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Two online collaborative assignments that connected students in courses at Unitec, New Zealand, and Baruch College, City University of New York, are the focus of this article. For the first assignment, small, blended groups used five different online techniques to explore topics being discussed in an intercultural communication course at each university. In the second assignment, student teams discussed a case study posted online and produced a collaborative report on their findings. Both assignments were designed to enhance student learning in business communication through computer-mediated communication (CMC) and diverse team building. In this article, the authors first discuss their rationale and goal for this online collaborative project. They then describe how they implemented and evaluated the two assignments, and summarize student recommendations for further replication.

Résumé: L'IRM est l'examen de référence pour l'étude des suppurations ano-périnéales. Sa prescription est indispensable pour la prise en charge des fistules anales récidivantes, complexes et/ou si elles sont associées à une maladie de Crohn. Afin d'obtenir une imagerie de qualité, un protocole minimal est requis comme suit : acquisition de séquences en pondération T2 sans saturation du signal de la graisse dans les trois plans du canal anal (une de ces séquences peut être faite avec saturation du signal de la graisse), une séquence 3D ou trois séquences 2D dans les trois plans du canal anal en pondération T1 avec saturation du signal de la graisse et après injection de gadolinium. Un compte rendu standardisé est utile pour obtenir une analyse exhaustive d'une suppuration ano-périnéale en IRM. La réalisation d'un schéma anatomique est appréciée des cliniciens pour guider le drainage de la suppuration. Dans les fistules crypto-glandulaires, l'IRM est complémentaire de l'examen proctologique pour confirmer ou infirmer la relation entre la suppuration et l'appareil sphinctérien. Elle guide le geste du chirurgien grâce à une cartographie complète du trajet fistuleux. Elle est utile pour prévoir la stratégie thérapeutique, notamment pour les fistules anales complexes où plusieurs temps chirurgicaux avec mise en place de sétons seront nécessaires. Elle permet enfin, si besoin, de vérifier l'efficacité du traitement. Dans la maladie de Crohn, l'IRM est indispensable avant tout drainage chirurgical d'une fistule anale sauf contexte d'urgence. Outre les intérêts précédemment cités, elle est utile pour différencier l'inflammation liée à la maladie de la fibrose et pour évaluer l'état de la paroi rectale. Après l'instauration d'un traitement par une biothérapie ± un immunosuppresseur associé à la chirurgie, l'IRM évalue la rémission de la suppuration qui est définie par l'absence de collection > 10 mm et une hyperintensité T2 absente ou modérée du trajet fistuleux et de ses extensions secondaires. Anoperineal MRI is the gold standard to study anoperineal suppurations. Its prescription is essential for the management of recurrent or complex anal fistulas or if they are associated with Crohn's disease. To obtain quality imaging, a minimal protocol is required comprising the following sequences like: Acquisition of T2-weighted sequences without fat saturation of the signal in the 3 planes of the anal canal (one of these sequences can be done with fat saturation of the signal), a 3D sequence or 3 2D sequences in the 3 planes of the anal canal in T1-weighting with fat saturation of the signal and after injection of gadolinium. A standardized report is useful to obtain a comprehensive analysis of anoperineal suppuration on MRI. The production of an anatomical diagram is appreciated by clinicians to guide the drainage of suppuration. The main etiology of anoperineal suppurations is crypto-glandular anal fistula. The anoperineal MRI is complementary to the proctologic examination to confirm or deny the relationship between the suppuration and the anal sphincter. It maps the fistula path with precision. It is useful to plan therapeutic strategy, especially for complex anal fistulas which require several anal surgeries with the placement of a seton. Finally, if necessary, it useful to check the effectiveness of the treatment. In fistulizing anoperineal Crohn's disease, anoperineal MRI is essential before any surgery of an anal fistula except in an emergency context. In addition to the interests mentioned above, it is useful to distinguish disease-related inflammation from fibrosis and to assess the rectal wall. After the initiation of treatment with biotherapy ± an immunosuppressant in combination with surgery, MRI assess remission of the suppuration which is defined by the absence of collection > 10 mm and absent or moderate T2 hyperintensity of the fistula path and its extensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Anne Daae Nordvang, Deborah Rolland, Ken Simpson This article takes a case study approach to analyse the effectiveness of internal communication policies and processes during a period of significant organisational change caused by the introduction of new technology into a firm's core business activity. Results indicate that effective internal communication practices can positively affect organisational culture, and therefore contribute to the overall effectiveness of the change process. As a result, staff shows increased support for management's goals and strategies, and demonstrate increased commitment to subsequent change initiatives.

Byline: Peter Carswell, Deborah Rolland This paper examines the relationship between religion and entrepreneurship and whether religious practice impacts on how individuals view the individual and societal contribution of business enterprise. Religion and enterprise have a complex interdependent relation (Dodd and Seaman, 1998; Anderson et al., 2000), with the Western Protestant work ethic raising entrepreneurship to a privileged status. As ethnic diversity has increased within the western world, so too has the religious mix of value systems and religious belief systems that come with such diversity/religions. Paralleling increasing diversity is the decreasing participation rates in the traditional Christian churches. We question the impact of this changing religious mix on entrepreneurial participation and perception. Our findings indicate that increasing ethnic diversity and associated religious value systems are certainly not going to negatively reduce the business start-up rate. If anything, the start-up rate may be enhanced.

Byline: Prue Cruickshank, Deborah Rolland Evidence about the communication behaviour of entrepreneurs indicates that entrepreneurs have more extensive communication networks than non-entrepreneurs, communicate more intensively, and use more modern communication technologies. This year we are interested in the contribution of communication networking to entrepreneurial business enterprise in New Zealand.