In a dynamically monitored environment the analyst team need timely and accurate information to conduct proactive action over complex situations. Typically, there are thousands of reported activities in a real time operation, therefore steps are taken to direct the analyst’s attention to the most important activity. The data fusion community have introduced the information fusion model, with multiple situational assessments. Each process lends itself to ranking the most important activities into a predetermined order. Unfortunately, the capability of a real time system can be hindered by the knowledge limitation problem, particularly when the underlying system is processing multiple sensor information. Consequently, the situational awareness domains may not rank the identified situation as perfect, as desired by the decision-making resources. This thesis presents advanced research carried out to evaluate the ranking capability of information from the situational awareness domains: perception, comprehension and projection. The Ranking Capability Score (RCS) has been designed for evaluating the prioritisation process. The enhanced (RCS) has been designed for addressing the knowledge representation problem in the user system relation under a situational assessment where the proposed number of tracking activities are dynamically shifted. Finally, the Scheduling Capability Score was designed for evaluating the scheduling capability of the situational awareness system. The proposed performance metrics have been successful in fulfilling their objectives. Furthermore, they have been validated and evaluated using an analytical approach, through conducting a rigorous analysis of the prioritisation and scheduling processes, despite any constraints related to a domain-specific configuration.

This study considers software techniques for improving performance on clusters of workstations and approaches for designing message-passing middleware that facilitate scalable, parallel processing. Early binding and overlapping of communication and computation are identified as fundamental approaches for improving parallel performance and scalability on clusters. Currently, cluster computers using the Message-Passing Interface for interprocess communication are the predominant choice for building high-performance computing facilities, which makes the findings of this work relevant to a wide audience from the areas of high-performance computing and parallel processing. The performance-enhancing techniques studied in this work are presently underutilized in practice because of the lack of adequate support by existing message-passing libraries and are also rarely considered by parallel algorithm designers. Furthermore, commonly accepted methods for performance analysis and evaluation of parallel systems omit these techniques and focus primarily on more obvious communication characteristics such as latency and bandwidth. This study provides a theoretical framework for describing early binding and overlapping of communication and computation in models for parallel programming. This framework defines four new performance metrics that facilitate new approaches for performance analysis of parallel systems and algorithms. This dissertation provides experimental data that validate the correctness and accuracy of the performance analysis based on the new framework. The theoretical results of this performance analysis can be used by designers of parallel system and application software for assessing the quality of their implementations and for predicting the effective performance benefits of early binding and overlapping. This work presents MPI/Pro, a new MPI implementation that is specifically optimized for clusters of workstations interconnected with high-speed networks. This MPI implementation emphasizes features such as persistent communication, asynchronous processing, low processor overhead, and independent message progress. These features are identified as critical for delivering maximum performance to applications. The experimental section of this dissertation demonstrates the capability of MPI/Pro to facilitate software techniques that result in significant application performance improvements. Specific demonstrations with Virtual Interface Architecture and TCP/IP over Ethernet are offered.

No / The relationship between the academy and the business community is currently perceived to be important to the future of both parties. Universities provide graduates to meet the needs and requirements of society and industry, and the latter supplies products and services to meet the needs of the market place. Whether public or private, industry increasingly seeks to use tools and techniques that increase efficiency and effectiveness, whilst at the same time maximizing quality and minimizing cost. The current trend towards companies outsourcing their R & D requirements to reduce corporate overheads and optimize staffing levels means that Universities can utilize the opportunity and bid to supply this expertise. Universities also generate their own spin-outs from intellectual property they create, as well as licensing technology to industry, rather than transferring it. However, the relationship between university and industry is not without its challenges, chief of which is the historical commitment of the academy to advance knowledge whether it is directly applicable or not. In addition, there are many fundamental and important long term research issues that many would argue are the primary duty of the academy to address, which may have no direct application in the short to medium term. This is resulting in increasing tensions in the academy, and in the priorities for national and international funding agencies. There can also be significant cultural differences and reward models between the academy and industry which give rise to difficult issues for staff at the interface. This chapter reviews the current developments and the issues at the interface between business and the academy.

Este trabalho apresenta e discute uma proposta baseada na teoria dos conjuntos fuzzy para predizer o desempenho da empresa-foco em cadeia de suprimentos modelada de acordo com os relacionamentos causais entre medidas de desempenho propostas pelo SCOR (versão 8.0). O uso de sistemas de medição de desempenho para gerenciar o desempenho de cadeias de suprimentos apresenta algumas limitações tais como a dificuldade de interpretação de resultados de natureza qualitativa, assim como a complexidade de um sistema tradicional de medição de desempenho lidar adequadamente com os relacionamentos de causas e efeito entre métricas de desempenho de diferentes processos de negócios ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos. Por outro lado, a lógica fuzzy, uma técnica apropriada para lidar com situações de incerteza e subjetividade, configura-se como uma alternativa interessante. Utilizando uma abordagem de pesquisa quantitativa descritiva, assumiu-se a hipótese de que um modelo de simulação quantitativo poderia ser construído para explicar o comportamento de processos operacionais. Os resultados da simulação mostraram-se bastante consistentes à metodologia SCORmark, proposta pelo Supply Chain Council. Análises estatísticas dos resultados da simulação, baseados no Método de Superfície de Resposta, também confirmaram a relevância dos relacionamentos causais incorporados no modelo. Em geral, os resultados reforçam que a proposição da adoção de um modelo de simulação baseado em lógica fuzzy e nas métricas do SCOR parece ser uma abordagem possível para auxiliar os gerentes no processo de tomada de decisão do gerenciamento do desempenho em cadeias de suprimentos. / This paper presents and discusses a proposal based on the theory of fuzzy sets to predict performance of focus company in a supply chain modeled according to causal relationships among performance metrics proposed by SCOR (version 8.0). The use of performance measurement systems to manage performance of supply chains presents some limitations such as difficulty of interpretation of results of qualitative nature as well as the complexity of having a conventional performance measuring system that can adequately handle cause-and-effect relationships of metrics of performance of different business processes of a supply chain. On the other hand, fuzzy logic, a technique suitable for dealing with uncertainty and subjectivity, becomes an interesting alternative approach. Using a descriptive quantitative approach, the research was based on the assumption that a quantitative simulation model can be built that explain (at least in part) the behavior of operational processes. Results of simulation were very much in line with those of the SCORmark methodology (SCC). Statistical analysis of the simulation results based on surface response method also confirmed the relevance of the causal relationships embedded in the model. In general, the findings reinforces the proposition that adoption of a simulation model based on fuzzy-logic and on metrics of the SCOR model seems to be a feasible approach to help managers in the decision making process of managing performance of supply chains.

Today’s technology has a strong tendency towards automation. As a matter of fact, the tremendous improvement of science in the recent years brought new ideas regarding to accelerate the scientific process that is not separated of automation. This paper also deals with automation of manual tests that were used to analyze packet loss and packet loss duration in a network. These two metrics were chosen based on their importance they have in the communication technology, also based on the weak points that were found in the manual processes. This experiment is done in the Ixia platform that was an appropriate test bed to design an automation framework.After a comprehensive research on network and communication we could choose packet loss and packet loss duration as two important parameters that are under test several times per day. Therefore, based on the properties that are used for automation, these two metrics had the priority compare to other metrics. We could create a framework that works correspond to the manual test process. For this purpose, Tcl programming language is used. The script that was written with this high-level language can communicate with the graphical user interface, configuring all the connected devices, measuring mentioned metrics and ultimately save the result in a csv file.Finally, we could reach to the main objective of this project which was to show how positively automatic method can affect on the quality of test in terms of accuracy, time and manpower saving.

Este trabalho apresenta e discute uma proposta baseada na teoria dos conjuntos fuzzy para predizer o desempenho da empresa-foco em cadeia de suprimentos modelada de acordo com os relacionamentos causais entre medidas de desempenho propostas pelo SCOR (versão 8.0). O uso de sistemas de medição de desempenho para gerenciar o desempenho de cadeias de suprimentos apresenta algumas limitações tais como a dificuldade de interpretação de resultados de natureza qualitativa, assim como a complexidade de um sistema tradicional de medição de desempenho lidar adequadamente com os relacionamentos de causas e efeito entre métricas de desempenho de diferentes processos de negócios ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos. Por outro lado, a lógica fuzzy, uma técnica apropriada para lidar com situações de incerteza e subjetividade, configura-se como uma alternativa interessante. Utilizando uma abordagem de pesquisa quantitativa descritiva, assumiu-se a hipótese de que um modelo de simulação quantitativo poderia ser construído para explicar o comportamento de processos operacionais. Os resultados da simulação mostraram-se bastante consistentes à metodologia SCORmark, proposta pelo Supply Chain Council. Análises estatísticas dos resultados da simulação, baseados no Método de Superfície de Resposta, também confirmaram a relevância dos relacionamentos causais incorporados no modelo. Em geral, os resultados reforçam que a proposição da adoção de um modelo de simulação baseado em lógica fuzzy e nas métricas do SCOR parece ser uma abordagem possível para auxiliar os gerentes no processo de tomada de decisão do gerenciamento do desempenho em cadeias de suprimentos. / This paper presents and discusses a proposal based on the theory of fuzzy sets to predict performance of focus company in a supply chain modeled according to causal relationships among performance metrics proposed by SCOR (version 8.0). The use of performance measurement systems to manage performance of supply chains presents some limitations such as difficulty of interpretation of results of qualitative nature as well as the complexity of having a conventional performance measuring system that can adequately handle cause-and-effect relationships of metrics of performance of different business processes of a supply chain. On the other hand, fuzzy logic, a technique suitable for dealing with uncertainty and subjectivity, becomes an interesting alternative approach. Using a descriptive quantitative approach, the research was based on the assumption that a quantitative simulation model can be built that explain (at least in part) the behavior of operational processes. Results of simulation were very much in line with those of the SCORmark methodology (SCC). Statistical analysis of the simulation results based on surface response method also confirmed the relevance of the causal relationships embedded in the model. In general, the findings reinforces the proposition that adoption of a simulation model based on fuzzy-logic and on metrics of the SCOR model seems to be a feasible approach to help managers in the decision making process of managing performance of supply chains.

Orientador: Michel Daoud Yacoub / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T01:33:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_DanielBenevidesda_D.pdf: 3159088 bytes, checksum: 3d5d46070c5516bbaa070eba5e52e8e3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Recentemente, três novos modelos probabilísticos de canal, modelos a-u, ?-u e ?-u, foram propostos com o intuito de prover uma análise mais realística do sinal propagante. Por apresentarem um grau de liberdade a mais que os demais já existentes na literatura, um melhor ajuste a medidas de campo verificou-se com a utilização dos mesmos. Esta tese provê uma caracterização estatística para estes modelos de desvanecimento generalizados. Tal caracterização engloba tanto estatísticas de primeira como de segunda ordem. Aproximações simples e precisas para a soma de variáveis e processos aleatórios são propostas. Inúmeras métricas de desempenho em ambientes com e sem diversidade na recepção são investigadas de forma exata e aproximada. Dentre estas, podemos citar: probabilidade de outage, taxa de erro de bit, capacidade de canal, taxa de cruzamento de nível, duração média de desvanecimento, dentre outras. Além disso, mostra-se também qual das distribuições generalizadas melhor aproxima a soma de variáveis e processos Nakagami-m, uma vez que todas incluem Nakagami-m como caso especial. Finalmente, expressões exatas e aproximadas para a taxa de cruzamento de nível de canaisWeibull correlacionados e não idênticos em receptores multirramos são apresentadas / Abstract: Recently, three new channel models, a-u, ?-u and ?-u, were proposed with the aim to provide a more realistic analysis of the propagate signal. Due to they have one degree of freedom more than those already existing in the literature, a better adjust to field measurement data was attested with their use. This thesis deals with the statistical characterization of these generalized fading models. Such a characterization includes both first and second order statistics. Simple and precise approximations to the sum of random variables and processes are proposed. Several performance metrics in scenarios with and without diversity are investigated in an exact and approximate manner. Among them, we may cite: outage probability, bit error probability, channel capacity, level crossing rate, average fade duration, such others. Furthermore, it is shown what is the generalized distribution that better approximate the sum of Nakagami-m variates and processes, once that all of them include Nakagami-m as special case. Finally, exact and approximate expressions for the crossing rates of non-identical correlated Weibull channels in multibranch receivers are presented. / Doutorado / Telecomunicações e Telemática / Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica

Abstract According to members of the Institute of Medicine, about 98,000 hospitalized patients in the United States die each year because of poor quality care. The problem of poor healthcare quality may exist in part due to limited information on effective performance measurement processes. A multiple case study design was used to gain broad insight into possible solutions to the problems of determining the quality of healthcare services using performance measurements. Hospital/healthcare organization leaders in North Carolina who had implemented optimal performance measurements for quality care were interviewed. The conceptual frameworks that served as a proposition for the study were Goldratt's theory of constraint, Deming's 14 point model and Lewin's model of the change process in human systems. The data collection process involved semistructured interviews of 12 individuals. Data sources and conceptual framework triangulations were used in the data analysis process(coding approaches, study dependability, credibility, transferability methods and case study protocol use) . The themes that emerged from the study were strategies for performance measurement and strategies to enhance service quality in healthcare organizations etc. Results might contribute to social change by helping healthcare leaders and patients improve their knowledge and understanding of optimal performance measurement strategies, which may effect positive organizational changes.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Bradley Kramer / This research shows that industry and company related performance indicators enhance the business valuation process by providing a broader, more encompassing view of overall corporate health and a better understanding of improvement opportunity areas within a company. To incorporate performance indicators in the business valuation process, new methodologies are required to integrate the non-financial and soft data with the typical financial information used in business valuation. This requires a “re-think” of the standard business valuation process and the exploration and application of other methods and analytical techniques. The results of this research are the definition of a problem type and the development of a new business valuation process. The problem structure has as inputs industry specific performance metrics grouped into three primary areas Production Processes, Products/Services and Marketability and Management, a fuzzy logic model with fuzzy and approximate relationships between performance metrics and financial information and crisp financial information as output. The framework for a fuzzy logic model was developed and is used to approximate relationships and model a non-linear environment. The resulting crisp financial information is then input and integrated into the traditional business valuation process. The process was demonstrated with an example production company and with data from two regional airlines. A step-by-step example of the process was provided using the production company example to demonstrate how the results are generated and integrated with DCF business valuation. Heuristics to identify areas to improve company performance were described. Two regional airlines, individually and combined, were tested with actual data using the original fuzzy logic model structure and then the original fuzzy logic model structure was revised and new results generated. Tuning the model showed an improvement in the business valuation process performance. The benefits from this research include the definition of a new class of problems and a process to solve problems of this nature. The insights gained from this research can be applied in major disciplines such as accounting, business and finance, engineering and decision theory.

A concept of EVA is critical in evaluating the performance of any business. Economic Value Added refers to the incremental value created by an activity or a business venture. It measures the economic rather than accounting profit created by a business after the cost of all resources including debt and equity had been implied. Improving EVA can be achieved by generating more revenue without using additional capital. The capital invested in the business might be reduced by selling non-operating assets and redeploying the capital into projects and activities with higher operating performance than current projects have. ...