Many real-world vehicle routing problems are dynamic optimization problems, with customer requests arriving over time, requiring a repeated reoptimization. In this paper, we consider a dynamic vehicle routing problem where one additional customer arrives at a beforehand unknown location when the vehicles are already under way. Our objective is to maximize the probability that the additional customer can be integrated into one of the otherwise fixed tours without violating time constraints. This is achieved by letting the vehicles wait at suitable locations during their tours, thus influencing the position of the vehicles at the time when the new customer arrives. For the cases of one and two vehicles, we derive theoretical results about the best waiting strategies. The general problem is shown to be NP-complete. Several deterministic waiting strategies and an evolutionary algorithm to optimize the waiting strategy are proposed and compared empirically. It is demonstrated that a proper waiting strategy can significantly increase the probability of being able to service the additional customer, at the same time reducing the average detour to serve that customer.

Almost half of the major natural disasters happening in the world have to do with flooding. The number of such events has been increasing over the years due to climate change combined with an accelerated and uncontrolled urban growth. My thesis adresses vulnerability in Latin-American cities affected by floods. Adapting to the temporary floods and strengthening the community social and economically to reduce vulnerability and promote a more integrated development .

This dissertation investigates the limitations on the emergence of the Angolan stock market. It also examines the strategies developed by sub-Saharan African stock exchanges when facing similar issues. It uses information obtained from participants to recommend actions to be taken by the Angolan government and institutions related to capital markets. The analysis shows that some prerequisites must be prepared to establish any equity market and enhance the continued development of capital markets. Determinants of capital markets show that macroeconomic and institutional approaches are critical tools for stock market development. Results of this study tell us that stock markets do not follow a linear path. No such formula exists to apply to have the same results as other geographies because market characteristics are different. However, some conditions must be conceived to host the stock market. Additionally, the collaboration of the government, regulators, policymakers, and other stakeholders has been crucial for developing capital markets.

For technical systems in the electricity and paper and pulpindustries, asset management is emerging as a new approachaddressing how to exploit physical assets with long operativelives in the most profitably way. An important problem forasset management staff is knowing when to carry out areplacement or renewal. This is a difficult question whichrequires taking into consideration parameters of totallydifferent natures–e.g. reliability data, operatingcosts, condition information from technical systems, theenvironment and rules and regulation. An incorrect estimate ofa residual lifetime can result in a premature renewal withaccompanying high capital costs. If, however, renewal isdelayed, a breakdown may occur which can cause major damage totechnical equipment and a loss of income due to outages. This work presents a formal model that calculates expectedcosts of different long-term strategies when managing technicalsystems. It is shown that with relatively few inputs, which inmany cases are easy to collect or estimate, a good picture canbe developed that shows the amount of resources a company willneed in the future in terms of renewals of their technicalsystems. The foundation for this work is a case study and aliterature review; the objective was to study what methods andmodels are in use today when estimating residual lifetime oftechnical systems. Also, aspects that influence long-term assetmanagement were investigated. Lessons learned from the casestudy and literature review were then used to develop a dynamicmodel, the Dynamic Lifetime Analysis model (DLA model). This model is based on a probabilistic and dynamic riskanalysis of a technical system, linking different aspects ofrisk management strategies to specific characteristics of thephysical system. Furthermore it is shown how this model,coupled with specific value judgments, can be used to designoptimal long-term strategies. When taking more than onetechnical system under consideration the model shows that it isnot always the most effective, from a system viewpoint, torenew it too close to a possible breakdown. If there is aperiod predicted to incur high investment, it can, at times, bebetter to do an early renewal thereby maintaining resources ata constant level. The thesis also describes how to work withlong-term strategic decisions in a structural manner in orderfor the actors on a deregulated market to stay competitive. <b>Key Words:</b>Residual lifetime estimation, Assetmanagement, Maintenance, Technical systems in power and pulp-and paper industries, Long terms renewal strategies. / NR 20140805

This paper aims to identify the perceptions of the main stakeholders of IBM about the external communication strategies that have been applied on the potential use of disruptive technologies. A qualitative methodology with a case study approach was applied. Through the homogeneous sampling technique, six semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of IBM and one focus group with 11 university students were conducted. As a result, there is interest in Peruvians to know what disruptive technologies are; however, its dissemination has a commercial focus that is not generating development or relevant solutions in the local market. It is necessary that specialists and the media disseminate information that does motivate their use in a real and effective way.

A preliminary review of the literature on coping revealed a gap in the existing knowledge of coping, particularly in the context of an economic downturn. Coping is a process that unfolds in the context of a situation (Lazarus&Folkman, 1984). Somerfield and McCrae (2000:624) appeal to researchers to focus on coping responses to specific situations within a specific context instead of general coping strategies, in this case, coping strategies for leaders during an economic downturn. A grounded theory methodology within a constructivist-interpretive paradigm was employed in this study. The population consisted of individual South African mining leaders employed by three mines. For the purposes of the study, ‘mining leaders’ were defined as members of a mine or mining group’s South African executive committee. Sampling took place on an institutional (mine) level, as well as on an individual (mining leader) level, although the unit of analysis was individual leaders. Mines involved in beneficiating a variety of commodities were selected purposively. Individual leaders (executives) within each company were also selected purposively from the executive committees to form the sample of individual sampling units. Data were obtained through intensive interviews with one pilot respondent and a further seven respondents. Data was analysed using grounded theory methodology, resulting in a conceptual framework of coping strategies for leaders during an economic downturn. The literature was then linked to the conceptual framework developed in this study, showing the relevance of the findings in relation to the existing body of knowledge in organisational behaviour and coping. The findings provided some understanding of how leaders cope during an economic downturn. In addition, this study managed to contribute methodologically to the field of coping research by demonstrating that alternative methodologies (in this case, grounded theory) using narrative approaches (interviews) can uncover ways of coping that are not included in traditional coping inventories. This methodology also allowed for a more in-depth understanding of the phenomenon being studied in the particular context of an economic downturn, in answer to Somerfield and McCrae’s (2000:624) appeal. Recommendations were made to assist leaders to cope better during an economic downturn in turbulent times. Opportunities for further research were also highlighted. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

Utifrån ett elevperspektiv har syftet med examensarbetet varit att ta reda på vilka strategier eleverna använder sig av när de har två språk, modersmålet danska och andraspråket svenska, som är så lika och ändå så olika, för att uppnå ett bättre lärande. Med hjälp av frågeställningarna Vilka lingvistiska strategier använder de sig av när svenska språket skal översättas till danska?, Vilka problem kan det uppstå när det svenska språket skall översättas till modersmålet danska?, Hur kan kunskaper om det ena språket hjälpa till när de ska översätta till ett andra? redovisas en kontrastivt empirisk undersökning för att få svar på dessa. I forskningen anses elevernas språkliga medvetenhet att ha stor vikt för elevernas språkförmåga. För att uppnå språkligt medvetenhet ska det i viss mån både tas hänsyn till deras kognitiva, sociala och affektiva aspekter samtidigt med att de själva är engagerade och tar ansvar i sitt lärande. Tillika krävs det att läraren undervisar utifrån didaktiska metoder som kan utveckla och stötta eleverna i sina språk. I den empiriska delen redovisas intervjusvar från 6 elever från klass 7-9 utifrån en översättning av en svensk text om till dansk. Undersökningen visar at eleverna är semantisk medvetna i de två språkens likheter och skillnader. Eleverna använder sig av strategier där de fokusera på språken – deras likheter och olikheter i fonologin, morfologin, reglarna i grammatik och syntax. De upptäcker och verbaliserar de grammatiska reglerna, de ljudar och rättar sig själva . De använder sig av sina erfarenheter utifrån sina egna upplevelser och de sätter sig in i hur en dansk vän eller väninna hade uttryckt sig så att meningarna låter rätt på danska. Samtidig är de uppmärksamma på att läraren kan vara med om att underlätta deras utveckling, så att de blir språkligt medvetna, och att det handlar om att undervisa med metoder så att eleverna har lust att lära och som kan styrka deras tankeprocesser och kunskaper.

Each day in the United States, millions of adult consumers possessing traditional literacy skills below an eighth grade reading level enter a marketplace packed with written messages. This research offers the first in-depth, systematic investigation exploring the impact of low literacy skills within the marketplace and the methods consumers utilize to cope with literacy deficits. Based on the body of literature on stigma theory (Goffman 1963), previous work suggested coping strategies to result as a mechanism to protect the consumers' feelings of self-worth. This research identifies seven categories of coping strategies. The data collected show that coping strategies are not only used to protect the consumers' self-esteem but also to facilitate problem-solving tasks within the marketplace. In several cases, informants reveal their successes in getting marketplace needs met. Thus, a new conceptualization of the consumer literacy construct is offered to consist of traditional literacy skills, coping strategies or surrogate literacy skills, and specialized knowledge of the marketplace environment. Applying Link and Phelan's (2001) reconceptualization of the stigma concept to the data yields a richer understanding of the stigmatization process and consequences within the marketplace. Rather than passively accept the role of low literate, this research offers a perspective of the low literate consumer as an active challenger to the stereotypes that lead to negative evaluations and stigmatization. Implications of these findings for public policymakers, academicians, and members of the business community, as well as future researcher opportunities are discussed. The Association for Consumer Research (http://www.acrweb.org), the Society for Consumer Psychology (http://fisher.osu.edu/mkt/scp/), and the Sheth Foundation provided financial support for this research in the form of dissertation grants. / Ph. D.

Thesis advisor: Elida V. Laski / Strategy selection is an essential aspect of problem-solving, particularly within the domain of mathematics. This dissertation examines the mechanisms that guide children’s arithmetic strategy selection in order to advance theoretical understanding of this essential component of cognitive development. Better understanding of arithmetic strategy selection is important because individual differences in children’s arithmetic strategies are predictive of arithmetic accuracy and later math achievement. The current study builds upon prior research that has identified cognitive processes associated with strategy selection by considering the role of metacognitive judgments. The study investigated the direct and indirect effects of cognitive and metacognitive factors on strategy selection in a group of first and second grade students (n = 126). The majority of students generated metacognitive judgments of their competence using decomposition (an advanced strategy at this age) that were consistent with their actual ability. In these cases, their judgments of competence were related to the frequency with which they used decomposition strategies. Additionally, children’s metacognitive judgments of the anticipated amount effort required to execute decomposition mediated the association between children’s cognitive processes/pre-requisite knowledge (working memory and fact fluency) and the frequency with which they used it. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Communication Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2008. / Organisational communication in today‘s organisations has not only become far more complex and varied but more important to overall organisational functioning and success also, organisations can not operate without communication, organisations involve people and people cannot interact with each other without communication. However, different styles of management have an influence or impact over people, on the way in which people co-operate and on the results of changes because change is both inevitable (unavoidable) and necessary in any business and it is important for managers and employees to hone (sharpen) their skills in change management. This study investigates the communication strategies aimed at improving the success rate of small to medium business enterprises. The first part of the study reviews literature on communication, change management, different styles of management, change implementation, importance of planning and communication, kinds of changes and managers and power. Subsequent chapters describe the construction of a survey instrument employed to measure and evaluate on the communication strategies aimed at improving the success rate of small to medium business enterprises. Penultimate chapters blend the insights gained from this literature review to interpret the results, obtained through the quantitative research methodology, to describe a set of conclusions and recommendations in the context of the communication strategies aimed at improving the success rate of small to medium business enterprises.