Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Problem-structuring'

Why problem structuring is a crucial activity in policy analysis is discussed making references to literature. The shortcomings of the rational model of decision making and problem solving are pointed out. A theoretical perspective with its ontological and epistemological assumptions are elaborated and developed as an alternative to the rational model. Problem structuring is defined as a cognitive process, and George Kelly's personal construct psychology is adopted as the theoretical basis to develop a problem structuring method. The method developed uses Kelly's repertory grid technique in a particular form that is modified for the specific needs of problem structuring in groups. A computer software developed particularly for this method is used interactively in elicitation of personal constructs and their analyses. The applications of the method are illustrated in two group cases, and the implications for theory and further applications are discussed.<br>Ph. D.

This research aims to explicate how Problem Structuring Methods Interventions (PSMI) can be understood as practical accomplishments. Activity Theory (AT) is presented as a practice-based approach to re-establish connections between problem structuring methods and socio-cultural-technical environments which are seen as mutually constitutive. An exploratory approach is developed to inquire into opportunities for social learning that are afforded by PSMIs which are entangled in multi-sited and multi-temporal socio-technical transitions. An ethnographic case study of a project in the area of sustainable city district redevelopment is presented. Video data was collected during two PSMI workshops. The data was complemented by in-depth interviews, project documentation and participant observation. The analysis of model-mediated in-situ interactions during the observed PSMIs suggests that processes of appropriation, transformation and co-creation took place. However, the findings also highlight the local, idiosyncratic and contingent characteristics of interactions during PSMIs. The inquiry into relations between the in-situ dynamics and the PSMIs in context indicates that the development of co-constructive and relational problem structuring processes in practice is an ongoing challenge. The research concludes that problem structuring methods interventions can be understood as the practical accomplishment of problem (infra)structuring.

Thesis (M. S.)--Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010.<br>Committee Chair: Susan E. Cozzens; Committee Member: Barbara D. Lynch; Committee Member: Marilyn A. Brown. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Active fire protection systems are an essential fire safety management tool, particularly in potentially high financial and risk consequence scenarios. In the UK and Europe over recent decades regulatory changes have been successful in creating an environment in which more innovation can take place. Increased numbers of fixed firefighting system types are now available to the user. However, not all systems offered are equal in terms of; suitability, cost, maturity of supporting knowledge, and overall performance or in-service reliability. Understanding of the systems performance and its limitations and how to match this to the assessed fire risk is incomplete among users. Experts are observing increasing numbers of what they consider to be poor fixed firefighting system choices leading to weaker fire safety designs, which is a cause of concern. Therefore the research aim is to verify that these concerns are founded and, that being the case, to develop a decision support system and related supporting resources to further this aspect of fire safety education and enable users to make better informed system selections. Thus, the focus of this research has been to develop a fixed firefighting system selection tool to complement existing legislation, which incorporates logic, rules and fire safety educational resources in a variety of formats to aid the fire safety design process. A variety of largely heuristic techniques have been used to aggregate data to form knowledge to underpin fixed firefighting system selection tool. In this form, the tool has been validated by experts as being a useful resource. The developed tool also provides ample opportunity for useful ongoing future development. The work recognises that cost and benefit are critical in the selection process. Supporting resources have been incorporated into the tool to assist users in evaluating the levels of reliability they might expect from a system in their circumstances. This tool has now been exposed to a wider audience of experts as part of an evaluation process. Findings include: that the tool is an innovative approach to promoting good fire safety designs, the tool efficiently provides useful fire safety education to users and the developed supporting resources which consider firefighting system reliability are helpful. This thesis and reference papers summarise the key stages of this research and tool development. The thesis concludes by outlining the progress achieved by this work and recommendations arising.

The real estate selection process might be regarded as a typical Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problem. With current literature concentrating predominantly on institutional investment decision making, additional effort should be directed towards studying inexperienced homebuyers who want to buy a property in which to live. In this context, authors have described the decision environment as a complex decision process with restricted access to property data, high financial burdens partially due to the illiquid nature of the investment, the unfamiliarity with the decision task and low transparency in information aggregation. Consequently, this situation could benefit from a more structured approach that assists homebuyers in their actions. In order to guide the decision making process and provide a suitable support mechanism, it is necessary to first structure the problem and extract the required information. A thorough literature review shows that little guidance is available for MCDM problem structuring. Consequently, this research first proposes an MCDM problem-structuring framework to decompose complex problems into smaller parts. Foremost, the application is intended for high-involvement consumer products and services. This framework is derived from MCDM and methodology literature, where the former provides the elements that need to be defined in any MCDM problem situation, and the latter suggests suitable data collection and analysis methods to obtain the information. As a result, the first contribution to existing literature is the introduction of an MCDM problem-structuring framework, which consists of a carefully designed sequential exploratory mixed method procedure. Next, following the proposed structure, the real estate selection problem in Majorca (Spain) is defined. Whilst providing the inherent problem elements and establishing a comprehensive list of evaluation criteria to assess luxury properties, the fieldwork also offers behavioural insights, contributing and supplementing existing real estate research. In particular, major misunderstandings and false assumptions during real estate agent and client interactions are observed, stressing the need to optimise communication and targeting strategies. On the basis of the relevant real estate evaluation criteria, a dataset of alternative houses is created and subsequently rated by prospective luxury-homebuyers. This provides the basis for the third research focus, the construction of a decision support model for real estate selection. In accordance to the problem features and model requirements, the Evidential Reasoning (ER) rule is identified to offer a powerful and transparent evidence aggregation process, with the potential to have a superior performance than other methods in addressing the selection decision. Due to the ER rule’s short history (2013), application studies in general are practically non-existing and unprecedented in the real estate domain. Therefore, the use of a modified ER model can provide the real estate literature with a prescriptive multi-criteria decision support mechanism, whilst simultaneously offering an application study for the MCDM community and other relevant decision analysis domains. In closing, modelling a real problem using the ER rule highlights the method’s advantages and might in turn increase awareness, leading to more applications.

This thesis seeks to explore if there is a defining philosophy, theory and methodology underpinning problem structuring methods (PSMs). PSMs are a class of qualitative Operational Research (OR) approach for making progress with ill-structured problems. The development of each of the established approaches was in relative isolation with little research cutting across all PSMs. There are no agreed standards or characteristics for an approach to be considered a PSM. This creates a problem for the increasing number of newly developed qualitative OR approaches which share many common features with the established PSMs but are not recognised as such. To close this gap the thesis conducts analysis of the literature identifying these common features. To understand the diversity of theory and methodology of PSMs this thesis theoretically and methodologically develops the existing qualitative OR approach WASAN and positions it alongside the existing PSMs. Bridging the gap between established PSMs and other qualitative approaches will identify the qualifying features of PSMs, how to identify these features in other approaches and how theory development in one approach can be transferred to other PSMs. Next the thesis develops the qualitative OR approach WASAN through an action research program. The problem context is a UK Police Force who are aiming to reduce wasted time in their emergency contact centre. The researcher modelled four individual systems in customer contact using WASAN. WASAN considers how behaviour of an upstream system can increase waste production in the system being modelled. The research analysed the individual models and the interaction between models. The research project shows how to identify the features of PSMs in an approach; the process of developing a bespoke approach into a generic approach; and, the commonality of an underpinning framework between WASAN and the existing PSMs through the transferability of theoretical contributions.

Morphological Analysis (MA) is a problem-structuring method that defines a problem as a set of key parameters, especially under conditions of uncertainty and complexity. Each parameter is broken down into a set of discrete states or dimensions, being qualitative or quantitative in nature. The scale of the problem is represented as a product of all the selected parameters and their individual states expressed as a total number of configurations. This is the problem space. Configurations where each state within a parameter is deemed consistent with every other state across the other parameters are identified and isolated. This is called the solution space. MA's uptake has been patchy, and latterly overlooked mainly due to the user experience being compromised by three interrelated factors: poor access to support software which can address the combinatorial explosion generated by multi-parameter problem spaces inherent in the use of MA; insufficiently flexible processes that address users' operational constraints; seen to be overly generic, disguising identification of specific application areas of interest. The main research aim in this thesis is to address these constraints. Action Research was used to develop a viable prototype, and beyond, making the product robust enough for commercially viability. The prototype combined algorithms and internal databases with cross-platform accessibility - an innovation complemented by improved processes to enhance user friendliness whilst maintaining methodological integrity. New research areas, including the latest incarnation of MA, are presented with particular emphasis in the areas of ideation, technological creativity and innovation. A company has been established to exploit the technology, with NATO purchasing a licence. With a paucity of in-depth literature on the method combined with little evidence of demonstrable outcomes the thesis is one of a handful of dedicated publications in the last 40 years thus providing a major contribution to the understanding of 'Zwickian' Morphological Analysis.

Submitted by Joaquim Heck (joaquimheck@uol.com.br) on 2018-03-06T23:24:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF_CDAE_Tese_Joaquim_Heck.pdf: 10473820 bytes, checksum: ad23dda74b39a1cdacaf8ac5345e3c9d (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Debora Nunes Ferreira (debora.nunes@fgv.br) on 2018-03-07T12:33:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF_CDAE_Tese_Joaquim_Heck.pdf: 10473820 bytes, checksum: ad23dda74b39a1cdacaf8ac5345e3c9d (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-07T12:39:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF_CDAE_Tese_Joaquim_Heck.pdf: 10473820 bytes, checksum: ad23dda74b39a1cdacaf8ac5345e3c9d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-23<br>Esta tese apresenta os resultados de um estudo em metodologia que estabeleceu um novo método específico de análise documental e histórica, denominado cartografia estrutural para revisão de literatura, e que foi aplicado de forma experimental no estudo histórico de um tema da área de Pesquisa Operacional, os Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs). A cartografia estrutural para revisão de literatura é um método rigoroso e interdisciplinar que revela a estrutura subjacente à uma literatura por meio dos conceitos metodológicos encontrados em pesquisa documental, pesquisa histórica, Teoria dos Grafos, Análise de redes de citações e Cartografia. Verificou-se, a partir dessa interdisciplinaridade, que as relações entre diferentes autores, de diferentes épocas e que publicaram em diferentes periódicos são essenciais para aprofundar a compreensão e familiarizar o pesquisador com uma determinada área do conhecimento. Depois de introduzir a natureza básica da indexação de citações e da análise de rede, esse estudo apresenta a elaboração de um atlas bibliográfico, formado por mapas visuais e diagramas. A aplicação desse método resultou na composição do atlas bibliográfico sobre os PSMs no período de 1950 a 1989. O mapeamento de ideias e conceitos em um arranjo organizado, obtido pela análise exploratória de uma rede de citações longitudinal, assegura familiaridade com os conceitos constitutivos dos PSMs. O atlas bibliográfico é constituído por três análises principais: a exploração da abrangência panorâmica, a das referências e a dos periódicos. Esse estudo fornece subsídios para uma reflexão importante sobre a noção de unidade dos PSMs e a coesão de seus conceitos constituintes encontrada em seus precedentes teóricos. Finalmente, o método de cartografia estrutural possibilita realizar uma revisão de literatura sofisticada, bem como identificar temas fundamentais para futuras pesquisas mais produtivas.<br>This thesis presents the results of a methodological study that has established a specific method of historical and documental investigation, denominated structural cartography for literature review, which was experimentally applied in the study of Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) history. Structural cartography for literature review is a rigorous and interdisciplinary method that reveals the underlying structure of a field literature through the methodological notions found in historical research, documental investigation, Graph Theory, and its subfield of citation network analysis, and Cartography. Due to its interdisciplinarity, it becomes clear that the relations between different authors, from different periods of time and from different media are essential to familiarize scholars with their fields of knowledge. After introducing the basic concepts of citation indexing and network analysis, this study shows how to build a bibliographic atlas composed of visual maps and diagrams. The application of this method resulted in the bibliographic atlas on the PSMs from 1950 to 1989. The mapping of ideas and concepts in an organized arrangement, which is obtained by the analysis of a longitudinal exploratory citation network, ensures familiarity with primitive concepts. The bibliographic atlas is composed by three main analysis: the exploration of coverage, of sources and of media. Moreover, this study provided insights for an important reflection on the notion of PSMs unity and the cohesion of their constituent concepts found in their theoretical precedents. Finally, the method of structural cartography for literature review made possible to conduct sophisticate literature review and has provided substantial themes for future research.

Attraverso l’utilizzo del framework ambientale DAPSI(W)R(M) (Elliott et al., 2017), sono state definite qualitativamente le molteplici connessioni tra attività antropiche e degrado ambientale all’interno della Laguna di Venezia. Tale modello si pone come obiettivo di organizzare secondo un rigoroso schema causa-effetto le informazioni disponibili, in modo da raggiungere più facilmente una moltitudine di portatori di interesse, organismi di gestione ambientale, la comunità scientifica ed il pubblico. DAPSI(W)R(M) è quindi caratterizzato dalla spiccata multidisciplinarità, analizzando i diversi aspetti della gestione ambientale (ricerca, monitoraggi, politiche..) per valutarne e quindi indirizzarne l’operato. Si compone di 5 elementi collegati tra loro. A partire dai Drivers (D), ovvero i bisogni umani, vengono inserite, discusse e confrontate svariate Attività (A) umane che hanno luogo all’interno della conterminazione lagunare, con un focus specifico sui settori ad alto “impatto ambientale”. Tali settori producono di conseguenza una moltitudine di Pressioni (P) sull’ambiente naturale, che modificano sinergicamente o meno lo stato del territorio (S), modificando negativamente i servizi ecosistemici, e quindi il welfare locale (I(W)). A concludere il processo, vengono prodotte una serie di risposte in forma di misure(R(M)), che mirano a migliorare il territorio agendo su una o più componenti, sottolineando la ciclicità del framework. A causa dell’importante diversità e quindi complessità del territorio considerato, il lavoro vuole primariamente introdurre il framework DAPSI(W)R(M) come metodologia d’approccio alla gestione dell’ambiente costiero lagunare, più che definire esaustivamente ogni singolo elemento. Nonostante non sia un approccio di dettaglio, è stata effettuata la descrizione e analisi più esaustiva possibile, raccogliendo quanto più materiale informativo possibile. Tale metodologia di lavoro potrebbe divenire fondamentale in futuro, per definire le linee guida per la gestione di sistemi ambientali complessi, tenendo in considerazione tutti gli aspetti sociali, economici e ambientali in un quadro unico di riferimento.

Dealing with the problem between user related knowledge and design, the present thesis underlines the guiding role of designer&rsquo<br>s user concept as a concept in problem structuring, by framing his/her understanding about user and influencing knowledge use and solution generation. Considering limitations of prevailing user concept in the architectural design studio, underlying problems are detected with reference to knowledge and design contexts, which have critical influence on the formation of user concept, particularly on its capacity to cover qualities of user and its relation with design. Defined narrow content of knowledge context and the detachment between design and knowledge contexts constitute the problematic basis of limited user concept and indicate a need for a shift in student&rsquo<br>s user understanding. The thesis aims to provide a conceptual framework to define required change referring underlined contexts. The broadening of knowledge context is defined addressing unifying perspective of Universal Design, with its emphasis on diversity, user experience, and knowing user by experience. With reference to the notion of designerly ways of knowing, required constructive relation between knowledge and design contexts is reconceptualized as designerly way of knowing user and defined as user related knowledge generation as part of problem structuring and design concept generation through this knowledge base. The potentials of proposed framework are exemplified by an architectural design studio experience. The analysis shows that when student&rsquo<br>s user learning is organized within student&rsquo<br>s actual user investigation as part of problem structuring, it is possible for students to acquire needs and expectations of diverse users and translate them to solutions from user perspective generating user related design concepts. Therefore, proposed conceptual base promises to improve user concept of student not only to involve experiences of diverse users, but also to be designerly.

This article seeks to enhance multi criteria decision making by providing a scientic approach for decomposing and structuring decision problems. We propose a process, based on concept mapping, which integrates group creativity techniques, card sorting procedures, quantitative data analysis and algorithmic automatization to construct meaningful and complete hierarchies of criteria. The algorithmic aspect is covered by a newly proposed recursive cluster algorithm, which automatically generates hierarchies from card sorting data. Based on comparison with another basic algorithm and empirical engineered and real-case test data, we validate that our process efficiently produces reasonable hierarchies of descriptive elements like goal- or problem-criteria. (authors' abstract)

The lack of age-appropriate (paediatric) authorised medicines is a long-standing problem amongst regulatory authorities, patients, parents and prescribers. This is driven by the paucity of information on clinical efficacy, deficiency in safety data (i.e. biopharmaceutics) and the lack of quality information such as palatability and acceptability data in children. To counteract this deficiency bespoke, unlicensed formulations are formulated by contract manufacturers, hospitals and dispensing pharmacists using a variety of ‘recipes’ and differing manufacturing protocols. In this work, Morphological Analysis as a problem structuring method is deployed using key stakeholders of the problem complex. This method, developed from operational research and design thinking sectors, has the ability to structure and parameterise a complex problem to isolate a smaller subset of an internally consistent solution space for the design of experiments. Hence, Morphological Analysis is used experimentally to decide which pharmaceutical dosage forms of furosemide would be selected as a solution space for paediatric patients with low cardiac output syndrome. Morphological Analysis application resulted in the selection of two different dosage forms for further work (Microemulsion oral liquid dosage form and an Orodispersible Mini-tablet). The furosemide microemulsion formulation was developed using ternary phase diagrams to isolate the efficient self-emulsification regions. A range of experimental techniques and instruments were used to characterise the system such as HPLC, phase stability studies, droplet size determination, surface tension measurement, drug-excipient compatibility studies using FTIR and NMR, viscosity determination, thermodynamic stability assessment and determination of shelf-life via accelerated and long-term stability studies. The optimum composition of the furosemide microemulsion consisted of: MCT Oil 14%, Labrasol 60%-Transcutol-HP 20% (3:1) and Water 6%. A furosemide oro-dispersible mini-tablet formulation (ODMT) was also developed and analysed for quality assessment. The development approach for ODMT used factorial design at two levels with four factors. Pre-formulation studies included drug-excipient compatibility assessment using differential scanning calorimetry and powder flowability evaluation using angle of repose and Hausner’s ratio techniques. For that, sixteen batches of ODMTs were manufactured using a Manesty F3 tablet press; Post-compression testing and characterisation processes were performed and this involved testing for weight variation, hardness assessment, friability, in vitro disintegration, wetting time, drug content analysis, dissolution time and stability of ODMTs under ICH conditions. The optimum composition of furosemide ODMT was found to be (ludiflash excipient + 0.6% magnesium stearate lubricant + 1mg/tablet furosemide API) with 10 minutes mixing time at value 19 compression force.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-64).<br>Poverty eradication is one of the major challenges facing South Africa and the rest of the continent. Concern around poverty alleviation in South Africa encompasses lack of capacity as well as inefficiency in the management and administration of poverty alleviation projects. Therefore, poverty alleviation agencies ought to be mindful of the issues that could affect their organizational efficiency, especially issues around organizational management. Addressing issues of management amongst the poverty alleviation agencies is necessary to assist role players in the implementation of efficient and effective poverty alleviation programs. The research explored issues around the management structure of a selected non-government organisation (SHAWCO). The objective was to develop a shared understanding of the organizational structure, amongst the members of the management team, and identify (if any) inefficiencies within the structure of the organisation. Problem Structuring Methods have been identified as a collection of tools that assist decision makers in addressing complex societal problems, and seek to alleviate or improve situations characterized by uncertainty, conflict and complexity. The study used Problem Structuring Methods to investigate the possible difficulties SHAWCO is facing as a result of management inefficiency. Interviews were used to uncover issues around the functioning and management of the organization, and an interactive problem structuring workshop was later conducted to develop a shared understanding of the identified issues.

Several critical elements (such as uncertainty, complexity and lack of structure) limit the use of analytical models and methods in problem solving and decision-aid in practice. In an effort to solve these problems, the initial representation or conceptualization of a problem is so crucial to its subsequent treatment that one is tempted to say that the most important as well as most difficult issue underlying the subject of problem solving is precisely ‘how to structure the problem’. The purpose of study is to review concepts related to the problems that require structuring (ill-structured or unstructured problems), the methods that are available in order to deal with these problems (problem structuring methods) and to study the use of these methods in interventions. The research involved creation of a community with the aim of integrating competences on how different methods may be used and integrated to face complex and unstructured decision situations, in order to develop methodological skills that could effectively facilitate the analyst’s work. Each member of this community was involved, at the start in relation to a specific old intervention, in an investigation project, in relation to some cases and their modeling processes, which have been developed in real organizations, by means of a specific technical approach or with the support of a multimethodology with formal tools that propose a limited quantification within a systematic framework. Therefore the operational idea for the investigation was a procedure at two phases, the first for the creation of a knowledge base for the second phase and the second of interaction with the author of the paper that describes an intervention case. The information gathered from the community provided important insights into the problem structuring interventions and the results aim to facilitate the analysts to have an idea about the competences that need to be developed for a successful intervention.

Problem structuring methods (PSMs) have been developed within operational research (OR) to assist a set of actors to agree on a problem structure and make commitments to consequential action. Their characteristic feature is the use of a model to represent alternative versions of the problem of common interest, combined with facilitation to help actors make constructive mutual adjustments. Whilst most PSMs have traditionally been applied with actors confronting problems within organizations, others have also been applied with actors working between and across organisations to address a problem of common interest. This research will explore the significance of PSMs in collaborative contexts of this kind. The aim of this research is to investigate the possible roles of PSMs in assisting actors of an inter-organisational domain who engage in collaboration to address a problematique of common interest in order to reach joint agreements with respect to it. The hypothesis investigated in this research is that the analytical assistance provided by PSMs can be expected to contribute to a collaboration process principally through improving actors' sense-making of their problematique, and through providing structure to the product of this sense- making activity. The interpretation of our hypothesis is that PSMs generate this effect through improving the quality of dialogue between actors. This effect should tend to impact positively on the ownership of the commitments resulting from the dialogue, and on mutual accommodations in the power balance among actors. In order to articulate this hypothesis, it has been necessary to conduct some conceptual clarification to achieve a clear meaning for the terms 'shared meaning', 'power', and 'dialogue'. Building upon this conceptual clarification, a model of collaboration as a process has been developed, which identifies the factors, pre-requisites and processes involved in actors' ability to achieve the intended products of collaboration. This model provides the basis for identifying the possible effects of PSMs, and for evaluating their effectiveness. To explore our hypothesis and the adequacy of the conceptual model, a case study drawn from an action research project in the UK construction industry was carried out. This action research project was industry-academic collaboration aimed at contributing to build a high value construction environment, and its principal output was the development of a PSM-based methodology for construction project reviews. The case study reported in this thesis involved the application of this methodology in a multi-organizational construction partnership in the hotel business. This involved engagement in and observation of ongoing partnership activity of three construction project teams. Reasonably clear and positive effects from the application of the methodology were found in the dialogue between participants, consistent with the hypothesis. Additional positive effects in terms of achieving inter-organisational learning within the selected partnership were also identified. Overall the results of the case study are encouraging; however, as they result from the application of a particular PSM-based methodology, extrapolation to more general conclusions about the potential of PSMs for multi-organisational collaboration should be made with caution. Nevertheless, the results of this research suggest valuable potential avenues for further research. The case experience also was generally supportive of the conceptual model of the collaboration process, in that the activities and processes observed could be interpreted without difficulties within the model's framework. The model offers a means for further theoretical and empirical work aimed at confirming and enriching its structure and validity.

Participatory development planning methods (PDPMs) have been developed within the 'people-centred' approach to development. Independently, problem structuring methods (PSMs) have been developed within operational research (OR). Both families of methods claim to assist empowerment and participation. Nevertheless, these concepts are used in ill-defined or even contradictory ways. The aim of this research is to explore to what extent claims made that PSMs can assist in development in the Third World are justified. The hypothesis developed and adopted during this research is that the analytic assistance provided by PSMs can be expected to contribute to a process of empowerment of the disadvantaged principally through improving participants' understanding of their problematic situation, and through providing structure to this understanding. PSMs generate this effect through improving the quality of dialogue between participants. Other more indirect expected effects are also identified. In combination, these effects should tend to impact positively on commitments to a course of action, and on longer term increases in self-power. In order to articulate this hypothesis it has been necessary to conduct some conceptual clarification to achieve a clear meaning for the terms "power", "self-power", "participation", "empowerment", and "spaces for dialogue". Using this as a base, a conceptual model of empowerment as a process has been developed, which identifies the factors, pre-requisites and processes involved in disadvantaged social actors' ability to maintain or augment their self-power. This model provides the bases for identifying the possible effects of PSMs, and for evaluating their effectiveness. To explore both our hypothesis and the adequacy of the conceptual model, a case study of the application of one PSM - the Strategic Choice Approach (SCA) - in a grassroots situation was carried out. This involved engagement in and observation of ongoing developmental activity of the Community Health Committee in a small town in Mexico. Reasonably clear and positive effects from the application of SCA were found in several model elements, consistent with the hypothesis. The effects in other elements were more ambiguous. Overall the results of the case study are encouraging; however, as they result from the application of a particular PSM, extrapolation to more general conclusions about the potential of PSMs to empower disadvantaged social actors should be made with caution. The case experience also was generally supportive of the conceptual model of empowerment, in that observed activities and processes could be interpreted unproblematically within the model's framework. The model offers a vehicle for further research aimed at confirming and enriching its structure.

This dissertation considers three broad issues which emerge from the sustainability discourse. First is the nature of the discourse itself, particularly the underlying philosophical positions which are represented. Second, is the nature of the highly complex types of problem which the discourse exposes. And third is whether the engineering profession, as it is practised currently, is adequate to deal with such problems. The sustainability discourse exposes two distinct, fundamentally irreconcilable philosophical positions. The first, “sustainable development”, considers humanity to be privileged in relation to all other species and ecosystems. It is only incumbent upon us to look after the environment to the extent to which it is in our interests to do so. The second, “sustainability”, sees humanity as having no special moral privilege and recognises the moral status of other species, ecosystems, and even wilderness areas. Thus, sustainability imposes upon us a moral obligation to take their status into account and not to degrade or to destroy them. These two conflicting positions give rise to extremely complex problems. An innovative taxonomy of problem complexity has been developed which identifies three broad categories of problem. Of particular interest in this dissertation is the most complex of these, referred to here as the Type 3 problem. The Type 3 problem recognises the systemic complexity of the problem situation but also includes differences of the domain of interests as a fundamental, constituent part of the problem itself. Hence, established systems analysis techniques and reductionist approaches do not work. The domain of interests will typically have disparate ideas and positions, which may be entirely irreconcilable. The dissertation explores the development of philosophy of science, particularly in the last 70 years. It is noted that, unlike the philosophy of science, the philosophy of engineering has not been influenced by developments of critical theory, cultural theory, and postmodernism, which have had significant impact in late 20th-century Western society. This is seen as a constraint on the practice of engineering. Thus, a set of philosophical principles for sustainable engineering practice is developed. Such a change in the philosophy underlying the practice of engineering is seen as necessary if engineers are to engage with and contribute to the resolution of Type 3 problems. Two particular challenges must be overcome, if Type 3 problems are to be satisfactorily resolved. First, issues of belief, values, and morals are central to this problem type and must be included in problem consideration. And second, the problem situation is usually so complex that it challenges the capacity of human cognition to deal with it. Consequently, extensive consideration is given to cognitive and behavioural psychology, in particular to choice, judgement and decision-making in uncertainty. A novel problem-structuring approach is developed on three levels. A set philosophical foundation is established; a theoretical framework, based on general systems theory and established behavioural and cognitive psychological theory, is devised; and a set of tools is proposed to model Type 3 complex problems as a dynamic systems. The approach is different to other systems approaches, in that it enables qualitative exploration of the system to plausible, hypothetical disturbances. The problem-structuring approach is applied in a case study, which relates to the development of a water subsystem for a major metropolis (Sydney, Australia). The technique is also used to critique existing infrastructure planning processes and to propose an alternative approach.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)<br>Revised work with minor emendations approved by supervisor.<br>This dissertation considers three broad issues which emerge from the sustainability discourse. First is the nature of the discourse itself, particularly the underlying philosophical positions which are represented. Second, is the nature of the highly complex types of problem which the discourse exposes. And third is whether the engineering profession, as it is practised currently, is adequate to deal with such problems. The sustainability discourse exposes two distinct, fundamentally irreconcilable philosophical positions. The first, “sustainable development”, considers humanity to be privileged in relation to all other species and ecosystems. It is only incumbent upon us to look after the environment to the extent to which it is in our interests to do so. The second, “sustainability”, sees humanity as having no special moral privilege and recognises the moral status of other species, ecosystems, and even wilderness areas. Thus, sustainability imposes upon us a moral obligation to take their status into account and not to degrade or to destroy them. These two conflicting positions give rise to extremely complex problems. An innovative taxonomy of problem complexity has been developed which identifies three broad categories of problem. Of particular interest in this dissertation is the most complex of these, referred to here as the Type 3 problem. The Type 3 problem recognises the systemic complexity of the problem situation but also includes differences of the domain of interests as a fundamental, constituent part of the problem itself. Hence, established systems analysis techniques and reductionist approaches do not work. The domain of interests will typically have disparate ideas and positions, which may be entirely irreconcilable. The dissertation explores the development of philosophy of science, particularly in the last 70 years. It is noted that, unlike the philosophy of science, the philosophy of engineering has not been influenced by developments of critical theory, cultural theory, and postmodernism, which have had significant impact in late 20th-century Western society. This is seen as a constraint on the practice of engineering. Thus, a set of philosophical principles for sustainable engineering practice is developed. Such a change in the philosophy underlying the practice of engineering is seen as necessary if engineers are to engage with and contribute to the resolution of Type 3 problems. Two particular challenges must be overcome, if Type 3 problems are to be satisfactorily resolved. First, issues of belief, values, and morals are central to this problem type and must be included in problem consideration. And second, the problem situation is usually so complex that it challenges the capacity of human cognition to deal with it. Consequently, extensive consideration is given to cognitive and behavioural psychology, in particular to choice, judgement and decision-making in uncertainty. A novel problem-structuring approach is developed on three levels. A set philosophical foundation is established; a theoretical framework, based on general systems theory and established behavioural and cognitive psychological theory, is devised; and a set of tools is proposed to model Type 3 complex problems as a dynamic systems. The approach is different to other systems approaches, in that it enables qualitative exploration of the system to plausible, hypothetical disturbances. The problem-structuring approach is applied in a case study, which relates to the development of a water subsystem for a major metropolis (Sydney, Australia). The technique is also used to critique existing infrastructure planning processes and to propose an alternative approach.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-05-16T12:54:11Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese Annielli Final Eng Produção.pdf: 1814655 bytes, checksum: dd58ccbb6433d83fe5fa716f0ccb14ea (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-16T12:54:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Tese Annielli Final Eng Produção.pdf: 1814655 bytes, checksum: dd58ccbb6433d83fe5fa716f0ccb14ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-25<br>Os métodos de estruturação de problemas, ou Problem Structuring Methods (PSM) foram desenvolvidos para apoiar o processo de decisão em grupo permitindo que os atores possam entender o problema em foco e se comprometer com uma ação subsequente. No entanto, apesar de sua popularização, há uma escassez de estudos que avaliem a aplicação prática do uso de métodos de estruturação de problemas, de forma analítica e comparativa e proponham alternativas práticas para lidar com os problemas identificados. Dessa forma, esse trabalho analisou as consequências práticas do uso de PSM em um processo de decisão em grupo, identificou oportunidades de melhoria em sua prática e propôs um modelo considerando estas oportunidades. Para isso, foram realizados dois experimentos, seguindo uma abordagem de avaliação pragmática baseada na teoria. Os resultados dos experimentos sugeriram que são necessários cuidados e intervenções para que o uso de um método cumpra o seu propósito. Percebeu-se a necessidade do desenvolvimento de modelos que auxiliem na construção de mapas cognitivos, melhorando a comunicação entre os envolvidos, considerando o papel do facilitador e a influência que este exerce sobre o processo. Dessa forma, foi proposto um modelo para construção de mapas que envolve as seguintes etapas: workshop, construção de mapas individuais e agregação de mapas individuais em um mapa coletivo. Cada etapa é descrita com um exemplo ilustrativo. Finalmente, atendendo a necessidade de abordagens de validação de modelos, um questionário foi desenvolvido considerando uma matriz que engloba tipos e aspectos de validação apresentados na literatura, e assim, os participantes podem avaliar, utilizando uma escala likert, não apenas os resultados, mas todo o processo e o cumprimento dos objetivos estabelecidos. Embora o questionário de validação não possa ser recomendado para avaliar a aplicação de todos os PSMs, sua estrutura pode servir de referência para diversas práticas.<br>The problem structuring methods (PSM) have been developed to support the group decision process allowing the actors to understand the problem in focus and commit to a subsequent action. However, despite its popularity, there is a lack of studies that assess the practical application of the use of problem structuring methods, analytical and comparatively and propose alternative practices to deal with the problems identified. Thus, this study analyzed the practical consequences of PSM use in a group decision process, identified improvement opportunities in their practice and proposed a model considering these opportunities. For this, two experiments were carried out, following a pragmatic assessment approach based on the theory. The results of the experiments suggest that is needed caution and interventions for the use of a method fulfills its purpose. The need to develop models that help build cognitive maps and to improve communication between those involved, considering the role of facilitator and influence over the process was one of the perceived opportunities. Thus, a model was proposed to build maps that involve the following steps: workshop, building individual maps and aggregation maps. Each step is described with an illustrative example. Finally, given the need for model validation approaches, a questionnaire was developed considering a matrix that encompasses important aspects of literature, and so, participants can evaluate, using a Likert scale, not only the results, but the whole process and meet the goals established. Although the validation questionnaire can not be recommended to evaluate the implementation of all PSMs, its structure can serve as a reference for various practices.

Working with socio-technical systems, where technological components are inter-related with the complexity that is generated by individual and organizational actions and processes, presents several methodological problems. When an innovation process develops in a socio-technical system, many of the involved factors are not meaningfully quantifiable, since they are connected to technological but also social, organizational, political and cognitive dimensions. Everything is connected to everything else and “what might seem to be the most marginal of factors can, under the right circumstances, become a dominating force of change“ (Ritchey, 2006). These innovation processes are characterized by multiple actors and perspectives, competitive or conflicting interests, constraints and uncertainties that (using the distinction proposed in Friend, 1989) can be connected to the working environment, the related decision fields and/or the guiding values. All these elements define what Rosenhead and Mingers (2001) called an unstructured problem. “How can you deal with the main complexity and uncertainty elements of an innovation process where multiple actors are or should be involved?”, but also “How could be facilitated decision in such problematic situations?”. Acquiring and organizing knowledge and information elements can be essential not only to understand but also to eliminate, reduce or control complexity and uncertainty. “Traditional quantitative methods, mathematical (functional) modeling and simulation will simply not suffice in several cases” (Ritchey, 2006). The sociological and psychological literatures suggest approaches and methodological tools to identify complexity and uncertainty and cope with. Logical and structured procedures are also proposed in the Operations Research (OR) literature (but also in fields such as System Engineering, System Analysis or Cybernetics) as “soft OR methods or problem structuring methods (PSM) ”, to facilitate a shared vision of the situation and to decide how complexities and uncertainties have to be controlled and improvement actions to be elaborated, evaluated, validated and implemented. The questions become “Which tools can be used to facilitate decision in such problematic situations?” and above all ”Can an integrated use of soft and traditional methods be more effective in these situations?” Problem structuring methods could be improved by an integrated and interdisciplinary approach that systematically helps in identifying or constructing an agreed framework for the problem formulation, above all when the situation is “new”. A trans-disciplinary approach is required with methods which can bring together social psychology, psychology, math, strategic management, logic and computer science (Eden and Ackermann, 2006). The aim of this research is to propose and test the integration of soft and traditional tools, that come from different disciplines, in order to propose a PSM, to identify, try to reduce and control uncertainties and complexities elements in innovation processes. In relation to this aim, approaches and tools, from social psychology and cognitive psychology, and the main concepts of the theory that is at the base of the proposed approaches are analyzed in the first chapters of the thesis. All the analyzed tools are classified in terms of reference theories, aim, source of the structured elements, adopted structure and content. In the first chapter of the thesis the relations between cognitive approach, cognitive psychology thinking, psychological theories and mapping techniques are analyzed, in order to acquire, synthesize, code and communicate all the elements that come from the different points of view of the actors who are or can be involved in a process that can be cognitive but also a decision process or an innovation process. The chapter is oriented to analyse why and how cognitive scientists study similarities between thinking and information processing, why people use some types of knowledge and discard others, built some types of map to represent knowledge and not others, why some people want to identify and define the knowledge flow in process or in what way it is possible to support the creation of knowledge in different stages of process in which the human thinking is centred. The analysis stars from the study of Neisser, Piaget, Kelly and Tolman, cognitive psychologists who want to understand how human “make sense of “ their world and try to manage and control the context around us. Different types of maps, that are proposed in the literature, can be created and modified by conscious intent or without conscious intent, showing cognitive structures, reflecting values, emotions, behaviours. The proposed maps were analyzed and classified, in order to understand how they can be elaborated and used in real processes. Conceptual maps (Novak, 1970) explore individual knowledge, represent and communicate expert knowledge and create new knowledge. Casual maps (Eden, 1992) are useful in strategic management for organizations, in order to diagnose the reasons for unsatisfactory and satisfactory outcomes, at the end of a project, to facilitate learning and risk analysis for future projects or help actors to identify potential difficulties and policies and reduce those difficulties, at the beginning of a project. Argument maps (Toulmin, 1958 and Horn, 1998) could be used in business settings to support the analysis of pros and cons. Mind and semantic maps (Buzan, 1996) are used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, explain concepts behind words, associations and diachronic purposes and to predict language change. Knowledge maps (Rogers, 2000 and Stanford, 2000) visualize knowledge beyond textual for the purpose to elicit, code, share, use and expand knowledge. Topic maps (Newcomb, 2007 and Pepper, 2009) are standard representations and interchange of knowledge, with an emphasis on the information findability (how can be found information that is contained on a website). In the second chapter one mapping techniques, cognitive mapping, is deeply analyzed. Cognitive mapping aims to provide a tool for revealing subjective beliefs in a meaningful way so that they can be examined not only by the individual for whom the map is constructed, but also by other individuals and groups (Eden, 1992). Cognitive mapping is a technique for knowledge elicitation and recording (from an individual or during a discussion in a group) that facilitates the participation of multiple actors in a problem-structuring process, the emergence of a shared representation of the problem (starting from individuals’ views of a problem situation) and the elaboration of a problem-solving process that includes all the members of a group (Rosenhead and Mingers, 2004). A cognitive map has some structural properties (Eden, 2004) and the analysis can be centred on the whole structure of the map (shape, layout), on the nodes - concepts (central concepts, clusters) or on the relationships between concepts (loop, contradiction). Some methodologies of cognitive mapping were analyzed and some applications studied in order to understand their potentialities. The first methodology was originated from research into methods of helping the process of problem solving in teams (Eden et al, 1983) and has been increasingly used as a fully fledged organizational Group Decision Support System (Eden and Ackermann, 1992; Ackermann et al., 1993; Ackermann and Eden, 2001) and for strategy development and implementation within both public and private sectors (Eden and Ackermann, 1998). This particular approach of cognitive mapping is based on ‘‘personal construct theory’’ (Kelly, 1955) and has been developed, following extensions to the use of ‘‘Repertory Grids’’, for the purpose of capturing a ‘‘personal construct system’’. The cognitive mapping approach proposed by Damart (2008) can give information about the contribution of each participant to the exploration of a problem, in order to help the facilitator to form relevant participant sub-groups. A cognitive mapping procedure is developed in (Norese, 1995; Buffa et al, 1996) and as a tool of MACRAME, a problem structuring method. Two different applications, that are proposed in (Norese and Salassa, 2010 and Danna, 2011) were analyzed. In the third chapter methods of “actors analysis” are identified and analyzed in relation to problems context characterized by multiple actors, perspectives, experiences and competing interests. They can be proposed in order to study the structure of the decision context where the individual/organizational actors (or the potential actors) play a role (or multiple roles) and activate relationships, to analyze their points of view and identify new potential actors or to understand and reduce organizational complexity. In literature there are approaches that come from different disciplines with the aims to identify and analyze actors in a socio-technical system or in a process and to study the relations between them. Understanding who are the actors that have an “interest” and a possible role in decision making processes and can hinder essential information or enrich whole knowledge is important in a socio-technical system (De Bruijn, et al, 2002). Learning about the actors’ different problem perceptions and different content aspects of the problem situation is essential to estimate who are the “enemies” and who are “friends”, whom do you need or don't need. Actor analysis is also essential to legitimate a problem formulation in which different actors recognize themselves (Van der Poel, 1993). Approaches, methodologies and methods are proposed in different fields, employ different theoretic perspectives and focus on different aspects of multi-actor processes. Their use implies different expertises and in some cases a lot of time. All the findings and discussions of these analyses may be of relevance in all the domains where there are dimensions of multi-actor and organizational complexities. The integration of actors analysis methods and cognitive mapping techniques could produce knowledge elements that are useful to clarify the cognitive aspects and complete the vision of the whole situation. Actor analysis methods can be used to analyze and understand the context, but also to identify new actors or actors who could be involved, and to capture and represent differing perceptions of the situation and some problem formulations. The knowledge elements that come from the cognitive maps could also be used to improve the actor analysis (proposing, for exempla, new activities or actors, and related complex issues, to be analyzed). The actor network knowledge can facilitate the analysis of the actors’ needs, when these propose less clear or contradictory concepts that have to be analyzed by cognitive maps. The effectiveness of each method can be improved by the integration of a “complementary” method. When this integration is made and a clearer idea of the problem is acquired, some classical OR methods (in particular, in this research, mathematical programming and multiple criteria decision analysis) can be integrated, as in a second integration step, in order to structure the acquired knowledge elements in models. This second integration is made in order to transform concepts and relationships, that are structured and synthesized by actor networks and cognitive maps, into models (with actions, criteria and parameters, or objectives, variables, constraints and parameters) and to apply methods in order to elaborate possible solutions and compare them, or modify the models and identify new aspects and points of view, in decision contexts that include key actors. “Cycling between modeling approaches gave benefits that could not have been attained by either hard or soft modeling in isolation” (Ackermann et all., 1997). This “two steps” integration process is not linear but, as a learning cycle, better defines the knowledge elements that are essential in an innovation process and improves communication and modeling. The effectiveness of the interdisciplinary integration is tested on a real application, SMAT project. Procedure and results are shown in the fourth chapter. SMAT project was activated in January 2009 as the first phase of the global project of a new advanced system to monitor the territory (the meaning of the acronym SMAT) and it was financed by a public institution, the Piedmont Region. The project involved several enterprises and some research units of the Politecnico di Torino (with different skills, from different departments as DIASP, DELEN, DISPEA, DAUIN) and the University of Turin, under the leadership of Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, which is is active in the aeronautical military and civil markets. The purpose of SMAT-F1 is to test the performances of some legacy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), working as an integrated monitoring system, and to identify all the specific innovations that have to be introduced in the UAVs, that have to be equipped with sensors for specific data acquisition uses and communication systems for data transmission even in critical situations, in order to guarantee a civil use of this new monitoring system. The control stations of each UAV and the central control station have to ensure the coordination of the global system. The central control station has to guarantee a good interface between the system and the end users. In the first phase of the project, the aim of the research group of the DISPEA department was the identification of the organisations that could be the clients of this new monitoring service and the analysis of their monitoring needs, for the test of three legacy UAVs, but above all for the future phases of the SMAT project, when the new system has to be designed and implemented. In this case, some potential users of the SMAT technologies are the key actors of the land monitoring processes and recording and tracking their points of view could be important to understand the situation and also to involve some of them, in the future, in a decisional structure that should facilitate the design of both the innovative system and the new monitoring service. A correct acquisition of these points of view needs understanding and control of some uncertainties that are connected to the validity of the acquired knowledge (in terms of reliability, generability, global consistency, completeness,..), the value systems of the key actors, at individual and organizational level, and the nature of the relationships between the organizations that are involved in land monitoring processes. Open interviews starting from a framework of key questions can be more useful than a questionnaire to underline and clarify these uncertainty elements and to obtain an idea of what the knowledge elements that have to be acquired and analysed are. An integrated procedure was developed in order to define problem formulations, model frameworks and parameters starting from the structured, partially structured and unstructured knowledge elements that the survey has proposed. The procedure started from the validated interviews, and the suggestions from experts and literature in order to identify all the different monitoring needs. The texts of the validated interviews were analysed and all the structured knowledge elements (land monitoring current activities and characteristics such as cost and required quality; monitoring needs and factors that should characterize the new monitoring activities) were acquired and introduced in a data base and in some lists. Then a clustering approach was used for the definition of five land monitoring categories (or macro activities) and the assignment of all the expressed monitoring needs to these categories. A data base of all the possible uses of SMAT, with the elements that sprung from the interviews but also the points of view of the experts, was used to test the completeness of the set of macro activities and the consistency of the clustering approach, where the proximity of the needs, that were expressed during the interviews in relation to the five identified categories, was maximized and the number of the basic activities that synthesize similar needs was minimized. The last activity with the structured knowledge elements consisted in the definition of the main parameters that allow the basic activities to be described and treated in the models that the integrated analysis of the partially structured and unstructured knowledge elements is able to propose.

La thèse propose d’abord un cadre général pour l’analyse de l’incertain durant les différentes phases du processus de planification énergétique à long terme à base de modèles de villes ou territoires (IEPCT). Il inclut des critères d’évaluation de la qualité d’une démarche IEPCT. Puis deux méthodes d’analyses de l’incertain sont proposées pour les activités de modélisation et de scénarisation du système énergétique : l’une basée sur l’échantillonnage aléatoire (PRSUA) et l’autre sur les scénarios flous (FSUA). Leur implémentation sur des cas a permis de montrer leur faisabilité et leur performance du point de vue des critères de qualité. La méthode PRSUA est plus gourmande en données, elle est plus adaptée à la planification sectorielle court moyen terme et tandis que FSUA convient plus à la planification long terme intersectorielle.Enfin une méthode pour la réalisation de l’ensemble des activités liées à la structuration d’un problème de planification spécifique (IMMA) est proposée<br>The Phd first proposes a methodological framework for addressing different types of uncertainty within long range ntegrated energy planning for cities and territories (IEPCT) processes which includes requirements and quality factors. Second, two methods for uncertainty analysis of modelling tasks are proposed. One approach is probabilistic random sampling approach (PRSUA) another one is fuzzy scenario approach (FSUA). Compared to FSUA, the PRSUA framework is more data intensive. PRSUA is more suitable for short or midterm sector specific domain analysis, FSUA is more appropriate for long range cross sectoral integrated planning.Third it is proposed an innovative approach (IMMA) for supporting not only uncertainties in IEPCT first phase but also all other tasks relevant to this planning phase. Implementation of IMMA in Singapore shows that it can address all identified tasks and help developing requirements for innovative solutions

Cette thèse, consacrée à la représentation des problèmes et contradictions architecturaux dans la phase amont de la conception, s’inscrit dans la problématique de l’agentivité potentielle de cette phase pour concevoir des concepts et des solutions innovantes. En tant qu’une recherche interdisciplinaire, cette thèse a pour ambition de contribuer aux recherches visant l’appropriation de parts de connaissances élaborées par la TRIZ dans le savoir architectural. Elle se développe donc en transversalité en examinant la possibilité d’appliquer IDM-TRIZ, son ontologie et son formalisme de représentation de contradiction dans les phases amont de la conception architecturale. L’objectif principal est d’évaluer les apports du concept de contradiction de la théorie TRIZ à l’énoncé des problèmes et des contradictions du projet architectural. Si l’accent est mis sur cet objectif, l’évaluation des apports des techniques et outils de la résolution de contradiction de TRIZ en préconception architecturale constitue l’objectif secondaire de cette étude. Ainsi, la contribution scientifique espérée de notre recherche consiste à examiner des apports éventuels de la notion de contradiction au sens TRIZ à la fois comme stratégie conceptuelle en architecture guidant la recherche et la structuration des informations et comme modèle d’interprétation et de représentation des éléments fondamentaux de la conception, à savoir les objectifs, les contraintes et les solutions en phase amont du processus de conception. Un projet réel a été choisi comme l’objet de l’étude empirique effectuée dans le cadre de la thèse. Deux résultats principaux de cette étude sont a) un ensemble des objectifs, des contraintes et des scénarios sous forme de contradiction à travers le Graphe Problèmes – Solution Partielles ; b) un ensemble de dix concepts de solution pour une contradiction du projet liée au problème identifié comme le problème clé. Ces résultats ont été évalués à travers une série d’entretiens semi-directifs avec treize architectes. Ces résultats ainsi que deux questionnaires L’évaluation des résultats montre I) la possibilité d’énoncer les objectifs, les contraintes et les propositions du projet sous forme de contradiction à travers le Graphe Problèmes – Solution Partielles (avec 92.3 % de réponse positive pour ceux qui concernent la fonction et la forme ; et 85 % pour ceux concernant l’économie et le temps); II) la contribution significative du Graphe de Problèmes aux qualités de la clarté des énoncés de problèmes; à la traçabilité des problèmes et à la l’intégralité de la présentation de l’Espace de problèmes ; III) que l’ensemble de techniques et d’outils de TRIZ pourrait contribuer à la génération des concepts de solution en phase amont de la conception architecturale. Le taux d’affirmation varie selon le concept évalué ; cependant, ils attestent la pertinence (avec une moyenne de 58 % d’affirmation) et l’intérêt (avec une moyenne de 67 % d’affirmation) des concepts.La conclusion de la thèse porte sur l’intérêt et l’inconvénient de l’usage du concept de contradiction de TRIZ comme stratégie conceptuelle de la construction de l’Espace de problèmes architecturaux en phase amont de la conception architecturale. De même, elle présente certaines réflexions sur les limites de TRIZ pour une application architecturale. Une discussion est menée sur les développements requis dans IDM-TRIZ pour mieux s’adapter à la pratique architecturale et mieux s’intégrer aux recherches courantes en programmation architecturale. En mettant la contribution de la thèse dans le champ plus large de l’appropriation de parts de connaissances élaborées par la TRIZ dans le savoir architectural, la conclusion se termine par la proposition de certaines pistes d’exploration qui désignent une perspective pour la recherche ultérieure sur les apports potentiels de la TRIZ en conception architecturale<br>This thesis is devoted to the representation of architectural problems and contradictions in the early phase of architectural design process. It also focuses on its potential agency to generate new concepts and innovative solutions. This thesis aims to contribute to the research on knowledge transfer from TRIZ to architectural design methodologies. It is a cross-disciplinary study on the applicability of IDM-TRIZ, its ontology and formalism in the early phases of an architectural design. The main objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the contributions of the concept of contradiction of the TRIZ theory to problem and contradiction statement in architectural projects. The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate the contribution of the TRIZ techniques and their tools to architectural contradiction solving. Thereby, the expected scientific contributions of this research is to examine the concept of contradiction as a conceptual strategy for seeking and structuring the information about a project and as a model for interpretation and representation of the objectives, constraints, and alternative solutions in the early phases of the architectural design process.In our empirical study, the IDM-TRIZ method is applied to an architectural program of a real project and has produced two results: A) a structured set of the objectives, constraints, requirements and the alternative solutions of this program presented as contradiction by using Problem Graph, B) a set of ten concepts of solution to resolve one of the contradictions related to the problem identified as the core problem of the project. These results were evaluated through a series of semi-structured interviews. This evaluation shows that I) it is possible to represent the objectives, constraints, and alternative solutions of an architectural project as contradiction by the Problem Graph (with 92.3% positive response for the elements concerning form and function, and 85% for those concerning economy and time), II) the contribution of the Problem Graph to the program qualities, such as clarity of problem statement; traceability of problems and the entirety of the Problems space, is significant, and, III) the TRIZ techniques and their tools could contribute to concept generation in the early phases of architectural designs. The evaluation is different for each concept, but it attests the relevance of the concepts (with an average of 58%) and their interest (with an average of 67%). The findings of this thesis discusses the advantages and the disadvantages of the use of TRIZ concept of contradiction as a conceptual strategy for building the Problem space in the early phases of architectural designs. The conclusion presents some thoughts on TRIZ limitations for an architectural endeavor as well as some perspectives for further research aiming integrating the TRIZ into current research in architectural design. Also, some further developments in the IDM-TRIZ which allows better adapting to architectural practice are discussed

<p>In project or program planning, a Gantt or PERT chart is usually employed as a graphical representation of schedule for activities. Planners utilize this chart in performing analyses such as the Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). Very little effort, however, has been devoted to the formulation of activity networks, which is the initial step before aforementioned analyses. This research addresses this problem by developing a systematic methodology to aid in the identification and rapid structuring of a system of activities.</p><p> The theoretical foundation of the methodology is based on Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). It consists of seven basic steps: (l) identifying the activities in the set; (2) identifying the set of relation statements; (3)identifying the initial input; (4) establishing a transitive inference mechanism based upon previous responses; (5) generating a logical combination of relationships based on previous responses; (6) storing the relationship for each pair of activities in a relation matrix; and (7) outputting the relationships in the form of a simplified Gantt chart.</p> The merits of applying this methodology include (1) efficiency in activity structuring and (2) avoidance of illogical and inconsistent sequential relationship specifications. A "Business Appreciation" example is used in illustrating the application of this methodology. It reveals that 85% of a total of 120 possible sequential activity relationships can be deduced without asking for information from the user. In general, over 57% of the sequential relationships can be inferred without input by the user.</p><br>Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Practice has the potential to transform a musician’s expertise by elevating technical and musical limitations to full competence, allowing a musician to play masterfully at a professional level (Ericsson, Krampe, & Tesch-Römer, 1993; Johnston, 2002; Sloboda, Davidson, Howe, & Moore, 1996). While the research literature underlines some pedagogical and psychological principles on how to practise, there is a need to identify strategies, inspirations, thoughts, and artistic behaviours that will lead to practice mastery and excellence in performance (Cervion, Laws, Lettberg, & Lisboa, 2012; Gerle, 1983; Miksza, 2007). To date, most of the studies related to effective practice have been conducted with students in higher education (Hallam, 2001). This research aims to evaluate how professional performers conceptualise and approach practice, and to observe how they are able to make practice theory meaningful. Six performance experts participated in an interview regarding practice. The interviews explored how the participants address and structure practice, how they handle obstacles, and how they prepare for performances. The participants discussed the importance of mental preparation, and unanimously described the value of mental practice in the learning of new works. For these performers, practice was never the ultimate objective, only a means to achieve progress in performance and to convey to an audience the delivery of art. This study aims to redefine existing practice concepts by appraising musicians and pedagogues of current expert approaches and demonstrating how these are implemented. It will identify how knowledge of theory needs to be enacted to experience expert practice mastery. These findings will benefit and advance pre-professional performers in their pursuit of excellence in performance as they prepare for the music profession.

Orientador: Douglas Altamiro Consolo<br>Resumo: Neste trabalho investiga-se a abordagem de avaliação da proficiência oral do professor de línguas estrangeiras empregado por um exame brasileiro voltado a essa finalidade específica, o EPPLE – Exame de Proficiência para Professores de Línguas Estrangeiras. O estudo tem por objetivo propor uma abordagem que atenda a necessidades levantadas pela literatura da área acerca da importância da democratização e transparência do processo avaliativo e do emprego de processos decisórios que garantam os princípios de validade sem causar interferências na praticidade das avaliações. Assim, a abordagem proposta subordina-se à elaboração de uma escala de mensuração e à reestruturação da escala de proficiência do exame, agregando-se a opinião de usuários com diferentes graus de especialidade sobre a avaliação de proficiência. Trata-se, portanto, de um estudo de caso de natureza híbrida e cunho exploratório-descritivo que se utiliza de dados secundários e primários para auxiliar a investigação. Os dados secundários consistem em estudos e documentos sobre a caracterização da proficiência linguística para finalidades gerais e para finalidades de ensino, bem como sobre a avaliação dessas proficiências; em dados de fala do teste oral do EPPLE referentes à participação de formandos em Letras de uma universidade pública paulista e de duas universidades públicas mineiras, na qualidade de candidatos ao exame, nos anos de 2015 e 2017; e nos respectivos conceitos atribuídos aos candidatos, seguindo-se ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)<br>Abstract: This research study investigates the assessment model used by a teaching-oriented language examination, the EPPLE – Proficiency Examination for Foreign Language Teachers, in the assessment of foreign language teachers’ oral proficiency. We aim at evaluating the model used by the oral test and proposing a new one that meets current concerns raised by the literature regarding the importance of democratizing the assessment process, guaranteeing transparency and using decision models that assure validity principles without causing interferences in the test’s practicality. Therefore, the model we propose relies on the reorganization of the oral proficiency scale used in the exam through the inclusion of its stakeholders’ opinions. The investigation conducted consists on a quali-quantitative and exploratory-descriptive case study that uses primary and secondary data. Secondary data consist of research studies and documents on the concept of general and teaching purpose language proficiency; speaking data from candidates to the oral test of the EPPLE examination; as well as the respective rates assigned to such candidates according to the proficiency scale used in the exam. The candidates to the EPPLE examination that participate in this study are Letters course undergraduate students from Brazilian public universities, one located in the state of São Paulo and two in the state of Minas Gerais, in the years of 2015 and 2017. Primary data, on the other hand, consist of the answers ob... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)<br>Doutor

Submitted by Efrem Maranhão Filho (efremfilho@gmail.com) on 2013-03-08T18:52:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 teseDoutoradoEfrem.pdf: 4695587 bytes, checksum: 70cbab7e35da687c5b0830b63dcd7115 (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão (vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2013-03-08T19:45:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 teseDoutoradoEfrem.pdf: 4695587 bytes, checksum: 70cbab7e35da687c5b0830b63dcd7115 (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2013-03-08T19:46:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 teseDoutoradoEfrem.pdf: 4695587 bytes, checksum: 70cbab7e35da687c5b0830b63dcd7115 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-07<br>Multidisciplinary in decision-making undergoes the same specificities of any multidisciplinary field. Very often, the lack of communication generates problems and some different approaches can be found in other areas of expertise. The Problem Structuring Methods offers answers for current queries in business administration schools, being particularly useful when used in a multimethodological approach with others current methods. Having the Soft Systems Methodology – SSM – as the core, and the merged with Strategic Options Development and Analysis in the process, Georgiou (2012) presents the Systemic Planning in the latest configuration. Aiming to seek a computational tool that meets the assumptions of the SSM, and which incorporates the specifications of the configuration of Systemic Planning, here are defined a Notation for the method and a formalization of the existing communications between the elements, subsystems, system and environment and thus find a possible way of control the use of the method in a iteratively mode. In order to demonstrate such use of the Systemic Planning, A real case analysis is presented and shows the difficulties encountered in using the Notation defined and the Formalization of the communication. Subsequently, a design of a modular computational tool, and which can be used integrated with other tools of other methods, is presented. The contribution achieved are advances in the patterns in the use of SSM tools, presented the systemic aspects of the Systemic Planning, a demonstration of the iterative use and a blueprint for a computer tool.<br>A multidisciplinaridade da tomada de decisão sofre com as peculiaridades de qualquer campo multidisciplinar. A falta de comunicação, muitas vezes, gera problemas e as respostas que podem ser encontradas dentro de outras áreas. Os Métodos de Estruturação de Problemas são respostas para os questionamentos atuais nas escolas de administração e negócios, principalmente o uso multimetodológico destes com outros métodos. Tendo o Soft Systems Metholodogy – SSM – como base, e a incorporação do Strategic Options Development and Analysis – SODA – ao processo do SSM, Georgiou (2012) apresenta o Planejamento Sistêmico em sua configuração mais recente. Visando buscar uma ferramenta computacional que atenda os pressupostos do SSM, e que incorpore as especificações da configuração do Planejamento Sistêmico, definem-se uma notação para o método e uma formalização das para as comunicações existentes entre os elementos, subsistemas, sistema e ambiente e, com isso, torna-se possível controlar o uso do método de forma iterativa. Para demonstrar tal uso, apresenta-se uma análise de um caso real e demonstra as dificuldades encontradas na utilização da Notação e Comunicação definida. Posteriormente, apresenta-se um desenho técnico de uma ferramenta computacional modular e que pode ser usada de forma integrada com outras ferramentas de outros métodos. Como resultado, têm-se o avanço na definição de padrões no uso das ferramentas do SSM, na apresentação dos aspectos sistêmicos do Planejamento Sistêmico, na apresentação de um uso iterativo do método e na apresentação de um desenho técnico para uma ferramenta computacional.

Un projet de développement d’une nouvelle installation pétrolière est lancé lorsque des études d’exploration et d’appréciation estiment que l’exploitation du gisement d’hydrocarbures découvert sera suffisamment rentable. La taille des projets rencontrés en industrie pétrolière impose de les découper en plusieurs périmètres. Chaque périmètre est attribué à un contracteur avec un type de contrat particulier, formant ainsi la stratégie contractuelle du projet. Durant le processus de sélection de la stratégie contractuelle, les entreprises pétrolières font face à trois difficultés récurrentes : 1) l’identification et la génération d’un nombre raisonnable et pertinent d’alternatives ; 2) l’évaluation des alternatives réalisables, qui dépendent de critères d’échelles et de natures différentes ; et enfin, 3) le besoin de justifier la solution proposée. La problématique de recherche est donc de concevoir une méthodologie d’aide à l’élaboration et la sélection de la stratégie contractuelle des projets de développement. Elle devra être la plus adaptée non seulement en termes de performances coûts, délais, mais devra également tenir compte des risques associés à ces performances. De plus, les interfaces entre contrats devront être considérées, car la performance collective de la stratégie peut être dégradée par rapport aux performances individuelles de chaque contrat. Ainsi, notre travail de recherche vise à mettre en place des solutions à la fois techniques et pratiques pour d'une part répondre à la question d'identification et de génération d'un ensemble pertinent d'alternatives de contrats et de stratégies contractuelles. D'autre part, construire et mettre en œuvre un système d’estimation et évaluation, permettant d’arriver à une proposition de stratégie contractuelle la plus performante pour le projet de développement<br>A development project of a new oil and gas facility starts when the exploration and the appraisal studies estimate the exploitation of the hydrocarbon deposit is economically viable. The complexity and the size of the projects encountered in the industry impose to split them into several pieces, which represent the scope of future contracts. Each scope is then awarded to a contractor with a specific type of contract and selection mode, forming the contractual strategy to adopt in the project. During the contractual strategy selection process, oil companies encounters three recurring difficulties related to: 1) the identification of a reasonable and relevant set of alternatives; 2) the evaluation of potential alternatives, which depends on criteria from different scales and natures; and, 3) the need to substantiate the chosen contractual strategy solution. The research problem is to propose a decision aiding methodology for the development and selection of the most appropriate contractual strategy. It has to be the most performing in terms of cost and schedule, but should also consider the risks associated with these performances. In addition, the interfaces between the different contracts should also be considered, because the collective performance of the whole strategy may be degraded compared to the performance of each individual contract. Thereby, our work seeks to implement both technical and practical solutions to answer on the one hand the question of identification and generation of a relevant set of alternatives, at contracts and contractual strategy levels. On the other hand, to build and implement a system of estimation and evaluation of contractual strategies, allowing to come up with the most performing proposal to the upstream development project

Cette thèse porte sur l'aide à la décision dans un contexte décisionnel très complexe. Classiquement, pour résoudre de telles situations, on utilise des méthodes de structuration de problèmes. Cependant ces méthodes bien qu'appliquées dans le cadre multi acteur ou dans les décisions de groupe, n'aboutissent pas toujours à des résultats directement exploitables dans un modèle d'évaluation. Ou, lorsque c'est le cas, les données obtenues par structuration sont utilisées comme si elles provenaient d'un seul décideur, tendant à réduire par conséquent l'efficacité de la décision prise et son adhésion publique. Dans cette thèse nous nous sommes attelés à concevoir un modèle d'intégration d'outils conciliant le choix approprié d'outils de structuration pour les décisions de groupe et son exploitation efficace dans un modèle d'évaluation multicritère. En particulier nous nous sommes focalisés sur les modalités du passage des cartes cognitives aux arbres de valeurs. Ensuite nous avons appliqué notre démarche sur le cas pratique du projet ''AIde à la Décision pour l'identification et l'accompagnement aux transformations sociétales induites par les nouvelles technologies de l'Hydrogène'' (AIDHY). Enfin, la dernière partie de notre thèse est axée sur l'apport d'une modélisation multicritère pour appréhender formellement le problème d'évaluation des scénarios, formulé comme un problème de tri multicritère. Par conséquent, nous avons construit une méthode permettant d'observer et de paramétrer le comportement des invariants d'une acceptabilité sociale en général, par le biais d'une d'analyse de sensibilité à partir du cas de l'hydrogène énergie.

碩士<br>國立中興大學<br>公共行政及政策研究所<br>86<br>There are three major purposes of the present study: (1) to understandthe nature of cyberspace; (2) to investigate the social reality of cybercrime;and (3) to constructs some possile strategies for government to manage cybercrime. To achieve the research goals, the study took a multi-disciplinary approach to explore the subject. Our perspectives include legal theory, sociology of law, criminology, spacial theory, contemporary social philosophy and economics. Problem structuring in public policy was utilized as a methodology to developthe theoretical framework and hyptheses for the research. An empirical analysis was then designed to further examine the researchhypotheses. In the empirical analysis, cyberspace was classified into three categories based on the nature of its accessibility: public, specified and private spaces. Among the five target groups (legislators'' assistants, judges,consumers in fast food restaurants, colleges students, and internet users), the research found that their attitudes towards the 19 selected deviant or deviant-to-be behaviors in cyberspace varied. For instance, legislators'' assistantsand judges had lower tolerance than internet useers to most of the behaviors.However, no matter which group one belonged to, people tended to have lessagreement for "mala prohibita" behaviors than "mala in se" behaviors. The results also indicated that regardless of the nature of deviant behabior,deviant behaviors occurring in specified cyberspace were more likely to activate debates than those in public and private cyberspaces. At last, this research reviewed the laws and regulations in Taiwan relatedto cybercrime in general and the 19 selected behavior in specific. Along with the empirical findings and legal literature review, the present studyproposed a multi-dimensional model of structuring the problem of cybercrime. We argue that strategies for government to managing cybercrime would be more appropriate and feasible if the public consensus and the nature of cyberspaceare both taken into a serous consideration when constructing the problem ofcybercrime. The policy implication was further discussed in detail at the end of the study.

Checkland developed Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to address problem situations from a systems perspective; however, SSM needs to be extended with other methods to find superior solutions that overcome the need for a compromise or trade-off between conflicting or contradictory elements. This thesis extends Checkland’s SSM approach to resolve problems with conflicting or contradictory elements. This work integrates the powerful benefits of TRIZ-based analysis into SSM and provides a means for systemic resolution of business problems with conflicting sub-system elements. Furthermore, this study acknowledges that soft problems can have conflicting relationships among their elements, compares the strengths and weaknesses of SSM and TRIZ in problem structuring, and presents a collaborative SSM-TRIZ approach for problem structuring. Finally, this thesis applies the joint methodology to examine the business problem of customer needs assessment for a certain market segment of INCOSE’s planned Professional Development initiative. Although SSM-TRIZ helps structure problems with opposing requirements, it does not always provide definitive, prescriptive solution implementations for technical and business issues. Hence, hard thinking approaches cannot be discarded in practice after implementing SSM-TRIZ. Text mining was selected for providing a final and definite solution to the problem situation of interest.

碩士<br>義守大學<br>企業管理學系碩士班<br>98<br>From political and public welfare viewpoint, the importation of U.S. beef has never been interpreted as simple international–trade issue. On 23, Oct, 2009, the Health dept Taiwanese government announced that U.S. beef would be allowed into market. No doubt, we could foresee more defense and accusation from different parties and mass media. But more arguments never clarified this topic but did make this issue more chaotic. What panic the public were the imported items involved with T-bone, ribs, innards, brain, and minced meat which could bring out risky and incurable mad variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (vCJD). To minimize the risk of getting infection, our government emphasized that more severe and regular sampling examination would be taken accordingly. But this guarantee led to another interesting issue—how and how much examination could really win the confidence of the public. At the mean time, it’s shown that most people still held conservative attitude toward the importation. On 5th, Jan, 2010, Taiwanese Legislative Yuan amended and promulgated of the law of “Enforcement Rules of The Act Governing Food Sanitation” so as to conditionally limit the importation of U.S. beef. With regards to the topic related to public policy, this study is designated with two phases of analysis. Phase-1 methodology is Problem Structuring—to clarify the core concern of this problem through Interactive Management (IM) and to construct the prototype structure. Phase-2 is Cognitive Conflict Analysis—to follow the prototype and to proceed the analysis by questionnaire according to the result of IM as reference cues of Social Judgment Theory (SJT). Our result shows that, during phase-1 Problem Structuring, in terms of the collective thoughts of importation of U.S. beef by NGT methodology, the participators of IM meeting concludes twelve important items, including “The mediocre communication between government and public”, “The downhill credibility of Government”, “The ineffective leadership and the lagged instructions between different departments”, “Some negotiation in veil but people are eager for everything in transparency”, “The uncertainty of policy-making ”, “some issues distorted and politicized”, “The concern about imported beef with the contamination of SRMs”, “the national-wise credibility of Taiwan Government“, “the weak faith in public administration”, “the complexity of compensation issue and consumer right in Taiwan”, “The lack of flexibility to deal with the rapid change of IT world” and “the uncertainty of International trading topic prone to over-reaction by political wrestling ”. According to the problematique structure diagram concluded by ISM, the participators thought that the root cause is dominated by these two items “The concern about imported beef with the contamination of SRMs” and “Some negotiation in veil but people are eager for everything in transparency”. While we scrutinize the result of cognitive conflict analysis with SJT, we found the most critical item of these four cues—“The concern about imported beef with the contamination of SRMs”, “The mediocre communication between government and public”, “The national-wise credibility of Taiwan Government“, and “Some issues distorted and politicized”, is the contamination concern of SRMs. The analysis of all the responses gathered from the public, the officials in government, medical departments, restaurant, and non-profit organizations, undoubtedly supports the data of the importance, which also matches with the result of IM meeting. In addition, according to the function form analysis of respondents, all the different groups thought that these 4 cues above are positively correlated to the intensity of “opposition to the importation of U.S. Beef.” That’s to say, the worse these 4 indicating cues are, the more furiously the public could oppose the importation.

碩士<br>雲林科技大學<br>工業工程與管理研究所碩士班<br>96<br>In 2000, the nurse practitioner in Taiwan has been accepted by legislated. Their major assignment with doctors is to provide contiguous and integrated medical service for patients. And the first exam about certificate for nurse practitioner has conducted in 2006 year''s end. At present total 1439 people obtain the certification. The occupation either supply more ways to be transferred and promoted for the nursing staff or developed the specialized operating region and let the nursing staff participate decision-making of promotion medical service quality. However, beginning on this occasion reforms, many correlation issues await to invest more administrative resources to make an analysis and plan. To the achievement continues the basis which improves. The purpose of study is focused on the system of nurse practitioner in Taiwan to design an analytic framework first. Second, in order to assign the national limited administration resources and the funds to the correlation subjects effectively, and at the same time inspection at present government how to handle the various subjects, I will use a model based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process by judgement of experts and Medical care personnel to confirm the order of priority for many issues.

碩士<br>國立臺北大學<br>公共行政暨政策學系碩士在職專班<br>97<br>The purpose of this research is to review the literatures regarding Balanced Scorecard theory and its application in medical industry in an attempt to establish a structure suitable for application in analysis of index hospital's Balanced Scorecards; at the mean time, in an attempt to appreciate any difference in the measures of Balanced Scorecard system between index hospital and civil hospitals; in addition, to face the possible difficulties and develop strategies to overcome these difficulties. This study applies the research methods of literature review and in-depth interviews, focuses on index hospital's administrator and nearby chief of the comminutes and directors of community development association. Based on the results of these interviews it was further processed by SWOT analysis and discussion. In addition, according to the basis of the theory and performance measurement system, the index hospital's Balanced Scorecard analysis structure was established. The study discovered the four measures of Balanced Scorecard system can be satisfactorily applied to the demand of performance estimating. This can match the Four measures applied by the majority of civil hospitals for their evaluation of organisational performance. Furthermore, as the theory develops the Balanced Scorecard system can efficiently reunite individual performance measurement system, can assist in changing organisational culture and unite team morale, can provide enormous assistance from its application into hospitals. Index hospital under insuffient competitive conditions over-emphasizes financial performance, unable to establish overall organisational performance, should emphasize customers' performance in order to enhance the business operation for the organisation. Nevertheless, improving the hospital's social image is essential for the medical industry. It should be incorporated into the strategie goals of business management, and implemented in all staff's daily routine to improve the operational performance for hospital mangement.

碩士<br>國立臺灣師範大學<br>教育政策與行政研究所<br>98<br>The purpose of this study aims to investigate the problem structuring based on stakeholders’ viewpoint for low-score entries to college. Problem structuring is an important and crucial process in the policy analysis procedure. Not only can an adequate problem structuring decrease the waste of policy resources, but also emphasize the focus and selection of strategies. Since stakeholders are closely related to the problem, problem structuring based on their viewpoint could be more actual and authentic, and further to enhance the rationality and feasibility of the policy as well. Nevertheless, in the practice of policy analysis, the attention given to problem structuring process is usually less than policy making process; such practice easily causes what Raiffa calls “Errors of the Third Type”. Besides, it seems that the policy authority lacks of a system to check and respond to the diverse opinions which are proposed by stakeholders. Hence, this study chooses “low-score entries to college” as the case, using interview method to understand the stakeholders’ viewpoint about the cause, essence, and solution of the problem; further, this study checks and compares the fact as well as values arguments of the stakeholders’ claims. The result of this study can then pinpoint the crucial problem and form strategies for solutions. The result shows that, in the aspect of the problem structuring of low-score entries to college, the main cause of the case lies in the excess amount of colleges and the unclearness of career guidance. The crucial determination of whether the case would be a problem, is the assurance of quality of higher education. As for solutions, considering the cause and feasibility, to expand the source of college students and to improve the career guidance could be the most rational solutions. In regard to the problem structuring for a policy based on stakeholders’ viewpoint, it shows that there are significant differences among stakeholders’ problem structuring, and the claims proposed are not absolutely correct - most of them can’t pass the validation by facts and values. According to the research result and discussions, this study has concluded some suggestions to the policy authority and policy analysts.

碩士<br>國立臺北大學<br>公共行政暨政策學系碩士在職專班<br>98<br>The purpose of this research is to study the unused factor and revitalization of the unused public facilities and the public parking lots of Taiwan are the research targets. The purposes of this research are: (1) there is problem structure on the unused parking lots and examination is conducted on relevant policy problem structure theory and relevant literatures to construe the problem structure causing the unused parking facilities. Literature investigation and in-depth interview are collectively gathered and integrated so as to understand the reason of unused for public unused parking lots. (2) Revitalizing strategies of unused public parking lots: arrange and sum up and construe the revitalizing strategy for public facilities and its factor of success so that this can be the reference for future public facilities revitalization and reuse and subsequent planning by government authority on other public facility policy. This research adopts research methods including literature analysis and in-depth interview etc. In addition, through the relevant theory of problem structure and the analysis techniques of fishbone diagram, interview is conducted on authority of policy supervision, planning and execution, local opinion leaders and private companies. Moreover, analysis and studies are carried out according to the interview result. Review is conducted on the present unused problem of the present public parking lots and different vitalizing measures are presented. Research results find that the factor that affect the low utilization rate of public parking lots can be summed up in five large aspects including 「election culture restriction」、「bureaucrat system」、「operation management」、「planning」 and 「social economic condition change」. Furthermore, in order to solve the unused problem of the parking lots, the government department adopts a series of revitalizing strategy. However, the effect execution of policy still requires active devotion and cooperation from relevant department in order to obtain solution and improvement. This essay aims at the execution method of the present government participants and the angle of civilian and non-government participation course and makes a comprehensive arrangement on relevant revitalizing strategy by government department in the course of response and the difficulty that it may face. Finally, through the setback of the individual case, it is hoped to effectively reduce and even prevent the reoccurrence of system loopholes and the wastage of national resources.

A transformação digital é uma realidade em contínuo crescimento e disrupção nas mais diversas áreas e que está cada vez mais presente no quotidiano dos cidadãos. Nas cidades, esta propensão tem crescido em conformidade com a constante mudança nas tendências demográficas da população. O seu crescimento substancial, a urbanização em massa, a sobrecarga no consumo de infraestruturas e energias, os impactos ambientais e o investimento tecnológico acarretam grandes desafios para o desenvolvimento das cidades. Assim, a preocupação em melhorar o bem-estar e a qualidade de vida dos cidadãos torna essencial o estudo da digitalização nas cidades, de forma a potenciar os benefícios da transformação digital. Nesse sentido, a presente dissertação recorre a técnicas cujo objetivo incide na estruturação de problema complexos de decisão (i.e., "Problem Structuring Methods" (PSMs)). A metodologia utilizada na presente dissertação baseia-se na corrente epistemológica da abordagem "Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis" (MCDA), por via da combinação do mapeamento cognitivo com a técnica "DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory" (DEMATEL), de forma a estruturar um modelo informado e transparente no âmbito da digitalização nos meios urbanos. Este modelo pretende reunir determinantes da digitalização no contexto urbano, sedimentando uma base sólida de diferenciação no facto de recolher os dados obtidos junto de profissionais com experiência relevante na área da temática. Os resultados foram validados tanto pelo painel de especialistas como por um representante do Ministério da Economia e Transição Digital, que certificou a sua aplicabilidade prática e a sua importância para o desenvolvimento das cidades. Ao longo do estudo, são também objeto de discussão as limitações e as mais-valias trazidas pelos métodos utilizados. Importa ainda salientar que a análise assume uma lógica construtivista, dado que, em todo o seu processo, conjuga elementos tanto de natureza objetiva como de natureza subjetiva.<br>Digital transformation is a reality in continuous growth and disruption in the most diverse areas and is increasingly present in our daily lives. In cities, digital propensity has grown in line with the population’s demographic trends. Substantial growth, mass urbanization, infrastructure and energy consumption overload, environmental impact and technological investment are major challenges for city planning and development. Thus, concern to improve citizens’ well-being and quality of life makes digital transformation essential to cities. To analyze the benefits of digitalization in urban environments, this study uses Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) and adopts the epistemological principles of the Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) approach. Specifically, it combines cognitive mapping and the DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) technique to structure an informed and transparent model for analysis of digitization determinants in urban contexts. The results were validated both by the expert panel and by a representative of the Portuguese Ministry of Economy and Digital Transition, who certified the model’s importance and practical applicability for city planning and development. The advantages and shortcomings of the framework developed in this study are also discussed. It is worth noting that the methodological procedures adopted assume a constructivist stance and consider both objective and subjective decision-making elements.

A transformação digital é uma realidade em contínuo crescimento e disrupção nos mais variados ramos empresariais e respetivas estratégias de negócio. No setor bancário, esta tendência tem crescido em conformidade com a manutenção da confiança e da melhoria contínua da experiência do cliente, solidificando a construção de uma cadeia de valor marcada por atividades que promovam a inovação e a utilização de informação numa visão estratégica dos processos de tomada de decisão. Assim, a digitalização na banca permite, por um lado, satisfazer novas necessidades dos clientes e, por outro lado, fazer crescer os níveis de eficiência e de agilidade das atividades operacionais diárias, de forma a promover a competitividade dos bancos por via da redução de custos e do aumento da produtividade. Nesta perspetiva, a presente dissertação recorre aos Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs), por via da combinação de técnicas de mapeamento cognitivo fuzzy com a abordagem System Dynamics (SD), de forma a estruturar um modelo informado e transparente da temática da digitalização no setor bancário. Este modelo pretende reunir os determinantes da digitalização na banca, sedimentando uma base sólida de diferenciação no facto de recolher os dados obtidos junto de profissionais da banca, sobretudo na vertente de processos e de atividades digitais e informatizadas. As implicações práticas do modelo construído serão também objeto de análise e discussão.<br>Digital transformation is growing in an increasingly digital world, which has been leading to significant changes in business processes worldwide. In the banking industry, this phenomenon is only possible if banking institutions ensure high security standards and improved customer experiences. Digitalization in the baking industry is, therefore, expected to fulfil customers’ needs to a great extent, while increasing efficiency and flexibility of day-to-day operations. As a result, competitiveness is fostered due to costs reduction and productivity enhancement, with the purpose of creating a value chain that promotes innovation and the use of information to support decision-making processes. However, the determinants of banking digitalization success are still unclear, as well as their cause-and-effect relationships. This study sought to apply Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs), namely fuzzy cognitive mapping and System Dynamics (SD), to develop a conceptual model that can be applied to the analysis of the banking industry’s digitalization. The results are based on two group sessions which were held with a panel of decision-makers who deal with the banking digitalization process on a daily basis. This approach is unique because digitalization determinants are collected and analyzed based on the participants’ know-how and experience. Static and dynamic analyses allowed for a deeper and broader understanding of the dynamic cause-and-effect relationships between the determinants of banking digitalization, giving rise to a realistic model that supports the decision-making processes. The theoretical and practical implications of our framework are also analyzed.

Atravessamos um momento único da nossa história, um tempo sem precedentes marcado pela mais grave pandemia mundial até hoje vivida e que teve um inegável impacto na vida das organizações. Estas enfrentam hoje um conjunto de desafios que passam pela manutenção das suas culturas, enquanto definem e validam novos modelos de trabalho, novos modelos de negócio e repensam profundamente as vantagens competitivas que até então detinham. A inovação é uma atividade fundamental nestes processos. Assim, o presente projeto começa por expor os principais contributos da literatura sobre cultura organizacional e sobre a promoção da cultura de inovação no seio das organizações. Através de uma abordagem baseada em Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) e Design Thinking, procurar-se-á analisar o tema central deste projeto, aplicando-o à empresa VMLY&R Lisboa, que pretende refletir sobre a sua cultura organizacional e aumentar o seu potencial de inovação. Para tal, fez-se uso da técnica DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), considerada um PSM, que permitiu estudar e compreender as relações de causa-efeito que influenciam a problemática em estudo, envolvendo a organização na reflexão estratégica sobre o tópico e perseguindo uma abordagem colaborativa e construtivista. Em conjunto com a empresa, validaram-se os principais resultados do estudo e propôs-se um conjunto de ações concretas que permitem potenciar a sua cultura de inovação, ao mesmo tempo que são resumidos os principais contributos e as limitações da presente aplicação.<br>We are going through a unique moment in our history, an unprecedent time marked by the most serious pandemic in the world to date, which had undeniable impact on the organizations’ external environment. Companies now face a set of challenges and try to keep on with their cultures, while defining and validating new working models, new business models and deeply rethinking the competitive advantages they had until now, with innovation being a fundamental activity in these processes. Thus, the present study identifies the main contributions in the literature on organizational culture and on the promotion of innovation within organizations. Based on Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) and Design Thinking, we analyze the study’s central topic, applying it to VMLY&R Lisboa, which intends to reflect on its own organizational culture and enhance its potential for innovation. To this end, DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), a PSM, is used, allowing cause-and-effect relationships between innovation factors that influence this topic to be understood, while pursuing a collaborative and constructivist approach. The main results were validated by the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), allowing a set of concrete actions that can enhance a culture of innovation in VMLY&R Lisboa to be proposed. The contributions and limitations of the present study are also discussed.