The diploma work is focused on the internal audit issue. The goal of the work is on a basic of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to explain and describe the internal audit and the internal auditor job. The work is divided into the theoretical and practical part. The theoretical one is focused on the internal audit history, internal auditor character and profession, internal audit quality assessment and compare internal audit with the external audit. The practical one is focused on the internal audit unit in the business company and at first describes the internal audit regulatory frame and after that is already focused on the internal auditor job from audit planning, over the audit performance and audit report, to the monitoring of corrective measures.

This thesis imparts the outcomes of a seven-week long quasi-experimental study that explored whether or not L2 learners who received intensive and highly focused indirect feedback on one type of treatable error - either the third person singular -s, plural endings -s, or definite article the - eventually become more accurate in the post-test as compared to a control group that did not. The paired-samples t-test comparing the pre-test and post-test scores of both groups demonstrates that the experimental group did no better than the control group after they received indirect corrective feedback. The independent samples t-test measuring the experimental and control group's accuracy shows no significant difference between the two groups. Effect sizes calculated, however, do indicate that, had the sample sizes been bigger, both groups would have eventually become more accurate in the errors targeted, although this would not have been because of the indirect feedback.

This master’s thesis deals with the optimization of the process of corrective and preventive actions management in OTIS Escalators s.r.o. under ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2005 and OHSAS 18001:1999 standards. Standards mentioned above are used to describe analyse of the process, which leads to several steps for successful optimization of the process.

This thesis deals with the implementation of quality management system in the project of Metro of London, implemented by Otis a.s. The theoretical part describes quality management tools. In the analytical part, there are mapped processes of project of Metro of London and identified problems and opportunities for improvement of processes of this project. Based on this analysis of outputs, there are designed corrective moves and their evaluation for defined problems.

The thesis focuses on a road safety inspection in South Moravian Region. In the first part, 15 locations with different characteristics were chosen, which were subjected to in-depth accident analysis and then compared by security indicators. On the basis of the results of this analysis, 5 locations were selected, namely the junction on a road II/430 and four sections on the roads II/373, II/384 and II/394. The selected sites were the objects for a road safety inspection, consisting of a personal visit of sections and the subsequent preparation of the potential risks influencing the origins of accidents. For each risk are proposed corrective measures that remove or eliminate the problems on selected section.

Orientador: José Roberto Sanches Mantovani / Banca: Rubén Augusto Romero Lázaro / Banca: Carlos Roberto Minussi / Banca: Geraldo Roberto Martins da Costa / Banca: Antônio César Baleeiro Alves / Resumo: Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta computacional para a solução do problema de Fluxo de Potência Ótimo Multimercado (FPOM). O problema de fluxo de potência ótimo mutimercado é decomposto em vários subproblemas, uma para cada, submercado que compõe o sistema de potência interconectado. O modelo de decomposição utilizado permite resolver o problema de FPO considerando-se os modelos de mercado desverticalizados e centralizados e os desverticalizados e descentralizados. Neste contexto, a pesquisa desenvolvida considera o novo esquema de funcionamento dos mercados de energia elétrica, no qual é vi freqüentemente desejável preservar a autonomia de cada um dos submercados que compõem o sistema de potência multimercado. O problema de FPO proposto é modelado como um problema de otimização não-linear inteiro misto, com variáveis de controle contínuas e discretas e têm ênfase no despacho econômico da geração de potência ativa e nos ajustes dos controles de tensão. Além disso, este modelo de FPO trata os subproblemas ativo e reativo simultaneamente. Para a sua solução é apresentado um algoritmo evolutivo multiobjetivo, baseado no NSGA (Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm), pois características do problema abordado dificultam a sua solução através das técnicas baseadas em programação matemática e justificam a escolha da metaheurística multiobjetivo. / Abstract: This research is aimed at developing a computational tool for the solution of the Multimarket Optimal Power Flow (MOPF) problem. The multimarket optimal power flow problem is decomposed in various subproblems, one for each submarket that is part of the interconnected power system. The decomposition model used here allows solving the OPF problem considering the deregulated and centralized, and the deregulated and decentralized market models. In this context, the developed research takes into account the new functioning scheme of the electric power markets, viii where it is frequently desirable to preserve the autonomy of each one of those submarkets that compose the multimarket power system. The proposed OPF problem is modeled as a mixed integer non-linear optimization problem with continuous and discrete control variables, emphasizing the economic dispatch of the active power generation and the voltage control adjustments. In addition, this model of OPF deals simultaneously with the active and reactive subproblems. For its solution, a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on the NSGA (Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm) is presented. The characteristics of the problem make difficult the utilization of techniques based on mathematical programming, justifying the adoption of a multiobjective metaheuristic. / Doutor

With the rapid development of Web 2.0 in the field of education, which allows users to interact and collaborate with teachers and peers on the web, many researchers have focused on exploring the developments of using Course Manage System (CMS) in service of L2 writing (e.g., Chun, 2011; Warschauer & Grimes, 2007). Simultaneously, participation in learning and teaching Chinese as a foreign (TCFL) has been accelerating. Learning and teaching Chinese writing plays a significant role in the field of world languages education. In the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and Foreign Language Education (FLE), many studies have examined the effectiveness and efficiency of Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) (e.g., Bitchener, 2008; Ferris, 2010). Existing studies on WCF mostly focused on languages other than Chinese. There were few published studies investigating WCF in a computer-mediated coded WCF Chinese writing setting. This dissertation study applied a multiple-case study design to investigate the effects and students’ views of teachers’ coded WCF in an online multiple-draft Chinese writing setting. Six intermediate-level learners of Chinese completed four writing assignments, four revisions, four surveys, and four interviews. The dissertation employed a theoretical framework from sociocultural theory: Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and Scaffolding. Coded WCF and the CMS are considered as scaffoldings, and students’ ability to correct errors is viewed as ZPD. The researcher investigated students’ responses to the computer-mediated coded WCF and the evidence of acquisition in Chinese writing accuracy as reflected in the changes in errors over the course of the semester. In addition, the researcher also explored the students’ attitudes and views of the computer-mediated coded WCF, and the researcher further examined the factors influencing students’ incorporation of teacher feedback in their writing. The researcher employed within-case analysis and cross-case analysis to report the research findings and study results. Based on the findings, the researcher further discussed the effectiveness of WCF, the theoretical implications, the pedagogical implications, and instructional technology implications. The research findings revealed that the student participants generally had lower scores in the revision of the first writing assignment, but the situation improved in the revision of the third writing assignment. The evidence of acquisition in Chinese writing accuracy in the positive changes in errors over the course of the semester was associated with the “transferrable error types” rather than the “non-transferrable error types”. Student participants had dynamic attitudes and views toward the computer-mediated coded WCF. The research findings revealed four main factors influencing students’ incorporation of teacher feedback in their writing: the types of errors and Chinese language proficiency levels, students’ familiarity with the computer-mediated coded WCF, changes in students’ self-modifying skills and strategies, and students’ dynamic attitudes and views toward the computer-mediated coded WCF. This dissertation shed light on the instructional design of online courses and CALL activities in the context of TCFL, and the dissertation also filled up a research gap in computer-mediated WCF in Chinese writing.

Kristýna Komárková ABSTRACT The diploma thesis deals with dealing with errors while teaching French as a foreign language with regard to speaking. The first part of the thesis contains the definition of the term error, its conception within modern teaching methods, classification of errors and most common causes of their occurrence. Corrective strategies analysis and particularities of dealing with errors within spoken language can also be found within the theoretical part of the thesis. Those theoretical findings are then applied in the practical part of the thesis which contains two case studies that are subject of the analysis of the corrective strategies used in French language classes at primary school. The practical part continues with a survey conducted between both teachers and pupils. The questionnaire is designed in order that it is possible to compare the views of pupils and teachers on the issue of error correction in the process of teaching and learning foreign languages. In particular, teachers are asked about the procedure and techniques they apply while they are dealing with pupils' errors, while questions for pupils focus more on their feelings that the error and error correction arise in themselves. The aim of the thesis was to compare teachers' and pupils' opinions on dealing with...

Background: Brands that decide to publish sexist advertisements can generate issues for the company, as well as the perception the consumer has of the brand can become negative. This as consumers form attitudes towards the brand’s delivered communication which influence the overall evaluation the consumer has towards the brand. It is therefore of importance for brands to understand how to respond to sexist advertisements that have been published in order to determine the created negative publicity, where one given approach is to apply one of the image repair strategies. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe how a brand’s image repair strategy towards its sexist advertisement affects consumers’ attitudes. Methodology: This research undertook a qualitative research approach with a descriptive nature. In order to ensure that the advertisements were classified as sexist and that the image repair strategies correspond with the brand’s responses according to the public, a pre-study was conducted through five semi-structured interviews. For the main study eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with both men and women as participants within the ages of 19-56 years old. Findings: The thesis identified that consumers' attitudes were affected by the four components: correspondence between advertisement and response, authenticity in the response, clarity regarding what actions to take and pre-knowledge of the brand. These components are therefore of importance for companies to take in consideration when responding towards sexist advertisements that they have sent out. Conclusion: Regarding the image repair strategies it was found that the responses given through the strategies of denial, evasion of responsibility and reduction of offensives lacked in all detected components. Furthermore, mortification as a strategy was not perceived as negative regarding the responses, however it still lacked the components. Corrective action was the only strategy where consumers' attitudes did not become negative towards the correspondence and authenticity in the response. However, all five strategies lacked clarity regarding what actions to take.

A systematic method can extrapolate tacit knowledge (hidden or subjective knowledge) so that it can become objective and discernable. This process focused on discovering causes of failures by extricating data from medical equipment service software cases closed by telephone by field service personnel. Their responses to observed failures were compared to troubleshooting guides in use by telephone support personnel to find new processes that would increase effectiveness of telephone support staff. We asked “What are indicators of device failure reported in technical support calls?” and then “What factors contribute to user reported device failures identified by callers to technical support?” A series of interviews with veteran personnel were used to validate responses from the “phone closed” cases along with ideas pulled from a review of documentation. Analysis of one hundred seventy three cases yielded over five hundred recommendations to make the telephone support personnel’s responses more accurate, consistent and reliable.