This paper presents a quantitative comparison of perfective and corrective software maintenance performed by a large military contractor using a formal program release process. The analysis techniques used in the comparison make use of basic data collected throughout the maintenance process. The data collected allow the impact of performing perfective and corrective maintenance to be quantitatively compared. Both parametric and non-parametric statistical techniques are applied to test relationships between and among process and product data. The results provide valuable information for predicting future process and product characteristics, assessing perfective and corrective maintenance impact, and quantitatively comparing the impact of both types of requirements volatility. The results also support one common rule of thumb, cast some doubt on another, and lead to the formulation of a new one.

The thesis deals with the evaluation of IT processes maturity. In the theoretical part, management of information technologies and methods of assessment in the organization are described. Four methods are selected and used for the maturity assessment of the Release Management process in Česká pojišťovna a.s. In the practical section, a questionnaire is evaluated and the Release Management process maturity level is set. The main objective of this thesis is to evaluate maturity of Release Management process and suggest possible improvements. The objective was achieved through the completed questionnaires of Česká pojišťovna a.s. employees and subsequent consultations with the process owner. The thesis consists of six parts. The first chapter deals with the management of information technology in an organization. The second chapter is devoted to the evaluation of process maturity and description of the selected methods of maturity evaluation. The third chapter maps processes according to ITIL, Cobit 4.1 Cobit 5 and provide their introduction. The fourth chapter introduce the organization of Česká pojišťovna a.s.. The fifth chapter describes the specific process Migrating applications in the Česká pojišťovna a.s.. The sixth chapter focuses on the actual comparison of individual methods of evaluating and interpretation of the results.

Bakgrund: Patienter med svår smärtproblematik utsätts för ett stort lidande och risken för psykiska- och fysiska komplikationer ökar. För att behandla dessa patienter på bästa sätt krävs adekvat smärtbehandling. För att kunna följa upp och utvärdera både smärtan och smärtbehandlingen är det viktigt med en god smärtdokumentation. Syfte: Att studera smärtdokumentationen hos tidigare inneliggande patienter med smärtproblematik som under denna tid blivit konsulterade av Smärtcentrum på Akademiska sjukhuset, samt jämföra dokumentationen mellan de avdelningar som studerats. Metod: Studiens forskningsdesign är en kvantitativ retrospektiv empirisk studie där journaler för patienter vars vård Smärtcentrum har varit delaktiga i under 2015 utgjorde datan för studien. Det var 30 ortopedjournaler och 28 onkologjournaler som granskades. Resultat: Resultatet visade att patienterna fick sin smärta dokumenterad två gånger eller färre under en period på tretton dagar. Smärtskattning dokumenterades mest frekvent. Något signifikant samband mellan längden på patienternas vårdtid och frekvens i smärtdokumentation kunde inte konstateras. Det fanns en skillnad i frekvensen av smärtdokumentationen mellan onkologavdelningarna och ortopedavdelningarna. Slutsats: Frekvensen av smärtdokumentationen på de granskade avdelningarna visade sig vara undermålig och följer därmed inte de riktlinjer som finns. Detta försvårar arbetet för både konsultverksamheten samt personal på berörda avdelningar att få en helhetsbild kring patienternas smärtproblematik.  Risken ökar för både komplikationer och lidande hos patienterna. Ytterligare forskning krävs för att undersöka vad anledningen till den bristande dokumentationen är. / Background: Patients with severe pain are subjected to great suffering and the risk of psychological- and physical complications increases. To treat these patients optimally it requires adequate pain management. In order to monitor and evaluate both the pain and the pain treatment it is important with pain documentation. Objective: To study the documentation of pain on previously hospitalized patients with pain problems who during that time were consulted by the Pain Centre at Akademiska hospital, as well as compare the documentation between the included wards. Method: The design is a quantitative retrospective empirical study of medical records of patients consulted by Pain Centre at Akademiska hospital during 2015. The final sample consisted of 30 records from the orthopedic clinic and 28 from oncology clinic. Results: The results showed that the hospitalized patients had their pain documented less than twice during a period of thirteen days. Pain Measurment was documented most frequently. No significant correlation between the length of care and frequency of pain documentation could be found. There was a difference in the frequency of pain documentation between the included wards. Conclusion: The frequency of pain documentation for the consulted patients in the included wards at Akademiska hospital proved to be deficient and does not follow the guidelines. This complicates the work of the health care staff, and the monitoring and evaluation of the treatment. This also increases the risk of complications and suffering of the patients. Further research is required to investigate the reason of the lack of documentation.

Submitted by Fabricia Fialho Reginato (fabriciar) on 2015-06-26T23:28:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FabianodeFaveri.pdf: 1884088 bytes, checksum: 0ae1239ef4be06607d58cf7627341f11 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-26T23:28:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FabianodeFaveri.pdf: 1884088 bytes, checksum: 0ae1239ef4be06607d58cf7627341f11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-27 / Nenhuma / Na busca da melhoria geral dos cuidados de saúde, organizações em diferentes países vêm adotando o Lean Thinking. Tal método consiste em uma abordagem sistemática de identificação e eliminação de desperdícios dos processos produtivos, enquanto tem o seu foco principal em agregar a qualidade e entregar ao cliente somente o que ele considera como valor. OBJETIVO: identificar os diferentes tipos de desperdícios existentes e sugestões de melhorias, no serviço de emergência de um hospital privado de Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. MÉTODO: trata-se de um estudo de caso realizado em um serviço de emergência de um hospital da cidade de Caxias do Sul. A amostra foi constituída de 14 profissionais que atuam no serviço de emergência, além de 68 fluxos de atendimentos de pacientes. Para coleta de dados foi realizada a observação dos fluxos de trabalho associada à realização de grupo focal. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados através da estatística descritiva e os dados qualitativos através da análise de conteúdo. RESULTADOS: dos oito tipos de desperdícios abordados pela metodologia Lean Thinking, foram identificados no serviço sete delas: desperdício por espera, transporte desnecessário, movimentação desnecessária, inventários desnecessários, processamento inapropriado, defeitos e desperdício de potencial humano. CONCLUSÃO: A aplicação do Lean Thinking no serviço de emergência facilitou a determinação do que realmente é valor agregado, para o usuário do serviço. Sem sombra de dúvida metodologia facilita a visualização dos processos de trabalho e fluxos do paciente, oportunizando a análise crítica de todas as etapas para a busca da redução dos desperdícios existentes. / In search of the general improvement of health care organizations in different countries are adopting Lean Thinking. this method consists of a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating waste in production processes, while it has its main focus on adding quality and deliver to the customer only what he sees as value. OBJECTIVE: To identify the different types of existing waste and suggestions for improvements in the emergency department of a private hospital in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHODS: This is a case study with a qualitative approach, performed in an emergency department a hospital in the city of Caxias do Sul the study sample consisted of 14 professionals working in the emergency department, and 68 flows care of patients. Data collection was conducted observation of workflows associated with conducting focus group. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data through content analysis. RESULTS: of the eight types of waste covered by the methodology Lean Thinking, we identified the existence of seven of these, which were wasted by waiting, unnecessary transport and handling, inventory, unnecessary, inappropriate processing, defects and waste of human potential. CONCLUSION: The application of Lean Thinking in the emergency department facilitated the determination of what is actually added value to the service user. Undoubtedly methodology facilitates the visualization of processes and work flows of the patient, providing opportunities for critical analysis of all the steps to search for existing waste reduction.

<p>The present thesis addresses various means of reducing inflammatory responses associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and retransfusion of pericardial suction blood (PSB) during cardiac surgery.</p><p>Four (I-IV) prospective randomised controlled clinical trials comprising 475 patients were performed in the following areas: effects of heparin coating on measures of clinical outcome and memory function (I, II), inflammatory reactions in PSB and its systemic effects after retransfusion using cardiotomy suction or cell salvage (III) and effects of retransfusion of PSB on memory function and release patterns of protein S100B (IV).</p><p>The use of heparin coated CPB-circuits was associated with a decrease of postoperative blood loss (I, II), transfusion requirements (II), shorter stay in hospital (I) decreased postoperative ventilator time (I), lower incidences of atrial fibrillation (II) and neurological deviations (I), reduction in releases of protein S100B (I, II) and lower postoperative creatinine elevation (I, II).</p><p>PSB contained high concentrations of cytokines, complements, myeloperoxidase, free plasma haemoglobin and protein S100B (III, IV). Retransfusion using cardiotomy suction increased the systemic concentrations of free plasma haemoglobin and protein S100B, whereas retransfusion using cell salvage caused no detectable systemic effects (III, IV). CPB was associated with a small but significant release of protein S100B, despite elimination of PSB-contained protein S100B using cell salvage (IV).</p><p>Subtle signs of impaired memory function were identified that were not associated with the use of heparin coated CPB-circuits (I, II) or retransfusion of PSB (IV).</p><p>Key words: cardiopulmonary bypass, oxygenators, heparin, S100 proteins, blood loss, haemostasis, memory, outcome and process assessment.</p>

The present thesis addresses various means of reducing inflammatory responses associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and retransfusion of pericardial suction blood (PSB) during cardiac surgery. Four (I-IV) prospective randomised controlled clinical trials comprising 475 patients were performed in the following areas: effects of heparin coating on measures of clinical outcome and memory function (I, II), inflammatory reactions in PSB and its systemic effects after retransfusion using cardiotomy suction or cell salvage (III) and effects of retransfusion of PSB on memory function and release patterns of protein S100B (IV). The use of heparin coated CPB-circuits was associated with a decrease of postoperative blood loss (I, II), transfusion requirements (II), shorter stay in hospital (I) decreased postoperative ventilator time (I), lower incidences of atrial fibrillation (II) and neurological deviations (I), reduction in releases of protein S100B (I, II) and lower postoperative creatinine elevation (I, II). PSB contained high concentrations of cytokines, complements, myeloperoxidase, free plasma haemoglobin and protein S100B (III, IV). Retransfusion using cardiotomy suction increased the systemic concentrations of free plasma haemoglobin and protein S100B, whereas retransfusion using cell salvage caused no detectable systemic effects (III, IV). CPB was associated with a small but significant release of protein S100B, despite elimination of PSB-contained protein S100B using cell salvage (IV). Subtle signs of impaired memory function were identified that were not associated with the use of heparin coated CPB-circuits (I, II) or retransfusion of PSB (IV). Key words: cardiopulmonary bypass, oxygenators, heparin, S100 proteins, blood loss, haemostasis, memory, outcome and process assessment.

Many software companies face such problems as projects being behind schedule, exceeding the budget, customer dissatisfaction with product quality. Most of the problems arise due to immature software process of the company. The most popular process assessment models worldwide are ISO/IEC 15504 and CMMI. Companies seeking wider official recognition choose between these two models. Companies face the problem that different customers require process assessment according to different models. Therefore, it is important for companies to have an instrument that would transform company’s assessment results according to one process assessment model to another model without actual reassessment each time. The transitional process assessment model proposed in the dissertation allows the companies in the automotive, defence, space, medical, and other industries to have assessment results according to different process assessment models by performing only single process assessment. The presented method for TPAM development could be used developing transitional process assessment models in other domains. For example, service companies could implement a transitional model covering CMMI-SVC and ISO/IEC 15504-8 assessment models, and companies working in other areas could implement a transitional model covering Enterprise SPICE and FAA-iCMM assessment models. / Dauguma programinę įrangą kuriančių įmonių susiduria su problemomis: projektai vėluoja, viršijamas biudžetas, klientai nepatenkinti produktų kokybe. Daugelis problemų kyla dėl nebrandaus programų kūrimo proceso, pagal kurį įmonė įgyvendina projektus. Populiariausi pasaulyje programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modeliai yra ISO/IEC 15504 ir CMMI. Įmonės, norėdamos būti oficialiai pripažintos platesnėje aplinkoje, renkasi vieną iš šių dviejų modelių. Įmonės susiduria su problema, kad skirtingi užsakovai reikalauja skirtingų procesų vertinimo modelių. Todėl įmonėms yra aktualu turėti instrumentą, kuris atvaizduotų jos vertinimo rezultatus iš vieno procesų vertinimo modelio į kitą, neatliekant kaskart realaus įmonės procesų vertinimo. Disertacijoje pateiktas tarpinis programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modelis yra instrumentas įmonėms, siekiančioms kurti programų sistemas automobilių, krašto apsaugos, kosmoso, medicinos ir kitose pramonės šakose, gauti vertinimo rezultatus pagal įvairius procesų vertinimo modelius, atliekant vieną procesų vertinimą. Pagal pasiūlytą tarpinio programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modelio kūrimo metodą galima kurti tarpinius modelius ir kitų sričių procesams vertinti. Pavyzdžiui, galima konstruoti tarpinį modelį paslaugas teikiančioms organizacijoms, apimantį CMMI-SVC ir ISO/IEC 15504-8 vertinimo modelius, arba tarpinį modelį bet kokia veikla užsiimančioms organizacijoms, apimantį Enterprise SPICE ir FAA-iCMM vertinimo modelius.

Dauguma programinę įrangą kuriančių įmonių susiduria su problemomis: projektai vėluoja, viršijamas biudžetas, klientai nepatenkinti produktų kokybe. Daugelis problemų kyla dėl nebrandaus programų kūrimo proceso, pagal kurį įmonė įgyvendina projektus. Populiariausi pasaulyje programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modeliai yra ISO/IEC 15504 ir CMMI. Įmonės, norėdamos būti oficialiai pripažintos platesnėje aplinkoje, renkasi vieną iš šių dviejų modelių. Įmonės susiduria su problema, kad skirtingi užsakovai reikalauja skirtingų procesų vertinimo modelių. Todėl įmonėms yra aktualu turėti instrumentą, kuris atvaizduotų jos vertinimo rezultatus iš vieno procesų vertinimo modelio į kitą, neatliekant kaskart realaus įmonės procesų vertinimo. Disertacijoje pateiktas tarpinis programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modelis yra instrumentas įmonėms, siekiančioms kurti programų sistemas automobilių, krašto apsaugos, kosmoso, medicinos ir kitose pramonės šakose, gauti vertinimo rezultatus pagal įvairius procesų vertinimo modelius, atliekant vieną procesų vertinimą. Pagal pasiūlytą tarpinio programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modelio kūrimo metodą galima kurti tarpinius modelius ir kitų sričių procesams vertinti. Pavyzdžiui, galima konstruoti tarpinį modelį paslaugas teikiančioms organizacijoms, apimantį CMMI-SVC ir ISO/IEC 15504-8 vertinimo modelius, arba tarpinį modelį bet kokia veikla užsiimančioms organizacijoms, apimantį Enterprise SPICE ir FAA-iCMM vertinimo modelius. / Many software companies face such problems as projects being behind schedule, exceeding the budget, customer dissatisfaction with product quality. Most of the problems arise due to immature software process of the company. The most popular process assessment models worldwide are ISO/IEC 15504 and CMMI. Companies seeking wider official recognition choose between these two models. Companies face the problem that different customers require process assessment according to different models. Therefore, it is important for companies to have an instrument that would transform company’s assessment results according to one process assessment model to another model without actual reassessment each time. The transitional process assessment model proposed in the dissertation allows the companies in the automotive, defence, space, medical, and other industries to have assessment results according to different process assessment models by performing only single process assessment. The presented method for TPAM development could be used developing transitional process assessment models in other domains. For example, service companies could implement a transitional model covering CMMI-SVC and ISO/IEC 15504-8 assessment models, and companies working in other areas could implement a transitional model covering Enterprise SPICE and FAA-iCMM assessment models.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-94).

Thesis--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 101-105.