This thesis focuses on the evolution of the Internet system. It examines the dynamics of competing and collaborating technologies in the invention and development of computer networking technologies in general. In particular, it examines the negotiations among social groups with different economic and political interests in designing the Internet system. This system has been shaped by competition and collaboration between the US and other countries (other regions) reflecting their different institutional arrangements in the telecommunications sector and the dynamics of uneven power relationships. Population dynamics, i.e. similarities and differences in the growth and pervasiveness of the Internet system between regions and countries, are also examined to uncover how the co-evolution between technological system and social, cultural, and economic systems countries influenced by global and local interplay. This thesis combines techno-economic and socio-technological approaches in technology studies to address the 'localisation' of a technological system, how a system adapted to or was influenced by the local context of its application. This research focuses on empirical evidence about the evolution of the Internet system, recognizing that the Internet system is one instance of a large technological system. In addition, the political economy perspective provides a foundation for an integrated analysis of the local situation and the wider power structure which illustrates the economic and political interests that are embedded in the design and development of the Internet system. The main research questions are how have political and economic interests shaped the evolution of the Internet system and why does the outcome of the Internet system's development vary across countries? The Internet system emerged from one of the early experimental computer networks in the US, the UK and France during the development of packet switching technology and it involved mainly computer scientists. The development of packet switching technologies has been shaped by battles for control between network operators and computer manufacturers as a consequence of technological convergence; and between telecommunication operators and advanced users (e.g. computer engineers and scientists in the case of the Internet system) in the process of institutional change in telecommunications sector. The analysis shows how these battles were guided by different interests and strategies between, notably, the US and European countries. The analysis of the population dynamics of Internet system development confirms its uneven development between countries following regional, economic and cultural routes. It also confirms that the international spread of the Internet network is influenced by different choices of ICTs and non-linear relationships between competing technologies. The sources of uneven development of the Internet system are founded in the global expansion of the Internet system. These sources are shown to include: asymmetric development of research networks between regions and countries, the effects of the different economic and political interests of the US (and European countries) in connecting the Internet to other countries and regions, the US-centered network design and the international financial settlement regime for the Internet in addition to the existing technological and economic gaps and cultural differences between countries that influence the localisation of the Internet system. The empirical findings that emerge from the econometric modelling demonstrate that knowledge production and distribution capabilities, global integration efforts, economic strength and equality of income distribution, size of social system, telecommunication policies, science and technology policies, prices for access and using of the Internet, all influence the localisation of the Internet system. The thesis contests many accounts of the diffusion of the Internet that are based on 'technological inevitability' and the 'universality' of the technical methods chosen.

<p>Ova studija ima za cilj da prikaže mogućnost generisanja modela obezbeđenja pouzdanosti složenih postrojenja u termoelektranama.</p> / <p>The goal of this study is to show the possibility of generating reliability ensuring models of complex facilities in thermal power plants.</p> / <p>The goal of this study is to show the possibility of generating reliability<br />ensuring models of complex facilities in thermal power plants.</p>

The Design-Build delivery method has gained popularity in the construction industry in the 21st century among clients seeking singular responsibility, shorter delivery time frame and management of complex works. In this exploratory study, a model that considers the effects of project technical system on the project organisation structure has been proposed. Project technical system comprises of two dimensions: technical uncertainty and technical complexity, while integration, organisational differentiation, information processing and project size were considered as dimensions of the project organisation structure. Several hypotheses linking the relationship between technical uncertainty, technical complexity and project structure has been developed. A self-administered questionnaire was developed as the data collection instrument. Field data were collected from design-build projects in the civil and architectural construction industry in Taiwan, and analysed at the project level. The technical system-structure relationships were tested statistically mainly by multiple regression. Results indicate that various scholarly perspectives of uncertainty have a common underlying construct. Several inter-correlations among components of the technical system were identified, and interactively they affect the project organisation structure. Technical uncertainty was found to be a better predictor of information processing and internal integrative efforts than technical complexity. Less structured and flexible information processes and coordinative mechanisms were favoured under high levels of technical uncertainty and complexity. Technical complexity was found to partially predict organisational differentiation, particularly by the interacting effects of project scope and concurrency. The level of technical staffing could be explained by project scope and technical differentiation of the complexity dimension. Lastly, the results were mixed for technical complexity as a predictor of the extent to which project work is subcontracted. The findings of this study contributed to the understanding of the relationships between technical system and organisation structure in complex Design-Build projects. Various managerial implications were outlined. The model proposed in this study can be extended to include project effectiveness, which may lead to the identification of key structural arrangements that contribute to improved project performance.

Lean system has drawn the attention of researchers and practitioners since its emergence in 1950s. This has been reflected by the increasing number of companies attempting to implement its practices and the large number of researchers investigating its effectiveness and identifying important contextual factors which affect its implementation. The rising level of interest in lean system has led to the emergence of three distinctive streams of literature. The first stream of literature has focused on the effectiveness of lean system. However, this literature was limited as it mainly examined the additive impact of lean practices on operational performance in the manufacturing context. The second stream of literature has focused on the role the accounting system in the lean context. In this body of literature, there was an agreement among researchers on the superiority of activity-based costing system (ABC) over the traditional accounting system in supporting the implementation of lean practices. However, most studies in this strand of literature were either conceptual or case-based studies. The third stream of literature has focused on the fit between business strategy and lean system. However, inconclusive results were reported in relation to the suitability of lean system to firms adopting the differentiation strategy and others adopting the cost leadership strategy. The aim of this study is to develop and empirically test a conceptual model which integrates the three distinctive streams of literature to extend their focus and overcome their limitations. More specifically, the model developed in the current study highlights not only the additive impact of lean practices but also the possible synergy among those practices in improving both operational and financial performance of service firms. In addition, the model brings to light the potential intervening role of ABC in the strategy-lean association. After identifying and reviewing the relevant literature, the socio-technical system theory and contingency theory were used to develop the conceptual model and associated hypotheses. A questionnaire instrument was designed to collect empirical data which was supplemented by objective data from the Financial Analysis Made Easy database in order to empirically test the conceptual model using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings of this study indicated that while the technical practices of lean service improved only the operational performance of service firms, the social practices enhanced both operational and financial performance. In addition, the two sets of practices positively interacted to improve firm performance over and above the improvement achieved from each set separately. Moreover, ABC was found to have a positive association with lean practice, and consequently an indirect positive relation with firm operational performance. Finally, both the differentiation and cost leadership strategy had a direct positive relationship with lean practices. However, while ABC was found to partially mediate the differentiation-lean association, it suppressed the cost leadership-lean association leading to a case of inconsistent mediation. The current study contributes to the current literature at different levels. First, at the theoretical level, this study develops a conceptual framework which crosses different streams of literatures mainly, lean system literature, management accounting literature (with focus on ABC), and business strategy literature. Unlike previous studies, by integrating the perspective of socio-technical system theory and contingency theory, the model (i) highlights not only the additive but also the synergistic effect of lean service practices on firm performance, (ii) brings to light the direct impact of ABC and business strategy on lean service practices and the intervening role of ABC due to which the business strategy is assumed to have also an indirect influence on lean practices, and (iii) offers an alternative view on how ABC can improve firm performance by enhancing other organisational capabilities (lean practices) which are expected to improve performance . Second, at the methodological level, unlike previous studies, this study includes a large number of lean service practices and contextual variables to report more precisely on the lean-performance association. In addition, the inclusion of the financial performance dimension-measured by secondary data- in the model besides the operational performance is critical to understand the full capability of lean service in improving firm performance. Further, employing a powerful statistical technique (PLS-SEM) provides more credibility to the results reported in this study. Third, at the empirical level, this study is conducted in the UK service sector. As such, this study is one of the very few studies that have reported on lean service and examined how the adoption of ABC and a specific type of business strategy can affect its implementation using empirical survey data from this context.

The research presented in this thesis demonstrates the qualitative modelling of an advanced service delivered by a Product Service System (PSS) through the use of a socio-technical systems-based approach. The created model represents dependencies between functions and organisations, and can be used as basis for a quantitative cost model. Focus is on how one particular example of advanced services, namely availability is delivered in an industrial context. Following a review of multi-disciplinary literature and the outline of a suitable methodological approach, a detailed case study of the delivery of an exemplar piece of avionics equipment by BAE Systems and GE Aviation to the UK Royal Air Force is described. This research shows that the delivery of avionics availability through a PSS has organisational, contractual and functional facets that overlap and influence each other. Multiple qualitative models represent the investigated setting, from a functional and from an organisational perspective. Top-level functions ‘Analysis & Optimisation’, ‘Administration’ and ‘Delivery’ are identified. The results show distinctive similarities and differences between GE Aviation and BAE Systems including a variety of parallel contracts, organisational segmentation and tensions between relationships and contractual obligations. The findings suggest that understanding a PSS as a socio-technical system is crucial for modelling the PSS and the cost associated with it. This is particularly important when the aim is to continuously control and manage costs rather than the creation of a one-off forecast. The contribution of this work to the existing body of knowledge, primarily within the domain of cost engineering is twofold: First the creation of qualitative models of an existing PSS delivering avionics availability to show “what is a PSS”, and second a methodologically robust approach that takes into account the sociotechnical character of PSS to demonstrate “how to know about PSS”.

Technological change when a large social technology is under the processes of deployment and development are complex and uncertain. In this dynamic context, risks and uncertainties (R&U) incurred are unavoidable, which might obstruct the progression of the technology implementation and innovation. Hence, a set of mechanism and strategy are required from the stakeholders to facilitate these two processes and to deal with R&U arise. This research studied biofuels in the UK by looking at the context of a regulated market. The Scottish Government and two oil companies (BP and Shell) were selected as cases studied. Subsequently, an overarching research question was formulated to drive the research “How these major actors interact with one and another to deal with R&U arising from technological change during a technology deployment and development?” By using Social Shaping of Technology (SST), integrating with Risk Governance and the Risk Regulated Regime; an interdisciplinary concept has been developed. The application of SST was to broaden the risk governance and risk regulated regime, helped to look at R&U of technological change from a social dimension. The research was grounded on social constructionism under an exploratory study. A qualitative case study approach was adopted, backed by three data collection methods-interview, observation and document analysis. This research was aimed to investigate the driving forces for the government and oil companies in taking biofuels as the current energy source for transport; their roles and responsibilities in biofuels deployment and development; interactions taken place, R&U faced during two processes, as well as counteracting strategy implemented to deal with these R&U. After that, explanation building and time series analysis were adopted for data analysis. The research points out there were different types of R&U (expected and unexpected) arose when a technology undergoes the processes of technological change. These different types of R&U required different strategies to deal with. Therefore, the regulators have to set a clear direction for a technology deployment and development, as well as to have the control mechanism with precautionary principle instituted, in order to facilitate the technology implementation and innovation. Meanwhile, oil companies are collaborating with the governments, to commit consistent biofuels supply which fulfil the requirements set by the regulators; as well as established various types of partnership with biotechnology institutions/agriculture industry to conduct the next generation biofuels (NBG) R&D. Such seamless interactions and cooperation, not only aim to reduce the possibilities of R&U occurrence, to minimise the impacts, but also to set a path for the ease of technology adoption and innovation. Therefore, apart from satisfying their respective internal interests of political and economic gains; these two actors have to safeguard the social, economic and environmental benefits for the interests of the general public.

Cette recherche concerne l’étude de l’efficacité d’outils liés à l’analyse fonctionnelle. Le contexte est celui d’enseignements et d’apprentissages qui visent la compréhension de systèmes techniques en éducation technologique au collège. L’utilisation de ces outils issus de l’industrie dans le système éducatif pose des problèmes d’adaptation. La place de l’analyse fonctionnelle, comme langage technique, est analysée au travers de la genèse instrumentale de l’artefact, de l’activité des élèves et de la transposition des savoirs. La problématique de l’efficacité des outils se pose chez les élèves pour comprendre la globalité d’un système technique et, chez les enseignants pour structurer l’apprentissage. La méthodologie a été menée de manière qualitative et quantitative auprès de ces acteurs. Deux expérimentations ont eu lieu, une première avec les enseignants, basée sur une enquête avec un questionnaire et des entretiens. Une seconde, avec les élèves, s’appuyait sur un test d’entrée puis différents exercices écrits et une manipulation opératoire avec une fabrication via une imprimante 3D. Les résultats d’un groupe initié à l’analyse fonctionnelle sont comparés à ceux d’un groupe non initié. Les analyses des données recueillies abordent la façon dont les compétences et les connaissances qui permettent une approche systémique en éducation technologique sont mises en œuvre. Les principaux résultats indiquent que si les enseignants s’emparent de l’analyse fonctionnelle, la maitrise n’est pas totale. Son enseignement profite plus particulièrement aux élèves ayant des difficultés scolaires. Ces éléments sont explicités, approfondis et mis en perspective dans cette thèse. / This doctoral research concerns the study of the effectiveness of some tools related to the functional analysis. The context is the teaching and learning process of technical systems in technological education in French comprehensive schools. The use of these tools coming from the industry in the educational system poses problems of adaptations. The place of functional analysis as a technical language is analyzed through the instrumental genesis of the artifact, the activity of students and through the transposition of knowledge. The issue of effectiveness of these tools arise among pupils to understand the whole of a technical system and among teachers to structure learning. The methodology was conducted in a qualitative and quantitative manner with these actors. Two experiments took place, with teachers first, based on a survey with a questionnaire and interviews. A second, with students, was based on an entry test and various written exercises and operative manipulation with a manufacture via a 3D printer. The results of a group introduced to functional analysis are compared with those of a group not initiated. Data analyses address the manner in which the skills and knowledge that enable a systemic approach in technological education are implemented. The main results indicate that if teachers take over the functional analysis, control is not total. His teaching mainly benefits to pupils with scholar difficulties. These elements are detailed in-depth and put into perspective in this thesis.

Cette thèse traite de problématique de dimensionnement d'un système technique complexe. L'objectif est de proposer et d'outiller un processus de conception selon lequel le dimensionnement statique de l'architecture initiale d'un système satisfait dès le début les exigences statiques et dynamiques sans nécessité de redimensionnement. Ainsi, nous avons proposé une nouvelle démarche de conception dans laquelle la prise en compte des exigences statiques et dynamiques est effectuée de maniéré simultanée et globale dans la phase de conception préliminaire. Cette démarche se base sur les exigences pour déterminer les solutions admissibles et utilise des méthodes de résolution ensemblistes telles que la méthode de calcul par intervalle et la méthode de propagation par contraintes. En effet, les variables de conception sont exprimées par intervalles et les exigences statiques et dynamiques sont implémentées dans un même modèle NCSP. Les exigences dynamiques sont plus difficiles à intégrer. Il s'agit des exigences fonctionnelles du système, de la résonance et des critères de stabilité, de commandabilité et de transmittance. Dans un premier temps, nous avons réussi à intégrer le comportement dynamique d'un système technique sous forme d'équation différentielle ordinaire par intervalles et dans un deuxième temps, nous avons traduit les exigences dynamiques sous forme de contraintes algébriques définies par un ensemble d'équations et inéquations. La solution générée représente les valeurs admissibles des variables de conception satisfaisant simultanément les exigences statiques et dynamiques imposées. Ce couplage entre le dimensionnement statique et dynamique dans l'approche de conception proposée permet d'éviter le sur-dimensionnement puisque les exigences dynamiques interviennent dans le choix des coefficients de sécurité, et d'éviter les boucles de redimensionnement en cas d'échec ce qui permet de gagner en temps de calcul et de réduire le coût de conception. La démarche de conception proposée est validée par application sur le cas de dimensionnement d'un système de suspension active MacPherson. / This thesis deals with design problems of a complex technical system. The objective is to find a design process which the static design of the initial architecture of a system meets from the first static and dynamic requirements with no need to resize it. Thus, we propose a new design approach which the consideration of static and dynamic requirements is done simultaneously and globally in the preliminary design phase. This approach is based on the requirements to determine admissible solutions and uses set-based methods such as interval computation and constraint propagation. Indeed, the design variables are expressed by intervals and the static and dynamic requirements are implemented in a NCSP model. The dynamic requirements are more difficult to integrate. They represent the functional requirements of the system, the resonance and stability criteria, controllability and transmittance. On the one hand, we succeed to integrate the dynamic behavior of a technical system in the form of ordinary differential equation by intervals. On the other hand, we formalize the dynamic requirements in the form of algebraic constraints defined by a set of equations and inequalities. The generated solution is the set of acceptable values of design variables satisfying simultaneously static and dynamic requirements. This coupling between the static and dynamic sizing steps in the proposed design approach avoids over- sizing of the system as the dynamic requirements involved in the choice of safety factors. Il also avoid resizing loops in case of failure, which saves significant computation time and reduce the cost of design. The proposed design approach is applied on the sizing of a MacPherson active suspension system.

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Digitalization is an important theme in Informatics research. Especially in today's digital society, people cannot live without the help of information technologies. The purpose of the study was to explore how the digitization process happened in the bicycle industry. The study was based on the background of bicycle-sharing system in Beijing and a qualitative methodology was followed. The findings show how bicycle-sharing system evolve step by step by applying advanced digital technologies. In the coming 5G era, organizations need to reconsider the situation of bicycle-sharing system and this research may give some references.