One of the most important trends in public management in the United States in recent history has been the spread of goal setting and performance measurement (Rainey 2014, 149), both core elements of a reform movement to make government agencies more transparent, accountable, and results-oriented (Light 1997). In the U.S. Government, the reform was legislated by the Government Performance and Result Act (GPRA) in 1993 and the GPRA Modernization Act (GPRAMA) in 2010 and implemented through Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policy guidance. Agency responses have ranged from limited use of performance information to comply with the law and only within the headquarters, to a voluntary embrace of its spirit and legislative intent and the routine, purposeful use of performance information at all levels to improve organizational learning, management decisions, and performance. The latter represents full institutionalization of performance management reform. Empirical research on institutional and organizational conditions that lead to variance in institutionalization of performance management reforms predominates in state (e.g. Bourdeaux and Chikoto 2008; Taylor 2011; Moynihan 2008), local (e.g. Moynihan and Hawes 2012; Moynihan and Pandey 2010; Yetano 2013) and international contexts (e.g. Ohemeng 2011; Pollitt 2006). For the U.S. Government context, this study seeks to integrate and build on prior research on the effects of institutional or organizational conditions on observable indicators of reform institutionalization in agencies. These indicators include setting goals and performance monitoring (e.g. Lee and Kim 2012), performance information use (e.g. Dull 2009; Moynihan and Kroll 2016; Moynihan and Lavertu 2012) or collaboration (e.g. Choi and Moynihan 2019). Using variable-oriented research designs, none of these studies have been able to characterize causal pathways or account for all conditions simultaneously, thereby limiting their generalizability. Also, conjunctural causation, causal asymmetry, and equifinality are common patterns of causation in organizational settings and in management scholarship; research designs that fail to account for these limit themselves to simple correlations (Furnari et al. 2020; Marx, Cambre, and Rihoux 2013). This study combines correlational and multi-conditional configurational qualitative approaches to assess causality, an unconventional research strategy in the public management literature. The author has additionally been unable to identify a single study that isolated the effect of bureaucratic type (James Q. Wilson 1989) on federal agency institutionalization of performance management. This study addresses this shortfall as well. To further develop this line of research, this study employs the model of institutionalization progression proposed by Tolbert and Zucker (1996) and uses data from a 2017 Government Accountability Office survey of federal managers, an original online interview of 20 federal managers in 12 agencies, and interviews with 6 senior performance system managers and 8 fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration, to conduct a meso-level mixed methods analysis employing hierarchical linear modeling, case research, and fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (FSQCA) to identify which configurations of conditions best explain GPRAMA institutionalization in federal agencies. Among other findings, quantitative models indicated an organizational culture with norms of accountability and empowerment, and organizational capacity for performance evaluation, were by far the strongest individual predictors of reform institutionalization. When a range of theoretical antecedents of institutionalization are combined in qualitative configurational models, the study finds that agencies with immature performance management systems must first build senior leader commitment and supportive attitudes of managers for implementing the reform, and then seek to clarify organizational goals, in order to foster the adoption of performance measures. Agencies that are further along in the process of institutionalization can further the adoption of performance measures by investing in capacity for measuring performance and cultivating a culture of accountability and empowerment. To foster greater use of performance information, the study's findings suggest federal leaders should invest in capacity for performance evaluation and strengthen the credibility of their commitment to performance management reform, but that transforming agency cultures to become more results-oriented, often promoted in the literature, may not be necessary to achieve near-term improvements. Using James Q. Wilson's (1989) typology of bureaucratic designs, the study finds propositions based on it offer analytical leverage to explain variance in patterns of institutionalization of performance management practices between the studied US federal agencies. However, an unexpected finding was that Craft-type agencies are especially likely to use performance information for management decisions. The study contributes 1) U.S. federal context to empirical research on "bottom up" factors mediating "top-down" reform policy implementation, 2) methodological innovation to public management research by employing hierarchical linear modeling to isolate agency-level effects; 3) original use of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to identify configurational pathways to reform policy institutionalization in the U.S. Government; and 4) a transparent technique for classifying federal agencies by Wilson bureaucratic type. The study also offers useful knowledge to legislators, stakeholders, political appointees, and career federal managers to shape the Federal Performance Management Framework and craft tailored management strategies suitable for the characteristics of federal agencies. / Doctor of Philosophy / One of the most important trends in public management in the United States in recent history has been the spread of goal setting and performance measurement (Rainey 2014, 149), both core elements of a reform movement to make government agencies more transparent, accountable, and results-oriented (Light 1997). In the U.S. Government, the reform was legislated by the Government Performance and Result Act (GPRA) in 1993 and the GPRA Modernization Act (GPRAMA) in 2010, and implemented through OMB policy guidance. Some agencies have complied with the letter of the law and used performance information to satisfy minimum requirements of legal compliance and only within the headquarters. Others have voluntarily embraced the spirit and legislative intent of the reform and started to use performance information at all levels to improve organizational learning, management decisions, and performance. The latter represents what this study defines as full institutionalization. Scholars have long investigated the reasons why agencies implement performance management reforms differently and why some establish new routines more fully and permanently than others do. Much of this research has been at the state (e.g. Bourdeaux and Chikoto 2008; Taylor 2011; Moynihan 2008) and local levels (e.g. Moynihan and Hawes 2012; Moynihan and Pandey 2010; Yetano 2013), or conducted in other countries (e.g. Ohemeng 2011; Pollitt 2006). For the U.S. Government context, this study seeks to integrate and build on past research on which institutional and organizational conditions influence forms and degree of institutionalization of performance management practices in agencies. Examples include setting goals and monitoring performance (Lee and Kim 2012), using performance information for management decisions (Dull 2009; Moynihan and Kroll 2016; Moynihan and Lavertu 2012) or collaboration (Choi and Moynihan 2019) . This past research has laid a solid foundation for a new phase of research that goes beyond simple case descriptions and correlational studies of individual variables to identify complex causal pathways across agencies and how these may differ depending on the presence or absence of political forces, resource dependency, oversight, and a host of organizational conditions like goal clarity, senior leadership commitment, an empowered and accountable culture, employee training, and the capacity for evaluation of performance data. The study also takes on a longstanding challenge in the study of public organizations by including agency identity as an additional organizational condition to test theoretical predictions about the adoption of performance management by bureaucracies having differing abilities to observe their outcomes and outputs (Wilson 1989). To further develop this line of research, the field needs a better understanding of what combinations of conditions lead to deep institutionalization of the performance management practices of adopting performance measures and using performance information for management decisions. To contribute this, this study employs both statistical modeling and systematic cross-case comparative analysis of data from a large federal manager survey dataset from 2017 provided by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, an original online survey interview of 20 federal managers in 12 agencies, and interviews with 6 senior performance system managers and 8 fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration. Among other findings, quantitative models indicated an organizational culture with norms of accountability and empowerment, and organizational capacity for performance evaluation, were by far the strongest individual predictors of reform institutionalization. When a range of theoretical antecedents of institutionalization are considered together in qualitative configurational models, the study finds that agencies with immature performance management systems must first build senior leader commitment and supportive attitudes of managers for implementing the reform, and then seek to clarify organizational goals, in order to foster the adoption of performance measures. Agencies that are further along in the process of institutionalization can further the adoption of performance measures by investing in capacity for measuring performance and cultivating a culture of accountability and empowerment. To foster greater use of performance information, the study finds federal leaders should invest in capacity for performance evaluation and strengthen the credibility of their commitment to performance management reform, but that transforming agency cultures to become more results-oriented is not necessary to achieve near-term improvements. Using James Q. Wilson's (1989) typology of bureaucratic designs, the study finds propositions based on it offer analytical leverage to explain variance in patterns of institutionalization of performance management practices between the studied US federal agencies. However, an unexpected finding was that Craft-type agencies are especially likely to use performance information for management decisions. The study contributes 1) U.S. federal context to empirical research on factors affecting policy implementation in complex bureaucracies, 2) methodological innovation to public management research by employing an unconventional statistical technique to study how agency identity impacts on institutionalization; 3) original use of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), a rarely-employed technique in the public management literature, to systematically compare conditions between federal agencies as separate cases to spot causal patterns; and 4) a transparent technique for classifying federal agencies by Wilson bureaucratic type. The study also offers useful knowledge to legislators, stakeholders, political appointees, and career federal managers to shape the Federal Performance Management Framework and craft tailored management strategies suitable for the characteristics of federal agencies.

Submitted by Adriana Alves Rodrigues (aalves@espm.br) on 2017-11-21T11:08:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Carolina Cristina Pinto Prado Araujo.pdf: 1448807 bytes, checksum: f672714f182b088c6ac0e4fb1ed544da (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Alves Rodrigues (aalves@espm.br) on 2017-11-21T11:09:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Carolina Cristina Pinto Prado Araujo.pdf: 1448807 bytes, checksum: f672714f182b088c6ac0e4fb1ed544da (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Cristina Ropero (ana@espm.br) on 2017-11-22T12:54:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Carolina Cristina Pinto Prado Araujo.pdf: 1448807 bytes, checksum: f672714f182b088c6ac0e4fb1ed544da (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-22T13:02:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carolina Cristina Pinto Prado Araujo.pdf: 1448807 bytes, checksum: f672714f182b088c6ac0e4fb1ed544da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-31 / Researches has shown that companies in emerging countries often have a lack in basic technological capabilities. The export of football players has played an important role in the export agenda of the country. In addition, there is a need for studies that try to understand the relationship between capabilities and an external variable in emerging countries. This research contributes to overcoming these gaps by advancing knowledge about what technological capabilities are necessary and sufficient for the football club to succeed in exporting, through the application of an innovative method called Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). It is verified that, International Marketing is a necessary condition for success in exporting, as well as, the conjunction of this factor with planning of the development of players or infrastructure or team of professionals, forms three paths that increase the possibility of export success. The research contributes to the theory of technological capabilities by means of the expansion of the domain and by indicating which combinations of factors are necessary and sufficient for the improvement of the export performance. / Pesquisas têm mostrado que às empresas de países emergentes faltam, com frequência, as capacidades tecnológicas básicas. A exportação de jogadores de futebol tem desempenhado importante papel na pauta de exportação do país. Alia-se a isso, a necessidade de estudos que tentem entender a relação das capacidades e uma variável externa, em países emergentes. Esta pesquisa contribui para a superação dessas lacunas pelo avanço do conhecimento sobre quais capacidades tecnológicas são necessárias e suficientes para que o clube de futebol tenha sucesso na exportação, por meio da aplicação de um método inovador chamado Análise Comparativa Qualitativa (QCA). Verifica-se que Marketing Internacional é condição necessária para que haja sucesso na exportação, bem como, a conjunção deste fator com planejamento do desenvolvimento de jogadores ou infraestrutura ou equipe de profissionais formam três caminhos que ampliam a possibilidade do sucesso exportador. A pesquisa contribui para a teoria de capacidades tecnológicas por intermédio da expansão do domínio e por meio da indicação de quais combinações de fatores são necessárias e suficientes para que haja melhora do desempenho exportador.

Essa dissertação testa a hipótese de que a ação política empresarial organizada faz diferença nas decisões governamentais e, portanto, que grupos de interesse empresariais seriam relevantes para o sucesso político alcançado por setores econômicos no contexto estudado. A análise avalia deliberações decorrentes do Plano Brasil Maior que afetaram 19 setores organizados entre 2011 e 2014. Dez setores são selecionados para a amostra, contrapondo-se os mais bem sucedidos e os menos bem sucedidos, sendo o sucesso a variável dependente. Como variáveis independentes, elencou-se uma série de possíveis causas que podem ter levado ao resultado de sucesso, sendo metade delas relacionadas a aspectos estruturais dos setores (geração de empregos, faturamento, balança comercial e tipo de setor), e a outra metade relacionada à atividade de lobbying (número de associações representativas do setor, estrutura das associações, número de reuniões realizadas com o governo, ação política através da associação). A análise é realizada através da metodologia de Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), que aponta as variáveis determinantes para o sucesso dos grupos no período mencionado. Os resultados da pesquisa condizem com a hipótese levantada e com parte da literatura sobre grupos de interesse, ao constatar que as variáveis estrutura das associações e ação política através da associação são necessárias para o resultado. Isso quer dizer que variáveis ligadas ao lobbying são essenciais para o sucesso do setor, e que a atividade de ação política empresarial faz diferença. / The dissertation tests the hypothesis that the business political action makes a difference in government decisions - and therefore that the business interest groups would be relevant for the political success achieved by the economic sectors in the context. The analysis assesses deliberations arising from the Plano Brasil Maior that affected 19 organized sectors between 2011 and 2014. 10 sectors are selected for the sample, oposing \"most successful\" and \"less successful\" sectors, as \"success\" is the dependent variable. As independent variables, we list a few possible causes that may have led to the successful outcome, half of which are related to structural aspects of the sectors (job generation, income, trade balance and industry type), and the other half is related to the lobbying activity (number of associations representing the sector, the structure of associations, number of meetings with the government, political action through the association). The analysis uses the Qualitative Comparative Analysis method (QCA), which points out variables which were crucial to the groups success in the mentioned period. The results are consistent with the hypothesis and with the interest groups literature, since variables \"structure of associations\" and \"political through the association\" are necessary for the result. This means that variables related to lobbying are essential to the group success, and that business political action activity makes a difference.

Essa dissertação testa a hipótese de que a ação política empresarial organizada faz diferença nas decisões governamentais e, portanto, que grupos de interesse empresariais seriam relevantes para o sucesso político alcançado por setores econômicos no contexto estudado. A análise avalia deliberações decorrentes do Plano Brasil Maior que afetaram 19 setores organizados entre 2011 e 2014. Dez setores são selecionados para a amostra, contrapondo-se os mais bem sucedidos e os menos bem sucedidos, sendo o sucesso a variável dependente. Como variáveis independentes, elencou-se uma série de possíveis causas que podem ter levado ao resultado de sucesso, sendo metade delas relacionadas a aspectos estruturais dos setores (geração de empregos, faturamento, balança comercial e tipo de setor), e a outra metade relacionada à atividade de lobbying (número de associações representativas do setor, estrutura das associações, número de reuniões realizadas com o governo, ação política através da associação). A análise é realizada através da metodologia de Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), que aponta as variáveis determinantes para o sucesso dos grupos no período mencionado. Os resultados da pesquisa condizem com a hipótese levantada e com parte da literatura sobre grupos de interesse, ao constatar que as variáveis estrutura das associações e ação política através da associação são necessárias para o resultado. Isso quer dizer que variáveis ligadas ao lobbying são essenciais para o sucesso do setor, e que a atividade de ação política empresarial faz diferença. / The dissertation tests the hypothesis that the business political action makes a difference in government decisions - and therefore that the business interest groups would be relevant for the political success achieved by the economic sectors in the context. The analysis assesses deliberations arising from the Plano Brasil Maior that affected 19 organized sectors between 2011 and 2014. 10 sectors are selected for the sample, oposing \"most successful\" and \"less successful\" sectors, as \"success\" is the dependent variable. As independent variables, we list a few possible causes that may have led to the successful outcome, half of which are related to structural aspects of the sectors (job generation, income, trade balance and industry type), and the other half is related to the lobbying activity (number of associations representing the sector, the structure of associations, number of meetings with the government, political action through the association). The analysis uses the Qualitative Comparative Analysis method (QCA), which points out variables which were crucial to the groups success in the mentioned period. The results are consistent with the hypothesis and with the interest groups literature, since variables \"structure of associations\" and \"political through the association\" are necessary for the result. This means that variables related to lobbying are essential to the group success, and that business political action activity makes a difference.

Les fils moléculaires, systèmes organiques conjugués incorporant plusieurs greffons organométalliques, constituent une famille de composés de grand intérêt pour l'électronique moléculaire. Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit s'inscrivent dans la suite logique de précédentes études de ces complexes de métaux de transition et constituent une analyse théorique, s'appuyant sur la fonctionnelle de la densité, de l'arrangement structural et des propriétés physiques de nouveaux assemblages moléculaires aux propriétés électroniques ou optiques originales. Ce manuscrit se divise en deux parties distinctes. La première traite de l'emploi des fils moléculaires organométalliques dans le domaine des automates cellulaires quantiques, un nouveau paradigme pour l'électronique fondé sur la localisation des charges de cellules moléculaires comme digit binaire et sur les répulsions coulombiennes comme moyen de transfert de l'information. Le concept, le moyen d'application à l'échelle moléculaire et l'étude de différents composés virtuels y sont développés. La seconde partie porte sur l'introduction de greffons organométalliques au sein de composés ayant des propriétés optiques linéaires et non linéaires et leur influence sur ces dernières. Deux familles de composés ont été étudiés : des systèmes émissifs à base de cycle phosphole et des dendrimères organométalliques à cœur porphyrine. / Molecular wires, conjugated organic systems bearing several organometallic fragments, form a family of compounds of great interest for molecular electronics. The research works in this manuscript follow on from previous studies of transition metal complexes and constitute a density functional theory-based analysis of both structural arrangement and physical properties of new molecular devices, with unusual electronic or optical properties. This manuscript is divided in two parts. The first one concerns the application of molecular organometallic wires in the quantum cellular automata field, a new paradigm for electronics based on the charge configuration of a molecular cell as a binary digit and using Coulombic repulsion as an information transfer mode. Both the concept, its application to molecular scale et the study of several virtual compounds are discussed. The second part focuses on the incorporation of organometallic fragments in optical active compounds with linear or nonlinear properties, and the influence of metals on those properties. Two compound families have been studied: phosphole-based conjugated emitters and organometallic porphyrine-based dendrimers.

The thesis contributes a more lucid understanding of the potential for interaction amongst different facets of sustainability in the context of building design, providing evidence that the assimilation of diverse and often seemingly unconnected aspects of sustainability is not the unassuming process implicit in the current sustainability discourse. Working inductively and with a focus on two sustainable principles (the current UK government sponsored sustainability agenda, low carbon design, and an alternative interpretation, adaptable design, whose literature is framed in a sometimes complementary, at others antagonistic fashion to the former), this thesis develops an understanding of interaction in building design processes, using publically available documentary evidence and a comparative case-study approach. The thesis describes and categorises instances of interaction arising in the twenty-three case study building design processes, demonstrating both the empirical existence of interaction and improving the theoretical conceptualisation beyond basic ideas of synergy and conflict. Interaction is noted as arising from both technical incompatibilities and project actors interpretation of the agendas themselves: a socio-technical issue. The thesis distinguishes multiple approaches adopted by design teams to managing the entanglement encountered. Interpreting these interaction strategies in their case context, factors driving the selection of a particular approach are inductively derived and combined to form a tentative conceptual framework. This framework aides a systematic comparison across project cases, facilitated by the crisp set qualitative comparative analysis (csQCA) technique. Projects are described as configurations of the identified conditions and, by operationalizing interaction in a manner consistent with case study observation and the existing literatures of adaptable and low carbon design, assessed for successfulness in reconciling the agendas. The technique identifies three causal pathways to successful reconciliations of adaptable and low carbon design. Finally, the thesis makes a methodological contribution, through an evaluation of the application of QCA to a novel problem space (socio-technical, project-orientated problems of the built environment). Through the richness of documentary data obtained for study, it also demonstrates the potential effectiveness of documents as primary sources in the field of building design, where they are often relegated to a supporting role.

Political opportunity theory suggests that social movement organizations will increase political action efforts during times of opportunity, such as economic crises. On the other hand, business cycle theory predicts that economic crisis will be detrimental to unions, reducing membership and subsequently dues and power. This dissertation involves historical case studies of innovative and conservative labor unions, comparing organizational behavior during the Great Depression and the economic crisis of 2008. The dissertation also includes a QCA analysis of ten labor unions' political, organizing, and bargaining activity during the crisis of 2008. How do labor unions adjust their organizing strategies during an economic crisis? What tactics do unions use to redefine their role in the economy through social policy? What organizational characteristics define unions' varied responses to the crisis? This research found that characteristics consistent with organizational flexibility were consistent with the ability to identify and respond to the political opportunity present in economic crisis. While some unions decreased bargaining and organizing activity to shift resources towards political activity, this was not always the case. It also contributes a systematic description and analysis of typical labor union political activity. The data suggest that leader-based political action is a primary locus of activity, demanding further investigation into the varied campaigns and strategies unions take. More research is necessary to understand the interaction between the organizational political activity of labor unions and the political beliefs of union members.

The main goal of the thesis has been the study of regional poverty with a multidimensional approach. The existing investigations over poverty are characterized by a remarkable heterogeneity in regard of the application of different methods and approaches. In general, such researches are usually focusing on attributes or deficiencies that individuals share in a given physical unit (country, region, locality). The adoption of a paradigm about poverty implies assuming certain values and visions of the world. Colombia is a country with a particular history, conditioned by the existence of an armed conflict of more than fifty years. This circumstance has been able to affect the development and the growth of regions. Therefore, this factor would be a part of the possible explanation, yet not the only one, of the presence of poverty in different parts of the country. This thesis aims to provide a poverty approach based on three dimensions: economic, institutional and social. The technic Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) will be used to explain which are the conditions that are found in poor regions and which may help to reduce the levels of poverty over time. A static fsQCA and a dynamic fsQCA are formulated in order to observe the evolution of poverty from the causal configurations in each one of the dimensions proposed in this study. It is concluded that the configurations are multi-dimensional and, in many of them, institutional factors such as transparency and the absence of violence in rural areas, play a fundamental role in explaining the phenomenon of poverty. / El objetivo principal de esta tesis ha sido el estudio de la pobreza regional con un enfoque multidimensional. Las investigaciones existentes sobre la pobreza se caracterizan por una notable heterogeneidad en cuanto a la aplicación de diferentes métodos y enfoques. Por lo general, tales investigaciones se centran en los atributos o carencias que los individuos comparten en una determinada unidad física (país, región, localidad). La adopción de un paradigma sobre la pobreza implica asumir determinados valores y visiones del mundo. Colombia es un país con una historia particular, condicionada por la existencia de un conflicto armado de más de cincuenta años. Esta circunstancia ha podido afectar el desarrollo y crecimiento de las regiones. Por tanto, este factor sería una parte de la posible explicación, aunque no la única, de la presencia de pobreza en diversas partes del territorio nacional. Esta tesis pretende aportar un enfoque de pobreza sobre la base de tres dimensiones: económica, institucional y social. Se hará uso de la técnica de Análisis Cualitativo Comparativo (QCA en sus siglas en inglés) para explicar cuáles son las condiciones que están presentes en las regiones que son pobres y qué condiciones permiten reducir los niveles de pobreza en el tiempo. Se formula un fsQCA estático y un fsQCA dinámico con el fin de observar la evolución de la pobreza a partir de las configuraciones causales en cada una de las dimensiones propuestas en este estudio. Se concluye que las configuraciones son multidimensionales y, en muchas de ellas, factores institucionales como la transparencia y la ausencia de violencia en zonas rurales, cumplen un papel fundamental en la explicación del fenómeno de la pobreza. / L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi doctoral ha estat estudiar la pobresa regional adoptant un enfocament multidimensional. Les investigacions prèvies sobre la pobresa es caracteritzen per la seva heterogeneïtat tant en el mètode de recerca emprat com en l'enfocament de partida. En general, aquestes investigacions prèvies s'han focalitzat en els atributs o les mancances que els individus d'una unitat física concreta comparteixen (país, regió, municipi). L'adopció d'un paradigma sobre la pobresa implica assumir uns valors  i una visió de la realitat concrets. Colòmbia és un país que té una història particular, condicionada de manera decisiva per l'existència d'un conflicte armat que dura més de cinquanta anys. Aquesta circumstància ha pogut afectar el desenvolupament així com el creixement de les diferents regions. Per tant, aquesta circumstància seria, entre d'altres, un factor explicatiu de l'existència de pobresa en diferents parts del territori nacional. Aquesta tesi aporta un enfocament sobre la pobresa que es fonamenta en tres dimensions: econòmica, institucional i social.  S'empra la tècnica d'anàlisi qualitatiu comparat (QCA en les seves sigles de l'anglès) per explicar quines són les condicions que estan presents en les regions que són pobres i quines condicions permeten reduir els nivells de pobresa amb el temps. Es formula un FsQCA estàtic i un fsQCA dinàmic amb la finalitat d'observar l'evolució de la pobresa a partir de les configuracions causals en cadascuna de les dimensions proposades en aquest estudi. La conclusió principal és que les configuracions son multidimensionals i, en molts casos, factors institucionals com ara la transparència i l'absència de violència en les zones rurals compleixen un paper fonamental en l'explicació del fenomen de la pobresa. / Nieto Alemán, PA. (2017). Análisis de los factores del desarrollo regional inclusivo a través de la metodología fsQCA [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/86178 / TESIS

Under what conditions has Russia adopted assertive foreign policies towards neighbouring states in order to pursue regional primacy? Scholars usually map Russia’s foreign policy according to theoretical approaches that are generated either from the individual, the state or the structural levels of analysis. However, each of them, taken individually, cannot account for Russia’s foreign policy across space and time. This study analyses the complex interplay between causal factors by developing a neoclassical realist model of Russia’s pursue of regional primacy in the contested neighbourhood with the EU. This study employs fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) at a cross-case level and Process Tracing at within-case level. fsQCA aims to test the explanatory value of systemic conditions such as external pressure in the regional neighbourhood by other regional powers and membership of target states in a military alliance (i.e. NATO); and of domestic conditions such as Russia’s status recognition by the West, and Russia’s state capacity. This analysis is based on 27 cases of Russia’s interaction with post-Soviet states between 1992 and 2015. Process Tracing is employed as a confirmatory method for within-case analysis.The results of the study suggest that Russia was inclined to adopt assertive foreign policy instruments, particularly military intervention, if external pressure from other great powers in a neighbouring country was combined with Russia’s high state capacity to mobilise resources. Due to NATO membership by neighbouring states, Russia resorted to coercive instruments rather than to direct use of force to maintain regional primacy. Finally, from the comparative process tracing, it emerged that, besides international security concerns and domestic constraints related to Russia’s status recognition, the two violent conflicts of Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia/Abkhazia in the 1990s, which were of equal threat to Russia’s regional primacy in the South Caucasus, bore a different ‘iconic significance’ to Russia.

Semiconductor industry seems to approach a wall where physical geometry and power density issues could possibly render the device fabrication infeasible. Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is a new nanotechnology that claims to offer the potential of manufacturing even denser integrated circuits, which can operate at high frequencies and low power consumption. In QCA technology, the signal propagation occurs as a result of electrostatic interaction among the electrons as opposed to flow to the electrons in a wire. The basic building block of QCA technology is a QCA cell which encodes binary information with the relative position of electrons in it. A QCA cell can be used either as a wire or as logic. In QCA, the directionality of the signal flow is controlled by phase-shifted electric field generated on a separate layer than QCA cell layer. This process is called clocking of QCA circuits. The logic realization using regular structures such as PLAs have played a significant role in the semiconductor field due to their manufacturability, behavioral predictability and the ease of logic mapping. Along with these benefits, regular structures in QCA's would allow for uniform QCA clocking structure. The clocking structure is important because the pioneers of QCA technology propose it to be fabricated in CMOS technology. This thesis presents a detailed design implementation and a comparative analysis of logic realization using regular structures, namely Shannon-Lattices and PLAs for QCAs. A software tool was developed as a part of this research, which automatically generates complete QCA-Shannon-Lattice and QCA-PLA layouts for single-output Boolean functions based on an input macro-cell library. The equations for latency and throughput for the new QCA-PLA and QCA-Shannon-Lattice design implementations were also formulated. The correctness of the equations was verified by performing simulations of the tool-generate layouts with QCADesigner. A brief design trade-off analysis between the tool-generated regular structure implementation and the unstructured custom layout in QCA is presented for the full-adder circuit.