This research project addresses the issues affecting information technology development and deployment. The issues represented in this study are addressed in the context of IT implementation processes, especially with regard to the question of the needs and perceptions of administrators from the local government arena. In addition, this study will provide an exploratory look at the problematic issues surrounding IT implementation and how local government administrators--in particular--perceive them. More specifically, this study provides the following: a discussion of management and organizational issues that have a direct relationship to IT and local government implementation needs; a discussion of the problems which are specific to local government executives with regard to IT implementation; a comprehensive view of the overriding problems associated with the IT development and deployment process in local government; descriptive data revealing local government executive's perceptions about the issues surrounding IT development processes; and a basis for development of an IT implementation framework for local government. Each of these provisions is integral to developing a comprehensive understanding of the problems associated with the planning, acquisition, and implementation of ITs in local government. These provisions lay the foundations for future development of an IT implementation framework for local government. The research in this study suggests that there are three primary results, which are shown here. The first is that strategic planning for IT is fundamental to the ultimate effectiveness of IT implementation. Planning with regard to IT acquisition and deployment has proven to be a difficult accomplishment regardless of organization type or sector. This study specifically addresses many of the issues surrounding this problem, as it is integral to the implementation process as a whole. Secondly, it is shown that interdepartmental coordination has proven to be a major factor in effective IT implementation. Previous studies in this area have shown a propensity over the course of the development of IT towards decentralization of the acquisition and management of technologies. This trend speaks directly to the issue of interdepartmental coordination and the difficulties local government managers face when attempting to implement ITs in their organizations. Finally, it is shown that the expertise levels of executives with regard to IT has proven to be a contributing factor to effectiveness of the IT development and deployment process. / Ph. D.

Pavement management is one of the primary responsibilities for departments of transportation and other municipalities across the country. Efficient and proper use of taxpayer dollars to preserve and improve the existing transportation system has never been more important due to the current fiscal environment. Agencies use pavement management systems to store data describing the state of the network. This information is often used to help make decisions regarding the location of pavement preservation actions. There is often a discrepancy between the need estimates of network-level pavement management systems and where and how pavement preservation and improvement dollars are actually spent (i.e., actual pavement preservation and improvement projects). This research focuses on evaluating the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) to assess the agreement between its need estimates and actual construction projects at the district level. The research revealed there is little agreement between the output of PMIS’s Needs Estimate tool and actual construction projects. Possible reasons for this disagreement include the inability of PMIS’s Needs Estimates to consider the decision makers preferences and priorities, and also its inability to consider multiple years of condition data simultaneously. Through the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the research was able to capture the effect of several variables on the decision making process. Using this method, pavement project suggestions were created that more closely matched actual projects than what the current Needs Estimate tool suggests. The projects selected using the new method were then tested against actual construction within three counties of the Bryan district. The new method closely matches actual preservation decisions made by the district within these three counties.

Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) play a critical role in supporting project outcome. However, little attention has been paid to the impact of having multiple PMIS while governing projects within organizations. This thesis explores the effects of the presence of multiple PMIS at a large manufacturing organization. The study used a qualitative approach, including interviews with Managers, IT Department and Senior Management as well as observations and an analysis of organizational documents. The data collected was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The findings revealed that the presence of multiple PMIS within the organization resulted in several challenges, including data inconsistency, duplication of effort, detrimental effects on the user experience and difficulty in managing the complexity of the PMIS landscape. However, the study also identified several potential benefits of having multiple PMIS, such as improved functional flexibility, customizability and enhanced project monitoring. The study recommends that organizations carefully consider their PMIS strategy, including the integration of different PMIS and the training of project teams on their proper use, to ensure that the effects of utilizing multiple PMIS are adequately addressed. Nevertheless, the study also recommends several areas for future research, including the exploration of the role of PMIS in project governance, the impact of emerging technologies on PMIS, and the examination of the impact of PMIS on organizational culture and behavior. Overall, this study highlights the importance of carefully managing the PMIS landscape within an organization to ensure its effectiveness in supporting project outcome and organizational efficiency. / Projektledningsinformationsystem (PMIS) har en avgörande roll för att främja projektslutresultat. Trots detta har det ägnats väldigt lite uppmärksamhet åt betydelsen av att tillämpa flera PMIS inom en organisation. Denna avhandling utforskar effekterna som uppstår av att flera PMIS är närvarande inom ett stort tillverkningsföretag. Studien har tillämpat en kvalitativ metodik som omfattar intervjuer med chefer, IT-avdelningen och högsta ledningen, samt observationer och en analys av utvalda interna dokument. Den insamlade datan analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys. Resultaten av studien påvisade att närvaron av flera PMIS inom organisationen ledde till ett flertal utmaningar, såsom inkonsekvent data, dubbelarbete, negativ påverkan på användarupplevelsen och svårigheter att hantera komplexiteten av PMIS-systemen. Studien identifierade även flera potentiella fördelar som PMIS bidrog med, såsom ökad funktionell flexibilitet, anpassningsbarhet och förbättrad övervakning av projektens framsteg. Studien rekommenderar att organisationer noggrant överväger sin PMIS-strategi med avseende på integrationen av olika PMIS, samt utbildningen av projektteam för korrekt användning av systemen. Studien rekommenderar även flera områden för framtida forskning, inklusive utforskning av rollen som PMIS har inom projektstyrning, konsekvenserna av framväxande teknologier för PMIS samt undersökning av påverkan som PMIS har på organisationskultur och beteende. Sammantaget betonar denna studie vikten av att noggrant hantera PMIS-landskapet inom en organisation för att kunna säkerställa systemens effektivitet i att stödja projektslutresultat och organisationers effektivitet.

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Mustaque A. Hossain / Preventive maintenance strategies are applied to pavement to bring it back to appropriate serviceability when it starts to deteriorate soon after construction due to several factors, e.g., traffic loading, deterioration of pavement materials, and climatic effects. In recent years, more and more highway agencies are adopting preventive maintenance strategies and moving away from rehabilitation actions since rehabilitating pavements at near failure is not a cost-effective pavement management technique. A variety of preventive maintenance treatments or thin surface treatments are available to bring pavements back to appropriate serviceability for road users. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has adopted several preventive maintenance treatments including thin overlay, ultra-thin bonded asphalt surface (Nova Chip), chip seal, and slurry seal. This thesis discusses the effectiveness of thin surface or preventive maintenance treatments applied in 2007 on 16 highway sections in Kansas. Three types of thin surface treatments, 25-mm Hot-Mix-Asphalt (1” HMA) overlay, ultra-thin bonded asphalt surface (Nova Chip), and chip seal, were examined in this study. These treatments were applied on three types of surface preparation, namely, bare surface, 25-mm surface recycle (1” SR), and 50-mm surface recycle (2” SR). Effectiveness of the thin surface or preventive maintenance treatments for mitigating typical distresses and enhancing pavement performance was evaluated by conducting before-and-after (BAA) comparisons. All data required for this study were extracted from the Pavement Management Information System (PMIS) database of KDOT. It was observed that transverse and fatigue cracking significantly decreased and rutting conditions were improved after the thin surface treatments were applied. Roughness conditions were observed to be better on the highway test sections treated with 25-mm (1”) HMA and Nova Chip, while the effects of chip seals on reducing roughness were not as obvious. Benefit and performance levels of the pavements were observed to rise after the thin surface treatments were applied. The Hamburg Wheel-Tracking Device (HWTD) test was conducted on core samples taken from the highway sections under this study. Laboratory test results showed that most projects exceeded the maximum rut-depth limit (20 mm) specified for 20,000 wheel passes, and the number of wheel passes to failure varied significantly among the projects. Cores from only three projects, two treated with Nova Chip and one with 25-mm (1”) HMA, carried 20,000 wheel passes without exceeding the maximum rut limit of 20 mm (0.8 inch). Pair-wise comparisons or contrasts among the treatments were also performed with the statistical analysis software, SAS. Air void of the HWTD test cores was found to be a significant factor affecting performance of thin surface treatments. The results also revealed that performance was significantly affected by the type of treatment and surface preparation.

人類歷史上第一台商業電腦的使用至今不過四十餘年的時間，而電腦所帶來的影響已深入人類生活的每一個層面之中。資訊科技─尤其是電腦，已成為未來世界變遷的主要力量之一。 　　目前政府正積極推展行政管理資訊系（簡稱PMIS）。在六年國家建設計劃之中，即預定投資七百億元來發展PMIS。如何讓這項龐大的投資發揮預期的功能是個值得關切的議題。 　　然而，過去政府在推展PMIS時，往往只重視軟硬體設備的採購和技術因素，很少注意到操作新設備的「人」。根據以往的文獻，造成資訊系統沒有效率的原因，大都屬於人員方面的因素。因此，宜從「人」的角度來探究PMIS施行的成效。Richard Nolan於1974年率先以使用者滿足來衡量系統的績效。不過，使用者滿足研究發展至今，因缺乏完整的理論架構以致研究結論紛歧，研究結果無法累積。在問卷設計方面，因為對「滿足」的內涵未有明確的定義，導致影響因素與滿足內涵混淆不清。 　　本文試從相關領域綜合整理與使用者滿足有關的理論。結果發現，需求理論、過程理論與消費理論都含有豐富的素材可供援用。例如，作者發現，從需求理論與消費理論的觀點便能清楚地劃分影響因素與滿足內涵。更多更豐富的素材還有待後續研究慢慢發掘。 　　根據理論探討與實證研究的回顧，本研究提出終端使用者滿足整合模式，並依此設計實證調查。結果發現，資訊系絡因素（資訊人員的經驗、專業能力、溝通能力、資訊需求分析、系統開發方式、系統整合）、組織內外在因素（使用者參與、高階主管的支持、教育訓練、政治因素、經濟因素、組織規模、施行PMIS的歷史）和使用者個人因素（年齡及人格特質）對使用者滿足均有顯著的影響。 　　本文的重點不在於研究發現，而在於從研究的過程中發現許多疑問，並試著提出一個終端使用者滿足的整合模型，作為後續研究思考的素材。

The diploma thesis focuses on analysis of software tools used in a softwarehouse company. It contains detailed assessment of a used project management information system, business process design and information system modification. The thesis also includes complete implementation of a module for cost calculation of software projects. The module is based on Use Case Points method.