Thesis (doctoral)--Universität St. Gallen, 1997.

Thesis (M.S.)--Air Force Institute of Technology, 2003. / Title from title screen (viewed May 10, 2004). "March 2003." Vita. "AFIT/GAQ/ENS/03-02." "ADA413132"--URL. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-135). Also issued in paper format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Clemson University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-136). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on December 17, 2009. Major professor: Reza Pouraghabagher, Ph.D. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Industrial Engineering." "September 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-42). Also available on microfiche.

Thesis (Ph. D.)(Industrial Engineering)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

The scarcity of fossil fuel and its environmental impact have shifted the world focus on green innovations At a time when the use of fossil fuel means increasing energy scarcity and an environmental crisis in the world in which we live, we need green innovations now more than ever. Growing attention has been drawn to the use of biofuels, such as bioethanol and biodiesel, which have gradually come to make up part of the total energy supply. Uncertainties about the environmental and ecological aspects of the production and consumption of biofuel still exist despite its rapid development. A life cycle analysis (LCA) evaluates the two principal functional parameters 1) energy efficiency and 2) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) balance of different feedstocks for biodiesel production from the cradle to the grave. By accounting a life cycle analysis stage by stage, we can ascertain the change in GHG emissions and energy demand that result from the various uses of feedstocks for the production of biodiesel. In this thesis, various life cycle analysis models are reviewed and evaluated with emphasis on specific biofuels. Different LCA models depend on different LCA calculation under different situations, including GREET, LEM, SimaPro, etc. The software SimaPro was used to compare the life cycle GHG emissions and energy demand from conventional petroleum fuels and several hydro-processed renewable green diesels. A consistent methodology was used for selected fuel pathways to facilitate relatively equitable comparisons. The building of life cycle flow tree in SimaPro combined the input and output with an emphasis on the following stages 1) raw material farming and acquisition, 2)liquid fuel production, 3)transport, 4)refueling, 5)liquid fuel conversion to biodiesel and 6) end uses. Consistent impact assessment methods were chosen for simulation, equitable comparisons and comprehensive analysis of selected fuel pathways for the calculation of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED). However, the results of the entire lifetime estimates vary dramatically in production chains, which make it difficult to take a holistic view about energy intake and yields, economic costs and values, environmental impacts and their benefits. Apart from the diversity in system boundaries and life cycle inventories, a variance in terminologies and the limitations of interdisciplinary communication are the main factors that affect the quality of the results. / published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Sequential Innovation involves the serial commercialization of improving products based on technologies that improve over time. In many industries such as semiconductors, electronics and computers, fundamental advances have presented firms with opportunities to substantially improve their product's capabilities in very short periods of time. Customers who invest in these products may, however, react adversely to rapid improvements that obsolete their previously purchased products. In the case of breakthrough products that create categories of their own, potential consumers might even be unaware of their own valuation for new products. In this dissertation, I identify and analyze some means by which a firm can engage in sequential innovation in the face of such apprehensions. In particular, I focus on three aspects of product development that have important implications for its eventual success in the market: product design, sourcing of components and distribution channels. In the first essay, motivated by an emerging trend in industrial markets, I analyze the role of modular upgradable designs in managing the introduction of rapidly improving products. I show that modular upgradability can reduce the need for slowing the pace of innovation or foregoing upgrade pricing. In the second essay, I study a dual set of challenges that arise for the modular innovator in the presence of strategic consumers and suppliers. The firm's ability to credibly signal its future design strategy could be adversely affected under various sourcing arrangements for peripheral components of the modular product. Even when consumers strategically plan their purchases while taking into account the firm's incentives, they often have limited understanding of their own valuation of a product before they buy it. In the third essay, I consider the role played by channels of distribution that play an educational role when selling sequentially improving products to such consumers who are uncertain about their preferences. The contribution of this dissertation is to formalize the sequential innovation problem and propose solutions that can help firms in synchronizing product development decisions with customers and other value-chain partners. / text

The digital sector is often described as rapidly evolving, hence organisations within it need to remain innovative in order to cope with the changes. However, the traditionally closed approach towards innovation has been increasingly criticized. Inbound innovation is an alternative approach described as the purposive pursuit of gaining external knowledge for product enhancement and new product development. This knowledge can be gained by using tools such as innovation contests and creating innovation communities. Through a multiple case study focusing on three companies within the digital sector, this thesis explores a potential connection between how these companies use inbound innovation in regard to the different phases in the organizational life cycle. The data was collected using both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, and analysed using a cross-case analysis method. This thesis found that the examined organisations, each specified in different phases of the organisational life cycle, uses inbound innovation differently. Furthermore, as the examined organizations progress through the organisational life cycle a shift, from using inbound innovation to optimize execution towards using it to find new growth options, was found. / Den digitala sektorn beskrivs ofta som snabbt föränderlig och organisationer i den behöver förbli innovativa för att klara av förändringarna. Samtidigt har traditionella innovationsstrategier, som beskrivits som slutna, blivit allt mer kritiserade. ”Inbound” innovation är ett alternativ till tidigare innovationsstrategier. Strategin beskrivs som ändamålsenlig strävan efter att ta in extern kunskap för produktförbättring och gynna utvecklingen av nya produkter. Denna kunskap kan fångas upp genom användandet av verktyg som innovationstävlingar och innovationssamhällen. Genom en multipel fallstudie med fokus på tre organisationer inom den digitala sektorn utforskar denna avhandling det möjliga sambandet mellan hur dessa företag använder sig av ”inbound” innovation genom organisationens utveckling i organisations-livscykeln. Information kring ämnet har samlats in med hjälp av kvalitativa och kvantitativa datainsamlingstekniker och analyserats med hjälp av en tväranalys. Avhandling fann att de studerade företagen befinner sig i olika faser inom organisationslivscykeln och använder ”inbound” innovation på olika sätt. Dessutom påträffades ett samband, nämligen, när de studerade organisationerna fortskrider genom organisationslivscykeln ändrar de sitt användande av ”inbound” innovation från att optimera organisationens genomförande till att använda strategin för att hitta nya tillväxtmöjligheter.

The digital sector is often described as rapidly evolving, hence organisations within it need to remain innovative in order to cope with the changes. However, the traditionally closed approach towards innovation has been increasingly criticized. Inbound innovation is an alternative approach described as the purposive pursuit of gaining external knowledge for product enhancement and new product development. This knowledge can be gained by using tools such as innovation contests and creating innovation communities. Through a multiple case study focusing on three companies within the digital sector, this thesis explores a potential connection between how these companies use inbound innovation in regard to the different phases in the organizational life cycle. The data was collected using both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, and analysed using a cross-case analysis method. This thesis found that the examined organisations, each specified in different phases of the organisational life cycle, uses inbound innovation differently. Furthermore, as the examined organizations progress through the organisational life cycle a shift, from using inbound innovation to optimize execution towards using it to find new growth options, was found. / Den digitala sektorn beskrivs ofta som snabbt föränderlig och organisationer i den behöver förbli innovativa för att klara av förändringarna. Samtidigt har traditionella innovationsstrategier, som beskrivits som slutna, blivit allt mer kritiserade. ”Inbound” innovation är ett alternativ till tidigare innovationsstrategier. Strategin beskrivs som ändamålsenlig strävan efter att ta in extern kunskap för produktförbättring och gynna utvecklingen av nya produkter. Denna kunskap kan fångas upp genom användandet av verktyg som innovationstävlingar och innovationssamhällen. Genom en multipel fallstudie med fokus på tre organisationer inom den digitala sektorn utforskar denna avhandling det möjliga sambandet mellan hur dessa företag använder sig av ”inbound” innovation genom organisationens utveckling i organisations-livscykeln. Information kring ämnet har samlats in med hjälp av kvalitativa och kvantitativa datainsamlingstekniker och analyserats med hjälp av en tväranalys. Avhandling fann att de studerade företagen befinner sig i olika faser inom organisationslivscykeln och använder ”inbound” innovation på olika sätt. Dessutom påträffades ett samband, nämligen, när de studerade organisationerna fortskrider genom organisationslivscykeln ändrar de sitt användande av ”inbound” innovation från att optimera organisationens genomförande till att använda strategin för att hitta nya tillväxtmöjligheter.

This action research project focuses on teaching life cycle assessment to engineering students in high school, using biofuels as a relevant application. The study examined the effectiveness of teaching methods related to both the engineering content—life cycle assessment—and the science content—biofuel production. It also examined underlying conceptions that students have about the preferability of some common consumer products from an environmental perspective, as well as their knowledge of ethanol compared to gasoline. The participants in the study consisted of sixteen college students enrolled in an Engineering Energy Systems course while pursuing either an undergraduate or graduate degree related to teaching engineering and science at the secondary level. The students participated in lessons written for a high school engineering science course currently under development in the UTeach Engineering program at The University of Texas at Austin. Data were collected from a pre- and post-unit assessment, observation of student activities and behaviors, and a participant survey. The results of the study suggest that student understanding of the environmental implications of products or processes is deeper after completion of the unit. The study also shows a positive relationship between hands-on sense-building activities and student engagement. As an action research project, the primary goal is the immediate improvement of teaching to increase learning in the classroom. Modifications to the unit and lesson design have been made based on the results of the study in preparation for using the unit with high school students in the following school year. / text