Thesis (M.S. in Information Technology Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Alex Bordetsky, Glenn Cook. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-79). Also available online.

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Context: Rectal cancer treatment decisions involve tradeoffs between outcomes like living with a permanent stoma versus long-term bowel dysfunction. The needs of rectal cancer patients and practitioners to partake in shared decision making are unknown. For such a complex decision, a patient decision aid that prepares patients to make informed, values-based decisions is warranted. Methods: 1) A systematic review, to characterize the prevalence of long-term dysfunction 2) Needs assessments, conducted with rectal cancer patients and practitioners, 3) Development of a decision aid. Results: 1) Significant variability exists in reporting rectal cancer outcomes. The rate of bowel dysfunction is high. 2) Rectal cancer patients recall little of the outcomes discussed preoperatively. They do not perceive having any surgical options. Practitioners are inconsistently engaging patients in shared decision-making. 3) A patient decision aid was developed that a) incorporated systematic review results and; b) addressed the needs, barriers and facilitators raised. Conclusions: Shared decision-making in rectal cancer surgery is limited. A decision aid to improve patient decision-making was developed.

Management Intelligence Systems are a class- of Decision Support Systems aimed at providing intelligence about an ill-structured decision to a decision-maker. The research objective was to build a 'Consultant Advisory System', a computerised model of success, to assist internal consultants in, assessing the likelihood of success for a Management Intelligence System (MINTS). The system would also be capable of allowing the consultant to identify reasons which might lead to a low likelihood of success, so that corrective action can be taken. The approach taken is different from many other studies which have concentrated on the success of a computer-based information system after implementation, rather than assessing success throughout the whole process of initiating, developing and implementing such systems. The research has been based on a detailed survey of the literature on Management Information systems (MIS), and Decision Support Systems (DSS) and 39 field investigations involving detailed interviews with the key actors involved in a MINTS project. Two phases of MINTS development were identified: (A) ensuring a right environment and (B) maintaining relationships. About 280 factors were distilled as significant for the successful development of a MINTS and these have been incorporated in a computerised advisor. Validation of MINTS in general and the advisor in particular is discussed in detail.

In the 1990s, the UK construction industry directed considerable effort at improving productivity and reducing costs by harmonising relationships among clients, contractors, sub-contractors, specialist contractors and designers. Opportunities to accrue further benefits should be explored and capitalised upon from all areas of construction projects. Management of construction materials on well grounded logistics and supply chain management principles has the potential to yield results and augment efforts being made in other areas at making construction more efficient. The overall aim of this thesis was to develop a systematic supplier management decision-support process model that contractors can use for both short and long-term management of suppliers in the implementation of construction materials supply logistics. Such a process model would benefit construction companies by identifying essential elements that lead to improved supply of construction materials. The research findings were based upon a literature survey, two `minor-image' questionnaires (one sent to 71 UK contractors and the other to 76 UK construction materials suppliers); structured interviews with nine UK contractors and five UK construction materials suppliers; and a supplier management process model validation exercise with six UK contractors. From these, the research produced the following outcomes: systematic supplier management decision-support process map that contractors can use for short and long-term management of suppliers in the implementation of construction materials supply logistics; an understanding of the supply of construction materials into construction processes from the wider perspective of logistics and supply chain management as opposed to traditional materials management; the identification of the performance indicators against which the performance of suppliers can be evaluated and the quantification of the relative contribution of the performance indicators to improvements in customer service; the identification of factors which enable suppliers to improve levels of customer service and quantification of the relative extent to which the factors enable suppliers to contribute to improvements in their levels of customer service in the delivery of construction materials; identification of the extent to which both performance indicators and enablers were used in supplier evaluation and selection; evaluation and comparison of the extent to which contractors and suppliers used information and communication technologies in internal and external materials supply logistics processes; and evaluation of the nature of relationships between contractors and suppliers.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-106). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--State University of New York at Buffalo, 1991. / Adviser: Stanley Zionts. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 144 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Met bibliogr., lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.