Having multiple plastic responses to a change in the environment, such as increased temperature, can be adaptive for two major reasons: synergy (the plastic responses perform better when expressed simultaneously) or complementarity (each plastic response provides a greater net benefit in a different environmental context). We investigated these hypotheses for two forms of temperature-induced plasticity of Battus philenor caterpillars in southern Arizona populations: color change (from black to red at high temperatures) and heat avoidance behavior (movement from host to elevated refuges at high host temperatures). Field assays using aluminum models showed that the cooling effect of the red color is greatly reduced in a refuge position relative to that on a host. Field assays with live caterpillars demonstrated that refuge seeking is much more important for survival under hot conditions than coloration; however, in those assays, red coloration reduced the need to seek refuges. Our results support the complementarity hypothesis: refuge seeking facilitates survival during daily temperature peaks, while color change reduces the need to leave the host over longer warm periods. We propose that combinations of rapid but costly short-term behavioral responses and slow but efficient long-term morphological responses may be common when coping with temperature change.

Prior research defines brand orientation as an approach in which the processes of the organization revolve around the creation, development and protection of brand identity in an ongoing interaction with target customers with the aim of achieving lasting competitive advantages in the form of brands (Urde, 1999). This research paper examines how marketing managers perceive corporate brand orientation with a Financial services company, namely Standard Bank Group Limited (Standard Bank) and what influence cross-functional integration has in enhancing the level of brand orientation. The study design was non-experimental and convenience sampling used. The data was collected within the Group and South African marketing functions of Standard Bank both of which are located within South Africa. The survey was delivered to 131 respondents across 30 marketing functions with the unit of analysis being each employee within their respective teams. The research results indicate that cross-functional integration variables of compensation, multifunctional training and cross-functional teams have a positive influence on brand orientation. The findings from this research can contribute to the body of knowledge within the domain of building corporate brand orientation within the financial services industry, specifically with regards to implications for marketing leadership in terms of improving the performance of the marketing department. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

<p>During the last six million years, humans shifted from a primarily arboreal lifestyle to a habitually bipedal, terrestrial lifestyle. Australopithecus had a significant bipedal component to its locomotion; whether suspensory and climbing behavior were also important has remained unclear. Morphological features of the forelimb have been linked to locomotor differences among primates, but the interpretation of human fossils has remained problematic.</p><p>This dissertation examined the total morphological pattern of the forelimb, specifically the functional integration of the musculature and joint systems. This approach employed both geometric morphometrics and a biomechanical modeling approach to studying how and how well the forelimb morphology of living suspensory and quadrupedal primates, as well as humans and fossil hominins, accommodate climbing and suspensory locomotion. Data collected with a microscribe 3-D digitizer on the scapula, humerus, radius, and ulna of Australopithecus sediba, Australopithecus afarensis, and Homo erectus were compared to a sample of Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Hylobates lar, and Macaca fuscicularis.</p><p>The hominin upper limb is a rich mosaic of primitive and derived traits. The blade of Australopithecus sediba, although appearing most similar to extant orangutans, is in fact functionally most similar to chimpanzees. The overall morphology of the australopith elbow joint appears most similar to Pan, as does the elbow joint of Homo erectus, suggesting that the modern human configuration happened more recently than 1.5 million years ago. </p><p>Au. afarensis and Au. sediba share important similarities, but are clearly distinct species. While their overall elbow joint shape is strikingly similar, the articular surface is not identical. Au. afarensis is more similar in this respect to Pan and Homo, while Au. sediba is more similar to extant taxa that spend substantially more time engaging in vertical climbing and suspensory behavior.</p><p>The results from this study support previous interpretations that not all australopiths across time were employing the same locomotor repertoire. While this study does not present unambiguous conclusions regarding early hominin arboreal locomotion, this study suggests that the morphology of the upper limb is varied, and caution must be taken when interpreting single skeletal elements in the hominin fossil record.</p> / Dissertation

Aus der Einleitung: "Die Produktarchitektur ist ein Modell zur Abbildung der Verknüpfung zwischen funktionaler und physischer Sichtweise auf ein Produkt und Ausgangspunkt für eine Vielzahl von Methoden, u. a. zur Funktionsintegration oder Modularisierung. Die dabei adressierten Ziele der Produktentwicklung sind sehr unterschiedlich und fokussieren bspw. die Reduktion der Teilezahl und des Gesamtgewichts oder eine effiziente Variantenerzeugung durch Produktbaukästen. Der Lösungsraum bei der Produktarchitekturgestaltung wird maßgeblich durch bekannte und nutzbare Technologien und deren Restriktionen bestimmt. So geht die spanende Fertigung mit steigender geometrischer Komplexität der Bauteile oftmals mit einer erheblichen Kostensteigerung einher. Werkzeugerfordernde Fertigungstechnologien wie bspw. das Druckgießen sind in der Regel nur für größere Bauteilstückzahlen rentabel. Die Einführung additiver Fertigungsverfahren bietet neue Möglichkeiten zur Überwindung dieser Restriktionen und zur Realisierung zusätzlicher Freiheiten in Bezug auf die geometrische Gestaltung sowie Materialzusammensetzung bei der Produktarchitekturgestaltung. Während der Produktentwicklung werden die Potentiale additiver Fertigungsverfahren jedoch oft nicht umfassend berücksichtigt, wodurch besonders bei der Gestaltung der Produktarchitektur große Potentiale unerschlossen bleiben. Stattdessen erfolgt die Gestaltung der Produktarchitektur implizit und Möglichkeiten bspw. zur Funktionsintegration werden nur vereinzelt genutzt. Aus diesem Defizit leitet sich die zentrale Fragestellung dieses Beitrags ab: Wie können Potentiale additiver Fertigungsverfahren bei der Gestaltung der Produktarchitektur systematisch berücksichtigt werden? Zur Beantwortung dieser Frage wird in Abschnitt 2 die Produktarchitekturgestaltung in den Produktentwicklungsprozess eingeordnet und aufgezeigt, wie verschiedene Zielstellungen einer Produktentwicklung durch sie adressiert werden können. Technologische Einflüsse auf die Produktarchitekturgestaltung werden in Abschnitt 3 am Beispiel von additiven Fertigungstechnologien erläutert, bevor in Abschnitt 4 ein methodisches Rahmenwerk vorgestellt wird, welches die Nutzung von Potentialen additiver Fertigungsverfahren durch die Bereitstellung von Prinzipien unterstützt. Die Anwendung des Rahmenwerks wird in Abschnitt 5 am Beispiel eines adaptiven Drehgelenks für Parallelroboter verdeutlicht.

AbstractTitle: How Marknadsdata information AB works with relationship marketingLevel: Final Thesis for bachelor degree in Business AdministrationAuthor: Randip ChoudhurySupervisor: Dr. Aihie OsarenkhoePurpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine how Marknadsdata information AB workswith their relationship marketing, and examine possible gaps between their strategy andimplementation of their relationship marketing. This study aims to provide insights on thecore components of CRM and the implementation of CRM strategy.Methodology: I have used primary data for this study by doing, interviews with ChristerJönsson at Marknadsdata AB to get his insight view of how the company operates to be ableto answer the purpose of this thesis which is to find out if there are any gaps in the way howMarknadsdata AB operates its business and how it resembles or differs with Donaldson’smodel. The secondary data I have used for this research is mainly from the Internet, articlesand literatureFindings: Marknadsdata information AB will not be successful on their market if they don’twork with their relationship marketing strategy. They have to keep in touch with customers,respond to the trends in the market and, in particular, to the changing demands of customers.For Marknadsdata information AB it’s important with relationship marketing both internallyand externally. Internal service quality for the company is about employee satisfaction whichultimately effects externally to customer satisfaction. By creating value to employees they cancreate value to customers.Research conclusions: Companies will not be successful on the market until they developtheir relationship marketing strategy. Companies need to keep in touch with customers,respond to the trends in the market and, in particular, to the changing demands of customers.Practical implications: By working with research and evaluating customers’ needs, which Ifound will reflect their future business. I think it’s also important that the management at thecompany works with employee’s on a regular basis. If the company doesn’t work with marketresearch and other customer generating mechanisms I think that the company is going to havedifficulties with their relationship work and to be able to make business at their market area.Value: The study shows customer relationship marketing strategy as a key to operate businessand implementing it in the organization. This thesis contributes a deeper understanding in thesubject relationship marketing.Keywords: Customer relations, Customer service management, Relationship marketing,Cross-functional integration, Management strategy

This thesis investigates the use of micro-injection moulding (μIM), as a high-volume process, for producing three-dimensional, integrated microfluidic devices. It started with literature reviews that covered three topics: μIM of thermoplastic microfluidics, designing for three-dimensional (3-D) microfluidics and functional integration in μIM. Research gaps were identified: Designing 3-D microfluidics within the limitations of μIM, process optimisation and the integration of functional elements. A process chain was presented to fabricate a three-dimensional microfluidic device for medical application by μIM. The thesis also investigated the effect of processing conditions on the quality of the replicated component. The design-of-experiments (DOE) approach is used to highlight the significant processing conditions that affect the part mass taking into consideration the change in part geometry. The approach was also used to evaluate the variability within the process and its effect on the replicability of the process. Part flatness was also evaluated with respect to post-filling process parameters. The thesis investigated the possibility of integrating functional elements within μIM to produce microfluidic devices with hybrid structures. The literature reviews highlighted the importance of quality control in high-volume micromoulding and in-line functional integration in microfluidics. A taxonomy of process integration was also developed based on transformation functions. The experimental results showed that μIM can be used to fabricate microfluidic devices that have true three-dimensional structures by subsequent lamination. The DOE results showed a significant effect of individual process variables on the filling quality of the produced components and their flatness. The geometry of the replicated component was shown to have effect on influential parameters. Other variables, on the other hand, were shown to have a possible effect on process variability. Optimization statistical tools were used to improve multiple quality criteria. Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) were processed with μIM to produce hybrid structures with functional elements.

Orientador: João Maurício Rosário / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T20:54:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Quesada_RicardoCarvalho_M.pdf: 5882863 bytes, checksum: c81566e2d212d4e33713e3b68eca499e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A necessidade atual de procedimentos automatizados em ambientes industriais exige o desenvolvimento e utilização de métodos, ferramentas e dispositivos com o objetivo de prototipagem rápida para a concepção, especificação e validação desses ambientes industriais, justificando ainda que a subutilização de dispositivos, que nesta área pode apresentar um custo elevado e se for demorado, à obsolescência dos equipamentos utilizados, fazendo com que a empresa não tenha gastos desnecessários e possa otimizar seu funcionamento. Este trabalho tem como objetivo, desenvolver metodologias, a partir da utilização de ferramentas disponíveis no mercado para a concepção de células automatizadas em ambientes industriais com integração de dispositivos robóticos. Para o desenvolvimento e validação dos conceitos e ferramentas apresentados nesse trabalho será realizado um estudo de caso, com a modelagem de dispositivos industriais utilizando o software de programação off-line de robôs RobotStudioTM, o formalismo GRAFCET como ferramenta de modelagem e integração de Sistemas Automatizados, e o ambiente LabviewTM para supervisão e controle, de modo a permitir a completa automação desse estudo de caso, e ainda a possibilidade de estabelecer que o sistema seja controlado remotamente através de comunicação via WEB / Abstract: The current need for automated procedures in industrial environments requires the development and use of methods, tools and devices for the purpose of rapid prototyping for the design, specification and validation of these industrial environments, yet justifying the underuse of devices that this area may have a high cost and if delayed, the obsolescence of the equipment used, making the company has not unnecessary expenses and can optimize its operation. This paper aims to develop methodologies, from the use of commercially available tools for designing cells in industrial environments with automated integration of robotic devices. For the development and validation of the concepts and tools presented in this work will be a case study with industrial devices using modeling software off-line programming of robots RobotStudio¿, GRAFCET formalism as a modeling tool and integration of Automated Systems, and environment LabVIEW¿ supervision and control, to allow complete automation of this case study, and the possibility of establishing the system to be controlled remotely through WEB communication / Mestrado / Mecanica dos Sólidos e Projeto Mecanico / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Aus der Einleitung: "Die Produktarchitektur ist ein Modell zur Abbildung der Verknüpfung zwischen funktionaler und physischer Sichtweise auf ein Produkt und Ausgangspunkt für eine Vielzahl von Methoden, u. a. zur Funktionsintegration oder Modularisierung. Die dabei adressierten Ziele der Produktentwicklung sind sehr unterschiedlich und fokussieren bspw. die Reduktion der Teilezahl und des Gesamtgewichts oder eine effiziente Variantenerzeugung durch Produktbaukästen. Der Lösungsraum bei der Produktarchitekturgestaltung wird maßgeblich durch bekannte und nutzbare Technologien und deren Restriktionen bestimmt. So geht die spanende Fertigung mit steigender geometrischer Komplexität der Bauteile oftmals mit einer erheblichen Kostensteigerung einher. Werkzeugerfordernde Fertigungstechnologien wie bspw. das Druckgießen sind in der Regel nur für größere Bauteilstückzahlen rentabel. Die Einführung additiver Fertigungsverfahren bietet neue Möglichkeiten zur Überwindung dieser Restriktionen und zur Realisierung zusätzlicher Freiheiten in Bezug auf die geometrische Gestaltung sowie Materialzusammensetzung bei der Produktarchitekturgestaltung. Während der Produktentwicklung werden die Potentiale additiver Fertigungsverfahren jedoch oft nicht umfassend berücksichtigt, wodurch besonders bei der Gestaltung der Produktarchitektur große Potentiale unerschlossen bleiben. Stattdessen erfolgt die Gestaltung der Produktarchitektur implizit und Möglichkeiten bspw. zur Funktionsintegration werden nur vereinzelt genutzt. Aus diesem Defizit leitet sich die zentrale Fragestellung dieses Beitrags ab: Wie können Potentiale additiver Fertigungsverfahren bei der Gestaltung der Produktarchitektur systematisch berücksichtigt werden? Zur Beantwortung dieser Frage wird in Abschnitt 2 die Produktarchitekturgestaltung in den Produktentwicklungsprozess eingeordnet und aufgezeigt, wie verschiedene Zielstellungen einer Produktentwicklung durch sie adressiert werden können. Technologische Einflüsse auf die Produktarchitekturgestaltung werden in Abschnitt 3 am Beispiel von additiven Fertigungstechnologien erläutert, bevor in Abschnitt 4 ein methodisches Rahmenwerk vorgestellt wird, welches die Nutzung von Potentialen additiver Fertigungsverfahren durch die Bereitstellung von Prinzipien unterstützt. Die Anwendung des Rahmenwerks wird in Abschnitt 5 am Beispiel eines adaptiven Drehgelenks für Parallelroboter verdeutlicht.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4065.pdf: 2547836 bytes, checksum: 5fce3f0189c9e418147e85dcd5fddb1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-09 / Marketing and Logistics have a high need for integration because they compose contact points that influence the synchrony of operations with market needs. The literature in this area predominantly focuses on the elements that generate integration, and the correlation of those elements with functional and organizational results. However, there is a theoretical gap related to the characterization of the inter-functional integration dynamics between Marketing and Logistics and the integration elements. This research aimed to characterize the interfunctional integration dynamics between Marketing and Logistics. The elements that compose the integration dynamics are identified and characterized. The key elements related to inter-functional integration dynamics that were identified in the literature include contact points, integration factors, integration level, formality/informality of integration processes, and integration impacts. In order to better characterize these elements, five case studies were conducted in manufacturing companies, from different industries: Chassis and Wheels, Agriculture Chemicals, Beverages, Soybean Oil and derivates, Oral Care Products. The indepth interviews considered both Marketing and Logistics perspectives. The analysis identified similarities and differences in the characteristics of the Marketing and Logistics inter-functional integration dynamics. Practical definitions were established for contact points, integration factors, integration levels, integration formality/informality, and impacts generated by integration. The investigation of these elements within organizations may facilitate integration efforts between Marketing and Logistics, reducing conflicts and improving the companies' performance. / As funções de Marketing e Logística têm elevada necessidade de integração, pois possuem pontos de contato que influenciam a sincronia das operações com as necessidades de mercado. Entretanto, essas duas funções têm frequentes conflitos de objetivos e a solução destes pode aprimorar os resultados nas organizações. A literatura nesse tema, de forma predominante, evidencia elementos que geram integração, correlacionando-os com resultados funcionais e organizacionais. Há, porém, uma lacuna teórica no que se refere a caracterização da dinâmica de integração interfuncional entre Marketing e Logística e dos elementos que a compõem. O objetivo dessa pesquisa consiste em caracterizar a dinâmica de integração interfuncional entre Marketing e Logística. Os elementos que compõem a dinâmica de integração foram identificados e caracterizados. Cinco elementos-chave relacionados à dinâmica de integração interfuncional foram identificados na literatura: pontos de contato, fatores de integração, nível de integração, formalidade/informalidade da integração e impactos da integração. No intuito de caracterizar estes elementos, foram realizados cinco estudos de caso, em empresas industriais de diferentes setores: Chassis e Rodas, Agroquímicos, Bebidas, Óleo de Soja e Derivados, Produtos de Higiene Bucal. Entrevistas em profundidade foram utilizadas para abordar as perspectivas de Marketing e de Logística. A análise permitiu identificar similaridades e diferenças nas características da dinâmica de integração interfuncional de Marketing e Logística. Foram estabelecidas definições práticas para pontos de contato, fatores de integração, nível de integração, formalidade/informalidade da integração e impactos da integração. A investigação desses elementos dentro das organizações pode facilitar os esforços de integração entre Marketing e Logística, reduzindo conflitos e melhorando o desempenho das empresas.

Today's competitive and changing market, places high demands on companies ability to develop new products and is considered crucial for their survival. 40% of all new products are estimated to fail at launch and only one out of 7-10 products have a successful sale. The product development process includes all different activities that gradually transform a product, from idea to launch. Therefore, one of the biggest challenges in the product development process is to control these functions and integrate them with each other. Through integrated product development, collaboration between different functions can be improved and they can be involved at an earlier stage in the process. The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of a more integrated work between the different functions in the product development process at a major manufacturing company. This work has been performed through a case study at a larger manufacturing company that has a complex product development process with many activities and several functions involved. To collect the empirical material, qualitative data collection methods in the form of semi-structured interviews and document collection have been used. The empirical material together with previous research in the subject has formed the study's analysis and discussion. Furthermore, the conclusion was based on the result of the discussion and analysis. The study's empirical evidence shows that the functions of the case company are in various degrees involved in the product development process and that some functions are given priority. This lead, among other things, to delayed projects, not fully utilized competence and a lack of holistic view. Furthermore, the different functions within the company have a lack of understanding of each other's work. The company needs to improve communication internally since handover in the product development process often fails. Mail has become a major part of the communication and collocation has improved the function's interaction. The company wants to standardize the activities in the product development process to create a more uniform way of working in the organization. The results of this study indicate that integrated work between the functions has a positive effect on the product development process. However, there are factors that make the integrated work more difficult. By working more integrated within the process, this study suggests that the holistic approach for functions would be improved, priorities would be better and that understanding of others' work would increase. Furthermore, a more integrated way of working would help to minimize time from idea to launch. / Dagens konkurrenskraftiga och föränderliga marknad ställer höga krav på företags förmåga att ta fram nya produkter och det anses vara avgörande för deras överlevnad. Vid lansering uppskattas 40 % av alla nya produkter misslyckas och endast en av 7-10 produkter får en framgångsrik försäljning (Cooper, 2019). Produktutvecklingsprocessen innefattar alla de olika aktiviteter som stegvis omvandlar en produkt, från idé till lansering. En utmaning som större tillverkande företag står inför är att styra och integrera involverade funktioner med varandra i produktutvecklingen. Genom att arbeta med integrerad produktutveckling kan samverkan mellan funktioner förbättras och funktioner kan involveras i ett tidigare skede i produktutvecklingsprocessen. Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka betydelsen av ett mer integrerat arbete mellan ett större tillverkande företags funktioner i produktutvecklingsprocessen. Det här arbetet har utförts genom en fallstudie på ett större tillverkande företag som har en komplex produktutvecklingsprocess med många aktiviteter och flera funktioner. För att samla in det empiriska materialet har kvalitativa datainsamlingsmetoder i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer och dokumentinsamling använts. Fortsatt har det empiriska materialet tillsammans med tidigare forskning inom ämnet bildat studiens analys och diskussion. Vidare togs slutsatsen fram efter avslutad diskussion och analys. I studiens empiri framgår det att fallföretagets funktioner är olika mycket involverade i produktutvecklingsprocessen och att en del funktioner nedprioriteras. Detta leder bland annat till försenade projekt, att kompetens inte tas tillvara och att helhetssynen blir sämre. Vidare har personer från fallföretagets olika funktioner en bristande förståelse för varandras arbete. Företaget behöver bli bättre på att kommunicera internt eftersom överlämningarna i produktutvecklingsprocessen ofta brister. Mail har försvårat den interna kommunikationen medan samlokalisering har förbättrat funktionernas samverkan. Fortsatt vill företaget standardisera aktiviteterna i produktutvecklingsprocessen för att skapa mer enhetlighet i organisationen. Den här studiens resultat påvisar att ett mer integrerat arbete mellan funktionerna har en positiv effekt för arbetet inom produktutvecklingen. Däremot finns det faktorer som försvårar det integrerade arbetet. Genom att arbeta mer integrerat inom processen tyder den här studien på att helhetssynen för funktioner skulle förbättras, prioriteringar skulle bli bättre samt att förståelsen för andras arbeten skulle öka. Ett mer integrerat arbete skulle även kunna minimera fallföretags tid från idé till lansering.