The South African coastline has a high potential for mariculture development, particularly in land-based systems, due to excellent water quality, good infrastructure, and relatively cheap land in certain areas. Development of mariculture however, has been slow primarily due to the absence of a national sector development plan to coordinate contribution to development by government, industry and academia. Recent mariculture development plans however, supported by government commitment to stimulate coastal development, offers new opportunity for the sector's growth. These new sector development plans require a multi-disciplinary intensive information base with a strong regional and national spatial component. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a spatial analytical tool, which is capable of handling such large coastal databases and analysing them. Nevertheless, many mariculture GIS planning applications, often developed in isolation and with limited practical use for decision makers, highlighted the need to develop GIS in relation to the mariculture sector development plan. Hence, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a GIS for the national and regional mariculture sector planning process in South Africa, in order to identify potentially suitable areas along the South African coastline for mariculture operations. The GIS development in this study was based on the mariculture planning approach developed by PAP/RAe (1996), which recognizes the variations of scales in mariculture planning. Three case studies, representing the diversity of the South African sector plan, were selected to develop the GIS. They included: a national suitability analysis for all land-based culture systems, a specific national analysis on abalone ranching, and a detailed regional analysis of land-based culture and abalone ranching along the Namaqualand coastline. The GIS was developed separately for each case study based on a strategy consisting of six main phases, including: identification of project requirements, developing analytical framework, selection and location of data sources, organization and manipulation of data, analysing data and verifying and evaluation of the outputs. Biophysical, coastal use, and infrastructure criteria were collected, sorted and analysed to identify development constraints. Based on a set of conditions, and Boolean logic and arithmetic operations, unsuitable areas were identified and eliminated. Main constraints for national land-based development included competition over space along KwaZuluNatal Province coastline and restricted access to the coast along the south region of the Northern Cape Province, Wild Coast along the Eastern Cape Province, and Maputaland along KwaZulu-Natal Province. Ten areas along the country coastline were therefore identified as potentially suitable for land-based mariculture. Furthermore, South African abalone ranching potential was found to be limited mostly along the Western and Northern Cape Province's coastline due to the high risk of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) occurrences, alternative resource use and activities such as commercial fishery, poaching, and conservation. Hence, a total of nine areas along the Northern Cape, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape coastlines were identified as premier areas for abalone ranching. The regional study along the Namaqualand coastline revealed potential conflict between mining activity and mariculture development due to security issues and restricted access to the coast. Land-based mariculture development was confined to the four main coastal urban areas. The highest potential for land-based mariculture was along Port Nolloth and Kleinsee coastlines, whereas marine-based (i.e. abalone ranching) potential was poor along the north part of the coast due to intense marine mining activities, restricted access to the coast, and low kelp bed density. High potential abalone ranching areas were identified south to Kleinsee, and around Port Nolloth. Potential conflict with marine mining activity was minimal since it was localised and not related to kelp bed locations. It was concluded that GIS is a relevant and compatible tool for South African mariculture sector planning. However, future development of GIS as integrated planning tool in mariculture and coastal planning, requires updated spatial data (e.g. recreational activity), and continued interaction among project planners, mariculture specialists and GIS analysts.

This thesis presents a Web-based geographic information system (GIS) application for campus emergency management that allows users to visualize, integrate, and analyze student population, facilities, and hazard data for efficient emergency management of University of North Texas before, during, and after a terrorism event. End-users can locate and search the source area of an event on a digital map from the ArcIMS-based Website. The website displays corresponding population information and attributes of impacted facilities in real time. School officials and first responders including police, firefighters and medical personnel can promptly plan the appropriate rescue and response procedures according to the displayed results. Finally, the thesis outlines the limitations of Web-based GIS in the arena of campus emergency management.

<p>Sposobnost za postizanje postavljenih ciljeva bilo koje<br />organizacije, u kontekstu strategijskog i performans<br />menadžmenta, zavisi od sposobnosti te organizacije da uči, da<br />razvija i upravlja razvojem svog intektualnog kapitala, odnosno<br />ljudskim resursima. Inovacija i razvoj proizvoda, usluga i<br />poslovnih procesa mogu se postići unapređenim znanjima i<br />umjećima osoblja, nadmoćnom informacionom tehnologijom i<br />uređenim procesima organizacije. Savremene organizacije sve<br />jasnije shvataju da im valjano upravljanje ljudskim resursima<br />može značajno doprinjeti sticanju održivih kompetitivnih<br />prednosti. Značaj koncepata i pristupa upravljanja ljudskim<br />resursima, a prema tome i vrednovanja i ocjenjivanja ljudskog<br />kapitala, sa podr&scaron;kom upravljačkih informacionih sistema, se<br />prema svemu sudeći, zasniva se na činjenici da, zahvaljujući<br />pomenutim sistemima, biva reorganizovano doskora&scaron;nje<br />shvatanje i razumijevanje doprinosa osoblja performansama<br />organizacije.<br />Upravljanje ljudskim resursima u svakom poslovnom sistemu<br />postaje potpuno različito od dosada&scaron;njeg. Ono se vi&scaron;e ne shvata<br />samo kao puka funkcionalna aktivnost već i kao nova poslovna<br />filozofija koju treba provoditi na svim menadžerskim nivoima.<br />Neki od neophodnih uslova za uspje&scaron;no upravljanje ljudskim<br />resursima i performansom se obezbjeđuju putem upravljanja<br />informacionim resursima organizacije (podacima,<br />informacijama i znanjima) kao i od strane poslovne<br />inteligencije kao osnove za sticanje potrebnih informacija.<br />Stoga se značajan dio ove teze fokusira na koncipiranje i razvoj<br />upravljačkih informacionih sistema za podr&scaron;ku upravljanju<br />ljudskim resursima.</p> / <p>The ability to achieve the set objectives of an organisation<br />in the context of strategic and performance management<br />depends on the organisation&rsquo;s ability to learn, develop and<br />manage the development of its own intellectual capital i.e.<br />human resources. Innovation and development of products,<br />services and business processes can be achieved by<br />improved staff&rsquo;s knowledge and skills, supreme<br />information technology and regulated organisational<br />processes. Modern organisations are becoming more and<br />more aware of the fact that proper human resources<br />management can considerably contribute to gaining<br />sustainable competitive advantages. The importance of<br />conceptions of and approaches to human resources<br />management, and therefore the evaluation and assessment<br />of the human capital supported by IT systems seems to be<br />based on the fact that the previous understanding of staff&rsquo;s<br />contribution to the organisation&rsquo;s performance is being<br />reorganised owing to IT support. In every business system<br />human resources management is becoming totally different<br />than before; it is no longer seen as a mere functional<br />activity but also as a new business philosophy to be<br />applied on all levels of management.<br />Some of the conditions necessary for successful human<br />resources management and performances are provided by<br />the informational resources of an organisation (data,<br />information and skills) and business intelligence as the<br />basis for acquiring the necessary information. Therefore, a<br />significant part of this thesis is focused on conceiving and<br />developing the management information systems for<br />human resources management support.</p>

This dissertation comprises three papers introducing strategies, models, and frameworks to guide pandemic response. The first paper uses a novel mathematical model to analyze the coordination between government and humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in response to pandemics. This is a vital form of public-private partnership between governments as the primary source for the humanitarian supplies required during a crisis and aid organizations. This coordination involves the equitable distribution of personal protective equipment, including face masks and face shields among health workers, patients, and the public in hospitals. Considering social costs such as deprivation and equity costs in the model, in addition to the other important classic cost terms, enables managers to organize the best possible response when such outbreaks happen. The second paper introduces a decision support framework designed to assist healthcare managers, and clinical informatics specialists in analyzing and selecting the most appropriate consensus algorithm for their organization's blockchain-based health platforms, with a specific focus on managing pandemic-related information. Blockchain technology holds great potential in addressing pandemics by enhancing security and transparency in various aspects of pandemic tracking and mitigation while promoting public engagements by facilitating real-time exchange of electronic health information. By improving information sharing and coordination among healthcare organizations, it offers more effective response efforts and helps reduce the spread of viruses. However, the performance of consensus algorithms, which are a crucial component of blockchain architecture, can vary, posing a challenge in selecting the appropriate algorithm. To address this, the framework incorporates two techniques: data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the ranking distribution technique. DEA enables the analysis of efficiency without relying solely on expert judgment, providing a more objective assessment. The ranking distribution technique enhances differentiation among algorithms, providing decision-makers with a robust basis for selecting the most suitable blockchain architecture and its associated properties. The third paper focuses on the challenges of disseminating guidance-related information to the public during a pandemic, specifically the role of opinion leaders as reliable sources of information. The study determines the practical characteristics of pandemic opinion leaders on public attitudes using surveys and identifies domain-sensitive pandemic opinion leaders on Twitter based on the discovered characteristics using social network analysis and text mining. The framework's results show that pandemic opinion leaders are active in eight different domains on the Twitter platform. Results also demonstrate that trust is the most influential characteristic of pandemic opinion leaders, while expertise, uniqueness, innovation, and reputation also play important roles. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation presents a collection of three research papers that offer insights and practical techniques and strategies to effectively tackle the challenges posed by pandemics through enhanced information sharing, public engagement, and robust public-private partnerships. The first paper introduces a novel mathematical model that thoroughly examines the collaboration between governments and humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) during crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The model's primary focus is on the equitable distribution of vital supplies, including face masks and shields, to healthcare workers as well as the public. By incorporating considerations of social costs, fairness, and other critical factors, this model aids managers in organizing the most efficient response to initial impacts of outbreaks within a short-term planning horizon. Our primary objective is to ensure the prompt and equitable delivery of essential supplies to individuals in need, achieved primarily through establishing strong public-private partnerships. The second paper proposes a decision support framework for healthcare managers, IT analysts, and clinical informatics specialists to help them effectively analyze consensus algorithms, as the most important layer of blockchain architecture. The framework further helps them select the most suitable algorithm for their organization's blockchain-based health platforms, aligning with specific policies, needs, requirements, and goals in managing pandemic-related information. Blockchain technology offers potential in tracking medical supplies, identifying virus hotspots, and verifying protective equipment authenticity to manage pandemics. By enhancing information sharing and coordination among healthcare organizations, blockchain can minimize virus spread and improve overall response efforts. The proposed framework reduces reliance on expert judgment and addresses data uncertainty when selecting proper algorithms for blockchain-based information management systems in mitigating the effects of pandemics. The third paper delves into the intricate challenges associated with effectively disseminating guidance-related information to the public during a pandemic, placing particular emphasis on the pivotal role played by opinion leaders (OLs) as reliable sources. This study thoroughly examines the distinctive characteristics of pandemic OLs and their profound influence on public attitudes. By employing surveys, social network analysis, and text mining techniques on Twitter data, the research successfully identifies OLs within distinct pandemic-related domains. The study's significant findings provide insights into the dynamic role assumed by pandemic OLs on Twitter and their consequential impact on public perception and behavior across various domains. Ultimately, the dissertation findings strive to support decision-makers and public health officials in their efforts to effectively manage pandemics and protect public health. The research emphasizes facilitation of seamless, rapid, and dependable information sharing across various planning horizons.

Many buildings underperform leading to up to 20% energy waste. Case studies on monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) have shown that using energy management and information systems (EMIS) for continuous energy monitoring and analysis enables the identification of issues that cause energy waste and verifies energy conservation measures. However, MBCx is underutilized by organizations leading to an energy efficiency gap between the energy saving potential of technologies like EMIS and observed savings. This energy efficiency gap can be attributed to general barriers to MBCx and barriers caused specifically by cognitive bias in the decision-making process. Using qualitative data from over 40 organizations implementing and practicing MBCx, this manuscript provides a better understanding of these barriers. Chapter 1 synthesizes and codes the qualitative data to develop a framework of variables acting as barriers and enablers to MBCx. The framework highlights commonly experienced barriers like data configuration, and also variables with conflicting results like payback/return on investment, which was experienced as a barrier to some organizations and enabler to others. Chapter 2 examines the barriers to MBCx through a behavioral decision science lens and finds evidence of cognitive biases, specifically, risk aversion, social norms, choice overload, status quo bias, information overload, professional bias, and temporal discounting. The success of choice architecture in other energy efficiency decisions is used to offer suggestions for ways to overcome these cognitive biases. This manuscript can be used by practitioners to better understand potential barriers to MBCx and by researchers to prioritize gaps and find methods to overcome the barriers to MBCx. / Master of Science / Buildings have the potential to save 20% of their energy use through the practice of monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx). MBCx involves continuous monitoring and analysis of a buildings energy use to quickly identify and resolve issues that cause energy waste. However, MBCx is underutilized due to technical and non-technical barriers. This manuscript uses qualitative data from over 40 organizations implementing and practicing MBCx to provides a better understanding of these barriers. Chapter 1 synthesizes and codes the qualitative data to develop a framework of variables acting as barriers and enablers to MBCx. The framework highlights commonly experienced barriers like data configuration, and also variables with conflicting results like payback/return on investment, which was experienced as a barrier to some organizations and enabler to others. Chapter 2 examines the barriers to MBCx through a behavioral decision science lens and finds evidence of cognitive biases, specifically, risk aversion, social norms, choice overload, status quo bias, information overload, professional bias, and temporal discounting. The success of choice architecture in other energy efficiency decisions is used to offer suggestions for ways to overcome these cognitive biases. This manuscript can be used by practitioners to better understand potential barriers to MBCx and by researchers to prioritize gaps and find methods to overcome the barriers to MBCx.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-22T22:11:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Paula.pdf: 562305 bytes, checksum: 4d45fcaefda037e6577f067eeca7c25e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-12-21 / Global connections have contributed to expand the companies horizons improving the relationship between clients and suppliers. The survival in a competitive world demands a constant exercise of establishment objectives and goals defined in the strategic planning that shall be shared by the whole organization and monitored constantly. In this environment, the decision to use an integrated system and sophisticated internal controls related to financial management and its tools in order to provide reliable information preferably in real time are seen as competitive advantages, essential to speed up the decision process. The aim of this work is to analyze aspects of the strategic and financial management, their integration and the connections established between them. References to tools and information systems used by the financial management are made and the extension they add value to strategic management is also analyzed. As materials and methods, a case study has taken place in a company that produces electro electronic parts located in the Industrial Pole of Manaus. Three executives directly involved with the strategic and financial planning processes were interviewed. The state of art mentioned in this work admits that, among the different definitions of business strategy, all schools agree concerning the necessity of generating actual and sustainable competitive advantages and defining measurable goals. The integration of strategic and financial management occurs due to the necessity of defining the sources which will allow the achievement of the established goals, also confirmed by the executives who took part in the case study. Based on this approach, this work contributes to reinforce the academic connections between strategy and finance and helps to understand the relationship between them, the importance of the financial tools and information systems. / A globalização tem contribuído para expandir os horizontes das empresas intensificando as relações entre clientes e fornecedores. A sobrevivência em um mundo cada vez mais competitivo demanda um exercício constante de fixação e acompanhamento de objetivos e metas traçadas em seu planejamento estratégico que devem ser compartilhado por toda a organização. Neste contexto, a opção pela adoção de sistemas integrados e a sofisticação do controle interno relacionado a gestão financeira e suas ferramentas a fim de proporcionar informações confiáveis preferencialmente em tempo real são vistos como diferenciais para agilizar o processo decisório. O objetivo desta dissertação é analisar aspectos da gestão estratégica e financeira, sua integração e as relações que se estabelecem entre elas. São ainda levantadas referências a ferramentas e sistemas de informação utilizados pela gestão financeira e até que ponto os dados gerados auxiliam o planejamento estratégico agregando valor. Como materiais e métodos foi realizado um estudo de caso em uma empresa de componentes do segmento eletroeletrônico do Pólo Industrial de Manaus que contou com o depoimento de três executivos diretamente envolvidos com o planejamento estratégico e financeiro da companhia. O estado da arte abordado admite que, dentre as diversas definições de estratégia empresarial, todas as escolas citadas convergem sobre a necessidade de geração de vantagens competitivas atuais e sustentáveis e a fixação de objetivos e quantificá-los. Constata-se a integração da gestão estratégica com a financeira através da necessidade de definição da origem dos recursos que irão viabilizar o alcance das metas estabelecidas para o negócio, ratificada pelas afirmações dos executivos que participam do estudo de caso. Desta forma este trabalho contribui para estreitar os laços acadêmicos entre estratégia e finanças além de auxiliar na compreensão da relação entre elas, a utilização de suas ferramentas e a crescente importância dos sistemas de informação.

Thesis (M.Eng.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 174-183.

Thesis (M.L.A.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Landscape Architecture. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Land information management in Ghana, as in many developing countries, remains a practice monopolised by public sector land administration agencies, which are known for being inefficient in delivering services that satisfy the needs of citizens. Under this monopolised regime, landed property related data gathering, processing through land registration, storage and dissemination of the information as final product for public use is entirely based on expert knowledge. Meanwhile, reliance on this kind of knowledge for land information management has continuously failed to promote smooth flow and a broad based access to reliable information for decision making by citizens. This failure has created a huge land information gap between market participants’ especially genuine and fraudulent landed property owners on one hand and potential buyers, lenders, and investors on the other hand. Thus, there is information asymmetry, which this study identifies as a major contributory factor to the challenges of uncertainties and high transaction costs that characterise dealings in urban real estate markets in Ghana. In order to verify how the information gap can be closed, this research adopts quantitative research methodology. The research mainly explores multinomial logistic regression model to test Economic Theory of Knowledge propounded by Hayek (1945) using Ghana as the context of study. Primary data was collected from potential land information suppliers within the private sector and existing users of land information as likely beneficiaries of an efficient land information management regime. Interrater agreement index and Pearson’s bivariate correlation analysis were used to analyse primary data gathered from users of land information in relation to land information needs and competition in land information harnessing. Following verification of the relationship between competition and economic knowledge, the key research finding is that there are two kinds of land information management knowledge and these are expert and entrepreneurial land information management knowledge. Thus, the research presents empirical evidence that out of four types of entrepreneurial knowledge verified, two types namely adaptive and cost-efficient knowledge are most likely to influence competition in land information supply. Also, competition is likely to deliver land information services that satisfy the needs of users of land information. Altogether, the research findings converge with the theory verified. The research outcome suggests that deregulation of state monopoly of land information harnessing for competition among private economic actors in Ghana is due. Removing this barrier is likely to promote dynamic competition in which licensed land information suppliers can use adaptive and cost efficient knowledge in gathering and disseminating land information at competitive prices. The study also provides evidence that all-in-one land information, which is broadly accessible at competitive prices is likely to be required to help address the problem of information asymmetry in the context of Ghana. For purposes of practice in the context of urban real estate markets in Ghana, a framework based on the research findings is developed and validated. The framework is proposed to inform policy decision on deregulation for competition in land information harnessing to enable the real estate sector function well. To kick start the process, deregulation in land data gathering and dissemination of land information is suggested.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Wollongong, 2006. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: p. 87-93.