The traditional approach to the engineering design of process plant is highly sequential with decisions made early in the design phase having a large knock on effect to downstream design processes. A lack of consideration to downstream concerns will either result in design re-work or compromise. Concurrent engineering has been proposed as a design method for resolving the problems inherent in the sequential design process by bringing the different engineering disciplines together at key decision points in the design process, thereby preventing design problems before they occur. Computational support for concurrent engineering aims to develop tools to help team members in sharing knowledge and keep track of the others' needs, constraints, decisions and assumptions [Cutkosky, et al. 93]. Such systems would enable engineering disciplines from each of the design life-cycle stages to communicate and review design strategy. As a group they would be able to explore design alternatives in search of a good solution [Talukdar, Fenves 89]. Knowledge based systems can support the engineering design process by providing advice that accounts for the global concerns. It is argued that such a system should be distributed, due to the problems in maintaining a single large knowledge base, and computational power required to operate a single system. However, wherever expertise is distributed, conflict exists that has to be resolved. The aims of this research are to identify the needs of a computational support environment to aid concurrent engineering design, and to develop a framework to enable disparate design systems to cooperate and produce designs acceptable from the global viewpoint. The 'needs' were identified from a study of the engineering design process, and a detailed analysis into the design and selection of pumping systems to provide a rich example of the problems faced in a specific design process. Cooperation is achieved through 'Negotiation', which resolves conflicts between the various objectives involved in design and is a central theme of this research. Through the provision of a framework to support negotiation the aim is to provide the basis on which individual design programs can cooperate to produce rational designs from a global perspective, thereby bringing life cycle design advice to the earlier design stages.

Thesis (MEd)--University of South Australia, 1996

Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, a series of Federal Government papers and major reports called for changes and improvement in the skills formation of the Australian workforce, in an attempt to create a highly skilled and flexible workforce. Training reform was seen as a means of achieving the flexibility and skill levels required for general economic improvement. The Federal Government proposed increased investment in training by industry and government, and the transformation of the training system from a time-based approach to a competency-based approach. A National Training Board was established to assist in the implementation of the reform. The National Training Board perceived the national training reform agenda as a national response to increase the competitiveness and productivity of industry through the implementation of competency-based vocational education and training. (For complete abstract open document)

Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, a series of Federal Government papers and major reports called for changes and improvement in the skills formation of the Australian workforce, in an attempt to create a highly skilled and flexible workforce. Training reform was seen as a means of achieving the flexibility and skill levels required for general economic improvement. The Federal Government proposed increased investment in training by industry and government, and the transformation of the training system from a time-based approach to a competency-based approach. A National Training Board was established to assist in the implementation of the reform. The National Training Board perceived the national training reform agenda as a national response to increase the competitiveness and productivity of industry through the implementation of competency-based vocational education and training. (For complete abstract open document)

Doctor of Philosophy / Aim and significance: The aim of this research was to investigate how evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing homes is understood in the context of Taiwan, a non-Western country. There is a growing movement towards using research evidence to inform practice in the nursing profession with variable success. To date, factors that promote or inhibit implementation of EBP in health care have been investigated through research conducted in hospital settings in Western countries. Remarkably little is known about nurses’ experience and perceptions of EBP in residential aged care facilities (RACFs), especially in non-Western countries. Method: The study adopted a mixed method approach. Subjects were recruited from six nursing homes in the Hsinchu district of Taiwan. In Stage 1, 89 registered nurses completed a comprehensive questionnaire specifically developed for this project. It was designed to elicit information about (1) their experience of and attitudes towards research and EBP; (2) the barriers they perceive to its implementation; and (3) what strategies they believe would enhance its implementation in the nursing home setting. In Stage 2, six nursing managers participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews that explored the same topic areas as those in the questionnaire but used an open-ended format which allowed for new themes to emerge. Findings: The majority of nurses and nursing managers expressed positive attitudes towards research and EBP but reported relatively little experience in its implementation. Nurses relied most heavily on knowledge derived from past experience and on interactions with nursing colleagues, medical staff and patients to inform their clinical practice. They identified the main barriers to EBP as: insufficient authority to change practice, their own lack of research knowledge and insufficient time to implement new ideas in the workplace. They believed EBP would be facilitated by: improved access to computers and internet facilities in the workplace; more effective research training; collaboration with academics; and dedicated time to search for and read research articles. As anticipated, nurses viewed the issues from a practical stance in relation to their own time, resources and lack of authority to effect change. Nursing managers expressed similar views to the nurses in relation to attitudes towards EBP implementation. However, they identified barriers which related to aspects of the organizational framework. In particular, they expressed concerns about issues such as budgetary constraints, staff quality (notably the reliance on minimally trained assistants in nursing (AINs) for direct resident care), as well as factors that reflected the wider political and economic context of health care in Taiwan. Conclusion: The findings of this study have implications for research, policy and practice in both Western and non-Western countries. Further research on EBP would be beneficial if conducted in settings other than hospitals, such as RACFs. There remains also the need to examine the potential for EBP in different social-cultural contexts, such as those in non-Western countries. Nursing managers have generally been excluded in previous research but, because of their particular role, there is a need to examine their perspectives of EBP and then compare these with those of the nurses. In Taiwan specifically, policy change is needed at both government and institutional levels to encourage and support the development of protocols and procedures for the implementation of EBP. If EBP was a government requirement for accreditation and a standard for protocols in hospitals and RACFs, it would lead to improved standards of care and cost effectiveness. This study supports the findings of a number of investigations conducted in Western countries which indicate that further education and training in research for nurses may lead to higher standards of patient care, greater job satisfaction and higher staff retention rates.

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met lit.opg. en een samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-88). Also available via the Internet.