Prescription medicine samples are a product based promotion designed to facilitate brand switching or uptake of a new product. Marketing of pharmaceuticals differs from other products since the primary decision maker (doctor) is not the ultimate consumer (patient). Marketing of medicines also has an overlay of government regulations and political influence. It is argued whether free samples of prescription medicines provided to doctors constitute a “gift” or a trial quantity with which to initiate therapy and test patient tolerance of the drug concerned. Either way, samples are an integral part of the prescription medicine marketing tapestry and they have become woven into the “fabric” of drug promotion. The international literature abounds with papers describing pharmaceutical promotion and myriads of surveys obtaining prescribers’ opinions about pharmaceutical promotion. Few studies have been conducted or reported to ascertain the reasons behind the opinions expressed as disagreement/agreement scales to specific statements. Interventions to alter practice targeting alternative methods of distribution of samples (rather than direct from company to prescriber) are also rare; therefore the aim of this research was to qualitatively explore opinions regarding samples to develop an intervention to ensure samples do not have an adverse effect on prescribing practice and to test the model in a practice environment. In order to assess the place of samples within the totality of pharmaceutical promotion, a model was derived from the literature and tested with a hypothetical, but realistic practice-based scenario. This highlighted the interplay between the various methods involved in pharmaceutical promotion, their target audiences and the potential interplay and synergism that could be achieved through a co-ordinated campaign. Quantification of the expenditure on samples was also required in the Australian context to assess the potential impact of interventions targeting this promotional mode. Samples were found to account for approximately 5% of the total marketing spend in Australia. No clear relationship could be found between sample expenditure and drug sales, utilizing data on the proton pump inhibitor therapeutic class. However, a pattern of decaying spending was found between the amount spent on samples per unit pack dispensed and the time a product had been available on the market. A range of interested parties were then interviewed to gain their opinions about free prescription medicine samples. The interviews were split into two groups: consumers, pharmacists and practicing general practitioners (GPs) provided an operational level focus, while a range of key informants from organisations involved in Quality Use of Medicines in Australia provided a strategic overview. The transcripts of the focus groups and interviews were qualitatively analysed to extract key themes which were quite similar. Examples included ‘pay’ in the operational group compared to ‘cost’ in the strategic group. These concepts express a similar sentiment, yet ‘pay’ is a more personal action whereas ‘cost’ does not imply who must meet the financial outlay. These resultant themes formed the basis of the intervention developed to pilot in a practice environment to assess its practicality for wider study. In addition to the extensive interview process, a mail survey was conducted in three divisions (geographical groupings) of general practice. Each family doctor (General Practitioner (GP)) and community pharmacist within the divisions received a questionnaire to gather their opinions about samples. This was the first time GPs and pharmacists had been surveyed simultaneously to gather comparative results. No differences were found between the metropolitan division and the accumulated results from the two regional divisions. Pharmacists and GPs differed predominantly in their perceptions of promotional influence of samples, appropriateness of self use and meeting legal requirements for labelling dispensed medicines. These factors were incorporated in the pilot study design. An action research methodology was utilised to assess the practicality of community pharmacist dispensing of starter packs for antihypertensives and antidepressants in two regional GP practices in Queensland, Australia. In this pilot study, a total of 32 starter packs were prescribed to 31 patients over the four months of the intervention period, with 29 (91%) dispensed at a study pharmacy and 17 (53%) of subsequent full prescriptions able to be tracked through Medicare Australia data or the study pharmacies. Antidepressants comprised the majority of prescriptions (n=16, 55%) Each of the 29 patients who received a starter pack completed a patient survey which demonstrated high levels of support (n=22, 76%) for the model in the pilot. GPs and pharmacists involved in the pilot were also generally supportive of the pilot model. In conclusion, opinions held about free prescription medicine samples by a wide range of apparently disparate groups show similar themes and community pharmacist involvement in dispensing starter (or sample) packs has general acceptance. The model piloted in this research was applicable in daily practice for general practitioners and community pharmacists in Australia. Consumers accepted the pilot model as an acceptable change to current procedures. The research presented in this thesis provides a solid foundation for development of a more widespread trial for dispensing of all prescription medicine starter packs through community pharmacies to be rigorously evaluated in Australia.

La modélisation dans le domaine de l'agro-écologie est importante car elle permet de mieux comprendre les interactions entre l'environnement et les activités humaines. Des travaux basés sur la simulation ont été développés depuis des années. Cependant, non seulement ces outils restent difficiles à utiliser par les utilisateurs non experts, mais aussi le coût des modèles rend leur utilisation difficile à case de la complexité élevée en cas d'application réelle. Nous proposons une approche qui consiste à représenter le système étudié dans un formalisme de système à événements discrets qui est bien adapté quand la dynamique du système est liée à des interactions entre les entités concernés. Ceci permet de profiter l'efficacité du model-checking pour étudier le comportement du système modélisé et d'utiliser la synthèse de contrôleur pour générer automatiquement des stratégies optimales. Nous présentons deux contributions dans cette thèse. La première contribution concerne le projet EcoMata. Cette modélisation qualitative en automates temporisés pour un réseau trophique marin de type proie-prédateur permet d'analyser l'écosystème à l'aide de model-checking sans avoir à faire des simulations. Des scénarios de requête prédéfinis ont été développés dans un langage naturel pour que les utilisateurs non expert puissent faire des requêtes sur les réseaux trophiques sans avoir des connaissances sur la langage TCTL. Nous avons amélioré la génération automatique d'automates temporisés à partir d'une description des équation Lotka-Votera. Nous avons aussi proposé une approche de synthèse de contrôleur pour générer automatiquement des stratégies optimales de gestion de pêche. Le prototype logiciel EcoMata implémente l'ensemble des propositions incluant la recherche de stratégies optimales. Dans la seconde contribution, nous proposons une modélisation hybride en automates temporisés d'une exploitation de pâturage. Cette modélisation hybride combine un modèle numérique de la croissance d'herbe et un modèle qualitatif des activités de pâturage. Une structure hiérarchique organise les modèles dans quatre couches: la couche biologique, la couche activité, la couche décisionnelle et la couche d'horloge. Nous proposons quatre méthodes pour générer des stratégies optimales des activités de pâturage. La première méthode est appliquée à la recherche de stratégies optimales de la mise au pâturage. Trois méthodes sont dédiées à la recherche de stratégies optimales de la fertilisation. Une d'entre elles utilise la synthèse de contrôleur alors que les deux autres combinent la synthèse de contrôleur et l'apprentissage supervisé pour générer des stratégies génériques par type d'exploitation. Un prototype logiciel PaturMata a été développé implémentant cette modélisation, permettant aux utilisateurs de simuler des scénarios de pâturage et rechercher des stratégies optimales de mise au pâturage. / The modeling in the domain of agro-ecology is important since it helps us to better understand the interactiosn between the environment and the human activities. Some research works based on simulation has been carried out during the recent years. Mainwhile, not only these simulation tools are difficult to use by the non expert users, but also the high complexity of models makes interactive uses impossible. We propose an approch in which we represent the system to be studied in a discret event system formalism. This kind of representation benefits the efficiency of model-checking and makes it possible to use controller synthesis to generate strategies. We present two contributions in this thesis. The first one concerns the project EcoMata. This project proposes a qualitative modelling which represents a marine prey-predator type food chain in timed automata. Predifined query patterns in natural langurage are also proposed which allow users to investigate easiy the food chain. We have improved the efficiency of the algorithm of timed automata generation and also developped a strategy synthesis method to generate best fishing management strategy. The prototype software EcoMata implements all these propositions including the best strategy synthesis. In the second contribution, we propose a hybrid modelling which represents grazing activities in timed automata. This hybrid modelling combines a numerical grass model and a qualitative grazing model. These sub models are organized in a hierarchical struture of four layers: the biological layer, the activity layer, the decision layer and the clock. We propose four methods to generate best grazing management strategy. One of these methods is applied to the movement of herd. The other three methods are applied to fertilization among which one of them use controller synthesis on timed automata and the other two combine controller synthesis and machine learning to generate generic strategy for a exploitation type. A prototype software PaturMata has been developped which implements this modelling method and the generation of the best strategy of herd movement.

Globally, Atlantic salmon aquaculture is faced with a critical challenge: How best to deliver long-term sustainable growth, whilst optimising the opportunity for the expansion of the industry presented by an increasing global seafood demand? The thesis presents a novel framework of complementary decision support approaches to enable decision-makers to better understand the factors influencing aquaculture development, and examine alternative production (growout) technologies that more effectively address the challenges associated with intensification and expansion. The framework was developed through a combination of fieldwork (international data-gathering), key stakeholder discussions, and the application of targeted qualitative and quantitative analytical approaches; using the Tasmanian industry as a Case Study. The initial research focused on shorter-term (tactical) decision support. A situational analysis defined the business environment, and appraised viable expansion options (offshore, closed-containment and extractive bio-remediation). An economic analysis of selected options then provided a comparison of financial performance and risk. The outputs of this initial component next informed strategic decision-making approaches; employing scenario analysis to explore plausible strategies for the adoption of land-based recirculating aquaculture systems; and qualitative modelling to understand the causal dynamics driving and regulating the industry, and their impact on technology selection. Whilst it was clear that business economic viability is paramount, the results suggested that societal acceptance (the Social License to operate) is playing an increasingly important role in influencing business decisions. There is no single ‘right' technological solution; social acceptance, in particular considerations regarding human wellbeing, trust, and animal welfare concerns, will shape the business environment and therefore technology selection. The research emphasised the importance of employing a balance of tactical and strategic decision-making techniques, and of engaging with a broad range of industry stakeholders. It also highlighted the complexity and dynamic nature of the industry and that key variances (economic, regional, strategic, technological, and temporal) must be included in decision-making.

This thesis investigates the proposition that use must be made of quantitative information to control the reporting of hazard scenarios in automatically generated HAZOP reports. HAZOP is a successful and widely accepted technique for identification of process hazards. However, it requires an expensive commitment of time and personnel near the end of a project. Use of a HAZOP emulation tool before conventional HAZOP could speed up the examination of routine hazards, or identify deficiencies I in the design of a plant. Qualitative models of process equipment can efficiently model fault propagation in chemical plants. However, purely qualitative models lack the representational power to model many constraints in real plants, resulting in indiscriminate reporting of failure scenarios. In the AutoHAZID computer program, qualitative reasoning is used to emulate HAZOP. Signed-directed graph (SDG) models of equipment are used to build a graph model of the plant. This graph is searched to find links between faults and consequences, which are reported as hazardous scenarios associated with process variable deviations. However, factors not represented in the SDG, such as the fluids in the plant, often affect the feasibility of scenarios. Support for the qualitative model system, in the form of quantitative judgements to assess the feasibility of certain hazards, was investigated and is reported here. This thesis also describes the novel "Fluid Modelling System" (FMS) which now provides this quantitative support mechanism in AutoHAZID. The FMS allows the attachment of conditions to SDG arcs. Fault paths are validated by testing the conditions along their arcs. Infeasible scenarios are removed. In the FMS, numerical limits on process variable deviations have been used to assess the sufficiency of a given fault to cause any linked consequence. In a number of case studies, use of the FMS in AutoHAZID has improved the focus of the automatically generated HAZOP results. This thesis describes qualitative model-based methods for identifying process hazards by computer, in particular AutoHAZID. It identifies a range of problems where the purely qualitative approach is inadequate and demonstrates how such problems can be tackled by selective use of quantitative information about the plant or the fluids in it. The conclusion is that quantitative knowledge is' required to support the qualitative reasoning in hazard identification by computer.

Le territoire rural de marge est une « entité paradoxale » à la fois tiraillée entre de puissants voisins, des influences culturelles différentes, mais disposant d’une personnalité singulière. Dotée de ressources endogènes limitées, elle est dépendante des aires urbaines de son environnement proche et lointain pour bénéficier d’emplois divers et bien rémunérés, ainsi que pour accéder à des services variés. Pour autant, elle continue à s’individualiser comme une entité propre. De par ses carences, le territoire rural de marge est tributaire d’apports exogènes. Toutefois, cette ouverture est très sélective et autorégulée. L’identité d’un tel territoire se joue à différentes échelles de temps dans une succession de phases d’ouverture et de refondation. Elle est un objet particulièrement complexe. Sa modélisation requiert une exploration, une analyse et une exploitation de cette complexité. Nous la relevons à différents niveaux : emboîtements d’échelle, liaison entre des acteurs divers, de même qu’entre ces acteurs et le territoire lui-même. Nous fondons notre approche de l’objet sur un présupposé majeur : l’identité d’un territoire se décline à l’échelle collective comme à l’échelle individuelle. Il existe entre l’identité territoriale collective et les identités territoriales individuelles une liaison complexe. Notre démarche consiste de ce fait à retrouver les dimensions de l’univers territorial collectif à partir de celles d’une collection d’individus représentatifs du territoire. Par conséquent, la pierre angulaire du travail a été la conception d’un modèle de l’identité territoriale individuelle, dont la traduction graphique est une silhouette. Le profil identitaire collectif est obtenu par la confrontation des profils individuels. L’application du modèle à l’Alsace Bossue et à deux périodes distantes de près de 100 ans a livré quelques résultats. En 1920-30, l’identité de l’Alsace Bossue est une identité insulaire étroite composant avec une ouverture très sélective à des espaces de circulation intergénérationnels. En 2010, l’identité est marquée par une plus grande ouverture, cependant régulée par un arbitrage et une tension généralisés entre des attaches et un besoin d’émancipation, ce que l’on appelle une synergie des contraires. / The marginal rural territory is a “paradoxical entity”, torn between powerful neighbors and diverse cultural influences, but still possessing a unique personality. As it contains limited endogenous resources, this type of territory depends on nearby or distant urban areas in order for its residents to benefit from diverse and well-paying jobs, as well as for access to various services. Even so, it continues to develop an individual identity as a separate entity. Due to its shortcomings, the marginal rural territory is dependent on external provisions. Nevertheless, this openness is very selective and self-regulated. The identity of such a territory is acted out on different time scales in a succession of phases of openness and rebuilding. It is a particularly complex subject. Its modelling requires the exploration, analysis and harnessing of this complexity. We observe it at different levels: changes in scale, links between the various actors, even between these actors and the territory itself. We base our approach toward this subject on a major presupposition: the identity of a territory is defined on a collective as well as an individual scale. The link between collective territorial identity and individual territorial identities is quite complex. Our work consists in tracing the dimensions of the collective territorial universe, based on those of a collection of individuals who represent the territory. As a result, the cornerstone of this work was the creation of a model of individual territorial identity, the graphical translation of which provides a visual representation. The collective identity profile is obtained by the comparison of individual profiles. The application of the model to the Alsace Bossue region during two periods of time separated by nearly 100 years provided us with some results. In 1920-30, Alsace Bossue presented a narrow, insular identity with a very selective openness to inter-generational spaces of circulation. In 2010, its identity is marked by a greater openness, regulated however by generalized arbitration and tension between ties, and by a need for emancipation, what we call a synergy of opposites.

Entscheidungsunterstützungssysteme in der Finanzwirtschaft sind nicht nur für die Wis-senschaft, sondern auch für die Praxis von großem Interesse. Um die Finanzmarktüber-wachung zu gewährleisten, sehen sich die Finanzaufsichtsbehörden auf der einen Seite, mit der steigenden Anzahl von onlineverfügbaren Informationen, wie z.B. den Finanz-Blogs und -Nachrichten konfrontiert. Auf der anderen Seite stellen schnell aufkommen-de Trends, wie z.B. die stetig wachsende Menge an online verfügbaren Daten sowie die Entwicklung von Data-Mining-Methoden, Herausforderungen für die Wissenschaft dar. Entscheidungsunterstützungssysteme in der Finanzwirtschaft bieten die Möglichkeit rechtzeitig relevante Informationen für Finanzaufsichtsbehörden und Compliance-Beauftragte von Finanzinstituten zur Verfügung zu stellen. In dieser Arbeit werden IT-Artefakte vorgestellt, welche die Entscheidungsfindung der Finanzmarktüberwachung unterstützen. Darüber hinaus wird eine erklärende Designtheorie vorgestellt, welche die Anforderungen der Regulierungsbehörden und der Compliance-Beauftragten in Finan-zinstituten aufgreift.

Dans le contexte actuel de crise énergétique mondial, la consommation d'énergie et l'empreinte carbone, prennent une influence inévitable dés la conception architectonique,premier maillon du processus de construction. Les nouvelles contraintes associées aux accords internationaux tels que, le Sommet de Rio (1992), le protocole de Kyoto (1997) et,spécifiquement en France, le Grenelle Environnement (2007), diversifient le nombre des intervenants dans la conception architecturale, réservée traditionnellement aux architectes.La course pour diviser par deux la consommation énergétique des bâtiments (RT 2012),ainsi que lʼobjectif de diviser par quatre les émissions de gaz à effet serre à l'horizon 2050,mettent en péril la liberté du processus créatif architecturale. Des exigences si fortes dérivent vers des solutions techniques banalisantes et amènent à la standardisation et à la délocalisation des éléments architecturaux. L'objectif de cette recherche est de placer la démarche architectonique de nouveau au centre de la conception durable. Ceci devient possible en validant la performance de la forme de la maison en tant que réponse efficace face à des contraintes environnementales. Pour cela nous nous intéressons à la maison vernaculaire, toujours caractérisée par des formes simples et adaptées à leur contextes socioculturel et géo-climatique. Cet habitat, qui est le résultat d'une optimisation sur du long terme, est forcément durable. L'habitat vernaculaire est analysé ici à la recherche des motivations qui l'ont façonné. Pour cela sont considérés des circonstances géographiques et climatiques qui peuvent déterminer la forme de ces maisons. Nous estimons qu'il est possible d'obtenir de l'information sur l'environnement géoclimatique à partir de l'analyse de déterminants architectoniques visibles, et d'identifier des relations d'influence qui les lient. Ces relations d'influence sont modélisées suivant une approche qui s'appuie sur une représentation qualitative de la connaissance. L'établissement d'un modèle construit à partir de fonctions qualitatives, permet d'effectuer un raisonnement automatique, à partir de la connaissance recueillie sur l'environnement géo-climatique, pour établir les déterminants architectoniques visibles correspondants. Finalement l'outil proposé a une double vocation : permettre d'évaluer la performance de la forme des nouvelles constructions et structurer une démarche de conception d'habitations adaptées à un contexte local. / In the context of the current energy crisis, energy consumption and the carbon trace have become a mayor influence in the architectonic conception, the first link in the construction process. Recent constrains associated with international agreements such as the Rio Summit (1992), the Kyoto Protocole and, specifically in France, Grenelle delʼEnvironnement Round Table (2007), have diversified the number of stakeholders in the architectural conception, traditionally reserved to architects. The race to reduce by hal fenergy consumption in buildings (RT 2012) as well as the goal to cut by four greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (Grenelle de lʼEnvironnement), puts the architectural creative process in jeopardy. Such demanding requirements favor trivial technical solutions and encourage standardization and off shoring of architectural elements.This researchʼs purpose is to place the architectural approach at the center of the sustainable conception. This allows the validation of the performance of a houseʼs shape as an effective response to environmental constrains. For this, we have placed our interest in the vernacular house, usually characterized by simple forms and adapted to their sociocultural and geo-climatic context. This habitat, which has resulted from a long term optimization, is inevitably sustainable. The vernacular habitat is analyzed herein in the search of the motivations that have shaped it. In consequence, geographical and climate circumstances that could have determined the shape of houses have been considered. We claim that from the analysis of visible architectural features it is possible to obtain information on the geo-climatic environment as well as the influence relationships that connect them.These influence relationships are modeled following a qualitative approach supported by a qualitative representation of knowledge. The representation, based upon qualitative functions, enables automatic reasoning, starting from gathered awareness of geo-climatic environment, for establishing corresponding architectural features. Finally, the modeled result both allows the evaluation of the form of new houses and assist the conception of houses adapted to their local context.

This doctoral thesis is focused on metrics and the criteria for socio-technical system diagnostics, which is a high profile topic for companies wanting to ensure the best in product quality. More and more customers are requiring suppliers to prove reliability in the production and supply quality of products according to given specifications. Consequently the ability to produce quality goods corresponding to customer requirements has become a fundamental condition in order to remain competitive. The thesis firstly lays out the basic strategies and rules which are prerequisite for a successful working company in order to ensure provision of quality goods at competitive costs. Next, methods and tools for planning are discussed. Planning is important in its impact on budget, time schedules, and necessary sourcing quantification. Risk analysis is also included to help define preventative actions, and reduce the probability of error and potential breakdown of the entire company. The next part of the thesis deals with optimisation problems, which are solved by Swarm based optimisation. Algorithms and their utilisation in industry are described, in particular the Vehicle routing problem and Travelling salesman problem, used as tools for solving specialist problems within manufacturing corporations. The final part of the thesis deals with Qualitative modelling, where solutions can be achieved with less exact quantitative information of the surveyed model. The text includes qualitative algebra descriptions, which discern only three possible values – positive, constant and negative, which are sufficient in the demonstration of trends. The results can also be conveniently represented using graph theory tools.

System dynamics modelling has been used for around 40 years to address complex, systemic, dynamic problems, those often described as wicked. But, system dynamics modelling is not an exact science and arguments about the most suitable techniques to use in which circumstances, continues. The nature of these wicked problems is investigated through a series of case studies where poor situational awareness among stakeholders was identified. This was found to be an underlying cause for management failure, suggesting need for better ways of recognising and managing wicked problem situations. Human cognition is considered both as a limitation and enabler to decision-making in wicked problem environments. Naturalistic and deliberate decision-making are reviewed. The thesis identifies the need for integration of qualitative and quantitative techniques. Case study results and a review of the literature led to identification of a set of principles of method to be applied in an integrated framework, the aim being to develop an improved way of addressing wicked problems. These principles were applied to a series of cases in an action research setting. However, organisational and political barriers were encountered. This limited the exploitation and investigation of cases to varying degrees. In response to a need identified in the literature review and the case studies, a tool is designed to facilitate analysis of multi-factorial, non-linear causality. This unique tool and its use to assist in problem conceptualisation, and as an aid to testing alternate strategies, are demonstrated. Further investigation is needed in relation to the veracity of combining causal influences using this tool and system dynamics, broadly. System dynamics modelling was found to have utility needed to support analysis of wicked problems. However, failure in a particular modelling project occurred when it was found necessary to rely on human judgement in estimating values to be input into the models. This was found to be problematic and unacceptably risky for sponsors of the modelling effort. Finally, this work has also identified that further study is required into: the use of human judgement in decision-making and the validity of system dynamics models that rely on the quantification of human judgement.

System dynamics modelling has been used for around 40 years to address complex, systemic, dynamic problems, those often described as wicked. But, system dynamics modelling is not an exact science and arguments about the most suitable techniques to use in which circumstances, continues. The nature of these wicked problems is investigated through a series of case studies where poor situational awareness among stakeholders was identified. This was found to be an underlying cause for management failure, suggesting need for better ways of recognising and managing wicked problem situations. Human cognition is considered both as a limitation and enabler to decision-making in wicked problem environments. Naturalistic and deliberate decision-making are reviewed. The thesis identifies the need for integration of qualitative and quantitative techniques. Case study results and a review of the literature led to identification of a set of principles of method to be applied in an integrated framework, the aim being to develop an improved way of addressing wicked problems. These principles were applied to a series of cases in an action research setting. However, organisational and political barriers were encountered. This limited the exploitation and investigation of cases to varying degrees. In response to a need identified in the literature review and the case studies, a tool is designed to facilitate analysis of multi-factorial, non-linear causality. This unique tool and its use to assist in problem conceptualisation, and as an aid to testing alternate strategies, are demonstrated. Further investigation is needed in relation to the veracity of combining causal influences using this tool and system dynamics, broadly. System dynamics modelling was found to have utility needed to support analysis of wicked problems. However, failure in a particular modelling project occurred when it was found necessary to rely on human judgement in estimating values to be input into the models. This was found to be problematic and unacceptably risky for sponsors of the modelling effort. Finally, this work has also identified that further study is required into: the use of human judgement in decision-making and the validity of system dynamics models that rely on the quantification of human judgement.