Since 2006 there have been two major changes to the Swedish Education Act. In January 2006, the first change, concerning nine-year compulsory school, took effect. The Act now requires that Personal Development Plans (i.e. individuella utvecklingsplaner – IUP) be introduced for students in elementary school, special schools for disabled children, Sami schools and special schools. The second change came into effect in July 2008. The content of the personal development plan was expanded to contain not only plans for future development, but also teachers’ written assessments of students’ knowledge and learning process. To implement the new regulations and support teachers’ work, many schools have turned to digital tools. The combination of new regulations and digital tools has generated new, unexplored circumstances for teachers, students and parents. The aim of this thesis is to provide a greater understanding of the work process with students ́ personal development planning and the role of digital documentation in this process. The aim is also to investigate students’, teachers’ and guardians’ experiences and participation. The main focus is on experience of the work processes associated with the recent reform of methods for communicating students’ knowledge and learning processes. To better understand this new educational situation, students’, parents’ and teachers’ experience of working according to the new regulations has been analysed and problematized. The research questions address how the use of digital tools influences the process, in what ways the process affects students’ and parents’ participation and in what ways the students’ identity work is affected by the communication and work process. The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews, a survey study and a document analysis. The material was analysed through an inductive thematic analysis. The analysis draws on activity theory and theories focusing on participation at higher and lower levels, and on social relationships through concepts of power and control, as well as visible and invisible pedagogy. Patterns in the material were analysed using concepts of communicative and strategic communication, negotiation of influence, self-regulation and techniques for disciplining, positioning processes and the individual’s approach to a prevailing norm. The concept of cultural capital has also been used as an analytical concept. Students, parents and teachers all state that the process is now, finally, about the student’s personal learning. Thus, the study shows that students’ goals and personal planning do not significantly affect teaching in schools. Responsibility for achieving the goals is left to the student alone. Students can decide when and how they will work towards the goals in the plan. The follow-up process is concentrated to the discussion on progress with parents each semester where new goals are set for the student. The study also shows that the process with the personal development plans is focused on students’ behaviour and on transforming students into model students who perform at their absolute best. The study also shows that parents are entering as a new player – their child’s representative in negotiation. Teachers on the other hand are trying to manage the work process rationally by copying and pasting written opinions among several students and formulating and adapting students’ goals to suit their teaching. Students’ personal development plans are significant texts where players other than the student and his or her parents or teachers, are able to scrutinize and criticise the content as the student’s plans are public documents. All in all, the study shows that the whole work process with students’ personal development plans requires both awareness and understanding of the importance of language and wording. The work process is not only about learning; it is also about power, control and negotiation. / ”Ja, det blir typ mycket bättre koll på, jag tror det blir bättre så här koll på vad man behöver träna på”, beskriver Ella 11 år. Ella refererar till de ändringar i grundskoleförordningen som gör gällande att alla elever i grundskolan ska ha en individuell utvecklingsplan med skriftliga omdömen och vad hon tror att de nya bestämmelserna kommer att leda till. Vad får de nya bestämmelserna och arbetsprocessen med de individuella utvecklingsplanerna för betydelse för elever, föräldrar och lärare? Vad får användningen av ett digitalt verktyg i sammanhanget för betydelse? Handlar arbetsprocessen med de individuella utvecklingsplanerna med skriftliga omdömen enbart om att synliggöra elevers kunskaper och lärande eller innefattar den även något annat? Den här avhandlingen handlar om den arbetsprocess som sker när elever, föräldrar, och lärare förbereder och genomför utvecklingssamtal samt upprättar individuella utvecklingsplaner för elevernas lärande med stöd av ett digitalt verktyg. Syftet med avhandlingen är att med stöd av aktivitetsteori och teorier om delaktighet och inflytande samt makt- och kontrollprinciper ge en ökad förståelse för arbetsprocessen med de individuella utvecklingsplanerna. Syftet är också att utforska betydelsen av digital dokumentation och hur arbetet inverkar på möjligheterna till delaktighet och inflytande samt elevernas identitetsarbete i arbetsprocessen. Både elever, föräldrar och lärare uttrycker i studien att det nu äntligen handlar om elevens eget lärande och att arbetet med de individuella utvecklingsplanerna möjliggör ett förändrat arbetssätt i den riktningen. Studien visar dock att arbetsprocessen med elevers individuella utvecklingsplaner handlar om mer än enbart elevens lärande. I studien framträder fenomen som makt, kontroll och förhandling. Det framträder också en förestä̈llning om en mönsterelev som förväntas bidra till ett gott arbetsklimat och som presterar sitt allra yttersta. Eleverna, förldrarna och lärarna deltar i skapandet av mönstereleven frå̊n olika perspektiv, med olika motiv och med olika strategier. Elevers individuella utvecklingsplaner med skriftliga omdömen är betydelsefulla texter vars innehåll både kan granskas och kritiseras av andra än eleven, dess föräldrar och lärare i och med att utvecklingsplanen är en offentlig handling. Detta kräver både en medvetenhet och kunskap om arbetsprocessen och vad språket och formuleringarna i de skriftliga omdömena om eleven kan få för betydelse.

Aspectos relacionados à percepção cognitiva do homem têm sido cada vez mais considerados em projetos de produtos e nos processos de seleção de materiais. Em especial, a seleção de materiais têxteis configura uma tarefa de alta complexidade tanto devido a aspectos técnicos, quanto a aspectos percebidos através dos sentidos. Por isso, esta pesquisa objetiva contribuir com a seleção de materiais têxteis para uso em calçados, através da proposição de um processo sistematizado. O presente estudo integra atributos percebidos de maneira visual e tátil a partir de superfícies de materiais e qualidades percebidas de produtos, encontrados em bibliografia especializada, a uma escala de diferencial semântico. Em etapa posterior, através de teste piloto com designers e especialistas e utilizando os dados coletados por meio de observação direta e questionários, este conteúdo foi avaliado de maneira qualitativa, gerando o referido processo, que utiliza a lista de atributos para a classificação de materiais têxteis para uso no PDP. Como resultado, é proposto um processo industrial patenteado, amparado por uma ferramenta que viabiliza a classificação de materiais têxteis, para uso específico no projeto de calçados. / Aspects related to the cognitive perception of man have been increasingly considered in product designs and materials selection processes. The selection of textile materials constitutes a task of high complexity both due to technical aspects and to aspects perceived through the senses. From this, this research aims to contribute with the selection of textile materials for use in footwear, through the proposition of a systematized process. For this, the present study integrates visually and tactile perceived attributes from material surfaces and perceived qualities of products, found in specialized bibliography, on a semantic differential scale. In a later stage, through a pilot test with designers and specialists and using data collected through direct observation and questionnaires, this content was evaluated in a qualitative way, generating the said process, which uses the list of attributes for the classification of textile materials for use in the PDP. As a result, a patented industrial process is proposed, supported by a tool that enables the classification of textile materials for specific use in shoe design.

Aspectos relacionados à percepção cognitiva do homem têm sido cada vez mais considerados em projetos de produtos e nos processos de seleção de materiais. Em especial, a seleção de materiais têxteis configura uma tarefa de alta complexidade tanto devido a aspectos técnicos, quanto a aspectos percebidos através dos sentidos. Por isso, esta pesquisa objetiva contribuir com a seleção de materiais têxteis para uso em calçados, através da proposição de um processo sistematizado. O presente estudo integra atributos percebidos de maneira visual e tátil a partir de superfícies de materiais e qualidades percebidas de produtos, encontrados em bibliografia especializada, a uma escala de diferencial semântico. Em etapa posterior, através de teste piloto com designers e especialistas e utilizando os dados coletados por meio de observação direta e questionários, este conteúdo foi avaliado de maneira qualitativa, gerando o referido processo, que utiliza a lista de atributos para a classificação de materiais têxteis para uso no PDP. Como resultado, é proposto um processo industrial patenteado, amparado por uma ferramenta que viabiliza a classificação de materiais têxteis, para uso específico no projeto de calçados. / Aspects related to the cognitive perception of man have been increasingly considered in product designs and materials selection processes. The selection of textile materials constitutes a task of high complexity both due to technical aspects and to aspects perceived through the senses. From this, this research aims to contribute with the selection of textile materials for use in footwear, through the proposition of a systematized process. For this, the present study integrates visually and tactile perceived attributes from material surfaces and perceived qualities of products, found in specialized bibliography, on a semantic differential scale. In a later stage, through a pilot test with designers and specialists and using data collected through direct observation and questionnaires, this content was evaluated in a qualitative way, generating the said process, which uses the list of attributes for the classification of textile materials for use in the PDP. As a result, a patented industrial process is proposed, supported by a tool that enables the classification of textile materials for specific use in shoe design.

A importância dos serviços para as empresas de manufatura tem aumentado nas últimas décadas em função das alterações no ambiente em que estão inseridas. Dentre os aspectos relacionados com a oferta de serviços por empresas de manufatura, pode ser citado que os serviços são influenciados pelas definições realizadas durante o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP). No entanto, a literatura ainda é escassa no sentido de compreender essa relação. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente trabalho é analisar as características dos serviços relacionados com os produtos e a sua relação com o PDP por meio de um estudo de caso em uma empresa do setor aeroespacial. Os dados foram coletados por meio de uma análise documental e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, em que foi feita a descrição das etapas do PDP, o levantamento e classificação do portfolio de serviços, a análise detalhada dos serviços selecionados e a análise da relação entre estes serviços e o PDP. Os resultados da análise confirmaram que os serviços são impactados pelas decisões de todas as etapas do PDP e para todos os serviços analisados e ainda apresenta quando e como essas relações acontecem. Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com a literatura existente. As relações identificadas influenciam diversos aspectos dos serviços analisados, como: o processo, o escopo, a infraestrutura, os custos e pessoas. / The importance of services to manufacturing companies has grown over the last decades due to several changes in the business environment. Among the aspects related with the offer of services by manufacturing companies is the fact that services are influenced by the decisions taken during the new product development process (NPD). Although, the literature is scarce when it comes to comprehend how this relationship happens. In this way, the objective of this study is to analyze the characteristics of product-related services and the relationship between the NPD process activities and these services through a case study in a manufacturing company of the aerospace industry. The data was collected with the use of a documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews, where the phases of the NPD were described, the service portfolio was identified and classified, the selected services were analyzed and the relationship between the NPD and these services. The results confirmed that all the services that were analyzed are influenced by the decisions of all NPD phases and maps it out. The results were then compared with the existing literature. The identified relationship influence several aspects of the services that were analyzed, such as: the process, the scope, the infrastructure, the costs and people.

Product development process (PDP) architecture holds the key to the management of New Product Development (NPD). A lot of care is exercised in managing the NPD to reduce risk and uncertainties. There exists potential scope for improvement both in initial planning as well as execution of the NPD program by studying the PDP architecture. This research work seeks to taps this potential and presents an analytical tool to aid the NPD Managers. In this research work Design Structure Matrices (DSM) are used to represent the PDP architecture. The Work Transformation Matrix (WTM) is a kind of DSM and it was introduced for the analysis of concurrent task structures. However a generalized task structure has not been studied analytically in the literature. In order to study a generalized task structure we add two new matrix types to the WTM set to represent the task network interconnections and the task interdependence. First we study the pure sequential task iteration structure for NPD and show that it has lower engineering effort (cost and time) than the concurrent task iteration structure previously discussed in literature. Next we study the generalized task iteration structure and derive the expressions for total work and cost vectors. This is a major research contribution since only simulation based methods are currently available for studying generalized task iteration structures. The optimization of sequencing interdependent tasks is a well known NP hard problem in NPD literature. For small sized task sets, exhaustive enumeration of all possible sequencing and their corresponding time or cost vectors can be computed to determine the optimal sequence. However for large sized task networks, only heuristic methods are deployed. Using the closed form expression for cost and time vectors for a pure sequential task iteration structure derived earlier in this research work, we attempt to devise a method to optimally sequence the design tasks. We develop new matrix combining both the node and link weightages of task network. Using the time vector relationship between sequential and concurrent task structures, it is shown that the optimal task sequence corresponds to the reordering of this combined matrix whose “Dominance index” (sum above the diagonal) is minimum. Finally, we use some of the standard test cases from the PDP literature to demonstrate our research findings.

Diplomová práce se zabývá analýzou a výpočtem optimalizační úlohy z praxe. Jedná se o optimalizaci nočních linek vnitrostátní přepravy na území ČR. Cílem je nalezení řešení, které zefektivní organizaci těchto linek a usnadní práci lidí s nimi spojenou. Celý výpočet úlohy je inspirován okružním problémem s doručením a vyzvednutím (?Pickup and Delivery Problem?). Na výpočet problému jsou použity dva modely: model založený na hledání optimálního více produktového toku a model spočívající na výběru tras. Modely jsou založeny na rozdílných přístupech. Díky oběma modelům je možné si uvědomit, že na jednu optimalizační úlohu lze pohlížet z více stran a z obdržených výsledků si pak vytvořit ucelenější pohled na problém.

Title: Implementation of Personal Development Plans in Non-Governmental Organisations Author: Michaela Čížková Abstract The aim of this thesis is to identify factors which might prevent or help non-profit organizations in implementation of Personal Development Plans as a mean of employee development in the Czech Republic. Theoretical part of this paper describes non-profit organisations in context of their specificity in frame of employee development and introduces the variables, which influence this subject and which it is necessary to take into consideration when planning the implementation of Personal Development Plans. The empirical part uses the Grounded Theory method to research phenomena, which can serve as prerequisite in successful implementation of PDP, either in the initial phase or when solving issues caused by this tool. Conclusion and discussion chapter is dedicated to interpretation of the research results from perspective of employee development, their comparison with professional resources and the possible implication for non-profit organisations in the Czech Republic. Key words: Personal Development Plans (PDP), employee development, Non-Profit Non- Governmental Organisations, Human Resource Management

L'auto-assemblage des copolymères à bloc (CPBs) attire beaucoup d'intérêt grâce à leur capacité de générer spontanément des matériaux ordonnés avec des propriétés uniques. Les techniques Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) et Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) sont couramment utilisées pour produire des monocouches ou des films ultraminces à l'interface air/eau suivi de transfert aux substrats solides. Les films LB/LS de CPBs amphiphiles s'auto-assemblent dans des morphologies variables dépendamment de la composition du CPB ainsi que d'autres facteurs. Dans notre travail, nous avons étudié les films LB/LS de polystyrène-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-P4VP) et leurs complexes supramoléculaires avec le naphtol (NOH), l'acide naphtoïque (NCOOH) et le 3-n-pentadécylphenol (PDP). La première partie de ce mémoire est consacré à l'investigation du PS-P4VP complexé avec le NOH et le NCOOH, en comparaison avec le PS-P4VP seul. Il a été démontré qu'un plateau dans l'isotherme de Langmuir, indicatif d'une transition de premier ordre, est absent à des concentrations élevées des solutions d'étalement des complexes. Cela a été corrélé avec l'absence de morphologie en nodules avec un ordre 2D hexagonal à basse pression de surface. L'ordre au-delà de la pression de cette transition, lorsque présente, change à un ordre 2D carré pour tout les systèmes. La deuxième partie du la mémoire considère à nouveau le système PS-P4VP/ PDP, pour lequel on a démontré antérieurement que la transition dans l'isotherme correspond a une transition 2D d'un ordre hexagonal à un ordre carré. Cela est confirmé par microscopie à force atomique, et, ensuite, on a procédé à une étude par ATR-IR des films LB pour mieux comprendre les changements au niveau moléculaire qui accompagnent cette transition. Il a été constaté que, contrairement à une étude antérieure dans la littérature sur un autre système, il n'y a aucun changement dans l'orientation des chaînes alkyles. Au lieu de cela, on a découvert que, aux pressions au-delà de celle de la transition, le groupe pyridine, qui est orienté à basse pression, devient isotrope et qu'il y a une augmentation des liaisons hydrogènes phénol-pyridine. Ces observations sont rationalisées par un collapse partiel à la pression de transition de la monocouche P4VP, qui à basse pression est ordonné au niveau moléculaire. Cette étude a mené à une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires qui se produisent à l'interface air/eau, ce qui fournit une meilleure base pour la poursuite des applications possibles des films LB/LS dans les domaines de nanotechnologie. / Self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) attracts much interest due to their ability to spontaneously generate ordered materials with unique properties. For many applications, such as masks in nanolithography, separation membranes in medical diagnostics, and nanotemplates for nanowire fabrication, manufacturing into thin films is required. The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) techniques are commonly used to produce ultrathin or monolayer films at the air/water interface that are transferred to solid substrates. LB/LS films of amphiphilic BCPs self-assemble into various morphologies, depending on the BCP composition and other factors. In our work, we investigated LB/LS films of polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-P4VP) and their supramolecular complexes with, naphthol (NOH), naphthoic acid (NCOOH) and 3-n-pentadecylphenol (PDP). The first part of the thesis was devoted to the investigation of PS-P4VP complexes with NOH and NCOOH, in comparison to PS-P4VP alone. It was shown that a plateau in the Langmuir isotherm, indicative of a first-order transition, is absent at high spreading solution concentrations for the complexes. This was correlated with an absence of the expected dot morphology with 2D hexagonal-like order at low surface pressure. Above the transition, when present, the morphology has 2D square order. The second part of the thesis re-examines the PS-P4VP/PDP system, which was previously shown to undergo a transition from 2D hexagonal to square order at the isotherm plateau pressure. This was confirmed here, and a detailed ATR-IR study of LB films was then undertaken to better understand molecular-level changes occurring at this transition. It was found that, contrary to another study in the literature on a different system, there is no change in alkyl chain orientation. Instead, it was found that the pyridine group loses its low-pressure orientation and there is increased phenol-pyridine hydrogen-bonding above the transition pressure, which is rationalized by a partial collapse of the low-pressure molecularly ordered P4VP monolayer at the transition pressure. This study leads to an improved understanding of the processes occurring at the air/water interface, which is a basis for the further possible applications of LB/LS films in nanotechnologies.

O presente trabalho apresenta um modelo de aplicação de ferramentas de projeto integradas ao longo das fases de desenvolvimento de produto, neste caso, aplicadas na melhoria do produto suporte para fixação de cilindro de gás natural veicular. O foco do trabalho é apresentar a integração de ferramentas nas fases de Projeto Informacional, Projeto Conceitual e Projeto Detalhado do Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos. Entende-se por integração a escolha de ferramentas que permitam conduzir o fluxo de informação ao longo das fases de desenvolvimento de produtos, de tal forma que a informação de saída de uma ferramenta seja a informação de entrada da ferramenta subseqüente. As ferramentas integradas a partir da fase de Projeto Informacional foram a Pesquisas de Mercado Qualitativa e Quantitativa, com a finalidade de identificar as demandas dos clientes. As demandas dos clientes foram os dados de entrada da Matriz da Qualidade (Quality Function Deployment - QFD), resultando nos requisitos do produto e suas respectivas especificações-meta. A partir dos requisitos do produto, diferentes conceitos (configurações) foram gerados, apoiados pela Matriz Morfológica no Projeto Conceitual. Na seqüência utilizou-se a ferramenta de Projeto de Experimentos (Design of Experiments - DOE) para avaliar a estimativa de preço frente às possíveis configurações do produto. Com a Matriz de Pugh, alternativas de conceito de produto foram avaliadas possibilitando a escolha do melhor conceito de produto. No Projeto Detalhado, foi aplicada ferramenta de Análise dos Modos de Falha e seus Efeitos (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - FMEA), utilizado de forma integrada com o QFD, para identificar as falhas atuais e potenciais e seus efeitos em sistemas e processo. Em função das demandas identificadas, foram definidas e implementadas melhorias no produto. Observou-se a adequabilidade destas ferramentas de projeto para aplicação de forma integrada, garantindo um fluxo contínuo de informações rastreáveis e que tendem a levar à uma reduzida chance de perdas ao longo do processo. / There are few examples in literature about the integration of project tools along the product development phases. The main research objective in thesis is to integrate some tools that facilitate the information flow along the product development phases, more specifically in Informational Project, Conceptual Project and Detailed Project phases. The product improvement “support for Vehicular Natural Gas” was the object of study in thesis. The main idea is that the information output from one tool is the input information of the subsequent tool. Starting from the Informational Project phase it was performed qualitative and quantitative market researches with the purpose of identifying the customers' demands for the studied product. The customers’ demands were the entrance data of the QFD (Quality Function Deployment) tool resulting in the product requirements and their respective specifications-goal. In Concept Project the product requirements were converted in functions and further different concepts were generated through the Morphologic Analysis. In the sequence, it was used the DOE (Design for experiments) tool to evaluate the estimate price to the possible products' configurations. The Pugh Matrix tool was used for concepts evaluation and choice. The FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) tool integrated with QFD was useful for current and potential failures identification and impact analysis in the system and process. With the application of these five tools the users’ demands were identified and improvements to the product were performed. The chosen tools proved to be adequate for integration, assuring that a continuous trackable information flow was attained with presumable reduced information loss, along the Product Development Process phases.

An investigation into the impact of generalised maximum entropy solutions on the study of queues with or without arrival balking and their applications to congestion management in communication networks Keywords: Queues, Balking, Maximum Entropy (ME) Principle, Global Balance (GB), Queue Length Distribution (QLD), Generalised Geometric (GGeo), Generalised Exponential (GE), Generalised Discrete Half Normal (GdHN), Congestion Management, Packet Dropping Policy (PDP) Generalisations to links between discrete least biased (i.e. maximum entropy (ME)) distribution inferences and Markov chains are conjectured towards the performance modelling, analysis and prediction of general, single server queues with or without arrival balking. New ME solutions, namely the generalised discrete Half Normal (GdHN) and truncated GdHN (GdHNT) distributions are characterised, subject to appropriate mean value constraints, for inferences of stationary discrete state probability distributions. Moreover, a closed form global balance (GB) solution is derived for the queue length distribution (QLD) of the M/GE/1/K queue subject to extended Morse balking, characterised by a Poisson prospective arrival process, i.i.d. generalised exponential (GE) service times and finite capacity, K. In this context, based on comprehensive numerical experimentation, the latter GB solution is conjectured to be a special case of the GdHNT ME distribution. ii Owing to the appropriate operational properties of the M/GE/1/K queue subject to extended Morse balking, this queueing system is applied as an ME performance model of Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication network nodes featuring static or dynamic packet dropping congestion management schemes. A performance evaluation study in terms of the model’s delay is carried out. Subsequently, the QLD’s of the GE/GE/1/K censored queue subject to extended Morse balking under three different composite batch balking and batch blocking policies are solved via the technique of GB. Following comprehensive numerical experimentation, the latter QLD’s are also conjectured to be special cases of the GdHNT. Limitations of this work and open problems which have arisen are included after the conclusions.