Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2007. / Thesis Advisor(s): Gordon McCormick. "June 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 51-52). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed April 26, 2007). PDF text: 142 p. : ill. UMI publication number: AAT 3229556. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (M.S.)-- Carnegie-Mellon University, 1983. / Bibliography : p. 72-73.

“[The] sense of sameness is the very keel and backbone of our thinking” (James, 1890). To make sense of the ever-shifting information in our environment, we constantly assess whether the world around us changes or not, if objects are the “same” or if they are “different”. This basic decision-making process is found from the lowest level of cognition (e.g. when contrasts are encoded by the retina), to the highest (e.g. when comparing concepts), and anywhere in between. In an experimental context, this process is studied with the “same-different” task, where subjects are asked if two stimuli presented sequentially are strictly identical or not. This experiment has been documented since the 1960s and its results have been replicated with diverse stimuli types (letters, shapes, faces, words, etc.). However, every attempt to model the subjects’ accuracy and response times on correct and incorrect answers simultaneously was unsuccessful so far. Part of the challenge in explaining this task is that “same” answers are faster than expected compared to “different” answers, a phenomenon called the “fast-same effect”. This thesis aims to assess whether a formal model based on the inhibition of “different” answers is plausible, effectively changing the problem from “fast-same” to “slow-different”. In the first chapter, I review the previous theories and models of the same-different task to learn why they failed. By elimination process, I identify the only cognitive architecture that seems congruent with the data. I then propose a model prototype based on the inhibition of “different” answers that implements this architecture. In the second chapter, I test this prototype with an experimental paradigm designed specifically to assess its plausibility. I conclude that resources should be spent in developing a formal model based on the inhibition of “different” answers, as the prototype’s qualitative predictions are confirmed by both the typical same-different data and the newly acquired data.

This thesis seeks to better understand the nature of, and relationships between knowledge, data and information. The context selected for this work was clinical practice in the UK National Health Service (NHS) beginning with the generation and use of clinical knowledge. The thesis undertakes a critical examination of the relationship between that knowledge and the data it produces, and the large-scale statistical data sets generated from it via a number of human, technological, systemic and mathematical processes. The statistical data sets were regarded as important because they were highly influential, being used as the basis for significant and far-reaching decisions about healthcare in the NHS. These decisions included policymaking, financial allocations, and allocations of services and other resources. This situation provided fertile ground for this research because the clinical knowledge and data were believed to be subjective to some unknown degree. The statistical data sets, however, were endowed with objective and scientific value. The thesis explores and explains this apparent contradiction. In addressing this issue, the thesis encompasses philosophical, sociological and technological concerns and develops explanatory theories grounded in data collected. Data was collected by a process of extensive qualitative field-based investigation undertaken with clinicians, and data collectors, handlers and users in their operating environments. Key concepts underpinning these theories involve the social construction of reality as a product of individual and group frames of reference; social construction of reality as a result of social arrangements for professional groups; social construction of reality as a result of the pursuance of ontological security; and lastly, the phenomena of structural contradiction and conflict. Of major relevance in this was Giddens' work (1976, 1984) on Structuration Theory, in particular in terms of exploring the effects of sociologically-based frames of reference on creation and transfer of meaning in informational terms. This work was also influential in terms of the notion of structural contradiction and conflict and its informational effects. Application of this abstract, meta-level theory to this real-world situation also led to one of the main contributions to theory. This engagement with reality enabled refinement of its underpinning model. It also demonstrated its explanatory power. This strengthens the validity of the theory and renders it more accessible to other researchers. The thesis indicates clinicians' use of information and subsequent recording of data represents a highly personalised area of professional activity. This does not subsequently translate easily into the data sets and statistical classification schemes that are in common usage in healthcare management. These findings led to conclusions which confirmed initial perceptions of statistical clinical datasets as having a tenuous connection with the clinical knowledge and events upon which they purport to be based. Drawing on evidence which describes knowledge as being situationally-dependent, the conclusions also assert that the transformation of original meaning this implies is largely due to social influences. Finally they claim that the apparent rationality of decisions made on the basis of the transformed meaning, while the result of calculative thought designed to justify related decisions, is misguided in that it has no foundation in the evidence presented. The document ends with a call for a fundamental reassessment of the types of knowledge processed routinely through systems, and of the ways in which those types are handled.

Most in-hospital adverse events are attributable to surgical care and of these, clinical decision-making (CDM) errors account for approximately half. The assessment of CDM is integral to establishing competence among surgical trainees. One proposed assessment tool is the script concordance test (SCT), which is based on the dual process theory of CDM, but evidence demonstrating valid results is needed. This thesis collects content and response process validity evidence for the assessment of CDM using the SCT. To gather content evidence, a Delphi technique was conducted with a panel of local general surgeons (n=15) consisting of the top decision-makers voted by staff and resident surgeons. Items achieving consensus were mapped on a table of specifications to determine the breadth of topics covered as defined by the Royal College medical expert competencies in general surgery. The final SCT was administered to 29 residents and 14 staff surgeons and results were analyzed. To gather response process evidence, cognitive interviews were then conducted with ten residents and five staff surgeons based on results of the final SCT. Data from the cognitive interviews were analyzed using a priori deductive codes based on Tourangeau’s cognitive model of response process. The first round of the Delphi yielded agreement ranging from 40-100% and consensus for 21 cases. The 21 cases made up the final SCT and encompassed 13 of the 19 competencies in general surgery. The final SCT reflected a test of the intraoperative management of open, adult general surgery. Notable absent competencies were described by experts to be outside the scope of general surgery, too difficult for the resident level of training, or presenting an unrealistic intraoperative finding. Cognitive interviews demonstrated variability in CDM among test-takers. Consistent with the dual process theory, test-takers relied on scripts formed through past experiences, when available, to make decisions. However, test-takers’ response process was also influenced by issues with respect to their comprehension, recall, and response matching cognitive steps. Due to issues with response matching in particular, when answering an SCT question test-takers indicating different numerical ratings may have the same rationale. The Delphi technique, table of specifications, and cognitive interviews provide validity evidence supporting the SCT for assessing CDM of general surgery trainees. Substantial issues with respect to the numerical rating scale suggests further revisions to the test format are required before consideration of its use in summative assessment.

Cette dissertation est composée de trois contributions à l’intégration de modèles de choix LOGIT dans des problèmes de sélection en variables binaires, ainsi que d’un détail de l’état de l’art à l’intersection de ces deux domaines. Traditionnellement, les problèmes de décision combinatoire considèrent la demande finale comme exogène; d’un autre côté, l’étude des choix des consommateurs est un domaine qui s’est considérablement développé dans la seconde moitié du 20ème siècle, particulièrement avec ce que l’on nomme les Modèles de Choix Discrets. En conséquence, la recherche a vu se multiplier récemment l’intégration de ces modèles de choix discrets pour modéliser la demande finale dans les problèmes de décision. Le décisionnaire peut ainsi prendre en compte les préférences des consommateurs ou utilisateurs finaux ainsi que la façon dont la décision elle-même (par exemple, la conception d’un réseau) peut influencer leurs choix. Comme il est dit dans [13], il s’agit de modéliser l’interaction de l’offre et de la demande, où le domaine de la Théorie des Choix nous fournit des précisions sur la demande, tandis que le domaine de la Recherche Opérationnelle étudie l’optimisation de l’offre. Il existe quantité de modèles de choix, le plus commun et le plus simple étant la régression logistique multinomiale (MNL dans ce texte). Au chapitre 2, nous présentons brièvement les grands modèles de choix les plus utilisés ainsi que leurs hypothèses sous-jacentes. Faisons déjà la remarque qu’un problème d’optimisation intégrant le modèle de choix multinomial est de forme fractionnaire, donc a priori non-linéaire et non-convexe - deux défis dans le domaine de l’optimisation. Un autre défi que pose cette intégration est que les paramètres des modèles de choix ne sont généralement pas aisés à estimer. Dans la section qui suit, nous détaillons les contributions de chaque chapitre. Toutefois, les trois chapitres principaux ont tous comme contribution commune de modéliser un problème nouveau dans le domaine (ou à l’intersection) que nous venons de définir, et de le résoudre par une approche exacte ou une heuristique. / In this dissertation, we study the integration of logit choice models into 0-1 selection models, where a decision maker selects a subset of options (such as facility locations, elements of a network or product features) among a large choice of options. The decision maker offers this subset to her end customers, who make their own choice according to a logit model. The integration of binary variables inside fractional models leads to a computational challenge, which we tackle. The first chapter after the introduction is a literature review where we present the state of research regarding selection models including choice models. In the second chapter, we study a network selection model for healthcare payers in the context of reference pricing, including a robust optimization extension to allow for uncertainty of the choice model parameters. In the third chapter, we study the performance of the first-choice assignment model as a heuristic to solve the hard multinomial logit model. Finally, in the last chapter before the conclusion, we use a nested logit choice model instead of the classic multinomial logit for the location problem. In the nested model with two levels, options are grouped into nests and the choice is made in two steps: first the nest, then the option. As a whole, the dissertation includes contributions on the side of problem modeling, efficient exact solving or metaheuristics, theoretical insights and practitioner insights.

A study has been conducted into improving construction design through the application of the lean thinking paradigm. Its objective was to identify the issues relating to design efficiency and how a lean thinking approach might address these issues. The investigation consisted of examining work already undertaken in the field by other researchers"to identify the state of the art. The change order request system was examined to gain first insights into waste in construction design, and to gauge the size of the opportunity for the application of lean thinking. An Electronic Data Gathering Tool (EDGT) was then developed to allow further exploration of the design decision making process at the system / sub-system level. The EDGT was used on three live construction projects. From the data recorded a design planning tool, Design Decision Planner (DDP), was created to help improve control of the design process and lead to a more standardised approach to construction design. Standardising the approach to product development is an important component of lean thinking. The main recommendations for making construction design lean are: Use DDP to plan and improve control of the design decision making process, assign design responsibility and to make the process more transparent. 2. Measuring progress against planned design is a useful process metric. 3. Improve the designer's cost and programme visibility when choosing between design options. 4. Redefine the role of the quantity surveyor from cost controller to value for money assessor. The role needs to be better integrated into the design process to reach its full potential. 5. Need to develop more rigorous methods of assessing the buildability of design options. This problem could be eased in the short-term by incorporating construction professionals into the early design phases. 6. Designers need to use more process reason drivers when choosing between design options, not just functional criteria. 7. The change order request system could be redesigned to identify the root causes of contract issue design changes and, hence, improve the design decision making process.

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Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / The purpose of this study is to evaluate the organisational communication and infonnation flow at the SA Cultural History Museum (SACHM) and its decentralised sites with particular reference to its role in decision making and, where necessary, to recommend remedial measures. An extensive literature review was undertaken on organisational communication, infornation and decision making in organisations, with particular reference to the SACHM. The literature review facilitated the development of the research instruments, to assess best practices in terms of the identified key drivers. The research questions are: • The existence of communication practices and processes at SACHM, and • The effective dissemination of information necessary for effective decision making. The statistical results of the empirical study reveal conclusively that the organisational communication, information dissemination and decision making at the SACHM was indeed ineffective. The results indicate the following: • The lack of adherence to shared values and common purpose between managers and staff regarding equity, lack of participation in decision-making, lack of service delivery to local, regional and national communities, lack of mutual respect, lack of dedication, lack of a people centered approach, and finally a lack of interpersonal communication and negotiation; • The lack of application of basic communication fundamentals namely the bottom-up and top-down approaches; • The lack of access to timeous and accurate information to make effective decisions; and • The non-existence of communication processes and practices. Dysfunctional organisational communication and inadequate information flow to both employees and managers, has been identified as having an impact on effective decision making. Arising from the findings of the research, a communication audit is recommended to facilitate the establishment of an effective communication and information framework for the museum.