O trabalho propõe uma Metodologia para implantação de tecnologias construtivas racionalizadas na produção de edifícios pelo processo construtivo tradicional, objetivando a evolução tecnológica do processo de produção. Inicialmente, os conceitos relacionados ao desenvolvimento e a implantação de tecnologias construtivas racionalizadas são apresentados e discutidos. Na seqüência, discutem-se as estratégias que as empresas tem utilizado para atuarem num mercado altamente competitivo. E, completando os fundamentos do trabalho, apresentam-se e analisam-se os modelos para implantação de inovações tecnológicas na indústria seriada e da construção civil. A partir desse quadro referencial, propõe-se uma metodologia para implantação de tecnologias construtivas racionalizadas, fundamentada em um conjunto de diretrizes balizadoras e numa estratégia de ação. As diretrizes contemplam a organização da empresa, o processo de projeto, a documentação, os recursos humanos e o controle do processo de produção; enquanto a estratégia de ação contém uma sugestão de como conduzir o processo de implantação no interior da organização. Finalmente, realiza-se uma análise das ações de empresas de construção ao introduzirem mudanças tecnológicas na construção de edifícios, concluindo-se pela importância de se empregar uma adequada metodologia para a condução do processo de implantação de Tecnologias Construtivas Racionalizadas. / This thesis proposes a model to introduce innovative Technologies into the traditional building construction with the purpose of achieving the continuous improvement in building construction. Firstly, the main concepts related to development and introduction of innovative technologies are presented and discussed. Then, the building construction companies organization and the majors strategies to increase their effectiveness are presented and analysed. The work discusses available models used for introducing innovation processes in the manufacturing and the construction industries in order to identify the barriers and key factors to introduce the innovative technologies. Based on this framework, it is proposed a model including guidelines related to companies organization, design process, process of documentation, human resources development and the control of production process. Finally, the companies actions about the introduction of innovative technologies are analysed. This shows that the correct development and use of a capable formal approach does help introducing innovative technologies into the building construction.

abstract: This research examines the use of innovative mechanisms for encouragement of citizen participation in the governance, policy, and decision making processes using case studies of Washington, DC, the United States and Seoul, South Korea for comparison. The research illustrates ways of encouraging development of citizen participation using innovative mechanisms through comparative study. This research used a comparative case study of the two cities which focuses on how the two governments apply ICTs and foster citizen participation, what similarities and differences there are between the two city governments' performance and practices, and what may cause these similarities and differences. For the research, websites and citizen participation practices of Washington, DC and Seoul using innovative technologies - Citizen Summit and Seoul Oasis - are reviewed and compared using the categories of general capacity, actor, legal aspect, management, and evaluation. As capitals of the United States and South Korea, Washington, DC and Seoul lead the encouragement of citizen participation, and the two cities' specific practices are recognized as exemplary. The findings describe encouragement of citizen participation using innovative technologies in governance, policy, and decision making processes of Washington, DC and Seoul as well as similarities and differences. Both cities commonly use Government 2.0. Through Government 2.0, citizens can participate and influence the results and effects of policy. Also, governments secure transparency, legitimacy, and efficiency through direct communication with citizens. The study illustrates how citizen participation using innovative technologies can support civic engagement in local government. Strong leadership of the mayor is a common driving force of the two cities in initiating and implementing the Citizen Summit and Seoul Oasis. Different contexts of the two cities influence ways to initiate and utilize innovative technologies. Washington, DC implemented a practice combining public meeting and small group discussion using innovative technologies. On the other hand, Seoul initiated a new citizen participation practice based on the Internet. The results of the research show that innovative mechanisms allow adopting new government-citizen relationships in both cities. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Public Administration 2011

O trabalho propõe uma Metodologia para implantação de tecnologias construtivas racionalizadas na produção de edifícios pelo processo construtivo tradicional, objetivando a evolução tecnológica do processo de produção. Inicialmente, os conceitos relacionados ao desenvolvimento e a implantação de tecnologias construtivas racionalizadas são apresentados e discutidos. Na seqüência, discutem-se as estratégias que as empresas tem utilizado para atuarem num mercado altamente competitivo. E, completando os fundamentos do trabalho, apresentam-se e analisam-se os modelos para implantação de inovações tecnológicas na indústria seriada e da construção civil. A partir desse quadro referencial, propõe-se uma metodologia para implantação de tecnologias construtivas racionalizadas, fundamentada em um conjunto de diretrizes balizadoras e numa estratégia de ação. As diretrizes contemplam a organização da empresa, o processo de projeto, a documentação, os recursos humanos e o controle do processo de produção; enquanto a estratégia de ação contém uma sugestão de como conduzir o processo de implantação no interior da organização. Finalmente, realiza-se uma análise das ações de empresas de construção ao introduzirem mudanças tecnológicas na construção de edifícios, concluindo-se pela importância de se empregar uma adequada metodologia para a condução do processo de implantação de Tecnologias Construtivas Racionalizadas. / This thesis proposes a model to introduce innovative Technologies into the traditional building construction with the purpose of achieving the continuous improvement in building construction. Firstly, the main concepts related to development and introduction of innovative technologies are presented and discussed. Then, the building construction companies organization and the majors strategies to increase their effectiveness are presented and analysed. The work discusses available models used for introducing innovation processes in the manufacturing and the construction industries in order to identify the barriers and key factors to introduce the innovative technologies. Based on this framework, it is proposed a model including guidelines related to companies organization, design process, process of documentation, human resources development and the control of production process. Finally, the companies actions about the introduction of innovative technologies are analysed. This shows that the correct development and use of a capable formal approach does help introducing innovative technologies into the building construction.

This thesis presents an appreciative application of the Systems of Innovation (SoI) approach to local development analysis (LDA) practice as applied in the context of a transformative approach to neighbourhood planning. The study’s point of departure is in interrogating what “lenses” conventional planning applies in making sense of neighbourhood-level realities in the first place, and therefore to recognise what it is that planning might “see” or fail to see in its analyses and prescripts. The researcher proposed to test this by undertaking an appreciative application of the Systems of Innovation (SoI) approach to neighbourhood planning to explore whether SoI contributes any additional perspective or insight beyond what conventional practice may have seen or found. The research undertaken was exploratory and inductive, involving data collection through intensive local observation and interviewing in two South African township neighbourhoods: T-Section in Mamelodi Township, and Saulsville node in Atteridgeville Township. The data was then analysed using an SoI model. The study found that the application of the SoI model identified additional key development considerations which were not previously recognised by conventional plans. Specifically, the findings highlight key social, economic and institutional factors which distinguish the two neighbourhoods from each other, and suggest different development intervention opportunities. The study also in addition identified an enhancement to the SoI model by introducing a spatial dimension which would strengthen the model’s application for planning and neighbourhood analysis. At the same time, however, the study also demonstrated the difficulty of applying the SoI framework to relatively deprived neighbourhood contexts, such as those in South African townships (or of describing these places as “systems of innovation” in the conventional sense) due to characteristic gaps and weaknesses, particularly their low technology base. The results of this study suggest that there are possible gaps in how conventional planning practices see local development contexts. It concludes that consideration should be given to what planning could glean from other disciplines which are grappling with similar transformational challenges, and adopting a transdisciplinary approach is motivated. Further research to support this continued exploration would have to address the main limitations of this study, which include the lack of generalizability, and limited interrogation of the limitations of SoI itself. Keywords: Local development analysis, System of Innovation, planning and transformation, neighbourhood development, township economy, transdisciplinarity

In this study, the researchers illuminated the positive advantages of incorporating augmented reality (AR) technology into the daily practices of service engineers working in an advanced manufacturing environment. AR technology improved the user’s communication with colleagues and content experts through real-time video conferencing and brought valuable information directly to the user on a mobile platform. This effective communication had the potential to reduce the time it takes to complete a work task, even when the user is in a remote location. However, it could not be assumed that people would be willing to use this new technology just because it was available. In order to promote the positive advantages of incorporating AR technology into the daily practices of service engineers, more research was needed to assess the user’s perceived value of AR technology and their willingness to accept AR technology into their daily tasks. The purpose of this research was to demonstrate the advantages of using augmented reality technology to improve communication and access to information as well as to assess the acceptance and use of this technology based on the behavioral intentions of a trained engineer. Using that information and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology including its extensions (UTAUT and UTAUT2) (Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, & Davis, 2003; Venkatesh, 2012) this research determined if AR technology is viable for larger scale adoption.

Innovative technologies for construction project management are constantly emerging in the construction industry's global landscape, yet the rate of failed projects within the Nigerian construction sector due to poor coordination of construction tasks is on the rise. An unanswered question in the literature remains as to why construction project managers in Nigeria remain slow to adopt new technologies for improving decision-making processes and project success rates. The purpose of this qualitative single case study with embedded units was to understand the perceptions of construction project managers in Nigeria regarding their barriers to technology adoption. This study was framed by 2 conceptual models: Usman and Said's model of factors contributing to information and communication technology adoption in Nigerian construction firms and Waziri, Mustapha, and Idris' model of factors influencing IT adoption in Nigerian construction organizations. Semistructured interviews involving 10 participants, reflective field notes, and archival data provided information regarding the barriers to technology adoption experience of construction project managers in Nigeria. Thematic analysis of the textual data and synthesis produced 5 conceptual categories for 14 identifiable themes from the study. The conceptual categories were (a) adoption of technology, (b) culture, (c) organizational performance, (d) innovative technology, and (e) interorganizational collaborations. The findings from this study may serve as a catalyst for positive social change by challenging existing technology-avoidance behavior in the Nigerian construction industry, and opening new opportunities for improved project delivery in the Nigerian national economy.

Hmong high school students struggle in science courses and have difficulty using technology, leaving them behind other ethnic groups in science performance. There is lack of research regarding Hmong students' struggle in technology-focused science courses, especially regarding the experiences of Hmong students with using science technology and teachers' experiences with these students. This single case study was designed to explore how technology innovations in high school biology courses impact science learning for Hmong students based on Gu, Zhu, and Guo's technology acceptance model. Both Hmong student and science teacher interviews as well as reflective journal data were collected to better understand students' opinions regarding usefulness and ease-of-use of technology in high school biology courses. Course document data were collected to determine technology integrations in lessons. Participants selected from a public high school in the Midwestern region of the United States included 8 Hmong students and 2 teachers. Data were analyzed within unit analysis and line-by-line coding to construct codes, then through cross unit analysis to develop themes. Results indicate that technologies have a positive impact on Hmong student science learning and aligned to the technology acceptance model. Key findings included positive use of technology, usefulness of technology and ease of use, and evidence of technology integration. The results can be used by teachers to improve support to minority students who learn biology using educational and scientific technology. The use of technology contributes to positive social change to advance Hmong students' acceptance of technology and biology learning, as well as the advancement of education to support all learners.

The retail industry is a competitive environment moving towards being rather service-oriented than product-oriented. It is hence essential for businesses to comprehend the market and act accordingly to differentiate themselves. A way of gaining competitive advantage and engage consumers is to invest in innovative technology. Self-scanning services are a fast-improving technology offering consumers a convenient way of shopping. To self-scan through scanners and via self-checkout cashiers are common on the Swedish food retail market. The retailing group ICA is however unique in the sense that they since 2014 additionally offer mobile self-scanning through their smartphone application “ICA Handla”[1]. Despite the increasing use of self-scanning services, there is a lack of research on this area. Thus it is of interest to further investigate the views regarding self-scanning. An interesting concept is ‘Service Fascination’, which is defined as a positive emotional state arising through conscious and subconscious effects when using innovative technology. By reviewing ‘Service Fascination’, it is possible to investigate how innovative technology is adopted. The thesis hence proves to what extent Service Fascination can be measured regarding self-scanning services using the Service Fascination Evaluation Model (SFEM). Based on the model, the essay suggests areas of improvement within ‘Service Fascination’ and depicts the views on self-scanning from the perspectives of consumers, retailers and experts. Tailored communication regarding self-scanning, depending on if the receiver is a non-user, a user or a retailer, is suggested to be further elaborated on. The quality of the self-scanning equipment and the appearance/features are moreover also key conclusions which are proposed to be further developed. Self-scanning services used in the right way are by the thesis' results argued to be a useful tool to differentiate on the Swedish food retail market. [1]http://www.ica.se/appar/ica-handla/ / Livsmedelsdetaljhandeln är en konkurrenskraftig marknad som rör sig mot ett serviceinriktat klimat där upplevelser väger tyngre än produkter. Det är således viktigt för företag att förstå marknaden och anpassa sig för att särskilja sig. Ett sätt att uppnå konkurrensfördel och på samma gång engagera kunder är att investera i innovativ teknik.  Självscanningstjänster är en snabbt växande teknik som erbjuder kunder ett bekvämt sätt att handla. Idag är det vanligt förekommande med självscanning genom scanners och “snabbkassor” på den svenska livsmedelsmarknaden. Detaljhandelsföretaget ICA är dock unika med sin tjänst att självscanna via mobiltelefonen med hjälp av “ICA Handla”-appen[1] som lanserades 2014. Trots den ökande användningen av självscanningstjänster finns det ett behov av mer forskning på området. Således är det av intresse att vidare undersöka synen på självscanning. Ett intressant begrepp är ”Service Fascination”, ett positivt känslotillstånd som uppkommer genom medveten och omedveten användning av innovativ teknik. Genom att studera ”Service Fascination” är det möjligt att undersöka hur innovativ teknik anammas. Uppsatsen visar därför till vilken grad Service Fascination kan mätas (gällande självscanning) med hjälp av “Service Fascination Evaluation”-modellen (SFEM). Baserat på modellen föreslår uppsatsen utvecklingspotential inom området Service Fascination och illustrerar synen på självscanning från kunders, ICA-handlares och experters perspektiv.  Slutsatser som är föreslagna att arbeta vidare med är skräddarsydd kommunikation beroende på om mottagaren är en icke-användare, användare eller ICA-handlare. Kvaliteten på utrustningen och självscanningsenheters utseende/funktioner föreslås också att vidareutvecklas. Uppsatsens resultat motiverar för att självscanning som används på rätt sätt är ett användbart verktyg för att skapa konkurrensfördel på den svenska livsmedelsmarknaden. [1]http://www.ica.se/appar/ica-handla/

В работе рассмотрены теоретические и методологические аспекты оценки инновационных инвестиционных проектов. Выполнен анализ состояния мировой и российской магниевой отрасли, дана оценка основным экономическим показателям отрасли таким как себестоимость, цена, объем продаж, объем импорта магния. Предложен метод расчета величины рисковой премии, учитывающие как отраслевые, так и инновационные риски. Проанализированы возможные направления развития магниевой отрасли, предложена к внедрению инновационная технология производства магния на Соликамском магниевом заводе в качестве механизма повышения показателей эффективности существующего производства. Выполнена технико-экономическая оценка эффективности предлагаемой инновационной технологии производства магния. / The theoretical and methodological aspects of the evaluation of innovative investment projects are considered in the work. The analysis of the state of the world and Russian magnesium industry was carried out, the assessment of the main economic indicators of the industry, such as cost, price, sales, magnesium imports, was made. A method for calculating the magnitude of risk premium, taking into account both industry and innovation risks, is proposed. Analyzed the possible directions of development of the magnesium industry, proposed for the introduction of innovative technology for the production of magnesium at the Solikamsk magnesium plant as a mechanism to improve the performance indicators of existing production. The technical and economic assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed innovative magnesium production technology was carried out.

Columns and walls are reinvented in my experience while pursuing the project. It is my belief that architecture should be reinvented every time a building is designed and built. / Master of Architecture