Problems: How would a decision model that takes into account more aspects and dimensions than just the financial aspect look for smaller service compa-nies? What aspects are important to consider in such a decision model? Purpose: The purpose of this master thesis is to develop a decision model based on previous research, to improve decision making in smaller service com-panies – by considering perspectives that traditional investment calcula-tions ignore. Method: The study was qualitative and was based on both primary and secondary data. As data collection method for the development of the model we used literature search on previous research. The study’s primary data consisted of responses from five smaller service companies. The model was evaluated empirically by five smaller service companies to explore the model’s practical relevance and applicability. Conclusions: The study confirmed the need for a comprehensive investment decision model, since it has been clearly shown that aspects other than the tradi-tional calculation methods could have big impact on an investment deci-sion. The key factors for small service companies has shown to be cus-tomer relationships, previous experience, competitors and corporate strategy. The developed model was based on these factors and was con-sidered as useful and interesting by the responded companies. / Problemformuleringar: Hur kan en beslutsmodell som tar hänsyn till fler aspekter och dimens-ioner än enbart det finansiella se ut för mindre tjänsteföretag? Vilka aspekter är viktiga beakta i en sådan beslutsmodell? Syfte: Syftet med denna magisteruppsats är att med utgångspunkt i tidigare forskning utveckla en modell för att förbättra beslutsfattandet i mindre tjänsteföretag, genom att beakta perspektiv som traditionella investe-ringskalkyler förbiser. Metod: Studien var av kvalitativ karaktär och baserades på såväl primärdata som sekundärdata. Som datainsamlingsmetod för framtagandet av investe-ringsmodellen användes till störst del litteratursökning om tidigare forskning. Studiens primärdata utgjordes av responsen från fem mindre tjänsteföretag, som utvärderade den framtagna modellens praktiska rele-vans och applicerbarhet. Slutsats: Studien bekräftade att ett behov av en heltäckande modell för investe-ringsbeslut finns eftersom det tydligt har visat sig att andra aspekter än de traditionella kalkylmetoderna kan ha minst lika stor inverkan på ett investeringsbeslut. De viktigaste faktorerna för mindre tjänsteföretag har utöver det finansiella visat sig vara företagets anställda, kundrelationer, tidigare erfarenheter, konkurrenter och företagets strategi. Den framtagna modellen som bygger på dessa faktorer ansågs av de responderade före-tagen som användbar och intressant.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:47:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1045835 bytes, checksum: e46f94704730d71206de4c90e9160b1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) environments are specialized in assisting the patient severely ill. The development of these units drastically reduced the hospital mortality rate, however, the complex procedures on their patients favors the emergence of serious infections such as sepsis, which predisposes to death. The present study aimed to provide a probabilistic decision model for the early diagnosis of sepsis. To this end, we analyzed the data contained in the records of 100 patients hospitalized in a general ICU of a public hospital in the state of Paraíba, in the period from March to September 2011. The information was recorded in a proper instrument made by the researcher being studied variables: age, gender, initial diagnosis of the participants, the minimum and maximum axillary temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate, partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide, serum lactate , potassium, sodium, total leukocyte count, segmented rods and, among others. We used binary logistic regression to determine the prediction model. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 19.0. The findings showed that 63% of study participants were male, with a mean age of 62.5 years. Explanatory variables were considered: axillary temperature minimum, maximum axillary temperature, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, lactate, leukocyte count and the number of rods. ROC curve was possible to identify the optimal cutoff point to classify individuals according to the presence or absence of disease, which contributed to the making of the rule of decision for the early diagnosis of sepsis. Was performed to compare the degree of agreement between blood culture result considered the gold standard for diagnosis of infection and the model presented in this study using the Kappa coefficient, obtained a percentage of agreement of 0.93 is considered excellent. Despite the unprecedented nature of the research, proved to be early detection of sepsis with the adoption of statistical models as presented, however, further studies with different populations of ICUs should be performed in order to provide a better sample, making the results found reproducible in different clinical situations daily. / As Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) são ambientes especializados na assistência ao paciente gravemente enfermo. O desenvolvimento dessas unidades reduziu drasticamente a taxa de mortalidade hospitalar, contudo, a realização de procedimentos complexos em seus pacientes favorece o surgimento de infecções graves como a sepse, o que predispõe ao óbito. O presente estudo teve como objetivo fornecer um modelo de decisão probabilístico para o diagnóstico precoce da sepse. Para tanto, foram analisados os dados contidos nos prontuários de 100 indivíduos internados em uma UTI geral de um hospital público do interior do estado da Paraíba, no período de março a setembro de 2011. As informações foram registradas em instrumento próprio confeccionado pelo pesquisador, sendo estudadas as variáveis: idade, gênero, diagnóstico inicial dos participantes, a temperatura axilar mínima e máxima, frequência cardíaca e respiratória, pressão parcial de oxigênio e de gás carbônico, nível sérico de lactato, potássio, sódio, contagem total de leucócitos, bastonetes e segmentados, dentre outras. Utilizou-se a regressão logística binária para determinação do modelo de predição. A análise dos dados foi realizada utilizando-se o software SPSS versão 19.0. Os achados demonstraram que 63% dos participantes do estudo eram do gênero masculino, apresentando uma idade média de 62,5 anos. Foram consideradas como variáveis explicatórias: a temperatura axilar mínima, a temperatura axilar máxima, a pressão parcial de gás carbônico, o lactato, a contagem de leucócitos e o número de bastonetes. Através da curva ROC foi possível identificar o ponto de corte ideal para classificação dos indivíduos quanto à presença ou ausência da doença, o que contribuiu para confecção da regra de tomada de decisão para o diagnóstico precoce da sepse. Realizou-se a comparação do grau de concordância entre o resultado da hemocultura considerado como padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico da infecção e o modelo apresentado no estudo utilizando-se o coeficiente Kappa, sendo obtido um percentual de concordância de 0,93 que é considerado como excelente. Apesar do caráter inédito da pesquisa, demonstrou-se ser possível a detecção precoce da sepse com a adoção de modelos estatísticos como o apresentado, entretanto, novos estudos com populações de diferentes UTIs devem ser realizados a fim de prover uma casuística melhor, tornando os resultados encontrados reproduzíveis em diferentes situações clínicas diárias.

One of the main sources of risks that influence potential project success is the project selection decision, especially for international contractor organisations looking for an opportunity to invest in public private partnership projects in foreign countries. Project selection decision, which involves the bid/no bid decision, is a critical investment decision needs to be made based on concrete project evaluation and risks identifications; where negative-risk is in place if there is an absence of a rational basis at the time of making such a decision. Thus, negative consequences of such a decision might occur. The bid/no bid decision necessitates an effective project evaluation and risk identification from various aspects with consideration of several internal and external factors in order to achieve project success. Bidding for PPP projects overseas without efficiently applying risk management tools and techniques to evaluate both the project and the organisation’s current situation and capability might result either in large losses or consumption of time and resources that could have been avoided. The prime aim of this research is to develop a strategic investment decision model from the perspective of risk management, in order to facilitate the decisions of international contractors who intend to invest in public private partnership projects in the Saudi Arabian construction industry. This aim requires establishing a link between the risk management process and the organisation's strategy and its current situation, and identifying risks involved in the bid/no bid decision, PPP projects, and international investment in order to provide an effective computer-based model that is capable of organising the bid/no bid decision in a rational, logical, flexible, and user-friendly manner. The pragmatic triangulation philosophy approach is adopted as the best research methodology that allows two types of research strategy to be combined in order to accomplish the research aim and objectives. Thus, the methods used are qualitative interviews and a quantitative questionnaire-based survey. The findings of this research identified critical success factors of international contractors’ bidding decisions for PPP projects in the Saudi Arabian construction industry. In particular, seventy-seven factors affecting the bid/no bid decision were used as a foundation for development of a Strategic Risk Management Decision Model (SRMDM), available at www.srmdm.com.

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This diploma thesis deals with the use of fuzzy logic principles for evaluation and selection of an optimal supplier of transport services. Based on stated requirements, two models have been created. These models serve as a tool for decision support. The suggestion of solution itself has been created using MS Excel editor and MathWorks MATLAB programming platform. Subsequently, eveluation of particular offers has taken place using the models.

The topic of this Thesis is fuzzy logic usage as a tool for choosing a supplier. There was made decision model based on available information which is used as decision support for supplier selection. The solution with application of evaluation is made in programs MS Excel and MATLAB.

Den här studien handlar om hur svenska officerare fattar sina beslut i dynamiska situationer, det vill säga situationer som bland annat präglas av stress, oklarheter och tidspress. Även frågor kring vad som bygger förmågan till att fatta dylika beslut och hur till exempel gruppen och ledarskapet påverkar beslutsfattandet studeras. Det tycks finnas motsättningar gällande frågan om beslut fattas på ett rationellt och analytiskt sätt eller om det sker på ett intuitivt vis. Syftet med uppsatsen är att studera hur svenska officerare fattar beslut i dynamiska situationer och vad det kan innebära för deras utbildning och utveckling. Frågan studeras genom sammanlagt femton intervjuer med erfarna svenska officerare och officerskadetter och i studien har en tematisk analys med en induktiv ansats använts. Studiens resultat tyder på att det militära beslutsfattandet i dynamiska situationer kan förklaras med två teman: a) individuella och b) strukturella faktorer. Individuella faktorer handlar bland annat om intuitivt beslutsfattande, ledarskap och gruppdynamik medan strukturella faktorer avser erfarenhet och utbildning. Resultaten bekräftar teorier om att det intuitiva beslutsfattandet förutsätter att officeren är erfaren och har en hög nivå av expertis. En expertis och erfarenhet som genom år av träning har skapat en minnesbank som medger igenkänning eller mönsterförståelse i många militära dynamiska situationer. Med resultaten i åtanke diskuteras slutligen huruvida den inslagna vägen för att forma morgondagens officerare och högre officerare är den mest produktiva.

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Aims and Objectives of Research. 1. To develop a ¿one stop¿ generic decision making matrix (Outsourcing Decision Model) that provides the necessary clarity into defining whether an organisation should proceed with an outsourcing initiative or not. This would be based upon a distillation of existing models and reviewed literature. With the recognition that there may be subsequent advantages following the process, the model will include not only these but a means of evaluation in order to ascertain whether or not an outsourcing initiative may be or was successful or not. This latter aspect must logically be viewed as very important as an outsourcer must be aware of the benefits and also whether or not they were achieved. In addition, the model would include sufficient guidance with potential supporting metrics and their application. 2. To validate the Outsourcing Model through specific case studies using a triangulated approach in comparing the selected automotive OEM with some of its major competitors. Within the context of the case study, the research would also attempt to understand how the subject outsourcing organisation compares to its major competitors in equivalent comparable products and whether or not this reflects in the success of these companies. This case study not only provides a means of reinforcing the remaining case studies by using a triangulated method of application to the research developed outsourcing decision model but also provides a deeper understanding of the context of the supplier and competitors within the industry. 3. To test, via case studies the effect of specificity relating to the outsourced end product rather than the outsourced entity. This aspect provides the deepest application to the researched outsourcing decision model and therefore the most comprehensive validation. In addition, because the case studies are retrospective, they have the benefit of providing data to establish the level of success. This would be very important, particularly as it would enable a focus on particular criteria that failed to highlight a particular outcome and therefore provide a chance to make amendments. Low specificity is a well established criterion in defining an outsourced entity which is reflected within the body of the research. The further extension of this theory towards the outsourcing of and outsourced entity related to an established previously outsourced commodity is a new concept with no identifiable literature or evidence relating to its importance. The fact that it provides an element within the research that is potentially unique and carries no extra task burden it has been captured as an added element within the two important validation case studies: 4. To evaluate if outsourcing performance can be enhanced through the introduction of a second supplier into a single supplier sourcing situation. Subsequent to outsourcing, this aim and objective focuses upon the possibility of enhancing performance through the introduction of a second supplier. Particularly in cases whereby expertise may have been lost from an outsourcer, ultimate results relating to the outsourced entity may be compromised through either opportunism or diminished supplier performance. Whether these aspects are deliberate or unintended, an outsourcer should have some means of mitigating this risk. This mitigation may potentially be enabled through the use of a second supplier in order to provide a degree of competition. 5. To identify a link between Specificity, Commonality and Platform Sharing. The Author's professional role was very heavily based around the modern practices within the Automotive Industry. Outsourcing, platform sharing and commonality are well publicised strategies that have been adopted by various car manufacturers in order to gain efficiencies. Research was carried out in order to provide a better understanding of these strategies and to establish if there is any link between them. A confirmation of any linkages may then provide potential for establishing greater synergies between them. / Ford Motor Company Ltd.