Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 107-109). / Urban Mobility is in the midst of a revolution, driven by the convergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, on-demand ride services, as well as connected and self-driving vehicles. Technological advancements often lead to new hazards and changing nature in how accidents can happen. Coupled with increased levels of automation and connectivity in the new generation of autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity is emerging as one of the key threats affecting the safety of these vehicles. Traditional methods treat safety and security analysis in isolation, and are limited in the ability to account for interactions among organizational, socio-technical, human, and technical components. In response to these challenges, the System Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) was developed to meet the growing need for system engineers to analyze such complex socio-technical systems. We applied STPA-Sec, an extension to STPA to include security analysis, to co-analyze safety and security hazards, as well as identify mitigation requirements. The results were compared with another promising method known as Combined Harm Analysis of Safety and Security for Information Systems (CHASSIS). Both methods were applied to the Mobility-as-a-Service use case, focusing on over-the-air software updates feature. Overall, STPA-Sec identified additional hazards and more effective requirements compared to CHASSIS. In particular, STPA-Sec demonstrated the ability to identify hazards due to unsafe/ unsecure interactions among sociotechnical components. This research also suggested using CHASSIS methods for information lifecycle analysis to complement and generate additional considerations for STPA-Sec. Finally, results from both methods were back-tested against a past cyber hack on a vehicular system, and we found that recommendations from STPA-Sec were likely to mitigate the risks of the incident. / by Chee Wei Lee. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 102-104). / The U.S. Army conducts assessments throughout all levels of warfare in order to gain a better understanding of progress towards a goal. The Army specifically conducts operation assessments to measure the effectiveness of employing military forces. The assessment process is an iterative activity that is present throughout the mission planning process. The current state of operation assessments is the result of doctrine and methodology developed over the past decades of warfare. However, the need for further development of the assessment process has been identified by several stakeholder groups within the ecosystem. This research aims to provide a thorough analysis of the operation assessment enterprise and provide recommendations for opportunities of architectural improvement. The research methodology includes a literature review, stakeholder assessments and interviews, and systems analysis methods applied within an Architecting for Innovative Enterprise Strategy (ARIES) framework to assess current state conditions and identify opportunities of transformation for a future state system. The proposed future state elements are then analyzed to determine an increase of value delivery across multiple levels of the assessment process. The research identifies opportunities in system design that can be further developed to better deliver value to stakeholders. The implementation of assessment-specific training is assessed to have the most impactful effect upon multiple levers of the system. Additional capability awareness training and advocacy of the process to key stakeholders can also work to propagate more effective assessment products and services. Finally, the analysis of assessment capabilities as an accumulation of information supports recommendations to implement measures that better capture and disseminate experience within the system. / by Delbert S. Joo. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 71-72). / There is no doubt that performance and output of a product development teams can be attributed to creativity, knowledge and leadership. To increase the chances for a successful project outcome, open communications, trust, and judgment should be shared between PMs and their stakeholders (Skulmoski & Hartman, 2010). However, there are several claims about the positive effect of emotional intelligence (EI) on work team performance, both in commercial and scientific literature. Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a role in effecting that trust. Goleman, Boyatzis, and McKee (2002, p. 59) suggest that by cultivating trust El can help one maximize "cooperation, collaboration, and effectiveness." This thesis focuses on Integrated Design and Management program, where engineers, designers and business professionals come together to form teams and develop innovative products. These teams start with same project brief and with a similar goal in mind. In this study, I am assessing emotional intelligence using the mood meter from the RULER course by Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Other parameters are collected through observation, surveys and interviews at different stages of the project with individuals enrolled in the IDM program at MIT. This thesis will be mapping individuals' emotional intelligence with their disciplines, roles in the project and at different phases of the project. Teams can lead to positive inferences relating to multidisciplinary teams and competitive work cultures. I believe that studying the correlation between the different parameters can lead to useful inferences relating to team performance and work satisfaction of individuals. / by Suneeta Karri. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 64-66). / The Healthcare industry, just like any industry, is constantly racing to stay abreast with pace of technological innovations, especially at such a time where the industry is experiencing a strain on the global healthcare infrastructure. Specifically, the evolution of record management systems in the healthcare system has taken a slow and gradual transformation with each stage of transformation carrying over certain aspects and functions of previous stages. A survey of record management practices reveals that record management begun with paper-based records that have since partially been replaced with centralized Electronic Health Records (EHR). With the advent of Electronic Health Records enabled by distributed ledgers, we continue to see the inclusion of traditional paper-based functions beyond centralized EHR functions. Electronic data sharing in the healthcare ecosystem is constrained by interoperability challenges with different providers choosing to implement systems that respond to increasing their productivity. Prioritizing a patient-focused strategy during implementation of EHRs forces providers to implement systems that are more interoperable. A system engineering approach was adopted to guide the development and valuation of candidate architectures from Stakeholder analysis to concept generation and enumeration. Nine (9) key design decisions were selected with their combinations yielding 512 feasible hybrid architectures. In this paper, we proposed a hybrid EHR solution combining distributed ledger technologies and Internet of Medical Things, which contributes towards providing value-based healthcare. Leveraging properties of distributed ledgers and IoMT, the hybrid solution interconnects various data sources for health records to provide real-time record creation and monitoring whilst enabling data sharing and management in a secure manner. / by Paula Ingabire. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 102-113). / This thesis examines the status of sustainable development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It seeks to analyze the various factors supporting or hindering the progress of the Kingdom towards sustainable development. It will apply the framework developed by Ashford & Hall (2011) to assess the performance and interaction between economy, employment and environment while considering the forces of technology and globalization. The first part of the thesis will look at the current status of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Then, the three dimensions of sustainable development will be analyzed in great details followed by a short analysis of technology and trade. The analysis will then shift to the ambitious Saudi vision 2030 that aims to transform the Kingdom from an oil-dependent economy into a leading exporter of sustainable energy that has a diverse economy. The last part of the thesis will explore the focus areas which are limiting the Kingdom from progressing towards a greater degree of sustainable development. The major limitations include rapidly degrading environment, increasing unemployment rate, rising income inequality, endemic corruption, and minimal awareness about sustainable development. The thesis then concludes by summarizing the major points. / by Nabil Sayfayn. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2018. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 91-94). / A project planning phase is critical to the success of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project. The design of a work breakdown structure (WBS) is an essential and effective task in the planning phase. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new way of designing a WBS through the Work Breakdown Design Pattern Generator (WBDPG). Compared to conventional ways of creating a WBS, the WBDPG helps to design a WBS based on the ability to compare the alternatives and their potential benefits. The core hypothesis of this research is that a well-designed and thus better performing - WBS should increase alignment between situational project requirements and the project's product breakdown structure (PBS) or organizational breakdown structure (OBS). In order to consider this alignment and tradeoffs, a method is proposed which uses morphological and domain mapping matrices to conduct a tradespace and scenario analyses. With this "generator" method, combinations of different breakdown rules across several layers of hierarchy lead to predicted varying levels of performance of the project. For example, a WBS made of functional breakdown rules shows high alignment with the PBS, thus such projects result in better performance related to the product structure. In contrast, a WBS driven by resource breakdown rules aligns highly with the OBS, resulting in high performance related to the organizational structure. In a case where locational difference has a big impact on the project, a WBS made of geographical breakdown rules is likely to lead to better performance. The research concludes that the Work Breakdown Design Pattern Generator can forecast different performance given WBSs designed through different combinations of breakdown rules, and resulting variation in alignment across breakdown structures. Given that PPP projects are often complex, with large-scale and many stakeholders, the method demonstrates a way that structural alternatives can be generated so that the various partners in dialogue can shape their work approach efficiency in the early phase. The research has several limitations and opportunities for extension. In this paper, the organization structure and the product structure are assumed as given. Also, any refinement or change loops to the WBS during the project were not considered. / by Young-Min, Kwon. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, System Design and Management Program, 2017. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-166). / The delivery of government services is currently a problem that many countries around the world are trying to solve by centralizing operations and by incorporating technology and digitized processes; however, very few have been truly successful. The main challenges faced concern the high complexity in terms of components (agencies and procedures) the organization has to manage, the need for strong coordination with the arm of the government in charge of the information and communications technologies (ICTs), and the integration of administrative processes with legal frameworks and political influences. In Chile, efforts in this matter have been made for almost two decades, but still enormous improvements are needed in order to catch up with developed countries. The ChileAtiende project is the initiative of the government of Chile whose goal is to design and implement the system of services delivery at the country level. The present work is an application of the Architecting Innovative Enterprise Strategies (ARIES) Framework, developed by Nightingale and Rhodes, to ChileAtiende, in order to support the architecting process at an organizational level. In addition to ARIES, several other techniques are used along the way, such as a comprehensive stakeholder analysis, a network analysis of the agencies and procedures incorporated into the system, and the formulation of an optimization model to prioritize and rationalize the product portfolio in the early phases of the initiative. The results obtained show that ChileAtiende should be built having a long-term architectural target, which can be reached by dividing the project into three main phases: first, the reorganization of the product portfolio and a process- and technology-driven boost; second, an expansion of the offerings to capture the majority of the services provided by the government; and third, the pooling of the resources to capitalize on the greater efficiency derived from smaller operations. This research shows how a systemic view can effectively address public sector challenges, and how a model-based approach can provide clarity regarding the future of a complex organization. / by Maximiliano A. Calderón Montecinos. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, System Design and Management Program, 2017. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 27-28). / Risk estimation is a key activity for product development and technology integration programs. There are a number of decision support tools that help project managers identify and mitigate risks in a project, however few explicitly consider the effects of architecture on risk. We propose a novel risk estimation framework that includes considerations of the system architecture. By starting with traditional project management literature, we define risk as a combination of likelihood and impact. We use Technology Readiness Levels as our measure for likelihood, and given that change propagates through interfaces, we used metrics that relate to connectivity to estimate impact. To analyze the connectivity, we model systems using networks of nodes and edges and calculate centrality metrics. This framework is applied to an industry example and we visualize the data in different formats to aid in analysis. The insights gained from this analysis are discussed, and we conclude that the risk estimation framework provides estimates that are in line with the experience of engineers at the company. / by Tushar Garg. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, System Design and Management Program, 2017. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (pages 69-71). / A payment is a transfer of value from one party to another and cash is the simplest form of payment. However, the cost of cash transactions increases as the volume of transactions or distance between the parties involved increases. Various electronic payment systems have evolved over time to enable different types of transactions in the economy. Payment systems are now the backbone of the economy and trillions of dollars are exchanged on the payment system rails every year. Central banks, payment processors, payment gateways, credit card issuers and banks are just a few of the counterparties which enable payments across a multitude of counterparties for their specific needs. An extremely complex technological architecture enables these transactions. Central banks are now considering the issuance of digital currencies to increase efficiency in payments. Blockchain could potentially simplify payments systems and reduce market inefficiencies. It can provide a way for multiple counterparties to connect on the same platform and reduce the time for clearing and settlement. In this thesis, I study the technology and stakeholder needs to propose novel architectures that could be adopted for payments processing. / by Akshay Bagai. / S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, System Design and Management Program, 2017. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (page 64). / This thesis introduces a low-volume, high variation manufacturing company that is experiencing issues managing its supply chain. Issues include lack of process ownership, poor requirements flow down to vendors, and an ineffective supplier selection process. This example uses a systematic approach for addressing re-occurring problems related to supply chain management. The premise underlying the approach exemplifies that modem process improvement techniques such a Lean Manufacturing boast large efficiency gains in operations, but fail to address pre-operation process issues such as supplier selection based on capability alignment. By breaking down the current condition, issues within the current process and their associated root causes were identified. These included: inadequate internal processes, lack of access to information on supplier capabilities, and responsibility ambiguity. Corrective actions and countermeasures to these root causes such as: defined roles for the supplier selection process; a Supplier Capability Matrix; and internal requirements for supplier selection serve as a basis for a redesigned process. This results in a target condition that differs from the current in organizational structure, internal process requirements for supplier selection, and fewer non-conformance identified at incoming inspection. This thesis also provides a proposal for transitioning towards the target condition via an incremental implementation. This process utilizes the scientific method as a methodology for incorporating new processes, and to validate their effectiveness on the overall system in a step by step fashion. Verification of improvement can serve as a business case for additional change and implementation. This case study of a small electronics manufacturing company demonstrates the method in practical application. Results suggest that application is best suited for organizations that are looking to optimize their supply chain by reducing the risk of receiving non-conforming, or unusable material from their suppliers. The approach for identifying process issues, determining root causes, and implementing countermeasures provides a robust example for process improvement efforts. / by David Parry. / S.M. in Engineering and Management