This article presents a theory of empathy discovered through rational hermeneutic interpretation within King's personal system. Personal system concepts from King's general systems framework include perception, self, growth and development, body image, space, time, and learning. Propositions for each concept in the personal system were explicated and a theory of nursing empathy was developed. This nursing theory proposes that empathy organizes perceptions; facilitates awareness of self and others; increases sensitivity; promotes shared respect, mutual goals, and social awareness; cultivates understanding of individuals within a historical and social context; and affects learning.

Content management systems allow easy creation and management of web pages even without expert skills. Thesis describes application of these systems at Customs Administration of Czech republic and proposes serie of steps required to migrate web pages from one system to another. Framework for developing web applications enables to integrate these applications into content management system and extend its functionalities.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The purpose of this strategic analysis of the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) Norfolk Detachment Philadelphia was to determine strengths and weaknesses in the organization. The objective was to describe the extent of congruence among important variables in the organization's system framework. This document includes a detailed description of the FISC Det Philadelphia system. Data were collected through interviews with key personnel and employee surveys. Data were analyzed to determine the congruence of the variables that make up the system (inputs, design factors, and outcomes). Conclusions as to the strengths and weaknesses of the organization were drawn based on the analysis of the variables. Recommendations were made on how to improve the areas identified as weaknesses and capitalize on those that were found to be strengths to revitalize the organization. The thesis also provides an example of how systems thinking can be used to perform a strategic analysis of an organization. Seeing the system as a whole through a comprehensive analysis of the key variables allows us to understand the impact of our changes as they relate to the entire organization. / Civilian, Department of the Navy

The increase and changes in the demand for emergency care require pro-active responses from the designers and implementers of the emergency care system. The role of Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) was introduced in England to improve the delivery of emergency care in the community. The role was evaluated using cost-benefit approach and compared with other existing emergency care roles. An analysis of the cognitive elements (situation awareness (SA) and naturalistic decision making (NDM)) of the ECP job was proposed considering the mental efforts involved. While the cost-benefit approach can justify further spending on developing the role, a cognitive approach can provide the evidence in ensuring the role is developed to fulfil its purpose. A series of studies were carried out to describe SA and NDM amongst ECPs in an ambulance service in England. A study examined decision-making process using Critical Decision Method interviews which revealed the main processes in making decision and how information was used to develop SA. Based on the findings, the subsequent studies focus on the non-clinical factors that influence SA and decision making. Data from a scoping study were used to develop a socio-technical systems framework based on existing models and frameworks. The framework was then used to guide further exploration of SA and NDM. Emergency calls that were assigned to ECPs over a period of 8 months were analysed. The analysis revealed system-related influences on the deployment of ECPs. Interviews with the ECPs enabled the identification of influences on their decision-making with respect to patient care. Goal-directed task analysis was used to identify the decision points and information requirements of the ECPs. The findings and the framework were then evaluated via a set of studies based on an ethnographic approach. Participant observations with 13 ECPs were carried out. Field notes provided further insight into the characteristics of jobs assigned to the ECPs. It was possible to map the actual information used by the ECP to their information needs. The sources of the information were classified according to system levels. A questionnaire based on factors influencing decision-making was tested with actual cases. It was found that the items in the questionnaire could reliably measure factors that influence decision-making. Overall, the studies identify factors that have direct and indirect influences on the ECP job. A coherent model for the whole emergency care systems can be developed to build safety into the care delivery process. Further development of the ECP role need to consider the support for cognitive tasks in light of the findings reported in this thesis.

The goal of this thesis is to design and implement a framework to support Legacy system access. Legacy systems are databases that use incompatible and obsolete technologies and can not be easily abandoned. The framework allows the abstraction of application logic from database platform and will enable full or incremental migration to a new, modern platform in the future. The framework also considers the option of encapsulation of an existing legacy application to be included in the new system as a black box. A system based on proposed framework has been succesfully deployed in a company. The system facilitated the migration of the company to a new information system with an entirely different database platform. The practice shows the viability of the framework design. 1

The purpose of this research is to help increase the capacity of public-sector transportation agencies (such as state Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and transit providers) to preserve and enhance transportation-related quality of life (QOL) outcomes in their jurisdictions. QOL is a multi-dimensional concept that is closely related to the concepts of livability and social sustainability. Public-sector agencies are charged with promoting the well-being (i.e. QOL) of the public, and they often must work within a complex inter-organizational context, with overlapping and intersecting jurisdictions and responsibilities, in order to influence QOL. Because of their responsibility to promote QOL, many public-sector transportation agencies mention QOL, livability, and/or sustainability in their vision statements, mission statements, and strategic planning documents. Furthermore, U.S. Federal guidance and regulations that govern the practice of transportation planning, engineering, and performance management have begun to refer to issues related to livability and sustainability. However, these complex concepts are still ambiguous in meaning and application for many transportation practitioners. In order to effectively preserve and enhance transportation-related QOL outcomes, practitioners need a clear conceptual framework that links concepts of livability and sustainability to practical performance management tools for an inter-jurisdictional context. The primary objective and contributions of this research are the development of such a conceptual framework - the stacked systems framework (SSF) - and a methodology for applying it to enhance transportation performance management in an inter-jurisdictional context. In order to develop the SSF, this research begins with an extensive literature review that clarifies the relationships among sustainability, livability, and transportation-related QOL outcomes; and integrates the concepts of social sustainability, soft systems methodologies, and the field of transportation performance management. To apply the SSF, this research includes a case study of public-sector transportation performance management processes in metropolitan Atlanta. The case study analyzes the influence of the regional inter-organizational system of public-sector transportation agencies on transportation-related QOL outcomes; identifies gaps in the current set of transportation performance measures used for decision making at the regional scale; and demonstrates the value to decision making of incorporating recommended performance measures that can more appropriately link organizational actions to broader QOL and livability outcomes via changes in transportation service quality. The case study methodology can be extended for future development of transportation performance management practices in metro Atlanta, and reproduced for other regions and geographic scales.

The goal of this thesis is to design and implement a framework to support Legacy system access. Legacy systems are databases that use incompatible and obsolete technologies and can not be easily abandoned. The framework allows the abstraction of application logic from database platform and will enable full or incremental migration to a new, modern platform in the future. The framework also considers the option of encapsulation of an existing legacy application into the new system as a black box. The framework is well configurable and extendable and is independent on database platform or data context. A system based on proposed framework has been succesfully deployed in a company. The system facilitated the migration of the company to a new information system with an entirely different database platform. The practice shows the viability of the framework design. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

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A constante evolução de métodos, tecnologias e ferramentas associadas na área de projeto fornece maior capacidade para o projetista. Entretanto, ela também aumenta os requisitos de interfaces e controle do conjunto de componentes de projeto consideravelmente. Tipicamente, este aspecto está presente na área de Projeto Orientado para a Manufatura (DFM) onde existem diversos distintos componentes. Cada um dos componentes existentes, ou futuros, pode ter foco diferente, consequentemente com requisitos de informação, utilização e execução distintos. Este trabalho propõe a utilização de padrões conceituais flexíveis de informação e controle de forma abrangente em uma arquitetura de Projeto Orientado para a Manufatura (DFM). O objetivo principal é auxiliar a análise e resolução de DFM, bem como dar suporte à atividade de projeto estruturando e propondo uma solução em relevantes aspectos em DFM: estruturação do contexto das informações (ou conhecimento) em DFM. A arquitetura utiliza as seguintes atividades de projeto em processos de usinagem: Tolerância, Custo, Acessibilidade da ferramenta, Disponibilidade de máquinas e ferramentas e Análise de materiais para demonstrar a relevância da correta contextualização e utilização da informação no domínio DFM . Sob forma geral, concomitantemente, as amplas necessidades de compreensão dos distintos tipos e formas da informação em DFM demandam que uma arquitetura de projeto tenha capacidade de gerenciar/administrar diferentes contextos de informações de projeto. Este é um tópico relevante tendo em vista que existem diferentes atividades DFM que eventualmente devem ser incluídas no ato de projetar. Tipicamente, cada uma delas tem requisitos distintos em termos de dados e conhecimento, ou contextualização do projeto, que idealmente poderiam ser gerenciados através da arquitetura de informação atual – STEP.Aarquitetura proposta gerencia contextos de informações de projeto através de ontologias direcionadas no domínio DFM. Através dela, será possível compreender e utilizar melhor as intrínsecas interfaces existentes nas informações deste domínio, além de, através disto, aumentar a flexibilidade e eficácia de sistemas DFM. / This work proposes the use of industry standards to support the utilization of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) techniques in a comprehensive scale in the design field. The specific aspect being considered in an architecture is the definition and structure of DFM information context. In order to demonstrate the research concepts, some design activities are implemented the framework (which is focused in machining processes): Tolerancing model, Cost model based on material remove processes, Tool Accessibility model taking into consideration the part being designed, Availability of Machines and Tools model, and Material analysis. The broad needs of design–based frameworks, in general, require that its architecture must have the capabilities to handle di erent framework design information utilization contexts, or information context concepts. This is a relevant aspect since there are severalDFMcomponents/activities that preferably should be included in the design process. Traditionally, each one of them might have distinct data & knowledge requirements, which can be handled by the current information architecture – STEP – only in part. Additionally, each one of them might have, or need, di erent forms of understanding DFM information (information context). The framework handles information context concepts through the use of the ontologies targeted to the DFMfield. It is expected that a better comprehension and usage of the intrinsic information interfaces existent in its domain be achieved. Through it, more flexible and e ective DFM systems information-wise can be obtained.

A constante evolução de métodos, tecnologias e ferramentas associadas na área de projeto fornece maior capacidade para o projetista. Entretanto, ela também aumenta os requisitos de interfaces e controle do conjunto de componentes de projeto consideravelmente. Tipicamente, este aspecto está presente na área de Projeto Orientado para a Manufatura (DFM) onde existem diversos distintos componentes. Cada um dos componentes existentes, ou futuros, pode ter foco diferente, consequentemente com requisitos de informação, utilização e execução distintos. Este trabalho propõe a utilização de padrões conceituais flexíveis de informação e controle de forma abrangente em uma arquitetura de Projeto Orientado para a Manufatura (DFM). O objetivo principal é auxiliar a análise e resolução de DFM, bem como dar suporte à atividade de projeto estruturando e propondo uma solução em relevantes aspectos em DFM: estruturação do contexto das informações (ou conhecimento) em DFM. A arquitetura utiliza as seguintes atividades de projeto em processos de usinagem: Tolerância, Custo, Acessibilidade da ferramenta, Disponibilidade de máquinas e ferramentas e Análise de materiais para demonstrar a relevância da correta contextualização e utilização da informação no domínio DFM . Sob forma geral, concomitantemente, as amplas necessidades de compreensão dos distintos tipos e formas da informação em DFM demandam que uma arquitetura de projeto tenha capacidade de gerenciar/administrar diferentes contextos de informações de projeto. Este é um tópico relevante tendo em vista que existem diferentes atividades DFM que eventualmente devem ser incluídas no ato de projetar. Tipicamente, cada uma delas tem requisitos distintos em termos de dados e conhecimento, ou contextualização do projeto, que idealmente poderiam ser gerenciados através da arquitetura de informação atual – STEP.Aarquitetura proposta gerencia contextos de informações de projeto através de ontologias direcionadas no domínio DFM. Através dela, será possível compreender e utilizar melhor as intrínsecas interfaces existentes nas informações deste domínio, além de, através disto, aumentar a flexibilidade e eficácia de sistemas DFM. / This work proposes the use of industry standards to support the utilization of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) techniques in a comprehensive scale in the design field. The specific aspect being considered in an architecture is the definition and structure of DFM information context. In order to demonstrate the research concepts, some design activities are implemented the framework (which is focused in machining processes): Tolerancing model, Cost model based on material remove processes, Tool Accessibility model taking into consideration the part being designed, Availability of Machines and Tools model, and Material analysis. The broad needs of design–based frameworks, in general, require that its architecture must have the capabilities to handle di erent framework design information utilization contexts, or information context concepts. This is a relevant aspect since there are severalDFMcomponents/activities that preferably should be included in the design process. Traditionally, each one of them might have distinct data & knowledge requirements, which can be handled by the current information architecture – STEP – only in part. Additionally, each one of them might have, or need, di erent forms of understanding DFM information (information context). The framework handles information context concepts through the use of the ontologies targeted to the DFMfield. It is expected that a better comprehension and usage of the intrinsic information interfaces existent in its domain be achieved. Through it, more flexible and e ective DFM systems information-wise can be obtained.