M. Tech. (Department of Information and Communication Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Crude oil is among the most in-demand and desirable commodities across the world today. The multiple uses of crude oil are widespread, ranging from the generation of energy to its use as fuel for the petrochemical and transportation sectors. Because of the high use of and demand for crude oil worldwide, the petroleum industry (also known as the oil and gas industry) is a significantly role player in the world economy. Libya‘s oil and gas industry is deemed the most essential and important sector in this country, as Libya is mainly dependent on proceeds from this sector. However, existing information technologies are not always optimally applied and utilised. This, together with the challenge that information technologies in the supply chain system and logistics processes of some of Libya‘s oil and gas companies are not always sufficient, the productivity of the country‘s oil and gas supply chain is compromised, and this results in revenue losses because of wasteful expenditure. This research therefore aimed to determine what innovative information technologies should be considered by Zueitina Oil Company (as case study) in Libya to enhance its supply chain and logistics processes. Two primary research questions (PRQs) were formulated for this research, namely: (i) What is the current status of Libya‘s oil and gas sector in terms of oil production and export? (ii) What innovative information technologies need to be considered by Zueitina Oil Company in Libya to contribute towards optimising its supply chain and logistics processes? This study followed the qualitative research methodology, as the data collected were qualitative and the research design was inductive. A case study strategy was adopted, with Zueitina Oil Company in Libya as the case under study. The primary sources for the research were the management of the supply chain and logistics departments of Zueitina Oil Company. The qualitative data collection method selected was a survey conducted by means of telephone and focus group interviews. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. In total, five themes and six sub-themes emerged from the findings obtained from the analysis. This research contributes to the scientific body of knowledge by proposing an Information Technology Optimisation Model for the Supply Chain of Zueitina Oil Company in Libya in order to achieve increased revenues, reduced costs, and improved customer services, among others.

The modal satisfiability problem has to date been solved using either a specifically designed algorithm, or by translating the modal logic formula into a different class of problem, such as a first-order logic, a propositional satisfiability problem or a constraint satisfaction problem. These approaches and the solvers developed to support them are surveyed and a synthesis thereof is presented. The translation of a modal K formula into a constraint satisfaction problem, as developed by Brand et al. [18], is further enhanced. The modal formula, which must be in conjunctive normal form, is translated into layered propositional formulae. Each of these layers is translated into a constraint satisfaction problem and solved using the constraint solver ECLiPSe. I extend this translation to deal with reflexive and transitive accessibility relations, thereby providing for the modal logics KT and S4. Two of the difficulties that arise when these accessibility relations are added are that the resultant formula increases considerably in complexity, and that it is no longer in conjunctive normal form (CNF). I eliminate the need for the conversion of the formula to CNF and deal instead with formulae that are in negation normal form (NNF). I apply a number of enhancements to the formula at each modal layer before it is translated into a constraint satisfaction problem. These include extensive simplification, the assignment of a single value to propositional variables that occur only positively or only negatively, and caching the status of the formula at each node of the search tree. All of these significantly prune the search space. The final results I achieve compare favorably with those obtained by other solvers. / Computing / M.Sc. (Computer Science)

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo propor uma Estrutura de Referência para a implementação do Gerenciamento de Processos de Negócio (Business Process Management – BPM) adequada às particularidades de uma instituição pública de ensino superior com as características da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR). Há cada vez mais interesse por parte de organizações públicas e privadas em estabelecer uma forma de gerenciamento de seus processos buscando obter resultados mais eficientes e eficazes. No setor público, o BPM vem sendo utilizado para obtenção de processos menos burocráticos, mais ágeis e com melhor uso dos recursos. O setor público possui características diversas daquelas verificadas no setor privado e que demandam atenção especial nas limitações encontradas ao adotar abordagens que, mesmo validadas no ambiente empresarial, ainda carecem de maior aprofundamento quando aplicadas a organizações de governo. Trata-se de uma pesquisa aplicada com utilização de questionários como instrumento de coleta de dados, em duas etapas. A primeira de pesquisa teve como alvo 62 Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior (IFES), vinculadas ao Ministério da Educação (MEC), buscando conhecer o panorama do gerenciamento de processos no campo de atuação, e a segunda etapa teve como alvo a própria UTFPR, buscando-se conhecer os fatores indutores e restritores à implementação do BPM e as características da instituição. Além disso, foi realizada pesquisa bibliométrica para identificar publicações sobre o BPM no setor público como referencial. Da visão resultante das etapas de pesquisa e de um modelo conceitual de BPM estabelecido com base na abordagem feita pela Associação Internacional de BPM Brasil (ABPMP – Association of Business Process Management Professionals) e no Modelo de Burlton (2001), foi estabelecida a Estrutura de Referência para implementação do BPM na UTFPR, considerando, além das suas especificidades, os recursos disponíveis, estrutura de Tecnologia de Informação (TI), cultura organizacional, pessoas, entre outros. A pesquisa confirmou que, apesar das restrições a que estão sujeitas as organizações públicas, o BPM é uma forma de gerenciamento de processos aplicável a uma organização com as características da UTFPR e que há uma forma de implementação que permite observar estas especificidades, para a melhoria da eficiência. Como limitações, observou-se que a pesquisa nas IFES brasileiras não foi capaz de obter dados sobre o impacto do BPM nos resultados e na performance das instituições pesquisadas, dado que extensa maioria ainda estão em fase de implementação, nem de avaliar o real impacto dos escritórios de processo nas IFES que adotaram esta estrutura. Em conclusão, além da Estrutura de Referência proposta para a UTFPR, fica a contribuição para a área de estudo de Planejamento e Políticas Públicas. / This research was developed to propose a Business Process Management (BPM) referential structure for the Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR), adapted to the particularities of a public higher education institution like UTFPR. There is interest from public and private organizations to establish a way of managing their processes seeking more efficient and effective results. In the public sector, BPM has been used to seek the establishment of less bureaucratic processes, more agile and with better use of public resources. It was taken into account that the public sector has characteristics different from those verified in the private sector and that demands special attention in the limitations found by the Public Administration when adopting approaches that, even validated in the business environment, still need to deepen when applied in governmental organizations. It is an applied research in two stages, using questionnaires as an instrument for collecting data. The first step of research was aimed at the 62 Federal Institutions of Higher Education (IFES), bonded to the Ministry of Education (MEC), seeking to know the scenery in the field of action, and the second stage was developed in UTFPR, seeking to know the factors inducing and restricting BPM implementation. In addition, bibliometric research was conducted to identify publications on BPM in the public sector as a reference. The structure of reference for implementation of the BPM in UTFPR was stablished from the perspective of the research steps and a conceptual model of BPM based on the approach of the International BPM Association (ABPMP) and the model of Burlton (2001). The available resources, Information Technology (IT) framework, organizational culture, people and other aspects were considered in addition to its specificities. It has been confirmed that, despite the restrictions to which public organizations are subject, BPM is a way of managing processes applicable to an organization with the characteristics of UTFPR and that there is a form of implementation that allows to observe these specificities, seeking for efficiency. As limitations, the research was not able to obtain data about the impact of BPM in the results and performance of surveyed Brazilian IFES, since an overwhelming majority is still in the implementation phase nor to evaluate the real impact of the Business Process Management offices (BPMO) in IFES that have adopted this structure. In conclusion, the proposed structure of reference for UTFPR contribute to the study area of Planning and Public Policies, where the efficient performance of the State is a requirement for Public Governance.

The modal satisfiability problem has to date been solved using either a specifically designed algorithm, or by translating the modal logic formula into a different class of problem, such as a first-order logic, a propositional satisfiability problem or a constraint satisfaction problem. These approaches and the solvers developed to support them are surveyed and a synthesis thereof is presented. The translation of a modal K formula into a constraint satisfaction problem, as developed by Brand et al. [18], is further enhanced. The modal formula, which must be in conjunctive normal form, is translated into layered propositional formulae. Each of these layers is translated into a constraint satisfaction problem and solved using the constraint solver ECLiPSe. I extend this translation to deal with reflexive and transitive accessibility relations, thereby providing for the modal logics KT and S4. Two of the difficulties that arise when these accessibility relations are added are that the resultant formula increases considerably in complexity, and that it is no longer in conjunctive normal form (CNF). I eliminate the need for the conversion of the formula to CNF and deal instead with formulae that are in negation normal form (NNF). I apply a number of enhancements to the formula at each modal layer before it is translated into a constraint satisfaction problem. These include extensive simplification, the assignment of a single value to propositional variables that occur only positively or only negatively, and caching the status of the formula at each node of the search tree. All of these significantly prune the search space. The final results I achieve compare favorably with those obtained by other solvers. / Computing / M.Sc. (Computer Science)