As pesquisas com o objetivo de relacionar o uso de práticas do gerenciamento ágil, desempenho e sucesso do projeto apresentam limitações como baixa qualidade semântica de construtos, dados e instrumentos de coleta com escalas subjetivas e pouco confiáveis, impedindo a verificação da eficácia dessas práticas. Outro problema é a tentativa de relacioná-las diretamente com o desempenho ou sucesso do projeto. Neste trabalho discute-se a hipótese de que a adoção de práticas dessa teoria e o desempenho do projeto não possuem relacionamento direto. Propõe-se a tese de que há um elemento intermediário, denominado neste trabalho de construto agilidade, que pode ser designado como um desempenho. As práticas provenientes da teoria de gerenciamento ágil (ditas ágeis), em conjunto com outros fatores ambientais, contribuiriam para o desempenho em agilidade, e este, por sua vez contribuiria para o desempenho e sucesso do projeto. Considerando esta hipótese, são três os objetivos desta pesquisa: 1) definir agilidade em gerenciamento de projetos; 2) propor um modelo conceitual capaz de explicar a relação entre práticas de gestão de projetos, fatores críticos organizacionais e o desempenho em agilidade, verificando-o; e 3) propor uma ferramenta de diagnóstico da agilidade em gerenciamento de projetos para profissionais, fundamentada no conhecimento contido no modelo conceitual proposto. O modelo conceitual foi concebido a partir de uma definição de agilidade para gerenciamento de projetos, construída com base em revisões sistemáticas e o uso da técnica de semântica de frames. Em seguida, foi realizada uma primeira verificação em campo do modelo por meio de um levantamento (survey) em 171 projetos inovadores, selecionados a partir de grupos de profissionais da rede social LinkedIn, além de um estudo de caso considerando 4 projetos de uma empresa usuária do gerenciamento ágil. Os resultados demonstraram que o modelo conceitual de agilidade proposto é coerente, pois reproduziu a relação entre práticas, fatores ambientais e o conceito agilidade. Foram identificados os fatores ambientais mais relevantes para o desempenho em agilidade, por exemplo: disponibilidade do cliente para participar ativamente do projeto e dedicação e autonomia dos membros do time de projeto. O conhecimento adquirido na construção e teste do modelo conceitual foi utilizado no desenvolvimento de uma proposta inicial de uma ferramenta de diagnóstico da agilidade. Seu objetivo é auxiliar os profissionais na medição do nível de agilidade e a situação dos projetos, e assim, orientá-los quanto ao uso de práticas gerenciais de maneira mais objetiva e específica, de acordo com o ambiente do projeto. Um teste preliminar desta ferramenta foi conduzido em uma empresa de consultoria em T.I., por meio de levantamento em 12 projetos. Os resultados deste teste preliminar indicaram o potencial da ferramenta para identificar projetos com discrepâncias em relação ao uso de práticas gerenciais, o ambiente organizacional e o desempenho em agilidade. Esta pesquisa tem ao menos três contribuições originais com potenciais implicações para teoria e prática. São elas: 1) a proposição e verificação preliminar de um modelo conceitual, contendo a definição do conceito agilidade e as 5 dimensões; 2) a proposição de variáveis e instrumentos sobre como medir a agilidade no gerenciamento de projetos; e 3) a proposta de uma ferramenta de diagnóstico do nível de desempenho em agilidade em gerenciamento de projetos voltada para profissionais. / A group of researchers has attempted to investigate the correlation between the practices from the agile project management (APM) theory to project performance and success. This body of researches has presented limitations such as the lack of robust constructs and poor data analysis to identify precisely the effectiveness of such practices. In addition, there is a misunderstanding regarding the existence of a straightforward and causal link between APM practices and the level of success in projects and performance. In this study, we have proposed an alternative, more robust view to deal with this assumption. Our hypothesis considers the existence and the influence of a third element, an intermediate construct, called agility concept. The APM theory (so-called agile practices) along with some critical factors could be the contributor of an agility performance. Therefore, a better agility performance might affect the overall performance of the project, as well as its success. Given this new assumption, this thesis has three main goals: 1) to define agility in project management; 2) to propose and verify a theoretical framework aimed to explain the relationship between project management practices, organizational critical factors and the agility performance; and 3) to propose a self-assessment tool for professionals and companies based on the knowledge and experience acquired on this research, designed specially to measure the agility performance level of the project management. Based on systematic review and frame semantic analysis, this thesis proposes a theoretical framework containing a rigorous definition of the agility concept applied to the project management theory. The framework was empirically tested through a survey containing 171 innovative projects, selected from practice communities in the LinkedIn® social network, as well as 4 projects on an in-depth case study, carried out in a company that applies agile project management practices. The results showed that the theoretical framework is coherent and was considered useful to explain the relationship between agile practices, the agility critical factors and the variables from the agility construct. Moreover, the framework helped to identify the most relevant factors for the agility performance, e.g. customer availability (to be involved in the project development), as well autonomy and commitment of the project team members. As a result of these findings, the acquired experience and knowledge were both applied in the design of a self-assessment tool to measure the level of the agility performance in project management. This tool was submitted to a preliminary empirical test in an IT consulting firm, throughout a survey of 12 projects. This research has at least three original contributions along with potential theoretical and practical implications: 1) it provides a precise and robust definition for the agility concept in project management theory; 2) it proposes a theoretical framework along with its 5 dimensions, variables and tools describing how to measure the agility in the project management field; and 3) from the practitioners perspective it provides a practical tool for the agility measurement in project management.

This study was conducted to look into state-owned ICT institutions. The emphasis was on devising a strategic management framework that would be robust and agile, thereby enabling government companies within the ICT sector to rapidly respond to changes in the market and to also enable them to forecast and plan for the future in respect of technology. The main objective of the study was to derive an ICT strategic management framework for the rapid technological evolution of state-owned companies. Further, the study aimed to provide a critical exposition of the factors that affect company ICT strategies; assess the impact of technological changes on company ICT strategies; and propose guidelines on keeping companies‘ ICT strategies responsive to rapid technological changes. Through the literature review as well as an empirical study, common variables and factors that affect a company‘s ICT strategy and its response to technology changes were explored and guidelines were compiled into a framework that will assist SOEs (state-owned enterprises). Through a literature study of available material on the world‘s telecommunication trends and developments in developed nations, some key observations were recorded such as the concept of convergence, which in the main is driven by consumers‘ need for mobility and flexibility, as well as applications with high capacity demands on the one hand and the need for companies and telecommunications operators to be more efficient on the other. Convergence delivers this benefit of efficiency within the market and stimulates competition. Innovation and creativity continue to be the driving force behind the technological evolutions in the ICT sector. The study also considered how both the PEST model and Porter‘s five forces affect these companies. Issues such as the legislative and policy framework of the ICT industry in South Africa were looked at, with emphasis on how they affect ICT parastatals. The study ended with key recommendations and guidelines summed up into a comprehensive framework. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study was conducted to look into state-owned ICT institutions. The emphasis was on devising a strategic management framework that would be robust and agile, thereby enabling government companies within the ICT sector to rapidly respond to changes in the market and to also enable them to forecast and plan for the future in respect of technology. The main objective of the study was to derive an ICT strategic management framework for the rapid technological evolution of state-owned companies. Further, the study aimed to provide a critical exposition of the factors that affect company ICT strategies; assess the impact of technological changes on company ICT strategies; and propose guidelines on keeping companies‘ ICT strategies responsive to rapid technological changes. Through the literature review as well as an empirical study, common variables and factors that affect a company‘s ICT strategy and its response to technology changes were explored and guidelines were compiled into a framework that will assist SOEs (state-owned enterprises). Through a literature study of available material on the world‘s telecommunication trends and developments in developed nations, some key observations were recorded such as the concept of convergence, which in the main is driven by consumers‘ need for mobility and flexibility, as well as applications with high capacity demands on the one hand and the need for companies and telecommunications operators to be more efficient on the other. Convergence delivers this benefit of efficiency within the market and stimulates competition. Innovation and creativity continue to be the driving force behind the technological evolutions in the ICT sector. The study also considered how both the PEST model and Porter‘s five forces affect these companies. Issues such as the legislative and policy framework of the ICT industry in South Africa were looked at, with emphasis on how they affect ICT parastatals. The study ended with key recommendations and guidelines summed up into a comprehensive framework. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 20-23, 2003 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / The Bit Rate Agile Onboard Telemetry Formatting (BRAOTF) system was developed by Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing to address increasing demands on the efficiency of telemetry systems. The BRAOTF thins and reorders data streams, adjusting the bit rate of a pulse code modulation (PCM) stream using a bit-locked loop to match the desired information rate exactly. The BRAOTF accomplishes the adjustment in hardware, synthesizing a clock whose operating frequency is derived from the actual timing of the input format. Its firmware manages initialization and error management. Testing has confirmed that the BRAOTF implementation meets its design goals.

Background: Small-sided games are frequently used as a training method in today´s football. The importance of the ability to perform high-intensity running is increasing and small-sided games may not lead to the required improvement of this ability. It might be necessary to add speed-endurance training to obtain the high-intensity running. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate which of the training methods; small-sided games or speed-endurance training, leads to the highest performance improvements in three football-specific tests. Measures and Methods: The study was an intervention study where 31 male football players participated. They were randomized in to two groups which performed either speed-endurance training (SEP) (n=16) or small-sided games (SSG) 6 vs 6 (n=15). The study lasted four weeks and eleven sessions in total. Baseline tests and posttraining test were conducted in Yo-Yo IR2, Arrowhead agility test and Repeated sprint 30 meters. Result: SEP demonstrated an 17 % higher increase in testresults than SSG in Yo-Yo IR2. No significant difference between the groups were observed in the other tests. Conclusion: Small-sided games is a training method which entails football-specific training load. It might be necessary to add speed-endurance training which can lead to higher performance improvments in Yo-Yo IR2.

Despite a general consensus concerning the relevance of supply partnerships to agility, the literature reveals disagreements and contradictions regarding their characteristics and, in particular, their duration. This is, whether partnerships in an agile strategy should be long-term (strategic partnerships) or short-term (agile partnerships). The research joins this debate by investigating the types and characteristics of supply partnerships to achieve agility. The underlying premise of the work is that the type of supply partnership is contingent on the degree of turbulence an agile strategy is designed to face. The research was carried out in the fashion industry, given the relevance of agility in this industry. Specifically, the research focused the supply partnerships developed by the footwear companies in the Macerata-Fermo district, the largest footwear district in Italy. The focus on district companies allow the comparison of several companies sharing a very similar business context, allowing a better control of external variables and increasing the internal validity of the study. The field research consisted of a preliminary survey on agility drivers and agile capabilities in the Macerata-Fermo footwear district, followed by an in-depth investigation on supply partnerships using multiple embedded cases studies. Overall six medium-large footwear companies have been analysed in their supply relationships with respect to five key supply categories. For each supply category, the buyer view of the focal firms has been complemented with a view from the supplier side. In total the fieldwork is built upon 30 interviews with 22 informants from 18 companies for a total of more than 23 hours of interviews. In all cases, except two, the key informant was owner, CEO or general manager of the company, eventually supported by another company manager. In two cases, the interviews data have been strengthened by a longitudinal analysis of purchase orders over eight years. The fieldwork highlights that agility drivers and agile capabilities impact on the footwear companies’ decision of developing agile supply partnerships. Specifically footwear companies that are under the pressure of high-turbulence agility drivers (here represented by a high collection renewal rate) and that have developed strong agile capabilities (here represented by a local supply network and a purchase orders postponement) choose agile supply partnerships with respect to supply categories that are sensitive to the fashion trends and therefore difficult to be sourced in a stable way – season after season – from the same suppliers. The main contribution to theory is related to the characteristics of supply partnerships in an agile strategy and specifically to the apparent paradox of “high-involvement & short- term” relationships (i.e. agile supply partnerships). In spite of the presence of time compression diseconomies in building up partnership and of the loss of relational (non- redeployable) benefits in closing down partnerships, scenarios of high-turbulence can give companies an incentive to look for short-term partnerships. Such finding can support a wider claim that different levels of turbulence call for different agility strategies requiring different capabilities and practices. The main contribution to practice is related to the way agile partnerships are selected, started and ended. Given that many industries are facing an increase in market turbulence, it appears that many companies – even outside the fashion industry – might have to learn how to balance high-involvement supply relationships with respect to a shorter time horizon.

Since the turn of the century, manufacturing industry has witnessed significant structural changes. Agility, which aims to provide companies with competitive capabilities so that they can prosper from dynamic and continuous changes in the business environment, has become a prevailing manufacturing strategy. However, how to develop a manufacturing strategy based on agility, and how to design and manage global supply chain networks effectively to implement these strategy, are not fully understood. This thesis presents survey based research that was carried out on a number of U.K. manufacturing companies. The research revisited the taxonomy of agility strategies for manufacturing industry developed by Zhang and Sharifi (2007) and investigated the methods of supply chain management employed by different strategic groups. The findings show that whilst the three broad types of agility strategies discovered in previous work (Zhang and Sharifi, 2007) have remained two sub types of agility strategies have been identified. They are named Responsive players, Quick operators, Quick innovators, Proactive players 1 and Proactive players 2. Responsive players placed a high emphasis on supplier selection related practices; Quick operators placed a high emphasis on sourcing management related practices; Quick innovators placed a high emphasis on relationship management related practices; and Proactive players 1 and 2 placed high emphases on almost all practices. This research has made contributions to the theory development of agility strategy and has provides a managerial guide with companies to improve the implementation of agility strategies in supply chains.

Title: Agility Objectives: Create an overview of current understanding of agility. Get survey of used tests and create tray exercises Methods: When creating our study, we used analysis of literary sources external character, accompanied by it's own critical opinions. We drew primarily on the expertise impact journals. Results: Agility is defined as the ability to quickly change the direction of movement in response to a highly specific stimulus. It is closely associated primarily with speed, strength and finesse. Agility is a very important component of sports performance in sports games, where the bulk of the changes taking place in the movement direction. When testing the agility we use both CODS tests, and tests with response to stimulus. In the condition training is needed to fully devote agility and regarded it as a part of motor skills. Keywords: agility, change of direction speed, motor skills, testing

É amplamente aceito que o desempenho físico em modalidades como o futebol americano é dependente da potência muscular. Apesar do exposto, ainda existe uma grande controvérsia com relação à manipulação do treinamento de potência ao longo de um período de preparação competitiva. Apesar de o treinamento de força convencional ser usualmente utilizado para o desenvolvimento da potência, tem-se sugerido que para aumentos adicionais nesta capacidade seja necessário o emprego de estratégias mais específicas do ponto de vista mecânico. Contudo, os papéis da aplicação de sobrecarga em gestos específicos não são claros. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar os efeitos de um protocolo de exercícios específicos envolvendo sprints, descolamentos laterais e saltos sem ou com aplicação de sobrecarga sobre o desempenho da velocidade, agilidade e potência. Vinte e quatro sujeitos foram balanceados e distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos experimentais e realizaram dez semanas de treinamento. Nas quatro primeiras semanas foi realizado um treinamento de força. Após este período, foi realizado um protocolo de treinamento específico realizado sem (grupo S) ou com aplicação de sobrecarga (grupo S+V) por mais seis semanas. O desempenho da força (1RM), potência média (PM) e potência média propulsiva (PMP), o desempenho do salto vertical com (CMJ) e sem (SJ) contra movimento, salto horizontal (SH), a velocidade em 5, 10, 15 e 20m e a agilidade em diferentes testes (teste-T, three-cone drill e pro-agility drill) foram avaliados pré-treinamento e após quatro e dez semanas. Após quatro semanas, uma análise por modelos mistos mostrou aumentos similares em ambos os grupos no desempenho do 1RM, PM30%1RM, 10 e 15m, (p<0,05). Após o período de treinamento específico, ambos os grupos apresentaram aumentos no desempenho do SH e teste-T (p<0,05). Quando observamos o efeito conjunto de todo o programa, ou seja, das dez semanas de treinamento, os grupos mostraram aumentos no 1RM, PM30%1RM, SH e nos três testes de agilidade (p<0,05). Além disso, o grupo S+V demonstrou aumentos no desempenho do SJ, CMJ e no teste de velocidade em 10, 15, e 20m (p<0,05). Adicionalmente, apesar de não terem sido observadas diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos, o grupo S+V apresentou um tamanho do efeito superior em praticamente todas as variáveis dependentes comparado ao grupo S após as dez semanas de treinamento. Assim, é possível sugerir a utilização de um protocolo de treinamento de força seguido por um protocolo específico realizado com sobrecarga adicional quando pretendido aumentar o desempenho em habilidades determinantes para o desempenho físico de jogadores de futebol americano. / Physical performance of American football players depends on the power output. However, there are controversies about the power training manipulation in pre-season periods. Despite the conventional strength training to be wide used to improve power output it has been suggested to additional gains to utilize strategies more specifics of the mechanical point of view. Nevertheless, the effects of the resisted movements are unclear. So, the objective of this study was compared the effects of an exercises protocol involving jumps, lateral displacements and sprints without or with an overload (resisted movement) on speed, agility and power. Twenty four American football players participated of the study and they were balanced and randomly allocated into of two groups. In the first four weeks, it was performed a conventional strength training. Then, it was performed a specific protocol realized without (S group) or with an overload (S+V group) for another six weeks. The maximal strength (1RM), mean power (PM), mean propulsive power (PMP), squat (SJ) and countermovement (CMJ) jump, broad jump (SH), speed at 5, 10, 15 and 20m and agility in three different tests (teste-T, three-cone drill e pro-agility drill) were evaluated before, four and ten weeks of training. A mixed model analysis showed after four weeks of training a similar increase of the 1RM, PM30%1RM, speed at 10 and 15m for both groups (p<0,05). Analyzing specific training period, similar improvements were observed in the SH and teste-T (p<0,05). When analyzing the whole training program (i.e. 10 weeks), an increases at 1RM, PM30%1RM, SH and all the agility tests were observed for both groups. Furthermore, the S+V group showed increases in the SJ, CMJ and speed at 10, 15 and 20m (p<0,05). Additionally, despite not having been observed statistical differences between the groups, the S+V group showed a superior effect size in almost all dependent variables compared to the S group after ten weeks. Therefore, for x improvements of the determinant tasks for physical performance of the American football players is possible to suggest a training program involving strength training followed by a specific training protocol realized with an overload.

Nas últimas décadas, com o surgimento de grandes organizações de tecnologia da informação (TI) e a comoditização de produtos e serviços de TI, o mercado em geral percebeu a oportunidade de desenvolver novas soluções para seus clientes. Neste contexto, visando a criação de um ambiente de trabalho exploratório e orientado à inovação, a adoção de práticas mais modernas de gestão de TI tem chamado a atenção de executivos e ganhado espaço nas organizações. A TI bimodal caracteriza-se pelo uso de dois modelos de operação com propósitos distintos: 1) confiabilidade e; 2) agilidade. O presente estudo apresenta práticas de gestão de TI existentes no mercado orientados a estes diferentes modelos de operação. O objetivo do estudo é propor um framework de práticas de gestão de TI para TI Bimodal. São abordados os conceitos de Governança de TI, TI Bimodal, COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies), ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration), PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge), Lean IT, DevOps, SCRUM e Project Model Canvas, servindo de base estrutural para o melhor entendimento do estudo O método qualitativo utilizado nesta pesquisa foi o estudo de caso, onde foram aplicadas 10 entrevistas com executivos de TI, pesquisa documental e observação participante em uma instituição financeira Cooperativa situada no Rio Grande do Sul. Como resultado foi proposto um framework de práticas de gestão para TI bimodal contendo 11 elementos e 30 práticas relacionadas. O framework cobre um conjunto de práticas abrangentes o suficiente para auxiliar diferentes organizações que tenham interesse em atuar com mais de um modo de operação. / In the last decades, with the emergence of large organizations of information technology (IT) and the commoditization of IT products and services, the Market in general has perceived the opportunity to develop new solutions for their clients. In this context, aiming at the creation of an exploratory work environment and directed toward innovation, the adoption of more modern practices of IT management have caught the attention of executives and gained space in the organizations. The bimodal IT is characterized by two models of operation in place with distinct purposes: 1) Reliability and; 2) Agility. This study presents existing IT management practices in the market directed at different operation models of IT. The goal of the study is to propose a framework of IT management practices for Bimodal IT. The concepts of IT Governance, Bimodal IT, COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies), ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration), PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge), Lean IT, DevOps, SCRUM and Project Model Canvas, serve as the structural base for better comprehension of the study The qualitative method used for this research was the case study where 10 interviews were applied with IT executives, documental research and participant observation was carried out in a Cooperative financial institution situated in Rio Grande do Sul. As a result, a bimodal IT management practice framework containing 12 elements and 30 related practices was proposed. The framework covers a set of practices broad enough to help different organizations that have an interest in working with more than one mode of operation.