Record keeping and management of electrical utilities inside buildings is an important aspect to ensure effective electrical distribution. The ability to find the location of each electrical feature inside a building and extract information about it helps to solve network problems faster. The use of a spatial database structure facilitates the maintenance and general operations of an electrical network across different buildings. The aim of this study is to design and develop a 3D data model to provide a management system for electrical utilities inside buildings. The geodatabase provides integrated information between different electrical components forming the network inside the specified buildings in the study area. A prototype called the PUK geodatabase was designed and developed for the NWU Potchefstroom Campus as a 3D data model. The data model consists of raster and vector data used in network datasets, relationship classes and topology rules. The aim of this project was accomplished through the 3D analysis capabilities of the model. The research determined that the prototype called the PUK geodatabase can be utilized as a 3D management system for electrical utilities across the different floor levels of a building. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Considering the competitiveness of global markets within an ever-changing environment, a company\'s Business Model should be able to innovate constantly to capture value within the company, while addressing better the customer needs. The PSS Business Model represents an innovation while providing value to the customer supported by a combination of products and services. However, the PSS Business Model also needs to innovate constantly. The Internet of Things (IoT) comprises networked objects able to interact with each other and to people, to reach common goals with a high level of efficiency, thus presenting potential to create a new value proposition to PSS Business Model Design. However, the existing literature represents an IoT solution into PSS Design, using either technical constructs or a high level free textual description. The goal of this study is to propose a \"Method to support the representation of IoT solutions during the PSS Business Model Design\". The method was developed based on the Design Research Methodology (DRM), comprising three research stages. During the first and second stages, a literature review was conducted to generate theoretical requirements for guiding the proposition of the method. During the third stage, the requirements were developed, and multiple case studies using secondary sources were used to propose the method in theory. During the final activity of the third stage, an exploratory application of the method for a Driverless PSS Car Sharing were applied and its results, as well as all the method\'s artifacts, were object of an initial evaluation by a focus group. The results indicated that method has potential to provide a common language for the PSS Business Model designers, while providing detailed information, to be added to the dimensions of a PSS Business Model that comprises IoT solutions. / Considerando a competitividade dos mercados globais dentro de um ambiente de constante mudança, o modelo de negócio de uma empresa deve ser capaz de inovar constantemente, capturando valor dentro da empresa ao mesmo tempo em que atende melhor as necessidades dos clientes. O modelo de negócio de PSS representa uma inovação ao entregar valor ao cliente através de uma combinação de produtos e serviços. No entanto, o modelo de negócio de PSS também precisa inovar constantemente. A Internet das coisas (IoT) compreende objetos em rede capazes de interagir uns com os outros e com as pessoas, para alcançar metas comuns com elevado nível de eficiência. Dessa forma, apresenta potencial para criar a nova proposta de valor para o desenho de modelo de negócio de PSS. No entanto, a literatura existente representa a solução de IoT usando ou constructos técnicos, ou um nível alto de descrição textual. O objetivo deste estudo é propor um \"Método de representação de soluções de internet das coisas (IoT) durante o design de um modelo de negócios de um Sistema produto-serviço (PSS)\". O método foi desenvolvido com apoio da Design Research Methodology (DRM), sendo composto de três fases de investigação. Durante a primeira e a segunda fase, realizou-se uma revisão da literatura para gerar requisitos teóricos para orientar a proposição de método. Durante a terceira fase, foram desenvolvidos requerimentos e analisados múltiplos estudos de caso, usando fontes secundárias, para propor o método na teoria. Durante a atividade final da terceira fase foi realizada uma aplicação exploratória do método, em um caso de um PSS de \"uso compartilhado de carros\" usando um carro autônomo. Em seguida todos os artefatos do método, e os resultados dessa aplicação exploratória, foram objeto de uma avaliação inicial por um grupo focal. Os resultados indicaram que o método tem potencial para fornecer uma linguagem comum para os desenvolvedores de modelo de negócio de PSS, proporcionando informações detalhadas, a serem adicionadas às dimensões de um modelo de negócio de PSS.

Considering the competitiveness of global markets within an ever-changing environment, a company\'s Business Model should be able to innovate constantly to capture value within the company, while addressing better the customer needs. The PSS Business Model represents an innovation while providing value to the customer supported by a combination of products and services. However, the PSS Business Model also needs to innovate constantly. The Internet of Things (IoT) comprises networked objects able to interact with each other and to people, to reach common goals with a high level of efficiency, thus presenting potential to create a new value proposition to PSS Business Model Design. However, the existing literature represents an IoT solution into PSS Design, using either technical constructs or a high level free textual description. The goal of this study is to propose a \"Method to support the representation of IoT solutions during the PSS Business Model Design\". The method was developed based on the Design Research Methodology (DRM), comprising three research stages. During the first and second stages, a literature review was conducted to generate theoretical requirements for guiding the proposition of the method. During the third stage, the requirements were developed, and multiple case studies using secondary sources were used to propose the method in theory. During the final activity of the third stage, an exploratory application of the method for a Driverless PSS Car Sharing were applied and its results, as well as all the method\'s artifacts, were object of an initial evaluation by a focus group. The results indicated that method has potential to provide a common language for the PSS Business Model designers, while providing detailed information, to be added to the dimensions of a PSS Business Model that comprises IoT solutions. / Considerando a competitividade dos mercados globais dentro de um ambiente de constante mudança, o modelo de negócio de uma empresa deve ser capaz de inovar constantemente, capturando valor dentro da empresa ao mesmo tempo em que atende melhor as necessidades dos clientes. O modelo de negócio de PSS representa uma inovação ao entregar valor ao cliente através de uma combinação de produtos e serviços. No entanto, o modelo de negócio de PSS também precisa inovar constantemente. A Internet das coisas (IoT) compreende objetos em rede capazes de interagir uns com os outros e com as pessoas, para alcançar metas comuns com elevado nível de eficiência. Dessa forma, apresenta potencial para criar a nova proposta de valor para o desenho de modelo de negócio de PSS. No entanto, a literatura existente representa a solução de IoT usando ou constructos técnicos, ou um nível alto de descrição textual. O objetivo deste estudo é propor um \"Método de representação de soluções de internet das coisas (IoT) durante o design de um modelo de negócios de um Sistema produto-serviço (PSS)\". O método foi desenvolvido com apoio da Design Research Methodology (DRM), sendo composto de três fases de investigação. Durante a primeira e a segunda fase, realizou-se uma revisão da literatura para gerar requisitos teóricos para orientar a proposição de método. Durante a terceira fase, foram desenvolvidos requerimentos e analisados múltiplos estudos de caso, usando fontes secundárias, para propor o método na teoria. Durante a atividade final da terceira fase foi realizada uma aplicação exploratória do método, em um caso de um PSS de \"uso compartilhado de carros\" usando um carro autônomo. Em seguida todos os artefatos do método, e os resultados dessa aplicação exploratória, foram objeto de uma avaliação inicial por um grupo focal. Os resultados indicaram que o método tem potencial para fornecer uma linguagem comum para os desenvolvedores de modelo de negócio de PSS, proporcionando informações detalhadas, a serem adicionadas às dimensões de um modelo de negócio de PSS.

Record keeping and management of electrical utilities inside buildings is an important aspect to ensure effective electrical distribution. The ability to find the location of each electrical feature inside a building and extract information about it helps to solve network problems faster. The use of a spatial database structure facilitates the maintenance and general operations of an electrical network across different buildings. The aim of this study is to design and develop a 3D data model to provide a management system for electrical utilities inside buildings. The geodatabase provides integrated information between different electrical components forming the network inside the specified buildings in the study area. A prototype called the PUK geodatabase was designed and developed for the NWU Potchefstroom Campus as a 3D data model. The data model consists of raster and vector data used in network datasets, relationship classes and topology rules. The aim of this project was accomplished through the 3D analysis capabilities of the model. The research determined that the prototype called the PUK geodatabase can be utilized as a 3D management system for electrical utilities across the different floor levels of a building. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

The purpose of this thesis is to uncover and examine the processes that start-up entrepreneurs go through while designing and then developing their business models. This is done with the intent of deciphering the kind of development that might ultimately lead to a unique or innovative business model. This study uses primary qualitative data generated from interviews with founding entrepreneurs and managers who still participate in running the organization. Each of these organizations participates in the men’s retail market. The research design and methodology of this research uses a grounded-theory coding procedure to analyze the data. Three questions guide this research forward and the findings are threefold. First, for these organizations two business model design paths were followed, herein referred to as the path to ‘Alleviate Pain’ and as the path to ‘Adopt and Modify.’ Second, entrepreneurial leaders tended to act as arbiters when developing their business models, mediating between the set of information accrued during operations and three identified factors. Thirdly, new research into whether or not business model innovations are the result of ex-ante insights or ex-post operational learning is presented. And the findings tend to indicate that both ex-ante insights and ex-post learning are important, but their importance is temporally induced. Lastly, a brief discussion is carried out on how this research informs the entrepreneurial business model creation process (see entrepreneurial practicum) and how it adds to the current literature on business models and business model innovation.

The agri-food industry is an important economic and social engine in many countries, not only because of its economic importance, but also because of its vital significance. For years, it has been possible to consider that this sector evolution has conducted to the development of centralized and global distribution networks. These global distribution networks, in a market of low value-for-weight products, are more efficient the more centralized their logistics be. This new paradigm has a collateral effect which is the difficult survival of the small producer-sellers with the problems that this entails for citizens as society members. This thesis is part of a project conducted by the Universitat Politècnica de València professors named as HOF3M (Heterarchical Open Food 3-sustainable Market). The project aims to facilitate the development of a triple bottom-line food product market, generating the technological and business bases to reduce entry barriers, so that anyone, anywhere in the world can become an agent that approaches any producer to any consumer. The aim of this thesis is to "provide a methodology for identifying and analysing business models through case studies, with the objective of creating a triple bottom-line, replicable and non-scalable business model bank in the agri-food industry". The application of this methodology provides a tool that facilitates the replicability of business models in the agri-food business context. In addition, it allows to identify those triply sustainable and non-scalable models that can be implemented by consumers, producers and intermediaries. The research work is carried out from literature reviews to understand the business models scope, triple bottom-line business and the context of the agri-food economy, as well as the application of the case study research methodology, for which the proposal is validated. This thesis gives three fundamental contributions: a methodology to identify and analyse a business model through study cases, a triple bottom-line assessment model within the agri-food economy framework, and three food retailing business model analysis. / El sector agroalimentario supone un importante motor económico y social en muchos países, no solo por su relevancia económica, sino también por su significado vital. Desde hace años se puede considerar que la evolución del sector ha derivado en el desarrollo de redes de distribución centralizadas y globales. Estas redes de distribución globales, en un mercado de productos de bajo ratio valor/peso, son más eficientes cuanto más centralizada esté su logística. Este nuevo paradigma tiene como efecto colateral la difícil pervivencia del pequeño productor-vendedor con los problemas que esto supone para el ciudadano en cuanto a miembro de la sociedad. Esta tesis se enmarca en un proyecto de profesores de la Universitat Politècnica de València denominado HOF3M (Heterarchical Open Food 3-sustainable Market). El proyecto tiene el objetivo de facilitar el desarrollo de un mercado triplemente sostenible de productos alimentarios, generando las bases tecnológicas y de negocio que reduzcan las barreras de entrada para que, cualquiera, en cualquier lugar del planeta pueda convertirse en un agente que acerque cualquier productor a cualquier consumidor. El objetivo de esta tesis se concreta en "proporcionar una metodología para la identificación y el análisis de modelos de negocio, a través del estudio de casos prácticos en empresas, con el objeto de confeccionar un banco de modelos de negocio triplemente sostenibles, replicables y no escalables en el sector agroalimentario". La aplicación de esta metodología proporciona una herramienta que facilita la replicabilidad de modelos de negocio en el tejido empresarial agroalimentario. Además, permite identificar aquellos modelos triplemente sostenibles y no escalables, que pueden ser implementados por consumidores, productores e intermediarios. El trabajo de investigación se realiza desde las revisiones de literatura para el entendimiento del ámbito de los modelos de negocio, de la triple sostenibilidad empresarial y del contexto de la economía agroalimentaria, además de la aplicación de la metodología de investigación a tres casos de estudio, con los cuales se valida la propuesta. De esta tesis se extraen tres aportaciones fundamentales: una metodología para identificar y analizar un modelo de negocio a través de casos de estudio, un modelo de evaluación de la triple sostenibilidad en el marco de la economía agroalimentaria, y tres análisis de modelos de negocio de venta al por menor de alimentos. / El sector agroalimentari suposa un important motor econòmic i social en molts països, no només per la seva rellevància econòmica, sinó també pel seu significat vital. Des de fa anys es pot considerar que l'evolució del sector ha derivat en el desenrotllament de xarxes de distribució centralitzades i globals. Estes xarxes de distribució globals, en un mercat de productes de baix ràtio valor/pes, són mes eficients quant mes centralitzada estiga la seua logística. Este nou paradigma té com a efecte col·lateral la difícil pervivència del xicotet productor-venedor amb els problemes que açò suposa per al ciutadà quant a membre de la societat. Esta tesi s'emmarca en un projecte de professors de la Universitat Politècnica de València denominat HOF3M (Heterarchical Open Food 3-sustainable Market). El projecte té l'objectiu de facilitar el desenrotllament d'un mercat triplement sostenible de productes alimentaris, generant les bases tecnològiques i de negoci que reduïsquen les barreres d'entrada perquè, qualsevol, en qualsevol lloc del planeta puga convertir-se en un agent que acoste qualsevol productor a qualsevol consumidor. L'objectiu d'esta tesi es concreta en "proporcionar una metodologia per a la identificació i l'anàlisi de models de negoci, a través de l'estudi de casos pràctics en empreses, amb l'objecte de confeccionar un banc de models de negoci triplement sostenibles, replicables i no escalables en el sector agroalimentari". L'aplicació d'esta metodologia proporciona una ferramenta que facilita la replicabilidad de models de negoci en el teixit empresarial agroalimentari. A més, permet identificar aquells models triplement sostenibles i no escalables, que poden ser implementats per consumidors, productor i intermediaris. El treball d'investigació es realitza des de les revisions de literatura per a l'enteniment de l'àmbit dels models de negoci, de la triple sostenibilitat empresarial i del context de l'economia agroalimentària, a més de l'aplicació de la metodologia d'investigació a tres casos d'estudi, amb els quals es valida la proposta. D'esta tesi s'extrauen tres aportacions fonamentals: una metodologia per a identificar i analitzar un model de negoci a través de casos d'estudi, un model d'avaluació de la triple sostenibilitat en el marc de l'economia agroalimentària, i tres anàlisis de models de negoci de venda al detall d'aliments. / Galeano Revert, AM. (2017). PROPUESTA DE METODOLOGIA PARA LA IDENTIFICACION Y EL ANALISIS DE MODELOS DE NEGOCIO TRIPLEMENTE SOSTENIBLES EN EL SECTOR AGROALIMENTARIO [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/88395 / TESIS

Accentuating the role of managerial cognition in business model design, scholarly work recently conceptualizes business models as cognitive phenomenon reflecting managerial mental models. However, this theoretical position has been largely criticized for its emphasis on the limitations of human cognition, resulting in studies that explore the manifestation of cognitive constraints. To further advance the conceptualization of business models as cognitive structures, this dissertation focuses on the cognitive heuristics undergirding managerial reasoning to counter cognitive biases inherent in the design of new business models. Providing implications for research at the intersection of cognition and business model design, our studies are situated in the context of corporate entrepreneurship initiatives, spawning the entrepreneur at the nexus of individual and idiosyncratic context.:1 Introduction 2 Theoretical framework 2.1 Theoretical perspectives in business model research 2.2 Cognitive view in business model research 3 Scientific contribution 3.1 Article I: Not all are equal – Linking dominant and emergent business model logics in corporate entrepreneurship initiatives 3.2 Article II: Corporate entrepreneurship initiatives: Antagonizing cognitive biases in business model design 3.3 Article III: Situated entrepreneurial cognition in corporate incubators and accelerators: The business model as a boundary object List of appendices Bibliography

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<p>  </p> <p>Acoustic streaming is a phenomenon which occurs when acoustic excitations interact with a fluid (stationary or non-stationary). Exploitation of this phenomenon has the potential to open doors to new methods of flow control through the enhancement or diminishment of the present flow instabilities. A particular use of acoustic streaming shown by previous numerical studies is the enhancement of heat transfer in violation of the Reynold’s Analogy within a small range of Mach numbers and frequencies of periodic excitation. The focus of this thesis is to experimentally assess the usage of a Rossiter cavity in generating periodic acoustic excitations and its effects on the shear stress and heat transfer. </p> <p>In the present research, two large models are tested using a blow-down facility. The models are made of aluminum and Teflon and were developed to ensure optical access for infrared thermography. The geometries are tested at Mach number ranging from 0.373 to 0. 866. The target Mach number-frequency pair where significant heat transfer enhancement is a free stream Mach number at the cavity, Mc, of 0.75 and the frequency, fc, of 7.5 kHz. The cavity is tuned using the Rossiter equation with Rossiter constants k = 0.66 and y = 0.25. The heat transfer and skin friction enhancement are measured immediately upstream and downstream of the cavity and compared to the previous numerical studies.</p> <p>When testing the Teflon model with an ambient back pressure and 11 lb/s mass flow, a frequency of 7.8 kHz was generated by the cavity. For the aluminum model tested at a high vacuum and 3 lb/s mass flow, frequencies near 7, 10, and 20 kHz were generated by the cavity with 10 and 20 kHz appearing most often. High speed schlieren imaging was used to confirm the flow structures being generated in the flow. There was good agreement with the Rossiter modes at lower Mach numbers and moderate agreement at transonic Mach numbers. A correlation is presented which defines a band of Mach number-Reynolds number pairs which present with a discontinuous frequency behavior during operation of the wind tunnel. Measurable effects on both skin friction and heat transfer between tests with comparable operating conditions to a reference were observed and are presented.</p>

This thesis is composed of six papers, all dealing with the issue of sampling from a finite population. We consider two different topics: real time sampling and distributions in sampling. The main focus is on Papers A–C, where a somewhat special sampling situation referred to as real time sampling is studied. Here a finite population passes or is passed by the sampler. There is no list of the population units available and for every unit the sampler should decide whether or not to sample it when he/she meets the unit. We focus on the problem of finding suitable sampling methods for the described situation and some new methods are proposed. In all, we try not to sample units close to each other so often, i.e. we sample with negative dependencies. Here the correlations between the inclusion indicators, called sampling correlations, play an important role. Some evaluation of the new methods are made by using a simulation study and asymptotic calculations. We study new methods mainly in comparison to standard Bernoulli sampling while having the sample mean as an estimator for the population mean. Assuming a stationary population model with decreasing autocorrelations, we have found the form for the nearly optimal sampling correlations by using asymptotic calculations. Here some restrictions on the sampling correlations are used. We gain most in efficiency using methods that give negatively correlated indicator variables, such that the correlation sum is small and the sampling correlations are equal for units up to lag m apart and zero afterwards. Since the proposed methods are based on sequences of dependent Bernoulli variables, an important part of the study is devoted to the problem of how to generate such sequences. The correlation structure of these sequences is also studied. The remainder of the thesis consists of three diverse papers, Papers D–F, where distributional properties in survey sampling are considered. In Paper D the concern is with unified statistical inference. Here both the model for the population and the sampling design are taken into account when considering the properties of an estimator. In this paper the framework of the sampling design as a multivariate distribution is used to outline two-phase sampling. In Paper E, we give probability functions for different sampling designs such as conditional Poisson, Sampford and Pareto designs. Methods to sample by using the probability function of a sampling design are discussed. Paper F focuses on the design-based distributional characteristics of the π-estimator and its variance estimator. We give formulae for the higher-order moments and cumulants of the π-estimator. Formulae of the design-based variance of the variance estimator, and covariance of the π-estimator and its variance estimator are presented.