The focus of this thesis is on the development of a conceptual design evaluation model that can be used in engineering design and can be implemented as a computer tool. A prerequisite to achieve this objective is a proper understanding of the initial phases of the design process, using an adequate framework. Hence, a brief examination of Theory of Technical Systems associated to a comprehensive study of the conceptual design stage, based on academic design methodologies and a survey amongst British industries, is presented. Additionally, evaluation issues at the early phases of design and a number of approaches for evaluating alternative solutions are investigated and relevant characteristics to be included in a prospective conceptual design evaluation model are compiled. A novel evaluation model based on function metrics has been proposed. The approach provides an intermediate evaluation, indicating which solutions have the potential to progress further in the design process The core of the model is the composition of evaluation matrices and computation of partial indices, which will originate an overall index used to classify the alternatives. The model assumes the existence of an explicit function structure on which the development of the organ/component structure is going to be based. A unique feature of this model is that it does not depend on designers' preferences or judgement in assigning values. From the formalised solution the designer has to identify which organ/component implements which function. An initial prototype of a computer tool (LiberSolutio), which embodies the above model, is presented. In addition to being an evaluation system, LiberSolutio can record the design history of the set of solutions generated for a particular functional decomposition/ structure. A preliminary evaluation of the model and computer system is also presented with conclusions drawn from the results obtained.

L’objectif de ce travail est double. Il s’agit premièrement de participer au développement d’un logiciel d’évaluation des processus cognitifs engagés lors de l’identification des mots écrits. Ce dispositif informatisé (Tinfolec) évalue les processus d’identification des mots écrits et les traitements phonologiques et visuo-orthographiques sous-jacents. Il a été mis au point au cours de plusieurs pré-expérimentations. Deuxièmement, l’efficacité d’un entraînement informatisé grapho-syllabique a été testée auprès d’enfants faibles lecteurs débutants. En effet, partant du double constat que a) la syllabe est une unité intermédiaire de traitement au début de la lecture en français et b) l’entraînement informatisé aux correspondances grapho-phonologiques améliore l’identification des mots écrits, nous nous attendions à ce qu’un entraînement grapho-syllabique aide les plus faibles lecteurs à améliorer leurs performances dans ce domaine. Une procédure classique en 3 phrases, pré-test/entraînement/post-tests et une comparaison de deux groupes d’enfants, expérimental et contrôle, a été utilisée. Différents post-tests différés ont permis de tester le maintien des effets d’entraînement. Les résultats vont en faveur de l’hypothèse selon laquelle la syllabe est effectivement une unité de traitement privilégiée en français au début de l’apprentissage de la lecture. / The aim of this work was twofold. The first one was to contribute to the development of a software evaluating the cognitive processes involved in written words identification by the means of several pre-experimentations. This device (Tinfolec) evaluates written word identification and its underlying phonological and visual-orthographic processing. Secondly, we tested the effectiveness of a computerized grapho-syllabic training in French beginning poor readers. Based on the two facts that a) the syllable is an intermediate treatment unit in beginning reading in French and b) computerized training of grapho-phonological correspondences improves word identification, we expected that trained poor readers improve in reading. The classical 3-periods-procedure including pre-test/training/post-tests and a comparison of two groups of children, experimental and control, were used. Different post-tests permitted to test the maintenance of the training effects. The results are in favor of the hypothesis that the syllable indeed is an intermediate treatment unit in the French reading process.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T16:58:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcilio Farias da Silva.pdf: 2141335 bytes, checksum: 164a0489f21f7f26a38436a8d2811b56 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-04-24 / Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo / The intention of this dissertation is the elaboration and analysis of a didactic sequence focused to the teaching and learning of examinations for students of the 9th school year in Brazil, using a computer tool. The whole experiment was developed in a Project of Argumentations and test in the Mathematics school (AProvaME), that he/she has as objective to prepare a map on the conceptions of arguments and the students tests in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The elaboration of the didactic sequence was inspired in the questionaire of Álgebra of the project AProvaME, based and analyzed under the perspective from the levels of Balacheff (1988) classification of experiments and ideas related to the roles and functions of the experiments of Villiers (2001) and in the ideas suggested in PCN. We used as computer resource EXCEL, which allowed to the the students the electronic construction of spreadsheets enlarging the data for better analyze and elaborate their conjectures, arguments, justifications and validations. It was analyzed three protocols of three couples with ages between 13 and 14 years old of a private school in the city of Lorena in São Paulo which contributed voluntarialy with the experimentation. Analysing the results we can establish that predominated the formulations of the arguments and conjectures limked to conceptual pragmatic experiments described in the natural languages that in the whole process were empirically justified. A relevant and decisive fact in the successful research was the role of the mediator teacher during the moments of interventions that it provided the interaction student-teacher, necessary in the development of didactic sequences that aim the teaching and learning of arguments and mathematical experiments / O propósito desta dissertação é a elaboração e análise de uma seqüência didática para o ensino e aprendizagem de provas e argumentações, destinada a alunos do 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental, utilizando uma ferramenta computacional. Todo o experimento foi desenvolvido no âmbito do Projeto Argumentação e prova na Matemática Escolar (AProvaME), que tem como objetivo construir um mapa sobre as concepções de argumentação e prova de alunos do Estado de São Paulo. A elaboração da seqüência didática foi inspirada no questionário de Álgebra do projeto AProvaME e fundamentada e analisada sob a perspectiva da classificação de provas de Balacheff (1988), das idéias relacionadas aos papéis e funções das provas de De Villiers (2001) e nas sugestões apresentadas nos PCN. Utilizamos como recurso computacional o Excel, que permitiu aos alunos a construção de planilhas eletrônicas ampliando os dados para melhor analisar e elaborar suas conjecturas, argumentos, justificativas e validações. Foram analisados os protocolos de três duplas, com idades de 13 e 14 anos, de uma escola particular da cidade de Lorena-SP, que contribuíram voluntariamente com a experimentação. Analisando os resultados, constatamos que predominaram as formulações de argumentos e conjecturas vinculadas a provas pragmáticas descritas na língua natural, que, em todo o processo, foram justificadas empiricamente. Um fato relevante e determinante no sucesso da pesquisa foi o papel do professor mediador, durante os momentos de intervenções, favorecendo a interação aluno-professor, necessária no desenvolvimento de seqüências didáticas que visam o ensino e aprendizagem de argumentações e provas matemáticas

La presente investigación tiene por objetivo, exponer los factores que hacen necesaria la implementación de Business Intelligence con el fin de mejorar la toma de decisiones, que influyen directamente en la eficiencia de los procesos operativos de importación del sector Diagnóstica. Esta investigación se divide en 5 capítulos, en las que se usó el método científico detallado en el libro Metodología de la Investigación, el cual presenta a la investigación como un proceso sistemático, los capítulos están comprendidos por marco teórico, plan de investigación, metodología, desarrollo y aplicación, y análisis de los resultados. Asimismo, se busca identificar que, con esta herramienta informática, se podrá tener la posibilidad de mejorar los procesos operativos de importación. Para finalizar, se comprobará la relación existente entre las dos variables estudiadas Business Intelligence para la mejor toma de decisiones y la eficiencia de los Procesos Operativos, con el fin optimizar la cadena de valor y presentar una herramienta de innovación para el mundo de los negocios internacionales. Para ello, se realizaron análisis cuantitativos y cualitativos, y se empleó la herramienta de SPSS para mostrar el Análisis Factorial y Discriminante. / The objective of this research is to expose the factors that make it necessary to implement Business Intelligence in order to improve decision making, which directly influence the efficiency of the importation processes of the Diagnostic sector. This research is divided into 5 chapters, in which the scientific method detailed in the book Methodology of Research was used, which presents research as a systematic process, the chapters are comprised by theoretical framework, research plan, methodology, development and application, and analysis of results. Likewise, it is sought to identify that, with this computer tool, it will be possible to have the possibility of improving the import operational processes. Finally, the relationship between the two variables studied Business Intelligence for the best decision making and the efficiency of the Operational Processes will be verified, in order to optimize the value chain and present an innovation tool for the world of international business. For this, quantitative and qualitative analyzes were carried out, and the SPSS tool was used to show the Factorial and Discriminant Analysis / Tesis