<p>Network and system management has always been of concern for telecommunication and computer system operators. The need for standardization was recognised already 20 years ago, hence several standards for network management exist today. However, the ever-increasing number of units connected to networks and the ever-increasing number of services being provided results in significant increased complexity of average network environments. This challenges current management systems. In addition to the general increase in complexity the trend among network owners and operators of merging several single service networks into larger, heterogeneous and complex full service networks challenges current management systems even further. The full service networks will require management systems more powerful than what is possible to realize basing systems purely on todays management standards. This thesis presents a distributed stochastic optimization algorithm which enables implementations of highly robust and efficient management tools. These tools may be integrated into management systems and potentially make the systems more powerful and better prepared for management of full service networks.</p><p>Emergent behavior is common in nature and easily observable in colonies of social insects and animals. Even an old oak tree can be viewed as an emergent system with its collection of interacting cells. Characteristic for any emergent system is how the overall behavior of the system emerge from many relatively simple, restricted behaviors interacting, e.g. a thousand ants building a trail, a flock of birds flying south or millions of cells making a tree grow. No centralized control exist, i.e. no single unit is in charge making global decisions. Despite distributed control, high work redundancy and stochastic behavior components, emergent systems tend to be very efficient problem solvers. In fact emergent systems tend to be both efficient, adaptive and robust which are three properties indeed desirable for a network management system. The algorithm presented in this thesis relates to a class of emergent behavior based systems known as swarm intelligence systems, i.e. the algorithm is potentially efficient, adaptive and robust.</p><p>On the contrary to other related swarm intelligence algorithms, the algorithm presented has a thorough formal foundation. This enables a better understanding of the algorithm’s potentials and limitations, and hence enables better adaptation of the algorithm to new problem areas without loss of efficiency, adaptability or robustness. The formal foundations are based on work by Reuven Rubinstein on cross entropy driven optimization. The transition from Ruinstein’s centralized and synchronous algorithm to a distributed and asynchronous algorithm is described, and the distributed algorithm’s ability to solve complex problems (NP-complete) efficiently is demonstrated.</p><p>Four examples of how the distributed algorithm may be applied in a network management context are presented. A system for finding near optimal patterns of primary/backup paths together with a system for finding cyclic protection paths in mesh networks demonstrate the algorithm’s ability to act as a tool helping management system to ensure quality of service. The algorithm’s potential as a management policy implementation mechanism is also demonstrated. The algorithm’s adaptability is shown to enable resolution of policy conflicts in a soft manner causing as little loss as possible. Finally, the algorithm’s ability to find near optimal paths (i.e. sequences) of resources in networks of large scale is demonstrated.</p>

Network and system management has always been of concern for telecommunication and computer system operators. The need for standardization was recognised already 20 years ago, hence several standards for network management exist today. However, the ever-increasing number of units connected to networks and the ever-increasing number of services being provided results in significant increased complexity of average network environments. This challenges current management systems. In addition to the general increase in complexity the trend among network owners and operators of merging several single service networks into larger, heterogeneous and complex full service networks challenges current management systems even further. The full service networks will require management systems more powerful than what is possible to realize basing systems purely on todays management standards. This thesis presents a distributed stochastic optimization algorithm which enables implementations of highly robust and efficient management tools. These tools may be integrated into management systems and potentially make the systems more powerful and better prepared for management of full service networks. Emergent behavior is common in nature and easily observable in colonies of social insects and animals. Even an old oak tree can be viewed as an emergent system with its collection of interacting cells. Characteristic for any emergent system is how the overall behavior of the system emerge from many relatively simple, restricted behaviors interacting, e.g. a thousand ants building a trail, a flock of birds flying south or millions of cells making a tree grow. No centralized control exist, i.e. no single unit is in charge making global decisions. Despite distributed control, high work redundancy and stochastic behavior components, emergent systems tend to be very efficient problem solvers. In fact emergent systems tend to be both efficient, adaptive and robust which are three properties indeed desirable for a network management system. The algorithm presented in this thesis relates to a class of emergent behavior based systems known as swarm intelligence systems, i.e. the algorithm is potentially efficient, adaptive and robust. On the contrary to other related swarm intelligence algorithms, the algorithm presented has a thorough formal foundation. This enables a better understanding of the algorithm’s potentials and limitations, and hence enables better adaptation of the algorithm to new problem areas without loss of efficiency, adaptability or robustness. The formal foundations are based on work by Reuven Rubinstein on cross entropy driven optimization. The transition from Ruinstein’s centralized and synchronous algorithm to a distributed and asynchronous algorithm is described, and the distributed algorithm’s ability to solve complex problems (NP-complete) efficiently is demonstrated. Four examples of how the distributed algorithm may be applied in a network management context are presented. A system for finding near optimal patterns of primary/backup paths together with a system for finding cyclic protection paths in mesh networks demonstrate the algorithm’s ability to act as a tool helping management system to ensure quality of service. The algorithm’s potential as a management policy implementation mechanism is also demonstrated. The algorithm’s adaptability is shown to enable resolution of policy conflicts in a soft manner causing as little loss as possible. Finally, the algorithm’s ability to find near optimal paths (i.e. sequences) of resources in networks of large scale is demonstrated.

Submitted by Maria Camila Mourão Mendonça de Barros (camilamendoncadebarros@gmail.com) on 2018-06-12T21:03:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_MCMMB.pdf: 3353095 bytes, checksum: 964fb2b8d9e20fd455756c70faf190e7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Pamela Beltran Tonsa (pamela.tonsa@fgv.br) on 2018-06-12T21:20:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_MCMMB.pdf: 3353095 bytes, checksum: 964fb2b8d9e20fd455756c70faf190e7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Isabele Garcia (isabele.garcia@fgv.br) on 2018-06-13T13:30:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_MCMMB.pdf: 3353095 bytes, checksum: 964fb2b8d9e20fd455756c70faf190e7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-13T13:30:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_MCMMB.pdf: 3353095 bytes, checksum: 964fb2b8d9e20fd455756c70faf190e7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-10 / Desde a década de 1980, foram múltiplas as reformas educacionais implementadas nos países avançados e na América Latina orientadas à melhor performance do setor público na oferta de educação. Caracterizaram-se pela ênfase na universalização das matrículas, na descentralização administrativa das redes, adoção de padrões curriculares unificados, materiais de apoio pedagógico, avaliações padronizadas da aprendizagem dos alunos, estratégias de formação continuada das equipes escolares e de metas de accountability externa. O alinhamento entre os níveis institucionais para sua implementação, no entanto, tem representado um hercúleo desafio para o setor público. Esta tese debruça-se sobre a questão e apresenta como objeto de estudo a ação das Diretorias Regionais de Ensino (DREs) da escola pública de ensino médio em São Paulo entre 2011 e 2016. Investiga-se sua atuação na articulação das ações emanadas pelos níveis centrais para as escolas. A pesquisa organiza-se em duas frentes de investigação: uma quantitativa, de cunho selético, na qual selecionou-se uma amostra de Diretorias Regionais. Na parte qualitativa, estuda-se em profundidade a atuação das diretorias por meio da realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas com os dirigentes de ensino, supervisores, diretores dos núcleos pedagógicos e diretores de escolar das diretorias selecionadas. As evidências mostram que as diretorias regionais têm mais condições de oferecer suporte às escolas quando: a) adotam uma prática de gestão estratégica compartilhada, b) quando o quadro das equipes pedagógicas está completo e tem uma tradição formadora; c) quando a supervisão de ensino é ponte para o direcionamento de formação continuada específica para as escolas por parte do núcleo pedagógico. Os resultados mostram que as Diretorias Regionais de Ensino tiveram maiores condições de adequar o suporte operacional, pedagógico e de formação continuada às necessidades especificas das escolas quando o seu acompanhamento era etapa da gestão dos resultados de aprendizagem dos alunos. Assim, as diretorias cujas escolas obtiveram melhores resultados foram aquelas que adotavam a estratégia de integração equipes ao longo de toda implementação, especialmente das equipes de supervisão e pedagógicas das diretorias. O acompanhamento das escolas se deu para o mapeamento das suas fragilidades, em termos de condições de funcionamento e pedagógicas, para, então, ser encaminhado o suporte customizado ao contexto socioeconômico e educacional em que estavam inseridas. / Since the 1980s, many result-oriented educational reforms were implemented in developed countries and Latin America, towards a better performance of the public. They were based on the universalization of enrollments, administrative decentralization, the adoption of unified curriculum, pedagogical support materials, standard evaluation, teacher’s continuous training and external accountability goals. The alignment required between the institutions level at the implementation has been representing a challenge for the public sector. This paper studies this question and selects a sample from a regional district of education at São Paulo, between 2011 and 2016, as the research subject. The districts were investigated in the articulation of the actions emanated by the central levels for the schools. This research is organized in two fronts: a quantitative one, in which are selected the Regional Districts for the interviews applied at the qualitative dimension. At this qualitative dimension, interviews with district managers, supervisors, district pedagogical coordinators and selected school directors were realized in depth. Districts had better results when they to adapted the operational, pedagogical and continuing training support to the specific needs of the schools and when monitoring was the stage of the management of the students' learning results.

This reflective analysis of the Emirati public policy process (PPP) cycle and implications of uneven application of new public management (NPM) paradigms in the UAE offers insight into the way that public administrations develop, learn, evolve, and cope with new challenges during the policy development process. The author also assesses the relationship between organizational learning and organizational practices, to generate practical knowledge and experience that is translated into recommendations that will benefit UAE government organizations, and indeed any public sector organization in the Gulf Region. Inside action research was chosen to emphasize the author's dual role as both a researcher and a participant. As an advisor to both the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) of the UAE and the Abu Dhabi Police (ADP), the author helped both organisations improve their PPP experiences while researching the challenges, learning, and adaptations which occurred while policy was being developed within the MOI. The author generated data through reflective memos, informal interviews, and document analysis, and presents her findings in terms of both academic findings and practice-oriented recommendations. The author primarily found that new models were necessary to reflect the highly flexible and authority-oriented UAE PPP cycle. The author also explored how cultural understandings led to challenges with NPM and learning in the UAE public administration, hindering policy development. Finally, the author found that her own position, as a female expatriate in the Emirati government, allowed for some valuable reflection about experience of serving in a Global South public administration.

Momentous choices and opportunities have opened up in South Africa since a settlement was successfully negotiated and a new political and constitutional dispensation was created. Events such as the constitutional negotiations and the establishment of reconstruction and development initiatives have placed a renewed emphasis on development management, process facilitation and the development of policy. This study provides an overview of the broad field of policy studies and specifically focuses on policy process models. In particular, this study centres on the further development of the generic process model and provides an overview of the application thereof to the operational environment. From this, simulation exercises and case study material have been developed as policy learning methodologies. Institutional arrangements for policy processes and the institutionalisation of policy and related support capacities at intergovernmental and organisational level receive particular attention. The study demonstrates the application of the generic process model by applying the framework to a case study based on the provincial demarcation exercise. This study concludes that policy management, as a cross-cutting, lateral methodology, in conjunction with similar methodologies, such as strategic planning, research methodology and project management, should be regarded as a critical tool, by the academic community and development practitioners alike, for improving the decision-making capacity of government, the private sector and civil society. / D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Administration)

Momentous choices and opportunities have opened up in South Africa since a settlement was successfully negotiated and a new political and constitutional dispensation was created. Events such as the constitutional negotiations and the establishment of reconstruction and development initiatives have placed a renewed emphasis on development management, process facilitation and the development of policy. This study provides an overview of the broad field of policy studies and specifically focuses on policy process models. In particular, this study centres on the further development of the generic process model and provides an overview of the application thereof to the operational environment. From this, simulation exercises and case study material have been developed as policy learning methodologies. Institutional arrangements for policy processes and the institutionalisation of policy and related support capacities at intergovernmental and organisational level receive particular attention. The study demonstrates the application of the generic process model by applying the framework to a case study based on the provincial demarcation exercise. This study concludes that policy management, as a cross-cutting, lateral methodology, in conjunction with similar methodologies, such as strategic planning, research methodology and project management, should be regarded as a critical tool, by the academic community and development practitioners alike, for improving the decision-making capacity of government, the private sector and civil society. / D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Administration)

El desarrollo de la presente tesis busco comprobar los errores en la aplicación de la identificación de peligros, evaluación de riesgos y Controles (IPERC), el grado de compromiso del trabajador y la política del sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud en el trabajo, con el objetivo determinar una propuesta para mejorar la aplicación del Sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud en el trabajo para reducir la perdida de la capacidad auditiva denominada “hipoacusia profesional” en los trabajadores del área de compactación de una Empresa Distribuidora de Gas Natural en Lima Metropolitana. Durante el desarrollo se identificó en el área de compactación un porcentaje del 55% de trabajadores con hipoacusia profesional. Para identificar el peligro potencial de esta enfermedad ocupacional se realizó mediciones de la exposición al ruido en los trabajadores, determinando que la contaminación presentada durante sus actividades alcanzaron niveles de 98.90 dB superando los limites máximos permisibles de 85 dB para una jornada de 8 horas (Decreto supremo 357, 2012) convirtiéndose en el mayor riesgo del lugar de trabajo. La propuesta de mejora en el Sistema de gestión de seguridad y salud en el trabajo fue el de proponer una nueva matriz de identificación de peligros, evaluación de riesgos y controles (IPERC) estableciendo nuevos controles para reducir el riesgo por la exposición del ruido, para esto se calculo la protección auditiva adecuada para resguardar la salud del trabajador, proponiendo una doble protección auditiva; se buscó tener un personal capacitado para el puesto proponiendo un programa de certificación de trabajadores del área de compactación. Además de proponer un programa de incentivos para mejorar el compromiso del trabajador que cumpla con los estándares de seguridad y salud en el trabajo. The development of this thesis looking check for errors in the application of hazard identification, risk assessment and controls (IPERC), the degree of commitment and political worker management system safety and health at work, with the aim to determine a proposal for improving the implementation of the management system of health and safety at work to reduce the loss of hearing called "professional hearing loss" workers in the area of compaction of a Natural Gas Distribution Company in Delhi . During development it was identified in the compaction area percentage of 55% of hearing loss professional workers. To identify the potential of this occupational disease risk exposure measurements were performed on workers to noise, pollution determining that presented during their activities reached 98.90 dB levels exceeding the maximum permissible limits of 85 dB for an 8-hour day (decree Supreme 357, 2012) becoming the greatest risk in the workplace. The proposed improvement in the management system of health and safety at work was to propose a new array of hazard identification, risk assessment and controls (IPERC) establishing new controls to reduce the risk of noise exposure to this proper hearing protection was calculated to protect worker health, proposing a double hearing protection; He sought to have qualified for the position proposing a certification program area workers compaction staff. In addition to proposing an incentive program to improve employee engagement that meets the standards of safety and health at work.