With the rapid advance of information technologies, human beings increasingly rely on computers to accumulate, process, and make use of data. Knowledge discovery techniques have been proposed to automatically search large volumes of data for patterns.Group Support Systems (GSS) play an important role in streamlining group activities and improving group outcomes. Various attempts have been made to help automate several tasks in group activities under GSS environment. One of the approaches is to apply automatic approach to idea organization task in GSS.This research designed and tested an SVD-enabled system to automate the idea organization task in GSS. Specifically, this research was conducted to examine how the idea organization task, typically regarded as the most labor-intensive and cognitively demanding in group problems solving, can be automated using a system enabled by singular value decomposition techniques. For the purpose of evaluation, we compared the performance of our automated approach using SVD algorithm against that of human subjects. Two separate experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of the automatic approach on two essential components of an idea organization; namely, generation of topic categories and placement of relevant comments into their respective categories.The general conclusion that can be made from this research is that idea organization in group problem solving can be facilitated both efficiently and effectively with the SVD-enabled system that can automatically generate topic categories and place relevant comments into their respective topic categories. Therefore, our automatic approach may provide a useful and promising tool for the idea organization task in GSS.

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How can we successfully complete our missions while we are stuck in bunkers? A question representative of a hot topic of discussion regarding the restrictions of force protection measures that are placed on US troops conducting military operations abroad. The discussion, which peaked during the late 1990s early 2000s, was heavily weighted in one direction, namely claiming that force protection has a negative impact on military effectiveness. As the claim generalises force protection, a concept that has numerous definitions and even more interpretations, it therefore seems unlikely that such a generalisation can be made. This study analyses the claim using an idea analysis method, questioning its sustainability and presenting a way of understanding its limitations. In studying the circumstances of the reports that triggered this discussion, the analysis allows us to see the limited relevance of the claim with regard to the broader concept of force protection, while acknowledging its possible relevance regarding the specific aspects that are more commonly associated with the concept.

Risk identification is the first step of risk management for construction projects. Project experts use many different methods to identify risk factors, such as decision trees, standard checklists, questionnaires and the Hazard and Operability procedure, but brainstorming sessions are among the most successful methods for identifying risks offering advantages not encountered in any of the others identification methods. Although the brainstorming technique is widespread in the construction industry, it typically is not used to its full capacity. This may be due to brainstorming literature ambiguity, variations in reporting technique usage in the literature, and lack of a methodology outlining the use of the brainstorming technique specifically for risk identification purposes. In this thesis, the merits, procedures, and appropriate applications of the brainstorming technique are outlined. Implications of the session, the session leader, the participants, and the output are explored, and best practices for risk identification brainstorming sessions are identified. / Construction Engineering and Management

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Η Ιδέα του Αγαθού, όπως υποστηρίζει ο G. Santas προηγείται από κάθε τι άλλο στη μέση περίοδο του Πλάτωνα τόσο από ηθικής, όσο και από γνωσιολογικής και οντολογικής πλευράς, και η εκτίμηση αυτή προκύπτει από συζητήσεις που έγιναν το τελευταίο τέταρτο του αιώνα αναφορικά με τη μεταφυσική του Πλάτωνα. Σύμφωνα με τον G. Santas, η θεωρία της Ιδέας του Αγαθού στην Πολιτεία αντιπροσωπεύει το εγχείρημα του Πλάτωνα να βασίσει την ηθική και πολιτική του στη θεωρία των Ιδεών. Γιατί ο Πλάτων προσδίδει τόση υπεροχή στην Ιδέα του Αγαθού; Ποια αντίληψη περί αγαθότητας είχε στο μυαλό του, η οποία του επέτρεπε να θεωρήσει την Ιδέα του Αγαθού όχι μόνο ως την τελική αιτία των πράξεών μας αλλά επίσης και ως την αιτία της ικανότητάς μας να γνωρίζουμε και ακόμη ως την αιτία της ουσίας και της ύπαρξης των Ιδεών; Και ποια ήταν σύνδεση που έβλεπε ανάμεσα στην Ιδέα του Αγαθού και στα μαθηματικά; είναι τα τρία ερωτήματα που θέτει ο G. Santas. Στόχος αυτής της διπλωματικής εργασίας είναι να διερευνηθεί και να αναλυθεί ερμηνευτικά η οντολογική – γνωσιολογική και η ηθική – αξιολογική προτεραιότητα της Ιδέας του Αγαθού έναντι των άλλων Ιδεών στα κεντρικά βιβλία της Πολιτείας του Πλάτωνα. Ειδικότερα στο 1o κεφάλαιο τονίζεται πως η γνώση της Ιδέας του Αγαθού βρίσκεται στην κορυφή της πυραμίδας των Ιδεών και με την επενέργειά της κάνει χρήσιμη και τη δικαιοσύνη και όλα τα άλλα όντα, ενώ χωρίς την γνώση της δεν έχει κανένα όφελος η γνώση πολλών πραγμάτων. Στο 2ο κεφάλαιο επισημαίνεται πως η Ιδέα του Αγαθού είναι η αιτία της γνώσης και της αλήθειας. Αυτά τα δύο συσχετίζονται με το Αγαθό , αλλά δεν ταυτίζονται με αυτό. Τονίζεται πως τα αντικείμενα της γνώσης γίνονται γνωστά από το Αγαθό, αντλούν το είναι τους και την ουσία τους από αυτό, όμως το Αγαθό δεν είναι ουσία, αλλά ανώτερο από αυτήν. Στο 3ο κεφάλαιο τονίζεται πως ο διαλεκτικός βρίσκεται σε καλύτερη γνωσιολογική θέση από τον μαθηματικό καθώς ο τελευταίος μιλά για τα ορατά σχήματα όμως αυτό που σκέπτεται και για το οποίο κάνει τις υποθέσεις του είναι τα πρότυπά τους. Χρησιμοποιεί τα αισθητά σχήματα και έτσι το μαθηματικό του ένστικτο και η σκέψη του υπόκειται σε λάθη. Ο διαλεκτικός αντίθετα βρίσκεται σε καλύτερη γνωσιολογική θέση καθώς μιλά για την φύση των Ιδεών άμεσα και όχι διαμέσου των εικόνων τους, ασχολείται αποκλειστικά με τις Ιδέες τόσο κατά την ανάβαση προς όσο και κατά την κατάβαση από την Ιδέα του Αγαθού. Έχει κατανοήσει τη φύση των Ιδεών και έτσι κοιτάζοντας από την Ιδέα του Αγαθού προς τα κάτω δεν θα μπερδέψει ποτέ τις Ιδέες με τα αισθητά. Στο 4 ο κεφάλαιο τονίζεται πως η εξάσκηση της διαλεκτικής συντελεί στο να κατανοούμε διανοητικά τις Ιδέες, κατανόηση η οποία οδηγεί στη γνώση του Αγαθού, που είναι ο σκοπός της φιλοσοφίας. Στο 5 ο κεφάλαιο αναπτύσσονται οι θέσεις της I. Murdoch περί της πολλαπλής φιλοσοφικής διάστασις της Ιδέας του Αγαθού όπως αυτές διατυπώνονται στο κριτικό της δοκίμιο με τίτλο "The Sovereignity of Good". / Objective of this diplomatic work is to analyze explanatory the ontologikal –gnwsiologikal and moral –evaluative priority of the Idea of the Good against the other Ideas in the central books of State of Plato.

A pesquisa apresenta um estudo teórico desencadeado pela tentativa de se alcançar a compreensão sobre um sentido de lugar relacionado ao plano das ideias, sendo estas entendidas como o resultado de elaborações mentais fundadas a partir das experiências, percepções e também do imaginário das pessoas. A abordagem ancora-se num enfoque transdisciplinar a fim de desenvolver uma reflexão a respeito das muitas questões simbólicas e subjetivas que tangem o tema. Considerando-se a hipótese de que o lugar não é apenas uma construção física, já que no âmbito dos usos e das apropriações o contato entre indivíduo e obra edificada é determinante para trazer à tona um sentido essencial de lugar, entende-se que essa essência esteja intimamente conectada às ideias que as pessoas têm acerca dos lugares, refletindo o fenômeno existencial da habitação. Tal perspectiva aponta para a adoção da fenomenologia como um método de análise preocupado com as questões referentes ao problema das essências e que, no caso específico do estudo de lugar, repercute os domínios das emoções e do pensamento humano. Ao integrar-se a essa esfera subjetiva, permeada pelas práticas existenciais estabelecidas entre sujeito e mundo vivido, nota-se que o sentido de lugar enfocado pela pesquisa se traduz por um forte caráter simbólico, que ultrapassa a perspectiva das localizações físicas e da materialidade do ambiente construído. Dessa forma, fundamenta-se a elaboração da tese que aponta para o entendimento de que a arquitetura não constrói lugares, mas, ao agir na configuração espacial, repercute os ecos de uma atividade que auxilia a humanidade a compor suas próprias ideias de lugar. Tanto o pensamento por detrás do projeto arquitetônico quanto as qualidades físicas da obra executada são capazes de lançar as ordens conceituais, utilitárias e estéticas sinalizadoras das diretrizes interpostas na relação das pessoas com os lugares. A arquitetura estimula a percepção dos usuários e convida-os a uma experiência deflagradora de ideias formatadas pelo uso, apropriação e/ou contemplação de determinado ambiente, cristalizando um sentido de lugar propício à habitação que, na prática, corresponde aos atos de entrar, permanecer e contemplar o/no mundo. / This research presents a theoretical study brought about by an attempt to achieve an understanding of a sense of place in relation to the realm of ideas, which result from mental elaborations created from people’s experiences, perceptions, and imagination. The approach is grounded on a transdisciplinary perspective in order to develop some reflective thought on the many symbolic and subjective issues around the theme. Taking into account the hypothesis that place is not a mere physical construction, given that within the scope of use and appropriation the contact between individuals and erected buildings is a determining factor to bring forth an essential sense of place, there is an understanding that this essence is intimately linked to the ideas that people have about places, reflecting the existential phenomenon of inhabiting. This perspective indicates the adoption of phenomenology as an analytical method concerned with questions regarding the problem of essences and which, in the specific case of a study on place, echoes the domains of emotions and human thought. By adjoining this subjective sphere permeated by existential practices established between subject and the experienced world, one can observe that the sense of place addressed by the study is perceived as having a strong symbolic character which goes beyond the perspective of physical locations and the materiality of the built environment. This is the foundation of the thesis pointing towards the understanding that architecture does not build places, but rather, upon acting on spatial configuration echoes an activity that helps people compose their own ideas of place. Both the thought behind an architectural project and the physical characteristics of the executed work are capable of disposing the conceptual, utilitarian, and aesthetic orders that signal the guidelines interposed in the relationship between people and places. Architecture stimulates users’ perception and invites them to an experience that entices ideas formatted by the use, appropriation, and/or contemplation of a given environment, thus solidifying a sense of place suitable for inhabiting which, in practice, corresponds to the acts of entering, remaining in, and contemplating the world.

A pesquisa apresenta um estudo teórico desencadeado pela tentativa de se alcançar a compreensão sobre um sentido de lugar relacionado ao plano das ideias, sendo estas entendidas como o resultado de elaborações mentais fundadas a partir das experiências, percepções e também do imaginário das pessoas. A abordagem ancora-se num enfoque transdisciplinar a fim de desenvolver uma reflexão a respeito das muitas questões simbólicas e subjetivas que tangem o tema. Considerando-se a hipótese de que o lugar não é apenas uma construção física, já que no âmbito dos usos e das apropriações o contato entre indivíduo e obra edificada é determinante para trazer à tona um sentido essencial de lugar, entende-se que essa essência esteja intimamente conectada às ideias que as pessoas têm acerca dos lugares, refletindo o fenômeno existencial da habitação. Tal perspectiva aponta para a adoção da fenomenologia como um método de análise preocupado com as questões referentes ao problema das essências e que, no caso específico do estudo de lugar, repercute os domínios das emoções e do pensamento humano. Ao integrar-se a essa esfera subjetiva, permeada pelas práticas existenciais estabelecidas entre sujeito e mundo vivido, nota-se que o sentido de lugar enfocado pela pesquisa se traduz por um forte caráter simbólico, que ultrapassa a perspectiva das localizações físicas e da materialidade do ambiente construído. Dessa forma, fundamenta-se a elaboração da tese que aponta para o entendimento de que a arquitetura não constrói lugares, mas, ao agir na configuração espacial, repercute os ecos de uma atividade que auxilia a humanidade a compor suas próprias ideias de lugar. Tanto o pensamento por detrás do projeto arquitetônico quanto as qualidades físicas da obra executada são capazes de lançar as ordens conceituais, utilitárias e estéticas sinalizadoras das diretrizes interpostas na relação das pessoas com os lugares. A arquitetura estimula a percepção dos usuários e convida-os a uma experiência deflagradora de ideias formatadas pelo uso, apropriação e/ou contemplação de determinado ambiente, cristalizando um sentido de lugar propício à habitação que, na prática, corresponde aos atos de entrar, permanecer e contemplar o/no mundo. / This research presents a theoretical study brought about by an attempt to achieve an understanding of a sense of place in relation to the realm of ideas, which result from mental elaborations created from people’s experiences, perceptions, and imagination. The approach is grounded on a transdisciplinary perspective in order to develop some reflective thought on the many symbolic and subjective issues around the theme. Taking into account the hypothesis that place is not a mere physical construction, given that within the scope of use and appropriation the contact between individuals and erected buildings is a determining factor to bring forth an essential sense of place, there is an understanding that this essence is intimately linked to the ideas that people have about places, reflecting the existential phenomenon of inhabiting. This perspective indicates the adoption of phenomenology as an analytical method concerned with questions regarding the problem of essences and which, in the specific case of a study on place, echoes the domains of emotions and human thought. By adjoining this subjective sphere permeated by existential practices established between subject and the experienced world, one can observe that the sense of place addressed by the study is perceived as having a strong symbolic character which goes beyond the perspective of physical locations and the materiality of the built environment. This is the foundation of the thesis pointing towards the understanding that architecture does not build places, but rather, upon acting on spatial configuration echoes an activity that helps people compose their own ideas of place. Both the thought behind an architectural project and the physical characteristics of the executed work are capable of disposing the conceptual, utilitarian, and aesthetic orders that signal the guidelines interposed in the relationship between people and places. Architecture stimulates users’ perception and invites them to an experience that entices ideas formatted by the use, appropriation, and/or contemplation of a given environment, thus solidifying a sense of place suitable for inhabiting which, in practice, corresponds to the acts of entering, remaining in, and contemplating the world.

Through the ages dissatisfaction with his environment has provoked man to envision the ideal or "utopian" setting which would be more to his liking. The discontent of today's youth with the world it has inherited echoes the complaints of past generations and yet is of particular significance and relevance to the twelfth grade student soon to enter the college community where protests are becoming increasingly more articulate and effective. Established institutions and behavior codes are challenged with impunity although critics charge that such dissent is irresponsible and unsupported by positive, alternative proposals for improvement.