Browsing by Subject "Action research"
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Item Open Access Adopting integrated application lifecycle management within a large-scale software company: an action research approach(Elsevier, 2018) Tüzün, Eray; Tekinerdogan, B.; Macit, Y.; Ince, K.Context: Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) is a paradigm for integrating and managing the various activities related to the governance, development and maintenance of software products. In the last decade, several ALM tools have been proposed to support this process, and an increasing number of companies have started to adopt ALM. Objective: We aim to investigate the impact of adopting ALM in a real industrial context to understand and justify both the benefits and obstacles of applying integrated ALM. Method: As a research methodology, we apply action research that we have carried out within HAVELSAN, a large-scale IT company. The research was carried out over a period of seven years starting in 2010 when the ALM initiative has been started in the company to increase productivity and decrease maintenance costs. Results: The paper presents the results of the action research that includes the application of ALM practices. The transitions among the different steps are discussed in detail, together with the identified obstacles, benefits and lessons learned. Conclusions: Our seven-year study shows that the adoption of ALM processes is not trivial and its success is related to many factors. An important conclusion is that a piecemeal solution as provided by ALM 1.0 is not feasible for the complex process and tool integration problems of large enterprises. Hence the transition to ALM 2.0 was found necessary to cope with the organizational and business needs. Although ALM 2.0 appeared to be a more mature ALM approach, there are still obstacles that need attention from both researchers and practitioners.Item Open Access Assessing international mindedness in staff at an IB PYP school in Erbil(Bilkent University, 2017-03) MacPherson, AlannaThis action research explored using an assessment tool to assess international mindedness with the multi-cultural and multi-lingual staff of one International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) school in Northern Iraq. The study went on to explore the staff’s reactions to and reflections on the tool and international mindedness as well as the administrators’ reactions and reflections on the analysis of the staff responses. The study gathered data from staff using surveys before taking the Global Competence Aptitude Assessment (GCAA) and used surveys and focus group interviews to gather data after the GCAA was completed. The data analysis from the GCAA found a significant difference in international mindedness between two groups of staff members – those from Iraq and surrounding countries (Turkey, Greece, Azerbaijan) and staff from Western countries. Staff from both groups found the GCAA to be written from a Western business perspective and they disliked the style and amount of questions in the GCAA. Administrators at the school reflected that information from the GCAA could lead to the development of a more internationally minded teacher induction program and on-going professional development about international mindedness in the school. The PYP coordinator, as the action researcher, found that the GCAA and focus group interviews identified gaps in the understanding of international mindedness of the staff. Identifying the gaps in understanding completed the first part of the action research cycle that can then lead to further discussion and development of the meaning of international mindedness across the school and how that meaning is developed further.Item Open Access The dilemma of developing an industry code of conduct in a medium of widespread corruption(Bilkent University, 1996) Ateş, ÖzgürThis study analyzes the relations between suppliers and the buyers (decision makers) in the health care products in Turkey. The analysis of the study showed that to establish a code of conduct in the industry, is practically impossible at the moment due to the lack of favorable conditions, basically the corruptive environment. This study is divided into eight parts. However the main concentration was on ten case episodes, analysis of the cases and strategies related to negotiation. Cases were developed based on the data collected through personal interviews.. The Action Research methodology was employed during the study. This method includes evaluation of agreed upon actions related to the data gathenng, information, information shanng, action planning, and lessons learned from the case studies. Also a search conference was held in in March 1995,in Antalya for three days, which is a particapatory planning method. The participants, who were 35-40 stakeholders from the health care products sector, designed the future of the sector, and the strategies to implement them. An official organization (association) called SADER (Sağlık Gereçleri Üreticileri ve Temsilcileri Derneği/ Association of Health Care Product Manufacturers and Representatives) was established to develop honest, fair and trustworthy relations between (suppliers) and the buyers. It is expected this organization will play an important role in the years ahead in achieving its main goals since SADER members control 80 percent of the market. It is also predicted that all parties namely suppliers, buyers, and the domain, involved will get mutual benefits out of this action plan. The episodes analyzed in the text will give an analytical perspective to the reader, i.e. the problems between parties can easily be solved through effective communication and understandings. Based on the analysis of the available data and review of the findings several recommendations are made to alleviate some of the problems that exist between suppliers and the buyers. Findings are classified under the learning perspective which indicates how a necessary change takes place and the cultural and social perspective where characteristics of the domain is reviewed on the individual as well as the societal level.Item Open Access Facilitating place-based environmental education through bird studies: an action research investigation(Routledge, 2017) Can, Ö. K.; Lane, J. F.; Ateşkan, A.This study involved a workshop designed to support biology teachers in conducting birdwatching activities with their students and to promote place-based environmental education in Turkey. The instruments for collecting data were a workshop questionnaire and interviews. The findings revealed that initial response to the workshop was positive; participating teachers reported that the resources and strategies motivated them to conduct bird studies with students. They identified barriers and noted that the place-based education approach might help overcome many of these barriers. After the workshop, it became clear that participants’ initial intentions to integrate birdwatching into their lessons were challenged by lack of confidence and time. To gain deeper insights into the outcomes of the project, the project coordinator used action research strategies to reflect on her practice and reveal implications for her continued efforts to promote bird and environmental education. She kept a journal, used reiterative reflection, and content analysis to analyse workshop evaluations and interviews. The coordinator recognized potentials and challenges for facilitating birdwatching and environmental education as part of her teaching career. This study shares some of her efforts to provide ongoing support and emphasizes that facilitation of environmental education needs time, commitment, and passion. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.