Thesis (Ph. D.)--Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007. / Lu, Jye-Chyi, Committee Member ; Shaprio, Alexander, Committee Member ; Amemiya, Yasuo, Committee Co-Chair ; Wu, C. F. Jeff, Committee Chair ; Vengazhiyil, Roshan Joseph, Committee Member.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2005. / Title from title page screen, viewed September 26, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Dent M. Rhodes (chair), Temba C. Bassoppo-Moyo, Thomas Crumpler, Patricia Rushing. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-200) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2007. / Thesis Advisor(s): Erik Jansen, George Lober. "June 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-81). Also available in print.

In today&#039 / s conditions, systems that surround individuals have evolved in structure such that, nature of variable interactions are much more complex and changing continuously. Logistics systems, which constitute an example for such systems, have also necessitated fast management and decision-making in a fast paced environment, under limited sources with the additional effect of increasing customer requirements and competition. In this study, system dynamics approach was shown to be a competent alternative to analyze complex and dynamic systems like logistics systems and its cost structure is studied. A theoretical logistics model with a user interface is presented. Then the developed model implemented in an organization operating in aluminum industry by making the required modifications. A scenario analysis regarding a new investment decision studied. All analysis and modeling studies were carried out in Stella 6.0.1.

Thesis (M.S. in Information Systems)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 1992. / Thesis Advisor: Nakagawa, Gordon. "March 1992." Description based on title screen as viewed on March 4, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 66).

Στην παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία παρουσιάζονται τα ιατρικά συστήματα λήψης απόφασης (MDSS) και αρχιτεκτονικές ανάπτυξή τους. Πραγματεύεται τις έννοιες του ευφυούς ελέγχου και της ασάφειας για να καταλήξει στον όρο Ασαφή Γνωστικά Δίκτυα(FCΜ). Αφού περιγράφεται αναλυτικά η ανάπτυξή, ο καθορισμός των παραμέτρων και οι μεθοδολογίες εκμάθησης ενός Ασαφούς Γνωστικού Δικτύου, καταλήγει τελικά στην εφαρμογή τους στον χώρο της ιατρικής. Τέλος, ακολουθεί το μοντέλο ενός Ασαφούς Ελεγκτή για ιατρικές εφαρμογές και η ανάπτυξη ενός MDSS για την εύρεση Κάκωσης Γόνατος με αρχιτεκτονικές Ανταγωνιστικού Ασαφούς Γνωστικού Δικτύου (CFCΜ). / The thesis represents the medical decision support systems (MDSS) and their architecture. Starting with the concepts of intelligent control and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM), it describes in detail the development, the setting parameters, and the learning methods of FCMs, with the purpose of their application into the field of medicine. Finally, it illustrates the model of a Fuzzy Controller for medical applications and the development of an MDSS for finding knee injury with the architecture of Competitive FCMs (CFCM).

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and debilitating disease contributing to the rise in healthcare associated costs in the United States (ADA, 2013a; USDHHS, 2013). T2DM management is complex and requires an ongoing multi-system approach (Goderis et al., 2010). In this quality improvement project, the DNP student led a team in a family care practice setting through a systematic quality improvement process, the PDSA cycle, for the improvement of performance rates of quality indicators including A1C testing, LDL testing, and performance of comprehensive foot examinations. The QI team developed a multi-component intervention to include utilization of an electronic type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) decision support tool. The expected outcome was to increase current performance rates of A1C testing, LDL testing, and comprehensive foot examinations at a family care practice by at least 10% within four weeks of implementing the intervention. A1C testing improved from a pre-intervention median of 70.97% to a post-intervention median of 91.38%, an increase of 20.41%. LDL testing improved from a pre-intervention median of 74.19% to a post-intervention median of 91.38%, an increase of 17.19%. Comprehensive foot examinations improved from a pre-intervention median of 58.06% to a post-intervention median of 84.48%, an increase of 26.42%. While results demonstrate a trend of improvement, the duration of the intervention was insufficient for statistical significance. The QI project served as a first systematic change process for the family care practice and a model for future change processes at the clinic. This project highlights the DNP's role in utilizing evidence-based research and applying a systematic change model for quality improvement in the primacy care practice setting.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The volume of information available to the individual today is greater than ever before. From sources that range from verbal to non-verbal, paper to electronic and audio to visual, there is a constant and ubiquitous supply of information. For managers in an organisational context, whose job it is to manage information from various sources and make decisions based on that, this proliferation of information can be overwhelming. As a result, decision-makers can experience information overload, which can have various detrimental effects on them. Both the problems that information overload can cause, as well as some suggested solutions to the effect are explored. A brief investigation follows into the way in which information in different forms is cognitively processed by individuals is explored. Two possible ways in which decision-makers can respond to the problem of information overload are examined. The first focuses on the visualisation of information and visual management in organisations, looking at two examples, the balanced scorecard and the oobeya room. The visualisation of information often integrates information from various sources, reducing its volume to facilitate cognitive processing. The second response to information overload looks at the use of fast and frugal heuristics. These heuristics ignore some of the available information to ease cognitive processing, resulting in faster decisions that use as little information as possible. Both of these two approaches are explored as potential decision support systems for decision-makers in an organisational context, separately and in combination. One approach is structured and planned, while the other is largely unplanned and intuitive. The similarities are investigated in the way that these two approaches structure information. Both methods aim to reduce the amount of cognitive processing for the decision-maker, minimising the chances of information overload occurring and can be used under certain appropriate conditions to minimise the negative effects of information overload on decision-makers in organisations to result in more effective decision-making processes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die volume inligting wat beskikbaar is tot die individu vandag is groter as ooit tevore. Vanaf bronne wat wissel van verbale tot nie-verbale, papier na elektroniese- en klank tot visuele bronne, is daar 'n konstante en alomteenwoordige verskaffing van inligting. Vir bestuurders in 'n organisasiekonteks, wie se werk dit is om inligting uit verskillende bronne te bestuur en besluite op die hierdie verspreiding van inligting te basseer, kan dit oorweldigend wees. As gevolg hiervan kan besluitnemers ’n inligting-oorlading ervaar, wat verskeie nadelige effekte op hulle kan hê. Beide die probleme wat inligting-oorlading kan veroorsaak, asook 'n paar voorgestelde oplossings met betrekking tot die effek, word ondersoek. 'n Kort ondersoek kyk na die manier waarop die inligting in verskillende vorme kognitief deur die individue verwerk word. Twee moontlike maniere waarop besluitnemers kan reageer op die probleem van inligting-oorlading, word ondersoek. Die eerste fokus op die visualisering van inligting en visuele bestuur in organisasies, deur te kyk na twee voorbeelde: die gebalanseerde telkaart en die oobeya kamer. Die visualisering van inligting behels dikwels die integrasie van inligting uit verskeie bronne en so word die volume saamgevat om kognitiewe prosessering te fasiliteer. Die tweede reaksie op inligting-oorlading kyk na die gebruik van "snelle en spaarsame" heuristiese metodes. Hierdie heuristiese metodes ignoreer sommige van die beskikbare inligting wat kognitiewe prosessering verlig, wat individue in staat stel om vinniger besluite te neem en so min as moontlik inligting gebruik. Beide van hierdie twee benaderings word ondersoek as moontlike ondersteuningstelsels vir besluitnemings deur besluitnemers in 'n organisasiekonteks, beide afsonderlik en as ’n kombinasie. Die een benadering is gestruktureerd en beplan, terwyl die ander grootliks onbeplan en intuïtief is. Die ooreenkomste in die manier waarop hierdie twee benaderings inligting struktureer, word ondersoek. Beide metodes poog om die kognitiewe verwerkingslading vir die besluitnemer te verminder en so die kanse vir inligting-oorlading te verlaag. So kan dit gebruik word om onder gepaste toestande die negatiewe effekte van inligting-oorlading te verminder, sodat besluitnemers in organisasies meer effektiewe besluitnemingsprosesse kan implimenteer.

abstract: Concerns about Peak Oil, political instability in the Middle East, health hazards, and greenhouse gas emissions of fossil fuels have stimulated interests in alternative fuels such as biofuels, natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen. Alternative fuels are expected to play an important role in a transition to a sustainable transportation system. One of the major barriers to the success of alternative-fuel vehicles (AFV) is the lack of infrastructure for producing, distributing, and delivering alternative fuels. Efficient methods that locate alternative-fuel refueling stations are essential in accelerating the advent of a new energy economy. The objectives of this research are to develop a location model and a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) that aims to support the decision of developing initial alternative-fuel stations. The main focus of this research is the development of a location model for siting alt-fuel refueling stations considering not only the limited driving range of AFVs but also the necessary deviations that drivers are likely to make from their shortest paths in order to refuel their AFVs when the refueling station network is sparse. To add reality and applicability of the model, the research is extended to include the development of efficient heuristic algorithms, the development of a method to incorporate AFV demand estimates into OD flow volumes, and the development of a prototype SDSS. The model and methods are tested on real-world road network data from state of Florida. The Deviation-Flow Refueling Location Model (DFRLM) locates facilities to maximize the total flows refueled on deviation paths. The flow volume is assumed to be decreasing as the deviation increases. Test results indicate that the specification of the maximum allowable deviation and specific deviation penalty functional form do have a measurable effect on the optimal locations of facilities and objective function values as well. The heuristics (greedy-adding and greedy-adding with substitution) developed here have been identified efficient in solving the DFRLM while AFV demand has a minor effect on the optimal facility locations. The prototype SDSS identifies strategic station locations by providing flexibility in combining various AFV demand scenarios. This research contributes to the literature by enhancing flow-based location models for locating alternative-fuel stations in four dimensions: (1) drivers' deviations from their shortest paths, (2) efficient solution approaches for the deviation problem, (3) incorporation of geographically uneven alt-fuel vehicle demand estimates into path-based origin-destination flow data, and (4) integration into an SDSS to help decision makers by providing solutions and insights into developing alt-fuel stations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Geography 2010

La gestion de chaîne d’approvisionnement est un élément essentiel à la performance des entreprises et fait l’objet d’une attention particulière depuis plusieurs décennies. Dans le domaine des télécommunications, cette gestion inclût généralement des activités de réparation et prend alors place sur une chaîne d’approvisionnement en boucle fermée. Dans ce contexte, la gestion de la chaîne d’approvisionnement vise à la planification optimale des mouvements de pièces saines et défaillantes basée sur une prévision des défaillances futures et fait face à différents objectifs conflictuels (rupture de stock, stockage, réparation,transfert). Le travail présenté dans cette thèse s’intéresse à ce problème d’optimisation et s’appuie sur un cas réel. Spécifiquement nous proposons un système d’aide à la planification tactique. Ce système est centré sur une modélisation générique du problème d’optimisation applicable à une grande variété de chaînes d’approvisionnement. Nous présentons particulièrement une approche exacte et une méta-heuristique pour résoudre ce problème et évaluons ces approches sur une variété d’instances de différentes tailles avec plusieurs niveaux et distributions du stock initial dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement. Nous étudions également la possibilité de mener des politiques de gestion particulières (e.g., juste-à-temps, réparations minimales) en pondérant les différents objectifs étudiés. Nous nous intéressons également à l’application de plans successifs produits par le système et, particulièrement, nous étudions la capacité du système à faire face aux incertitudes pouvant apparaître dans les prévisions. / Supply chains are ubiquitous across industries and a considerable effort has been invested in supply chain management techniques over the last decades. In Telecommunications service industries, it often involves repair operations and consequently takes place in a closed-loop supply chain. In this context, supply chain management is concerned with optimally planning movements of faulty parts and spare parts based on a demand forecast and in the face of conflicting objectifs (stock out, storage, repair, transfer). This thesis describes this optimisation problem and based on a case study. Specifically, we consider a tactical planning decision support system. This system depends on a generic modeling of the problem that can be applied on a wide range of supply chains. We present an exact method and a metaheuristic to solve this problem and evaluate our approaches against a variety of instances of different sizes. We also study the ability to emulate specific management policies (e.g., just-in-time replenishment, minimal repair) by weighting the objectives. Finally, we investigate how to apply successive plans generated by the system and study the capability to face forecast uncertainties.