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Zur Beherrschung großer Systeme, insbesondere zur Weitergabe und Nutzung von Erfahrungswissen in der frühen Entwurfs- und Planungsphase, benötigt man Abstraktionen für deren Strukturen. Trennt man Software- von Systemstrukturen, kann man mit letzteren Systeme auf ausreichend hohem Abstraktionsgrad beschreiben.<br><br>Software-Patterns dienen dazu, Erfahrungswissen bezüglich programmierter Systeme strukturiert weiterzugeben. Dabei wird unterschieden zwischen Idiomen, die sich auf Lösungen mit einer bestimmten Programmiersprache beziehen, Design-Patterns, die nur einen kleinen Teil des Programms betreffen und Architektur-Patterns, deren Einfluss über einen größeren Teil oder gar das komplette Programm reicht. <br><br>Eine Untersuchung von existierenden Patterns zeigt, dass deren Konzepte nützlich zum Finden von Systemstrukturen sind. Die grafische Darstellung dieser Patterns ist dagegen oft auf Software-Strukturen eingeschränkt und ist für die Vermittlung von Erfahrungen zum Finden von Systemstrukturen meist nicht geeignet. <br><br>Daher wird die Kategorie der konzeptionellen Patterns mit einer darauf abgestimmten grafischen Darstellungsform vorgeschlagen, bei denen Problem und Lösungsvorschlag im Bereich der Systemstrukturen liegen. Sie betreffen informationelle Systeme, sind aber nicht auf Lösungen mit Software beschränkt. Die Systemstrukturen werden grafisch dargestellt, wobei dafür die Fundamental Modeling Concepts (FMC) verwendet werden, die zur Darstellung von Systemstrukturen entwickelt wurden. / Planning large and complex software systems is an important task of a system architect. It includes communicating with the customer, planning the overall system structure as well as preparing the division of labor among software engineers. What's more, a system architect benefits from other professionals' experiences concerning system architecture. By separating system from software structures, one can now describe a system by its system structure on an adequate level of abstraction. <br><br>Patterns provide a common form for the transfer of experiences. A pattern describes a widely used and proven solution to a problem that occurs in a certain context. <br><br>A study of existing architectural and design patterns shows that the concepts of many patterns carry valuable experiences concerning finding system structures. On the other hand, the graphical representations of these patterns usually focus on the software structures resulting from the solution in terms of classes and their relationships. This can be a problem if the solution doesn't imply one specific software structure but rather describes a concept which may be even independent from an implementation via software at all.<br><br>For that reason, Conceptual Patterns are introduced. A pattern can be called conceptual if both problem and solution concern system structures. Here, the functional aspects and structures of the system are relevant while code structures or even the use of software for implementation are not. To support the focus on system structures, terminology and notation of conceptual patterns should use an adequate means such as provided by the Fundamental Modeling Concepts (FMC).

This thesis analyses financial stability in eight members of the Executives’ Meeting of East Asia-Pacific Central Banks (EMEAP) economies. One of the factors that may increase financial imbalances (and hence it affects financial stability of an economy) is the accumulated outstanding debt of the economic agents. For example, the corporate sector’s outstanding debt can negatively affect activity of lenders and hence the capabilities of the economy. Since banks are important financial intermediaries in most financial systems, the financial status of banking sector is also important to analyse financial stability of a country. Macroeconomic conditions and financial system structure are some of the important factors that can affect financial conditions (financial soundness) of banks and hence the banking sector. Financial soundness of banks can secure the stability of the financial system. Chapter 2 shows that financial imbalances that arise from accumulated outstanding debt within the corporate sector have a negative effect on the technical capabilities (total factor productivity) of the economy. Therefore, monetary authority (central bank) should control over the debt level. To address this, chapter 2 focuses on the design of monetary policy rule for a small open economy in the context of a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model. This model is extended to show the effects of financial imbalances on the economy. Real exchange rate is another important factor that affects the firm’s real marginal cost, aggregate supply and aggregate demand as discussed in this chapter. The derived optimal monetary policy rule indicates that the monetary authority responds to financial imbalances through output gap when financial imbalances exist due to accumulated outstanding debt. Moreover, the optimal policy rule shows that the response of the monetary authority to exchange rate movements is indirect, through the domestic inflation and output gap. Chapter 3 describes the effect of the financial system structure on financial stability through investigating the financial soundness of the banking sector. Bank financial soundness is the measure of the stability of the financial system and is defined by return on assets, equity capital-asset ratio and return volatility. The first two items increase financial soundness, whereas return volatility decreases financial soundness of a bank. The structure of the financial system is described as market-based or bank-based. Given interrelations between financial sectors and between economies of the EMEAP countries, chapter 3 uses the global (infinite dimensional) vector autoregressive (VAR) model that has been proposed recently to estimate the generalised impulse responses of financial stability measure. Results show that the market-based financial system can increase financial stability through increasing financial soundness of the banking system. Chapter 4 uses nonperforming loans (NPLs) (as one of the main factors behind Asian financial crisis in 1997/8) to analyse financial soundness of banks. NPLs determine loans default rates that decreases banks’ financial soundness. Chapter 4 tests the resistance of the banking system of the EMEAP countries to large macroeconomic shocks (stresses) in a stress-test framework, computing frequency distributions of default rates in three main macroeconomic scenarios (baseline model, stressed real GDP growth and stressed real interest rate). Default rate indicates the possible loss of banks and hence it is an indicator of credit risk which weakens banks’ financial strength. The stress-test indicates that stressing real GDP growth with negative extreme shocks leads to an increase in frequency of higher default rates (in comparison with the baseline model), whereas positive shock to real interest rate may secure financial stability through increasing the frequency of lower default rates and decreasing frequency of higher default rate.

The end of the Cold War in 1990 was followed by a shift from a bipolar to a unipolar world, profoundly transforming the nature of international alliance politics. Then, what are the systemic features of the unipolar system that have changed alliance relations in comparison to the previous bipolar and multipolar world? How can we explain the diverse reaction of the U.S. allies in different regions in response to the U.S. request for the modification of alliance functions and reshaping of the alliance burden sharing? How do we measure and interpret changes in the nature of alliance politics in a unipolar system? The goal of this project is to provide a systematic answer to these questions. Focusing on international system polarities and alliance burden sharing behavior, this dissertation builds a framework for understanding the dynamics of alliance politics. In particular, I argue that alliance burden sharing as an empirical indicator plays a critical role in explaining the changed nature of the unipolar alliance system. First, I examine how the two interrelated systemic factors - external threat and the distribution of power - influence alliance burden sharing with a system-level analysis by utilizing a quantitative method with state-year burden sharing data from 1885 to 2000. Second, I present case studies of South Korea and Japan's alliance burden sharing in the post-Cold War period. A central argument of the dissertation is that the role and function of alliance is determined by structural constraints of different international system polarities. Specifically, this project demonstrates that burden sharing is a key factor representing the impact of systemic properties of unipolarity on the behavioral changes in alliance politics.

The importance of tax system structure for economic growth in OECD countries - Extreme Bounds Analysis Abstract The thesis examines the importance of tax system structures for economic growth in OECD countries. It aims to find out whether a revenue-neutral tax reform can promote economic growth. In other words, its objective is to identify taxes which are most harmful for economic growth and suggest tax policy implications accordingly. The extreme bounds analysis is employed to examine the robustness of relationship between particular taxes and the growth rate. This method consists in running a number of regressions and observing how the coefficients respond to various model alterations. The results suggest that taxes levied on personal income have a robust negative impact on economic growth. On the other hand, consumption and property taxes appear to be non-significant predictors of economic growth. The policy implication is drawn that a revenue-neutral tax reform shifting the tax burden from personal income towards consumption and property is likely to boost the economy. JEL classification: H21, H24, H27, O11, O47 Key words: tax system structure, economic growth, extreme bounds analysis, tax reform

One of the most powerful properties of mathematical systems theory is the fact that interconnecting systems yields composites that are themselves systems. This property allows for the engineering of complex systems by aggregating simpler systems into intricate patterns. We call these interconnection patterns the "structure" of the system. Similarly, this property also enables the understanding of complex systems by decomposing them into simpler parts. We likewise call the relationship between these parts the "structure" of the system. At first glance, these may appear to represent identical views of structure of a system. However, further investigation invites the question: are these two notions of structure of a system the same? This dissertation answers this question by developing a theory of dynamical structure. The work begins be distinguishing notions of structure from their associated mathematical representations, or models, of a system. Focusing on linear time invariant (LTI) systems, the key technical contributions begin by extending the definition of the dynamical structure function to all LTI systems and proving essential invariance properties as well as extending necessary and sufficient conditions for the reconstruction of the dynamical structure function from data. Given these extensions, we then develop a framework for analyzing the structures associated with different representations of the same system and use this framework to show that interconnection (or subsystem) structures are not necessarily the same as decomposition (or signal) structures. We also show necessary and sufficient conditions for the reconstruction of the interconnection (or subsystem) structure for a class of systems. In addition to theoretical contributions, this work also makes key contributions to specific applications. In particular, network reconstruction algorithms are developed that extend the applicability of existing methods to general LTI systems while improving the computational complexity. Also, a passive reconstruction method was developed that enables reconstruction without actively probing the system. Finally, the structural theory developed here is used to analyze the vulnerability of a system to simultaneous attacks (coordinated or uncoordinated), enabling a novel approach to the security of cyber-physical-human systems.

Proposal for an integrated information system architecture of health care facility. Particullary it is the integration of economic information system for financial and personnel management of hospitals and hospital information systems - laboratory information system, documentation system, ordering system, a system for the care of patients, etc. The aim of the project is to design the structure of a central database, and links between systems, so the able to collaborate in real time.

The aim of the dissertation is to monitor the process of information system implementation and its impact on the changes in the organizational structure and in strategic goals. Achieving this task is based on monitoring and evaluating the process of implementing the information system, on monitoring its impact on factors which affect the necessary changes in the organizational structure of enterprises and affect the strategic objectives of the enterprise. The data will be obtained on the basis of scientific methods designed for this purpose and they will be divided into parts of a questionnaire survey and of a managed interview. Within the framework of the questionnaire, the entire process will be evaluated in three dimensions: level of management, user level and the process level. The result of the dissertation will be either a confirmation or a refutation of the hypothesis related to the impact of IS implementation on the strategic objectives and on the organizational structure of the company. On this basis a defined procedure will be created for the implementation of information system monitoring and regulating changes in the strategic objectives and in the organizational structure. This procedure can serve as a guide for general use within companies, and on the basis of its results a decision will be made as to whether it is possible to use it in practice.

Organisations do not know how to effectively employ information systems to their benefit because business and information system(IS) decisions are not aligned and due to a lack of understanding of the different types of IS decisions. The objectives of the study were stated as follows: • To confirm the existence of a relationship between business and information system decisions. A review of the literature supported the notion that IS decisions need to be aligned with business decisions. • To clarify the link between IS strategy and structural decisions. The study introduced a framework that suggested that to facilitate the link between business and IS decisions the respective strategy components need to be linked and that IS structural components will primarily be determined by IS strategy components. Information systems have become a strategic resource for all organisations and, not only is it perceived a very important competitive factor, but the importance will increase in the years to come. Organisations spend large amounts of money on information "':> systems. There is also the expectation that IS should CQ!ltribute_ to the achieve,£1:enμi, business goals and the overall financial performance of the company. Most senior executives believe that the amount of money invested in information systems and technology cannot be justified based on it's perceived contribution to the achievement of organisational objectives! Considerable effort was made to identify the relevant business strategy, IS strategy, and IS structural components. The business strategy components identified were selected specifically for their competitive focus. The population selected included the top companies in South Africa based on financial performance. The basis for the decision was that successful companies would link business and IS decisions and they would understand the intrinsic differences between IS strategy and structure components. / Business Leadership / D. B. L. (Business Leadership)

Organisations do not know how to effectively employ information systems to their benefit because business and information system(IS) decisions are not aligned and due to a lack of understanding of the different types of IS decisions. The objectives of the study were stated as follows: • To confirm the existence of a relationship between business and information system decisions. A review of the literature supported the notion that IS decisions need to be aligned with business decisions. • To clarify the link between IS strategy and structural decisions. The study introduced a framework that suggested that to facilitate the link between business and IS decisions the respective strategy components need to be linked and that IS structural components will primarily be determined by IS strategy components. Information systems have become a strategic resource for all organisations and, not only is it perceived a very important competitive factor, but the importance will increase in the years to come. Organisations spend large amounts of money on information "':> systems. There is also the expectation that IS should CQ!ltribute_ to the achieve,£1:enμi, business goals and the overall financial performance of the company. Most senior executives believe that the amount of money invested in information systems and technology cannot be justified based on it's perceived contribution to the achievement of organisational objectives! Considerable effort was made to identify the relevant business strategy, IS strategy, and IS structural components. The business strategy components identified were selected specifically for their competitive focus. The population selected included the top companies in South Africa based on financial performance. The basis for the decision was that successful companies would link business and IS decisions and they would understand the intrinsic differences between IS strategy and structure components. / Business Leadership / D. B. L. (Business Leadership)