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An Investigation into the Uptake and Benefit of Virtual Learning Network Opportunities in the Small Business Tourism Sector
No full textWhile there is a growing interest amongst researchers in networks and partnerships to overcome learning barriers, relatively little work on networks has been published with a specific tourism focus. This dissertation is concerned with tourism learning networks (TLNs) and the role of virtual learning environments (VLEs) in sustaining member viability following facilitated TLN interaction. This research set out to investigate and understand users‘ adoption and uptake of Fáilte Ireland‘s VLE commencing with a comprehensive literature review, relating to virtual learning network environments. Review of the literature was undertaken from a social and informational viewpoint identifying virtual network opportunities among small businesses primarily in the tourism sector, and resulting in a virtual learning network conceptual framework for a small firm environment. The methodology for this study was shaped by the need to investigate participant activity within the VLE and to establish the uptake and benefits associated with its adoption. In order to fulfil the requirements of the research proposed, a mixed method approach was employed. This approach enabled the research to comprehensively uncover quantitative measurements with qualitative insights through the use of key informant interviews, census questionnaire, click stream data analysis and finally semi-structured interviews. This mixed methods approach assisted in avoiding information narrowness. By using multiple methods the researcher was able to meaningfully track participant perceptions and analyse interactive learning in a facilitated VLE. Findings classified the nature of the network community in both physical and virtual capacities, through the identification of modes of communication, level of membership, intentions to seek advice, make contact and contribute within the networking community. In terms of VLN usage, time was identified as the lead barrier to using the VLE, followed by a lack of training, and a low usage level among TLN members. Furthermore, findings suggest that while participants are willing to seek advice and share information within the VLN, most respondents felt they made only limited contributions to the VLN community. This study is of considerable interest to small tourism business owners who wish to benefit from the value added by a VLN. From a theoretical perspective, this research offers a framework for facilitation of virtual learning environments in the small firm context. This framework indicates the necessary dimensions involved in promotion of interactive learning online, therefore adding to the existing body of knowledge in the area. This study also gives insight into areas of concern for the Fáilte Ireland team by providing an in-depth analysis of participants‘ perspectives in relation to virtual collaboration (activity, barriers, and adoption levels), participants‘ perspectives in relation to the TLN learning support structure, and any underlying behavioural mediators, that may be responsible for poor VLN activity among participants
'Mehr Freiheit zue Wahrheit' Die Darstellung der soziookonomischen und politischen Verhaltnisse in der Prosa von Christoph Hein
Get PDFThe title of this research thesis is: “Mehr Freiheit zur Wahrheit”. The portrayal of the socio-economic and political conditions in the prose writings of Christoph Hein. Christoph Hein is one of the most prominent and prolific writers of the former German Democratic Republic. He has also made noteworthy contributions to the literary scene in the reunited Germany and continues to receive much critical acclaim for his literary output. He is a renowned novelist, dramatist and essayist, whose works have been translated into several languages.
The aim of this research is to examine Hein’s portrayal of the socio-economic and political conditions in the pre- and post-reunification Germany in a selection of his prose writings. Three major novels, one pre- and two post-reunification, spanning a 11-year period, are examined in the light of the major impact of the Wende1 on an entire socio-economic and political system. The novels selected for the thesis are: Der Tangospieler (1989), Von allem Anfang an (1997) and Willenbrock (2000). References will also be made to other works by Hein. The outcome of the research will present some interesting and even surprising conclusions. In his novels Hein shows that there is continuity in socio-economic and political change, but crucial lessons need to be learned from the lived experience in different political systems so as to inform improvements in the socio-economic conditions and avoid repeating old mistakes. Reunification represents for Hein freedom from the limitations of censorship of the press and literature, an end to restrictions on travel and freedom to express opinions without fear of recriminations.
His novels show, however, that these new freedoms may not overcome all the restrictions of the past. Quite the contrary, the new society throws up new shortcomings, such as unemployment, exploitation of the labour force, threat to personal security, capitalist greed, the rule of the mafia and so on. However, the open society can allow for progression towards a higher level of insight into what comprises a better economy and a better social reality, i.e. it presents “Mehr Freiheit zur Wahrheit”, that is “more freedom to the truth”.
Christoph Hein ist einer der prominentesten und produktivsten Schriftsteller der ehemaligen Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, der außerdem nach wie vor bemerkenswerte Beiträge zur literarischen Szene des vereinten Deutschlands liefert und dafür kritischen Beifall erhält. Er ist ein renommierter Romanschriftsteller, Dramatiker, Essayist und Publizist, dessen Werke in viele Sprachen übersetzt wurden. Das Ziel der Forschungsarbeit ist es, die in der Prosa von Christoph Hein dargestellten sozioökonomischen und politischen Verhältnisse in der DDR und im wiedervereinigten Deutschland zu untersuchen, um den Zusammenhang zwischen Politik und Wirtschaft genauer zu beleuchten. Dafür wurden drei Romane von Christoph Hein, ein Vor-Wende und zwei Nach-Wende Romane – Der Tangospieler (1989), Von allem Anfang an (1997) und Willenbrock (2000) – ausgewählt, da sie verschiedene Epochen und Themen aufgreifen, die die sozioökonomischen und politischen Verhältnisse in der DDR und im wiedervereinigten Deutschland beleuchten.
Das Schicksal des Individuums in den verschiedenen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Systemen und die Kontinuität im politischen und ökonomischen Wandel sind das Hauptanliegen in den ausgewählten Werken von Christoph Hein. Aus der Darstellung der Erfahrungen der Romanfiguren, die in den verschiedenen Gesellschaftssystemen gemacht wurden und die beispielhaft sind für die gesamte Gesellschaft, geht hervor, dass bestimmte Lehren für die Zukunft gezogen warden müssen. Die Wiedervereinigung repräsentiert für Hein Reisefreiheit, die Befreiung von der Zensur in Presse und Literatur einschließlich einer Meinungsfreiheit ohne Angst vor gegenseitiger Schuldzuweisung. Allerdings zeigt Hein in seinem Roman Willenbrock, dass diese neuen Freiheiten nicht alle Beschränkungen beseitigen konnten. Im Gegenteil, die neue Gesellschaftsordnung wirft neue Probleme auf: Arbeitslosigkeit, Ausbeutung der Menschen, Bedrohung der persönlichen Sicherheit, kapitalistische Besitzgier und die Machenschaften der Mafia. Doch eine freiheitliche und demokratische Gesellschaft ermöglicht „Mehr Freiheit zur Wahrheit“
Dynamic Knowledge Management Capability (DKMC): From Resources to Capital (RIKON Group)
Get PDFStrategic management theory has largely and traditionally focused on the external environment in which a firm can achieve competitive advantage (Bounfour, 2003). Increasingly literature has redirected their focus towards the more controllable internal resources within the firm (Barney, 1991). An increasing amount of literature has recognised that the potential for competitive advantage arises from Intellectual Capital (IC) in the form of human, relational and structural resources (Teece, 1998). However, transforming these resources in to Intellectual Capital has received scant attention within the literature and remains a central dilemma for most firms. Utilising the tourism industry as a context, this paper presents a conceptual model that details how the cultural and heritage organisation can effectively deploy and reconfigure resources to deliver sustained competitive advantage through cognitive and action orientated processes. The model proposes that the transformative process involves the integration of a firm’s knowledge and learning capability. The knowledge management capability engages the firm’s capital and transforms its inert state through the acquisition, storage, retrieval and distribution of knowledge within the firm (Crossan et al, 1999), while the application of knowledge takes place through learning within the firm (Chatzkel, 2000)
GAISS - Live Asset Tracking and Statistical Modelling in Missing Person Search
Get PDFThe GAISS project provided a system for integrat- ing live over-the-air automatic positional reports, recorded GPS data, and statistical models of missing person behaviour in an effort to aid the tasks of search planning and recording in missing person searches. This paper gives an overview of the aims of GAISS, describes the user requirements gathering with a primary response agency, integration between their PMR network both between the software and an existing position reporting system (APRS), and finally describes a field trial of the system, and the information gained from this
Policy Refinement for Traffic Management in Home Area Networks – Problem Statement
Get PDFTraditional home area network (HAN) equipment is usually unmanaged and network traffic is served in best effort fashion. This type of unmanaged network sometimes causes quality-of-service issues in the HAN, for example loss of quality in streamed video or audio content. Traffic
management rules using policies to prioritise certain types of traffic according to user requirements and to assign bandwidth limits to other traffic types. However very little work has been done yet addressing the specification of these requirements, how they would be communicated to the gateway device using policies, and how the policies would be refined into device level configurations to effectively implement the user requirements. In this paper we briefly discuss this
as a research problem, placing it within the context of the research goals and an initial research methodology in the area of policy refinement for policy-based traffic management in home area networks (HANs)
Apolipoprotein E genotype is associated with macular pigment optical density.
Get PDFPURPOSE: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in older people in developed countries, and risk factors for this condition may be classified as genetic and environmental. Apolipoprotein E is putatively involved in the transport of the macular pigment (MP) carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) in serum and may also influence retinal capture of these compounds. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and ApoE genotype.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 302 healthy adult subjects. Dietary intake of L and Z was assessed by food frequency questionnaire, and MPOD was measured by customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. Serum L and Z were measured by HPLC. ApoE genotyping was performed by direct polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA nucleotide sequencing from peripheral blood.
RESULTS: Genotype data were available on 300 of the 302 (99.3%) subjects. The mean (+/- SD) age of the subjects in this study was 47.89 +/- 11.05 (range, 21-66) years. Subjects were classed into one of three ApoE genotype groups, as follows: group 1, epsilon2epsilon2 or epsilon2epsilon3; group 2, epsilon3epsilon3; group 3, epsilon2epsilon4 or epsilon3epsilon4 or epsilon4epsilon4. All three groups were statistically comparable in terms of age, sex, body mass index, cigarette smoking, and dietary and serum levels of L and Z. There was a statistically significant association between ApoE genotype and MPOD. Subjects who had at least one epsilon4 allele had a higher MPOD across the macula than subjects without this allele (group 1 MPOD area, 0.70 +/- 0.40; group 2 MPOD area, 0.67 +/- 0.42; group 3 MPOD area, 0.85 +/- 0.46; one-way ANOVA, P = 0.014.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ApoE genotype status is associated with MPOD. This association may explain, at least in part, the putative protective effect of the epsilon4 allele for AMD and is consistent with the view that apolipoprotein profile influences the transport and/or retinal capture of circulating L and/or Z
Risk factors for age-related maculopathy.
Get PDFAge-related maculopathy (ARM) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Although beneficial therapeutic strategies have recently begun to emerge, much remains unclear regarding the etiopathogenesis of this disorder. Epidemiologic studies have enhanced our understanding of ARM, but the data, often conflicting, has led to difficulties with drawing firm conclusions with respect to risk for this condition. As a consequence, we saw a need to assimilate the published findings with respect to risk factors for ARM, through a review of the literature appraising results from published cross-sectional studies, prospective cohort studies, case series, and case control studies investigating risk for this condition. Our review shows that, to date, and across a spectrum of epidemiologic study designs, only age, cigarette smoking, and family history of ARM have been consistently demonstrated to represent risk for this condition. In addition, genetic studies have recently implicated many genes in the pathogenesis of age-related maculopathy, including Complement Factor H, PLEKHA 1, and LOC387715/HTRA1, demonstrating that environmental and genetic factors are important for the development of ARM suggesting that gene-environment interaction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this condition
Effects of multi-species swards on dry matter production and the incidence of unsown species at three Irish sites
Get PDFRecent ecological research provides evidence that an increased number of plant species in natural grasslands is associated with increased biomass productivity, and provides a wide range of other ecosystem benefits. This suggests that increases in species diversity in agricultural ecosystems may similarly lead to increased benefits. The work reported below was part of the COST 852 Agrodiversity experiment, carried out at 34 sites across Europe. In Ireland, the effects of four-species grass-clover mixtures on herbage production, species persistence and unsown species suppression at three sites over multiple years, were investigated under growing conditions that were intensive relative to unfertilised natural grassland systems. The design included a range of four-species mixtures and monocultures of perennial ryegrass, timothy, cocksfoot, white clover, red clover and Caucasian clover. Several harvests were taken at each site for two or three years. Species diversity had a strong, persistent and positive effect on overall yield and the yield of sown species, and enhanced resistance to the growth of unsown species. Mixtures generally yielded well when compared with the best monoculture, and sometimes out yielded it. These effects on total yield declined over time but were still important at the end of the experiments. The diversity effects on sown species yield and on resistance to unsown species increased with time. Diversity effects were robust to changes in species composition, and persisted for the duration of the experiments across mixtures and over time. Virtually every mixture had a higher yield, and suppressed unsown species better, than monocultures of perennial ryegrass. These patterns were broadly consistent across sites. The persistence of species varied widely and was not consistent across sites
Assessment of post-beetle impacts on natural regeneration of Lodgepole Pine
Get PDFThe ecological disturbance from wildfire (2004) on ~ 10,000 hectares of forests near the Kenny Dam presented a unique opportunity to study the natural and artificial regeneration in burned mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) infested stands in north-central British Columbia. Mountain pine beetle (MPB) has been documented as a natural disturbance agent that may precede wildfire in lodgepole pine forests (Pinus contorta var. latifolia). The objectives of this study were to i) characterize lodgepole pine regeneration and related micro-site conditions associated with wildfire, ii) identify limitations for germination, survival and recruitment of natural and artificial regeneration in relation to site moisture, fire severity, and vegetative competition, iii) determine if regeneration was limited by belowground factors (soil characteristics, ectomycorrhizal inoculum, nitrogen-cycling bacterial communities), and iv) provide guidance on local operational management of MPB-killed stands. The germination, survival and recruitment of lodgepole pine seedlings over two growing seasons were compared on 18 disturbance plots (replicated three times) with three fire severity classes (high, moderate, low), two moisture regimes (dry and wet), two seed provenances (wild and improved Class-A), and two seedbed types (disturbed and undisturbed). In the growing seasons following the fire (2005 and 2006), seeded plots experienced bursts of spring germination followed by continuous minor waves of new germination (that ended by August 2006). Results showed that natural regeneration was highest on wet sites and seedling density increased with declining fire severity. On dry sites, new germinants were rare and limited by microsite conditions associated with high and moderate fire severity, with highest germination rates experienced on low fire severity. Seed provenance did not influence germination and survival rates. In contrast to the germination, survival and recruitment results, growth rates were highest on the dry sites and increased with increasing fire severity. Thus, although recruitment on dry sites is unlikely to sufficiently restock these stands with lodgepole pine, the recruits show the highest growth rates. Conversely, recruitment on the wet sites will fully sufficient to fully restock these stands, but the growth rates of the seedlings will likely be impeded by competition with other vegetation. Although we documented adverse impacts of MPB and burning on soil properties, and lower diversity of ectomycorrhizal communities and nitrogen-cycling bacterial communities on the dry sites, there is no evidence that these factors are limiting growth of recruits on these dry sites. We are reviewing these results and preparing publications, and will make final management recommendations once the data are completely analyzed