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Submitted by Daniella Sodre (daniella.sodre@ufpe.br) on 2015-04-10T16:37:01Z No. of bitstreams: 2 TESE Rômulo Fernando Teixeira Vilela.pdf: 3159637 bytes, checksum: d8b68b1fd93d79fe6162c4abdd0b1aa0 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-10T16:37:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 TESE Rômulo Fernando Teixeira Vilela.pdf: 3159637 bytes, checksum: d8b68b1fd93d79fe6162c4abdd0b1aa0 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-27 / Com os avanços em hardware, a engenharia de confiabilidade nos últimos 30 anos, tem nos mostrado equipamentos e sistemas complexos com níveis de falha muito baixos. Sistemas complexos na indústria nuclear, aeroespacial, química, elétrica entre outras possuem hoje em dia equipamentos e sistemas com níveis de confiabilidade que tem atendido adequadamente a sociedade. Entretanto, a operação e manutenção destes sistemas não dependem exclusivamente do desempenho intrínseco dos correspondentes equipamentos, dependem também da ação humana. Grandes acidentes no passado recente como Chernobyl, Bhopal, da nave Challenger e os grandes apagões no Brasil, colocaram em evidência a necessidade de redução do erro humano em sistemas complexos. A análise da confiabilidade humana surge assim como um apoio para a análise destes sistemas de operação e manutenção. Desde a década de 80 alguns avanços foram surgindo no estudo da confiabilidade humana. Técnicas como THERP, ATHEANA, CREAM e IDAC, se consolidaram ao longo do tempo como boas aplicações práticas para estudar, medir e prever o erro humano. Porém os fatores de desempenho utilizados em quase todas as técnicas supracitadas, tem se mostrado difíceis de serem estimados de um ponto de vista particular. Além disso, as particularidades do setor Hidroelétrico de Potência, definidas nos Procedimentos de Rede do Operador Nacional do Sistema (ONS) e nos instrumentos normativos da Agencia Reguladora ANEEL têm levado a necessidade de uma taxonomia que possa se adaptar a este importante e estratégico setor. Nesta tese, é proposta uma taxonomia e um modelo da sequência do processo de erro, para avaliação deste erro humano especificamente concebido para atender ao contexto de operação e manutencão do Sistema Hidroelétrico de Potência. Para ilustrar a nova taxonomia, foram coletados e analisados dados de cerca de dez anos de registro de erro humano de uma empresa de geração e transmissão de energia elétrica brasileira. Foram coletados 605 relatórios de desligamento por erro humano desde 1998 até 2009. Uma metodologia BBN-Base para a quantificação do erro humano é também discutida. A taxonomia e o modelo da sequência do processo de erro humano tanto quanto o modelo BBN-Based são ilustrados via um exemplo de uma aplicação no contexto de uma indústria Brasileira Hidroelétrica de Potência.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------With advances in hardware reliability engineering in the last 30 years, we have seen equipment and complex systems with very low levels of failure. Complex systems in the nuclear industry, aerospatiale sector, chemical industries, electrical industries and others now have equipment and systems with levels of reliability that has adequately served the society. However, the operation and maintenance of these systems do not rely solely on intrinsec performance of the corresponding equipment, but they also depend on human action. Major accidents in the recent past such Chernobyl, Bhopal, the Challenger shuttle and major recent power blackouts in Brazil, highlighted the need to reduce human error in complex systems. The human reliability assessment emerges as a support to the analisys of the operation and maintenance of these type of systems. Since the late 80th some advances have emerged in the study of human reliability. Techniques such as THERP, ATHEANA, CREAM and IDAC, have been consolidated over time for the study, measure and prediction of human error. However performance shaped factors used in almost all the aforementioned techniques have proven difficult to be estimated from a practical standpoint. In addition, the specifics of the Hydroelectric Power Industry defined in the Grid Procedures of the National System Operator (Operador Nacional so Sistema, ONS) and the regulatory instruments of ANEEL (Agencia Nacional de Energia Eletrica) Regulatory Agency have led to the necessity of a taxonomy that can adapt for this important strategic sector. In this thesis, it is proposed a taxonomy and model of error sequence process for assessment of human error specifically designed to meet the context of operation and maintenance of Hydroelectric Power System. To illustrate the new taxonomy it was collected and analyzed data from about ten years of human error records related to the generation and transmission of Hydroelectric Power Company in Brazil. It was collected 605 reports by human error shutdown from 1998 to 2009. A BBN-Base methodology for the quantification of human error is also discusses. The taxonomy, model for error sequence process as well as the BBN-Based model are illustrated via an example of application in the context of the Brazilian Hydroelectric Power Industry.

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this study is to provide an insight into relationship marketing from a strategic view in Chinese context.Meanwhile, it analyzes how empirical study such as self-financed overseas study consulting agency could use this relationship marketing as a strategic tool to help it to achieve competitive advantage.   Theoretical methodology Theoretical methodology covers theoretical considerations that influence how the study is designed and conducted.   Theoretical framework and literature review This section gives readers a general understanding with related literature. . In order to access this perception, this study employs a related theory as the main conceptual framework for examining theories and major findings. Furthermore, by studying empirical findings, it acts as mirror to reflect prior scholar’s literature in order to have a critical and in-depth research study.   Practical methodology Several practical techniques were chosen for this research, such as qualitative approach, semi-constructed interviews, samplings etc. The purpose of this study is to find out how relationship marketing can bring to a self-financed overseas study consulting agency in China sustainable competitive advantage based on customer satisfaction and customer retention perspective.   Empirical observation and analysis The thesis is based on the case studies within the Chinese market, with two special Agencies: Hubei Education Service Center for Scholary Exchange, Hubei Jinmao Foreign consultants Managerial co., Ltd. The questions are addressed using information obtained in interview with respondents from the agencies and from secondary data. (Documentary secondary data)   Conclusion The author found that by using customer retention to ‘individual clients’ and by using customer satisfaction (eventually by using word of mouth) to individual clients can bring a self-financed overseas study consulting agency in China sustainable competitive advantages based on the commitment and trust mechanism. However, author could not find out the evidence to prove that using relationship marketing tools is the single solution to compete more successfully than without it. It is further argued by author that relationship marketing is just one aspect strengthening the generic strategy in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage.

This dissertation focuses on Knowledge Intensive Business Services (KIBS). It aims to understand what these businesses are and to examine variety among them. In seeking to understand their diversity, I focus especially on the ‘knowledge bases’ at the core of their activities. The dissertation is based on three complementary studies. The first is a systematic review of the literature on KIBS. This is based primarily on a review of 130 carefully selected, relevant articles, and focuses on three questions: how are KIBS defined? how do KIBS compete? and how do KIBS innovate? The review shows that: (i) the literature is fragmented; most research does not build substantially on previous methods or findings; and (ii) while evidently heterogeneous, most of the literature has overlooked variety among KIBS. I also highlight what still needs to be known about KIBS.The second and third papers then focus on variety among KIBS, by classifying them according to their ‘knowledge bases’. In the first of these papers, I classify KIBS according to their primary knowledge bases, following the SAS Model, which identifies three: ‘analytical knowledge’, ‘synthetic knowledge’ and ‘symbolic knowledge’. Firms in three KIBS sectors: ‘architecture and engineering consultancy’; ‘specialist design’; and ‘computer and IT services’ are classified by their primary knowledge base according to information drawn from company websites. I then relate this classification to firm behaviour with respect to innovation, finding differences by primary knowledge base in the nature of the investments firms make to innovate, and in their propensities to innovate. In the second of the papers which relates ‘knowledge bases’ to KIBS, I develop the ‘knowledge bases’ approach conceptually, methodologically and empirically. Conceptually, I identify a hitherto unrecognised knowledge base: ‘compliance knowledge’. This relates to the knowledge of, and to interpretations of, laws and regulations. This knowledge base does not fit with any of the existing SAS types. Methodologically, I extract fuller information from company websites, and develop more sophisticated approaches to measurement, which allows multiple knowledge bases to be present in any one firm. Empirically, I successfully identify ‘compliance knowledge’, alongside ‘analytical’ and ‘symbolic knowledge’. I show that these are unevenly distributed across KIBS industries, including ‘advertising and design’, ‘architecture’, ‘engineering consultancy’ and ‘market research’, but importantly there is no one-to-one mapping between knowledge bases and industries. I discuss the implications of this, including for understanding the diversification of KIBS. This dissertation therefore contributes conceptually, methodologically and empirically to both understanding variety among KIBS and to the ‘knowledge bases’ literature.

This study employs a Gioia analysis to investigate the AI services offered within three distinct professional service sectors in Sweden: IT consulting, marketing, and legal services. Utilizing a list of companies from a prior KTH project and publicly accessible information, we applied a cross-sectoral Gioia analysis to systematically categorize, compare, and understand the types of AI services provided and how these offerings differ between sectors. The objective of this scholarly pursuit is twofold. Firstly, it seeks to develop a cohesive and comprehensive taxonomy that clarifies the AI utilization within the selected domains, providing a clearer perspective on the diverse AI services offered and their respective implications. Secondly, it aims to discern the notable commonalities and distinctions in AI services across the said sectors, highlighting the specific ways in which AI integration manifests within each domain in Sweden. Our research reveals several shared trends, including AI-driven data analysis and management, automation, real-time monitoring, and personalization. Despite these commonalities, each sector leverages AI in a unique way, emphasizing aspects like cybersecurity in IT consulting, ad optimization in marketing, and legal document scrutiny in legal services. We further discuss practical implications, such as elevated operational efficiency, potential shifts in professional focus, and the emergence of AI service providers as indispensable intermediaries. While the adoption of AI presents numerous opportunities, it also introduces challenges, such as the democratization of specialized knowledge, which could disrupt traditional professional-client relationships. Future research avenues and study limitations are also addressed. Our findings serve as a cornerstone for both academic discourse and practical application, illuminating the nuanced impacts of AI across different business domains. / Denna studie verkställer en Gioia-analys för att undersöka de AI-tjänster som erbjuds inom tre distinkta professionella tjänstesektorer I Sverige: IT-rådgivning, marknadsföring och juridiska tjänster. Genom att använda en datauppsättning från ett tidigare KTH-projekt och allmänt tillgänglig information tillämpade vi en tvärsektoriell Gioia-analys för att systematiskt kategorisera, jämföra och förstå vilka typer av AI-tjänster som erbjuds och hur dessa tjänsteerbjudanden skiljer sig mellan sektorer. Målet med denna studie är tvåfaldig. Först och främst syftar den till att utveckla en sammanhängande och omfattande taxonomi som klargör AI-användningen inom de valda sektorerna, vilket ger en tydligare översikt över de olika AI-tjänsterna som erbjuds och deras respektive implikationer. För det andra strävar studien efter att urskilja de märkbara gemensamheterna och skillnaderna i AI-tjänster mellan de nämnda sektorerna, vilket framhäver de specifika sätten på vilka AI-integration manifesterar sig inom varje domän i Sverige. Vår studie avslöjar flera gemensamma trender, inklusive AI-driven dataanalys och hantering, automatisering, realtidsövervakning och personalisering. Trots dessa gemensamma drag utnyttjar varje sektor AI på ett unikt sätt. Aspekter som cybersäkerhet inom IT-rådgivning, annonsoptimering inom marknadsföring och granskning av juridiska dokument inom juridiska tjänster betonas. Vidare diskuterar vi praktiska implikationer, såsom ökad operativ effektivitet, potentiella förändringar i professionellt fokus och framväxten av AI-tjänsteleverantörer som oumbärliga mellanhänder. Även om införandet av AI erbjuder många möjligheter introducerar det också utmaningar, såsom demokratisering av specialiserad kunskap, vilket kan störa traditionella verksamhet-kundrelationer. Framtida forskningsvägar och studiebegränsningar diskuteras också. Våra resultat agerar som en hörnsten för både akademisk diskurs och praktisk tillämpning samt belyser de nyanserade effekterna av AI över olika affärsdomäner.