Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-103). / This thesis studies an emerging web phenomenon - online opinion aggregator. The thesis first defines what an opinion aggregator is and then applies a holistic framework to analyze the opinion aggregator to understand its key characteristics. The research then zooms in on one of the most popular opinion aggregators, the product review aggregator, to understand its market opportunities, enabling technologies, and business models. The author samples nine product review aggregators based on the content type, the aggregation method, and the relationship with customers. An experiment of comparing product review ratings is also conducted to reveal issues and challenges faced by the product review aggregators.The conclusion of this research is that most review aggregators are still in their startup stage in which they are accumulating product review content and building a bigger user base. Many key enabling technologies such as natural language parsing and web text mining are still in the early stage of the technology evolution. Most of product review aggregators rely on advertising to sustain their businesses. Although aggregating product reviews is a good starting point, an aggregator needs to move towards a more comprehensive product research platform in order to grow its business.This research can be used by product review aggregators that want to gain a holistic understanding of the opinion aggregation eco-system and want to formalize their business strategies. The research also offers insights into the critical success factors of product review aggregators and can be helpful for anyone who wants to start a review aggregation-based business. The market researchers can benefit from this research with a better understanding of opinion aggregators and opportunities presented to the aggregators. / by Yongjiang (Jerry) Sun. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 100-101). / This thesis shows that lean principles that have been successfully applied in manufacturing can also be successfully applied across an entire enterprise. Established lean principles and lessons learned in lean manufacturing environments are applied across an automotive fuel system enterprise. This enterprise includes all major activities used in developing and delivering fuel systems to customers from the initiation of the systems concept to final production manufacturing. The value of the enterprise's product (fuel systems) is specified in terms of enterprise customers. The value stream of the fuel system enterprise is identified and analyzed using process mapping, input/output information flow diagrams, and other techniques. Major issues in terms of waiting time, rework time, and excessive need for validation are identified using these techniques. Countermeasures against these issues are offered to facilitate a transition to a leaner state. The goal is to develop a systemic understanding of the fuel system enterprise such that lean principles and tools can be applied to its processes to improve efficiency, throughput, and value for customers. Recommendations for further study are also listed in an effort to pursue perfection by continuously improving the lean enterprise. Finally, a transition to lean implementation plan is outlined. / by Marc Anthony Schmidt. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, February 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Russell F. Wertenberg. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-179). / by Adolfo Benjamin Arellano Maya. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-77). / The thesis presents a lean and efficient project management framework that addresses many of the project management challenges found in an entrepreneurial environment. The framework contains an optimal and practical combination of the most critical and successful elements of traditional project management and concepts from critical chain management and system dynamics. The project management approach focuses on improving management efficiency within an entrepreneurial setting. The proposed project management framework does this by accomplishing the following: 1) establishes the over-arching objective of project management, 2) identifies the fundamentally, critical elements and value-added elements of project management, and 3) proposes an appropriate set of approaches, methods and tools. An important value-added element in the proposed project management framework is the ability to quantify the cost and quality implications that occur when new requirements or significant changes are forced on the product and project. The framework is developed from an entrepreneurial perspective and therefore emphasizes a project management approach that is effective (intuitive framework that captures essential, value added elements), efficient (requires low maintenance and does not become a project in itself), and flexible (approaches and methods proposed are responsive to change). The framework also emphasizes the importance of viewing and managing the project from a systems perspective so that better decisions about the tradeoffs can be accomplished. The combination of traditional project management, critical chain management and system dynamics helps to produce a robust and holistic representation of the project that provides idealistic, realistic and pessimistic views of the project. The proposed framework offers a consolidated project management method to help managers in an entrepreneurial environment in the following three key areas: 1) effectively plan and manage the development effort, 2) understand and communicate the effects of changes to the project, and 3) develop better contingency plans. / by Marcos A. Sanchez. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2007. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-128). / Robust design methodologies are frequently utilized by organizations to develop robust and reliable complex systems. The intent of robust design is to create systems that are insensitive to variations from production, the environment, and time and use. While this process is effective, it can also be very time consuming and resource intensive for an engineering team. In addition, most robust design activity takes place at the detailed design phase, when the majority of the product life cycle cost has already been committed. Addressing robustness and the "ilities" at the architecture level may be more effective because it is the earliest and highest leverage point in the product development process. Furthermore, some system architectures are inherently more robust than others. In this thesis, a framework based on principles is proposed to architect complex systems for type I and II robustness. The principles are obtained by tracing the architectural evolution of the jet engine, which is an extremely complex system that has evolved to high reliability. This framework complements existing robust design methods, while simultaneously incorporating the robustness focus earlier in the product development process. / by Jason C. Slagle. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-80). / Scholars have developed a range of qualitative and quantitative models for generalizing the dynamics of technological innovation and identifying patterns of competition between rivals. This thesis compares two predominant approaches in the quantified modeling of technological innovation and competition. Multi-mode framework, based on the Lotka-Volterra equation barrowed from biological ecology, provide a rich setting for assessing the interaction between two or more technologies. A more recent approach uses System Dynamics to model the dynamics of innovative industries. A System Dynamics approach enables the development of very comprehensive models, which can cover multiple dimensions of innovation, and provides very broad insights for innovative and competitive landscape of an industry. As well as comparing these theories in detail, a case study is also performed on both of them. The phenomenal competition between two technologies in the consumer photography market; the recent battle between digital and film camera technology, is used as a test case and simulated by both models. Real market data is used as inputs to the simulations. Outputs are compared and interpreted with the realities of the current market conditions and predictions of industry analysts. Conclusions are derived on the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches. Directions for future research on model extensions incorporating other forms of innovation are given, such as collaborative interaction in SME networks. / by Hakkı Özgür Ünver. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-83). / This research identifies how Real Options (RO) thinking might acceptably and effectively complement the current mandates for Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Circular A-94. The research examines opportunities for improving economic analysis using mandated rules for a large complex system, highlights where improvements can be made with RO thinking, and proposes a framework that can be optionally and generically applied to mandated decisionmaking guidelines. The framework relies on a simple spreadsheet analysis that is augmented with Monte-Carlo simulation. The proposed approach complements existing practices and should be easy to integrate with current tools, procedures, staff, and resources.This approach builds upon a careful analysis of Federal mandates for benefit-cost analyses, the implementing directions of the OMB, and the way these guidelines are followed by practitioners who have to deal with the particularities that exist in the field. The current practice was determined by examining several case studies of work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and through discussions with FAA officials knowledgeable about the BCA methods in practice. The proposed approach with FAA Airport Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidelines was applied to a Hypothetical Project for illustrative purposes. / by Darren Rivey. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2009. / Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 177). / This thesis sets out to develop a systems approach towards the mitigation of project failure modes. The methodology used is the application of the Scope and Solution Neutrality principle to develop a general model for Project Systems using the Object- Process-Method (OPM) for systems modeling. By correlating the elements and attributes that constitute basic project artifacts with process performance enablers, a Systems Approach to Performance Improvements is developed. Systemic factors that affect a project's performance, and its ability to address issues, are identified using the Project System model, and project failure modes as well with their underlying causes are examined. The Systems Approach to Process Improvements is then applied to addressing these issues. A key insight gained from the modeling is the importance of communication and information flow as a critical function for effective project management and execution. Consequently the impact of optimizing information flow on project execution is demonstrated through systems dynamics modeling. / by Athar A. Syed. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 197-202). / Globalization has caused firms to redefine regional strategies for distributed design and manufacturing into one of worldwide coordination and integration of resources in order to compete in the world market. This need to address customers and markets worldwide and to achieve a customer focus has led to restructuring of the organization, functions, activities and teams into globally dispersed entities. Globally dispersed teams are attractive because they promise benefits such as increased flexibility, responsiveness and lower costs factors critical to succeeding in this dynamic business environment. The major challenge facing product development and manufacturing organizations is to achieve high performing teams so that all the mentioned benefits can be realized. Globally dispersed teams not only face the challenges of traditional teams; their situation is usually further aggravated by a lack of personal contact, culture and language differences as a result of dispersion in space and time. These factors make communication both within and outside the team boundaries difficult and can negatively impact team performance. This thesis proposes that communication technology and multi-media capabilities can greatly enhance communication and organizational learning in the context of a globally dispersed team. Understanding which technologies and media solutions to apply in the face of culture, language and distance barriers in order to provide the most effective knowledge-sharing environment to support such a team is critical. By studying and analyzing the communication needs and media choices of dispersed product development teams and the impact of culture, language and distance differences on needs and choices, a method is proposed to design a communication environment and management strategies that reduce the effect of barriers and improve communications in globally dispersed teams. / by Viesturs G. Lenss and Gloria A. Pumpuni. / S.M.