Business continuity is an area of research that ensure continuity of enterprise operations. Business continuity requires knowledge and input from business and IT leaders to assess and manage risks associated with critical business processes to develop a plan that can allow the organization to resume operations. Organizations that have a holistic enterprise risk management approach can better manage business and technology risks. The increasing dependency on technological resources asserts the need to assess business and technology risks to develop business continuity. Nevertheless, governance and enterprise leaders find difficult to determine the scope and impact of risks associated with enterprise operations. In organizational contexts, business continuity planning is perceived as an element of contingency instead of an opportunity for improvement. In addition, there is a lack of academic literature related to the organizational implementation of a business continuity plan. For this reason, there is a need to merge enterprise risk management and governance of enterprise IT views to provide an integrated perspective of business and technological risk in the im-plementation of a business continuity plan.The objective of the study relies on assessing how the implementation of a business continuity plan is conducted, together with its challenges and benefits, to provide insights on the elements that facilitates a business continuity plan implementation. The study focuses on the preparation phase of a business continuity plan, where enterprise risks are identified, evalu-ated and mitigated. The study results are based on a case study performed at a multination retail and manufacturing enterprise in Spain. The results indicates that awareness from the higher governance body and senior management on the dependency that enterprises have developed on IS/IT key resources is a factor that influence how risk management and technology risk is perceived in organizations. This influence how the higher governance body views the need to implement enterprise risk management, governance of enterprise IT and business continuity initiatives. Likewise, the elements facilitating a business continuity imple-mentation are associated with the sponsorship and leadership from organizational actors, the involvement of an external organizational agent that can bring expertise and methodology related to business continuity planning, identification of enterprise critical areas and processes and the creation of business and IT risk scenarios to depict threats to the organization operations and processes. This internal reflection brings challenges and benefits to the or-ganization and both are addressed in the study.The study concludes with the presentation of two high level frameworks that can aid enter-prise leaders to visualize and understand the influence that enterprise risk management and governance of enterprise IT has on the implementation of a business continuity plan and the underlying elements that facilitate a business continuity plan implementation in organizations.

Throughout her work as a novelist, Ursula K. Le Guin revisits the theme of balance. In The Word for World is Forest and The Lathe of Heaven, she brings dreaming into contact with balance as a force that either supports and facilitates a state of equilibrium or undermines and impedes it. The indigenous Athsheans of Word for World achieve psychological and physical balance by participating in a communal dreaming process in which they enter the lucid dream-time state that takes place between dreaming and waking. George Orr, in Lathe, however, fears his personal balance and that of the world are jeopardised by his capacity for “effective dreaming,” an ability that allows him to change “reality.” The ways in which balance is treated in the two novels provide grounds for comparison. This paper will reveal how balance is achieved through dreams for the Athsheans, while George Orr’s balance is threatened by dreams, and how community and threatening external forces play into this difference.

Šiuolaikiniai IS inžinerijos metodai yra nuolat vystomi ir tobulinami, tačiau iš esmės jie yra grindžiami empiriniais procesais. Empiriškai išgautų žinių kokybė gali būti nepakankama sėkmingam projekto įgyvendinimui, nes netikslus vartotojo reikalavimų specifikavimas neigiamai įtakoja visus programinės įrangos kūrimo etapus, o tai didina projekto įgyvendinimo riziką. Disertacinis darbas skirtas sukurti IS inžinerijos metodą, kuris įgalintų empiriniais būdais surinktas dalykinės srities žinias patikrinti formalių kriterijų atžvilgiu. Metodui sukurti buvo apjungti žiniomis grindžiamos ir modeliais grindžiamos IS inžinerijos principai. Šiuo tikslu klasikinis MDA procesas buvo papildytas pagrindiniu žiniomis grindžiamos IS inžinerijos komponentu – veiklos modeliu. Darbo metu buvo sukurtas žiniomis grindžiamo MDA metodo dalykinės programos prototipas, kuris iš dalies automatizuoja siūlomo metodo procesą. Žiniomis grindžiamo MDA metodo efektyvumas buvo patikrintas jį taikant eksperimentinio tyrimo atlikimui, kurio metu buvo sukurta pašto siuntų stebėjimo programėlė. Tyrimo metu nustatyta, kad tikslinga taikyti žiniomis grindžiamą MDA metodą PĮ kūrime nes: 1) detaliau dokumentuojami vartotojo reikalavimai (tikrinami formalių kriterijų atžvilgiu); 2) sumažinama loginių trūkių atsiradimo galimybė (tarp programinės įrangos kūrimo dalyvių); 3) daugiaplatforminiuose sprendimuose sumažinamos projekto įgyvendinimo laiko sąnaudos (dėka automatinio kodo generavimo iš patikrintų modelių). / Although new methods of information systems engineering are being researched and developed, they are empirical in nature. The problem domain knowledge acquisition process relies heavily on the system analyst and user; therefore it is not clear whether the knowledge of the problem domain is comprehensive. This may lead to occurrence of logical gaps, misinterpretation of system requirements, thus causing issues for project. The research work is meant to develop new IS engineering method that will allow validation of the problem domain knowledge against formal criteria. In order to create such method basic principles of Knowledge Based ISE and Model Driven ISE were combined. By combining the two approaches Knowledge Based MDA method was created that extends traditional MDA with Enterprise Model. During the research Knowledge Based MDA tool’s prototype, that is capable of partly automating Knowledge Based MDA process, was created. The efficiency of Knowledge Based MDA method was validated by creating real life application for mobile devices. During the empirical research it was established that by using developed method software requirements quality is improved and comprehensive documentation is created (due to Enterprise Model based validation), occurrence of logical gaps between software development stakeholders is reduced, time consumption needed for creation of application for multiplatform systems is reduced (due to automated code generation and shorter testing stage).

Although new methods of information systems engineering are being researched and developed, they are empirical in nature. The problem domain knowledge acquisition process relies heavily on the system analyst and user; therefore it is not clear whether the knowledge of the problem domain is comprehensive. This may lead to occurrence of logical gaps, misinterpretation of system requirements, thus causing issues for project. The research work is meant to develop new IS engineering method that will allow validation of the problem domain knowledge against formal criteria. In order to create such method basic principles of Knowledge Based ISE and Model Driven ISE were combined. By combining the two approaches Knowledge Based MDA method was created that extends traditional MDA with Enterprise Model. During the research Knowledge Based MDA tool’s prototype, that is capable of partly automating Knowledge Based MDA process, was created. The efficiency of Knowledge Based MDA method was validated by creating real life application for mobile devices. During the empirical research it was established that by using developed method software requirements quality is improved and comprehensive documentation is created (due to Enterprise Model based validation), occurrence of logical gaps between software development stakeholders is reduced, time consumption needed for creation of application for multiplatform systems is reduced (due to automated code generation and shorter testing stage). / Šiuolaikiniai IS inžinerijos metodai yra nuolat vystomi ir tobulinami, tačiau iš esmės jie yra grindžiami empiriniais procesais. Empiriškai išgautų žinių kokybė gali būti nepakankama sėkmingam projekto įgyvendinimui, nes netikslus vartotojo reikalavimų specifikavimas neigiamai įtakoja visus programinės įrangos kūrimo etapus, o tai didina projekto įgyvendinimo riziką. Disertacinis darbas skirtas sukurti IS inžinerijos metodą, kuris įgalintų empiriniais būdais surinktas dalykinės srities žinias patikrinti formalių kriterijų atžvilgiu. Metodui sukurti buvo apjungti žiniomis grindžiamos ir modeliais grindžiamos IS inžinerijos principai. Šiuo tikslu klasikinis MDA procesas buvo papildytas pagrindiniu žiniomis grindžiamos IS inžinerijos komponentu – veiklos modeliu. Darbo metu buvo sukurtas žiniomis grindžiamo MDA metodo dalykinės programos prototipas, kuris iš dalies automatizuoja siūlomo metodo procesą. Žiniomis grindžiamo MDA metodo efektyvumas buvo patikrintas jį taikant eksperimentinio tyrimo atlikimui, kurio metu buvo sukurta pašto siuntų stebėjimo programėlė. Tyrimo metu nustatyta, kad tikslinga taikyti žiniomis grindžiamą MDA metodą PĮ kūrime nes: 1) detaliau dokumentuojami vartotojo reikalavimai (tikrinami formalių kriterijų atžvilgiu); 2) sumažinama loginių trūkių atsiradimo galimybė (tarp programinės įrangos kūrimo dalyvių); 3) daugiaplatforminiuose sprendimuose sumažinamos projekto įgyvendinimo laiko sąnaudos (dėka automatinio kodo generavimo iš patikrintų modelių).

The Singularity is a hypothetical moment in the not-so-distant future when machine intelligence will supplant human intelligence as the dominant force in the world. There is a growing movement of scientists, authors, and advocates who believe the Singularity is not just possible, but inevitable. There is maybe no more eloquent or influential argument for the Singularity than futurist Ray Kurzweil’s 2005 book, The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. Kurzweil predicts a utopian future of advanced human/machine hybrid intelligence and radically extended life by the year 2045. This thesis applies Kenneth Burke’s system of dramatism, specifically the pentad, to The Singularity is Near as well as a sample of technology articles from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal to examine Kurzweil’s motives and the way Singularity discourse “chains out” through other media. I will also draw on movement theory to examine the discourse of Singularity advocates to determine if Singularity discourse qualifies as a rhetorical movement. / Department of Telecommunications

Darbe yra nagrinėjamas grafų teorijos taikymas klientų pretenzijų nagrinėjimo užduočių valdymo sistemose. Darbo objektas yra klientų pretenzijų nagrinėjimo užduočių valdymo procesas. Darbo tikslas yra sukurti užduočių valdymo metodą, pagrįstą grafų teorijos taikymu, skirtą kliento pretenzijų nagrinėjimo užduočių valdymo sistemoms kurti. Darbe buvo išanalizuotas klientų pretenzijų nagrinėjimo užduočių valdymo procesas ir pateiktos probleminės sritys šiame procese. Taip pat buvo išanalizuotos problemos kuriant tokias sistemas. Siekiant panaikinti esamas problemas buvo pasiūlytas ir aprašytas grafų teorijos taikymo metodas. Eksperimentinėje dalyje buvo aprašytas klientų pretenzijų nagrinėjimo užduočių valdymo sistemos kūrimas pritaikant grafų teoriją, bei buvo sukurtas tokios sistemos prototipas. Klientų pretenzijų nagrinėjimo užduočių valdymo sistemos prototipas parodė, kad pasiūlytas grafų teorijos taikymo metodas pasiteisino, kadangi išpildė visus iškeltus reikalavimus. / The Thema of the masters work is application of Graph Theory in the Customer Claim Handling Systems. The main object is the Customer Claim Handling Process. The goal is to create a graph theory method to build the customer claim handling systems. In the analysis section was analysed and discribed Customer Claim Handling Process and its problems. Either, was analysed problems in the implementing process of the Customer Claim Handling Systems. On purpose to eliminate the problems, was proposed and discribed application of Graph Theory in the Customer Claim Handling Systems. In the experiment section was discribed how to implement Customer Claim Handling System build on graph theory. Also, there was created a prototype of Customer Claim Handling System. It showed that this grapf theory method has solved the problems in Customer Claim Handling process and in Customer Claim Handling systems implementation.

Darbe tyrinėjami žiniomis grindžiamos IS inžinerijos principai bei veiklos metamodelio vieta IS kūrime, siekiant išplėsti veiklos metamodelio galimybės, sudarant sąlygas automatiškai generuoti UML 2.0 klasių diagramas IS projektavimo etapui. Darbo metu buvo nustatyta, jog pasirinktas metamodelis neturi tam tikrų elementų, kurie būtini klasių diagramos generavimui. Metamodelis buvo papildytas šiais elementais. Klasių diagramos generavimui buvo sukurtas algoritmas, kuris išbandytas su testiniais duomenimis. / The work covers Knowledge-Based IS engineering and an enterprise metamodel’s place in creation of IS. The main purpose is to traverse possibility of generating UML 2.0 class diagram’s based on enterprise model. To achieve this goal there should be made these tasks: • familiarize with enterprise metamodels and UML class diagram; • determine and add missing elements in EMM for generation of class diagram; • create class diagram generation algorithm and implement it; • create prototype of using generation algorithm in creation of IS; After analysis was found that EMM doesn’t have some elements that are crucial for generation of class diagrams. For this reason enterprise metamodel was appended by two new elements. Created generation algorithm was tested with some case study data to check theoretical assumptions about relationships between EMM and class diagram. This work proved that there is possible to generate class diagrams from EMM. Although some new elements should be added for it.

In undergraduate international economics coursework students are often exposed to the IS-LM-BP model via diagrammatic analysis. The model itself presents the intuitive mechanics behind how an open economy functions and is generally regarded as useful to policy makers. The goal of this paper is to present an in-depth investigation of the IS-LM-BP model through algebraically representing its components. Our model features a two-country framework with sticky prices and flexible exchange rates. We display some interesting relations between factors that must hold in order for monetary and fiscal policy to be effective. Additionally, a peak at a possible extension to the model is presented in the last section.

Detta projekt har haft som syfte att producera och grafiskt formge det kommande numret av tidskriftsapplikationen Scandinavian Architectural Review för förlaget It Is Media Svenska AB i Stockholm. Skapandet har utgått från applikationens tidigare grafiska profil och har ämnat att följa tidigare utseende och funktioner utan nya tillägg. Hela produktionen har skapats genom Adobe InDesigns tilläggstjänst Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Efter att produktionen färdigställts har en analys gjorts av den färdiga applikationen enligt en heuristisk utvärdering ur ett människa-datorinteraktionsperspektiv, till vilken David Benyons tolv designprinciper har  tillämpats. Till stöd i analysarbetet har ett aktivitetsdiagram skapats för att ge en god överblick över hela tidskriftens disposition. Analysen har slutligen resulterat i en åtgärdslista med förslag på förbättringar av applikationen för att öka dess användarvänlighet, vilket framför allt har lyft fram behovet av tydligare grafisk design av interaktiva element, ett förbättrat system för att ge användaren återkoppling samt ökad konsekvens och flexibilitet. / This project has aimed to produce and design the upcoming edition of the magazine application Scandinavian Architectural Review for the publisher It Is Media Svenska AB in Stockholm. The production has been based on the application’s prior graphic profile and has intended to follow previous appearance and functions without new additions. The entire production has been created using the Adobe InDesign plugin Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. After the production was finished an analysis of the completed application was performed according to a heuristic evaluation, which was based on the twelve design principles of David Benyon in a perspective of human-computer interaction. To support the analytical work an activity diagram was created to get a comprehensive view of the entire disposition of the application. The analysis has resulted in a list of actions and suggestions to improve the application and its usability, which particularly emphasize the need of a clearer design of the interactive elements, an improved system to give the user feedback as well as an increased consistency and flexibility.

Organizations are becoming increasingly dependent on information technology for different purposes, such as project and resource-management systems, cooperative work systems and organizational memory systems. There is a need to make a dynamic roadmap for IT capability usage to facilitate organizational performance. The aim of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of the role of IS Strategy in utilizing IT capabilities for operationalizing and integrating business process information for the purpose of organizational performance from the lens of the resource-based view (RBV). This research makes use of single case study analysis of a construction organization in the oil and gas industry in Iran. This case study is expected to fill a gap in the literature in the specific context of a strategic situation and the critical environment in Iran.