Groundwater plays an important role in water supply to rural communities. This statement is supported by the survey conducted at clinics within the Limpopo Province where the majority of aquifers in the area can be classified as Sole Source aquifers, supplying 50 % or more of domestic water in the absence of any reasonable alternative. The water quality study also concluded that the impact from on site sanitation on the groundwater system is significant given that 44 % of water samples of clinics with their own water supply classified as either poor or dangerous quality according to DWAF criteria and poses a significant health risk to susceptible individuals. Groundwater quality should therefore be protected with an emphasis on prevention as in most cases groundwater pollution is difficult to reverse and remediation is often a lengthy and expensive exercise. Although South Africa has all the legal tools to promote sustainable development, financial considerations are usually the driving force behind technology selection and not social or environmental aspects. The aim of this research is to develop an environmental impact assessment methodology and decision support framework that will aid in the selection of the most appropriate on site sanitation technology for a given area integrating environmental, economical and social criteria. The decision support framework developed in this study had a strong stakeholder component, involving stakeholders in the decision making process from the conception of the project through to the resolution of actions. Providing objective information about the performance of options, coupled with an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process, increases the awareness and commitment of the community. Field testing of the decision support framework produced good results and sensible recommendations were made with regard to alternative selection. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

When the data warehouse concept was first introduced by IBM as a part of their new information system in 1988, the first step in the field of modern decision support systems or business intelligence was taken. Since then, academics, practitioners and solution developers have put a considerable effort in introducing new trends of these systems. Each new trend has roots in what enterprises demand from these systems. The advances in Web technologies and social media, has led to introduction of new trends such as Cloud BI and Big Data which are both cost-effective and also have the potential to take advantage of semi-structured and unstructured data within organizations. This paper deals with these new trends and the influences of organizational demands and new technologies and tools on them. A deep literature review deals with four major BI trends in detail. (Data warehouse, Business Performance Management (BPM), Cloud BI and Big Data). Two case studies from local Business intelligence developers are carried out in order to explore the influences mentioned above. As the result of this study, a model is proposed that addresses the elements that affect the BI trends, both in organizational and technological perspectives. It is observed that despite the fact that lots of new trends have been introduced in the past years (e.g. Cloud BI and Big Data), it does not necessarily mean that older trends are becoming obsolete. Data warehouses and BPM systems are still being used vastly in the industry. However, the later trends can be offered to clients that have the demand for them. The results imply that Cloud BI is mainly suitable for companies with low initial budgets and Big Data can be adopted by organizations that want to exploit their social data sources. The mere fact that both implied trends are built upon their preceding ones, has transformed data warehouses and BPM approach the ground work for any new trends to come.

When referring physicians decide to refer their patients to specialist care, they rarely, if ever, make a referral decision with the benefit of having access to all of the desirable information. It is therefore highly unlikely that the referring physician will make the optimal choice of specialist for that particular referral. A specialist selection optimization algorithm was developed to guarantee that the “right specialist” for each patient’s referral was chosen. The specialist selection optimization algorithm was developed based on feedback from over 120 users of the e-referral program. The developed algorithm was simulated, tested, and validated in MATLAB. Results from the MATLAB simulation demonstrate that the algorithm functioned as it was designed to. The developed algorithm provides referring physicians with an unprecedented level of support for their decision of which specialist to refer their patient to.

Intelligent decision systems have the potential to support and greatly amplify human decision-making across a number of industries and domains. However, despite the rapid improvement in the underlying capabilities of these “intelligent” systems, increasing their acceptance as decision aids in industry has remained a formidable challenge. If intelligent systems are to be successful, and their full impact on decision-making performance realized, a greater understanding of the factors that influence recommendation acceptance from intelligent machines is needed. Through an empirical experiment in the financial services industry, this study investigated the effects of perceived behavioral similarity (similarity state) on the dependent variables of recommendation acceptance, decision performance and decision efficiency under varying conditions of uncertainty (volatility state). It is hypothesized in this study that behavioral similarity as a design element will positively influence the acceptance rate of machine recommendations by human users. The level of uncertainty in the decision context is expected to moderate this relationship. In addition, an increase in recommendation acceptance should positively influence both decision performance and decision efficiency. The quantitative exploration of behavioral similarity as a design element revealed a number of key findings. Most importantly, behavioral similarity was found to positively influence the acceptance rate of machine recommendations. However, uncertainty did not moderate the level of recommendation acceptance as expected. The experiment also revealed that behavioral similarity positively influenced decision performance during periods of elevated uncertainty. This relationship was moderated based on the level of uncertainty in the decision context. The investigation of decision efficiency also revealed a statistically significant result. However, the results for decision efficiency were in the opposite direction of the hypothesized relationship. Interestingly, decisions made with the behaviorally similar decision aid were less efficient, based on length of time to make a decision, compared to decisions made with the low-similarity decision aid. The results of decision efficiency were stable across both levels of uncertainty in the decision context.

For many years, supply chain research focused on operational aspects and therefore mainly on the optimisation of parts of the production and distribution processes. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in supply chain management and collaboration between supply chain partners. However, there is no model that takes into consideration all aspects required to adequately represent and measure the performance of a collaborative supply chain. This thesis proposes a model of a collaborative supply chain, consisting of six constituents, all of which are required in order to provide a complete picture of such a collaborative supply chain. In conjunction with that, a collaborative supply chain performance indicator is developed. It is based on three types of measures to allow the adequate measurement of collaborative supply chain performance. The proposed model of a collaborative supply chain and the collaborative supply chain performance indicator are implemented as a computer simulation. This is done in the form of a decision support environment, whose purpose is to show how changes in any of the six constituents affect collaborative supply chain performance. The decision support environment is configured and populated with information and data obtained in a case study. Verification and validation testing in three different scenarios demonstrate that the decision support environment adequately fulfils it purpose.

Groundwater plays an important role in water supply to rural communities. This statement is supported by the survey conducted at clinics within the Limpopo Province where the majority of aquifers in the area can be classified as Sole Source aquifers, supplying 50 % or more of domestic water in the absence of any reasonable alternative. The water quality study also concluded that the impact from on site sanitation on the groundwater system is significant given that 44 % of water samples of clinics with their own water supply classified as either poor or dangerous quality according to DWAF criteria and poses a significant health risk to susceptible individuals. Groundwater quality should therefore be protected with an emphasis on prevention as in most cases groundwater pollution is difficult to reverse and remediation is often a lengthy and expensive exercise. Although South Africa has all the legal tools to promote sustainable development, financial considerations are usually the driving force behind technology selection and not social or environmental aspects. The aim of this research is to develop an environmental impact assessment methodology and decision support framework that will aid in the selection of the most appropriate on site sanitation technology for a given area integrating environmental, economical and social criteria. The decision support framework developed in this study had a strong stakeholder component, involving stakeholders in the decision making process from the conception of the project through to the resolution of actions. Providing objective information about the performance of options, coupled with an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process, increases the awareness and commitment of the community. Field testing of the decision support framework produced good results and sensible recommendations were made with regard to alternative selection. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

In Canada and around the world, there has been an increased focus on the efficiency, cost and access to health care services. One area of particular focus is surgical procedures, often with government funding and policies focused on reducing wait times through pay for performance and volume target initiatives. In Ontario, an expert panel was assembled to evaluate the current state of surgical processes and provide recommendations to improve access, efficiency and quality. This thesis addresses the panel's recommendation for a simulation-based decision tool to help hospitals inform decisions that can lead to improved access and efficiency. A generalised, simulation based perioperative decision tool is presented that can be used to test a variety of tactical decisions. The generic model has been applied to six hospitals of varying sizes, ranging from large academic centres to small rural community hospitals. The model remains in use at some of the hospitals to regularly inform decisions. The model is also being applied to additional hospital sites. During application of the generic model, challenges in design decisions and validation were encountered. As a result, a series of principles are proposed to guide future generic modelling design and achieving user acceptance. These principles add to the generic simulation modelling and healthcare modelling research fields by laying some groundwork for a formalised approach to designing effective generic simulation models and achieving confidence in results. Finally, the research demonstrates two uses of the generic model: as decision tool and as a demonstrative tool. As a decision tool the model is used to compare numerous potential tactical decision options under consideration. As a demonstrative tool, the model is used to quantify the effect of poor practices on hospital performance. The design of the generic model only considers efficient processes and best practices. When model results are compared to historical performance, decision makers are able to quantify the effect of existing poor practices on their performance and decision making. The tool enables users to base their tactical level decisions on the assumption that good practices and procedures are followed.

In Canada and around the world, there has been an increased focus on the efficiency, cost and access to health care services. One area of particular focus is surgical procedures, often with government funding and policies focused on reducing wait times through pay for performance and volume target initiatives. In Ontario, an expert panel was assembled to evaluate the current state of surgical processes and provide recommendations to improve access, efficiency and quality. This thesis addresses the panel's recommendation for a simulation-based decision tool to help hospitals inform decisions that can lead to improved access and efficiency. A generalised, simulation based perioperative decision tool is presented that can be used to test a variety of tactical decisions. The generic model has been applied to six hospitals of varying sizes, ranging from large academic centres to small rural community hospitals. The model remains in use at some of the hospitals to regularly inform decisions. The model is also being applied to additional hospital sites. During application of the generic model, challenges in design decisions and validation were encountered. As a result, a series of principles are proposed to guide future generic modelling design and achieving user acceptance. These principles add to the generic simulation modelling and healthcare modelling research fields by laying some groundwork for a formalised approach to designing effective generic simulation models and achieving confidence in results. Finally, the research demonstrates two uses of the generic model: as decision tool and as a demonstrative tool. As a decision tool the model is used to compare numerous potential tactical decision options under consideration. As a demonstrative tool, the model is used to quantify the effect of poor practices on hospital performance. The design of the generic model only considers efficient processes and best practices. When model results are compared to historical performance, decision makers are able to quantify the effect of existing poor practices on their performance and decision making. The tool enables users to base their tactical level decisions on the assumption that good practices and procedures are followed.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-137). / Microfiche. / xviii, 137 leaves, bound maps (some col.) 29 cm

In the military domain, situation awareness (SA) is an important concept. The precise definition is elusive - generally it is accepted to mean 'knowing what is going on'. The presumption is that in battles, all combat personnel must have SA, without which they may face defeat or make serious mistakes with potentially dire consequences. The dynamic environment in which they operate is far from favourable for gaining and maintaining SA. Commanders and soldiers are under pressure to make decisions even though the situation is unclear. / The goal of the research project reported in this thesis is to adapt an existing measure of SA for use in the land force domain, and to investigate the validity of the measure. An SA metric provides a powerful tool in SA research. It has the capacity to provide rigour in studies examining the impact of technology insertion on SA. / SAGAT (Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique)*, [Endsley, M. R. (1995). Measurement of Situation Awareness in Dynamic Systems. Human Factors, 37 (1), 65-84.] was developed to provide objective measures of SA for computer simulation studies in the aviation domain. In order to apply SAGAT in the field environment in the land domain, the technique had to be modified. This resulted in a new method called the Direct Questioning Technique (DQT). The DQT followed the principles of SAGAT, but was different in its implementation. / The DQT was applied in three studies to measure SA in the land force. The method was successively refined over the three studies. The first dealt with a Command Post exercise in which the SA of a command team was measured. It served as a pilot to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of the method. In the second study, the SA of members of an infantry section was measured in a field setting to investigate the effects of intra-section radios on SA. The environment in which the study was conducted demanded further modification of the method. The third study, also conducted in the field, involved SA measures of members of the Ground-Based Air Defence Regiment. In this case the impact of digital display on SA was investigated. / SAGAT has been demonstrated to have a high degree of sensitivity, reliability and validity in other domains. The three studies reported in the thesis produced results that were entirely consistent with those that would be expected from the SA theory and model, showing that the DQT has criterion validity. Content validity was ensured through a rigorous process. The environment in which it was implemented conferred face validity. / It will be shown that the DQT is a sound method for providing objective measures of SA in the land domain. The method produces rich data, the analysis of which may provide insights about the operator's SA in terms of each SA level (perception, comprehension and prediction), and category (friendly or enemy force and terrain). The DQT is not difficult to implement and does not require special equipment. A disadvantage is that it is effort intensive, including the requirement for a Subject Matter Expert to support the researcher during the activities. / Thesis (MEng(ComputerSystemsEng))--University of South Australia, 2006.