This thesis explores the design and implementation of an API using the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology, aimed at bridging proprietary systems for sustainable lighting solutions. The project addresses the urgent need to replace mercury-based lamps in Sweden with environmentally friendly alternatives due to upcoming EU regulations. The developed API facilitates integration and automation between two distinct systems controlling lighting and power supply. Key research questions include identifying factors critical for a successful API and assessing its impact on client-specific problems and consequences of web automation. The research begins with identifying core problems through stakeholder engagement, followed by iterative design and development of the API. The solution's objectives were derived from practical constraints and stakeholder feedback, ensuring a focused and relevant artifact. The API was partially demonstrated and evaluated through simulations, theorizing its ability to meet the intended goals and providing insights into good practices for web automation. This work contributes to the field of information systems by providing a practical example of API development through DSR, highlighting the challenges and solutions in web automation and system integration. The findings suggest that a well-designed API relies on understanding end-use cases, good communication with minimal assumption and good adaptability. Relying on web automation can also result in post-release complications or pose ethical dilemmas.

Este trabalho avalia o grau em que a integração de sistemas de informação tem atendido ao desenvolvimento de bens de capital com engenharia sob encomenda, com base em objetivos de desempenho para o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos. Descreve uma investigação, realizada por meio de pesquisa-ação, sobre o ambiente de desenvolvimento de produtos em uma indústria de bens de capital, conduzida sob a perspectiva organizacional e da tecnologia da informação. Objetiva aumentar a difusão deste tipo de informação para os profissionais deste ramo de atividade e comunidade científica, bem como servir como base para pesquisas e ações de melhoria para a empresa estudada. Focaliza a relevância da caracterização de um modelo de referência para o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos que otimize as atividades de tomada de decisão, controle de fluxo de trabalho, armazenamento de informações e documentos e retro-alimentação de informações em ambientes com engenharia sob encomenda. Apresenta os desafios enfrentados pela empresa estudada quanto à estabilização dos seus processos após uma ampla reformulação da aplicação de sistemas de informação, abordando elementos de sua dinâmica organizacional e diagnosticando o comportamento destes elementos diante das integrações executadas. Aborda ainda os aspectos humanos envolvidos neste segmento, considerando-os como fatores críticos para a aplicação e desenvolvimento de soluções / This work evaluates the support level offered by integrated information systems to engineered-to-order development of capital goods, based on the product development process performance objectives. It describes an investigation, performed by means of an action-research, about the product development environment in a capital goods industry, carried out under the organizational and information technology perspectives. It aims to increase the diffusion of this kind of information among the professionals in this production segment and scientific community, as well to serve as a research and improvement actions base to the studied company. The work focuses on the relevance of a reference model characterization to the product development process in order to optimize the decision making activities, workflow control, document and information storage and feedback in engineering-to-order environments. It presents the challenges faced by the studied company to reach the processes stabilization after a broad changeover of its information systems applications, analyzing its dynamics organizational elements and making a diagnosis of these elements behaviour, considering the achieved integration. It still analyzes the human aspects involved in this industry segment, considering these aspects as critical factors for solutions development and application

Human Systems Integration Capstone / Approved for public release;distribution is unlimited. / In the United States Air Force (USAF), a system is generally thought of in terms of technology; but there are other types of systems supporting our warfighters. A system is “a group of related parts that move or work together” (Merriam-Webster, 2014), suggesting that systems can also be a compilation of human activities and interactions. One such system is the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS). The AFMS has been charged with the delivery of healthcare for the USAF. It is an organization within which there are many workplaces, and these are prototypical of workplaces in the USAF. The USAF currently has no framework for developing organizations. This capstone project took an inside look into the organizational structure of the Keesler Air Force Base’s Base Operational Medicine Cell (BOMC). By conducting a macroergonomic analysis, I was able to make recommendations for an effective and fully harmonized organizational design. Human systems integration (HSI) played a pivotal role in the evaluation of the Keesler BOMC, as Manpower, Personnel, and Training (MPT) are key drivers in the development of organizations. The results of this analysis lead to the development of BOMC requirements and subsequently HSI requirements for organizations, or an HSI Framework for Organizations.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:20:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 68070200630.pdf: 334021 bytes, checksum: e558792e8bd815db3a344eebf837a170 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-08T00:00:00Z / A internacionalização é um tema de interesse crescente. O aumento do volume de transações internacionais é acompanhado por um crescente volume de estudos acadêmicos sobre o tema de internacionalização. As teorias desenvolvidas tratam de explicar os critérios analisados pelas empresas para a definição de suas estratégias de internacionalização, a definição de modalidades de entrada e os desafios que as empresas enfrentam em seus movimentos de internacionalização. Estas teorias podem ser aplicadas para o estudo do mercado de integração de sistemas de tecnologia de informação e comunicação (TIC). O mercado de TIC vem apresentando grandes taxas de crescimento e continua com perspectivas de crescimento, sendo que neste contexto, a internacionalização é uma alternativa estratégica importante. A realização de um estudo de caso permitiu a análise dos movimentos de internacionalização de uma empresa brasileira de integração de sistemas de TIC, sob os aspectos de estratégia, modalidade de entrada e desafios de internacionalização. O estudo das teorias e o estudo de caso permitiram a visualização da aplicação das teorias na prática, bem como especificidades que as teorias não cobrem. O desenvolvimento do trabalho pode servir como referência para o aprofundamento das teorias de internacionalização e também como referência para outras empresas do setor para o entendimento do processo. / Internationalization is a subject with increasing interest. The growth in international business volume is followed by a growing number of researches about internationalization. The developed theories try to explain analysis and the criteria considered by companies in its internationalization strategies, entry modes and liability of foreignness. These theories can be applied to study the market of systems integration of information and communication technology solutions (ICT). The ICT market is growing fast and also has positive growth perspectives, and internationalization is an important strategic approach for the companies in that sector. The development of a case study of a Brazilian company of ICT systems integration analyzed strategy, entry modes and liabilities of foreignness. The theoretical review and case study allowed the analysis of application of the theories in real situations and identification of specific issues for the ICT systems integration market. The development of this research may work as a reference for further studies in the subject and for other companies in ICT market for a better understanding of the process.

Este trabalho avalia o grau em que a integração de sistemas de informação tem atendido ao desenvolvimento de bens de capital com engenharia sob encomenda, com base em objetivos de desempenho para o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos. Descreve uma investigação, realizada por meio de pesquisa-ação, sobre o ambiente de desenvolvimento de produtos em uma indústria de bens de capital, conduzida sob a perspectiva organizacional e da tecnologia da informação. Objetiva aumentar a difusão deste tipo de informação para os profissionais deste ramo de atividade e comunidade científica, bem como servir como base para pesquisas e ações de melhoria para a empresa estudada. Focaliza a relevância da caracterização de um modelo de referência para o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos que otimize as atividades de tomada de decisão, controle de fluxo de trabalho, armazenamento de informações e documentos e retro-alimentação de informações em ambientes com engenharia sob encomenda. Apresenta os desafios enfrentados pela empresa estudada quanto à estabilização dos seus processos após uma ampla reformulação da aplicação de sistemas de informação, abordando elementos de sua dinâmica organizacional e diagnosticando o comportamento destes elementos diante das integrações executadas. Aborda ainda os aspectos humanos envolvidos neste segmento, considerando-os como fatores críticos para a aplicação e desenvolvimento de soluções / This work evaluates the support level offered by integrated information systems to engineered-to-order development of capital goods, based on the product development process performance objectives. It describes an investigation, performed by means of an action-research, about the product development environment in a capital goods industry, carried out under the organizational and information technology perspectives. It aims to increase the diffusion of this kind of information among the professionals in this production segment and scientific community, as well to serve as a research and improvement actions base to the studied company. The work focuses on the relevance of a reference model characterization to the product development process in order to optimize the decision making activities, workflow control, document and information storage and feedback in engineering-to-order environments. It presents the challenges faced by the studied company to reach the processes stabilization after a broad changeover of its information systems applications, analyzing its dynamics organizational elements and making a diagnosis of these elements behaviour, considering the achieved integration. It still analyzes the human aspects involved in this industry segment, considering these aspects as critical factors for solutions development and application

Submitted by Marcia Silva (marcia@latec.uff.br) on 2016-02-03T20:52:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERT MANASSES VICENTE.pdf: 2610789 bytes, checksum: 11b7e25414d7db496b0844456246caf4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-03T20:52:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERT MANASSES VICENTE.pdf: 2610789 bytes, checksum: 11b7e25414d7db496b0844456246caf4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-11-07 / Existem duas abordagens para integração de sistemas de informação: ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) e EAI (Enterprise Application Integration), sendo a mais conhecida a primeira delas. A integração fornecida pelo ERP não é por si só suficiente visto que falhou em atender a todas as áreas funcionais, deixando uma lacuna preenchida por softwares especialistas ou sistemas legados, principalmente em verticais de mercado não atendidas pelo ERP. É através da integração dos vários tipos de aplicações empresariais – EAI – que se atinge a integração ou inter-relacionamento dos processos de negócios e/ou estruturas de negócios. Portanto, ela é tanto estratégica quanto operacional, pois afeta os resultados das organizações, conferindo-lhes competitividade e sustentabilidade nos negócios. Entretanto, as dificuldades do EAI começam na escolha / seleção das tecnologias existentes ainda no processo de aquisição, tornando a tomada de decisão na aquisição de tecnologias ou soluções de EAI uma tarefa complexa e difícil devido aos critérios não apenas quantitativos, mas também qualitativos. O objetivo desta pesquisa é definir critérios para seleção de tecnologias de EAI. O método de pesquisa consiste na revisão da literatura para mapear os critérios usados na seleção de softwares, principalmente EAI e ERP, e na análise do conteúdo da norma ISO/IEC 25010:2011 sobre os critérios de qualidade de software e do Guia de Aquisições do Modelo de Referência para Melhoria de Processo do Software Brasileiro (MPS-BR) baseado na Norma Internacional ISO/IEC 12207:2008 que descreve o processo de aquisição de software e serviços correlatos. Este estudo apresentou como contribuição, além da quantidade expressiva de critérios identificados na literatura possíveis de serem usados no processo de aquisição de softwares, um conjunto de critérios provenientes da literatura científica e técnica, categorizados em três níveis, que possibilita aos profissionais de EAI poderem atuar de modo proativo desde a escolha da solução de EAI. / There are two approaches for the information systems integration: ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) which is well-known, and EAI (Enterprise Application Integration). The ERP integration is not totally satisfactory as it has failed in supplying all functional areas, providing space to be filled by specialized softwares or legacy systems, mainly in market verticals where ERP could not meet. By the integration with the several types of business applications – EAI – it is possible to reach an integration or interrelationship of the business processes and/or structures; therefore, it is as strategic as operational since it affects the organizational results, providing the organizations business competitiveness and sustainability. However, the EAI’s difficulties lie in choosing/selecting the existing technologies in the acquisition process, turning the decision-making of technologies or EAI solutions acquisition a hard and complex task due to the criteria not only quantitative but also qualitative. The purpose of this research is to define criteria for EAI technologies selection. The method of research consists of literature revision to map the criteria used in softwares selection, mainly the EAI and ERP, and analysis of ISO/IEC 25010:2011 standard content on the software quality criteria and Guia de Aquisições do Modelo de Referência para Melhoria de Processo do Software Brasileiro (MPS-BR) based on ISO/IEC 12207:2008 International Standard, which describes the acquisition process of software and associated services. This study has presented as contribution, aside from the significant amount of the identified criteria in the literature and their possibility of being used in software acquisition process, a set of criteria derived from scientific and technical literature, categorized in three levels, enabling EAI’s professionals to act proactively from the choice of EAI solution.

Today, with various technology and business standards, organizations face rapid changes in both internal and external environments. To be able to rapidly respond to such changing environments, integration of software systems has entered among the top priorities of many organizations. However, despite extended use of software integration, methods for estimating the business value of implementing such integration are still missing. Besides presenting a conceptual model to define the benefits of systems integration and related causal relationships, this study proposes a method for measuring such benefits in monetary terms. In particular, we  demonstrate how a mathematical programming technique called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) can be used to evaluate the business value of software integration. Our method is illustrated using data from 12 organizations. The results indicate significant productivity gains by integrating software systems, which represent the value of software integration in organizations.

<p dir="ltr">This research explores the potential of AR for lunar missions via the xEMU spacesuit. A market analysis of commercial off-the-shelf AR devices identifies technological trends and constraints that inform the architectural decisions for AR integration with the xEMU. User evaluations in simulated work environments ensure lunar informatics align with crew needs. Drawing insights from human-in-the-loop testing of COTS AR devices, qualitative test results underscore the importance of display optimization, occlusion management, and environmental considerations for enhancing the AR experience during lunar EVAs. Grounded in a task analysis from JETT3 analog testing, crew workflows and communication dynamics are baselined, underscoring the vital role of communication and collaboration. Integrating AR into the EVA work environment holds the potential to streamline decision-making, improve navigation, and enhance overall efficiency, but may come with unintended operational consequences. The human-centered approach prioritizes crew involvement, ensuring that technology remains a facilitator rather than an encumbering element in lunar exploration. The study's significance lies in advancing AR technology for lunar EVAs, guiding hardware design, and enabling seamless integration into the EVA work environment. AR holds promise in reshaping the human-technology relationship, empowering crew members, maximizing science output, and contributing to the next chapter in lunar exploration.</p>

[pt] A sub-divisão de um veículo em módulos é muito útil quando se quer estudar o comportamento dinâmico de um determinado subsistema e sua influência nos demais componentes. Em alguns casos, devido ao tipo de tratamento empregado para descrever os elementos, não se consegue perceber de que modo as variáveis inerentes a um subsistema interagem com as demais, e, por conseguinte, os subsistemas entre si. A abordagem modular baseada no fluxo de potência permite uma melhor identificação das relações de causa e efeito entre subsistemas, uma vez que se pode definir, de forma clara e consistente, quem são as variáveis de entrada e de saída de cada componente ou módulo, e, conseqüentemente, seus acoplamentos. Neste tipo de tratamento, aplicado aos sistemas mecânicos, uma vez estabelecida a cinemática de um subsistema, podese obter as relações entre os esforços que seus componentes produzem uns sobre os outros, a partir da caracterização da potência transmitida através dos seus diversos elementos. Este trabalho apresenta um procedimento semi-analítico de equacionamento modular aplicado à modelagem e integração dos sistemas de suspensão e direção de veículos terrestres, no qual as variáveis de entrada e saída indicam o fluxo de potência entre os elementos de todo o sistema. Tal abordagem tem como base a técnica dos Grafos de Ligação, empregada em sistemas multidomínio em geral, e usa alguns conceitos da metodologia dos Transformadores Cinemáticos, normalmente aplicada aos sistemas multicorpos. A partir da definição da geometria dos mecanismos em questão, encontram-se as matrizes que representam os vínculos cinemáticos entre seus elementos, das quais o funcionamento dos sistemas integrados pode ser simulado e analisado, e informações necessárias aos seus projetos determinadas. As equações (malhas) algébricas que existem em mecanismos com estrutura cinemática fechada são analiticamente resolvidas, evitando deste modo modelos matemáticos com equações diferenciais e algébricas simultâneas. Das relações cinemáticas, o modelo dinâmico (matrizes de inércia, rigidez e amortecimento, etc) é obtido, e novamente informações essenciais à análise e síntese dos sistemas podem ser determinadas. O comportamento no tempo desses modelos pode ser encontrado por um método de integração de equações diferenciais qualquer. Adota-se o Simulink/MatLab® para representar o modelo assim desenvolvido em diagrama de blocos, e conseqüentemente simulá-lo. Através deste tratamento, cada bloco da implementaçao em Simulink/MatLab® contém o correspondente modelo analítico de um único módulo, cujo estabelecimento depende das características dinâmicas do sistema que se deseja analisar. A vantagem de adotar tal representação, baseada no fluxo de potência, consiste no fato de que um módulo pode ser substituído por outro, descritivo de um elemento ou subsistema com a mesma função, porém com configuração física distinta, e, conseqüentemente, modelo matemático específico, sem qualquer alteração nos demais componentes do sistema. Este procedimento está sendo adotado para modelagem dos diversos sistemas veiculares, como os de suspensão, direção, transmissão e freios, e também os pneus, inseridos em um chassi, incluindo os graus de liberdade desejados do veículo, todos descritos de forma modular semi- analítica através da mesma abordagem, empregando a técnica de modelagem mais apropriada para representá-los. / [en] The sub-division of a vehicle in modules is very useful when we want to study the dynamical behavior of a certain sub-system and its influence in other components. In some cases, due to the type of treatment employed to describe the dynamic behavior of the elements, we don`t get to notice the way that inherent variables in a sub-system interacts with the others, and, consequently, the subsystems amongst themselves. The modular approach based on the power flow allows a better identification of the causal relationships among sub-systems, once it can define, in clear and consistent way, what are the input and output variables of each component or module, and, consequently, their couplings. In this type of treatment applied to the mechanical systems, once established the kinematics of a sub-system, it can be obtained the relationships among the efforts that their components produce on the other ones, from the characterization of the power transmitted through their several elements. This paper presents a semi-analytical procedure of modular modeling applied to the suspension and steering systems of a ground vehicle, in which the input and output variables indicate the power flow among the elements of the whole system. Such approach has as base the Bond Graphs technique, used in multidomain systems in general, and uses some concepts of the Kinematic Transformers methodology, usually applied to the multibody systems. From the mechanisms geometry, the matrices that represent the kinematics links between its elements are found, the operation of the integrated systems can be simulated and analyzed, and information about its design can be obtained. The algebraic loops (equations) inherent to mechanisms with closed kinematic structure are solved analytically, and there is not a mathematical model with simultaneous algebraic and differential equations. From the kinematic relations, the dynamic model (inertial, stiffness and damping matrices) is obtained, and again essential information to the systems analysis and synthesis can be determined. The models time behavior can be found by any differential equations integration method. The Simulink/Matlab is adopted to represent the model developed by block diagrams, and consequently to simulate it. Through this treatment, each block in the Simulink/Matlab implementation contains the correspondent analytical model of a single module, whose establishment depends on the dynamic characteristics of the system to be analyzed. The advantage of adopting such representation, based on the power flow, consists in the fact that a module can be substituted for other, descriptive of an element or sub-system with the same function, however with different physical configuration, and, consequently, specific mathematical model, without any alteration in the other components of the system. This procedure is being adopted for modeling all vehicular systems, like the suspension, steering, transmission and brakes systems, and also the tires, inserted in the chassis, including the desired degrees of freedom of the vehicle, all described in a semi- analytical modular way by the same approach, using the most appropriate modeling technique to represent them.

Public sector decision makers are confronted by pressures to make faster and better decisions as a result of the competitive environment they operate in. However, there is a trend in the public sector, including the Department of Transport (DoT) in South Africa, to invest in management information systems (MIS) that are highly fragmented and not aiding effective and timely decision-making. As a result, the country witnessed several service delivery protests since 2008 which also affected the public transport sector, such as the widespread burning of Metrorail trains several times by angry commuters. In most instances, poor service delivery emanates from the fact that public servants do not have information at their fingertips to make decisions. This quantitative study utilised Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies 5 (COBIT 5) as a theoretical framework to investigate the integration of MIS at the DoT with a view to enhancing business intelligence for effective decision-making. Data were collected through a questionnaire directed at middle managers and senior managers that were selected through stratification of business units at the DoT, as well as analysis of documents such as system specifications and strategic plans. The study established that the DoT has several systems such as Alfresco, BAS, GIS, Logis and Persal to name a few, which serve different purposes. However, in most instances, the systems are not integrated as the current infrastructure did not support integration needs and plans to accommodate changing requirements. This is compounded by the system policy implementation constraints, as well as ageing legacy systems that are obsolete. The only component where MIS was found to be integrated, was in the financial business units (Supply Chain Management, Finance and Budgeting). Core business units use off-the-shelf systems and, in some cases, custom-made applications that do not integrate with any other system and thus hinder decision-making. In conclusion, decisions are made based on thumb-sucking, as management does not have access to comprehensive information that is stored in fragmented unintegrated systems. The study recommends that governance structures should be set up to deal with a more holistic business, information and technology architecture for the DoT that enable integration of various systems for effective decision-making. Failure to transform this pattern would lead to service delivery protests persisting. A further study on a framework to integrate MIS in the public sector is recommended. / Information Science / M. Inf.