Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Supervisor: Alison Davis-Blake. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

I detta examensarbete har åtgärder i ett energieffektiviseringsarbete av typen EPC analyserats. Umeå kommuns fastighetsavdelning startade sitt EPC-projekt 2008 syftet att energieffektivisera mer än 130 byggnader. Detta projekt sades då vara det största av sitt slag i Sverige. Bakgrunden till behovet av att utföra detta grundades i att en stor del av de tekniska systemens livslängd i fastigheterna började vara uppnådd samtidigt som ett energieffektiviseringskrav ålades fastighetsavdelningen. Siemens anlitades som entreprenör. De villkor som styrde projektet kom från beslutsfattande politiker och handlade om den viktiga besparingsgarantin. Denna garanti var en förutsättning för att få ekonomiska medel att finansiera ett projekt av den här storleken. EPC som modell valdes för att möjliggöra dessa krav. Den data som legat till grund för analysen av de energieffektiviseringsåtgärder som utförts har funnits samlad i eRoom, Siemens plattform för EPC-projekt. Den information som varit mest essentiell har varit de projektutvecklingsrapporter som för varje objekt beskrivit läge, problembild, åtgärdsförslag samt de energikartläggningar som innehållit alla energiberäkningar för energiläget i respektive fastighet samt potentiellt energiläge efter utförande av föreslagna åtgärder. De åtgärder som ansågs relevanta för att på det mest tydliga vis beskriva resultatet av Umeå EPC-projekt beslutades få ligga till grund för att reda ut hur besparingsfördelningen såg ut. Resultatet av detta arbete visar att de åtgärder som levererade störst del av den totala besparingen i ren energi var åtgärder kopplade till fläktar samt övriga åtgärder där styråtgärder av motorvärmare, injusteringar och pumpar rymdes. Efter dessa poster var tilläggsisolering samt belysningsåtgärder stora. Vidare vad gäller den ekonomiska besparingen var det konverteringar av uppvärmning som var absolut störst, därefter fläktarbeten samt kategorin övriga poster. Den ekonomiska investeringen var svår att på ett rättvist sätt jämföra mot hur stora besparingarna varit per åtgärd. En jämförelse av besparing mot antal åtgärder inom varje kategori visar däremot att konvertering till fjärrvärme samt värmeåtervinning var de mest effektiva åtgärderna.

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published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

In this dissertation, I study coordination or collaboration settings that are either within company or at inter-organizational levels in the form of three essays. In the first essay, I study the relationship between a client and a vendor in value co-creation environments such as knowledge intensive services. I consider that the client gets utility from the project throughout the development period. The output is contingent on the effort levels of each party and I allow these effort levels to be dynamic. Hence, the client needs to optimally decide the terms of the payment so as to maximize the project output and minimize its cost. In my second essay, I study another value co-creation environment. In this case, unlike the first essay, I assume that the effort levels are not observable but might be monitored. In both essays, I analyze the performance of different contracts and find the best one for the client in diverse settings. Among several other results, I derive the conditions under which the client chooses not to observe vendor’s effort level and operates in a double moral hazard environment. In addition, I show that the remaining time of the project and the client’s valuation of the project regulate the behavior of the effort levels and some other characteristics in the collaboration. In the third essay, I consider a subscription based rental organization, such as Netflix and Blockbuster. In these environments, the satisfaction of customers de- pends on the availability of requested products. Hence, it is important for these firms to satisfy as much demand as possible. Recommender systems, in a DVD- rental context, are typically used to help customers in finding the right movies for them. However, recommendations can be utilized to shift demand among movies considering the inventory level and future demand to increase the number of satisfied customers or profitability. I address this issue by considering inventory in the optimization of recommender systems. I present several results that could be utilized by managers in order to make important tactical and operational decisions. Results suggest that the proposed approach may improve profitability of the firms substantially.

The world today consists of a global economy, with highly competitive markets in every country. In this arena companies are faced with continually declining profit margins, having to keep costs to a minimal, as well as continually developing Information Systems and Technology. All of these factors have a snowball effect on every other country in the world, providing challenges where there were none before. Companies start to focus on their core competencies, striving to be a benchmark in their industries. All their energies, resources and capital need to be channeled in this direction if they are to succeed. This then begs the question: Who will focus on these companies' non-core functions? The answer is a simpler one - a company whose core business it is to perform another company's non-core functions. One only needs to choose the third party service provider best suited to the company, and outsource your non-core functions to them. These third party service providers can easily incorporate a company's functions into their supply chains, and perform them more efficiently than the outsourcing company. But why focus on outsourcing of the logistics function (which entails transportation, warehousing and 10gisticaIIT)? Internationally this function has been the starting point of outsourcing, and is really only in its infant stages in South Africa. The research will show that even today only some of the areas of this function are being outsourced, whilst the others are still kept in-house. This study will show if there are underlying factors influencing the decision of companies to either outsource or retain their logistics function in-house. The perceived benefits of these two options are also discussed. This study is a formal one. Stated hypotheses will be statistically tested using parametric as well as non-parametric measures. Primary data will be collected through a questionnaire. All relevant literature will be examined and discussed in detail to provide the necessary background. Lastly, the results and findings of the study will be discussed, and recommendations will be made as to viable options in the outsourcing arena. These recommendations should be attempted if South Africa is to catch up with trends in the international outsourcing arena. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2004.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the strategic outsourcing of the laboratory at Blendcor. The organization and the relevant theory have been introduced in the introductory chapter. This also,formulated the problem statement and the objectives of the study. The structure of the study is summarized in this section. The second chapter builds the theory and the model to analyse the strategic problem at hand. This chapter start by defining the key success factors in the hope of identifying the organizational resources that excel on these, thus become core competences. In the light of this, a discrepancy is identified as a shortfall of company resources. This calls for the need of outsourcing the activity; the theory of contracting is thus discussed. The theoretical review closes off with the organizational culture, which is mostly affected by changes brought to the company by outsourcing. The strategy evaluation model is then developed. The third chapter takes advantage of the secondary data available, and a case study is formulated on these. The major portion is made from the company magazines and data from a consultant's study. However, observations were included to some extent. Chapter four evaluates the laboratory outsourcing strategy using the model developed in chapter two. The case study serves as a source of data. The theory from chapter two provides most of the tools used. The last chapter concludes by giving the possible solutions to the objectives of the study. The outsourcing of the laboratory is disapproved. The poor performance can be attributed to the inefficiencies in the value chain activities and poor organizational culture that does not support strategy implementation. It is thus suggested that turnaround-oriented strategies are implemented and cultural transformation is effected. / Thesis (MBA)- University of Natal, 2003.

The aim of the study is to assess whether or not the outsourcing of production at the Lever Ponds Maydon Wharf factory has been successful from a financial and operational perspective. Chapter one gives a background as to why outsourcing has been essential at the Maydon Wharf factory. The chapter also outlines what potential dangers Lever Ponds may be exposed to as a result of outsourcing production to outsourcing companies. Chapter two is a literature review of studies that have been undertaken in instances where production has been outsourced. Chapter three outlines the research methodology of the study. Chapter four gives a numerical breakdown and a brief overview of the findings. Chapter five is a detailed discussion of the findings. Chapter six sets out the recommendations of the study and provides a conclusion to the study. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Thesis (MProjMgmt)--University of South Australia, 2000

Zugl.: Passau, Univ., Diss., 2005