This research investigates the feasibility of web technology as a means of handling service requests for delivering high quality service in building operation and maintenance. This research proposes a web-based graphic service request (WGSR) system as a pragmatic solution to the limitations of current computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) processes. Service request process in CMMS was developed as text-based, so that it is hard for ordinary tenants to use. Therefore, when tenants have a problem in a facility, they prefer calling in service requests or going to the office instead of using the internet service request application. In practice, work orders and records are often misplaced - resulting in lower efficiency and customer satisfaction. This may be overcome by a system that states information digitally and provides a web-based Graphic Service Request (WGSR) interface. The interface allow customers to report environmental problems in the facility, trace their work order progress, view schedules for maintenance, and provide feedback for service online. The WGSR system is an end-user point-and-click graphical interface that allows residents to request service by selecting a problem fixture on a floor plan image. By using HTML image map tags and combination of location, part, and types of problem identification number, the resident's input produces a text-based problem report for Facility Management (FM) departments that allows them to service requests on the fly. To solve the complexity and inefficiency issues of CMMS, the user interface for the WGRS system consists of a perspective drawing or isometric drawing of each unit's plan. An empirical test of the system and post-task survey was conducted to determine the efficiency and usefulness of the system. The analysis of the results shows the system to be efficient and convenient in several fields, including comprehensibility, navigability, simplicity, clarity, compatibility, and graphic appeal. This result shows that residents prefer to use the WGSR system and could reduce the effort needed to make and receive service request phone calls and input information into a database. The labor and time for daily work could be saved to recognize problems correctly and set the right schedule so that this could be used for preventive work and project work.

This thesis intends to design a set of acoustics measurement system, it can measure the rough surface to have the scattering influence regarding the sound wave. And this set of acoustics measurement system will be able to provide the rough surface establishment function, acoustics measurement precise pinpointing for position and rough surface accurate shape data. Establishing the main environment take the Institute of Undersea Technology large experiment water tank as the system. The experiment water tank sets up XYZ table which can control the three translation directions migration. Because this experiment needs five degrees-of-freedom except for three translation directions migration and also has two axes rotary motion. In order to measure scattering field so we need to design the rotary mechanism for two axes that enables the microphone to achieve themovements in five degrees-of-freedom. In this experiment has to conformity themeasurement of laser system¡¦s rough surface position, the position of microphone shooting and receiving point, and establishes scraper position which rough surface used. In order to compare the scattering state of the shape of rough surface and the soundwave beats the rough surface after we integrate all the information, we can realize where directional sound wave beats and what¡¦s the shape of this rough surface. Except for conformity position, this equipment¡¦s localization is all by the programcontrolmotor. It can save time in adjusting position for experimenter in an effective way and itmay abridge the experiment time effectively.

Thesis (M. of Arch.)--College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. Directed by Clifford H. Stern. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-55).

Facilities management (FM) is a fast emerging industry and a field that deserves a far greater degree of academic inquiry. The common practice of FM service outsourcing and the lack of a theoretical unpinning create a gap in the field of FM. This study is initiated by the phenomena in FM service outsourcing: the frequent change in service providers appears to be common in FM service outsourcing. This urges a study on the outsourcing relationship in the field of FM. The issues that influence FM service outsourcing relationships vary according to different economic climates, organizational resources, FM service characteristics, etc. This study aims to investigate FM service outsourcing relationships from human interaction perspective as humans are regarded to be an important element in FM service outsourcing relationships. From a human interaction perspective, this study sheds lights on the relationship factors and their manifestation. Previous studies on outsourcing have developed a series of relationship factors that influence outsourcing relationships. However, the significance of these relationship factors varies according to different types of outsourcing relationships. In addition, the manifestation of relationship factors is not sufficiently elaborated in those studies. According to social exchange theory, relationship factors are defined as norms that reflect the influential attributes of a relationship or characteristics of the outsourcing process. Therefore, it is postulated that trust, openness, flexibility, coordination, cooperation and integration are influential relationship factors that affect FM service outsourcing relationships with support of social exchange theory. To test the hypothesis, empirical studies had been carried out within the Hong Kong Facilities Management Industry. Qualitative research approach was adopted in the empirical studies – in-depth interviews and case studies were conducted. Findings reveal that trust, openness, flexibility, coordination, cooperation and integration are significantly reflected in the interviews with FM managers. The manifestation of relationship factors is correlated with each other. It is found that trust, openness and flexibility manifest themselves through the process of coordination, cooperation and integration. The empirical results of this study have highlighted significant issues for FM service outsourcing and provided profound implications for FM managers in managing FM service outsourcing relationships. / published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

Many people seek out supports for addiction treatment and recovery. Communities are committed to providing addictions facility beds to individuals struggling with substance use. However, there is limited understanding of the experiences of people who move through these beds. The purpose of this research is to explore the experiences of individuals accessing addictions facility beds, including the process of coming to a facility, being in the facility, windows and doors to recovery, discharge, and follow up care. Interpretive descriptive methodology was used to guide this study. Eight qualitative interviews were completed with people who self-identified as having problematic substance use and were admitted to any addictions facility in the past six months. The interviews were analyzed using the grounded theory method of constant comparative methods of analysis. The five themes generated in this research were understanding individuals as the experts of their care; challenges in gaining access to supports; systemic issues, including knowing what to expect and flexibility; gaining insight into personal challenges and successes; and present experiences and expectations affecting future encounters. Understanding individual experiences of the process of accessing supports can be of great value in future planning and development, and making the available resources as effective as possible. The findings of this research may be useful in five ways. First, this research is directly useful to those working with individuals who have problematic substance use through helping them understand the experiences of their clients. Second, this research is useful for planning the delivery of services to individuals who have problematic substance use. Third, this research is indirectly useful to anyone negatively affected by problematic substance use, through the potential to improve supports. Fourth, this research contributes to the profession of nursing by building on and strengthening nursing care offered to individuals. Fifth, and last, this research contributes to the wider base of literature regarding what is known about caring for individuals with substance use. / Graduate

Thesis (MProjMgmt)--University of South Australia, 1998

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building. / Note: Thesis restricted to on campus access. Facility Management (FM) is an emerging industry in Australia and in various nations throughout the world. The annual Australian national investment of the FM industry contributes approximately 4% to GDP and there are more than 404,000 people working in FM service industries. Some conjecture exists to whether or not FM is a discipline in its own right. However, a review of FM history reveals its existence embedded within various organisational operating environments, however, under differing labels. The creation of an acceptable global FM definition is yet to be achieved. The procuring and delivering of FM services is an activity that is predominantly managed from inside an organisation through direct employment (in-house), or by others outside the organisation (outsourcing). The latter has gained considerable popularity of late, yet it is argued that it remains an ill-defined term, resulting in its possible incorrect application to the FM function. Further, there has been some suggestion as to the existence of indiscriminate cycling through these two main forms of FM procurement and delivery methods by organisations that has attracted some debate. Limited research has been performed on the dynamics associated with the decision to manage FM in-house or to outsource the function. It is argued that on a medium to long-term basis there may exist an inadequacy in identifying and associating the drivers of value and costs, as they are perceived by organizations, for the two main procurement and delivery methods of FM. By researching organisational operating environments it was found that in-house and outsourced methods may have different cost and value drivers. Further, each method, under certain conditions, was found to produce a different set of percieved value and costs, seemingly independent from each other. Also, these operating environments seemed to change over time, influencing the percieved FM value and cost levels. This apparent link with organisational operating environments and perceived FM procurement and delivery value and cost suggests that neither method may be regarded as a permanent solution. Thus, under certain conditions, the dynamic alteration of outsourcing levels during these changes in organisational operating environments may capture this value for longer periods of time, whilst minimising the costs associated with FM procurement and delivery.

Zugl.: Kufstein, Fachhochsch., Diplomarbeit, 2002

Zugl.: Dresden, Techn. University, Diss., 2006.