The rapidly changing and asymmetric threat environment that we are facing today has called into question the effectiveness of the traditional approach of hierarchical command and control (C2) structures. Edge organizations have been proposed as a more suitable alternative in the current information age. Beside task-related factors, the characteristics and behavior of the people in an edge organization play an important role in determining the performance of the organization. In this thesis, we look at how the various characteristics of agents influence the efficiency of an edge organization in an intelligence gathering task, using an agent-based simulation model developed in Java. We also look at the attributes of an agent that performs well in an organization, and whether a reward system that encourages individual success in an edge organization is detrimental to the organizationâ s performance. Comparison between edge organizations with similar mean group attributes but different variability in agent characteristics, and comparison between an edge organization and a hierarchical organization are also performed.

This research analyzes the critical logistical requirements of a U.S. Marine Distributed Operations Platoon with the goal of developing a sustainable support plan. The development of Distributed Operations (DO) is one of the Marine Corps' major transformational efforts. The concept is designed to make infantry units more lethal by leveraging training and technology to allow more dispersed and intelligence driven operations. Since a DO platoon will operate far from secure lines of communication and support bases, logistically supporting it will be challenging. Through the use of simulation, statistical analysis, and logistical modeling, this thesis identifies critical factors and capabilities that are important to the sustainment of a DO platoon operating from a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The research concludes with a feasible support concept combined with the means to assess the effect that supporting a DO platoon has on other MEU missions. Results indicate that quick response time and dedicated support assets from the supporting agency, typically augmented by MEU helicopters, are critical to the success of a DO platoon. This limits the flexibility of the MEU aviation element to support other MEU missions. The biggest payoff in improving logistical effectiveness is given by reducing the response time.

Due to their high dependency on highway transportation, Republic of Korea's (ROK's) military and industry suffer from congestion, shortfall of means (convoys in the military case), high cost and increase in environmental damage. Our research develops an optimization model to guide TOK's military planning using multi-modal transportation. We apply our Military Logistics Transportation Model (MLTM) to a realistic scenario. MLTM provides guidance on the optimal frequency of transportation services and the optimal routes for the freight. By comparing the solution of MLTM with current practice for Wartime Transportation Planning (represented by a heuristic method), our MLTM can reduce the transportation cost up to 29%. This is enabled by the activitation of multi-modal transportation and service sharing by multiple demands. We also analyze scenarios in which either sea-port of debarkation (SPOD) where the supply originates has been shut down by enemy attacks. We find that losing Busan SPOD is more damaging than losing Kwangyang SPOD.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The Joint Distance Support and Response (JDSR) is an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) initiative approved by the United States Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). The purpose of ACTD is to exploit mature and maturing technologies and rapidly transit new capability to address military problems, while JDSR aims to establish a common tele-maintenance environment to improve the efficiency of field military services to support war fighters. The operational concept of JDSR is to provide near real time maintenance solutions in an operational fighting environment to enhance situational awareness of platforms and weapon systems operational status for the joint task force commander. This common Joint Service tele-maintenance capability is achieved through the use of advanced commercial technologies integrated with the Services' ongoing development initiatives to provide four integrated functions: remote collaboration, information/knowledge sharing, remote weapon/platform diagnostics, and distant maintenance mentoring at the point of maintenance. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the cost savings and the benefits of implementing the JDSR capability. This thesis will Develop a recommended standard for performing business case analyses of J/ACTDs, including defining the analytic structure required in a business case report. Conduct the JDSR ACTD business case analysis, including a baseline analysis and an extensive sensitivity analysis. / Outstanding Thesis

The primary purpose of this thesis is to provide analysis for future reliability studies. This thesis assesses the value of the Dynamic Sustainment simulation model as a logistics modeling tool and demonstrates data analysis techniques that can potentially be applied to model results. The secondary purpose is to explore the impact on the maintenance system of varying levels of platform reliability as part of an ongoing effort to provide the Office of the Secretary of Defense with credible analysis for future combat system reliability. The effects of a crew repair team having a high or low repair capability; having a fast or slow spare parts delivery speed; having high, medium, or low system reliability; and high or low numbers of mechanics was measured on maintenance man-hours required at the end of a 72-hour scenario. Twenty-four treatments with varying levels of each factor were designed and imposed on four combat arms brigades. The fourth brigade had 70 percent more vehicles than the other three. Significant effects of all factors except the number of mechanics were found with interaction between those factors. Spare parts delivery speed was ranked high in terms of significance followed by crew repair capability. Slow delivery speed reduced maintenance. Low reliability produced the most maintenance man-hours.

Traditionally in the Navy/Marine Corps, in an effort to be proactive and prevent failures, maintenance and inspections are performed at fixed intervals independent of aircraft status. The current preventive maintenance strategy services and replaces certain components on a predetermined schedule. Additionally, the current Navy/Marine Corps aircraft repair process is reactive. When failures occur, the logistics system - maintenance and supply - respond. The Joint Strike Fighter Autonomic Logistics System (ALS) is proposed to be better than the logistics system in place. Under the ALS maintenance is performed only as needed. The idea is to decrease the logistics infrastructure and simultaneously improve logistic performance, by performing maintenance only as needed. Additionally, parts are ordered 'autonomously' without human intervention. The logistics system prepares for an impending failure. In this thesis simulations are developed to compare the traditional repair system and the ALS. An analysis is conducted to show differences in performance in respect to aircraft availability, failures per mission, and maintenance-man-hour-per-flight-hour. The ALS maintenance model dominated traditional maintenance under the study assumptions.

<p> This paper used a qualitative data set of interviews to describe the phenomenon of community in ultrarunning, as well as to define what it means to be an ultrarunner as told from an insider&rsquo;s perspective. The literature review summarized theories including: <i>social group structure, asset based community development, pain community, experience stretching, </i> and <i>positive psychology,</i> and how they form a unique shared experience within the ultrarunning community. In addition to interviews, participants provided a photograph to be utilized for <i>photo elicitation, </i> and a photo analysis by the researcher.</p><p> The results of this study suggest that ultrarunning communities may be structured around shared experience, and specifically the experience of multiple perspectives of ultramarathon racing. Stereotypes of ultrarunners are inaccurate, and everyone is welcome in the community so long as they are helping promote the sport in a positive way. The majority of ultrarunners views their role in the ultrarunning community as motivators and strive to maintain a positive and inclusive sport for current and future ultrarunning community members. The descriptive narratives of shared experiences gathered in this study of the values of the ultrarunning community illustrate how ultrarunning is an inclusive group that promotes the integrity of the sport through multi-faceted roles of ultrarunning events.</p>

<p> In this phenomenographic study I examined the described experiences of participants in a community-based participatory research initiative that employed sensemaking techniques based on narrative inquiry and complexity science. My research, which involved an analysis of 21 interviews, revealed that participants frequently experience confusion and frustration, which provoked anger and defensiveness, as they engaged in the sensemaking process. Some participants move beyond this, particularly if given an opportunity to reflect upon the experience, and begin to identify positive aspects of the process. The sensemaking process can and does produce heightened self-awareness, greater empathy, and understanding of the underlying issue for some. </p><p> Conclusions include (1) Participants would benefit from greater grounding in the underlying theories and their role in the process. This is important because confusion about the process consumed a lot of cognitive energy, and in some cases, disengagement from the process. The defensive response limits acquiring enhanced understanding, resulting in decreased active participation as well as heightened skepticism about the outcome. (2) Reflection at the conclusion of the process aided in the growth of awareness. A number of participants specifically acknowledged the value of their personal reflection. However, there was no opportunity within the sessions for individuals to process their experience or for group reflection. Including a reflection process element into the sensemaking process would make it much more likely that participants will be able to incorporate the new insights into their underlying perceptions. (3) The described experiences of the participants reveal the growth of awareness about the subject in question, with their conceptions closely paralleling other learning processes. Some participants talked about the collective understanding of reality as depicted in the sensemaking processes.</p>

D.Com. (Economics) / Chapter 1 defines the investigated problem and presents the methodology of the study. The phenomenon studied (the dependent variable) is the export performance (as defined in the study) of country A's products in country B's market. The independent variables are the following characteristics : Capital intensity, unskilled labour intensity, skilled labour intensity, use of local raw materials, marketing mix variables, total marketing efforts, size of production & marketing which products have gained, size of foreign agents, type of ownership, demand similarity, duration of existence of exporting firms, duration of activity in the market, product quality ...

M.Com. (Business Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract