To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Cost Management System.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Cost Management System'
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Cost Management System.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Theodorakopoulos, Thomas F. "Integrated cost management system for delivering construction projects." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2017. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/27629.
Full textAbstract:
Cost management forms a major discipline in delivering construction projects of different sizes and complexity. Traditional cost management systems are mostly based on principles enacted several decades ago. A notable feature of these traditional cost management systems is that key information required for critical decisions is usually produced too late, and is often too aggregated and configured in a form that is not amenable to the requirements for current project management practice. Other problems associated with traditional cost systems relate to inadequacies in estimating and cost control processes and particularly the lack of integration of cost management across the whole project. The lack of integration means measurements provided by traditional cost systems do not sufficiently align with the goals and objectives set for the project. To address these inherent weaknesses in the current practice of cost management, a number of studies have argued for an integrated alternative that better responds to the information demand and decision making need to be developed. The thesis presents the development of a solution to such an integrated cost management system. The developed solution addresses the gaps of the traditional option by integrating the stages making up the whole life cycle of the project to enable professionals gain an appreciation of the ramifications of any early decisions made. The investigation conducted to support the development of the integrated cost management system and the applied model addresses user requirements and determination of the system boundary conditions for efficacious use by key decision makers. The new cost management system developed achieves a linkage of the planning and control stages into one, with a continuous stream of cost management information in both stages. The integration ensures that cost information is more relevant to the circumstances of the modern project manager.
2
Petrucci, David J. "Improved affordability in DoD acquisitions through strategic management of systemic cost risk." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/100364.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-95).
For almost 70 years, actual costs of Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) in the Department of Defense (DoD) have exceeded on average between 20% and 506% of their life cycle cost estimates, which are official expectations of actual program costs prior to completion. Despite numerous DoD acquisition reform efforts and implementation of sophisticated cost estimation techniques, this cost growth continues to exist. Accurate cost estimates are vital to the capital budgeting process for the DoD since they are used to set the affordability cap for each MDAP and across DoD Component weapon system program portfolios. Affordability is defined as the upper limit a DoD Component can allocate for a program without reducing costs or shifting resources between programs. To improve affordability in the DoD, a method that quantifies and adjusts for the persistent cost growth to enhance the accuracy of cost estimates is needed to promote more responsible and sustainable MDAP capital investment decisions. This thesis presents a simple yet powerful method of quantifying and correcting for systemic cost estimation risk in MDAPs to improve cost estimate accuracy and, consequently, affordability. Cost estimation risk is defined as the difference between estimated and actual MDAP costs (on average a deficit), and it consists of systemic and program-specific components. This dichotomized risk framework is similar to the one used in the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) in which the growth rate in value of any one of a set of assets comprising a market in equilibrium is proportional to its systemic risk exposure to that market. In the CAPM, systemic risk aggregated risk from multiple economic factors - pervades the market and is unavoidable, and asset-specific risk is considered unpredictable due to idiosyncratic uncertainties. By analogy, the growth rate in cost estimates for a program belonging to the "market" of MDAPs is assumed proportional to that MDAP's systemic risk exposure to the market. Like in CAPM, systemic cost estimation risk - aggregated risk from 26 systemic factors identified in this thesis - pervades the market for MDAPs, as evidenced by historical cost overruns, and program-specific cost risk is considered unpredictable and best mitigated by program-dedicated professional cost estimators in the DoD and defense industry. From this analogy, the expected growth-beta relationship of CAPM may be adapted to determine for MDAPs the systemic cost risk-adjusted growth rates for the defense commodity classes of aircraft, electronics and software, missiles, ships, space and satellites, and vehicles. These classes are the same used by the Bureau of Economic Analysis to segment defense commodities into distinct price index "baskets" based upon common inflation risks among commodities within each class. Based on this rationale, each MDAP is assumed to share systemic cost risk within its respective class; this risk is measured by beta in the expected growth-beta relationship. Defense commodity class beta values are calculated by linear regression of historical percentage cost estimate changes of member MDAPs with those of all MDAPs, and then averaging these beta values over the appropriate defense commodity class. Next, the expected cost estimate growth rate for any MDAP may be calculated by first estimating the future expected growth rate in all MDAPs using the arithmetic mean of historical annual cost estimate percentage changes, and then scaling this rate by the particular MDAP's systemic cost risk exposure - the defense commodity class beta value for which it is a member. Finally, the Systemic Risk Factor (SRF) for each defense commodity class is calculated from these growth rates and the forecast time horizon, adjusted for compounding effects over relatively longer time horizons, and then applied to current MDAP cost estimates to form systemic risk-adjusted cost estimates to improve affordability. This method was applied to an empirical retrospective case study using a set of cost data from six MDAPs, one from each commodity class, as a partial validation of the method. The results of this study show an overall 57% enhancement in estimation accuracy when comparing the initial and SRF-adjusted MDAP cost estimates to the final estimates, indicating quantifying and adjusting for systemic cost risk can improve cost estimation accuracy. To show the effectiveness of this method on improving affordability, these six programs were combined to form a hypothetical acquisition portfolio and assessed for affordability over a five year period. While the unadjusted portfolio was not affordable four out of five years, the SRF-adjusted portfolio was affordable in all but the last year, illustrating the benefit of adjusting cost estimates for systemic risk. However, the benefits of improved cost estimate accuracy and affordability come at the cost of potentially over-budgeting for priority MDAPs thereby leaving less funds available for other, lower priority programs. Additionally, this method is not shown to be optimal in the sense of minimizing cost estimate errors to maximize affordability. Still, empirical results are promising and warrant further research into the idea of using SRFs to adjust life cycle cost estimates and ultimately improve MDAP affordability for the DoD.
by David Petrucci.
S.M. in Engineering and Management
3
Escobedo, Arnaldo C. "Peruvian weapon system acquisition process." Thesis, Monterey, California : Naval Postgraduate School, 1990. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA241840.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 1990.Thesis Advisor(s): Haga, William J. Second Reader: Gates, William R. "December 1990." Description based on title screen as viewed on March 29, 2010. DTIC Identifier(s): Life Cycle Costs, Cost Analysis, Weapon Systems, Military Procurement, Acquisition, Foreign Military Sales, USSR, Peru, Technology Transfer, International Trade, Debt, Theses. Author(s) subject terms: Peruvian Weapon Systems Acquisition Process, Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Unite Foreign Military Sales. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-83). Also available in print.
4
Obi, L. I. "Development of a system model for cost management in low-cost housing projects in Nigeria." Thesis, University of Salford, 2017. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/41605/.
Full textAbstract:
Poor project cost performance is one of the vital issues challenging successful construction project delivery particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria. This issue is endemic particularly in Low-cost housing (LcH) projects with adverse effects on delivery, affordability of the target beneficiaries and housing situations in Nigeria. Past studies highlight the relationship between project cost management systems (CMS) and cost performances. However, extensive studies exploring the CMS for LcH project delivery in Nigeria are rare. Apparently, no contemporary attempts are made to proffer appropriate and well-developed systematic solutions indicating possible continuing trends of poor cost management and performances in LcH project delivery. Given this discovery, this research seeks to develop a cost management system model (CMSM) for LcH project delivery in Nigeria. Empirical investigations explore the concepts of LcH project delivery, project cost management system (CMS) and implementation success factors (IMSF). The research leans towards an interpretivism perspective. It adopts a case study strategy and employs a sequential mixed method procedure for data collection and analysis at different phases of the research. A mix of focus group, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires facilitated data collection and thematic- content analysis and statistical analysis (percentages, relative agreement index, Kruskal-Wallis, and exploratory factor analysis) for data analysis. Research findings reveal that popular CMS employed by the Project Management Teams (PMT) are incapable of delivering effective LcH project cost performances following three key constraints: difficulty to effectively set target cost, plan and perform real-time project cost monitoring and control, creating rooms for variations and overruns. These limitations were traceable to inappropriate use of cost management techniques, process approach alongside 18 implementation barriers. Integrating Target costing, Earn value analysis, a cost-design-control process approach and consideration of three key IMSF namely effective team qualities, effective information and management actions and stable operational environment were identified measures to improve current CMS efficacy. The research findings were used to develop the CMSM and its operational guide employing three modelling techniques: conventional process modelling, interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and the interpretive ranking process (IRP). These modelling techniques enhanced the design and understanding of the contextual relationships between the techniques, process, and IMSF in the CMS. The IRP and ISM used in this study are novel contributions to construction research, particularly in the area of LcH project cost management. The validation of the CMSM shows its capability to facilitate improved project cost management towards effective cost performances of LcH projects. The CMSM will assist the PMT to set effectively, plan, monitor, and control costs in LcH project delivery in Nigeria.
5
Morris, Harry W. (Harry Winfred). "Facility management system--a life cyle cost model program documentation." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/14878.
Full text
6
Huang, Ken S. M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Towards an information technology infrastructure cost model." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/42365.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-67).
Ever since the introduction of the Internet in 1994, one of the defining characteristics of the global economy, particularly in the US, is a dramatic increase in expenditures on Information Technology. While this trend is expected to continue, a major issue for companies of all sizes is the manner in which precise forecasting of future IT cost may be undertaken. The present thesis investigates the possibility that a set of the essential deterministic cost drivers with varying weighted factors may prove capable of estimating total IT infrastructure costs. An online questionnaire was developed for this purpose, and was used to survey senior IT leadership teams. The data collected from this survey was then computed with Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to illustrate the relative importance of different cost drivers. The study revealed three primary findings. First, that a set of essential deterministic cost drivers with varying weighted factors could be used as a general tool for estimating the total cost of IT infrastructure. Second, these different sectors prioritize cost drivers differently from each other. In the Financial Services sector, for instance, the security of the IT network was reported to be of greater importance than the service call response time. In the Technology sector, however, the opposite was true. Third, numerous correlations were found to exist within each cost driver category defined. The correlated nature of these cost parameters may mean that a more parsimonious model may be more predictive of total IT infrastructure costs. It is hoped that these findings may be of benefit to a variety of large and small commercial and government entities, which may be able to use the predictive cost drivers to help eliminate problems related to inaccurate IT cost estimates.
(cont.) It is believed that the cost model proposed may be applicable across a variety of economic sectors. In this thesis, its applicability is demonstrated within the 3 financial services and technology sectors. Future research may be useful in evaluating the model further, by increasing the sample size, and by testing the reliability and validity of the cost model within additional economic sectors.
by Ken Huang.
S.M.
7
Page, Austin M. (Austin Markley). "Technical debt : the cost of doing nothing." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/121795.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2019Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Vita.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 93-96).
The Air Force is currently paying a cost for the mismanagement of its software development activities. Software-intensive systems are consistently plagued with cost, schedule, and performance issues, which in the current fiscal environment is unsustainable. There has been much research on the benefits of process improvement, yet the concept of product health is largely ignored. Technical debt - the consequence of making short-term design decisions at the expense of long-term health - has been accumulating within code bases as developers and managers struggle to identify, quantify, and manage it properly. In this thesis, an extensive literature search is performed to define technical debt, explain its implications, and highlight methods to quantify and visualize it so organizations can address it explicitly. Through the use of architectural health analysis tools, a set of metrics is defined and used in case studies to highlight the extent to which the Air Force has lost control of its software and the price it has to pay because of it. Ultimately, eleven recommendations are given on how to incorporate architectural health analysis tools into software development activities to prevent, identify, manage, and reduce the amount of technical debt across product lifecycles.
by Austin M. Page.
S.M. in Engineering and Management
S.M.inEngineeringandManagement Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program
8
Blake, William L. (William Lawrence) 1970. "Using system dynamics to understand barriers to cost reduction." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/88862.
Full text
9
Chang, Josh (Josh Woolim). "Cost accounting system for an emergency department." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98979.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2015. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT.Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 113-114).
In 2011, Michael Porter and Robert Kaplan - the godfather of modern managerial accounting and professor at Harvard Business School - said "There is an almost complete lack of understanding of how much it costs to deliver patient care, much less how those costs compare with the outcomes achieved." They also stated "U.S. healthcare costs exceed 17% of GDP and continue to rise" and "a fundamental source of escalating costs is the system by which those costs are measured" [1] In 2015, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a Harvard teaching hospital, and MIT's Leaders for Global Operations program partnered to address this cost measurement issue for BIDMC's Emergency Department (ED). The joint team developed a cost accounting model and implemented it as a software system. Using the resulting system as a ruler for measuring cost of each patient visit, the ED is now able to assess cost of each visit, identify leverage points for cost reduction, and discover best practices from its own data. Most importantly, the ED is now making informed cost improvement decisions and can measure the impact of changes. This paper documents in detail how we developed the cost accounting model and implemented the cost accounting system at the BIDMC ED, so that other emergency departments may be able to benefit.
by Josh Chang.
M.B.A.
S.M.
10
Aysegul, Kuzucu. "Analyzing Cost Structure In Logistics Sector: A System Dynamics Approach." Master's thesis, METU, 2006. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12606936/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
In today&rsquos conditions, systems that surround individuals have evolved in structure such that, nature of variable interactions are much more complex and changing continuously. Logistics systems, which constitute an example for such systems, have also necessitated fast management and decision-making in a fast paced environment, under limited sources with the additional effect of increasing customer requirements and competition. These conditions require a dynamic analysis. In this study, system dynamics approach was shown to be a competent alternative to analyze complex and dynamic systems like logistics systems and its cost structure studied. A theoretical logistics model with a user interface is presented. Then the developed model implemented in an organization operating in aluminum industry by making the required modifications. A scenario analysis regarding a new investment decision studied. All analysis and modeling studies were carried out in Stella 6.0.1.
11
Aysegul, Kuzucu. "Analyzing cost structure in logistics sector: a system dynamics approach." Master's thesis, METU, 2005. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12606820/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
In today's conditions, systems that surround individuals have evolved in structure such that, nature of variable interactions are much more complex and changing continuously. Logistics systems, which constitute an example for such systems, have also necessitated fast management and decision-making in a fast paced environment, under limited sources with the additional effect of increasing customer requirements and competition. In this study, system dynamics approach was shown to be a competent alternative to analyze complex and dynamic systems like logistics systems and its cost structure is studied. A theoretical logistics model with a user interface is presented. Then the developed model implemented in an organization operating in aluminum industry by making the required modifications. A scenario analysis regarding a new investment decision studied. All analysis and modeling studies were carried out in Stella 6.0.1.
12
Brownsweiger, Jeffrey Scott. "The S-3 Viking Weapon System Improvement Program inancial management implications /." Monterey, California : Naval Postgraduate School, 1990. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA247150.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 1990.Thesis Advisor(s): San Miguel, Joseph G. Second Reader: Fitzgerald, David M. "December 1990." Description based on title screen as viewed on April 01, 2010. DTIC Descriptor(s): Carrier based aircraft, antisubmarine warfare, weapons, control, environments, financial management, weapon systems, dynamics, navy, contractors, theses, costs, limitations, response, resources, submarines Author(s) subject terms: S-3 weapon systems improvement program; S-3B Includes bibliographical references (p. 64). Also available in print.
13
Cooprider, Curt Blaine. "Equipment selection and assembly system design under multiple cost scenarios." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/14308.
Full text
14
Kommandur, Badarinath 1968. "Exploration of disruptive technologies for low cost RFID manufacturing." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34800.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-83).
Significant developments have taken place in defining technology standards and identifying avenues for technological innovations to reduce the cost of manufacturing RFID tags below the $0.05 price point. The Auto-ID center at MIT has been the central coordinating body with participation from 5 universities and over 100 industry partners. The primary focus of these efforts has been in developing a standard which minimizes the logic capability of on chip circuitry and using radical innovations to reduce the cost of assembly of the RFID tags. Various disruptive innovations are underway to explore lithographic techniques which can reduce the cost of fabrication in the sub 100 nm regime wherein photolithography faces significant challenges. This research analyzes the value chain in the RFID industry and reviews potential technology strategies using the double-helix model of business dynamics and Porter's five forces framework. It also explores the current state of the art in RFID tag manufacturing and proposes the application of disruptive technologies in conjunction with innovations in assembly and packaging to enable a low cost RFID system design. Five key emerging technologies which are examined in detail are Nanoimprint Lithography, Step and Flash Imprint Lithography, Inkjet Printing, Soft lithography and Spherical Integrated Circuit Processing. These are analyzed in terms of application to RFID tag manufacturing. Current innovations in high speed and low cost assembly and packaging techniques are also examined. Fluidic Self Assembly, Vibratory Assembly, Chip on Paper techniques are reviewed in terms of application to RFID manufacturing. A systems thinking approach is also pursued to explore the drivers for wider acceptance of RFID-based
(cont.) applications in addition to just depending on cost reduction for crossing the chasm from early adopters to a wider market penetration.
Badarinath Kommandur.
S.M.
15
Chen, Chen. "Soft Computing-based Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Tools for Transportation Infrastructure Management." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28214.
Full textAbstract:
Increasing demands, shrinking financial and human resources, and increased infrastructure deterioration have made the task of maintaining the infrastructure systems more challenging than ever before. Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is an important tool for transportation infrastructure management, which is used extensively to support project level decisions, and is increasingly being applied to enhance network level analysis. However, traditional LCCA tools cannot practically and effectively utilize expert knowledge and handle ambiguous uncertainties.
The main objective of this dissertation was to develop enhanced LCCA models using soft computing (mainly fuzzy logic) techniques. The proposed models use available "real-world" information to forecast life-cycle costs of competing maintenance and rehabilitation strategies and support infrastructure management decisions. A critical review of available soft computing techniques and their applications in infrastructure management suggested that these techniques provide appealing alternatives for supporting many of the infrastructure management functions. In particular, LCCA often utilizes information that is uncertain, ambiguous and incomplete, which is obtained from both existing databases and expert opinion. Consequently, fuzzy logic techniques were selected to enhance life-cycle cost analysis of transportation infrastructure investments because they provide a formal approach for the effective treatment of these types of information.
The dissertation first proposes a fuzzy-logic-based decision-support model, whose inference rules can be customized according to agency's management policies and expert opinion. The feasibility and practicality of the proposed model is illustrated by its implementation in a life-cycle cost analysis algorithm for comparing and selecting pavement maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction (MR&R) policies.
To enhance the traditional probabilistic LCCA model, the fuzzy-logic-based model is then incorporated into the risk analysis process. A fuzzy logic approach for determining the timing of pavement MR&R treatments in a probabilistic LCCA model for selecting pavement MR&R strategies is proposed. The proposed approach uses performance curves and fuzzy-logic triggering models to determine the most effective timing of pavement MR&R activities. The application of the approach in a case study demonstrates that the fuzzy-logic-based risk analysis model for LCCA can effectively produce results that are at least comparable to those of the benchmark methods while effectively considering some of the ambiguous uncertainty inherent to the process. Finally, the research establishes a systematic method to calibrate the fuzzy-logic based rehabilitation decision model using real cases extracted from the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database. By reinterpreting the model in the form of a neuro-fuzzy system, the calibration algorithm takes advantage of the learning capabilities of artificial neural networks for tuning the fuzzy membership functions and rules. The practicality of the method is demonstrated by successfully tuning the treatment selection model to distinguish between rehabilitation (light overlay) and do-nothing cases.Ph. D.
16
Dobson, Aaron T. (Aaron Travis). "Cost prediction via quantitative analysis of complexity in U.S. Navy shipbuilding." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90810.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: Nav. E., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2014.
"June 2014." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 76-80).
As the sophistication and technology of ships increases, U.S. Navy shipbuilding must be an effective and cost-efficient acquirer of technology-dense one-of-a-kind ships all while meeting significant cost and schedule constraints in a fluctuating demand environment. A drive to provide world-class technology to the U.S. Navy's warfighters necessitates increasingly complex ships, which further augments the non-trivial problem of providing cost effective, on-schedule ships for the American taxpayer. The primary objective of this study was to quantify, assess, and analyze cost-predictive complexity-oriented benchmarks in the pre-construction phase of the U.S. Navy's ship acquisition process. This study used commercially-available software such as Mathwork's MATLAB software to analyze the numerical cost data and assess the fidelity of the predictive benchmarks to the datasets. The end result was that a consideration of complexity via the methods and algorithms established in this study supported an exponential cost versus complexity relationship to refine the current cost estimation methods and software currently in use in U.S. Navy shipbuilding. Specifically, it was found that for the subsystems under analysis, acquisition/contract cost per unit was highly correlated with unit complexity according to the relationship, cost/unit ($M,USD) = 23.100 + e 0.015C.
by Aaron T. Dobson.
Nav. E.
S.M. in Engineering and Management
17
Lee, Ungtae (Jeremy Ungtae). "Improving the parametric method of cost estimating relationships of naval ships." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92134.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: S.M. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 68-70).
In light of recent military budget cuts, there has been a recent focus on determining methods to reduce the cost of Navy ships. A RAND National Defense Research Institute study showed many sources of cost escalation for Navy ships. Among them included characteristic complexity of modem Naval ships, which contributed to half of customer driven factors. This paper focuses on improving the current parametric cost estimating method used as referenced in NAVSEA's Cost Estimating Handbook. Currently, weight is used as the most common variable for determining cost in the parametric method because it's a consistent physical property and most readily available. Optimizing ship design based on weight may increase density and complexity because ship size is minimized. This paper will introduce electric power density and outfit density as additional variables to the parametric cost estimating equation and will show how this can improve the early stage cost estimating relationships of Navy ships.
by Ungtae Lee.
S.M. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
S.M. in Engineering and Management
18
Abd-El-Naby, Yasser Kamal El-Sayed. "Accounting information system in the water industry : the case of cost management." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2002. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/19188/.
Full textAbstract:
Water is a primary human need. The supply of water has not increased in the face of population growth. At present severe pressure exists on water supplies in California and along the river system both in the developed and developing world (especially in the case of the Nile in Egypt). Whatever our policy stance towards the economics of water supply (the liberal market, social democracy and democratic socialism), cost management and processes are central to the water sector. The control or governing ideas within which cost management takes place are the two major concerns of this thesis. These two issues were explored in a case study of the General Organisation for the Greater Cairo Water Supply, focusing specifically upon government policy, administrative controls, the influence of public sector bodies and other customers. Control procedures, the perceptions and experiences of managers (regarding policy choice), cost management policies and practices, environmental demands (both market and physical), were all sought. Data was collected from multiple sources (triangulation) involving interviews, questionnaires, documentation, direct observation and participant observation. The research findings showed that the practice of cost management has developed. Reasons were multi-fold: (a) To keep costs well above revenue (b) To engender a factor-resources cost and technical approach to cost management (for efficiency and optimisation) (c) To deflect any attention away from strategic cost management (d) To engender an organisational belief that ambiguity and unpredictability in the environmental market is impossible to handle (e) To deny the relevance of customer cost/usage efficiency as a matter of systemic significance. This 'evolution of control' is explained through the theoretical context of institutional theory; demonstrating how values, beliefs and modes of regulation have produced a technical and passive non-reactive control system.
19
Jouni, Mohammad S. M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Reference architecture and cost estimation model for building intelligent platforms." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/114083.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2017.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 101-104).
With the recent resurgence of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence as a competitive advantage in product development, technical executives and managers are interested in learning what it would take to build intelligent platforms that can leverage these advances. In addition, they wish to produce cost estimates for developing such platforms. The goal of this thesis is to develop a reference architecture for an intelligent platform and an associated costing model that allows technical managers to understand the components needed to deliver such a platform and estimate the cost of each module, estimate the cost of the overall architecture, and enable what-if analysis to understand the cost tradeoffs. The intent is not to provide the values of the variables in the model, but to develop a cost model that will enable interested parties to plug in their estimated values for each factor and generate a forecast of the build cost.
by Mohammad Jouni.
S.M. in Engineering and Management
20
Pan, Jing. "Development of ground station display and flight management system for low-cost vehicle." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2011. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/6288.
Full textAbstract:
Nowadays, with the development of electronic and communication technologies, more and more low-cost vehicles such as small, light-weight aircraft are widely applied in all kinds of fields. Ground Station is an essential part of low cost vehicles for the operator to control and monitor the vehicles.
In this thesis, Ground Station Display and Flight Management System for Low-Cost Vehicles have been developed.The major objective of this project is to design an intuitive and easy operative Human Machine Interface for displaying and monitoring the flight data and traffic information on ground. Meanwhile, a Graphic User Interface for the Flight Management System has been developed for realizing the waypoints input and flight plan for the vehicles.
To fulfill this task, a low-cost hardware and software architecture is presented. Moreover, some COTS tools such as VAPS and MATLAB are applied for the software development because of their Object-Oriented and Rapid Prototype design methods.
At the end of project, simulation has been done for the display HMI to test the behaviours of objects and the impacts of display. The trajectory simulation of flight management control panel is also implemented to test the waypoints creation, trajectory generation and smoothing.
21
Doerge, Jean Boehm 1951. "Cost effectiveness of nurse case management compared with an existing system of care." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/292108.
Full textAbstract:
The study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of community based Nurse Case Management (NCM) utilizing existing hospital information systems data. Program outcomes of intensive NCM were compared with those of existing hospital programs for a group at high risk for readmission. Thirty-one elderly patients were assigned to one of three groups. A retrospective pretest-posttest design was used and multivariate analyses were performed. Outcomes were measured at six month intervals before and after NCM. The intensive NCM group had a higher length of stay and inpatient costs than the other two groups. Direct costs of NCM were estimated at $1.55 per active case per day. The study found that cost-effectiveness of NCM cannot be determined accurately unless health risk assessments are quantified, NCM is clearly translated into categories of intervention, and direct costs of NCM are measured consistently. These factors must be integrated into routine hospital information system reports.
22
Browning, Tyson R. "Modeling and analyzing cost, schedule, and performance in complex system product development." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/9764.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Technology, Management, and Policy Program, February 1999.Includes bibliographical references.
In the future, it is unlikely that complex system products will compete solely on the basis of technical performance. What will differentiate such systems and their developers is the ability to balance all the dimensions of product performance, including product pricing and timing (which are functions inclusive of development cost and cycle time). Furthermore, this balance must be congruent with customers' perceptions of value. Once this value is ascertained or approximated, complex system developers will require the capability to adjust the design process to meet these expectations. The required amount and sophistication of project planning, control, information, and flexibility is unprecedented. The primary goal of this work is a method to help managers integrate process and design information in a way that supports making decisions that yield products congruent with customer desires and strategic business goals. This work consists of three parts. Part one contains two exploratory studies that further understanding of complex system product development processes. One study explores process iteration and seeks to explain why some aircraft development programs do not address iteration with existing project planning and control methods. The other study examines sources of risk, classifying these into six categories (cost, schedule, performance, technology, business, and market risks) and building causal frameworks to represent their relationships. Both studies point to avenues for improving existing process '·models and in some cases reveal process characteristics requiring new methods. These results, while derived from projects in the aerospace industry, are highly applicable across a variety of complex system development projects. Part two entails an effort to model some of the characteristics observed in part one. After a review of four types of dependency structure matrices (DSMs), notably the activity-based or schedule DSM, extensive data are collected from an uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) design process. Part two thus describes how to build a DSM model and provides data for example applications of the detailed models developed in part three. Based on the foundational work of parts one and two, part three develops a new methodology and models for understanding product development process cost, schedule, and performance. The methodology complements activity-centric schedule models such as DSM in that activities provide direct contributions to process cost and schedule and design performance. This approach sets the stage for integrated cost, schedule, and performance analyses. A cost and schedule model is presented first, and it is extended to account for the effects of activities on product performance. The stochastic, simulation model generates distributions of possible cost, schedule, and performance outcomes. These distributions represent uncertainty and are analyzed in relation to impact functions and targets to determine levels of risk. The model outputs enable the exploration of the costs and benefits of several management options and yield interesting insights. The goal is to improve product development planning and control though the capability to balance cost, schedule, and performance appropriately.
by Tyson Rodgers Browning.
Ph.D.
23
Kluza, John Jerome. "Status of grid scale energy storage and strategies for accelerating cost effective deployment." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55210.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-96).
The development of emerging grid scale energy storage technologies offers great potential to improve the architecture and operation of the electrical grid. This is especially important in the face of increased reliance on clean, dependable electricity and with the influx of renewable generation and smart grid technology. However, at the present, grid scale energy storage is still in an early, developing stage. This document brings together a broad overview of the sector, including rough revenue estimates for each individually possible application for energy storage, a high level overview including rough cost estimates of each technology and supplier, a more focused look at the actual or possible implementations in the market with rough estimates of the systems' economics in each implementation. Following this is a discussion of notable dynamics and potentially effective strategies, based on current industry conditions and existing academic management frameworks. The investigation was accomplished by leveraging prior research in existing literature, and extending it with first hand discussions with industry leaders and market analysis. It was found that the economics of wholesale load shifting are unattractive for any of the emerging energy storage technologies, but that all of the other higher value implementations considered could be reasonably expected to at least break even financially given proper circumstances and the use of an energy storage technology which suits the implementation well. It was found that lithium ion and zinc-bromine flow batteries are well positioned for near term economically beneficial deployment on the grid.
(cont.) Many other technologies exist and are being developed to address these same markets, but are unlikely to be cost effective in the near term. It was also found that government regulation has played and will continue to play a major role in the deployment of energy storage on the grid.
by John Kluza.
S.M.in Engineering and Management
24
Dedekli, Birkan Nihat. "Implementation Of Quality Management System In An Irrigation Project." Master's thesis, METU, 2005. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12605763/index.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
There is a growing tendency in the application of the quality management system to the construction industry. Within this perspective, some quality management standards, like ISO 9001, are utilized to assure the quality in projects. Application of this system to water resources projects is also of importance since they are very large systems having various components for which quality management would
improve the overall efficiency. The aim of this thesis is to examine the implementation of the quality management in the design and construction processes of a sample irrigation network in order to evaluate its benefits by the cost of quality, which is assumed to be the most effective performance measure. To this end, the prevention and appraisal costs and failure costs, which constitute the cost of quality,are identified separately and their interactions are investigated on a case study in which the causes of these failures are analyzed and quantified in the form of graphs.
25
Silva, Leon M. (Leon Manuel) 1968. "A partitioning methodology for helicopter avionics system with a focus on life cycle cost." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82690.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2001.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 111).
by Leon M. Silva.
S.M.
26
Wolf, Jeffrey Guy. "Cost and schedule growth during weapon system acquisition an investigation of the impact of selected economic and political factors /." Thesis, Monterey, California : Naval Postgraduate School, 1990. http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA242971.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 1990.Thesis Advisor(s): Moses, O. Douglas. Second Reader: Liao, Shu S. "December 1990." Description based on title screen as viewed on April 1, 2010. DTIC Descriptor(s): Acquisition, Weapon Systems, Costs, Methodology, Political Science, Economics, Growth(General), Identification, Scheduling, Climate, Statistical Analysis. DTIC Identifier(s): Weapon Systems, Acquisition, Development Schedule Growth, Costs, Political Science, Economics, Scheduled Growth, Aerospace Industry, Department Of Defense, Theses. Author(s) subject terms: Development Cost Growth, Development Schedule Growth, Total Program Cost Growth. Includes bibliographical references (p. 70). Also available in print.
27
Walan, Alexander M. G. "Application of System Maturity Level to Cost and Schedule Risk in Major DoD Programs." Thesis, The George Washington University, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10846206.
Full textAbstract:
In an effort to control cost and schedule growth, the US Department of Defense mandates that defense acquisition programs perform Technology Readiness Acquisitions (TRAs) during the acquisition cycle. Technology maturity is widely believed to correlate with cost and schedule risk in complex development programs, with the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) the metric currently used for assessing technology maturity. However, while a schedule-related correlation has been demonstrated, no research has shown a statistically significant correlation between a system’s overall technology maturity and cost growth. This study demonstrates that an acceptable system level metric can be constructed with the available TRLs that aids in controlling cost growth. This work validates this metric as a useful tool for program managers and system engineering professionals. Utilizing published data on US Department of Defense acquisition programs, this study defines a System Maturity Level (SML) metric that can be computed from existing TRLs and is a statistically significant predictor of cost risk. A System Maturity Level cost-risk curve is also introduced in order to help engineering managers make cost-risk decisions.
28
Cilliers, Willie. "Cost-effective cardiology in the new national health system in South Africa : a proposal." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/987.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is on the verge of major changes in the private medical sector. The government’s planned National Health Insurance has far reaching implications for all role players in the industry, as well as for the general public. This paper looks at the changes that have been made since the ANC government came to power in 1994 and then continues to look at possible models for the new National Health Insurance plan. A proposal on practicing cost-effective cardiology within this new system is made. The data of a pilot project between a private service provider and a managed healthcare company is analysed as a basis of this discussion.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika se mediese bedryf staan op die vooraand van groot veranderinge. Die regering se beplande Nasionale Gesondheidsplan het verreikende implikasies vir alle rolspelers in die bedryf, sowel as die algemene man op straat. Die dokument kyk oorsigtelik na die veranderinge wat ondergaan is sedert die ANC regering aan bewind gekom het in 1994 en gaan daarna voort om na moontlike opsies te kyk hoe die nuwe gesondheidsmodel daarna gaan uitsien. Voorstelle word gemaak oor hoe privaat kardiologie in die nuwe sisteem koste-effektief beoefen kan word. ‘n Lootsprojek van ‘n privaat diensverskaffer en ‘n bestuurde gesongheidsorg maatskappy se data word ontleed as basis vir die bespreking.
29
Nadeem, Muhammad, and Mohammed Azharuddin. "Performance, Maintainability and Implementation Cost for Different Software Platforms in a Network Management System." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Sektionen för datavetenskap och kommunikation, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-4071.
Full textAbstract:
Context: Software architecture is an emerging field and progressively more popular in software engineering. Software architecture has become an essential part in development of software systems. Prototyping is possibly one of the most commonly used learning paradigms in software architecture. Hence, it is reasonable to accept some of the requirements that could be expressed as specific quality attributes for developing and comparative analysis of prototype. In this thesis we deal with software architecture based on different prototypes, where the different platforms have been shared canonical within the software architecture. It also has a good potential for performance intensification to analyze the prototype according to the required quality attributes. Objectives: In this study, we investigate the significance of quality attributes such as performance, maintainability and implementation cost of different software platforms. Mainly, it is focused on integration of prototypes in software architecture. We specifically investigate several challenges being faced by the organizations in the maintainability for addressing the challenges in prototype of network management system using software platforms. Methods: In this study, both theoretical and empirical research methods have been applied. In order to accomplish the goal of this thesis, literature review in this research has performed by studying articles from several sources and also performed snowball sampling method to decrease the chance of missing any relevant article. During literature review, we have analyzed learning structure and workflow of prototypes and then incorporated quality attributes by theoretical analysis. In the experiment part, three prototypes were built by deploying different software platforms such as PHP, JSP and Perl. Each of these prototypes was evaluated with respect to maintainability using twenty five surveys from industrial experts, implementation cost in number of hours and performance in terms of response time. Results: As a result of our study, we have identified different challenges in software architecture and practicing in software prototypes by using different software platforms. By this study we analyze the performance, maintainability and implementation cost for different software platforms. Survey has been conducted to recognize challenges and practices in maintainability of prototypes. We have shown the possibility to achieve better quality attributes given to a certain system. Conclusions: There is trade-off, the best implementation alternative depends on how important the different quality attributes are in a certain situation.+46 455 38 50 00
30
Chen, Shyn-Ren 1971. "Web based market research methodology for unmet customer needs : estimating cost functions for design pallet." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/91767.
Full text
31
Rivey, Darren. "A practical method for incorporating Real Options analysis into US federal benefit-cost analysis procedures." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/43102.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-83).
This research identifies how Real Options (RO) thinking might acceptably and effectively complement the current mandates for Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Circular A-94. The research examines opportunities for improving economic analysis using mandated rules for a large complex system, highlights where improvements can be made with RO thinking, and proposes a framework that can be optionally and generically applied to mandated decisionmaking guidelines. The framework relies on a simple spreadsheet analysis that is augmented with Monte-Carlo simulation. The proposed approach complements existing practices and should be easy to integrate with current tools, procedures, staff, and resources.This approach builds upon a careful analysis of Federal mandates for benefit-cost analyses, the implementing directions of the OMB, and the way these guidelines are followed by practitioners who have to deal with the particularities that exist in the field. The current practice was determined by examining several case studies of work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and through discussions with FAA officials knowledgeable about the BCA methods in practice. The proposed approach with FAA Airport Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidelines was applied to a Hypothetical Project for illustrative purposes.
by Darren Rivey.
S.M.
32
Dakhwe, Adnan B. A. "A DYNAMIC, COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT INFORMATION PORTAL SOLUTION USING THE MAMBO CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1155585248.
Full text
33
Ongchin, Derrick Cokee. "Monitoring and evaluating reorder point system performance : a cost-weighted approach." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66054.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 89).
Organizations are quickly realizing the need to leverage data and analytics to stay one step ahead of the competition as fast-paced global markets continue to emerge and grow and the world becomes increasingly complex. More than ever, corporate executives are executing data-driven decisions and strategies to run businesses. They require scenarios and simulations on alternative courses of action that incorporate complex business parameters in order to make decisions that continuously hone customer focus. In an environment of global economic uncertainty, Cisco Systems sees itself entering a time of unprecedented opportunity. With the customer as a leading priority, this thesis investigates the monitoring and evaluation of Cisco's reorder point system in increasing supply chain visibility and driving customer satisfaction excellence. We aim to develop a model that will aid in data-driven decision making and provide an organization the capability to quickly respond to changes in a volatile environment without additional costs or impact to customer experience. The model is intended to serve as a tool to bridge strategy and execution by providing lean process and supply planners invaluable insights into optimizing the inventory management system and improving customer service levels. The model aggregates historical demand data, inventory policy settings, and costweighted item performance to gauge system-wide performance. Model testing accurately corroborates previously known issues of insufficient reorder points. Preliminary user feedback suggests strong initial buy-in within the organization.
by Derrick Cokee Ongchin.
S.M.
M.B.A.
34
Lau, Kit-wah. "Implications of a certified environmental management system on Hong Kong industries : cost and benefit analysis /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1999. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B21301682.
Full text
35
Bhattacharjee, Dhiman. "A proposed cost-benefit analysis model for physical form analysis for a futuristic submarine decision support system." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/42348.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-82).
This thesis proposes a model for cost-benefit analysis for physical form selection of a decision support tool, primarily to support system acquisition decisions that need to be made early in the system life cycle. By bringing objective and subjective costs and benefits into the same model and prescribing a unique approach to determining system utility, this thesis demonstrates how the proposed model can be applied for objective evaluation of display interfaces for a decision support system. The proposed model, which is applied to a proposed decision support system for submarine commanders managing multiple unmanned underwater vehicles, follows an integrated systems engineering approach by first determining function followed by form. A hybrid cognitive task analysis is used to determine function, and cost-benefit analysis is used to determine form. The hybrid cognitive task analysis is a method for determining functions of a futuristic system, and the proposed cost benefit model fills the gap for objective evaluation of form. The cost-benefit analysis was not straightforward, as determining objective usability of the physical display interfaces is difficult since it is not feasible to design fully functional interfaces and accompanying software in the conceptual design phase of the systems engineering process. Thus, one of the novel contributions of this cost-benefit model is the ability to objectively compare user performance across displays using a representative functional task in a relatively simple experimental setting.While the application of the proposed cost-benefit model is shown only for application to the submarine commander decision support interface, it can be easily adopted for other human-systems integration efforts where system acquisition decisions are involved. This would benefit decision makers and system integrators in effective resource allocation and useful system implementation in the conceptual design phase.
by Dhiman Bhattacharjee.
S.M.
36
Mathaba, Tebello Ntsiki Don. "Energy and cost optimal scheduling of belt conveyor systems." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/61311.
Full textAbstract:
This work deals with the energy management of belt conveyor systems (BCS) under various demandside
management (DSM) programmes. The primary objective of this work is to model the energy
consumption and energy related cost of operating troughed belt conveyor systems under different
electricity pricing tariffs. This research is motivated by the increasing need for energy efficiency and
energy cost reduction in the operation of BCS. This is as a result of technological improvements in
BCS technology leading to increasingly longer belts being commissioned and as a result of rapidly
rising electricity costs.
An energy model derived from established industry standards is proposed for long conveyors. The
newly proposed model uses a first-order partial differential equation (PDE) in order to capture the
state of material on the belt. This new model describes the conveyor's power requirement using
an equation with two parameters. A system identification set-up involving a recursive parameter
estimating algorithm is simulated for measurements with varying degrees of noise. The results show
that the proposed model estimates conveyor power and material delivered by long conveyors more
accurately than the existing steady-state models.
Downhill conveyors (DHCs) are important potential energy sources that can be tapped to improve the
overall energy efficiency of BCSs. A generic optimisation model that is able to optimally schedule three
configurations of BCS with DHC is proposed. The economic assessment of implementing dynamic
braking and regenerative drives technology on downhill conveyors is undertaken with the help of the
model. The assessment shows that combining regenerative drives and optimal operation of BCS with
DHC generates energy savings that give attractive payback period of less than 5 years.
A chance-constrained model predictive control (cc-MPC) algorithm is proposed for scheduling belt
conveyor systems with uncertain material demand on the output storage. The chance-constraints are
based on the modelling of material demand by a sum of known mean demand and, zero-mean and
normally distributed random component. The cc-MPC algorithm is shown to produce schedules that
give a smaller number and smaller magnitude of storage limit violations compared to normal MPC and
chance-constrained optimal control algorithms. An equation that gives the amount of effective storage
required to meet storage constraints for a given value of standard deviation is established.
The optimal scheduling of BCS under the real-time pricing (RTP) tariff is considered. This study
develops a methodology for establishing the economic value of price forecasting schemes for loads
capable of load-shifting. This methodology is used to show that the economic benefit obtained from
a forecast is highly dependent on the volatility of the electricity prices being predicted and not their
mean value. The methodology is also used to illustrate why the commonly used indices mean absolute
percentage error (MAPE) and root mean square error (RMSE) are poor indicators of economic benefit.
The proposed index using Kendall's rank correlation between the actual and predicted prices is shown
to be a good indicator of economic benefit, performing far better than RSME and MAPE.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
PhD
Unrestricted
37
Lau, Kit-wah, and 劉潔華. "Implications of a certified environmental management system on Hong Kong industries: cost and benefit analysis." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1999. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31254305.
Full text
38
Quinones, Maria Cecilia. "Decision support system for building construction product selection using life-cycle management (lcm)." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/41123.
Full textAbstract:
As the green movement begins to sweep through the construction industry, decision-makers are beginning to include a sustainable aspect to their purchase decisions. Selecting a product solely based on its sustainability, however, is not enough to drive product selection in the construction industry. Cost still dominates the selection of building products. The level of sustainability of a product and its cost are not interconnected as market prices do not reflect the cost of environmental impacts, such as the cost of global warming or fossil fuel depletion. Having two distinct aspects to consider adds complexity in the product selection process. Typically, it constrains decision-makers to perform a trade-off analysis that does not necessarily guarantee the most environmentally preferable purchase decision. This study proposes a life-cycle management (LCM) system that reinforces the choices made by decision-makers by providing a scientific justification for those decisions. The proposed system analyses the environmental and economic performance of building product through life-cycle analysis and purchase price analysis. It operates on tools publicly available in the market and state-of-the-art analysis, assessment, and interpretation methods. The LCM system combines two distinct product attributes into a single performance score that can be easily interpreted. It allows decision-makers to compare product scores and ultimately make the most environmentally responsible and financially viable selection. A comprehensive approach is used to refine and test the LCM system using case studies comprised of an environmental and economic performance evaluation of flooring products. The contribution of this research includes the consideration of a holistic approach to product selection based on environmental and cost performance. Pre-construction estimators and construction managers could improve their estimating and product selection practices using the proposed system. Material suppliers can also benefit from this approach, as they can use it to enhance their pricing strategies, marketing plans, and overall product competitiveness.
39
Law, King Yiu. "Two routing strategies with cost update in integrated automated storage and retrieval system /." View abstract or full-text, 2007. http://library.ust.hk/cgi/db/thesis.pl?IELM%202007%20LAW.
Full text
40
Okelola, O. M. "The design of a cost-effective farm management data-information system : A case study from Nigeria." Thesis, University of Reading, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.376817.
Full text
41
Ammar, Sameh Farhat Belgasm. "Change and resistance in cost accounting system : the evidence from a Libyan oil refining organisation." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10871/14767.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis explored the dynamics of cost accounting systems (CAS). It focused on particular situations in which CAS can become institutionalised, embodying settled patterns of action and thought common to an organisation (Burns & Scapens, 2000). In such context, it is argued that the greater the degree of institutionalisation of CAS, the more difficult they are to change, and vice versa. This thesis has investigated the conditions and processes through which CAS can change and/or persist (i.e., remain relatively unchanged) through time. Exploring when, how and why institutional change and/or resistance may occur in CAS, is the specific motivation of this thesis. The following investigates CAS at a large oil refining organisation operating in Libya (RefCo). RefCo was undertaken as an interpretive case study, involving data collected through interviews, archives, internal company documentation and general (formal and informal) observations. The CAS in RefCo was subject to two change initiatives in a relatively short space of time. The first source of change was a requirement of its parent company to shift from a traditional production-orientation to a more commercial-orientation. With minimal resistance, the highly institutionalised CAS of RefCo evolved to become much more geared towards commercial decision-making. The second source of change originated in the recommendations of an external consulting organisation, who recommended that RefCo changed its CAS to take on more ‘best-practice’ principles, but also as part of a wider initiative of implementing Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs). However, this particular change initiative faced significant resistance. Analysis of the case was informed by institutional theory using, in particular, the concepts of deinstitutionalisation (Oliver, 1992), institutionalisation (Burns & Scapens, 2000), and politics and power mobilisation (Hardy, 1996). In contrast to the more conventional view that institutionalised practices (e.g., CAS in RefCo.) are difficult to change, this thesis has shown how such practices can be destabilised and changed through the configuration of a complex and dynamic process of costing system change. It suggests an institutional interdependence that underpins the interrelation between various components of the organisational system, and exemplifies an intertwining between CAS and operation control. While CAS change processes were shaped by ongoing changes in operation control, the outcomes of the former provided an institutional basis from which to make sense of the operational activities (Scapens, 1994). This interdependence helps sustain day-to-day organisational life in RefCo and contributes to our understanding of both change (processes) and resistance in relation to institutionalised practices. Moreover, we observed that a great deal of such change and/or resistance could be understood and explained in terms of politics and power mobilisation.
42
Burch, Gerald F. "The cost of maintaining a Naval inventory system with inaccurate records." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2003. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion-image/03Mar%5FBurch.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2003.Thesis advisor(s): Robert A. Koyak, Samuel L. Buttrey. Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-68). Also available online.
43
Li, Fan. "Performance evaluation and decision support in industrial system management : a benefit-cost-value-risk based methodology." Thesis, Paris, ENSAM, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017ENAM0019/document.
Full textAbstract:
La mesure et la gestion de la performance représente de sérieux défis aux praticiens et chercheurs en génie industriel et sciences de gestion pour une prise de décision efficace sur base d’informations intégrées, dynamiques et pertinentes concernant la satisfaction simultanée d’objectifs émanant de diverses parties-prenantes. Bien que nombreuses méthodologies et outils aient déjà été proposés, des progrès en la matière sont encore possibles pour aider les gestionnaires et les ingénieurs à prendre de meilleures décisions et ce, de manière plus systématique.En considérant que la performance d’un système, projet ou processus industriel peut-être globalement évaluée en suivant quatre dimensions (bénéfice, coût, valeur et risque), cette thèse propose un cadre original et complet ainsi qu’une méthodologie opérationnelle afin d’appliquer des méthodes et outils d’intervention appropriés dans l’évaluation de la performance et l’aide à la décision au sein de projets industriels.A l’aide de plusieurs exemples inspirés de cas industriels, ces travaux soulignent que la méthodologie proposée peut être le support de : l’évaluation de plusieurs scénarios de décision pour sélectionner la solution la plus appropriée, l’évaluation de la performance à toutes phases d’un projet industriel et le pilotage d’un projet en cours avec plusieurs points d’évaluation durant le cycle de viePerformance measurement and management represents serious challenges to practitioners and researchers in industrial engineering and management sciences for efficient decision making with integrated, dynamic and relevant performance information regarding simultaneous accomplishment of multiple stakeholder objectives. Although many methodologies and approaches have already been proposed, there is still room for new advances to go further in assisting managers and engineers to make better decisions in a more systematic manner.Assuming that the performance of an industrial system, project or process can be comprehensively evaluated by four main dimensions (benefit, cost, value and risk), the thesis proposes an original and complete framework as well as an operational methodology to apply relevant supporting methods and tools for the sake of performance evaluation and decision support in industrial projects.Using several examples based on industrial cases, the work emphasises that the proposed methodology can provide the support for: opportunity assessment of several decision alternatives to select the most appropriate one, performance evaluation at any phase of an industrial project and monitoring of an ongoing industrial project requiring performance evaluation at several phases along its life history
44
Qu, Wenlong. "The multiprocessor SAS framework for modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for cardiovascular disease." Thesis, University of Ottawa (Canada), 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/26748.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis provides an economic and mathematical framework, and the computing tools to compare the effects, costs and incremental cost-effectiveness of acute or preventative interventions for cardiovascular disease. A Finite Space Markov Chain Decision Analysis Model is designed by integrating a Decision Trees Model and a Markov Chain Model. The model and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis are implemented by using SAS/IML both on a PC with one processor and on a machine with multiple processors of the High Performance Computing Virtual Laboratory. A sample case with four states and eight intervention policies is studied to illustrate the framework, which is composed of (1) life path simulation, (2) cost and effectiveness estimation, (3) cost-effectiveness analysis, (4) sensitivity analysis, and (5) performance analysis on different platforms. Solution of delay effects, correlation among risk factors, and fluctuation in discount rate are viewed as limitations of the thesis and rewarding areas for further research.
45
Nováková, Vlasta. "Řízení po linii výkonů a jeho informační podpora." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2010. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-72723.
Full textAbstract:
The presented diploma thesis deals with calculation as the main tool used to manage company's value chain with emphasis on use in costing system. First chapters of the thesis define basic terms, principles and costing methods. After company's introduction in the opening of the analytic part of the thesis, actions managers undertake and techniques they use to control costs will be reviewed. Further, a cost analysis throughout the value chain will be performed. The performed systems analysis will result in formulation of conclusions and recommendations. The aim of the thesis is to build a desirable structure of management information system generating financial as well as other types of information that will assist managers in controlling the production process, achieving different purposes and making qualified decisions. First, I will suggest approach changes, suitable steps and measures that will restructure the information system so that it will provide managers with adequate information about costs throughout the value chain. Further, I will recommend appropriate costing techniques and other management tools that will help to improve the quality of cost management. It will also contribute to build up the financial strength and competitive advantage of the company in long term. The content of the analytic part is not public because access to sensitive and confidential information might adversely affect the company's business.
46
Hebert, James L. "Use of Multi-Fidelity and Surrogate Models to Reduce the Cost of Developing Physics-Based Systems." Thesis, The George Washington University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3687685.
Full textAbstract:
Building complex physics-based systems in a timely cost-effective manner, that perform well, meet diverse user needs, and have no bad emergent behaviors is a challenge. To meet these requirements the solution is to model the physics-based system before building it. Modeling and Simulation capabilities for these type systems have advanced continuously during the past 20 years thanks to progress in the application of high fidelity computational codes that are able to model the real physical performance of system components. The problem is that it is often too time consuming and costly to model complex systems, end-to-end, using these high fidelity computational models alone. Missing are good approaches to segment the modeling of complex systems performance and behaviors, keep the model chain coherent and only model what is necessary. Current research efforts have shown that using multi-fidelity and/or surrogate models might offer alternative methods of performing the modeling and simulations needed to design and develop physics-based systems more efficiently. This study demonstrates that it is possible reduce the number of high fidelity runs allowing the use of classical systems engineering analysis and tools that would not be possible if only high fidelity codes were employed. This study advances the systems engineering of physics-based systems by reducing the number of time consuming high fidelity models and simulations that must be used to design and develop the systems. The study produced a novel approach to the design and development of complex physics-based systems by using a mix of variable fidelity physics-based models and surrogate models. It shows that this combination of increasing fidelity models enables the computationally and cost efficient modeling and simulation of these complex systems and their components. The study presents an example of the methodology for the analysis and design of two physics-based systems: a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and a Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse Bounded Wave System.
47
Lyle, Todd Duncan. "Risk control as a cost control tool a study on the viability of a uniform risk control expenditure tracking system for the semiconductor industry /." Online version, 1998. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/1998/1998lylet.pdf.
Full text
48
Sen, Avijit. "Identifying system-wide contact center cost reduction opportunities through lean, customer-focused IT metrics." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/49791.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-72).
Dell's long-term success depends on its customers' future buying patterns. These patterns are largely determined by customers' satisfaction with the after-sales service they receive. Previously, Dell has been able to deliver high customer satisfaction but has done so at a high expense, further reducing the low margins on their consumer product line. Dell's Global Consumer Services and Support organization (GCSS) is constantly innovating to lower its operating costs while maintaining customer satisfaction. Their task is difficult to achieve in part because of the broad scope of problems that Dell's customer service agents (CSAs) tackle and the grey areas of support boundaries. In order to identify and correct the root-causes of these contact-center costs, Dell needs the ability to measure the specific cost of supporting individual customers. Yet, no such customer-centric data framework exists at Dell, or indeed in the contact center industry. However, it is possible to create just such a customer focused data framework by applying an automated value stream mapping (VSM) analysis to a large sample of contact-center activity data from Dell's data warehouse. The resulting data set is a collection of digital value stream maps representing the end-to-end customer service experience of each contact-center customer. After performing the proposed data transformations, these customer-focused metrics (CustFM) are shown to yield significant insights into previously unidentifiable cost reduction opportunities available across Dell's global contact-center network.
by Avijit Sen.
S.M.
M.B.A.
49
Dukyil, Abdulsalam Saleh. "Artificial intelligence and multiple criteria decision making approach for a cost-effective RFID-enabled tracking management system." Thesis, Brunel University, 2018. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/17128.
Full textAbstract:
The implementation of RFID technology has been subject to ever-increasing popularity in relation to the traceability of items as one of the most advance technologies. Implementing such a technology leads to an increase in the visibility management of products. Notwithstanding this, RFID communication performance is potentially greatly affected by interference between the RFID devices. It is also subject to auxiliary costs in investment that should be considered. Hence, seeking a cost-effective design with a desired communication performance for RFID-enabled systems has become a key factor in order to be competitive in today‟s markets. This study introduce a cost and performance-effective design for a proposed RFID-enabled passport tracking system through the development of a multi-objective model that takes in account economic, operation and social criteria. The developed model is aimed at solving the design problem by (i) allocating the optimal numbers of related facilities that should be established and (ii) obtaining trade-offs among three objectives: minimising implementation and operational costs; minimising RFID reader interference; and maximising the social impact measured in the number of created jobs. To come closer to the actual design in terms of considering the uncertain parameters, a fuzzy multi-objective model was developed. To solve the multi-objective optimization problem model, two solution methods were used respectively (epsilon constrain and linear programming) to select the best Pareto solution and a decision-making method was developed to select the final trade-off solution. Moreover, this research aims to provide a user-friendly decision making tool for selecting the best vendor from a group which submitted their tenders for implementing a proposed RFID- based passport tracking system. In addition to that a real case study was applied to examine the applicability of the developed model and the proposed solution methods. The research findings indicate that the developed model is capable of presenting a design for an RFID- enabled passport tracking system. Also, the developed decision-making tool can easily be used to solve similar vendor selection problem. Research findings demonstrate that the proposed RFID-enabled monitoring system for the passport tracking system is economically feasible. The study concludes that the developed mathematical models and optimization approaches can be a useful decision-maker for tackling a number of design and optimization problems for RFID system using artificial intelligence mathematical algorithm based techniques.
50
Collins, Donovan (Donovan Scott). "Feature-based investment cost estimation based on modular design of a continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing system." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/66063.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, June 2011."June 2011." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-73).
Previous studies of continuous manufacturing processes have used equipment-factored cost estimation methods to predict savings in initial plant investment costs. In order to challenge and validate the existing methods of cost estimation, feature-based cost estimates were constructed based on a modular process design model. Synthesis of an existing chemical intermediate was selected as the model continuous process. A continuous process was designed that was a literal, step by step, translation of the batch process. Supporting design work included process flow diagrams and basic piping and instrumentation diagrams. Design parameters from the process model were combined with feature-based costs to develop a series of segmented cost estimates for the model continuous plant at several production scales. Based on this analysis, the continuous facility seems to be intrinsically less expensive only at a relatively high production scale. Additionally, the distribution of cost areas for the continuous facility differs significantly from the distribution previous assumed for batch plants. This finding suggests that current models may not be appropriate for generating cost estimates for continuous plants. These results should not have a significant negative impact on the value proposition for the continuous manufacturing platform. The continuous process designed for this project was not optimized. Therefore, this work reiterates that the switch to continuous must be accompanied with optimization and innovation in the underlying continuous chemistry.
by Donovan Collins.
S.M.
M.B.A.