El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / The microfinance sector has a strategic role since they facilitate integration and development of all social classes to sustained economic growth. In this way the actual point is the exponential growth of data, resulting from transactions and operations carried out with these companies on a daily basis, becomes imminent. Appropriate management of this data is therefore necessary because, otherwise, it will result in a competitive disadvantage due to the lack of valuable and quality information for decision-making and process improvement. The Master Data Management (MDM) give a new way in the Data management, reducing the gap between the business perspectives versus the technology perspective In this regard, it is important that the organization have the ability to implement a data management model for Master Data Management. This paper proposes a Master Data management maturity model for microfinance sector, which frames a series of formal requirements and criteria providing an objective diagnosis with the aim of improving processes until entities reach desired maturity levels. This model was implemented based on the information of Peruvian microfinance organizations. Finally, after validation of the proposed model, it was evidenced that it serves as a means for identifying the maturity level to help in the successful of initiative for Master Data management projects. / Revisión por pares

O Processo Desenvolvimento de Produtos (PDP) é um processo de negócio cada vez mais influente nos resultados estratégicos das empresas que dele dependem. A gestão deste processo é uma atividade desafiadora e complexa em função das próprias características deste processo. A tarefa de perceber oportunidades de melhoria nesta atividade é intrigante, e isso incentivou vários pesquisadores a propor abordagens para tornar mais racional o esforço de sofisticação da gestão do PDP. Este trabalho tem por objetivo propor um método gerencial aplicável ao diagnóstico da maturidade da gestão do PDP e priorização de melhorias. Neste trabalho, a análise de maturidade é realizada a partir da freqüência de ocorrência de problemas típicos de PDP, e é seguida da priorização de oportunidades de melhoria. O diagnóstico da maturidade é realizado através do relacionamento entre dez áreas do conhecimento da gestão do PDP com problemas típicos do PDP. As áreas do conhecimento são provenientes dos estudos de melhores práticas publicados por: Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), Association of Productivity and Quality Center (APQC), guias de melhores práticas do PDMABoK e do PMBoK, além de modelos de referência. Com esse diagnóstico é possível reconhecer as áreas do conhecimento que mais se relacionam com os problemas, denominadas de áreas críticas. No que diz respeito à priorização, as áreas críticas são desdobradas em melhores práticas que se configuram em oportunidades de melhoria e, a partir de critérios, emprega-se uma matriz MAUT (Multiattribute Utility) para realizar a priorização das oportunidades. Os resultados são um índice de maturidade e a proposição de um portfólio de oportunidades de melhoria a serem realizados pela empresa para sofisticar a sua gestão do PDP. O método foi aplicado, na forma de estudo de caso em quatro empresas, para verificar a aplicação da macro-fase de coleta e análise da maturidade. Após, em uma destas empresas, foi aplicada a segunda macro-fase para verificar a geração do portfólio de oportunidades de melhoria. O resultado deste trabalho é a proposição de um método que analisa a maturidade da gestão do PDP vinculado à freqüência de ocorrência de problemas recorrentes no cotidiano da empresa, e auxilia a priorização das oportunidades de melhoria proporcionando uma adequação da estratégia de melhoria com o seu perfil competitivo. / The Product Development Process (PDP) management is of prime importance for manufacturing business results. The management of this process is a challenging and complex activity due to PDP characteristics that includes: people, tasks, and tools in an interdependent network. The aim in this dissertation is to propose a managerial method for the maturity level of PDP management analysis coupled with the prioritization of PDP opportunities identified. The background basis for maturity analysis, in this research, is the frequency of PDP typical problems incidence. The maturity analysis is accomplished through the relationship among ten knowledge areas of the PDP management with PDP typical problems. The ten knowledge areas is the consolidation of best practices published by: Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), Association of Productivity and Quality Center (APQC), best practices guides like PDMABoK and PMBoK, and as well, from PDP reference models. The developed method is divided in two macro phases (i) data gathering and maturity analysis; (ii) improvement portfolio development. The first macro phase is performed in three stages: typical problems frequency incidence identification; maturity level and development index analysis and improvement opportunities identification. The second macro phase is performed in three stages: prioritization criteria weight definition; managers’ prioritization matrix fulfill and PDP improvement portfolio definition. With the maturity level recognition is possible to identify the knowledge areas that are more associated with the high frequency problems, denominated critical areas. The critical areas consist in the best practices that will minimize the high frequency typical problems. These best practices are considered the PDP improvement opportunities. With reference to the improvement opportunities prioritization the MAUT (Multiattribute Utility) tool is used to support the managerial decision making process. The method was tested in four companies to verify the application of the maturity level diagnosis, the first macro phase. Afterwards, in one of these companies, the second macro phase was applied to verify the prioritization part and the results are a maturity index and an improvement opportunities portfolio to be accomplished by the company to increase its PDP management maturity level.

In hierdie studie is Tourettesindroom as neuro-genetiese toestand aangespreek en die wyse waarop dit in verskillende leer-, gedrags- en emosionele problema by begaafde Tourettesindroomlyers manifesteer. Begaafde Tourettesindroomlyers se relasievorming en leefwereldstigting word gekonstitueer met hul kognitiewe en affektiewe vermoans asook genetiese potensiaal, wat vir beida hul Tourettesindroom en begaafdheid verantwoordelik is. Die verwarring tussen begaafde Tourettesindroomlyers se superieure intellek en hul emosionele onvolwassenheid is die oorsaak van hul relasieprobleme. Negatiewe betekenisgewing en betrokkenheid by hulle relasievorminge bel"nvloed elke faset van hul menswees en gee aanleiding tot die degradering van hul siening van hul eie waarde. Gebrekkige kennis oor begaafdheid en Tourettesindroom veroorsaak dat waardevolle potensiaal en talente vir Suid-Afrika verlore gaan. Daarom moet daar daadwerklike pogings aangewend word om kennis oor begaafde Tourettesindroomlyers aan ouers, skole en universiteite, beskikbaar te stel met 'n konstruktiewe plan van aksie ter ondersteuning van die betrokkenes en tot voordeel van Suid-Afrika. / This study addresses Tourette syndrome as a neuro-genetic condition and the manner whereby it manifests itself in various learning, behavioural and emotional problems experienced by gifted Tourette syndrome sufferers. Their relationship-formation and life world are constituted by their cognitive, emotive and genetic capacity which manifests itself in Tourette syndrome and giftedness. The emotional immaturity which accompanies their superior intellect causes disorientation which results in problems in their relationships. Negative connotations and involvement in their relationship-formation influences each facet of their being and gives rise to the lowering of their perception of their self worth. In South Africa, valuable potential and talent is lost because of an inadequate knowledge of giftedness and Tourette syndrome. Efforts must be directed towards making information about gifted Tourette syndrome sufferers available to parents, schools and universities. A constructive plan of action is necessary that will support gifted Tourette syndrome sufferers to the benefit of South Africa. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Master of Science / Geology / Matthew W. Totten / The thermal maturity of hydrocarbon-rich source rocks can be estimated by several different methods. These methods focus on a specific geochemical or mineralogical aspect contained within the rock. Because each method has limitations, it is advisable to use several methods to better determine thermal maturation. This report summarizes two common methods used to determine thermal maturity, vitrinite reflectance and illitization. Vitrinite reflectance and illitization have both been shown to be effected by similar temperatures that are within the hydrocarbon generation window. In some previous studies these two methods give different levels of maturation when looked at in tandem. Formations such as the Woodford Shale of Oklahoma are made up almost completely of illite in the clay fraction, even at low levels of vitrinite reflectance. These are also without a clear source of potassium, which is often the limiting factor in the process of illitization. Totten et al. (2013) suggest that in place of potassium feldspars, which are a common source of K⁺ for illite (but lacking in the Woodford) that the needed K⁺ was provided by the organic material that was being altered under the same temperatures of the clay minerals. The Woodford contains large amounts of organic matter, This would be consistent with promoting illitization at lower thermal maturities than organic-poor shales.

abstract: The construction industry has accepted the uncertainty that is included with every project that is initiated. Because of the existing uncertainty, best practices with risk management are commonly recommended and educated to industry participants. However, the current status of the construction industry's ability to manage risk was found to be limited, unstructured, and inadequate. Furthermore, many barriers block organizations from implementing and improving risk management practices. A significant barrier with improving risk management methods is the lack of evidence that clearly demonstrates the need to improve risk management practices. Logical explanations of the benefits of risk management doesn't provide the necessary justification or motivation needed for many organizations to dedicate resources towards improving risk management. Nevertheless, some organizations understand the importance of risk management practices and have begun to measure their risk maturity in order to identify weaknesses and improve risk management practices. Risk maturity measures the organization's ability and perceptions towards risk management. It is possible that many of the barriers to improving risk management would not exist if increased risk maturity was found to have a positive correlation with successful project performance. The comprehensive hypothesis of the research is that increased risk maturity improves project performance. An exploratory study was conducted on data collected to identify measurable benefits with risk management. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected on 266 construction projects over a seven year period. Multiple statistical analyses were performed on the data and found a positive correlations between risk maturity and project performance. A positive correlations was found between customer satisfaction and contractors risk maturity. Additional findings from the recorded data included the increased ability to predict risks during construction projects within an organization. These findings provide clear reasoning for organizations to devote additional resources in which improve their risk management practices. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Construction 2014

Em um ambiente de competição globalizada a disputa pelo cliente está mais acirrada. Neste cenário, o sucesso e progresso das organizações privadas, cada vez mais, estão relacionados com a capacidade das mesmas de agir frente às oportunidades e ameaças apresentadas. Ao longo das últimas décadas, o setor público, de um modo geral, também se viu sob maior pressão para melhorar seu desempenho. Tais pressões do ambiente têm levado as instituições a vivenciarem constantes mudanças, cuja implementação deve ser realizada por meio de projetos. Com intuito de aprimorar o gerenciamento e o desempenho de seus projetos várias organizações têm adotado as práticas recomendadas pelos modelos de maturidade em gerenciamento de projetos. Apesar disso, poucos estudos têm apresentado, particularmente para o setor público e para projetos de engenharia e construção, qual a efetividade das ferramentas e técnicas propostas por tais modelos. O presente trabalho tem como principal objetivo avaliar a relação entre a evolução na maturidade em gerenciamento de projetos e a melhoria no gerenciamento e no nível de desempenho dos projetos em relação a prazo e a custo. As principais dificuldades enfrentadas no processo de evolução também são discutidas. Com este propósito foi realizado um estudo de caso no Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Com base na análise do caso citado, percebeu-se que, com a evolução na maturidade, os projetos da organização pesquisada apresentaram indícios de melhoria no desempenho do gerenciamento em relação a prazo e a custo. As melhorias no gerenciamento dos projetos também são relevantes, merecendo destaque: estabelecimento de um ambiente de maior seriedade em relação ao cumprimento das metas e maior controle e transparência dos projetos. As principais dificuldades encontradas no processo de evolução na maturidade foram: gerente de projeto conseguir superar a forte centralização oriunda da migração de uma estrutura funcional para a matricial e a incorporação da metodologia de gerenciamento de projetos como algo natural. / In an environment of global competition the battle to secure clients has become even tougher and unyielding. In this scenario the success and progress of private organisations is increasingly related to their capacity to act in advance of the opportunities and threats presented. Throughout the last decades the public sector has also seen itself come under greater pressure to improve its performance. Such pressure has meant that institutions have to live with constant change which the implementation should be accomplished through projects. With the task of enhancing the management and performance of their projects, various organisations have adopted the practices recommended by project management maturity models. However, in spite of this, few studies have presented evidence as to the effectiveness of the tools and technical proposals utilised in such approaches particularly for the public sector and in relation to engineering and construction projects. This work has as its main objective an evaluation of the relationship between maturity evolution in project management and the improvement in the project management and project management performance in relation to schedule and cost. The principal difficulties confronted in the process of evolution are also discussed. As such a case study in the Government of Rio de Janeiro was carried out. From the analysis of the case cited it is shown that with maturity evolution in project management, the projects of the organisations researched manifested signs of improvement in project management performance for schedule and cost. The project management improvements are also noteworthy for establishing an environment of greater seriousness in relation to meeting targets and better project control and transparency. The principal difficulties confronted in the process of maturity evolution in project management were: project management able to overcome the strong centralisation originating from the migration from a functional to a matricial structure and the incorporation of project management methodology as something natural.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T15:52:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo3101_1.pdf: 6739331 bytes, checksum: b2ce7e13223b4c79b74bfc1a7d45bf1c (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia / Muitas organizações estão planejando investir ou já investiram dinheiro, tempo e recursos no reúso de software. Com esse investimento, essas organizações esperam melhorar a sua competitividade no mercado por meio da redução de custos e esforço, aumento da produtividade e melhoria da qualidade e da confiabilidade dos produtos de software desenvolvidos. Um problema comum é que as abordagens de reúso nas organizações são consideradas, normalmente, como um problema de adoção tecnológica (ambientes e ferramentas) e de processos, que focam nos aspectos técnicos do reúso. Neste cenário, processos de adoção de reúso - ou estratégias, modelos ou programas - têm se destacado na área como um facilitador para obter os benefícios associados ao reúso de software. No entanto, os processos existentes apresentam alguns problemas cruciais, como, por exemplo, serem fortemente relacionados a tecnologias específicas; demandarem um alto investimento inicial; além de não definirem de forma sistemática e suficientemente detalhada as atividades, papéis, entradas e as saídas de todo o processo. Assim, este trabalho propõe um modelo de referência de reuso de software para auxiliar nos processos de adoção e avaliação da capacidade de reúso nas organizações, baseado no estado da arte e da prática da área. Essa definição foi embasada por estudos detalhados sobre processos de adoção de reúso, modelos de referência de reúso e métodos de avaliação de capacidade em reutilização, envolvendo pesquisas informais, estudos empíricos e relatos de empresas. Com esta tese, pretende-se demonstrar que é possível estabelecer, para as empresas que desejam adotar reúso, um caminho mais seguro e com menores riscos e custos do que uma estratégia de reúso ad-hoc. Neste cenário, espera-se alcançar os seguintes objetivos: (i) aperfeiçoar o desempenho de alguns aspectos do desenvolvimento por meio de práticas de reúso (custo, qualidade, produtividade, competitividade da organização, entre outros); e (ii) redução dos riscos na adoção e/ou aperfeiçoamento de um programa de reúso, dando suporte a um processo incremental

Esta tese de doutorado, intitulada “Edgar Allan Poe e Charles Baudelaire:trajetórias e maturidade estética e poética”, teve por objetivo analisar e interpretar, dentro de uma perspectiva comparativa, o percurso feito por Poe e Baudelaire desde suas obras iniciais, até atingirem uma maturidade estética e poética. Tomando por base a visão de Antoine Compagnon em seu Le Démon de la Théorie (1998) obra que retoma algumas teorias críticas, como a do círculo hermenêutico proposto por Schleiermacher (2001) e Gadamer (1999), a dos polissistemas e, dentro dela, a da tradução como transcriação e ferramenta ideológica, a da intertextualidade proposta por Kristeva (apud ALLEN, 2000) a partir de suas leituras de Freud e Bakhtin, a da morte do autor único e conseqüente criação de pluralidade de autores-leitores de Barthes (apud ALLEN, 2000) e a de sincronia e diacronia de Saussure, esta tese procurou mostrar, ao longo da análise detalhada de poemas, contos, poemas em prosa, ensaios, resenhas, artigos, anotações, peças teatrais de Poe e Baudelaire, como os mesmos foram elaborando e re-elaborando suas teorias estéticas e poéticas. A comparação entre as obras de ambos permitiu estabelecer trajetórias, teorias críticas, temas, opções formais, posicionamentos semelhantes, portanto, um diálogo entre ambos e dentro da produção individual dos autores aqui estudados.Além disso, um olhar mais detalhado em termos diacrônicos e sincrônicos pôde demonstrar uma preocupação com uma liberação formal, com gradativa busca por um discurso fragmentário ( busca essa presente em Marginalia, A Chapter of Suggestions, Fifty Suggestions e Mon Coeur Mis à Nu, obras que constituem o corpus desta tese), que pudesse captar um pensamento igualmente fragmentário, precursor, talvez, da estética pós-moderna, em pleno século XIX. / This doctoral dissertation, entitled “Edgar Allan Poe e Charles Baudelaire: trajetórias e maturidade estética e poética”, aimed at both analysing and interpreting, from a comparative point of view, the literary path taken by Poe and Baudelaire, a path initiated in their early works and pursued toward their aesthetic and poetic late works. This dissertation based itself on the view of Antoine Compagnon in his Le Démon de la Théorie (1998), a book reviewing some recent critical theories on literature, linguistics and art: Schleiermacher´s and Gadamer´s hermeneutic circle (2001 and 1999 respectively), the theory of polisystems, and within it, that of translation as transcriation and an ideological tool, Kristeva´s theory of intertextuality as a reinterpretation of Freud and Bakhtin (apud ALLEN, 2000), Barthes´ theory of the death of a unique author and consequent generation of a plurality of author-readers (apud ALLEN, 2000), and, finally, Saussure´s diachronic and synchronic readings of language. Therefore, this dissertation attempted at showing, through a detailed analysis of Poe´s and Baudelaire´s poems, tales, prose poems, essays, reviews, articles, notes, and theater plays, how these authors underwent the process of developing their aesthetic and poetic theories, never missing out on the perspective offered by all the theories above mentioned. The comparison of the works of both writers allowed for the perception of a similarity of paths, critical theories, themes, formal options, and perspectives; therefore, it permitted the understanding of the existence of a dialogue built among the works of both authors as well as another one found within the individual collected works of the authors studied in this dissertation. Furthermore, a deeper look into their works, both synchronically and diachronically, demonstrated a preoccupation with a formal liberation, with a progressive search for a fragmentary discourse (this search may be traced both in Marginalia, A Chapter of Suggestions, Fifty Suggestions and Mon Coeur Mis à Nu, works forming the corpus of this dissertation), capable of apprehending and expressing thoughts equally fragmentary; thus, this discourse may be regarded, perhaps, as the forerunner of the post-modern aesthetics, in the 19th century.

This diploma thesis focuses on industry clusters and their relation to industry 4.0. The aim is to propose improvements of a selected cluster with prerequisites for transition to industry 4.0. For this purpose, a cluster maturity model will be developed in order to determine the current level of cluster readiness for industry 4.0 in predefined dimensions. This model will be based on an analysis of current maturity models and specific features and clusters´s restrictions. An analysis of the OMNIPACK cluster and the subsequent application of the maturity model to this cluster will be also part of the work. The benefit of this diploma thesis will be wider application of the defined maturity model in Czech cluster organizations.

M.A. / This study aims to investigate career maturity and career developmental tasks of cabin crew and ground personnel in an airline. This study set out to measure the level of career maturity as well as the mastery of different career developmental tasks. Fifty-one subjects partook in the study of which 30 persons are ground staff and 21 cabin crew. By taking career maturity and the mastery of certain career developmental tasks into consideration, the researcher can make certain assumptions about the turnover of personnel. The measuring instruments that will be used in this study include the Career Mastery Inventory (Crites, 1990), the Self-Directed Search (Holland, 1985) and the Career Development Questionnaire (Langley, 1989). Research questions that will be part of this study includes: • what level of career maturity was achieved in each of the occupations; • what developmental tasks were achieved, like organizational ability, position performance, work habits and attitudes, advancement, career choice and plans and co-worker relationships; and • what coping mechanisms like adjustive, integrative and non-adjustive coping skills were used in the solving of problems within the organization. These factors will be taken into consideration to research the possible effect on personnel turnover.