Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1982. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-153).

Amid growing concern over access to sufficient and cheap energy resources, on March 31, 2010 the Obama Administration announced the opening of new exploratory and drilling sites for oil within the United States Outer Continental Shelf. The announcement concerning the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Strategy came only three weeks before the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that marked an unprecedented economic and environmental disaster. Though the concern over offshore drilling, especially regarding regulation and environmental impact, has increased in the wake of the oil disaster, the general debate regarding offshore oil drilling has been a concern of environmental activists and domestic energy policy for decades. This thesis examines the development of environmental activism and energy security discourses concerning offshore oil policy in the state of Florida. It places offshore oil drilling at the intersection of discourses of energy security and environmental security by looking at the construction of ocean space as both an informant and product of the discursive constructions of energy security and environmental security. The study aims to provide a deeper understanding of how ocean spaces are incorporated into the economic, national, environmental and social imaginations of Americans, particularly Floridians, and how these imaginations, in turn, dictate offshore oil drilling policy.

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2005. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-62)

This study presents a method for predicting the undrained behavior of plate anchors, including out-of-plane loading of simple plates and performance of suction embedded plate anchors (SEPLA). Three dimensional finite element models are used to investigate the behavior of square and rectangular plate anchors under normal loading with eccentricity in any direction. Upper bound analyses are performed for parallel loading and torsion loading. A simple model is then fit to the FE and upper bound solutions to determine required fitting parameters for both square and rectangular plates. The simple models can, in turn, be used both to predict anchor capacity and as yield surfaces for conducting plastic limit analyses, a method capable of predicting post yield anchor trajectory. The model predictions are shown in reasonable good agreement with the experimental results. For SEPLA, a theoretical model of plastic limit analysis is developed to predict the trajectory during the “keying” process and the ultimate capacity after the “keying” is complete. The predicted results are consistent with relevant known solutions.

During the last decade offshore sourcing has emerged as a rapidly growing trend, making offshore-based consultants rule rather than exception in IT consulting projects. This offshore context introduces challenges in knowledge management; something of particular interest in IT consulting, being a knowledge intensive industry where a firm’s ability to leverage knowledge determines its ability to gain competitive advantage. This study adds to the understanding of how these challenges to knowledge management in an offshore context are managed, as well as how project-specific knowledge is managed in such a context. Eight semi-structured interviews have been conducted in two different consulting projects at Accenture. The results suggest that even though Accenture in general uses a distinct codifying strategy, the challenges introduced to knowledge management in an offshore context were mainly handled through personalisation strategy.

This study presents a method for predicting the undrained behavior of plate anchors, including out-of-plane loading of simple plates and performance of suction embedded plate anchors (SEPLA). Three dimensional finite element models are used to investigate the behavior of square and rectangular plate anchors under normal loading with eccentricity in any direction. Upper bound analyses are performed for parallel loading and torsion loading. A simple model is then fit to the FE and upper bound solutions to determine required fitting parameters for both square and rectangular plates. The simple models can, in turn, be used both to predict anchor capacity and as yield surfaces for conducting plastic limit analyses, a method capable of predicting post yield anchor trajectory. The model predictions are shown in reasonable good agreement with the experimental results. For SEPLA, a theoretical model of plastic limit analysis is developed to predict the trajectory during the “keying” process and the ultimate capacity after the “keying” is complete. The predicted results are consistent with relevant known solutions.

<p>Background – Offshore outsourcing is to source activities that were previously produced in-house. It is a concept that has become a trend the last years and its advantages are often taken for granted. Many firms believe that a delegation of the production to low-cost countries enhances their competitiveness and that they get closer to new markets. This might instead be on the expense of the Swedish employment and investments. Some firms chose not to delegate parts of their production but can still stay competitive in their market.</p><p>Purpose – The purpose with this thesis is to investigate what lies behind small firm’s strategies not to use offshore outsourcing.</p><p>Frame of References – A strategy is to position the firm in its competitive market. The firm has to defend their position in their market to stay competitive. Overall cost leadership and differentiation are two common strategies where the firm has to perform more efficiently than their competitors. A strategy makes the firm unique and by that achieving competitive advantage. A strategy can be to use offshore outsourcing. The main reasons for offshore outsourcing are to lower costs, increase the firm focus, and to raise the innovation ability. Several disadvantages can also be identified about offshore outsourcing: the dependence on external suppliers, and loss of control over activities, and the possibility of a failing relationship and/or decrease of morale among workers.</p><p>Method – The method chosen for this thesis is a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviewed were conducted with three small firms. They were personal interviews with open-ended questions.</p><p>Conclusions – The firm sees their in-house capabilities and tries to develop them before deciding to offshore outsource. Firms that do not offshore outsource are less driven by material and cheap labour and feel that it is important to consider the overall costs. Swedish occupations will be lost as a consequence of offshore outsourcing and will generate serious consequences for the Swedish labour market. Knowledge and competences are high in firms that do not use offshore outsourcing. It is developed within the firm and it is creates a competitive advantage.</p>

Thesis (doctoral)--European Business School, International University Schloss Reichartshausen, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (SpringerLink, viewed Dec. 3, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2001. / Bibliography: leaves 178-182.

In order to consolidate a sustainable renewable energy infrastructure, the Australian state of Victoria requires an advancement and development of any feasible renewable energy alternatives. There is a large onshore wind energy market in Victoria but the state currently has no offshore wind technology under consideration or proposal. Australia, and Victoria, has a vast coast line with desirable wind resources for offshore wind implementation. In order to definitively investigate the potential for such technology, a simulation was designed to test the amount of power that could be produced in Victoria by using real life wind speed data sets. The simulation output was analyzed in conjunction with an analysis of the social, political, environmental and economic considerations that could increase or decrease the potential for this technology. 11 simulation scenarios were tested and analyzed, two of which produced a positive net present value by the conclusion of its commissioned operational life. It was found that there is the potential for development of this technology within certain locations in Victoria but it would face several barriers to implementation. The most prominent barriers are competition with a thriving coal and fossil energy industry and competition with more economically desirable alternative renewable technologies such as onshore wind energy.