Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-66). / Crowdsourcing is an increasingly popular phenomenon where companies solicit the help of the public in helping accomplish some of the activities commonly performed by employees or contractors. These activities can range from solving scientific problems that baffle the in-house experts to repetitive and boring tasks that are deemed too mundane for the employees. Other activities include content generation, product design, idea generation, and product reviews. The explosive growth of the internet has made the world a more connected place. One consequence of that is that crowdsourcing can now be carried out efficiently and inexpensively through websites. This thesis presents a survey of activities commonly crowdsourced and examines some popular websites that exemplify these types of crowdsourcing. / by Sunny Cheung. / S.M.in Engineering and Management

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2012. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-75). / Solid state memories are used in a variety of applications as data and code storages. A non-volatile memory is a memory that retains information when its power supply is off. Flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory that can be erased and programmed by data called blocks. Flash memory is used to store system control codes in various applications. A recent representative example is Solid State Drive (SSD). A SSD is a type of computer storage that is composed of a number of flash memories. SSDs store data electronically unlike hard disk drives, which store data magnetically. The advantages of a solid-state drive are: no mechanical parts, less power and weight than hard disk drives. This thesis investigates existing technologies, markets, emerging technologies, and applications in the solid state memory market. It analyzes the current solid state memory industry structure using market data and frameworks. The emerging technologies and applications are researched in order to deliver technological innovations to the semiconductor memory market. It also studies and suggests how strategies of firms might influence technologies, value chains, and future evolutions using system dynamics models. The system dynamics models are based on a conventional commodity market model because of similarity between the semiconductor memory market and the commodity market. The simulation results provide insights into future market evolutions caused by new technologies. This research will lead to recommendations for companies currently struggling to survive in the industry, and for companies considering entry. / by Tomohiko Nakamura. / S.M.in Engineering and Management

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2009. / "May 2009." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-103). / The research presented in this thesis combines Enterprise Architecture and Technology Strategy for analyzing, evaluating, and recommending appropriate solutions for integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS). The thesis is organized into four sections. Section 1 introduces the strategic background, enterprise description, definitions of key terms, and the issues and interest surrounding UAS operations. Section 2 involves architecting the enterprise at its current state, which includes the vision, strategic objectives, enterprise layout, stakeholder analysis, and concludes with the architectural views of the current state. Section 3 discusses the vision and design for the future of the NAS enterprise, the current near-term efforts, the long-term preferred future state, and the transformation plan to achieve successful integration of UAS flight in the NAS. Finally, Section 4 concludes with the importance of leadership for success, final thoughts, recommendations, and future work. Technology Strategy coupled with Engineering Architecture emphasizes the development and application of ways of thinking that bring clarity to the complex co-evolution of technological innovation, the demand opportunity, systems architecture, business ecosystems, and decision-making and execution within the business. / (cont.) Architecting the current state of the NAS enterprise and then applying the technology strategy framework in an incremental systems approach to fully understand the future state of the NAS involves figuring out how to create and capture value, anticipating and deciding how to respond to the behavior of customers, complimentors and competitors, and develop and deliver technologies, platforms, and products. / by Kristina L. Richardson. / S.M.

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2014. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 106-110). / This thesis documents the potential value of using flexible design to implement Major League Ballparks (MLBP). Credible evidence suggests that most ballparks were designed to fixed specifications that do not facilitate improvements after the park opens. By contrast, flexible designs include options such as increasing seating capacity, adding luxury boxes, installing a retractable roof, or even converting spaces to accommodate alternative uses. The analysis estimated the economic value of flexible MLBP by comparing fixed and flexible designs. Fixed designs were based on deterministic forecasts of future conditions and largely ignore the uncertainties that affect the economic value of ballparks. Flexible designs recognize the great uncertainties concerning future attendance, concessions spend, weather, and inflation rate. Flexible designs both anticipate and plan for these uncertainties. The economic evaluations used 30-year Net Present Value Monte Carlo simulations of possible futures. They used historical data available at the time of design to estimate the distribution of uncertainties. For the flexible designs, the analysis evaluated the options and determined key parameters such as strike point, base level, and option level. The analysis is based on actual ballpark cases. These include two completed ballparks -- for a small market (Minnesota Twins) and a large one (New York Yankees). For these ballparks, the analysis compared the actual ballpark with a flexible design. Additionally the value of amenities such as multi-use spaces, museums, and other features are explored. The results show that flexible design can significantly improve the long-term financial prospects of ballparks. It can lower initial investments and thus the Value at Risk (VAR). It can also increase the potential to cash in on favorable circumstances, that is, to increase the Value to Gain (VAG). While the specifics of each flexible design differ the overall conclusion is similar: Projects that embrace flexible design expect to achieve better long-term financial results. / by Kyle T. Ressler. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, February 2012. / "February, 2012." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 73). / The purpose of this work is to demonstrate that is possible to characterize the US manufacturing activity utilizing public data. Analysis of the state of the art in manufacturing metrics showed that our approach is unique since exploits a niche that is not covered by any existent report or indicator. A Composite Index of Leading Indicators (MCI) was created for the domestic manufacturing activity, exclusively based in official data from the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The MCI was benchmarked against the US Manufacturing Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As a result, evidence was found that MCI anticipates in 5 - 9 months to the GDP economic fluctuations, as measured through cross-correlation analysis. Additionally, the developed framework was satisfactorily applied to Canada as a second source of validation. In practice, other feature of MCI that stands out respect the existent metrics is that provides insight at the level of subsectors according to the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). The MCI behaves properly in 18 of the 20 subsectors analyzed, being of especial interest the subsectors like Primary Metals and Petroleum and Coal Products, which have a larger lead and correlation. Conclusions of our work show that the manufacturing sector can be effectively described using the MCI, providing managers and decision makers with a novel perspective of the upcoming manufacturing scenario. / Felipe Bustos and Fernando Barraza. / S.M.in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 69-76). / Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneur are not gender-neutral concepts.[1] In the United States, men are twice as likely to be involved in entrepreneurship than women. Women have founded or led only 11% of venture capital backed US firms. Moreover, women-led firms have received only 7% of venture capital.[2] Clearly, there is a serious dearth of women in entrepreneurship. Research has shown that education can have an impact on gender segregation of aspirations, and that it acts as a barrier for women to move into historically male-dominated roles with higher earning potential. In higher education, gender segregation results in a variety of disciplines including entrepreneurship.[3] In this thesis, we examine the problem and recommend solutions to improve entrepreneurship and innovation education and entrepreneurial opportunities for women. We look at Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) programs focused on increasing participation of women in STEM and map them to entrepreneurship. Furthermore, we discuss the programs and resources available to women entrepreneurs. We recommend designing new programs and investing in resources for women innovators and entrepreneurs. / by Esha T. Sahai. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis (S.M. in System Design and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 110-113). / Within any major United States Coast Guard cutter acquisition project, developing the operational requirements in the early phases of acquisition is difficult as the complexity of the system is not easily understood until the detailed design is completed. This can lead to requirements that are too broad or analysis efforts strategically focused on sections that are not at high risk to future design efforts or within sections that are decoupled from the major design parameters. This is often experienced when analysis studies are conducted independently and not evaluated from a total systems perspective. In order to improve the requirements generation methodology within United States Coast Guard acquisition, this thesis introduces a process focused Operational Requirements Framework. This framework synthesizes program, sponsor, and technical authority requirements a generic framework that focuses on a high-level systems engineering viewpoint to ensure that all requirements processes and their interactions are understood simultaneously. Within this framework, stakeholder analysis, operations and missions, and the design effects of "ilities" and interfaces are added to enhance the requirements development process. These new processes provide a better understanding of how the operational requirements meet value for all stakeholders and how the interaction of these requirements over the life cycle affects the acquisition project. This thesis also establishes a methodology, adapted from Responsive Systems Comparison (RSC), and practical application of this methodology in a current Coast Guard acquisition project. This 5-process method provides a diverse group of stakeholders key insight into the overall interaction of value, design variables, and contextual life cycle changes and their impact to the overall project. This can improve the coordination of the operational requirements generation and provide prioritization into analysis work necessary to establish a total systems approach towards requirements generation. / by Douglas M. Schofield. / S.M.in System Design and Management

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, February 2011. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-100). / Homes are becoming increasingly connected as new technologies allow users to access media and information from any-device at anytime. Notebooks, HDTVs, smartphones, media servers, photo cameras, and video cameras, all form part of this new digital ecosystem where - the vision says - information and content will flow easily across devices, enabled by simple and intuitive user interfaces. These new home technologies are, however, often too complex for most users. Only "digital-natives" or technology savvy groups have the necessary skills, knowledge or confidence to adopt them and to use them effectively. For the rest, trying them becomes painful and frustrating. Moreover, the ecosystem itself adds confusion, given the large number of players involved and the many different kinds of relationships. Unless a dominant player gains enough power to establish a dominant digital home architecture, or this happens in some other way, most companies will continue to innovate around device-specific features that don't address the overall complexity of the complete systems that users have to work with. Digital help services can assist users by simplifying the selection, installation, learning and troubleshooting of new services and devices; facilitating the adoption of new convergent technologies. There is a broad range of potential services, including, for example, 'over the top' (OTT) television integration, smartphone mentoring services, WiFi network configuration and desktop support services. Communication service providers should pay close attention to digital help services as an opportunity to differentiate their offer, strengthen their relationship with end-customers, reduce customer support costs and simplify the adoption of bandwidth-intensive technologies. Moreover, digital help services can speed up the adoption of OTT television services, and companies can use them strategically. The technology help space is evolving and communication service providers need to figure out how they want to participate: offer help services themselves; partner or acquire a existing technology support company; and/or create an open marketplace for technology help services. / by Juan Spiniak. / S.M.in Engineering and Management

Thesis (S.M. in Engineering and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 122-129). / Joseph Tainter's theory of societal collapse is applied in an examination of the U.S. Air Force's aircraft acquisition system in order to gain insight into the enterprise's lagging performance. Theories of collapse at both the societal level and the organizational level are reviewed. Tainter's interrelationship between increasing system complexity and diminishing marginal returns is highlighted as especially relevant to the performance of the Air Force aircraft acquisition enterprise. Using Tainter's theory as a framework, evidence is gathered leading to the conclusions that the Air Force aircraft acquisition enterprise is highly complex and as a result is experiencing diminishing marginal returns. Tainter's framework is then also used to explain why past attempts to reform the enterprise have fallen short of their goals. Previous reform efforts, in the form of reorganizations and senior leader initiatives, have been ineffectual beyond the short term because they fail to reduce the underlying level of complexity within the enterprise. The use of workarounds by stakeholders within the enterprise are shown to be efforts to increase marginal returns and avoid overcomplexity. The primary implication of viewing the Air Force aircraft acquisition enterprise through the lens of Tainter's theory of collapse is that in order to be effective, any effort undertaken to improve the performance of the enterprise must reduce the overall level of complexity within the system. Additional insights include the use of current workarounds as leading indicators of complexity or overly burdensome processes. Lastly, senior acquisition leaders should be prepared should a collapse of the enterprise occur. A vision of a much less complex enterprise should be advocated. / by Daniel Nicholas Marticello Jr. / S.M.in Engineering and Management

Thesis (S.M. in System Design and Management)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2010. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 144-147). / This thesis discusses economics of green buildings. The need to reduce greenhouse gases emissions became clear. Buildings account for a large part of the greenhouse gases emissions, changing the atmosphere's composition. Climate changes will be unevenly distributed between regions; in early stages they might be beneficial for few but will eventually end up being costly for all. Several worldwide rating systems were established with a common objective to determine metrics for measuring a building's performance and minimizing environmental footprint. In this research we selected LEED-NC version 2.2 by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for our analysis. V-2.2 consists of a set of credits distributed in categories. We identified credit's requirements and analyzed their impact on cost and environment. We supported our analysis by looking into cost and benefit studies performed by different organizations, and summarized our findings in providing heuristics on green buildings. Finally, a major take away from this research project is that there are numerous factors affecting difficulty of achieving, cost, and benefits of LEED credits. In addition to that, the correlation between credits and the large number of combinations to qualify for LEED certification levels, make it unreasonable to generalize about the incremental cost for any certification level. / by Charbel Maroun Rizk. / S.M.in System Design and Management