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Master of Science / Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Malgorzata Rys / Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a source of concern in the healthcare industry because they occur more frequently than other healthcare associated infections and the rates of CAUTI have not improved in recent years. The use of urinary catheters is common among patients; between 15 and 25 percent of all hospital patients will use a urinary catheter at some point during their hospitalization (CDC, 2016). The prevalence of urinary catheters in hospitalized patients and high CAUTI occurrence rates led to the application of human factors engineering to develop a tool to help hospitals reduce CAUTI rates. Human reliability analysis techniques are methods used by human factors engineers to quantify the probability of human error in a system. A human error during a catheter insertion has the opportunity to introduce bacteria into the patient’s system and cause a CAUTI; therefore, human reliability analysis techniques can be applied to catheter insertions to determine the likelihood of a human error. A comparison of three human reliability analysis techniques led to the selection of the Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method (CREAM). To predict a patient’s probability of developing a CAUTI, the human error probability found from CREAM is incorporated with several health factors that affect the patient’s risk of developing CAUTI. These health factors include gender, duration, diabetes, and a patient’s use of antibiotics, and were incorporated with the probability of human error using fuzzy logic. Membership functions were developed for each of the health factors and the probability of human error, and the centroid defuzzification method is used to find a crisp value for the probability of a patient developing CAUTI. Hospitals that implement this tool can choose risk levels for CAUTI that places the patient into one of three zones: green, yellow, or red. The placement into the zones depends on the probability of developing a CAUTI. The tool also provides specific best practice interventions for each of the zones.

This study investigates how five secondary students think mathematically and process information in a technology-supported environment while solving mathematics problems. In the study, students were given open-ended problems to explore in an online dynamic learning environment and to solve the problems in computer environments. Given that all the work was done in the computer environments, both online and offline, students’ work was recorded by using screen capturing software. A new method, the frame analysis method, was used to describe and analyze students’ thinking processes while they were interacting with mathematical objects in the dynamic learning environment and solving mathematics problems. The frame analysis method is a microgenetic method based on information processing theory and is developed to analyze students’ work done in computer environments. Two reasons make the analysis method used in this study unique: (a) collecting data with minimized disturbance of the students and (b) analyzing students’ artefacts through researcher’s (teacher) perspective, meaning that integrates teachers within the analysis process. The frame analysis method consists of multiple steps to observe, describe, interpret, and analyze students’ mathematical thinking processes when they are solving mathematics problems. I described each step in detail to explain how the frame analysis method was used to monitor students’ mathematical thinking and to track their use of technology while solving problems. The data emerged from this study illustrates the importance of using dynamic learning environments in mathematics and the potential for transformation of mathematical representational systems from symbolic to visual. Moreover, data suggest that visual representation systems and linked multi-representational systems encourage students to interact with mathematical concepts and advance their mathematical understanding. Rather than dealing with the grammar of algebra only, students may benefit from direct interaction with the visually represented mathematical concepts. It appears that recording students’ problem-solving processes may engage teachers and mathematics educators to seek opportunities for implementing process-oriented assessment into their curriculum activities. Furthermore, students may benefit from sharing their work through peer collaboration, either online or offline, and metacognition and self-assessment. Suggestions for further studies include using audio and video recording in the frame analysis method.

Estoques são comuns a qualquer empresa, visto que são necessários para amortecer impactos de demandas não programadas e evitar rupturas entre processos, adicionando segurança entre diferentes elos de uma cadeia. Problemas de gerenciamento de estoques são corriqueiros, dado que as suas causas podem ser múltiplas, estando presentes em diferentes nós de uma cadeia e sendo originados por questões vinculadas ao fornecimento, à demanda, à informação, além de outros fatores possíveis. Devido à importância dos estoques para uma empresa, seja financeira, como concentração de ativos, ou seja por mitigar riscos no processo de suprimento, problemas de gerenciamento de estoques são periodicamente tratados na literatura. Entretanto, não existe consenso sobre o que são os problemas de gerenciamento e um método difundido para sua identificação e análise. Esta pesquisa concentra-se nesta lacuna, propondo um método de identificação e análise dos problemas de gerenciamento de estoques. Este método está ancorado em seis distintas etapas que foram aplicadas, na forma de um estudo de caso, em uma empresa da serra gaúcha. As etapas compreendem a identificação dos causadores do problema de gerenciamento de estoques, a modelagem e simulação do ambiente proposto e análises das iterações sob a perspectiva de três variáveis chave: saldo de estoques, escassez e uma função custo. Entre os resultados desta pesquisa encontram-se uma classificação de causadores de problemas de gerenciamento de estoques e o método proposto. Foi possível observar no estudo de caso que, entre as variáveis de entrada utilizada, quando manipulada a média aritmética da distribuição destas variáveis estocásticas, elas causaram maior variação sistemática ao resultado do modelo quando comparada a variação sistemática causada pela alteração da variância da distribuição desta mesma variável estocástica. / Inventories are common to any businesses, as they are needed to cushion impacts from unscheduled demands and avoid ruptures between processes, adding security between different tiers in a supply chain. Inventory management problems are common, as their causes can be multiple, and being present on different nodes of a chain, which can be caused by issues related to supply, demand, information, and other possible factors. Due to the importance of inventories for a business, whether financial - as assets - or its role in mitigating risks in the supply process, inventory management problems are frequently approached in the literature. However, there is no consensus on what are inventory management problems and there is no widespread method for identification and analysis of inventory management problems. This research focus on this gap by proposing a method of identification and analysis of inventory management problems. This method is anchored in six distinct steps that have been applied in the form of a case study on a company in south of Brazil. The steps include the identification of the causes of the inventory management problem, the modeling and simulation of the proposed environment and analysis of iterations from the perspective of three key variables: inventory balance, inventory shortages and a cost function. Among the results of this research are a classification of inventory management problems originators and the proposed method. It was observed in the case study that among the input variables, when manipulated the arithmetic mean of the stochastic distribution of these variables, they increased the systematic variation output of the model more than when were manipulated the variance of the stochastic distribution of the same variable.

A busca por marcos comparativos adequados aos processos, produtos e serviços de uma concessionária de energia elétrica têm sido difundida pela Associação Brasileira de Distribuidoras de Energia Elétrica (ABRADEE). Anualmente, esta Associação promove a avaliação dos processos de avaliação da satisfação do cliente, gestão operacional, gestão econômico-financeira e responsabilidade social. Ao exemplo do que ocorre com as empresas participantes da Fundação Nacional da Qualidade (FNQ), é disponibilizado um banco de dados das empresas participantes para realização de Benchmarking de Melhores Práticas. Este trabalho apresenta a proposta de um método para identificação do benchmark mais adequado para comparação de processos entre empresas participantes da ABRADEE utilizando um modelo de análise multicritério que possa auxiliar na escolha deste referencial comparativo. Para a elaboração deste método, buscou-se discutir na revisão bibliográfica alguns assuntos como competitividade, modelos de gestão, avaliação e indicadores de desempenho, benchmarking, assim como métodos de análise multicritério. O método proposto apresenta como diferencial do método já utilizado pela ABRADEE a possibilidade de comparação de empresas com o mesmo perfil organizacional: extensão de rede, tipo de rede de distribuição e número de empregados próprios e terceiros são exemplos. Como resultado do trabalho foi possível hierarquizar logicamente os processos de benchmarking e de análise multicritério para escolha do melhor referencial comparativo, assim como a facilitação do processo de melhores práticas através da seleção do benchmarking adequado. A sua prática deve servir como norteadora e facilitadora da gestão, imputando transparência e confiabilidade aos processos, assim como na obtenção dos resultados esperados pelos Acionistas. / The search for appropriate benchmarks to processes, products and services of an electric utility concessionary have been circulated by the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (ABRADEE). Annually this Association promotes the ratings of customer satisfaction evaluation, operational management, economic-financial management and social responsibility. As an example of what happens to the companies participating in the National Quality Foundation (FNQ) a database of participating companies is available to carry out Benchmarking for Best Practices. This paper presents a proposed method to identify the most appropriate benchmark to compare cases between companies that participate in the ABRADEE using a multicriteria analysis model that can help to select this comparative reference. Due to the development of this method, we attempted to discuss in the literature review some issues such as competitiveness, governance, evaluation and performance indicators, benchmarking, as well as methods of multicriteria analysis. The proposed method is a distinct formulation of the method already used by ABRADEE, the comparison of companies with the same organizational profile: network extension, network type of distribution and number of own and third-party employees are examples. As a result of the work it was possible to logically prioritize the processes of benchmarking and multicriteria analysis to choose the best comparative reference, as well as facilitating the process of best practices by selecting the appropriate benchmark. Its practice should suit to guide and facilitate the management charging transparency and accountability procedures, as well as achieving the results expected by shareholders.

The thesis explores the nature of organization and governance by applying a method of intentionality analysis as elaborated by the Canadian philosopher and theologian, Bernard Lonergan, in his two monumental works, Insight – a study of human understanding, and Method in Theology. The project arose from the writer’s own experience in management education and consultancy. Admittedly, intentionality analysis has not been a major theme in the management literature. However, the late Sumantra Ghoshal drew attention to the consequences of neglecting the dimension of intentionality in business education and management theory, such consequences as unethical practices and even the collapse of corporations, as was the case with Enron. In a paper published by the Academy of Management Learning and Education in 2005, Ghoshal raised a number of crucial and epistemological questions, though he offered no easy answers. In the effort to rise to Ghoshal’s challenge, this thesis argues that Lonergan’s method of intentionality analysis opens new ways to approach the theory and practice of management. It thereby suggests a model relevant to all managerial tasks. Hence, it repeatedly stresses the value of asking questions and of attending to data. It indicates what is involved in the understanding of a given situation, in the making of judgments based on experience, and in the deciding on particular courses of action. In so doing, the thesis clarifies a number of intricate epistemological questions, while emphasising throughout, the vital role of self-knowledge and self-possession. The thesis is essentially a step-by-step discussion of the various elements in intentionality analysis in the context of corporate management. Hence, for the sake of brevity, it designates its “intentionality analysis method” with the acronym, IAM (and in reference to organisational operations, IAMO). To illustrate various aspects of intentionality analysis for the purposes of management education, the author draws on exercises previously used in his involvement in executive workshops. The usefulness of the IAM developed in this thesis is highlighted by comparing and contrasting it with selected management theories on learning and strategy as found in the writings of, for example, Belbin, Janis, Kegan, Revans, Argyris, Nonaka, Takeuchi, Senge, Mintzberg, Ansoff, Lewis and Jaques. The project concludes with a discussion of the pedagogical challenges involved in presenting such material to managers, with reference to some contemporary developments in business education.

The fiber clips is a device for holding an optical fiber which is enclosed in the ferrule, adjustment it to the optimum aligning position with respect to the laser diode and fixing it on the substrate of the butterfly-type laser module by the laser welding. It is hard for the extant saddle shaped clips to be manufactured and the result causes the unable mass production and the high cost. Otherwise, the packaging process has caused PWS of laser module, would decay the coupling efficiency of laser module. Aim at the shortcomings, the purpose of this study proceeds to the creative design of the fiber clips with the systematic engineering design and make a set of the manufacturing method by the pressing die to cause automatic mass production in the future. First, identify the basic characteristics based on an analysis of the patents and then get the conditions and trend. Second, find the function needs and elaborate the specification of design. Third, the use of morphological analysis method and design process is formulated to synthesize and evaluate the improving structure. Finally, taking the design cases will develop the embodiment design and prove the propose approach for the design process. Otherwise, it develops an improvement technique and adjustment method for PWS and wishes can reduce or improve the effects of it.

Inadequate or weak preparatory work before starting construction of any structure may cause serious problems during the construction period. For example, projects without sufficient detailed drawings or construction schedules and a disorganized building site can create many problems in the management and completion of the construction works. Consequently, the cost of construction increases digressively, the construction duration of the project extends and the quality of construction is affected adversely. This study dwells on the importance of construction schedules in achieving the aim of producing good quality construction work within the specified duration. Monitoring continuously the interactive relation concerning delays in construction schedules and contractor demands is a complicated process. Here the simplest and basic approach is that, both for owner and contractor, time is money and for this reason construction schedule delays should be analyzed and corrective measures should be taken in a timely manner. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the causes of construction schedule delays and the methods of schedule delay analyses. In this context completion construction works of a covered swimming pool building in Ankara was selected as a case study for analyzing project scheduling and the delays therein. The &ldquo / Time Impact Analysis Method&rdquo / (TIA) was applied to the case study project using PRIMAVERA&reg / software in order to determine the construction schedule delays / to measure the impacts of these delays on the project completion duration / and to allocate responsibility amongst the project participants for preventing delay claims. After the application of the delay analysis it was observed that the delays in the critical activities extended the project duration by 57 days in total i.e. by 15.4 % of the estimated construction period. Fines should have been paid by the contractor because of 31-days non-excusable delays. Also, the contractor should have been given a time extension of 26-days due to 22-days excusable compensable delays and 4-days excusable non-compensable delays which were beyond the control of the contractor. These delays were caused due to organizational deficiencies of the owner, the bureaucracy of the provincial municipality, the lack of detail drawings during the municipality application, the lack of experience of the contractor, problems in material procurement, unforeseeable weather conditions and shortages of qualified employees of the subcontractors. It was observed that of these all except one correspond to the important causes of delays as reported in literature concerning public projects in Turkey.

This study investigates how five secondary students think mathematically and process information in a technology-supported environment while solving mathematics problems. In the study, students were given open-ended problems to explore in an online dynamic learning environment and to solve the problems in computer environments. Given that all the work was done in the computer environments, both online and offline, students’ work was recorded by using screen capturing software. A new method, the frame analysis method, was used to describe and analyze students’ thinking processes while they were interacting with mathematical objects in the dynamic learning environment and solving mathematics problems. The frame analysis method is a microgenetic method based on information processing theory and is developed to analyze students’ work done in computer environments. Two reasons make the analysis method used in this study unique: (a) collecting data with minimized disturbance of the students and (b) analyzing students’ artefacts through researcher’s (teacher) perspective, meaning that integrates teachers within the analysis process. The frame analysis method consists of multiple steps to observe, describe, interpret, and analyze students’ mathematical thinking processes when they are solving mathematics problems. I described each step in detail to explain how the frame analysis method was used to monitor students’ mathematical thinking and to track their use of technology while solving problems. The data emerged from this study illustrates the importance of using dynamic learning environments in mathematics and the potential for transformation of mathematical representational systems from symbolic to visual. Moreover, data suggest that visual representation systems and linked multi-representational systems encourage students to interact with mathematical concepts and advance their mathematical understanding. Rather than dealing with the grammar of algebra only, students may benefit from direct interaction with the visually represented mathematical concepts. It appears that recording students’ problem-solving processes may engage teachers and mathematics educators to seek opportunities for implementing process-oriented assessment into their curriculum activities. Furthermore, students may benefit from sharing their work through peer collaboration, either online or offline, and metacognition and self-assessment. Suggestions for further studies include using audio and video recording in the frame analysis method.

A busca por marcos comparativos adequados aos processos, produtos e serviços de uma concessionária de energia elétrica têm sido difundida pela Associação Brasileira de Distribuidoras de Energia Elétrica (ABRADEE). Anualmente, esta Associação promove a avaliação dos processos de avaliação da satisfação do cliente, gestão operacional, gestão econômico-financeira e responsabilidade social. Ao exemplo do que ocorre com as empresas participantes da Fundação Nacional da Qualidade (FNQ), é disponibilizado um banco de dados das empresas participantes para realização de Benchmarking de Melhores Práticas. Este trabalho apresenta a proposta de um método para identificação do benchmark mais adequado para comparação de processos entre empresas participantes da ABRADEE utilizando um modelo de análise multicritério que possa auxiliar na escolha deste referencial comparativo. Para a elaboração deste método, buscou-se discutir na revisão bibliográfica alguns assuntos como competitividade, modelos de gestão, avaliação e indicadores de desempenho, benchmarking, assim como métodos de análise multicritério. O método proposto apresenta como diferencial do método já utilizado pela ABRADEE a possibilidade de comparação de empresas com o mesmo perfil organizacional: extensão de rede, tipo de rede de distribuição e número de empregados próprios e terceiros são exemplos. Como resultado do trabalho foi possível hierarquizar logicamente os processos de benchmarking e de análise multicritério para escolha do melhor referencial comparativo, assim como a facilitação do processo de melhores práticas através da seleção do benchmarking adequado. A sua prática deve servir como norteadora e facilitadora da gestão, imputando transparência e confiabilidade aos processos, assim como na obtenção dos resultados esperados pelos Acionistas. / The search for appropriate benchmarks to processes, products and services of an electric utility concessionary have been circulated by the Brazilian Association of Electricity Distributors (ABRADEE). Annually this Association promotes the ratings of customer satisfaction evaluation, operational management, economic-financial management and social responsibility. As an example of what happens to the companies participating in the National Quality Foundation (FNQ) a database of participating companies is available to carry out Benchmarking for Best Practices. This paper presents a proposed method to identify the most appropriate benchmark to compare cases between companies that participate in the ABRADEE using a multicriteria analysis model that can help to select this comparative reference. Due to the development of this method, we attempted to discuss in the literature review some issues such as competitiveness, governance, evaluation and performance indicators, benchmarking, as well as methods of multicriteria analysis. The proposed method is a distinct formulation of the method already used by ABRADEE, the comparison of companies with the same organizational profile: network extension, network type of distribution and number of own and third-party employees are examples. As a result of the work it was possible to logically prioritize the processes of benchmarking and multicriteria analysis to choose the best comparative reference, as well as facilitating the process of best practices by selecting the appropriate benchmark. Its practice should suit to guide and facilitate the management charging transparency and accountability procedures, as well as achieving the results expected by shareholders.