The use of email as a communication and information sharing medium in large, complex, globally distributed engineering projects is widespread; yet there exists little understanding of the content of the emails exchanged and the implications of this content on the design project, design records and contracts. The importance of these issues is underlined by the fact that email records can now be required as evidence in legal disputes. It follows that the overall aim of this research is to assess the role and use of email in engineering design projects. A state-of-the-art review of literature pertaining to email is reported, along with a review of information and communication processes in engineering design projects. The primary contribution of this thesis is the creation of a content based approach for analysing the role and use of email in engineering design projects. This centres on the development and application of a coding scheme to email text, identifying what subject matter an email relates to, why it was sent, and how its content is expressed. Results are then analysed with respect to the frequencies of each code and other variables, including how coding varies between different senders and throughout the project duration. The second key contribution of this thesis is the analysis of emails and content in an engineering setting by applying the aforementioned approach to two case studies. The major case study concerned a large, complex, globally distributed, multimillion pound systems engineering project, from which 16 000 emails were obtained. It was found that emails are mainly used to transfer information but also to support management functions. Emails facilitate design work but little of this takes place explicitly in the email content. Characteristics of a project affect the subject matter or emails but have little effect on why they are sent. User roles and personal preferences also influence email use. If was found that the purposes for sending emails varied over the duration of a project; it was further determined that these changes could be used to identify project progress and design activity. Implications of the findings are identified in relation to: information management, knowledge management, project management, collaboration and email practice. Significantly, emails do contain potentially important design information and because these often support decisions made elsewhere, emails should be integrated with wider records. More consideration and training should be given to the use of project standards for email use and guidelines for composition. Changes in email use over the project duration could be a potential tool for project managers to identify design progress and possible issues in a project.

Many important applications in the social, ecological, epidemiological, and biological sciences can be modeled as complex systems in which a node or variable interacts with another via the edges in the network. Community detection has been known to be important in obtaining insights into the network structure characteristics of these complex systems. The existing community detection methods often assume that the pairwise interaction data between nodes are already available, and they simply apply the detection algorithms to the network. However, the predefined network might contain inaccurate structures as a result of indirect effects that stem from the nodes' high-order interactions, which poses challenges for the algorithms upon which they are built. Meanwhile, existing methods to infer the direct interaction relationships suffer from the difficulty in identifying the cut point value that differentiates the direct interactions from the indirect interactions. In this thesis, we consider the overlapping community detection problem with determination and integration of the structural information of direct dependency interactions. We propose a new overlapping community detection model, named direct-dependency-based nonnegative matrix factorization (DNMF), that exploits the Bayesian framework for pairwise ordering to incorporate the structural information of the underlying network. To evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method, we compare it with state-of-the-art methods on benchmark datasets collected from different domains. Our empirical results show that after the incorporation of a direct dependency network, significant improvement is seen in the community detection performance in networks with homophilic effects.

Provision of information has been used as a strategy to relive travel-related anxiety. This study is motivated by the successful attempts for reducing the anxiety. Although, passengers' anxiety about using public transport (PT) has already been discussed, the London Underground passengers' anxiety has rarely been a target of investigation in the academic literature. Anxiety associated with the Underground use is reported to be greater than other PT modes. Although the existing studies discussing PT passengers' anxiety have attempted to provide solutions for anxiety reduction, few endeavours have been made to offer them based on the investigated causality between determinants of anxiety and its arousal. Thus, this study fills the gap by identifying antecedents, and verifying their effects on anxiety about the Underground use. This, in turn, furnishes theoretical grounds for designing content of information with an aim to relieve the anxiety in the circumstance that little data exists, which can be utilised for developing information for the purpose. To achieve the goal, two sets of phases have been engaged. First, a questionnaire (N=81) was conducted to identify anxiety triggers. The results revealed that they were other people's anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, noise, and late-night travel. An expert group interview was carried out to investigate what efforts are made to support passengers in the anxiety inducing situations. Second, examination was performed to understand about the passengers' anxiety based on theoretical knowledge about anxiety, and to determine its antecedents. A research model was formulated including six factors, perceived invulnerability, perceived physical ability, trust in other passengers (informal social control), confidence in the authorities, safety knowledge, and perceived uncontrollability. The effects were assessed through structural equation modelling, using questionnaire data (N=269). The results uncovered that perceived invulnerability, perceived physical ability, and confidence in the authorities have negative indirect effects on anxiety through perceived uncontrollability, and safety knowledge has a negative direct effect on anxiety. The confirmed anxiety buffering effects of the factors will be suggested to be used for developing content of information to help relieve the arousal. The study contributes to knowledge by identifying the determinants of the passengers' anxiety, and testing their effects on anxiety, and to produce theoretical support to create service information environment which helps relieve the anxiety.

Thesis (D. Phil.)--Universiteit van Pretoria, 2000. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

For manufacturing companies active on the global market, high-performance production systems that contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the company are essential. Among a wide range of industries it is increasingly acknowledged that superior production system capabilities are crucial for competitive success. However, the process of designing the production system has received little attention, ignoring its potential for gaining a competitive edge. Designing production systems in an effective and efficient manner is advantageous as it supports the possibility to achieve the best possible production system in a shorter time. One way to facilitate the design of the production system is an effective management of design information. Without managing design information effectively in the production system design process the consequences may be devastating including delays, difficulties in production ramp-up, costly rework, and productivity losses. The objective of the research presented in this thesis is to develop knowledge that will contribute to an effective management of design information when designing production systems. The empirical data collection rests on a multiple-case study method and a survey in which the primary data derive from two industrialization projects at a supplier in the automotive industry. Each industrialization project involved the design of a new production system. The findings revealed ten categories of design information to be used throughout the process of designing production systems. The identified design information categories are grouped in the following way: (1) design information that minimizes the risk of sub-optimization; (2) design information that ensures an alignment with the requirements placed by the external context; (3) design information that ensures an alignment with the requirements placed by the internal context, and (4) design information that facilitates advancements in the design work. In order to improve the management of the broad variety of design information required, a framework is developed. The framework confirms the necessity to consider the management of design information as a multidimensional construct consisting of the acquiring, sharing, and using of information. Further, the framework is based on six characteristics that influence the management of design information. These characteristics are information type, source of information, communication medium, formalization, information quality, and pragmatic information. Supported by the findings, guidelines for the management of design information are outlined to facilitate an effective and efficient design of the production system and thus contribute to better production systems. The guidelines are of value to those responsible for or involved in the design of production systems.

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Matěj Malecha, Akcident ve Stacku Abstract (in English): The master thesis explains the notion of "accident" in the book The Stack: On Software and Sovereignty by Benjamin H. Bratton. First, it identifies suitable mental models within the fields of complex systems theory, philosophy of technology and theory of information. The models inform subsequent analysis and interpretation of the Stack showing that Stack's accidentality (1) is an inevitable consequence of the functional principle of digital technologies, and that (2) the accidentality differs qualitatively depending on whether it manifests at the level of a layer or within the whole. The last part examines how Bratton's remark that the book is a design brief, and the fact that the Stack is not used solely by people affects the role of designer.

This thesis explores the conditions under which traditional Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can be involved in the design of sustainable Product Service Systems (PSS). The integration between design and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the context of sustainable business development was used to define the space for this exploration. The research was carried out through a case study with a group of Colombian Manufacturing SMEs. As a result of the case study a business framework was developed to guide the design of sustainable PSS. In order to establish the basis of the research a review of the literature on sustainable business development, ICT, design, product service systems and SMEs was carried out. This review brought to light the main features of a sustainable PSS and the challenges associated with its design. These challenges were further investigated in the context of SMEs with a scoping study involving a group of 38 Colombian SMEs. Additionally, 36 PSS already on the market were analysed to identify the possible relationships between design and ICT, and to determine how they could contribute to develop sustainable PSS. The scoping study and the analysis of the 36 PSS gave structure to the case study with a second group of Colombian Manufacturing SMEs. This case study aimed to build understanding of the connection between the characteristics of these SMEs and the main features of a sustainable PSS. As a result of this case study a set of concepts, drivers and barriers to take into account to design sustainable PSS formed the basis of a business framework developed and validated in the final part of the research. The business framework proposed can help to understand the resources and changes needed to develop a sustainable PSS, reducing the uncertainty that it may cause. The integration between product and service design and ICT is used in the framework to outline the areas of opportunity in the design of sustainable PSS. This business framework developed as a result of the research promises to be a helpful tool for organisations working to support the transformation of SMEs toward competitive and sustainable business models using as a basis the integration between product and service design and ICT. Despite the Colombian context the results and outcomes of this research are described in general terms to be applicable in other contexts around the world working with SMEs in the design of sustainable PSS.

This thesis addresses the question of the design, production and use of information graphics in health technology assessment (HTA). Drawing on previous research in both information design and health policy, it describes a comprehensive design process for creating new visual presentations that can inform health policy-makers. The thesis begins by introducing, and functionally defining the terms ‘information graphics’ and ‘health technology assessment’ in Chapter 1. It then offers a methodological discussion of how research can be performed at the intersection between these two diverse fields. This discussion forms Chapter 2 of the thesis. The context of use is surveyed in two studies, which are presented in Chapter 3. These assess the current use of information graphics in HTA, and the information needs of health policy decision-making bodies. This enables a needs-based approach to the design of 10 information graphics, that could be used in hta. These are shown in Chapter 4. Finally, two of these information graphics are empirically tested with two further research studies, forming Chapter 5 and Chapter 6. The thesis is aimed at giving practical advice to those wanting to produce graphical presentations of information in HTA, and to provide the foundation for further original research in information design and HTA. Chapter 7 draws together the research from the rest of the thesis, to make recommendations in light of the combined findings.

El objetivo general de esta investigación es analizar la importancia de la iconoplástica y del diseño de información para generar una mejor percepción al diseño del etiquetado frontal en los productos industrializados. Por este motivo, la hipótesis planteada para esta investigación es la propuesta de intervención del estudio iconoplástico y el diseño de información en el sistema de etiquetado frontal generan una mejor percepción en los jóvenes adultos. Esta investigación es cualitativa porque se realizaron encuestas a 50 consumidores para conocer sus molestias visuales sobre el etiquetado frontal. Además, se entrevistó a abogados e ingenieros agroindustriales para saber si el etiquetado frontal de advertencias puede ser modificado. Por último, se entrevistó a diseñadores para corroborar los errores técnicos que presenta este sistema de etiquetado en cuanto a diseño gráfico. Para esta investigación la solución consiste en la modificación del etiquetado frontal de productos industrializados. Para ello, se utiliza una retícula para ordenar la información de manera profesional, se cambió la forma de octágono porque da más espacio a la composición. Como resultados se obtuvo que los consumidores consideran una buena propuesta ya que los símbolos se organizan de mejor manera dentro de un espacio reducido. Las conclusiones de este proyecto es que el estudio iconoplástico y el diseño de la información ayudan a resolver la gráfica del etiquetado frontal puesto que la información se organiza mejor. Además, este proyecto fue testeado por un público piloto y se concluyó que generaría impacto en cualquier grupo porque la está mejor organizada. / The main objective for this research is to analyze the importance of iconoplastic and design information to create a better perception on front-of-pack labelling of industrialized products. For this reason, the hypothesis is that the intervention approach of the iconoplastic study and design information on front-of-pack labelling creates a better perception in young adults. This research is qualitative because surveys were made to 50 consumers that confirms their visual disturbance about the front-of-pack labelling design. Also, lawyers and Agro-industrial engineers were interviewed to prove that this labelling could be modified in the future. Finally, designers were also interviewed to corroborate some graphic design technical issues. The research’s solution consists on modifying the front-of-pack labelling of industrialized products. For this, a grid was used for organizing all the information to create uniformity between the symbols, the form was changed from octagon to hexagon, the typography was changed to Franklin Gothic Condensed because it leaves more blank space for the composition. As a result, it was obtained that consumers consider this is a good solution because the symbols are organized in a better way. The conclusions that were found at the end of this project are that the iconoplastic study and the design information help to resolve graphic problems that preset the front-of-pack labelling because the information is organized on grids. Also, this project was only tested on a small group of people, but they consider this solution could generate impact in any public because the information is better organized. / Trabajo de investigación