling of multimodal networks
Lillo Viedma, Felipe Eduardo (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyMany networked systems involve multiple modes of transport. Such systems are called multimodal, and examples include logistic and telecommunication networks, biomedical phenomena, conflict resolution models and manufacturing processes. Existing techniques for determining minimal paths in multimodal networks have required either heuristics or else application-specific constraints to obtain tractable problems, removing the multimodal traits of the network during analysis. In this thesis weighted coloured--edge graphs are introduced to model multimodal networks, where colours represent the modes of transportation. Optimal paths are selected using a partial order that compares the total weights in each colour, resulting in a Pareto optimal set of shortest paths. The cardinality of this set is at the core of the model's tractability. Tractability and applicability of the coloured--edge graph are addressed in this work. The tractability is firstly studied experimentally by using random as well as pathological instances of the colored--edge graph. Next, upper bounds on the cardinality of the Pareto set are established. An upper bound which is exponential in k (number of colours) is first presented. Subsequently, a probabilistic bound is developed for bicoloured--edge graphs whose weights are randomly drawn according to a bounded probability density function. An O(n^3) bound on the expected number of minimal paths (where $n$ is the number vertices) is established. The applicability of the approach is studied by means of data obtained from real multimodal transportation networks. Three cases are studied. Case (1) is a comparative analysis based on the multimodal transportation systems of New Zealand and Europe. The data used in the construction of the networks consist of digitized maps obtained from official GIS libraries. Case (2) is a large multimodal network that reproduces transport options in France. This instance is mainly focused on assessing the performance of the coloured--edge graph for very large networks. Finally, Case (3) utilizes air traffic information to build a multimodal network with a large number of modes. Modes in this case correspond to different international airlines. An important aspect of this practical study is that the multimodal networks are larger than most of those previously analyzed in the literature. The coloured--edge graph is shown in this research to be typically tractable without the need to apply any application--specific heuristic or constraints. This provides a new perspective in the analysis and optimization of systems that can be modelled as multimodal networks.
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Educational change beyond borders: International Baccalaureate in New Zealand
Hara, Kazuhisa (2012)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThe International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) provides three international education programmes for schools: the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma programme. These programmes were developed originally for students attending international schools. However, it has been observed that the programmes were also being used in national schools (i.e., state schools, state-funded private schools, and nationally-located private schools), and that the number of such schools has increased significantly over the years. This study explored the perspectives of school leaders and teachers on the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes in New Zealand (NZ) schools by inquiring (1) why some schools adopted the programmes; (2) how they implemented the programmes; (3) what the adoption process looked like; and (4) what influence the implementation of the IB had on teachers’ professional practices. The research project employed a qualitative approach because the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding about shared meanings attached to the IB programmes in the context of the NZ education system. The researcher approached all NZ IB schools (both authorised and candidate schools) to recruit research participants. Overall, 37 people who were either school leaders or teachers participated in the research. Semi-structured interviews were employed as the primary data-collection method in this study. Document analysis complemented the interview data. Data collection occurred over a period of one year (December 2008–December 2009), during which the researcher visited and interviewed research participants one by one. Qualitative data analysis was conducted and emerging themes were examined to capture the unique experiences of school leaders and teachers. The research data suggested that the people who worked in IB schools in New Zealand attached various meanings to the IB programmes beyond the IB founders’ intentions. Although fostering greater internationalism in school communities is the raison d’être of the IBO, the evidence from this study suggested that the driving factor behind the introduction of the IB into NZ schools was the school leaders’ practical needs and desires to make their schools more attractive and accountable to parents, teachers, and students, and to gain a better position in the NZ education market. This research also found that how schools localised the programmes in curriculum content and delivery structures reflected the reasons why they offered the IB programmes. As the IBO website states, while the organisation forms a worldwide community of the IB schools there is no such thing as a typical IB school. As for the adoption process, the research findings indicated that most of the IB schools in New Zealand seemed to have experienced five salient stages: knowledge, persuasion, decision-making, implementation, and reinforcement and networking. The process was similar to the innovation-decision model developed by Everett M. Rogers (2003). All teachers who participated in the research seemed to have had positive experiences with the IB programmes. The research study contributes to widening the knowledge base of international education by helping to clarify how schools utilise the IB programmes to enhance their educational offerings in the NZ context.
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Accountability towards enabling commercialisation of research in public tertiary education institutions
Narayan, Anil Kumar (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyCommercialisation of research has increasingly become a desirable activity for many tertiary education institutions (TEIs) across the globe. There is now widespread recognition by all sectors of society that TEIs engagement with research commercialisation will help drive a nation’s innovation system and contribute to the needs of the economy and society. However, in recent times, the growing accountability agenda for research commercialisation has raised important challenges for TEIs. There are increasing concerns that TEIs have failed to achieve the desired results of research commercialisation (for e.g. Dahlstrand, 2008; Goldfarb & Henrekson, 2003; Salmi, 2009) as has been anticipated by both public and private entities. Predictably, a broad range of stakeholders are increasingly asking TEIs to justify the use of public resources and to provide a more thorough account of their research outcomes (Fielen, 2007; Gauthier, 2004). There also remains considerable uncertainty amongst TEIs as to the mechanisms by which they are able to leverage the intellectual abilities of their research staff, particularly, given the complex and long-term nature of the commercialisation process. This study draws on the theoretical perspectives of new institutional theory (NIT) and uses three New Zealand TEIs as case studies to explore how public TEIs identify and render accountability in the process of enabling commercialisation of research. Data was collected using a mixed method approach of interviews and a broad range of secondary documents and archival records that covered the period 2002-2010. The constructive-interpretive research strategy permitted the simultaneous selection, inductive analysis, and interpretation of contextual data in order to construct emergent themes arising from the real-life context of commercialisation. The study highlights a number of important findings. First, TEIs are embedded in a complex network of institutionalised relationships with normative and cultural-cognitive obligations towards enabling commercialisation of research. These relationships require careful management to help shape TEIs responses to select and use appropriate accountability mechanisms to enable and enhance commercialisation. Second, while research commercialisation has become legitimised in terms of nation building activities, the commercialisation agenda has been potentially undermined by a strong performance based research funding (PBRF) culture. As a consequence, commercialisation remains a marginal activity as TEIs strongly view accountability for research in terms of funding levels. In the main, TEIs do not consider returning value in terms of commercialisation as an obligatory part of accepting funding to support basic research. Finally, new public management (NPM) accountability with a focus on bureaucratic compliance fails to recognise the uncertain, complex, and long-term nature of the research commercialisation process. To avoid NPM tensions, TEIs have ‘decoupled’ from the technical requirements to render accountability for commercialisation performance. Consequently, this is causing legitimating behaviour in TEIs and in fact, accountability for research commercialisation seems to have become a ‘representational faithfulness’ to the rhetoric in the TEIs strategic documents. This research makes important contribution to theory, policy and practice. In regards to theory, the current research contributes through the application of new institutional theory (NIT) to two demanding fields of research and this is the first time NIT has been applied to examine public sector accountability within the context of enabling academic research commercialisation. A conceptual model of accountability has been developed identifying accountability obligations, management of accountability expectations, and discharge of accountability obligations. While most studies are ex post, this framework provides a three stage model to help examine ex ante and ex post accountability. In relation to practice, this study identifies the gap between rhetoric and reality of accountability that seems to have become a characteristic of the accountability environment within which public TEIs operate. While the rhetoric in strategic documents helps legitimise research commercialisation, the accountability practices of commercialisation are not thoroughly embedded, widely accepted, and effective as the rhetoric suggests. The study provides a model for enabling commercialisation of research that helps inform practice from early stage development of a research culture, to setting clear research targets in terms of PBRF goals, to finally establishing commercialisation initiatives. In relation to policy, this study identifies notable tensions between academic research and commercialisation. As a consequence, government needs to become more explicit in articulating its policy on research commercialisation so that TEIs move beyond identifying accountability simply in terms of PBRF goals. The study demonstrates that government policy needs to provide incentives to ensure that academic research and research commercialisation become two important roles of TEIs that complement and reinforce each other. The PBRF policy needs to be redeveloped to recognise research in terms of economic contributions and value adding activities leading to commercial outcomes. There is an urgent need for both government and TEIs to frame policy that encourages the development of a research culture within TEIs that remains sufficiently focussed on successful research commercialisation.
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Hormone-mediated strategies to enhance training and performance
Beaven, Christopher Martyn (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyRugby union is a highly competitive and physically demanding contact sport in which successful outcomes rely, inherently, on strength, power, speed, and endurance. Resistance training is a potent stimulus for skeletal muscle strength and power adaptation, and training stimuli and loads modulate adaptation. Adaptive responses are mediated by cellular and molecular events, and actualised by alterations in gene expression. The steroid hormones testosterone and cortisol play a role in the adaptive process and subsequent training outcomes. This thesis investigates strategies intended to modify salivary hormone responses and affect resistance training outcomes. A literature review examined the cellular response of skeletal muscle tissue to resistance exercise with attention focussed on how testosterone and cortisol mediate adaptive outcomes. The acute testosterone and cortisol responses to complex training were investigated in Chapter Three. Sixteen rugby players performed four exercise protocols in a cross-over manner: power-power; power-strength; strength-power; or strength-strength. The most noteworthy responses were a small testosterone elevation and a trivial elevation in cortisol following the strength-power protocol, suggesting that this exercise sequence elicited an enhanced anabolic state compared to the other exercise protocols. An interaction between hormonal circadian rhythms and exercise stimulus was investigated in Chapter Four. Eight rugby players performed identical squat training over four weeks either in the morning or in the afternoon. Clear differences were observed between pre- and post-exercise hormone concentrations, and the ratio of testosterone to cortisol was elevated in the afternoon. Training resulted in similar increases in box squat strength regardless of time performed; however peak power increased to a greater extent when training was performed in the afternoon. This observation suggested that circadian rhythmicity has the potential to modulate specific adaptations to resistance exercise. The effect of the ultradian pulsatility of testosterone and cortisol, and their interaction with the hormonal responses to physiological and psychological stimuli, were investigated in Chapter Five. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations of seven males were measured every 10 min between 0800 and 1600 h on three consecutive days. Analysis was consistent with episodic testosterone pulses on non-intervention days. A sprint intervention elicited a small elevation in testosterone and this response correlated with the change in testosterone concentration in the 10 min prior to exercise. Thus, the testosterone response to exercise may be related to the ultradian biorhythm. This interaction could have important implications for adaptation to exercise. The ability of caffeine to modify the hormonal response to exercise was investigated in Chapter Six. A double-blinded, placebo controlled study with 24 athletes ingesting 0, 200, 400, or 800 mg doses of caffeine, assessed testosterone and cortisol responses to resistance exercise sessions. Exercise elevated testosterone, and caffeine enhanced this response in a dose-dependent manner. However, caffeine also produced an elevation in cortisol, and thus the anabolic effects of the testosterone increase may be counteracted by the catabolic effects of cortisol. In conclusion, it has been demonstrated that various strategies are capable of modulating the testosterone and cortisol response to exercise stimuli, and thus have implications for subsequent adaptation and performance.
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Why rock the boat? Non-reporting of intimate partner violence
Hayden, Anne (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThis study critically examines the reasons for non-reporting of intimate partner violence (IPV). It explores the thesis that the use of restorative justice processes could impact on the rate of reporting and victims seeking early interventions for this form of offending (Morris, 2002; Morris & Gelsthorpe, 2000), or giving victims more choice, and therefore power (Curtis-Fawley & Daly, 2005). Empirical data from a range of participants including interviews with key informants such as judges, restorative justice practitioners, victim advocates, and men’s group facilitators, as well as victims and perpetrators of IPV identified a number of key factors responsible for non-reporting. Findings from this study support previous studies in New Zealand and internationally that a relatively small percentage of victims (36.1%) reported informally, to family and friends, and formally, to police, and as low as 5.6% reported intimate partner violence to police only (Fanslow & Robinson, 2010). However, reporting rises to as high as 77% in form of disclosure to “someone”. The factors for non-reporting include fear of the consequences, such as offender retaliation (Jordan, 2004; Ruiz-Perez, Mata-Pariente, & Plazaola-Castano, 2006), loss of children (Robertson et al, 2007), the role of law enforcement agencies such as the police (Tjaden & Thoennes 2000, cited in Jordan, 2004, p. 1415) and the judicial system (Jordan, 2004, p. 1413; Ruiz-Perez et al., 2006; Seuffert, 1996). This study also identified the complex nature of power dynamics in partner relationships as a critical factor in non-reporting of IPV. There are strong reservations in the literature about the use of restorative justice in IPV. For example, some of these concerns include: that it may tend to label IPV crime as conflict thus minimising its seriousness (Hooper and Busch, (1996, p. 10), concerns for the safety of victims, and the potential to reduce offender accountability (Busch and Robertson, (1993, p. 15). This study found significant support (79%) for the use of restorative justice enhancing the reporting of IPV, and no one opposed its use for IPV altogether. One of the key contributions of this study, therefore, is the re-conceptualisation of ‘reporting’ and the development of a reporting framework and how restorative justice could be applied at each of these forms to increase the rate of reporting of IPV.
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Understandability and transparency of the financial statements of charities
Sinclair, Rowena Margaret Sylvia (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyAccess to charities' financial statements has recently become possible in New Zealand due to the development of a Charities Register. However, the ability to discharge accountability through financial statements depends on the financial statements being transparent and understandable, which is not currently the case. This research focused on four complexities that impact on the transparency and understandability of charities' financial statements: the accounting basis; valuation of property, plant and equipment; fund accounting; and how charities report to stakeholders, in particular, the expenditure overheads ratio. The focus of this study was firstly, on gaining an understanding of what accounting treatments charities have adopted to deal with each of these complexities, but more importantly why charities chose these particular accounting treatments. This was achieved by conducting seventy-five interviews with eighty-four participants in the charities’ sector, in order to understand why charities act as they do. This study determined there were three key reasons behind the choices that charities make in accounting treatment. The first relates to the poor knowledge of appropriate professional standards by accountants working in the charities sector. This lack of professionalism must be addressed by accounting professional bodies to ensure the integrity of the accounting profession is maintained. The second is the low level of financial literacy among preparers and users of charities' financial statements. There is a need for charities and their stakeholders, to understand charities' financial statements to ensure charities produce meaningful financial statements that can be utilised for decision making. Third, it is the aim of many charities to 'look poor' as they seek to gain more funding. This impacts the accounting method charities use and so goes against the requirement for neutrality and freedom from bias when preparing financial statements. Accountability is seen as important for the charities sector in maintaining the confidence and financial support of the public by giving an account of charities' activities. For accountability to be successful it needs to be discharged. This study developed a charitable accountability model for charities to utilise in ensuring that accountability is appropriately discharged. This included the need for performance accountability where charities assess, and report on, their performance to ensure that they are making a positive difference in their beneficiaries' lives. Charities need to be proactive in communicating the success of their outcomes and outputs to attract monies and to differentiate themselves from other charitable organisations. Donors and funders also need to ensure that they are supporting financially viable charities who are prudently managing their future and achieving great success in their activities. Above all it is important that donors and funders donate to a good charity, not just to a great cause.
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The design and implementation of an ethics module within an undergraduate Engineering Studies curriculum
Reid, Maxwell Stuart (2011)
Doctoral thesis
Auckland University of TechnologyThis thesis documents the development of an ethics curriculum which is incorporated as a module within the Engineering Studies paper at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in New Zealand. The module is a compulsory component in the final year of the Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech) degrees in the School of Engineering and was designed to meet the ethical and societal requirements of the Washington and Sydney Accords. The thesis reviews the shift in global attitudes, ideology and world opinion towards engineering practice with respect to engineering ethics. It follows the changes in attitudes towards ethics and values within education that led to the requirement to include ethics in university undergraduate engineering programmes. The literature review was an interpretive enquiry into: 1. Professional ethics in engineering. 2. Philosophy of ethics education. 3. Pedagogy of ethics education. 4. Assessment of ethics education. The research method used to review, design and evaluate this curriculum was a combination of interpretive, autobiographical and action research. The overall goal was to develop an appropriate and effective curriculum relevant to engineering to meet the programme objectives related to expected student outcomes. These outcomes were a requirement of the engineering degree programme and highlight the importance of critical thinking in situations where students cannot always rely on routine or tradition when making decisions. The concern here was that the curriculum design should contribute to an overall programme where students graduate with the capability of intelligent, independent, and ethical thought. This thesis not only describes the design and development process, but also the means by which the module was implemented. In the process a number of research foci arose concerning the requirements for an effective ethics teacher and the curriculum development process within the following framework: 1. Diagnosis of the learner's needs and the expectations of larger society. 2. Formulation of learning objectives. 3. Selection of learning content. 4. Organisation of learning content. 5. Selection of learning/teaching experiences. 6. Organisation of learning/teaching experiences. 7. Determinations of what to evaluate and the means to do it. This thesis is a reflective documentation of literature reviews, curriculum development options, and the rationale for the options chosen. What has evolved at AUT is a stand-alone ethics module which is part of the Engineering Studies paper for students in their final undergraduate year. This research is intended to make a contribution to engineering education by providing information and guidance for any university engineering staff member who may wish to, or may be required to, introduce ethics into an undergraduate engineering programme. For those academics already offering ethics papers, this work may provide a stimulus for further thought. Hopefully this work may become a useful resource to others.
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