Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2004. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 531-546).

Thesis (M.M.S)--Carleton University, 1992. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--George Washington University, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-208).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--INSEAD, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 259-269).

No description available.

In this thesis, forward and inverse kinematic equations are developed for a parallel, closed-loop manipulator known as the Variable Geometry Truss or VGT for short. Widely recognized as adaptive or collapsing structures for space and military applications, VGTs have not received due consideration as robotic manipulators. VGTs undoubtedly represent an important sector of future manipulator applications. VGTs are typically constructed using repeating identical cells or modules and they have exceptional stiffness to weight ratios. The data obtained from solving the forward kinematic equations is used for animation of the VGT. For animation, three dimensional graphics software, graPHIGS is used. Additionally, the kinematic analysis equations are used to map out workspace of the VGT. An experiment is also carried out to verify the computational results. / Master of Science

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Sloan School of Management, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-293).

This thesis examines issues of international technology transfer (ITT), focusing on the exploitation of foreign technology between countries with contrasting strengths and capabilities. The tendency in ITT is that it has mostly been limited to the triad countries and to some latecomer economies in East Asia. An explanation for this tendency is that the extent of this shared common ground between countries directly affects a recipient country's capability to exploit and absorb foreign knowledge. This thesis examines cases of ITT which successfully occurred without such common grounds and offers explanations for specific cases. The conceptual framework was developed to explain how such extraordinary capabilities are created in order to overcome barriers to technological transfer. In addition, several other mechanisms and special factors are hypothesised as candidates for explaining the technology transfer process as one involving bridging and overcoming the barriers. These hypotheses are examined in relation to the Korean-Russian technology transfer, the main target of the investigation. Korea and Russia are countries that had no interaction prior to or during the Cold War period and shared little or no common ground. Nonetheless, after 1990 Korean firms have actively attempted to exploit Russian technology and some of them, though not many, have succeeded in exploiting and commercialising Russian technology. Important contextual issues for this examination are the military and mission-focused body of Russia's technological knowledge and the often cheaper importation of Western technology. Taking these contextual issues into account, this thesis identifies two principal issues that were overcome in the cases of successful technology transfer: a) the tacitness of Russian technological knowledge and b) the locality of the Russian “context of origin” in terms of the socio-cultural, economic, and political environment. The empirical content of the thesis involves a mixed approach with document analysis, interviews, a survey, and case studies. The research results show that the public agency programme's facilitating role as an intermediary (developed by the Korean government) creates the extra capacity to bridge the gaps involved in adapting Russian technology.

Universidade Federal do Cearà / O objetivo desta pesquisa à mostrar como os estados brasileiros comercializam seus produtos com o resto do mundo. A fundamentaÃÃo teÃrica vem do teorema de Heckscher-Ohlin, teoria que pressupÃe que um paÃs ou regiÃo tende a se especializar na produÃÃo de bens cujo fator de produÃÃo mais abundante à utilizado mais intensivamente. Avaliou-se o padrÃo de comÃrcio de 15 produtos da pesquisa industrial anual - PIA e foi constatado que grande parte da produÃÃo depende do fator de produÃÃo capital humano. EntÃo, os estados brasileiros que detÃm este fator de produÃÃo em abundÃncia, deverÃo concentrar sua produÃÃo nos produtos que utilizam este fator intensivamente. Desta forma, este estado terà competitividade internacional. O mesmo raciocÃnio pode ser aplicado na variÃvel forÃa de trabalho, pois os estados nacionais que detÃm este fator em abundÃncia, deverÃo se concentrar na produÃÃo de produtos que utilizem este fator de produÃÃo intensivamente. / The objective of this research is to show how the Brazilian states trade their products worldwide. The theoretical framework is based upon the theorem of Heckscher-Ohlin in which a country or region tends to specialize in the production of a good in which the abundant factor of production is more intensively used. this research evaluates to trade patterns of 15 products of the Annual Industrial Research and it was evidenced that great part of the production depends on the factor production human capital. Therefore, the Brazilian states that are abundant on this production factor tends to concentrate its production in the products that use this factor intensively, this way, the sate will be internationaly competitive. In the same way for the work force, therefore the national states that are endowed with this factor in abundance tends to concentrate its production in the products that uses this factor of production intensively.

This study explores perceptions regarding the existence and influence of occupational subcultures on commercialisation outcomes in four Australian hybrid industry-research organisations. The thesis proposition is that occupational subcultures exist within Australian Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) and impact commercialisation outcomes; the distinctly different knowledge and skills that provide reason for research and commercial groups to collaborate, may simultaneously create obstacles to communication and cooperation. Understanding and considering the impact of occupational cultures that underpin the actions and decisions taken by member organisations and individuals, may be important in hybrid industry-research organisations. The findings of this study extend and challenge some of the management practices recommended by extant innovation research. In particular, the finding that process management techniques functioned to ease the transition from exploration to exploitation activities during commercialisation in one CRC contradicts advice to isolate exploration activities from process management. Directions for future research include the investigation of temporal orientations in research and commercial occupational subcultures in the context of commercialisation in hybrid-industry research organisations. Temporal attributes encompass planning horizons, mono and polychronicity, and attributes towards pace and punctuality. Additionally, the findings regarding the impact of argumentation styles upon commercialisation justify further research to examine different national settings, industry sectors and occupational communities. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)