Dauguma programinę įrangą kuriančių įmonių susiduria su problemomis: projektai vėluoja, viršijamas biudžetas, klientai nepatenkinti produktų kokybe. Daugelis problemų kyla dėl nebrandaus programų kūrimo proceso, pagal kurį įmonė įgyvendina projektus. Populiariausi pasaulyje programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modeliai yra ISO/IEC 15504 ir CMMI. Įmonės, norėdamos būti oficialiai pripažintos platesnėje aplinkoje, renkasi vieną iš šių dviejų modelių. Įmonės susiduria su problema, kad skirtingi užsakovai reikalauja skirtingų procesų vertinimo modelių. Todėl įmonėms yra aktualu turėti instrumentą, kuris atvaizduotų jos vertinimo rezultatus iš vieno procesų vertinimo modelio į kitą, neatliekant kaskart realaus įmonės procesų vertinimo. Disertacijoje pateiktas tarpinis programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modelis yra instrumentas įmonėms, siekiančioms kurti programų sistemas automobilių, krašto apsaugos, kosmoso, medicinos ir kitose pramonės šakose, gauti vertinimo rezultatus pagal įvairius procesų vertinimo modelius, atliekant vieną procesų vertinimą. Pagal pasiūlytą tarpinio programų kūrimo procesų vertinimo modelio kūrimo metodą galima kurti tarpinius modelius ir kitų sričių procesams vertinti. Pavyzdžiui, galima konstruoti tarpinį modelį paslaugas teikiančioms organizacijoms, apimantį CMMI-SVC ir ISO/IEC 15504-8 vertinimo modelius, arba tarpinį modelį bet kokia veikla užsiimančioms organizacijoms, apimantį Enterprise SPICE ir FAA-iCMM vertinimo modelius. / Many software companies face such problems as projects being behind schedule, exceeding the budget, customer dissatisfaction with product quality. Most of the problems arise due to immature software process of the company. The most popular process assessment models worldwide are ISO/IEC 15504 and CMMI. Companies seeking wider official recognition choose between these two models. Companies face the problem that different customers require process assessment according to different models. Therefore, it is important for companies to have an instrument that would transform company’s assessment results according to one process assessment model to another model without actual reassessment each time. The transitional process assessment model proposed in the dissertation allows the companies in the automotive, defence, space, medical, and other industries to have assessment results according to different process assessment models by performing only single process assessment. The presented method for TPAM development could be used developing transitional process assessment models in other domains. For example, service companies could implement a transitional model covering CMMI-SVC and ISO/IEC 15504-8 assessment models, and companies working in other areas could implement a transitional model covering Enterprise SPICE and FAA-iCMM assessment models.

This study explores the relationship between students’ missing responses on a large-scale assessment and their cognitive skill profiles and characteristics. Data from the 48 multiple-choice items on the 2006 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), a high school graduation requirement, were analyzed using the item response theory (IRT) three-parameter logistic model and the Reduced Reparameterized Unified Model, a Cognitive Diagnostic Model. Missing responses were analyzed by item and by student. Item-level analyses examined the relationships among item difficulty, item order, literacy skills targeted by the item, the cognitive skills required by the item, the percent of students not answering the item, and other features of the item. Student-level analyses examined the relationships among students’ missing responses, overall performance, cognitive skill mastery profiles, and characteristics such as gender and home language. Most students answered most items: no item was answered by fewer than 98.8% of the students and 95.5% of students had 0 missing responses, 3.2% had 1 missing response, and only 1.3% had more than 1 missing responses). However, whether students responded to items was related to the student’s characteristics, including gender, whether the student had an individual education plan and language spoken at home, and to the item’s characteristics such as item difficulty and the cognitive skills required to answer the item. Unlike in previous studies of large-scale assessments, the missing response rates were not higher for multiple-choice items appearing later in the timed sections. Instead, the first two items in some sections had higher missing response rates. Examination of the student-level missing response rates, however, showed that when students had high numbers of missing responses, these often represented failures to complete a section of the test. Also, if nonresponse was concentrated in items that required particular skills, the accuracy of the estimates for those skills was lower than for other skills. The results of this study have implications for test designers who seek to improve provincial large-scale assessments, and for teachers who seek to help students improve their cognitive skills and develop test taking strategies.

This study explores the relationship between students’ missing responses on a large-scale assessment and their cognitive skill profiles and characteristics. Data from the 48 multiple-choice items on the 2006 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), a high school graduation requirement, were analyzed using the item response theory (IRT) three-parameter logistic model and the Reduced Reparameterized Unified Model, a Cognitive Diagnostic Model. Missing responses were analyzed by item and by student. Item-level analyses examined the relationships among item difficulty, item order, literacy skills targeted by the item, the cognitive skills required by the item, the percent of students not answering the item, and other features of the item. Student-level analyses examined the relationships among students’ missing responses, overall performance, cognitive skill mastery profiles, and characteristics such as gender and home language. Most students answered most items: no item was answered by fewer than 98.8% of the students and 95.5% of students had 0 missing responses, 3.2% had 1 missing response, and only 1.3% had more than 1 missing responses). However, whether students responded to items was related to the student’s characteristics, including gender, whether the student had an individual education plan and language spoken at home, and to the item’s characteristics such as item difficulty and the cognitive skills required to answer the item. Unlike in previous studies of large-scale assessments, the missing response rates were not higher for multiple-choice items appearing later in the timed sections. Instead, the first two items in some sections had higher missing response rates. Examination of the student-level missing response rates, however, showed that when students had high numbers of missing responses, these often represented failures to complete a section of the test. Also, if nonresponse was concentrated in items that required particular skills, the accuracy of the estimates for those skills was lower than for other skills. The results of this study have implications for test designers who seek to improve provincial large-scale assessments, and for teachers who seek to help students improve their cognitive skills and develop test taking strategies.

Galbraith (1995:2) states that “organizations continuously search for more effective approaches in order to survive, to remain competitive, to maintain their operations and to grow in an ever-changing and competitive environment. To achieve sustainable business results, organizations must actively manage cost, quality, product and service features by means of their efficient and effective application of managerial and operational systems within a well-designed organizational framework.” Porter and Tanner (2004:3) argue that “in their endeavour to remain competitive organizations have over the last few decades in search of the ultimate system or methodology tried and tested all the various performance improvement approaches or performance enablers (ISO 9000, Business Process Reengineering (BPR), Business Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Total Quality Management (TQM), Just-in-Time, Project Management, Six Sigma, Lean Sigma, etcetera). Although thousands of organizations implemented these performance enablers, few organizations achieved their envisaged state of excellence.” Kerzner (1997:2) argues that “there are only two ways in which work gets done in organizations: through business processes or through projects. Business processes are permanent work structures that transform inputs continuously into outputs as ongoing operations. Projects on the other hand are temporary work structures that shut down once the output has been achieved.” Robbins, (1998:629) states that “since the organizations’ success or failure is essential due to the things that its employees do or fail to do (processes), any planned change must also be concerned with changing the behaviour of individuals and groups within the organization.” It is therefore critical that management does have scientific control over the function or Critical Core Capability that touches “the way things get done”. The researcher are therefore of the opinion that business process being the core descriptor of the “how”, “what”, “when”, and “why” of every individuals daily interaction with his work, his colleagues, his organization and his clients is maybe by far the biggest factor of satisfaction, dissatisfaction, harmony or conflict in the organization and determines to a large extent what the behaviour of the individual, the groups and the organization at large will be on a daily basis. Business Process was identified as core to all the performance enablers and was elevated to a Critical Core Capability status in many organizations. Derived from the above Business Process Management as a Critical Core Capability should encompass the four management functions, and should be supported by a proper organizational framework that includes strategy, structure, policies, procedures, and people. The literature search also confirmed that “synergy”, i.e. “The whole is more than its parts”, is paramount to success when it comes to the management of a Critical Core Capability. With the above as reference the researcher set out to establish which criteria should be included in a measurement instrument to measure Business Process Management as a Critical Core Capability in an organization. The following primary research question was formulated and used as vantage point to develop, as the primary objective, said instrument: What must be implemented, in terms of strategies, governance, enterprise architecture, and process optimization, to ensure that organization culture, people’s behaviour and the work environment will be conducive to successfully establish and maintain Business Process Management as a Critical Core Capability of an organization? Based on a proper research process and methodology the researcher utilized the following methods to develop the Test Instrument: <ul> <li> A comprehensive literature study;</li> <li> Discussions with and inputs from experts;</li> <li> Questionnaires; and</li> <li> Statistical analysis.</li> </ul> An Assessment Tool for Measuring Business Process Management as a Core Capability in an organization comprising ninety items clustered in six criteria in a five factor scale was developed and tested in two organizations as well as in three different business units in the one organization. The final Descriptive Statistics showed that the overall reliability of the items per criterion was highly acceptable with Cronbach Alpha Coefficients of 0.7315, 0.9216, 0.8224, 0.7650, 0.8248, and 0.7722 respectively, (higher than the acceptable level of 0.70). The final analysis therefore concluded that the assessment tool, the Business Process Management Competency Assessment Model (BPMCAM), is a reliable tool that can distinguish in terms of Business Process Management as a Critical Core Capability the level of an organization’s readiness to implement and/or to sustain the Business Process Management functionality as a Critical Core Capability. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / This study uses analytical solutions to assess a hydraulic fill model based on weathered granitoid to increase underground opening stability and mitigate rock bursts during mining operations in a conventional underground mining company located in the Coastal Batholiths of the Peruvian Andes. This study assesses the previous geological database provided by the mine, analyzes the on-site strengths produced by the exploitation works that will subsequently be filled, identifies the quality of the material used in the landfill (granitoids) through laboratory tests, and compares compressive strength at different depths, all contemplated within the landfill model used. This study focuses on the applicability of hydraulic fills in conventional underground mine using natural geological material such as granitoid. / Revisión por pares

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a qualidade dos serviços públicos eletrônicos sob a ótica dos gestores públicos e dos usuários. Para realizar tal pesquisa foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade com os gestores públicos da cidade de Ribeirão Preto e da cidade de Vinhedo. E também, foram aplicados questionários em sua forma on line para avaliar a satisfação dos usuários em relação ao site municipal (cidade de Ribeirão Preto) e o site estadual (site do Programa Poupatempo). Os resultados obtidos na pesquisa foram que os itens relacionados à facilidade de uso do site, oferecimento do que era esperado, fornecimento das informações com qualidade e o estímulo do site ao uso repetido foram os fatores melhor avaliados pelos usuários na cidade de Ribeirão Preto. E na cidade de Vinhedo, os itens que foram melhores avaliados foram: o fornecimento das informações com qualidade, o estímulo do site ao uso repetido e o oferecimento do que era esperado. Tais resultados implicam que apesar das diferenças existentes entre as cidades, os itens relacionados à satisfação dos usuários foram praticamente os mesmos. Logo, esta pesquisa contribuiu para auxiliar os gestores públicos municipais a nortear as suas ações para melhoria da qualidade dos serviços públicos oferecidos. A pesquisa revelou a necessidade de uma efetiva coordenação por parte de órgãos federais no sentido de facilitar o desenvolvimento dos serviços de governo eletrônico. Pesquisas futuras nesta área poderiam replicar o questionário e as entrevistas aplicadas visando corroborar os elementos identificados em outras esferas governamentais. / The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of the electronics from the perspective of public managers and users of public services. To conduct such research indepth interviews were conducted with public officials of the city of Ribeirão Preto and the town of Vinhedo. Also, questionnaires were administered in form online to evaluate user satisfaction in relation to the municipal website (Ribeirão Preto) and state site (the site Poupatempo Program). The results obtained in the study were that items related to ease of use of the site, offering what was expected, provision of quality information and encouragement to the repeated use of the site were the best factors evaluated by the users in the city of Ribeirão Preto. And in the town of Vinhedo, items that were best were: the provision of quality information, the stimulus site to repeated use and delivery than expected. These results imply that despite the differences between the cities, the items related to user satisfaction were almost the same. Therefore, this research has contributed to assist the municipal administrators to govern its actions to improve the quality of public services. The survey revealed the need for effective coordination by federal agencies to facilitate the development of electronic government services. Future research in this area could replicate the questionnaire and the interviews applied aiming to corroborate the elements identified in other spheres of government.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Nos últimos anos, com a aceleração da globalização, tem-se intensificado a atividade de análise e avaliação de investimentos. Dentre as diversas técnicas de mensuração de valor e risco, mereceu especial destaque as ferramentas de avaliação de empresas, em razão da significativa profusão de negociações de e entre empresas, que inclui grande número de fusões aquisições e parcerias. Em diferentes segmentos empresas privadas de capital fechado, passam a ser alvo de grandes companhias ou vislumbram vir a ser, o que traz a necessidade ao empresariado de saber qual o valor do seu negócio, qual o valor mínimo aceitável em uma negociação, seja de venda ou de compra de investimentos. Estas necessidades justificam a busca de ferramenta de valoração. Diante disto, este trabalho visa identificar, e discutir os principais aspectos relacionados à valoração de empresas. No levantamento bibliográfico foram identificados os principais modelos de valoração onde foram criticados, apontando limitações ou desvantagens; procurou-se identificar, dentre eles, o que se adaptaria para avaliar uma empresa de capital fechado dada a limitação de informações possíveis de serem levantadas na empresa, que fosse mais referendado pelos estudiosos e o mais utilizado neste momento. Optou-se então pelos modelos de Fluxo de Caixa Descontado (FCD) e Valor Econômico, comparando-os ao Valor Patrimonial Contábil. apresentando-se à empresa e acionistas um preço de referência para que possam iniciar negociações de compra ou venda de parte ou todo do negócio. No segmento supermercadista, nos últimos anos, houve grandes negociações, passando para um nível de concentração das 5 maiores redes de 61% do mercado nacional. No estudo de caso, realizado em uma empresa do ramo de supermercados, foi feito o levantamento dos dados históricos dos últimos 5 anos, e feitas as projeções para os próximos seis exercícios, sendo calculados ou estimados, também: o beta do setor, o ROIC, o WACC, o CAPM, o Capital Operacional Investido, o Spread e a composição do capital atual. Após aplicação das premissas e cálculo do período de projeção, foi calculado o valor da perpetuidade, adicionando-o aos dois modelos de avaliação, e com isso chegou-se a um mesmo valor de valoração da empresa, que confirmaram as afirmações encontradas na bibliografia. Após comparou-se o resultado da avaliação pelo FCD e pelo Valor Econômico com o valor Patrimonial Contábil sem ajustes, apresentando assim para a empresa uma ferramenta para avaliações ou projeções de cenários e a discrepância entre os valores contábeis e econômicos da empresa. / In the last years, due to the acceleration on globalization, the activity of analysis and evaluation of investments has been intensified. Among several techniques of measurement of value and risk, the tools for firm evaluation has got special notice for the reason that it has been a meaningful profusion and partnerships. In different segments, private owned companies become or are willing to become the target of big companies and so the entrepreneurs have the necessity to know the minimum value of their businesses in transactions of buying or selling investments. That necessity justifies the search for business valuation resources. Thus, this paper aims at identify and discuss the main aspects related to business valuation. In the bibliographic search the main models of business valuation resources were identified and passed judgment on their limitations or disadvantages. An attempt on identifying one among those resources which would adapt for evaluating a privately owned company and which would be referenced by scholars and most used at the moment was made. The difficulty found was due to limitation of possible information gathering from firms. The chosen alternative was the Discounted Cash Flow models – DCF – and Economic Value in comparison to Accounting Patrimonial Value to show the company and shareholders a referential price to start transactions of buying and selling of part or the whole business. In the supermarket segment, in the last years, there were huge negotiations ending up in a concentration of five big chains which represent 61% of Brazilian market. A case study carried in a supermarket gathered historical data from the last 5 years and from those, projections for the next 6 ones were made calculating the sector beta, ROIC, WACC, CAPM and the Operational Capital invested, Spread e the composition of updated capital. After applying the predictions and calculating the projection period, perpetual value was calculated by adding that to two models of appraisal and then getting to the same value of assessment which confirm the statements in the review of bibliography. Afterwards the result of the assessment was compared to DCF and to Economic Value with Accounting Patrimonial Value without adjustments featuring an evaluating or projecting scenarios and the discrepancy between accounting values and economic values within firms.

Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM) / The purpose of the study described in this thesis was to investigate the structure required to implement and manage digital forensic readiness within an enterprise. A comparative analysis of different digital forensic readiness frameworks was performed and, based on the findings of the analysis, the digital forensic readiness commonalities framework (DFRCF) was extended. The resultant structure was used to design a digital forensic readiness maturity assessment model (DFRMAM) that will enable organisations to assess their forensic readiness. In conclusion, both the extended DFRCF and the DFRMAM are shown to be validated by forensic practitioners, using semi-structured interviews. A qualitative research design and methodology was used to perform a comparative analysis of the various digital forensic readiness frameworks, to comprehend the underlying structures. All the participant responses were recorded and transcribed. Analysis of the findings resulting from the study showed that participants mostly agreed with the structure of the extended DFRCF; however, key changes were introduced to the extended DFRCF. The participants also validated the DFRMAM, and the majority of respondents opted for a checklist-type MAM. Digital forensic readiness is a very sensitive topic since organisations fear that their information might be made public and, as a result, increase their exposure to forensic incidents and reputational risk. Because of this, it was difficult to find participants who have a forensic footprint and are willing, able, and knowledgeable about digital forensic readiness. This study will contribute to the body of knowledge by presenting an original, validated DFRCF and DFRMAM. Practitioners and organisations now have access to non-proprietary DFRMAM.

Nos últimos anos, com a aceleração da globalização, tem-se intensificado a atividade de análise e avaliação de investimentos. Dentre as diversas técnicas de mensuração de valor e risco, mereceu especial destaque as ferramentas de avaliação de empresas, em razão da significativa profusão de negociações de e entre empresas, que inclui grande número de fusões aquisições e parcerias. Em diferentes segmentos empresas privadas de capital fechado, passam a ser alvo de grandes companhias ou vislumbram vir a ser, o que traz a necessidade ao empresariado de saber qual o valor do seu negócio, qual o valor mínimo aceitável em uma negociação, seja de venda ou de compra de investimentos. Estas necessidades justificam a busca de ferramenta de valoração. Diante disto, este trabalho visa identificar, e discutir os principais aspectos relacionados à valoração de empresas. No levantamento bibliográfico foram identificados os principais modelos de valoração onde foram criticados, apontando limitações ou desvantagens; procurou-se identificar, dentre eles, o que se adaptaria para avaliar uma empresa de capital fechado dada a limitação de informações possíveis de serem levantadas na empresa, que fosse mais referendado pelos estudiosos e o mais utilizado neste momento. Optou-se então pelos modelos de Fluxo de Caixa Descontado (FCD) e Valor Econômico, comparando-os ao Valor Patrimonial Contábil. apresentando-se à empresa e acionistas um preço de referência para que possam iniciar negociações de compra ou venda de parte ou todo do negócio. No segmento supermercadista, nos últimos anos, houve grandes negociações, passando para um nível de concentração das 5 maiores redes de 61% do mercado nacional. No estudo de caso, realizado em uma empresa do ramo de supermercados, foi feito o levantamento dos dados históricos dos últimos 5 anos, e feitas as projeções para os próximos seis exercícios, sendo calculados ou estimados, também: o beta do setor, o ROIC, o WACC, o CAPM, o Capital Operacional Investido, o Spread e a composição do capital atual. Após aplicação das premissas e cálculo do período de projeção, foi calculado o valor da perpetuidade, adicionando-o aos dois modelos de avaliação, e com isso chegou-se a um mesmo valor de valoração da empresa, que confirmaram as afirmações encontradas na bibliografia. Após comparou-se o resultado da avaliação pelo FCD e pelo Valor Econômico com o valor Patrimonial Contábil sem ajustes, apresentando assim para a empresa uma ferramenta para avaliações ou projeções de cenários e a discrepância entre os valores contábeis e econômicos da empresa. / In the last years, due to the acceleration on globalization, the activity of analysis and evaluation of investments has been intensified. Among several techniques of measurement of value and risk, the tools for firm evaluation has got special notice for the reason that it has been a meaningful profusion and partnerships. In different segments, private owned companies become or are willing to become the target of big companies and so the entrepreneurs have the necessity to know the minimum value of their businesses in transactions of buying or selling investments. That necessity justifies the search for business valuation resources. Thus, this paper aims at identify and discuss the main aspects related to business valuation. In the bibliographic search the main models of business valuation resources were identified and passed judgment on their limitations or disadvantages. An attempt on identifying one among those resources which would adapt for evaluating a privately owned company and which would be referenced by scholars and most used at the moment was made. The difficulty found was due to limitation of possible information gathering from firms. The chosen alternative was the Discounted Cash Flow models – DCF – and Economic Value in comparison to Accounting Patrimonial Value to show the company and shareholders a referential price to start transactions of buying and selling of part or the whole business. In the supermarket segment, in the last years, there were huge negotiations ending up in a concentration of five big chains which represent 61% of Brazilian market. A case study carried in a supermarket gathered historical data from the last 5 years and from those, projections for the next 6 ones were made calculating the sector beta, ROIC, WACC, CAPM and the Operational Capital invested, Spread e the composition of updated capital. After applying the predictions and calculating the projection period, perpetual value was calculated by adding that to two models of appraisal and then getting to the same value of assessment which confirm the statements in the review of bibliography. Afterwards the result of the assessment was compared to DCF and to Economic Value with Accounting Patrimonial Value without adjustments featuring an evaluating or projecting scenarios and the discrepancy between accounting values and economic values within firms.