xv, 183 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize science-based technologies face considerable challenges including uncertain environments, policy makers and investors' ignorance, and public opposition and ethical concerns. Most research exploring the emergence of technologies assumes the existence of accepted uses or products, despite the fact that efforts to commercialize science-based technologies often begin before specific applications exist. We have little empirical evidence of how individuals and organizations influence the earliest development of technologies. To address this gap, I conduct a real-time, seven-year, qualitative study of the nanotechnology venture investing community. The study draws on extensive archival data, participant observation of a complete series of annual nanotechnology investing conferences, and case studies of the three venture capital (VC) firms specializing in nanotechnology through the period of the study. The cases are based on semi-structured and website archives. I document the emergence of competing nanotechnology frames in the period prior to the identification of product applications. I identify three sequential activities of nanotechnology business proponents: constructing a socio-semiotic space, positioning as experts within the space, and translating scientific, opposition and futuristic discourse for a target audience. I introduce the concept of a socio-semiotic space and develop a model reflecting the three activities to explain the process through which technology proponents project a business frame to support the commercialization of science-based technologies. This dissertation contributes to our knowledge of technology evolution by focusing on the understudied period of early emergence and the sociopolitical process of technology framing. I contribute to our knowledge of how science discoveries become the basis for fields of commercial activity. The findings of this dissertation provide knowledge that can assist business people and policy makers seeking to develop science- based technologies and the fields that emerge around them. / Committee in charge: Alan Meyer, Chairperson, Management; Richard Steers, Member, Management; Richard Mowday, Member, Management; John Orbell, Outside Member, Political Science

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:54:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:07:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE (INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY) / The construction industry is reputedly lethargic to adopt innovation and, in particular, new technology. To date it has not readily embraced Information Technology (IT) given its reluctance to recognise the many potential efficiencies and competitive advantages afforded by this technology. Where IT in the form of Information Systems (IS) has been introduced the likelihood of failure and/or inefficiencies is large considering the historic inability of IS to deliver on its potential. Furthermore, this performance of IS is arguably dependent on the role of the Chief Executive Officer in the construction organisation.This study examines the performance of IS in the construction firms and the role played by the CEO in that performance. The study has four main objectives; namely: (1) to determine the role of the CEO of construction companies relative to IS governance and performance; (2) to determine the role of the CEO of construction companies in determining the structure of IS to strategically support the company; (3) to examine the relationship between the CEO and Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the impact of this relationship on the performance of IS in a construction firm;and (4) to examine the importance of information processing and knowledge management of construction companies.To achieve these objectives, the literature on IS performance in the organisation was reviewed; a structured self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted of a sample of executive managers drawn from 9 construction companies; the data was analysed; the findings discussed against the background of the literature reviewed.The key findings of this study indicate that most of CEOs of construction companies consider IS performance as of strategic importance in their organisations with respect to information processing and knowledge management; and acknowledge the important role of the CIO in IS governance and information management. Furthermore, the CEOs also acknowledge their role in organisational design, and the structuring of IS to strategically support their companies. Drawing from the responses of a sample of CEOs of contracting firms in the Western Cape province of South Africa there appears to be a direct correlation between the role of the CEO and IS governance and performance.

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / In Information Technology (IT) service management, the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) has been established as a standard and framework for managing IT services within private and public sector. However, in South African public sector, the value of this framework including the capacity management process has not been determined. The aim of the study was to assess the capacity management process within the service design stage of the ITIL framework in managing IT services at a selected public organisation in South Africa. Assessing capacity management in the context of this research was to judge whether it adds value to the organisation. Main questions asked were: to what extent has ITIL been implemented in the public sector in South Africa?, what benefits have been achieved through the implementation of ITIL in the public sector in South Africa? and how effective is the capacity management process of ITIL in the South African public sector? The study adopts a qualitative approach based on primary and secondary data. A purposive sampling method was used to collect data through interviews of ICT officials in Pretoria and Western Cape regions. It is evident in terms of the findings that capacity management within the organisation is practiced, but the organisation still has challenges in managing the process. Findings reveal challenges around user account management, ICT skills shortage and capacity constraints, information, network monitoring tools, and ITIL implementation. DeLone and McLean theoretical framework was used to analyse the capacity management process to explain the findings. A lack of clear ICT planning among the leadership is a contributing factor. Lack of adhering to standards, procedures and processes make it almost impossible to manage capacity. Efforts to address the technical and organisational challenges such as technical skills and stakeholders immediately reporting the users that need to be terminated on systems prohibit the success of capacity management process. Drawing the conclusion, it is recommended that efforts to address challenges should move beyond just ICT, into a comprehensive action by all stakeholders in respective of inter departmental units and executive who make decisions. Solutions should be embedded with ICT being able to manage technology, auditing of processes, and capacity to ensure excellence through reduced risk, increased efficiency, confident forecasts, and cost effectiveness is essential.

Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / The thesis aimed at exploring the role Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems play in an organization’s continuous auditing practices. Continuous auditing encourages innovation and improves the practice of traditional auditing through the use of automation and computerisation. Auditing specialists and researchers have begun to adopt a technology driven process as an approach to back up real time assurance. The rationale of the study is drawn from previous research where the findings argue that organizations employ the use of ERP systems because it enables seamless access to information and automation, which makes monitoring of controls easier. The study used Structuration Theory (ST) as the underpinning theory and drew on the concept of duality of technology (i.e., Enactment of Technology-in-Practice) as a lens to comprehend and deduced the social phenomenon of continuous auditing using ERP system. This research study investigated this social phenomenon and how it had influenced performance auditing of an organization. The study applied interpretivism as a research paradigm and as such adopted a qualitative approach where semi-structured interviews were used to tease out the research objectives and questions. The outcome of the research validated a conceptual framework which has led to a proposed general framework for practicing continuous auditing using ERP system. All interviews data collected and accurately captured with informed consent were subject to the approval of the selected organization. This was not to violate the organization’s privacy and confidentiality policies. It did not reveal any information that could potentially adversely affect the reputation of the organization or reveal private information to its competitors.

Pode-se afirmar que no século XX originou-se uma indústria farmacêutica multinacional com extraordinária capacidade de pesquisa e desenvolvimento para produzir novos fármacos. Porém, contradizendo este potencial inovador, o número de fármacos introduzidos no mercado vem declinando desde 1960 e as oportunidades abertas com os avanços da biologia molecular, da genômica, da bioinformática e da química ainda não trouxeram os resultados esperados. No Brasil, a pesquisa científica tem obtido resultados de grande relevância, mas encontra muitas dificuldades para levar novos produtos ao mercado. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é discutir estratégias de fomento para a pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos no país, procurando conciliar os requisitos técnicos e econômicos deste processo com as competências preexistentes. O referencial metodológico adotado enfatiza o papel determinante das relações econômicas na pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos e procura encontrar caminhos compatíveis com a realidade nacional. Para tanto, discute as características técnicas e econômicas desta atividade, bem como a estratégia das empresas inovadoras e algumas experiências brasileiras nesta área do conhecimento. Fundamentado na análise de 766 novos fármacos introduzidos no mercado mundial entre 1984-2003, nos pilares econômicos do processo de inovação e no contexto político-institucional da pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos, propõe alternativas para aprimorar o desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico do setor farmacêutico brasileiro. Muitas atividades relacionadas com a pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos são realizadas no país, mas encontram-se dispersas nas principais universidades, centros e institutos de pesquisa. O mapeamento destas competências representa o ponto de partida para a criação de uma rede de inovação no setor farmacêutico. Um dos gargalos identificados neste trabalho é a fragilidade do suporte institucional para negociações de alta tecnologia, do qual fazem parte as patentes, os acordos de cooperação e a transferência de tecnologia. Para viabilizar, no Brasil, a incorporação de ferramentas de alta tecnologia empregadas no desenvolvimento de fármacos foi proposta a criação do Laboratório Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos. Além de garantir sofisticação técnica, este Laboratório Nacional atuaria como instituição aberta, multidisciplinar, assumindo o papel de um centro de articulação das iniciativas voltadas para o desenvolvimento de fármacos, podendo gerar recursos para financiar a pesquisa e contribuir para o desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico. Acordos de cooperação com empresas inovadoras e organismos internacionais fazem parte das estratégias para captação de recursos. Linhas de pesquisa alinhadas com as necessidades do Sistema Único de Saúde e com outras políticas do setor público também devem nortear a pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos no país. A exploração de novos alvos moleculares, articulada com projetos genômicos, inovações incrementais, doenças negligenciadas e produtos naturais são apontados como áreas estratégicas. A afirmação de que o Brasil reúne as condições necessárias para participar do processo de desenvolvimento de fármacos - hipótese primária deste trabalho - encontra sustentação nos argumentos apresentados e revela que as condições para a inovação tecnológica nunca foram tão favoráveis quanto agora. Estimular o debate acerca de estratégias que possam fomentar o desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico da pesquisa e desenvolvimento de fármacos no país representa a contribuição almejada por este trabalho. / It can be asserted that in the twentieth century a multinational pharmaceutical industry with extraordinary research and development capacity to produce new drugs arose. However, contradicting this innovative potential, the number of new chemical entities introduced in the market is declining since 1960 and the opportunities open with the progresses of molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics and chemistry haven\'t brought the expected results yet. In Brazil, the scientific research has been obtaining results of great relevance, but a lot of difficulty is found to introduce new products into the market. The main purpose of this work is to discuss fomentation strategies for the drug research and development in the country, trying to reconcile technical and economic requirements of this process with the pre-existent competences. The adopted methodological referential emphasizes the decisive role of economic relationships in drug research and development and tries to find out compatible ways with the national reality. For that, it discusses the technical and economic characteristics of this activity, as well as the strategy of innovative companies and some Brazilian experiences in this knowledge area. Based on the analysis of 766 new chemical entities introduced in world market among 1984 to 2003, in economic pillars of the innovation process and in political-institutional context of drug research and development, alternatives are proposed to straighten out the scientific and technological development of Brazilian pharmaceutical sector. Many activities related to the drug research and development are accomplished in the country, but they are scattered in the main universities, research centers and institutes. The charting of these competences represents the start up to create an innovation net in the pharmaceutical section. One of the bottlenecks identified in this work is the fragility of institutional support for high technology negotiations, of which patents, cooperation agreements and technology transference make part. To make it possible, in Brazil, incorporation of high technology tools used in drug development, creation of National Laboratory of Drug Research and Development was proposed. Besides guaranteeing technical sophistication, this National Laboratory would act as an open institution, multidisciplinary, shouldering the role of an articulation center of initiatives aiming drug development, being able to generate resources to finance research and to contribute to scientific and technological development. Cooperation agreements with innovative companies and international organisms are part of strategies to raise funds research fields aligned with the needs of the Brazilian Unique Health System (SUS) and with other policies of Public Sector also must direct the drug research and development in the country. New molecular targets evaluation articulated in genomic process, incremental innovations, neglected diseases and natural products are pointed out as strategic areas. The statement that Brazil has conditions of participating in the process of drug development - primary hypothesis of this work - finds back-up in reported arguments and reveals that conditions for technological innovation have never been as favorable as now. To stimulate the debate concerning strategies that can foment scientific and technological development of drug research and development in the country represents the contribution aimed for this work.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:54:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:07:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Este trabalho apresenta pesquisa relativa à gestão tecnológica aplicada ao estudo de viabilidade técnica e econômica da instalação de um irradiador multipropósito no Vale do Ribeira (SP). De um lado o trabalho apresenta as características regionais que indicam que o Vale do Ribeira se mostra a região menos desenvolvida economicamente do estado de São Paulo; de outro lado, a emergência da tecnologia da irradiação de alimentos, com resultados aceitos e recomendados pelas autoridades internacionais. A gestão tecnológica, a partir dos conceitos apresentados, procura unir essa realidade regional com a tecnologia disponível, na busca do desenvolvimento regional. Os procedimentos metodológicos aplicados incluem, além da pesquisa bibliográfica, a aplicação de pesquisas qualitativa e quantitativa, bem como a utilização de métodos estatísticos e econômicos. A principal conclusão deste estudo indica a viabilidade técnica e econômica do empreendimento, embora sejam recomendados mais estudos específicos sobre a irradiação de bananas e sobre a aceitação do consumidor brasileiro a alimentos irradiados. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

A terceirização, ou o processo de transferência de suas atividades, por parte das organizações, para terceiros, é uma prática utilizada há muito tempo e que vem se tornando mais comum. O mesmo também ocorre especificamente em relação às atividades da área de Tecnologia da Informação, desde o início da utilização dos computadores nas organizações até os dias atuais. Diversos são os motivos que levam as organizações a terceirizar, parcial ou totalmente, suas diferentes atividades e serviços na área de Tecnologia da Informação, sendo muitos deles associados à redução de custos, melhoria de qualidade e foco nas atividades essenciais da organização. Algumas teorias econômicas embasam as decisões de terceirização por parte das organizações, particularmente a economia dos custos de transação, custos de produção e teoria de agência. Esta tese tem como objetivo realizar um estudo exploratório sobre as formas de contratação e gerenciamento da terceirização de Tecnologia da Informação, bem como de fatores que influenciam a adoção dessas formas. A tese propõe um modelo, elaborado com base na literatura existente sobre o assunto, segundo o qual, determinados fatores econômicos e objetivos estratégicos das organizações influenciam na escolha de um modelo de gestão da terceirização. Além disso, o modelo propõe uma taxonomia para as formas de gestão da terceirização de Tecnologia da Informação, divididas em dois grupos: os modos de contratação e os modos de gerenciamento, e também analisa os relacionamentos específicos entre eles. A pesquisa utilizou uma amostra composta por 228 empresas, em sua maior parte indústrias, usuárias de serviços de Tecnologia da Informação, que participaram de um survey, através de um website na internet. Sobre os dados provenientes da amostra foram aplicadas várias técnicas estatísticas, como análise de correlação, análise de clusters e análise de variância, para validar as hipóteses do modelo. Os resultados obtidos confirmam o modelo de pesquisa parcialmente, comprovando os relacionamentos entre as formas de contratação e gerenciamento, porém, não permitindo conclusões definitivas sobre a influência de fatores econômicos e objetivos estratégicos na definição e escolha dos modelos de gestão. Dos relacionamentos entre as formas de contratação e gerenciamento é possível identificar um conjunto de três arranjos distintos, para a gestão da terceirização de TI pelas organizações. Além disso, são apresentados resultados e conclusões adicionais a respeito dos responsáveis pelo processo de terceirização, pelo orçamento de terceirização, quantidade e diversidade de serviços terceirizados e, ainda, sobre a satisfação com os resultados obtidos com a terceirização de serviços de TI. Dos relacionamentos entre as formas de contratação e gerenciamento é possível identificar um conjunto de três arranjos distintos, para a gestão da terceirização de TI pelas organizações. / Outsourcing, or the process of transferring activities to third parties has being underused for a long time and it is becoming a common practice. This is also true in the Information Technology area, ever since computers have been introduced in organizations. There are many reasons associated to the partial or total outsourcing of activities and services in Information Technology, many of them regarding cutting costs, quality improvement and focus on the organization core activities. Some economic theories support the outsourcing decisions such as transaction costs economics, production costs and the agency theory. The objective of this Thesis is to present an exploratory study regarding contracting and management models in Information Technology outsourcing, as well as, the factors that have being taken into consideration in the decision for such models. This Thesis proposes a model, based on the existing literature on the subject, in which companies specific economic factors and strategic objectives influence the choice for an outsourcing management model. Furthermore, the model proposes a taxonomy for the outsourcing management in Information Technology, divided into two groups: contracting and management models. It also analyses the specific relationship between them. The survey has collected information from 228 companies, most of them industries which use Information Technology services and that have answered a questionnaire in a Internet website. Some statistical methods have been applied on the collected sample data; such as, correlation analysis, cluster analysis and variance analysis in order to support the model hypothesis. The results partially confirm the research model, validating the relationship between contracting and management models. However, it was not possible to draw final conclusions on the influence of economic factors and strategic objectives in defining and choosing management models. From de relationships between contracting and management models it is possible to identify a set of three distinct groups for the management of Information Technology outsourcing in the organizations. Moreover, additional results and conclusions are presented regarding the responsibility for the outsourcing process, budgets, amount and diversity of outsourcing services, and, satisfaction with the outsourcing services results in Information Technology.

M.Ing. / Information Technology (IT) projects are typically accompanied by a wide variety of complex risks. The rapid rate at which technology is currently changing requires the use of updated processes for project risk management in the IT industry. This paper investigates the active management of risk by focusing on the causes of such risk and developing indicators to track project risk throughout all project phases. The current research focuses on Project Risk Management as described in the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK®) Fourth Edition, detailing the tools and techniques needed to make risk management work in IT projects. This Project Management Institute (PMI) Standard has been adopted for the current research as it is widely accepted by many organisations in order to ensure greater return on investment and other benefits from projects. The PMI’s PMBoK® details an approach to project risk management which includes the process concerned with identifying, analysing, prioritising and mitigating risk at regular intervals. Specifically, it focuses on budget-related risks in order to reduce IT project failure due to budget overruns. Risk measurement and risk control are also incorporated to achieve a sustainable risk management system for IT projects. Finally, a private sector IT project is used as case study in order to apply the research in practice. This case study makes use of Accenture's maturity model concept, which helps us to understand this organisation’s benchmarking in recent years.

D.Litt et Phil. / Dynamic organisations with information technology driven infrastructures are invariably in a state of change, which can be attributed to a multitude of planned (as opposed to forced) interventions. Planned interventions can vary greatly in format and the following serves as examples: • Change required as a result of a new management structure being introduced. • New systems or technology being implemented. • Processes being improved or changed. • New corporate cultures being established. • Changing market focus. • Business Process Reengineering initiatives. Business process reengineering flowing from a planned intervention would normally culminate in a requirement for a further planned intervention in the form of change management to be implemented. This is required to not only ensure that end to end processes are established to ultimately culminate in sustained process improvement and competitive advantage, but also that the impact of such process changes map to the subsequent cultural and organisational change requirements. Should these entities however be undertaken against the background of a forced intervention, a new approach is required to ensure that not only processes are catered for, but also include behavioural and organisational considerations. Research hypothesis validation was conducted in two organisations of which one served as a Control Group, while the other organisation was split to form two separate and distinct research groups. Into the first research group of the latter organisation (Experimental Group B), the Transformation Process model, which forms the focus of this thesis was introduced to facilitate the implementation of business process reengineering and change management as planned interventions and affirmative action as the forced intervention. In terms of the methodology of the Transformation Process model, any process entity is required to be infused and mapped to a change entity and thereafter superimposed onto the applicable forced intervention in symbiotic unison to test the hypothesis. Into the second research group (Experimental Group A) the same interventions were implemented as in the case of Experimental Group B, however not in terms of the Transformation Process model, but in the traditional way whereby process change was followed by organisational change the latter, which included the forced intervention.