When military members deploy or temporarily relocate, spouses are left behind to maintain not only their normal day-to-day activities, but also assume the responsibilities of the absent spouse. In cases such as these potentially stressful events, it is important to have adequate support networks within the community to assist individuals in sustaining a sense of personal well-being. The data source of the study is the 2001 Survey of Army Families IV. The survey focuses on randomly selected wives of active duty Army members (n=6451). The research model for this study includes wives' adaptation as the criterion variable, with community connections as independent variables and a set of contextual influence measures also considered as independent variables. Regression analysis for the entire sample indicated that wives with greater adaptation utilized more formal network resources. Among wives of officers, the most important predictors were volunteering and having a close confidant, whereas among wives of enlisted military members most important factors were participating with the Family Readiness Group and employment status. / Master of Science

This dissertation examines an iterative multi-attribute auction for multi-unit procurement in the first part. A multi-unit allocation problem that allows order split among suppliers is formulated to improve the market efficiency. Suppliers are allowed to provide discriminative prices over units based on their marginal costs. A mechanism called Iterative Multiple-attribute Multiple-unit Reverse Auction (IMMRA) is proposed based on the assumption of the modified myopic best-response strategies. Numerical experiment results show that the IMMRA achieves market efficiency in most instances. The inefficiency occurs occasionally on the special cases when cost structures are significantly different among suppliers. Numerical results also show that the IMMRA results in lower buyer payments than the Vickrey-Clarke-Grove (VCG) payments in most cases. In the second part, two sequential auctions with the Vickrey-Clarke-Grove (VCG) mechanism are proposed for two buyers to purchase multiple units of an identical item. The invited suppliers are assumed to have capacity constraints of providing the required demands. Three research problems are raised for the analysis of the sequential auctions: the suppliers' expected payoff functions, the suppliers' bidding strategies in the first auction, and the buyers' procurement costs. Because of the intrinsic complexity of the problems, we limit our study to a duopoly market environment with two suppliers. Both suppliers’ dominant bidding strategies are theoretically derived. With numerical experiments, suppliers’ expected profits and buyers’ expected procurement costs are empirically analyzed.

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Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Sunanda Dissanayake / Although extensive research has been conducted on urban freeway capacity estimation methods, minimal research has been carried out for rural highway sections, especially sections within work zones. This study filled that void for rural highways in Kansas. This study estimated capacity of rural highway work zones in Kansas. Six work zone locations were selected. An average of six days’ worth of field data was collected, from mid-October 2013 to late November 2013, at each of these work zone sites. Two capacity estimation methods were utilized, including the Maximum Observed 15-minute Flow Rate Method and the Platooning Method divided into 15-minute intervals. The Maximum Observed 15-minute Flow Rate Method provided an average capacity of 1469 passenger cars per hour per lane (pcphpl) with a standard deviation of 141 pcphpl, while the Platooning Method provided a maximum average capacity of 1195 pcphpl and a standard deviation of 28 pcphpl. Based on observed data and analysis carried out in this study, the recommended capacity to be used is 1500 pcphpl when designing work zones for rural highways in Kansas. This research provides the proposed standard value of rural highway work zone capacities so engineers and city planners can effectively mitigate congestion that would have otherwise occurred due to impeding construction/maintenance.

Purpose:To investigate how managers work with capacity dimensioning and what the main challenges are in order to balance efficiency and responsiveness in the continuous operations, as well as investigate what patterns and trends that can be identified within the capacity dimensioning approach. Methodology:A multiple case study was conducted including 14 manufacturing companies. Empirical data was collected through semi-structured interviews and used to explain the phenomenon of capacity dimensioning. Differences and similarities in the way companies approach capacity dimensioning was investigated though a cross-case analysis. The research is of exploratory and inductive character. Findings:A general process for capacity dimensioning has been established and affecting aspects and challenges has been identified. Potential trends and relationships have been investigated for the capacity dimensioning approach, with a potential connection between flexibility and investment strategy with introduction period in human resources. Further the capacity strategies tend to vary depending on alternative capacity sources. Theoretical implications:Information is provided for how capacity dimensioning is done at companies today, connections are strong to adjacent theories as S&OP but with more detail in the area of setting the capacity level. Managerial implications:The capacity dimensioning does not have a solution that suits all companies, but communication and alignment in the supply chain should not be underestimated for successful capacity dimensioning. Research delimitations:The research is conducted on manufacturing companies active in Sweden, other countries or continents of the world could generate other results because of different culture and laws. Further, service companies could also have provided other results.

Bakgrund: Formgivningsprocessen på Svensson & Linnér är en produktionsprocess som syftar till att förändra produktens form genom pressning samt böjning. I en produktionsprocess existerar det oftast ett flertal slöserier och kapacitetbegränsningar som inte kan identifieras förrän en processkartläggning är gjord. Kartläggning av processer möjliggör därför att företag blir medvetna om de slöserier och kapacitetsbegränsningar som existerar. Detta gör att företag kan förbättra sina processer genom att eliminera ledtider, väntetider och onödiga rörelser. Syfte: Syftet med detta examensarbete är att identifiera slöserier och kapacitetsbegränsningar i formgivningsprocessen på Svensson & Linnér samt förklara dess bakomliggande orsaker. Syftet är vidare att föreslå förbättringsåtgärder som borde göras för att öka kapaciteten i processen. Metod: Studien som genomförts är en fallstudie på företaget Svensson & Linnér där data samlats in genom deltagande och strukturerade observationer samt genom ostrukturerade och semi-strukturerade intervjuer. En processkartläggning och beräkningar av kapacitetsutnyttjandet har gjorts för att kunna identifiera slöserier och kapacitetsbegränsningar. Orsak-verkandiagram har sedan upprättas för att identifiera bakomliggande orsaker och ge förslag på förbättringsåtgärder som bör göras för att öka kapaciteten i processen. Slutsatser: Studien har kommit fram till att det i formgivningsprocessen existerar slöserier i form av onödiga lager, rörelser, transporter, väntan, inkorrekta processer, defekta produkter och outnyttjad kreativitet hos medarbetarna. Efter beräkningar av kapacitetsutnyttjandet i processen identifierades det att funktionen skär- och sliproboten är kapacitetsbegränsningen i processen. Utifrån de bakomliggande orsakerna har fem förbättringsförslag identifierats som kan leda till kapacitetsökning i formgivningsprocessen. Svensson & Linnér bör endast ha ett lager för stansat faner där FIFO-principen och ställagring av pallat gods bör användas. I processen bör fel och brister åtgärdas långsiktigt istället för provisoriskt och arbetssättet bör standardiseras. I robotcellerna bör soptunnor placeras ut så att avfall kan slängas direkt och inte vid skiftbytet senare. För att öka kapaciteten i kapacitetsbegränsningen, skär- och sliproboten, föreslås det att fallföretaget ska anpassa kapaciteten efter efterfrågan på produkten genom att utnyttja övertid i processen. / Background: The shaping process at Svensson and Linnér is a process that aims to change the shape of the product by pressing and bending. In a production process there usually exists a number of wastes or capacity constraints which not can be identified until a process mapping is made. A mapping of a process therefore enables companies to become aware of the waste and the capacity constraints that exist. This enables companies to improve their processes by eliminating lead times, waiting times and unnecessary movements. Purpose: The aim of this thesis to identify waste and capacity constraints in the shaping process at Svensson & Linnér and to explain its underlying causes. The aim is then to propose improvements that should be done in order to increase the capacity in the shaping process. Method: The study is conducted as a case study at the company Svensson & Linnér where data was collected through participant and structured observations and through unstructured and semi-structured interviews. A process mapping and calculations of capacity utilization has been made to identify waste and capacity constraints. Cause - effect diagrams was then established to identify the underlying causes and to suggest improvements that could lead to increased capacity. Conclusions: The study has concluded that it in the shaping process exists wastes in terms of unnecessary inventory, motion, transportation, waiting, incorrect procedures, defective products and untapped creativity of the operatives. After calculations of capacity utilization in the process, it was identified that the cutting and grinding robot is the capacity limit of the process. Based on the underlying causes have five suggestions for improvements been identified that could lead to increased capacity in the shaping process. Svensson & Linnér should only have one stock for punched veneer where the FIFO principle and rack storage of palletized goods should be used. In the process should errors and flaws be fixed in long terms instead of provisionally and working methods should be standardized. In the robot cells should dustbins be placed so that waste can be disposed immediately and not at the shift change later. To increase the capacity of the capacity constraint, cutting and grinding robot, it is suggested that the company should adjust their capacity to demand for the product by using overtime in the process.

This diploma thesis primarily deals with the legal frame of the restriction of legal capacity proceedings, which is contained in the Code on Special Court Proceedings (Act. No. 292/2013 Sb.) effective from 1. 1. 2014. For that purpose the thesis works with particular legal institutions of substantive law contained in the Civil Code (Act No. 89/2012 Sb.), such as legal capacity (a capacity to make juridical acts) and its restriction. The thesis is focused especially on the course of the proceedings resulting in the decision to restrict legal capacity or to accept any other appropriate measures. The author also describes two particular aspects of the proceedings, which are the duty of the court to see an individual whose legal capacity is subject to the consideration and the possible ways to make a decision by which the legal capacity is restricted. The aims of the thesis are to describe legal regulation of the restriction of legal capacity proceedings, previous and recent case law dealing with this issue and to evaluate their influence on the individuals whose legal capacity has been restricted. The author also seeks to propose a possible solution to the problems related to the restriction of legal capacity proceedings. The diploma thesis is divided into 4 main chapters. The first chapter is...

This study investigates the relationships between firm's technology, absorptive capacity and the internationalization process in the high-tech SMEs. The research identifies the most influential factors that affect the international activities and expansion decisions of New Zealand high-tech SMEs with core capabilities in agro-technology. Mixed methods, qualitative and quantitative elements in the data collection and analysis, were employed in this research for a reason that a deeper understanding of the research subject and the analysis of complex issues such as the internationalization process and absorptive capacity required methodological variety. The use of qualitative and quantitative methods took place in parallel. Both methods were used to study the same subject but they had specific objective related purposes and they offered the possibility of developing rich empirical data as well as a more comprehensive understanding of the subject under the study. The findings show that it is absorptive capacity that explains internationalization process, not internationalization process that explains absorptive capacity. The practice of internationalizing is as much a reflection of a firm's absorptive capacity as it is its determinant. The research identifies that high-tech SMEs possess technological and non-core absorptive capacity which in a different way influence firms' strategies. The research suggests that firm's technological capabilities and the advantage of specialized knowledge along with their limited non-core absorptive capacity act as constraints to the development of the future international strategy in high-tech SMEs. The study expands the existing literature on internationalization by developing variables for evaluating absorptive capacity in firms. This helped develop an absorptive capacity model which can be used as a valuable tool for self-assessment by firms to facilitate gaining insight towards further growth and development. The research suggested that if firms were able to measure its absorptive capacity this may result in improved business activities and enhanced presence in the world market. The results of this study should encourage firms to identify, capture and articulate knowledge achieved by their ventures. Managers must develop and nurture skills that ensure effective integration of learning as their firms expand, particularly internationally. These findings and absorptive capacity model offered as a tool should encourage managers to explore when, where, and how to best use firm's resources in the business operations. This is particularly important in regards to the research context (high-tech SMEs) where scientists are managers as well.

Restriction of legal capacity proceedings Abstract This diploma thesis deals with the legal regulation of legal capacity proceedings. Integral part of this thesis is also analysis of related legal capacity substantive law and also other supportive measures such as preliminary declaration, representation of household member and assistance contract. The procedure which leads either to restriction of legal capacity, time extension, change or cancellation of the restriction is however the main point of this thesis. The goal of this thesis is to provide comprehensive view on this type of proceedings in the context of relevant case law and courts practice. Thesis also shows the practical use of this institute in Czech Republic. It also contains the issue of mental illness and its impact on the daily life, the number of persons restricted in their legal capacity, the lenght of court proceedings and the issue of ID cards not containing the information about restricted legal capacity and its possible associated negative consequences. The author tries to suggest possible solutions to the problematic aspects of the legislation and current praxes. The thesis is divided into four chapters. In the first chapter, the author writes about the possible alternatives the legal regulation offers to people who are not fully able...

In this dissertation, we study several stochastic capacity expansion models in the presence of permanent, spot market, and contract capacity for acquisition. Using a scenario tree approach to handle the data uncertainty of the problems, we develop multi-stage stochastic integer programming formulations for these models. First, we study multi-period single resource stochastic capacity expansion problems, where different sources of capacity are available to the decision maker. We develop efficient algorithms that can solve these models to optimality in polynomial time. Second, we study multi-period stochastic network capacity expansion problems with different sources for capacity. The proposed models are NP-hard multi-stage stochastic integer programs and we develop an efficient, asymptotically convergent approximation algorithm to solve them. Third, we consider some decomposition algorithms to solve the proposed multi-stage stochastic network capacity expansion problem. We propose an enhanced Benders' decomposition algorithm to solve the problem, and a Benders' decomposition-based heuristic algorithm to find tight bounds for it. Finally, we extend the stochastic network capacity expansion model by imposing budget restriction on permanent capacity acquisition cost. We design a Lagrangian relaxation algorithm to solve the model, including heuristic methods to find tight upper bounds for it. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)