Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management Sciences (Business Administration), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The South African mobile telecommunications industry has grown into a multi-billion rand industry that employs thousands of people and connects millions of people across the globe. In order to accomplish the latter, multi-million rand capital projects must be initiated and successfully executed. It is against this background that this study investigated the factors influencing the effectiveness of project managers in the telecommunications industry in South Africa. The target population of the study consisted of project managers in the five telecommunications companies in South Africa who were registered with Project Management South Africa (PMSA). The primary data, which was collected personally by the researcher through self-administered questionnaires, was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 23. The study revealed, inter alia, that most project managers in the telecommunications industry in South Africa perceived negotiating skills, technical knowledge, and management style as being most important for effectively confronting the many challenges faced by them, inter alia, scope management, quality management, and risk management, so that projects were successfully executed. There was unanimity amongst the project managers that training in project management had a positive impact on the performance of project managers. Although three out of every four project managers possessed a postgraduate qualification, the majority of project managers were of the view that a diploma was adequate to practice as a project manager in the telecommunications industry in South Africa. However, it was more important for project managers to possess project management qualifications. In addition to the above, an analysis of the results revealed that, in order of importance, the effectiveness of the project managers in the telecommunications industry in South Africa was influenced by communication skills, technical skills, education skills, leadership skills, interpersonal skills and negotiating skills. / M

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the academic requirement for the Masters in Technology: Entrepreneurship, Durban Insititute of Technology, 2003. / South Africa has been classified as an upper-middle mcome developing country with a growth rate of 2.6%. In order to improve the quality of lives of all its citizens that includes the lowering of the unemployment rate, South Africa needs to achieve a growth rate of not less than 7%. One of the pre-requisites for economic growth is entrepreneurship. The SMME sector has been universally accepted as having the potential for generating employment and contributing to economic growth. In South Africa the SMME sector is a major contributor to the economy. Research has revealed that SMMEs fail in the first five years of start up or. stagnate in terms of development because of lack of skills, management expertise, finance and lack of basic infrastructure (such as electricity, physical premises and telecommunication). South Africa's entry into the global economy makes it imperative for businesses to have access to Information Communication Technologies regardless of the size of the business. The de-regulation of the Telecommunication Act 106 of 1996 made provision for SMMEs to provide telecommunication access to under serviced areas. This is a double-edged opportunity for the Durban Institute of Technology (M L Sultan campus) in that, the Durban Institute of Technology (M L Sultan campus) could become a Service Provider for Telecommunications access and at the same time provide SMMEs within its vicinity with Information Communication Technology access. This research outlines the various elements that a Higher Education Institution such as the Durban Institute of Technology (M L Sultan campus) needs to take into consideration for developing a Business Model to provide Information Communication Technologies to SMMEs within the vicinity of the Durban Institute of Technology. A sample of the SMMEs around the Durban Institute of Technology (M L Sultan campus) was interviewed to determine their ICT needs and their understanding of the impact of access to ICT on their business. It was found, inter-alia, that many SMMEs had no access what so ever and that there was a lack of understanding of the potential impact of ICT on their enterprise. / M

Orientador: Fabio Violaro / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T23:29:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Morais_EdmilsondaSilva_D.pdf: 5597078 bytes, checksum: 4dec4fc5a56d9d1ff2204a3c1d7dd86b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Esta Tese apresenta dois novos algoritmos denominados OPWI (Optimized Prototype Waveform Interpolation) e LDM-GA (Linguistic Data Mining Using Genetic Algorithm). Estes algoritmos são formulados no contexto de sistemas CTF-SCAUS (sistemas de Conversão Texto-Fala empregando a tecnologia de Seleção e Concatenação Automática de Unidades de Síntese). O algoritmo OPWI é apresentado como uma nova alternativa para o módulo de Back-End de sistemas CTF-SCAUS, permitindo modificações prosódicas e suavizações espectrais de alta qualidade. O algoritmo LDM-GA foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de minimizar problemas de treinamento, em sistemas CTF-SCAUS, relacionados a distribuições de probabilidade com características LNRE (Large Number of Rare Events). Resultados da avaliação dos algoritmos OPWI e LDM-GA são apresentados e discutidos detalhadamente. Além destes dois algoritmos, esta Tese apresenta uma ampla revisão bibliográfica sobre os principais módulos de um sistema CTF-SCAUS, módulos de Front-End (Módulo lingüístico), módulo prasódico, módulo de seleção de unidades de síntese e módulo de Back-End (Módulo de síntese) / Abstract: This Thesis presents two new algorithms for Unit Selection Based Text-to-Speech systems (USBTTS). The first algorithm is the OPWI (Optimized Prototype Waveform Interpolation), which was designed to be used as a Back-End module for USB-TTS. The second algorithm is the LDM-GA (Linguistic Data Mining Using Genetic AIgorithm), which was designed to minimize training problems related to LNRE (Large Number of Rare Events) distributions. Experimental results and analysis of the OPWI and LDM-GA algorithms are presented in detail. The OPWI algorithm is evaluated under operations af analysisjre-synthesis and pr~sodic modifications, TSM (Time Scale Modifications) and PSM (Pitch Scale Modifications). The LDM-GA is evaluated in the context of phaneme segmental duration prediction based on linear regression mo de!. In addition to these two new algorithms (OPWI and LDM-GA), this Thesis presents a large review of the main modules of a USB-TTS system,Front-End Module (Linguistic module), prosodic module, unit-selection module and Back-End module (Synthesis module) / Doutorado / Telecomunicações e Telemática / Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / The performance of network management tools for SONET/SDH networks subject to the load conditions is studied and discussed in this thesis. Specifically, a SONET network which consists of four CISCO ONS 15454s, managed by a CISCO Transport Manager, is set up in the Advanced Network Laboratory of the Naval Postgraduate School. To simulate a realistic data transfer environment for the analysis, Smartbits Avalanche software is deployed to simulate multiple client-server scenarios in the SONET network. Traffic from the management channel is then captured using a packet sniffer. Queuing analysis on the captured data is performed with particular emphasis on properties of self-similarity. In particular, the Hurst parameter which determines the captured traffic's degree of self-similarity is estimated using the Variance-Index plot technique. Link utilization is also derived from the computation of first-order statistics of the captured traffic distribution. The study shows that less management data was exchanged when the SONET network was fully loaded. In addition, it is recommended that CTM 4.6 be used to manage not more than 1552 NEs for safe operation. The results presented in this thesis will aid network planners to optimize the management of their SONET/SDH networks. / Civilian, Ministry of Defense, Singapore

[pt] Nesta dissertação é proposto um novo método para a avaliação da eficiência de uso do espectro a ser aplicado para os sistemas de telecomunicações pontoárea, incluindo radiodifusão, e ponto-a-ponto. A definição proposta para o índice de eficiência é baseada nos aspectos técnicos, mas outros aspectos que podem influenciar na determinação da eficiência dos sistemas de telecomunicações, como os econômicos, sociais, políticos e estratégicos também são discutidos. O método é testado com dados reais de sistemas disponibilizados pela Anatel e no sítio dos prestadores de serviços de telecomunicações no Brasil. É muito importante avaliar a eficiência dos sistemas de telecomunicações, pois sendo o espectro de radiofreqüências um recurso limitado, pela tecnologia e capacidade de gerenciamento, a introdução de novos serviços de telecomunicações somente será possível com a substituição, pela realocação ou extinção, de determinadas aplicações menos eficientes. Apesar da regulamentação nacional e internacional constantemente referir-se à importância do uso eficiente das faixas de freqüências, não existe um método harmonizado de avaliação, o que impede a verificação deste aspecto pelos órgãos reguladores. As novas tecnologias e as oportunidades de desenvolvimento social que elas proporcionam demonstram a necessidade da boa gerência do espectro de radiofreqüências e de que cada uma de suas porções seja utilizada de forma eficiente e adequada a cada tipo de aplicação. / [en] In this work a new method for the assessment of the spectrum use efficiency is proposed to be applied to point-area, including broadcasting, and point-to-point telecommunications systems. The proposed definition of the efficiency index is based in technical aspects, but other subjects that affect the determination of a telecommunications system efficiency, as economics, social, political and strategic issues are also discussed. The method is tested with data of real systems available from the Brazilian Regulatory Agency (Anatel) and at the telecommunications service providers web sites. It is very important to assess the telecommunications systems efficiency, because being the radio spectrum a scarce resource, limited by technology and management capacity, the introduction of new telecommunications services will only be possible by replacement, refarming or suppression of some less efficient applications. Despite national and international regulations usually refers to the importance of efficient use of the frequency bands, there is no harmonized assessment method to be applied and verified by the regulators. The new technologies and the opportunities for social development provided by them, bring to the light the need for a good radio spectrum management and how each part of it must be used efficiently and assigned properly for each type of application or telecommunications service.

"January 2003" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-129) Presents performance analyses of dynamic, stochastic task scheduling policies for a real- time-communications system where tasks lose value as they are delayed in the system.

"January 2003" / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-129) / x, 129 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Presents performance analyses of dynamic, stochastic task scheduling policies for a real- time-communications system where tasks lose value as they are delayed in the system. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 2003

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Electrical Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / This research project addresses the unique challenges of extensive farming in terms of monitoring and controlling remote equipment or events. Poorly maintained roads and escalating fuel costs increase difficulty of farming and the time spent on physically monitoring remote sites further reduces financial yields. The research showed that there are very few solutions that implement wireless or electronic technology to overcome the challenges associated with these isolated and arid areas and that a low-cost, long range wireless telemetry solution that is easy to use would be beneficial for the extensive farming industry. It was therefore the aim of this project to develop a remote monitoring and controlling solution that implements wireless technology to convey information of activities around the farm utilising electronic means. To be able to successfully develop a wireless telemetry solution that will accurately meet the needs of this specific sector of industry, market research was conducted. To guide the research, the QFD (quality function deployment) process for product development has been implemented. The research consisted out of various aspects including a survey, financial considerations and international comparisons. The research also aided in the understanding of the day-to-day activities and also the physical parameters of extensive farms. Also, currently available technologies and products were evaluated to establish whether similarities exist that will aid in the development of a new product. The development process was based on the results obtained in the market research and resulted in a wireless telemetry solution that overcame all the design challenges and proved to be technically feasible, successfully addressing the application requirements. Zigbee technology was utilized for wireless communication because it provided an off-the-shelf solution with a number of readily available development platforms from various technology providers. A communication range of up to 6 kilometres with a transmitted power of 11dBm was achieved for point-to-point communication and a mesh network topology has been implemented for even longer range and complete coverage on farms. Various types of measurements have been catered for, with custom-designed instrumentation which enabled measurements such as water levels, movement and analogue signals. Also, a basic user interface was developed to enable the user to monitor or control the equipment or events remotely from a personal computer, locally or even over the internet. The results of this research project showed that by carefully selecting available technologies and understanding the application, it is possible to develop a solution that addresses the monitoring and controlling needs associated with extensive farming. The wireless telemetry system that was developed resulted in a saving equal to 10% of the total expenses of the farms per year. The telemetry system is therefore a financially feasible solution with a payback period of less than 1 year and far below the initial estimated budget. Without the need to physically monitoring equipment and events, an increase in productivity and the expansion of the overall enterprise is a further benefit added unto the monetary savings. In addition to the financial benefits of implementing new wireless technology, this is an opportunity to contribute to a cleaner and more sustained future as a legacy for the next generation by reducing the carbon footprint of the farm.

Fundação Araucária / O gerenciamento do tráfego na Internet tornou-se essencial devido à grande utilização de serviços em rede nos últimos anos. Assim, para executar alguns serviços que demandam um certo grau de qualidade é necessário otimizar o uso de recursos existentes. Organizações mantenedoras de backbones são responsáveis por rotear o tráfego, utilizando protocolos que encaminham dados da origem ao destino. Um dos protocolos de roteamento mais utilizados mundialmente é o Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). A qualidade das rotas oferecidas pelo protocolo OSPF depende dos pesos atribuídos pelo operador de rede às ligações (enlaces). A determinação destes pesos depende dos critérios técnicos ou econômicos considerados necessários por parte da empresa provedora de serviços telemáticos. Nesta dissertação aborda-se o problema de rotear a demanda de tráfego na rede com o objetivo de oferecer uma qualidade de serviço satisfatória por meio de uma atribuição inteligente de pesos aos enlaces. O problema de atribuição de pesos (WSP), consiste em encontrar um conjunto de pesos OSPF que otimiza o desempenho da rede. Para solução deste problema, a literatura científica apresenta algoritmos que, na sua maioria, buscam equilibrar o tráfego na rede pelo ajuste correto da carga de cada enlace. Essa dissertação visa solucionar o WSP propondo uma nova abordagem que leva em consideração a perda de pacotes em caminhos origem-destino e a sobrecarga gerada em cada enlace. Também uma formulação estendida é proposta, permitindo a obtenção de um conjunto de pesos operacionais em ambientes normais e em ambientes onde ocorrem falhas de nós. A aplicação de duas heurísticas conhecidas, Simulated Annealing e Harmony Search, a este problema permite encontrar soluções satisfatórias para os critérios de desempenho especificados. / Internet traffic management becomes essential due the large use of the Internet the past decades. Balancing the use of existing IP resources improves the performance of services. Backbone manteiners are responsible for routing data that are sent along the network links from a source to a destination host. A routing protocol is used to perform this task. One of the most commonly used internal routing protocol is OSPF (Open Shortest Path First). The quality of the routes offered by the OSPF protocol mainly depends on weights that are assigned by the network operator to the links. The determination of these weights depends on technical or economic criteria deemed necessary by the ISPs. This master dissertation addresses the routing problem aiming at providing network quality of service by optimizing the weights assigned to links. The weight setting problem (WSP) corresponds to find a set of OSPF weights that optimize network performance. To solve this problem, the literature shows algorithms that mostly seek to balance the network traffic by correctly setting link loads. This work aims at solving WSP proposing a new approach that takes into account packet losses over origin-destination paths and link overhead. Also an extended formulation is proposed, to obtain a set of operating weights in normal environments and in environments where node failures can occur. The application of two well known heuristics, Simulated Annealing and Harmony Search, to this problem allows to find satisfactory solutions to the performance criteria specified.

Técnicas de gerenciamento de filas e descarte de pacotes são empregadas pelos escalonadores de pacotes presentes nos roteadores internos de uma rede de telecomunicações. Devido às características auto-similares do tráfego presente nas redes, o desenvolvimento de modelos para análise de desempenho de protocolos e de elementos de rede é enormemente dificultado. Tais características auto-similares são oriundas da ação dos protocolos predominantes nas redes em questão, e dos mecanismos fim-a-fim de controle de congestionamento existentes, determinantes no comportamento do fluxo de informações entre diferentes camadas na hierarquia de protocolos TCP/IP. Esta tese tem como objetivo principal propor modelos analíticos de baixo esforço computacional que permitam fazer uma análise de desempenho de um nó de rede (podendo este nó ser do tipo: DiffServ, IntServ, IP, Multi Protocol Label Switching, entre outros) com o escalonador WFQ. O tráfego considerado é do tipo TCP, devido ao fato que este protocolo é o mais utilizado na Internet atualmente, apresentando, portanto, características auto-similares. Foram desenvolvidos modelos para o escalonador WFQ quando o mesmo é alimentado com tráfego Poissoniano e tráfego do tipo auto-similar. O primeiro modelo está baseado em uma cadeia de Markov bidimensional para representar o comportamento do escalonador WFQ alimentado por dois fluxos de prioridades diferentes. O segundo modelo faz uso de duas filas separadas com taxas de serviço ajustadas de modo a simular o comportamento do escalonador WFQ. As filas são do tipo M[X]/M/1/B para levar em conta o comportamento auto-similar do tráfego. Como resultado, mostra-se que o segundo modelo é capaz de estimar as métricas de desempenho, com erro aceitável, dentro de uma faixa adequada de valores dos parâmetros do sistema, conforme demonstra a validação de resultados conduzido com uso do software NS-2. / Internal routers of telecommunication networks employ a variety of queue management and packet discarding techniques. The development of models for analyzing performance of different protocols and devices is made difficult by the self-similar nature of network traffic. Traffic self-similarity stems from the action of predominant protocols and end-to-end congestion control systems, which are key factors in determining the behavior of data flow between layers of the TCP/IP protocol stack. This thesis proposes analytical models that allow for the evaluation of a (DiffServ, IntServ, IP, Multi Protocol Label Switching etc.) network node's performance at a low computational cost. Only TCP traffic is considered, since it accounts for most of current Internet traffic and therefore exhibits self-similar characteristics. Models were developed for the WFQ scheduler with Poisson and self-similar traffic inputs. The former is based on a bi-dimensional Markov chain representing the behavior of the WFQ scheduler with two input flows with different priorities. The latter consists in two separate queues whose service rates are tuned so as to simulate the behavior of a WFQ scheduler. M[X]/M/1/B queues are used to account for the self-similar nature of traffic. As a result, it is shown that the second model accurately estimates performance metrics for certain ranges of parameter values, as confirmed by NS-2 simulations.