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Increased global competition is forcing organizations to increase their use of group decision making today. Computerized group decision support aids (CGDSAs) are being developed to improve the efficiency of these groups and to improve decision quality. Even though the use of CGDSAs has increased, very little research has been done on the evaluation of CGDSAs. The purpose of this research was to develop a model-based generalized methodology for CGDSA evaluation from the user's perspective. Two models were developed as a foundation for the CGDSA evaluation methodology. The first model was a model of group decision making and the second model was a model of computer-aided group decision making. The group decision making model was based upon a basic input-output model with the problem as the input and the selected alternative as the output. Analogous to how problems are viewed in terms of classical design of experiments, independent variables affect the outcome (problem solution the dependent variable) of the decision making process. As in design of experiments, independent variables are either noise variables or control variables. In the model presented, the independent variables are further divided into four categories (internal, external, process, and problem) in the group decision making model as a way to help develop an exhaustive list of independent variables affecting the decision making process. The generalized methodology for CGDSA evaluation mapped directly to the computer-aided group decision making model. Solution quality is measured directly or by measuring independent variables that have been previously been correlated to solution quality using standard design of experiment techniques. The generalized methodology for CGDSA evaluation was applied to the assessment of ConsensusBuilder, an example of a CGDSA. As prescribed by the CGDSA evaluation methodology, usability was also assessed and practical use considerations were followed when designing the evaluation. The value of the ConsensusBuilder evaluation for this research was that it was possible to perform a thorough evaluation of ConsensusBuilder, a CGDSA, using the CGDSA Evaluation Methodology developed in this research. In addition to the ConsensusBuilder evaluation, six different CGDSA evaluations cited in the literature were assessed in terms of the CGDSA evaluation methodology. / Graduation date: 2002

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

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M.Com. (Business Management) / Large organisations, such as banks, compete through a variety of products, geography and services dimensions (Stenzel & Stenzel, 2004). Firms achieve sustainable competitive advantage if they are able to generate higher economic profits relative to competitors in the long-term. Market economics combined with relative strength in market and cost structure positions enhances the ability of a firm to generate superior economic profits (Besanko et al, 2004). Determining the use and allocation of investment resources is one of core and critical task strategic activity for management in a large firm. Firms use management accounting information to determine product profitability, understand cost drivers and the implication of investment decisions on the overall products and markets performance. This reports come from the premise that the extent use, accuracy and deeper understanding of management accounting information is crucial for strategic management of the firm. Product cost systems produces the cost side of this management information and thus its use can have a far-reaching implications for the firm. The study explores the various usage of product costs information and position product costing system in the context strategic management. The main of the study is to determine the key factors that management should consider when selecting a product cost system This was achieved by a comprehensive discussion of each product cost system type and implications of the cost associated with each product. Furthermore, the product cost systems are discussed in terms of the level of sophistication which increases or decrease the level of product cost system design complexity. The theoretical foundation was applied in the South African banking industry to practically illustrate the problem in the real-world, the importance of the study; demonstrate the complexity of product cost system in two-sided markets as well as implication of implementing an incorrect system. The research questions were tested and answered using quantitative techniques. Data was collected from a sample which represented the big four banks in South Africa primarily using a questionnaire. Purposive sampling technique was used.

The analysis of an executing program and the isolation of critical code has been a problem since the first program was written. This thesis examines the process of program analysis through the use of a software monitoring system. Since there is a trend toward structured languages a subset of PL/I was developed t~o exhibit source statement monitoring and costing techniques. By filtering a PL/W program through a preorocessor which determines the cost of source statements and inserts monitoring code, a post-execution analysis of the program can be obtained. This analysis displays an estimated time cost for each source statements the number of times the statement w3s executed, and the product of these values. Additionally, a bar graph is printed in order to quickly locate very active code.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 P42 / Master of Science / Computing and Information Sciences

The ability of certain RNAs to fold into complicated secondary and tertiary structures provides them with the ability to perform a variety of functions in the cell. Since the secondary and tertiary structures formed by certain RNAs in the cell are central to understanding how they function, one of the most active areas of research has been how to accurately and reliably predict RNA secondary structure from sequence; better known as the RNA Folding Problem. This dissertation examines two fundamental areas of research in RNA structure prediction, free energy minimization and comparative analysis. The most popular RNA secondary structure prediction program, Mfold 3.1 predicts RNA secondary structure via free energy minimization using experimentally determined energy parameters. I present an evaluation of the accuracy of Mfold 3.1 using the largest set of phylogenetically diverse, comparatively predicted RNA secondary structures available. This evaluation will show that despite significant revisions to the energy parameters, the prediction accuracy of Mfold 3.1 is not significantly improved when compared to previous versions. In contrast, RNA comparative analysis has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to accurately and reliably predict RNA secondary structure. The downside is that RNA comparative analysis frequently requires an expert systems methodology which is predominately manual in nature. As a result, RNA comparative analysis is not capable of scaling adequately to be useful in the genomic era. Therefore, I developed the Comparative Analysis Toolkit (CAT) which is intended to be the fundamental component of a vertically integrated software infrastructure to facilitate high-throughput RNA comparative analysis using an expert systems methodology.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 L44 / Master of Science