Esta pesquisa investiga as possibilidades metodológicas do campo do design que possam lidar eficientemente com sistemas complexos que servem de contexto a vários problemas contemporâneos. Entendemos que os problemas propostos à área projetual estão se tornando progressivamente mais complexos, sem que tenha havido uma contrapartida na sofisticação da reflexão dos métodos projetuais. Partimos então de uma pesquisa das correntes metodológicas de projeto -- especificamente da corrente Design Methods anglo-americana, que desde sua criação nos anos 1960 colocou a necessidade de novos métodos para o design contemporâneo -- que pudessem dar conta de novos níveis de complexidade. Num segundo momento, procuramos fundamentação na teoria dos sistemas, a respeito dos fenômenos típicos dos sistemas complexos -- emergência, robustez, grandes eventos --, suas características e desdobramentos para o mapeamento das soluções dos problemas de design. A partir desta fundamentação identificamos estratégias para o tratamento de problemas complexos. Também procuramos analisar e inferir, das várias iniciativas da web colaborativa, os elementos que geram soluções para problemas de grande complexidade. No decorrer da pesquisa foi possível perceber que as iniciativas existentes na web que tratam de problemas complexos se utilizam de certas estratégias que possibilitam abordagens de projeto mais efetivas. Ao final do estudo, procuramos elaborar uma síntese dessas estratégias e lançar sugestões de abordagem que possam ajudar projetistas no enfrentamento dos problemas complexos típicos de nossos tempos. / This research investigates the possibilities of a design methodology that can deal with complex systems that serve as the backdrop to many contemporary problems. We think that the problems posed to design field are becoming increasingly complex, without any correspondent counterpart in the sophistication in design methods. Therefore, we started with a survey in design methodological theories -- specifically the Anglo-American Design Methods movement, which since its creation in the 1960s put the need for new methods to contemporary design -- that could deal with new levels of complexity. As a second step, we seek grounding in systems theory, about the typical complex systems phenomena -- emergence, robustness, major events -- its features and developments for the mapping of solutions of design problems. From this foundation we identified different strategies to solve complex problems. We also seek to analyze and infer, based on the various collaborative web initiatives, the elements that generate solutions to problems of great complexity. During the research it was revealed that existing web initiatives that address complex problems make use of some strategies that enable more effective design approaches. At the end of this work, we sought to develop an overview of these strategies and proposed suggested approaches that can help designers in addressing the complex problems typical of our times.

Realizou-se em estudo de múltiplos casos com o objetivo de entender como determinadas características organizacionais, baseadas em características de sistemas dinâmicos não-lineares eficazes explicadas pela Teoria da Complexidade, guardam algum tipo de relacionamento com a eficácia das organizações que as possuem e desenvolvem. Os focos do trabalho são os Sistemas de Gestão da Qualidade certificados conforme as normas ISO 9001/2. A escolha teve como motivações a possibilidade de maior controle dos efeitos dos fatores ambientais sobre os resultados de pesquisa e a transparência destes sistemas para o pesquisador. Um dos maiores desafios foi desenvolver, na revisão bibliográfica, uma interpretação da Teoria da Complexidade sob a ótica das ciências sociais, em especial da Administração. O referencial teórico consolidado através desta interpretação foi colocado à prova e foram encontrados diversos indícios de que a Teoria da Complexidade pode ser uma explicação coerente da dinâmica dos sistemas organizacionais. Mais importante ainda, não foi encontrada nenhuma evidência clara de que não o seja. Encontrar alguma racionalidade no atual ambiente de negócios é um grande desafio. Por outro lado, para poder decidir e agir, o administrador precisa de um modelo mental que lhe permita se integrar nesta realidade de forma consciente e autônoma. Este trabalho procurou mostrar que a Complexidade pode ser uma alternativa para a compreensão da dinâmica dos sistemas organizacionais e, desta forma, contribuir para a construção deste modelo mental. / A multiple case study was made with the objective of understanding how specific organizational characteristics, based on non-linear dynamic systems characteristics explained by the Complexity Theory, hold any relation with the effectiveness of the organizations that carry and develop these characteristics. The focuses of this work are Quality Management Systems certified by the ISO 9001/2 norms. The motivation of this choice where the possibility of greater control over the effects of environmental factors and the transparency of these systems for the researcher. One of the greater challenges where to develop, at the bibliographical review, an interpretation of the Complexity Theory under the view of the social sciences, especially of Management. The theoretical referee consolidated trough this interpretation was put to test and where found several clues that the Complexity Theory can be a coherent explanation of the dynamic of organizational systems. More important yet, no clear evidence was found that it is not. To find any rationality at the present business environment is a great challenge. However, to be able to decide and to act, the manager needs a mental model that allows him to integrate in this reality in a conscious and autonomous form. This work tried to show that Complexity can be an alternative for the understanding of the dynamics of organizational systems and, consequently, to contribute for the construction of this mental model.

Achieving the Scottish Government's carbon reduction targets requires not only the decarbonisation of industry and electricity generation, which is now largely underway, but also significant changes in the actions and decisions of millions of individuals, whose carbon emissions fall outside the areas which Government can control. Transport, much of it undertaken by individuals, accounts for around 20% of Scotland's carbon emissions. Policy aimed at changing individual travel behaviours will therefore become increasingly important. Commonly applied behaviour change strategies based on rational actor theory face conceptual problems and cannot overcome the lack of agency experienced by individuals buffeted by a range of influences in a complex world. Practice theory relocates the site of analysis from the individual to the social and helps to overcome these problems, but it is not clear how to deliberately change practices to achieve the carbon reductions required. Understanding practices as emergent properties of complex social systems suggests that working to alter the complex social system may lead to different emergent properties, i.e. more sustainable practices. My research explored this approach by conducting an experiment in Aberdeen that sought to influence the complex social system within which audiences travel to a large theatre in the city. Emergent properties of the system encouraged travel by private car: problems of (in)convenience and insecurity were shaping individuals' travel practices. Collaboration between actors powerful enough to affect the system - a transport provider, a local authority and the theatre itself - was needed to influence it sufficiently to bring about a change in the main travel mode from private cars to public transport. Analysis of this case identifies the need to acknowledge the relevance of complexity theory when developing carbon reduction policy. Perverse incentives encouraging public organisations to focus on their own 'direct' carbon emissions need to be replaced with a duty to collaborate with others to reduce society's overall carbon emissions. Those making policy and those implementing it will therefore need to understand and apply complexity theory, and will need highly developed skills in managing long-term collaborative projects rather than 'delivering' one-off changes. These attributes may be found in practitioners from diverse and less obvious fields, including the cultural sector.

Companies in the 21st century are exposed to a variety of pressures to respond to a plethora of environmental issues. Understanding how these issues impact companies over time is, therefore, important for corporate practitioners and policy makers alike. This thesis investigates the state and evolution of corporate environmental strategy with the help of a multi-study, longitudinal research design. Theoretically grounded in complexity theory, a conceptual framework is developed that portrays organisations as open systems within which agents interact and attempt to improve organisational fitness. By conceptualising the organisational metaphor of ‘rugged fitness landscapes’, firms are depicted as complex adaptive systems searching for peaks on a constantly changing fitness landscape in order to guarantee economic long-term profit and survival. While study one examines environmental responses among a stratified sample of UK companies through repeated interviews both in 2006 and 2008, the second study draws on KLD data from S&P500 corporations for the period 1991 to 2006 by distinguishing between changes at firm and at population level. The findings suggest that the state and evolution of corporate environmental strategy are effectively subordinated to contributing towards firms’ fitness, whereby firms mostly attempt to remain profitable and obtain social legitimacy. Even over longer periods of time this behaviour has not changed markedly, except that starting from around 2004 higher levels of oil prices and lower interest rates have spurred more proactive environmental changes among a number of firms. Equally, different motivations, individuals and contextual factors appear to influence the varying patterns of evolution. The thesis fills a gap in the existing literature with respect to the lack of conceptual and empirical contributions about the evolution of corporate environmental strategy by providing new insights into how firms are responding to environmental issues over time and by extending various strands of theory.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-24T19:22:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alonso B M Ruiz.pdf: 2237265 bytes, checksum: 32cc148b8d2fd90ae22498687506019e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-03 / The following work has as objective to analyze the main characteristics of the production of theses and dissertations about the Theory of Complexity in Brazil in the years of 2011 and 2012, as a tool that can build a reference of study to the interested in the subject. Throughout this process was researched data about the production of theses and dissertations related to the paradigm of complexity in Brazil, deepening in the analysis of those works in the area of education. It was realized a registration of the main field of application of such works. By the technique of document analysis it was intended to recognize the major disciplinary association that emerged starting from this new view to the construction of a new of organization of the scientific knowledge, as well as the principal exponents quoted about this theory in the selected works. For such endings, a research was realized in the CAPES bank of theses with three main criteria of search: “Theory of Complexity”, “Paradigm of Complexity” and “Complex Thinking”. The result was processed by spreadsheet of the Microsoft Excel. The results highlighted a strong association between the theory of complexity and the education, mainly in reference to the formation of teachers under new views and pedagogical practices, however, exist a wide variety of knowledge, in which the theory converses. The most used methodological technique was the bibliographical research. On the other hand, most of the researches derive in diagnoses about specific situations. / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar as principais características da produção de teses e dissertações sobre a Teoria da Complexidade no Brasil nos anos 2011 e 2012, como uma ferramenta que possa constituir uma referência de estudo para os interessados nesta temática. Ao longo deste processo foram pesquisados dados sobre a produção de teses e dissertações relativas ao paradigma da complexidade no Brasil, aprofundando na análise daqueles trabalhos na área da educação. Realizou-se um registro dos principais campos de aplicação de tais trabalhos. Através da técnica da análise documental pretendeu-se reconhecer as principais associações disciplinares que emergiram a partir desta nova visão para a construção de uma nova organização do saber científico, bem como os principais expoentes citados com respeito a esta teoria nos trabalhos selecionados. Para tais fins, se realizou uma pesquisa no banco de teses da CAPES com três principais critérios de busca. “Teoria da Complexidade”, “Paradigma da Complexidade” e “Pensamento Complexo”. O resultado foi processado através de folha de cálculo do Microsoft Excel. Os resultados ressaltam uma forte associação entre a teoria da complexidade e a educação principalmente em referência à formação de docentes sob novas visões e práticas pedagógicas, no entanto, existe uma ampla variedade de saberes com os quais a teoria dialoga. A técnica metodológica mais utilizada foi a pesquisa bibliográfica. Por outro lado, a maioria das pesquisas derivam em diagnósticos sobre situações específicas.

In recent decades we have seen a string of remarkable discoveries detailing the impressive cognitive abilities of bees (social learning, concept learning and even counting). But should these discoveries be regarded as spectacular because bees manage to achieve human-like computations of visual image analysis and reasoning? Here I offer a radically different explanation. Using theoretical bee brain models and detailed flight analysis of bees undergoing behavioural experiments I counter the widespread view that complex visual recognition and classification requires animals to not only store representations of images, but also perform advanced computations on them. Using a bottom-up approach I created theoretical models inspired by the known anatomical structures and neuronal responses within the bee brain and assessed how much neural complexity is required to accomplish behaviourally relevant tasks. Model simulations of just eight large-field orientation-sensitive neurons from the optic ganglia and a single layer of simple neuronal connectivity within the mushroom bodies (learning centres) generated performances remarkably similar to the empirical result of real bees during both discrimination and generalisation orientation pattern experiments. My models also hypothesised that complex 'above and below' conceptual learning, often used to exemplify how 'clever' bees are, could instead be accomplished by very simple inspection of the target patterns. Analysis of the bees' flight paths during training on this task found bees utilised an even simpler mechanism than anticipated, demonstrating how the insects use unique and elegant solutions to deal with complex visual challenges. The true impact of my research is therefore not merely showing a model that can solve a particular set of generalisation experiments, but in providing a fundamental shift in how we should perceive visual recognition problems. Across animals, equally simple neuronal architectures may well underlie the cognitive affordances that we currently assume to be required for more complex conceptual and discrimination tasks.

Globalization, rapid technological change, shorter product life cycles, changing customerpreferences, and hyper competition are just some characteristics of today’s businessenvironment. As a result, organizations have become aware of the fact that working alone isalmost impossible. Therefore, they began to understand that building relationships are keys toa successful business. In fact, as the business processes become more specialized,organizations prefer to focus on their core competencies and outsourcing becomes a relevantstrategy. Consequently parts of the value adding processes are displaced outside the four wallsof the firm which in turn, need a closer partnership (collaboration) between the partners.In today’s world logistics which includes transportation, inventory, order processing,purchasing, warehousing, materials handling, packaging, and much more, must continuouslybe developed to meet those described challenges. In fact, an effective logistics system is amust in order to meet and satisfy the customer demand. These developments require aconsiderable effort and significant capital. Accordingly, outsourcing the logistics activitiesbecome common and many companies leave these tasks to those who have availableresources and are competent to perform them. However, as mentioned, outsourcing withoutcooperation is inefficient.The objective of this research project is to introduce and describe collaborative logisticsmanagement and investigate its consequence on the supply chain. This purpose necessitates aframework to support the collaboration between the entities in the chain especially in terms oflogistics activities. Besides, the potential benefits (in terms of cost and services) in logisticscollaboration are supported by a lot of literatures. Despite the identified needs and potentialbenefits, there are still barriers through which is not started or not successful enough.Therefore, while those barriers must be identified, possible enablers should be designed andimplemented to attain desired benefits. This has been done through both a theoretical reviewand also a case study.

Dans cette thèse, nous considérons une famille des problèmes d’ordonnancement avec machine parallèle identique et contraintes de précédences. Ce champ de recherche fait l’objet de nombreuses études. Malgré tout, la complexité de ces problèmes varie selon de nombreux paramètres,notamment le type de graphe de précédence ou le critère retenu. De plus, il existe encore de nombreux problèmes ouverts. Nous étudions certains de ces problèmes dans cette thèse. Nous montrons notamment que le problème ouvert avec tâches de durée unitaires et graphe de précédence de type intree est NP-complet. Puis, nous prouvons que le problème avec graphe de précédence de type level order est NP-complet aussi. La preuve est ensuite étendue à des problèmes connexes. Par la suite, on améliore un algorithme exponentiel pour un problème spécifique qui est NP-complet. Enfin, nous proposons un modèle linéaire pour le problème avec contraintes de précédence quelconque, améliorant aussi les résultats de littérature. / The main problem studied in this thesis is that of parallel machine scheduling with precedence constraints. The complexity depends on the shape that the precedence graph takes and the objective function. We prove that one minimum-open problem of scheduling equal-processing-time jobs which subject to in-tree precedence constrains is NP complete while minimizing the total competition time.Then, we prove that the open problem of scheduling level-order precedence constrains is NP-complete too. We adapted the second proof to other scheduling problems as well.On the other hand, we improved an exponential algorithm designed for a specific NP-hard problem. At the end, we propose a linear programming model for the general scheduling problem with arbitrary precedence constraints and processing-time. We adapt the existing models which are originally designed for other scheduling problems to parallel scheduling problem and compare these models with ours.

Na contemporaneidade, a violência é apontada e reconhecida como um problema social, relacional e de saúde, e se faz presente nas diversas formas de relações de intimidade entre os adolescentes, compreendidas por crush, \"pegar\", \"ficar\" ou namorar. A violência é um tema prioritário de atenção, uma vez que representa um problema social grave e impacta negativamente a saúde dos adolescentes. O presente trabalho visa analisar o sentido da violência nas relações de intimidade sob a ótica dos adolescentes, ancorada na perspectiva epistemológica e metodológica do Paradigma da Complexidade, de modo a contemplar todos os aspectos e dimensões que envolvem o fenômeno da violência na relação de intimidade, sejam sociais, históricos, culturais, gênero, econômicos, poder e psicológicos. Este estudo foi delineado em uma abordagem qualitativa do tipo pesquisa social estratégica, e teve como participantes 39 adolescentes, de ambos os sexos, frequentadores do ensino médio de duas escolas estaduais de um município do interior do estado de São Paulo. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, grupos focais e diários de campo, e analisados à luz do referido Paradigma. Os resultados indicaram (i) a aceitação da ocorrência de violência nos relacionamentos íntimos entre os adolescentes; (ii) a existência de questões relacionadas ao gênero e passividade frente à violência perpetrada por mulheres; (iii) a persistência de tabus na sociedade e a reprodução de questões estigmatizantes nos relatos dos participantes; (iv) a prevalência de violência psicológica e emocional entre os adolescentes, além da violência figurada bidirecional. Em suma, o Paradigma da Complexidade contribuiu de forma imprescindível para o desenvolvimento de um olhar integral sobre a temática, proporcionando maior clareza sobre os elementos que compõem o fenômeno, e principalmente, sobre a interdependência e interconectividade entre eles, de modo articulado e contextualizado. / In contemporary times, violence is identified and recognized as a social, relational and health problem, and it is present in the various forms of intimacy relations between adolescents, known as crush, \"getting\", \"staying\" or dating. Violence is a priority issue in care because it represents a severe social problem and negatively affects the adolescents\" health. The aim in this study is to analyze the meaning of intimate partner violence from the adolescents\" perspective, through the epistemological and methodological principles of the Paradigm of Complexity, so as to address all - such as social, historical, cultural, gender, economic, power and psychological - aspects and dimensions of the phenomenon of intimate partner violence. This study adopted a qualitative, social strategic research design, and its participants were 39 male and female adolescents who attended high school in two state schools located in an interior city in the state of São Paulo. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, focus groups and field diaries, and further analyzed in the light of the aforementioned Paradigm. The results indicated (i) acceptance of the occurrence of intimate partner violence between adolescents; (ii) existence of gender issues and passivity towards violence perpetrated by women; (iii) persistence of taboos in society and reproduction of stigmatizing issues in the participants\' reports; (iv) prevalence of psychological and emotional violence among the adolescents, in addition to the two-way figured violence. In summary, the Paradigm of Complexity offered essential contributions to develop a comprehensive view on the theme by shedding light on the elements that compose the phenomenon, and especially on the interdependence and interconnectivity between them, in an articulated and contextualized manner.

As tecnologias de informação e comunicação em todas as instâncias de nosso cotidiano modificam nossa maneira de viver e pensar. A computação urbana, ubíqua, locativa, multimídia e interconectada gera grande quantidade de dados o que resulta em abundância de informação sobre quase tudo em nosso mundo. As cidades permeadas por sensores pessoais, veiculares e ambientais adquirem características sencientes. Uma cidade sensível ao cidadão pode funcionar com estratégias individualizadas para o dia a dia. A tese discute o papel das cidades na complexidade de nossas vidas, o inter-relacionamento de equipamentos físicos (hardware), modelos simbólicos (software) e padrões de uso (aplicações), e os desafios de projeto para esse ecossistema global de informação híbrida. Apresenta investigação netnográfica, por meio de estudos de caso, explorações urbanas e entrevistas, em que se pode observar nossa condição contemporânea. Concluímos com a hipótese constatada na tese, a cidade atualizada em tempo real, um ecossistema informacional urbano de novas e infinitas possibilidades de interfaces e interações. / The technologies of information and communication in all the instances of our daily life modifies the way we live and think. Urban computing, ubiquitous, locative, multimídia and interconnected, generates a large amount of data, resulting in an abundance of information on almost everything in our world. Cities permeated by personal, vehicular and environmental sensors acquire sentient characteristics. A citizen-sensitive city can work with individualized day-to-day strategies. The thesis discusses the role of cities and the complexity of our lives, the interrelationship of hardware, symbolic models and patterns of use (applications), and the design challenges to this global hybrid information ecosystem. It presents netnographic research, through case studies, urban explorations and interviews, where one can observe our presente contemporary condition. The hypothesis verified in the thesis, the city updated in real time, an urban informational ecosystem of new and infinite possibilities of interfaces and interactions.