While several approaches exist for modeling goals and business processes in organizations, the relationships between these two views are often not well defined. This inhibits the effective reuse of available knowledge in models. This thesis aims to address this issue through the introduction of a Goal-oriented Pattern Family (GoPF) framework that helps constructing business process models from organization goals while expanding these goals, establishing traceability relationships between the goal and process views, and improving reusability. Methods for extracting domain knowledge as patterns, which are composed of goal model building blocks, process model building blocks, and their relationships, and for maintaining the patterns over time are also presented. The GoPF framework provides the infrastructure for defining pattern families, i.e., collections of related patterns for particular domains. The foundation of GoPF is formalized as a profile of the User Requirements Notation, a standard modeling language that supports goals, scenarios, and links between them. A method for the use of GoPF is defined and then illustrated through a case study that targets the improvement of patient safety in healthcare organizations. The framework and the extraction/maintenance methods are also validated against another case study involving aviation security in a regulatory environment. The GoPF framework is expected to have a positive impact on the scientific community through the formalization, evolution, and reuse of patterns in domain-specific business domains. From an industrial viewpoint, this framework will also help intermediary organizations (such as consulting firms) who are required to repeatedly create and document goal and process models for other organizations in their business domain.

Vor dem Hintergrund des steigenden Interesses von computergestützter Textanalyse in Forschung und Praxis entwickelt dieser Beitrag auf Basis aktueller Literatur ein generisches Vorgehensmodell für Text-Mining-Prozesse. Das Ziel des Beitrags ist, die dabei anfallenden, umfangreichen Aktivitäten zu strukturieren und dadurch die Komplexität von Text-Mining-Vorhaben zu reduzieren. Das Forschungsziel stützt sich auf die Tatsache, dass im Rahmen einer im Vorfeld durchgeführten, systematischen Literatur-Review keine detaillierten, anwendungsneutralen Vorgehensmodelle für Text Mining identifiziert werden konnten. Aufbauend auf den Erkenntnissen der Literatur-Review enthält das resultierende Modell daher sowohl induktiv begründete Komponenten aus spezifischen Ansätzen als auch aus literaturbasierten Anforderungen deduktiv abgeleitete Bestandteile. Die Evaluation des Artefakts belegt die Nützlichkeit des Vorgehensmodells im Vergleich mit dem bisherigen Forschungsstand.

Recently, the interest in the business application of analytics and data science has increased significantly. The popularity of data analytics and data science comes from the clear articulation of business problem solving as an end goal. To address limitations in existing literature, this dissertation provides four novel design artifacts for Knowledge Discovery via Data Analytics (KDDA). The first artifact is a Snail Shell KDDA process model that extends existing knowledge discovery process models, but addresses many existing limitations. At the top level, the KDDA Process model highlights the iterative nature of KDDA projects and adds two new phases, namely Problem Formulation and Maintenance. At the second level, generic tasks of the KDDA process model are presented in a comparative manner, highlighting the differences between the new KDDA process model and the traditional knowledge discovery process models. Two case studies are used to demonstrate how to use KDDA process model to guide real world KDDA projects. The second artifact, a methodology for theory building based on quantitative data is a novel application of KDDA process model. The methodology is evaluated using a theory building case from the public health domain. It is not only an instantiation of the Snail Shell KDDA process model, but also makes theoretical contributions to theory building. It demonstrates how analytical techniques can be used as quantitative gauges to assess important construct relationships during the formative phase of theory building. The third artifact is a data mining ontology, the DM3 ontology, to bridge the semantic gap between business users and KDDA expert and facilitate analytical model maintenance and reuse. The DM3 ontology is evaluated using both criteria-based approach and task-based approach. The fourth artifact is a decision support framework for MCDA software selection. The framework enables users choose relevant MCDA software based on a specific decision making situation (DMS). A DMS modeling framework is developed to structure the DMS based on the decision problem and the users' decision preferences and. The framework is implemented into a decision support system and evaluated using application examples from the real-estate domain.

A remanufatura é um processo industrial em que produtos usados são restaurados à condição de novos. Apesar de receber crescente atenção pelos meios empresarial e acadêmico, as pesquisas relacionadas muitas vezes são tratadas de forma fragmentada e de maneira difícil de incorporar às atividades das empresas. Neste sentido, a abordagem de processos de negócio pode ser usada para analisar e integrar as atividades de remanufatura, e a primeira ação para isto é a identificação dos processos e sua modelagem. Alguns modelos de referência para remanufatura e outras opções de recuperação de produtos têm sido desenvolvidos. Contudo, alguns deles são focados em tópicos pontuais da remanufatura, comumente a logística reversa e operações. Outros modelos que incorporam outros processos ou níveis de decisão, não tratam das particularidades da remanufatura. Para preencher esta lacuna, este trabalho apresenta o GRem Gerenciar a Remanufatura, um modelo que visa integrar os diferentes tipos de processos de negócio para a remanufatura. A estrutura é dividida em seis grupos de processos e permite a sistematização de boas práticas da remanufatura. A versão preliminar do modelo foi desenvolvida a partir de uma base conceitual teórico-empírica, composta da literatura e de estudos de casos. Novos estudos de casos, análise crítica por especialistas da academia e avaliação por profissionais da indústria constituíram iterações que resultaram na versão final do modelo. Espera-se que a estrutura facilite o planejamento e operação da remanufatura e a identificação de técnicas, ferramentas e práticas de apoio. Pretende-se ainda contribuir para o desenvolvimento e difusão do conhecimento sobre a remanufatura, sendo um instrumento de comunicação entre academia e indústria. / Remanufacture is an industrial process in which worn-out products are restored to as new condition. Although its growing attention by academy and industry, related research topics are still addressed in a fragmented way and it is difficult to embody them to companies activities. In this sense, business processes approaches can be used to analyse and integrate remanufacturing activities, and the first step to this is processes identification and modelling. Some reference models for remanufacturing and other product recovery option have been developed. Nevertheless, some of them focus on remanufacturing scattered topics, usually reverse logistics and operations. Other models cover other processes or decision levels, but do not capture remanufacturing specificities. In order to fulfil this lacuna, this study presents a business processes model for remanufacture, which intends for integration of remanufacturing cross-company processes. The framework is grouped into six process groups and also ground for systematization of reported remanufacturing-related good practices. Preliminary version was constructed from a theoretical and empirical conceptual basis, comprised for literature and case studies. Other case studies, critical analysis by academic experts and evaluation by industry practitioners were iterative steps which resulted in the final version of the model. This framework is supposed to make easier for industry practitioners planning their remanufacturing operations and find tools, techniques and other practices for supporting the remanufacturing business processes. It is also expected to contribute for spreading existing remanufacturing knowledge and development of it by the two-hand academic-industry communication.

Les organisations doivent relever le défi d'adapter leurs processus aux changements qui peuvent survenir dans l'environnement dynamique dans lequel elles opèrent. Les adaptations dans le processus aboutissent à plusieurs variantes de processus, c'est-à-dire dans différentes versions du modèle de processus. Les variantes de processus peuvent différer en termes d'activités, de ressources, de flux de contrôle et de données. Ainsi, le concept d'un modèle de processus personnalisable est apparu et il vise à adapter le modèle de processus en fonction des exigences d'un contexte spécifique. Un modèle de processus personnalisable peut représenter toutes les variantes de processus dans un modèle unique dans lequel les parties communes ne sont représentées qu’une seule fois et les spécificités de chaque variante sont préservées. Alors, grâce à des transformations dans le modèle de processus générique, une variante de processus peut en être dérivée. En tant qu'avantages, cette approche permet d'éliminer les redondances, favorise la réutilisation, entre autres. Cependant, la personnalisation des modèles de processus n'est pas une tâche triviale. La personnalisation doit assurer que la variante obtenue est correcte du point de vue structurel et comportemental, c'est-à-dire la variante obtenue ne doit pas présenter d'activités déconnectées, d’interblocages actifs ou d'interblocages, entre autres. En outre, la variante de processus doit satisfaire à toutes les exigences du contexte de l'application, aux réglementations internes et externes, entre autres. De plus, il est nécessaire de fournir à l'utilisateur des directives et des recommandations lors de la personnalisation du processus. Les directives permettent la personnalisation correcte des variantes de processus, en évitant les problèmes de comportement. Les recommandations concernant le contexte de l'entreprise rendent possible l'amélioration du processus et aussi la personnalisation des variantes en fonction des besoins spécifiques. Dans ce contexte, cette recherche propose un cadre pour la personnalisation des variantes de processus en fonction des besoins de l'utilisateur. La personnalisation est réalisée grâce à l'utilisation d'ontologies pour la sélection des variantes. Le cadre est composé de trois étapes. La première correspond à l'identification des variantes à partir d'un journal d'événements au moyen de techniques d'exploration de processus, qui permettent de découvrir des points de variation, c'est-à-dire les parties du processus sujettes à variation, les alternatives disponibles pour chaque point de variation et les règles de sélection des alternatives disponibles. L'identification des variantes de processus et de leurs caractéristiques à partir d'un journal des événements permet de personnaliser un modèle de processus en fonction du contexte de l'application. À partir de ces aspects, la deuxième étape peut être développée. Cette étape concerne le développement d'un questionnaire, dans lequel chaque question est liée à un point de variation et chaque réponse correspond à la sélection d'une variante. Dans la troisième étape, deux ontologies sont proposées. La première formalise les connaissances liées aux réglementations externes et internes et aux connaissances des spécialistes. La deuxième ontologie se réfère aux points de variation, aux alternatives existantes pour chaque point de variation et aux règles liées à la sélection de chaque alternative. Ensuite, ces ontologies sont intégrées dans une nouvelle ontologie, qui contient les connaissances nécessaires pour personnaliser la variante de processus. Ainsi, à travers le questionnaire et le raisonnement sémantique, la variante est sélectionnée et les recommandations concernant le processus d’affaires sont fournies en fonction de la sélection de l'utilisateur lors de la personnalisation du processus. Le cadre proposé est évalué au moyen d'une étude de cas liée au traitement des patients chez qui [...] / The efficiency of organizations relies on its ability to adapt their business processes according to changes that may occur in the dynamic environment in which they operate. These adaptations result in new versions of the process model, known as process variants. Thus, several process variants can exist, which aim to represent all the related contexts that may differ in activities, resources, control flow, and data. Thus, has emerged the concept of customizable process model. It aims to adapt the process model according to changes in the business context. A process model can be customized by representing the process family in one single model enabling to derive a process variant through transformations in this single model. As benefits, this approach enables to avoid redundancies, promotes the model reuse and comparison, among others. However, the process variant customization is not a trivial-task. It must be ensured that the variant is correct in a structural and behavioural way (e.g. avoiding disconnected activities or deadlocks), and respecting all the requirements of the application context. Besides, the resulting process variant must respect all requirements related to the application context, internal and external regulations, among others. In addition, recommendations and guidance should be provided during the process customization. Guidance help the user to customize correct process variants, i.e., without behavioural problems. Recommendations about the process context help the user in customizing process variants according specific requirements. Recommendations about the business context refers to providing information about the best practices that can improve the quality of the process. In this context, this research aims to propose a framework for customizing process variants according to the user’s requirements. The customization is achieved by reasoning on ontologies based on the rules for selecting a process variant and in the internal/external regulations and expert knowledge. The framework is composed by three steps. The first step proposes to identify the process variants from an event log through process mining techniques, which enable to discover the variation points, i.e., the parts of the model that are subject to variation, the alternatives for the variation points and the rules to select the alternatives. By identifying the process variants and their characteristics from an event log, the process model can be correctly individualized by meeting the requirements of the context of application. Based on these aspects, the second step can be developed. This step refers to the development of the questionnaire-model approach. In the questionnaire approach each variation point is related to a question, and the alternatives for each question corresponds to the selection of the process variants. The third step corresponds to apply two ontologies for process model customization. One ontology formalizes the knowledge related with the internal and/or external regulations and expert knowledge. The other refers to the variation points, the alternatives for them and the rules for choosing each path. The ontologies then are merged into one new ontology, which contain the necessary knowledge for customize the process variants. Thus, by answering the questionnaire and by reasoning on the ontology, the alternatives related with the business process and the recommendations about the business context are provided for the user. The framework is evaluated through a case study related to the treatment of patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke. As result, the proposed framework provides a support decision-making during the process model customization

A maioria das micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs) de desenvolvimento de software brasileiras são voltadas para o desenvolvimento de software on-demand. Normalmente, essas MPEs têm dificuldades em formalizar um processo de software padrão. O presente trabalho de pesquisa tem por objetivo apresentar uma proposta de integração de modelos/normas de capacidade de processo com modelos de ciclo de vida de software, em um contexto de gestão de processos de negócio. Como resultado, obteve-se o modelo de gestão do processo de venda e desenvolvimento de software on-demand para MPEs (ProcSoftVD - Gestão), composto pelo método de melhoria de processo de software (ProcSoftVD - Melhoria) e pelo modelo de processo de venda e desenvolvimento de software on-demand para MPEs (ProcSoftVD). O método de melhoria de processo de software foi criado a partir de abordagens existentes e complementares, voltadas às MPEs. O ProcSoftVD foi originado com base no framework unified process, possibilitando a visualização do processo em duas perspectivas - fases e áreas de conhecimento, e nos modelos/normas de capacidade de processo CMMI-DEV e ISO/IEC 15504-5, elaborado em um processo iterativo e evolutivo de pesquisa-ação com a participação de duas MPEs. Um diferencial dessa proposta é a consideração de atividades de comercialização do software junto ao processo de desenvolvimento de software, o que auxilia na delimitação do escopo do projeto de desenvolvimento de software para um acordo contratual. Outro diferencial é o detalhamento das atividades do processo por meio de tarefas, sugestão de papéis desempenhados pelos responsáveis das atividades e disponibilização de templates com exemplos para cada um dos artefatos elaborados na execução da atividade. / The majority of the software development micro and small companies are turned to the development of on-demand software. Usually, for these small companies the formalization of a standard process for software development is very difficult. For that reason the goal of this research is to propose an integration of capability processes models/standards within software life cycle models, in a perspective of business process management. The main result of this research is a management model of selling and on-demand software development process, which embraces the software process improvement method and the selling and on-demand software development process model. The software process improvement method was build from complementary and existents tailored approaches for micro and small companies. The selling and on-demand software development process model was created based on the models/standards of process capability CMMI-DEV and ISO/IEC 15504-5 and on the unified process framework, allowing the process view from two perspectives - phases and knowledge areas. The model was elaborated in an iterative and evolutionary action-research process carried out within two micro and small companies. The originality of this proposal is the consideration of software sale activities jointly with software development process, assisting the scope delimitation of a software development project for contractual agreement. Other aspect of this research which makes it distinctive is the detail of the process activities by mean of tasks, suggestions of people roles for each activities and provision of templates with examples for each artifact created during the activities.

Situated within the human resource management and performance (HRM-P) link literature, this thesis explores the 'black box' of the mechanisms that link HRM practices and performance. By doing so, it sheds light on how and why HRM practices can lead to superior firm performance. Heeding calls for more nuanced and contextual work on understanding this link, this study uses qualitative responses from 79 industry experts, HR/senior managers, and young professionals, as well as artefacts and documents, to analyse the causal mechanisms that connect HRM policies, aimed at human capital resource (HCR) accumulation, to employee outcomes in five banking organizations in Pakistan. Using the strength of HR process conceptualization and the process model of HR, the thesis looks at the entire chain that connects intended, actual, and perceived HR policies to understand why HR managers' and young professionals' perceptions of both the content and the process of HR implementation varies, and how this is connected with the employee outcomes of turnover intentions and job satisfaction. The first set of findings reveals that there is considerable difference in how the quality of the content of HR systems is perceived from the point of view of young professionals in comparison with HR practitioners. Young professionals have strong negative perceptions of HR policies related to their long-term career development, which is explained in part by the incongruence and the lack of focus of HR on the goal of HCR accumulation. The second set of findings show that there are several processual factors that help to explain these varying perceptions, which dilute the implementation of HR practices. The analysis reveals that the competency of HR departments, the role of line managers, elements of the Pakistani culture, and the role of top management shape the quality of the HR system that is implemented. Connecting this to employee outcomes, the analysis reveals that the link between HR and performance is not straightforward; this helps to explain the moderate statistical effects noted in the extant HRM-P link research. Employee reactions are more related to their personal circumstances and other organizational factors rather than HR factors. The third set of findings expands the analysis to individual contexts of the five banks, further revealing that the mission of the organization, the presence of a strong HR leader, external economic factors, and the historical legacy of the organisation also shapes employee perceptions and, thus the effectiveness of HR policies and their implementation. The thesis makes a theoretical contribution to the HRM-P link literature by revealing that the competitive advantage that stems, in part, from the actions of HR departments derives from how well they navigate the various processual factors that can impede HR system implementation. It makes a methodological contribution by responding to calls for more in-depth qualitative research on the phenomenon, by using a specific segment of employees within the under-represented context of Pakistan. It makes a practical contribution by highlighting that many western prescriptions, such as talent management and bell curves, may be less effective if prevailing cultural constraints are not accounted for, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. Existing HRM-P link studies have not adequately considered these contextual and cultural factors in their analyses.

A remanufatura é um processo industrial em que produtos usados são restaurados à condição de novos. Apesar de receber crescente atenção pelos meios empresarial e acadêmico, as pesquisas relacionadas muitas vezes são tratadas de forma fragmentada e de maneira difícil de incorporar às atividades das empresas. Neste sentido, a abordagem de processos de negócio pode ser usada para analisar e integrar as atividades de remanufatura, e a primeira ação para isto é a identificação dos processos e sua modelagem. Alguns modelos de referência para remanufatura e outras opções de recuperação de produtos têm sido desenvolvidos. Contudo, alguns deles são focados em tópicos pontuais da remanufatura, comumente a logística reversa e operações. Outros modelos que incorporam outros processos ou níveis de decisão, não tratam das particularidades da remanufatura. Para preencher esta lacuna, este trabalho apresenta o GRem Gerenciar a Remanufatura, um modelo que visa integrar os diferentes tipos de processos de negócio para a remanufatura. A estrutura é dividida em seis grupos de processos e permite a sistematização de boas práticas da remanufatura. A versão preliminar do modelo foi desenvolvida a partir de uma base conceitual teórico-empírica, composta da literatura e de estudos de casos. Novos estudos de casos, análise crítica por especialistas da academia e avaliação por profissionais da indústria constituíram iterações que resultaram na versão final do modelo. Espera-se que a estrutura facilite o planejamento e operação da remanufatura e a identificação de técnicas, ferramentas e práticas de apoio. Pretende-se ainda contribuir para o desenvolvimento e difusão do conhecimento sobre a remanufatura, sendo um instrumento de comunicação entre academia e indústria. / Remanufacture is an industrial process in which worn-out products are restored to as new condition. Although its growing attention by academy and industry, related research topics are still addressed in a fragmented way and it is difficult to embody them to companies activities. In this sense, business processes approaches can be used to analyse and integrate remanufacturing activities, and the first step to this is processes identification and modelling. Some reference models for remanufacturing and other product recovery option have been developed. Nevertheless, some of them focus on remanufacturing scattered topics, usually reverse logistics and operations. Other models cover other processes or decision levels, but do not capture remanufacturing specificities. In order to fulfil this lacuna, this study presents a business processes model for remanufacture, which intends for integration of remanufacturing cross-company processes. The framework is grouped into six process groups and also ground for systematization of reported remanufacturing-related good practices. Preliminary version was constructed from a theoretical and empirical conceptual basis, comprised for literature and case studies. Other case studies, critical analysis by academic experts and evaluation by industry practitioners were iterative steps which resulted in the final version of the model. This framework is supposed to make easier for industry practitioners planning their remanufacturing operations and find tools, techniques and other practices for supporting the remanufacturing business processes. It is also expected to contribute for spreading existing remanufacturing knowledge and development of it by the two-hand academic-industry communication.

As a growing body of research has focused on the individual, social, and environmental factors that facilitate life after spinal cord injury (SCI), particular emphasis has been placed on health conditions that are modifiable and preventable. Subsequent injuries are a serious health problem for individuals with SCI. They are a direct threat to further morbidity and mortality, and are both a cause and consequence other secondary health conditions. As a first step toward understanding this public health problem, the purpose of this dissertation research was to describe the patterns, burdens, and prevention of subsequent injury among individuals with SCI. In three distinct, but related studies, this dissertation examined the characteristics of hospitalizations due to an injury among individuals with paraplegia, and compared the differences in length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs of injury hospitalizations between individuals with quadriplegia versus paraplegia. In addition, it explored the experience of subsequent injury among individuals with SCI who return to work and examined perceptions of threat and efficacy in preventing subsequent injury using the Extended Parallel Process Model. Using discharge level weighting available in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, Study 1 calculated national estimates of injury hospitalizations for individuals with paraplegia by patient, hospital, and injury characteristics. Most injury hospitalizations occurred among males, to individuals 35-49 years, and were due to falls, poisonings, or motor vehicle traffic. With the same dataset, Study 2 used logistic regression to estimate the effect of patient characteristics on odds of hospitalized patients with quadriplegia versus paraplegia, and linear regression to estimate predicted differences in hospital costs for individuals with quadriplegia compared to paraplegia. Fewer injury hospitalizations but longer hospital stays, and higher hospital costs per discharge were found for individuals with quadriplegia compared to individuals with paraplegia. Males, younger age, and the uninsured were significant predictors of higher hospital costs. Finally, Study 3 used in-depth interviews to qualitatively explore the perceptions on subsequent injury among individuals with SCI who return to work, and found individuals with SCI who return to work recognized the importance of preventing subsequent injury, and were taking actions to prevent subsequent injury in their daily life and in the workplace. The significance of this research is that it is the first description of injury hospitalizations for all causes of injury by specific type of SCI, and the associated medical outcomes of LOS and direct medical costs. Prevention of subsequent injury should be a priority. The perceptions of individuals with SCI about the severity of and their susceptibility to injury and the efficacy of individual and environmental actions to prevent subsequent injury described in this research should be used to inform the development of interventions that prevent subsequent injury.

Nonostante una lunga tradizione di studi, le emozioni costituiscono ancora oggi un oggetto per molti aspetti poco definito. In particolare, pochi risultati confermati sono disponibili per l'espressione vocale delle emozioni e per i suoi aspetti fisiologici. Questa assenza di risultati può essere spiegata attraverso l'adozione della teoria processuale componenziale di Scherer. Secondo questo modello l'emozione sarebbe un processo che si sviluppa in e attraverso alcune componenti, tra cui quella espressiva e quella fisiologica. Pertanto una comprensione delle emozioni è possibile solo attraverso un approccio che sia multi-componenziale. Tre studi sono stati condotti. Il primo ha indagato l'espressione delle emozioni, identificando alcune delle previsioni del modello componenziale per la produzione vocale. Il secondo ha analizzato in termini di sistema nervoso autonomo gli aspetti fisiologici dell'esperienza emotiva, sostenendo la funzione di mobilitazione delle risorse della componente. Il terzo studio ha posto in relazione queste due componenti cercando di identificare alcuni aspetti del loro funzionamento integrato e interdipendente. Infine, è suggerita l'adozione di un modello processuale componenziale alla tematica del riconoscimento emotivo automatico, inerente al tema dell'affective computing. / Even if emotion has been studied for many years, it still remains quite unknown in some aspects. Among others, vocal expression and physiology of emotions produced very few widely accepted results. Such an outcome can be explained through the adoption of the component process model of emotion by Scherer. In his theory emotions are processes in which a number of different components are involved, among others expressive and physiological ones. As a consequence emotions can be explained only through a multi-component approach. Three studies are performed. The first investigated emotional expression, finding some correspondences with component predictive model for vocal expression. The second analyzed autonomic activity of emotions, sustaining its function of resources mobilization. The third combined the two components, finding some aspects of their integration and inter-dependency. Finally, concerning affective computing paradigm, a componential approach to emotion automatic recognition is suggested.