Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Constructive approach'
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Kanda, Takayuki. "A constructive approach for communication robots." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/148779.
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Fraser, Merri Lee. "Communication theory and the construction of meaning : a constructive developmental approach." Scholarly Commons, 1987. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/500.
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In recent years the field of communication has been experiencing a movement toward newer non-tradtional approaches to the study of communication and information. Among these newer approaches is a growing body of research that focuses on interpretive behavior in the communication process.
Brenda Dervin's Sense-Making model of communication/information has been the most widely used interpretive theory of information to date. Sense-Making focuses primarily upon the role of the receiver in the communication process and how individuals construct meaning in specific situations. As a result, Sense-Making has not attended adequately to larger shared frameworks of meaning and the effects that they have upon information seeking and use.
It is the purpose of this thesis to strengthen Dervin's theory of Sense-Making by gaining a deeper view of the individual in the construction process and yet broadening the meaning making context to include structural concerns. The work of William Perry on cognitive and ethical development will be examined and applied to Sense-Making theory and data to provide a more in-depth understanding of how individuals construct meaning and use information. As a framework for examining shared structures of meaning, James Fowler's theory of faith development has also been applied to Sense-Making theory and data with particular emphasis on relational aspects. These theories are applied to Sense-Making in an effort to develop a more complete view of the individual in the communication process.
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Santos, Luiz Cláudio Villar dos. "Exploiting instruction-level parallelism a constructive approach /." Eindhoven : Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, 1998. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/40847445.html.
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Kryftis, Achilleas. "A constructive approach to affine and projective planes." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2015. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.709245.
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Walmsley, David. "A Constructive Approach to the Universality Criterion for Semigroups." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1490028671735536.
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Erkal, Hakan, and Sinan Kebapci. "Resistance to Change : A Constructive Approach for Managing Resistant Behaviors." Thesis, University of Kalmar, Baltic Business School, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hik:diva-1813.
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This study aims to understand, describe, and analyze the factors that lead employees resist organizational change efforts. More specifically, by locating various types of roots and symptoms of resistance, we have developed a framework which managers or individuals, who plan to initiate a change program, can use to manage resistance and to benefit, if exist, from the constructive value of resistant behaviors of employees. Findings are drawn from the reinterpretation of two case studies which were conducted on the area. While the first one involves introduction of activity-based costing system in a Portuguese telecommunications company, second one analyzes implementation of a new management program, called BATON, in a university funded research organization. By relying on these case studies, existing models and concepts related to resistance were tested, reinterpreted and an alternative framework to manage resistance is developed. As a result of the study, it is found that despite the amount of theoretical concepts and tools, there is still an important deficiency in terms of resistance management, and managers usually tend to employ pre-set methods to overcome resistance in change management. Findings of the thesis provide those who plan to start and implement change programs with a comprehensive framework to locate, understand and analyze resistance and to take appropriate managerial actions in organizational change efforts.
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Silverstein, Charles H. "Contemplative practices and orders of consciousness| A constructive-developmental approach." California Institute of Integral Studies, 2013.
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Steyaert, Thomas Henry. "Theology and the near-death experience : an analysis and constructive approach." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.544006.
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There can be no doubt that the Near-Death Experience (NDE) has become a highly influential factor shaping the contemporary Western spiritual perspective. However, it has yet to receive the serious theological attention such a phenomenon calls for. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the nature of this situation, based on a rigorous examination of the NDE research as well as a critical analysis of the interpretative context(s) which ground the existing theological treatments of the NDE. The work begins with a presentation of the predominant theological presupposition that the significance of the NDE, or lack there of, is to be located within eschatological, or pareschatological, boundaries exclusively. The philosophical prolegomena related to this presupposition are then established in anticipation of their use as criteria with which to investigate the actual NDE research data. Hence, the most extensive, reliable phenomenological research done to date is used to produced a detailed NDE typology based on both qualitative and quantitative NDE data. The NDE typology is then analyzed in reference to the philosophical criteria previously established. In the next stage of the work, again, the most relevant research-based information relating to the NDE's "context" is gather in order to gain a firm understanding of the NDE's after-effects as well as the etiologically significant points which the researchers' themselves and the "skeptics", or reductionists, have proposed. With the completion of this task it is asserted that not only is the predominant theological interpretative contextualisation of the NDE unjustified, but that, in the course of the investigation, one which is ontological has proven itself to be extremely convincing. Using a phenomenological method to re-interpret the NDE as an ontologically significant phenomena, the NDE reveals itself to be an "Imperative of Vitality" (IV), a phenomenon have to do, profoundly, with life and not death. Finally, the theological significance of the NDE as an IV is fruitfully explored within two different Christian Reformed contexts, manifesting striking ontological correlations and leading to highly informative, though, ultimately, negative theological conclusions. The work ends by calling for further explorations of the ontologically remarkable NDE within other spiritual/religious contexts.
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Corral, Melinda Vera. "A constructive approach of the evaluation of a community based program." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2003. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2274.
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Naude, Jacobus A. "A socio-constructive approach to the training of language practitioners at the University of the Free State." Journal for New Generation Sciences : Socio-constructive language practice : training in the South African context : Special Edition, Vol 6, Issue 3: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/514.
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Published ArticleThis paper describes the training of language practitioners at the University of the Free State in the light of recent developments in Translation Studies, namely the tendency of internationalising ideas about translation, as well as the enlarging of Western Translation Theory by integrating non-Western thought about translation. Starting from earlier ideas of translation training, the move towards socio-constructive approach as proposed by Kiraly (2000) is described. It is indicated how the socio-constructive approach can benefit the training of language practitioners by empowering the learner to act responsibly, autonomously and competently. The socio-constructive approach provides not only an epistemological basis for the development of knowledge-building communities, but also a variety of tools that can be used to promote and pursue learning in such communities.
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Cattiaux, Patrick, Pra Paolo Dai, and Sylvie Poelly. "A constructive approach to a class of ergodic HJB equations with nonsmooth cost." Universität Potsdam, 2007. http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2011/4943/.
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We consider a class of ergodic Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equations, related to large time asymptotics of non-smooth multiplicative functional of diusion processes. Under suitable ergodicity assumptions on the underlying diusion, we show existence of these asymptotics, and that they solve the related HJB equation in the viscosity sense.
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Duggins, Angela. "Thinking Before You Act: A Constructive Logic Approach to Crafting Performance-for- Development Narrative." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2017. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3342.
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The intent of this thesis was to test the feasibility of constructing performance-for-development narrative using a constructive logic approach. I created an equation which expressed the sum of non-human-elements as the sum of a narrative with each element serving as a variable. I used a review of persuasion literature to provide insight into the selection and manipulation of each variable. I provided my family as a hypothetical example and used my knowledge of their preferences and communication styles in conjunction with the literature and the equation to craft a narrative which might increase pro-school attitudes in other families like my own. I found that there exists a narrative comprised of only non-human elements that are likely to yield change in an audience given a specific situation, and that a constructive logic approach can be used to craft performance-for-development narrative.
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Patterson, Kathryn. "An Actor’s Approach to Claire in Proof by David Auburn." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2016. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3016.
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The areas of study in the Proof thesis contain research on the play, the playwright, and the acting style utilized in the performance and character analysis. The acting style in this process focuses on the actor’s creative work in preparation of portraying a female character. This character is a controlling woman that is unable to manipulate others. By using relaxation techniques involving the Alexander Technique, the actor was able to transition into the character with honest emotions and motives. Finding similarities to the character by using personal relationships gave the actor the ability to discover connections with the character in portrayal. These connections are used to motivate the actor’s process in creating an authentic character. The results are found through the actor’s reflections and performances. The findings show discipline and routine in the actor’s process to portray the character.
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Hicks, Andrew David. "Conceptualising the constructive trust : a new approach and its specific application to acquisitive breaches of fiduciary obligation." Thesis, University of Hull, 2007. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:6437.
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In this thesis I examine the conceptual nature of the constructive trust. In particular I provide a critique of those contemporary theories which view the conceptual choice as one of clear alternatives between the "institutional" and "remedial" constructive trust. Having rejected these unhelpful and somewhat confusing alternatives a new framework for analysis is proposed. The aim of the proposal is to facilitate the reaching of normatively desirable results within a framework that is coherent, rational and illuminating. The framework is applied (and its benefits illustrated) in the second half of the thesis, which focuses on the specific context of acquisitive breaches of fiduciary obligation.
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Song, Xiaoxiao. "Layout optimization based on multi-objective interactive approach." Thesis, Ecole centrale de Nantes, 2022. http://www.theses.fr/2022ECDN0051.
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Dans tous les problèmes d’agencement, les contraintes de non-chevauchement entre composants et les contraintes d’appartenanceau conteneur sont présentes. Un modèle d’agencement multiobjectif avec contraintes fonctionnelles est développé. Intégrer l’accessibilité des composants comme contraintes fonctionnelles assure la maintenance ou le fonctionnement des composants. Cependant, les contraintes fonctionnelles augmentent la complexité d’optimisation d’agencement, notée indice de capacité. Par conséquent, un nouvel algorithme d’optimisation multiobjectif est proposé en utilisant le placement constructif et le recuit simulé pour rechercher des solutions de compromis entre les objectifs multiples. Ensuite, un indicateur de similarité est défini pour évaluer les similaires entre les solutions proposées par l’algorithme. Les expériences indiquent que l’approche d’optimistion proposée fonctionne bien pour garantir l’accessibilité et trouver efficacement des solutions optimales dans les problèmes industriels d’agencement d’espace à un ou plusieurs conteneurs, où l’analyse de similarité démontre une bonne diversité solutions proposées par l’algorithme, qui peut être appliqué en tant qu’outil interactif outil pour leconcepteurThe conventional layout problem is concerned with finding the arrangements of components inside the container to optimize objectives under geometrical constraints, i.e., no component overlap and no container protrusion. A multi-objective layout model with functional constraints is developed. Integrating the accessibility of components as functional constraints ensures components maintenance or proper operation. However, thefunctional constraints increase the layout optimization complexity, denoted as capacity index. Therefore, a novel multi-objective optimizationalgorithm is proposed using the constructive placement and the simulated annealing to search for compromised solutions between the multiple objectives. Thereafter, a similarity indicator is defined to evaluate how similar optimized layout designs are. The experiments indicate that the proposed optimization approach performs well in ensuring accessibility and efficiently finding high-qualified solutions in single- and multi- container layoutapplications, where the similarity analysis demonstrates good diversity of the obtained layout set, which can be applied as an interactive tool
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Sunnhed, Rikard, and Marcus Lind. "Vad tillför konstruktiv oro till kognitiv beteendeterapi för primär insomni? : En konstruktiv behandlingsstudie med single subject-design." Thesis, Örebro universitet, Akademin för juridik, psykologi och socialt arbete, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-11073.
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Kognitiv beteendeterapi för primär insomni är inte lika effektivt som KBT för annan problematik. Behandlingen har mest fokuserat på förändring av sömn och bortsett från andra faktorer som kan bidraga till problematiken. Denna studie syftade till att utvärdera effekten av att addera en intervention mot en ytterligare faktor, nämligen oro, till behandling. Studien hade en single subject-design med två betingelser, med och utan oroshantering, för- och eftermätning och sju deltagare. Resultaten tyder på att metoden konstruktiv oro tillförde bättre utfall på sömn, oro och daglig funktion. Slutsatsen är att fokus på fler faktorer än sömn, som oro och dagtidsfunktion, kan effektivisera KBT för primär insomni.Cognitive behavioral therapy for primary insomnia is not as effective as CBT for other problems. The treatment has primary focused on change of sleep and neglected other factors which can contribute to the problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of adding an intervention aimed at an additional factor, namely worry, to treatment. The study had a single subject design with two conditions, with and without constructive worry, pre- and posttest and seven participants. The results indicated that the intervention constructive worry added better outcomes on sleep, worry and daytime function. The conclusion that can be drawn is that a focus on more factors than sleep, such as worry and daytime function, can render CBT for primary insomnia more effective.
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Sippola, K. (Kari). "Two case studies on real time quality cost measurement in software business." Doctoral thesis, University of Oulu, 2008. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789514289866.
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Malmi et al. (2004) argue that the cost of quality (COQ) literature typically deals with manufacturing or service organizations in continuous or repetitive business processes in which identical or similar activities and work phases are repeated in the same sequence or order, batch after batch or customer after customer. Many modern businesses, such as the software business, are outright project based, or operate like a string of semi-independent projects characterized by unique resources, customized activity or work sequence order, and a predefined start and finish. COQ measuring and reporting are traditionally based on ex post calculations. In this study, an idea of real-time quality cost measurement will be developed and tested. The literature on real-time quality cost accounting is limited or even non-existent. The dissertation investigates whether it is possible to measure quality costs as a real-time basis in the software industry. The purpose is to develop a model for measuring quality costs on a real-time basis in software development. This is achieved by seeking answers to the research question how to measure quality costs on a real-time basis in the software industry. The research extends the current literature in three main respects. First, the study presents the idea of measuring quality costs in real-time basis. Second, a contribution is made by investigating how the characteristics of software business impact on the accounting of quality costs by presenting the nature and distinction of software business as well as its implications for software quality and applying quality cost measurement to the software business. Third, this study is expected to make a contribution by investigating how to use quality cost measurement as a management accounting tool in modern software business environment.
The constructive research approach (CRA) proposed by Kasanen et al. (1993) is used in a case company, A, that develops and produces packaged software used in embedded products. Since it is not typically possible to pass semi-strong or strong market tests within a medium-term time span, the construction is tested by using more detailed nuances within the weak market test category suggested by Labro and Tuomela (2003) in order to analyse the level of progress of the construct. The possibility of constructing a real-time cost of quality measurement system developed in Case A is also tested in another case company (Case B) to make the weak market test stronger, and the boundary conditions how to construct such a system in a totally different working environment are charted. The results indicate that such a system could be constructed irrespective of the cost accounting environment or the software used. The anticipated contribution arises from the fact that the construct is a novelty that leads to a new means of quality cost accounting in software business (cf. Lukka 2000).
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Aslan, Huseyin. "The approach of NGOs and civil society organizations to Turkish EU membership with a reference to the Helsinki process : constructive or critical." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10036/3640.
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The main question of this study is to place the role of NGOs in Turkish society and understanding their contribution to Turkey’s democratization process in the EU accession period, especially after the Helsinki Summit. For this end, the study attempts to answer questions like how Turkey can manage to be European, whether it has a sufficiently strong civil society, how a country that has suffered from a lack of civil actors participating in the democratic process could be accepted into the EU, and whether, and how, the country has changed since its application decades ago. In analyzing the role of Turkish civil society, this thesis establishes a general historical framework of Turkey’s relations with the European Union. This goes as far back as the European effect on the democratization efforts of the Ottoman Empire and continues through the early days of the Republic of Turkey. The study examines the role of Turkish NGOs in the country’s accession process into the EU, with reference to the Helsinki process of dialogue. The NGOs selected are TÜSİAD, MÜSİAD and İKV as three employer organizations; and TÜRK-İŞ, HAK-İŞ and DİSK as three worker confederations, which have been actively involved in Turkey’s membership to the EU. Choosing three organizations from each group aims at creating a fair balance between the employers and employees. With the start of negotiations and the intensifying relations with the EU, civil society and pressure groups, such as İKV, TÜSİAD, MÜSİAD, TÜRK-İŞ, HAK-İŞ and DİSK increased public support throughout organizations relating to EU accession. Words for Library Search: Turkey, European Union, Civil Society
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Niestrath, Sean. "As those who have hope a Christian constructive approach to grieving death losses among members of the East Main Church of Christ, Kalamazoo, Michigan /." Abilene, TX : Abilene Christian University, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.2986/tren.050-0154.
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BONTEMPI, JESSICA. "La progettazione e l'implementazione dell'Integrated Reporting per la misurazione della performance. Il caso Loccioni." Doctoral thesis, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11566/245433.
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L’Integrated Reporting (IR), pur nascendo come strumento di reporting per l’esterno, è considerato da alcuni autori utile anche per finalità interne-gestionali in quanto, attraverso il concetto di pensiero integrato, permette di rappresentare le connessioni tra le diverse informazioni, stimolando una maggiore consapevolezza nella definizione della strategia e delle azioni, considerandone gli effetti sia nel breve, sia nel lungo termine, promuovendo così un approccio più olistico nella gestione aziendale.
Questa tesi, attraverso uno studio di caso interventista, esplora il processo di progettazione ed implementazione del report integrato all’interno di un’azienda, il Gruppo Loccioni, per finalità gestionali, mettendo in evidenza leve e barriere alla sua adozione, nonché benefici e criticità emergenti dalla prassi. Lo studio di caso interventista è stato condotto utilizzando il constructive approach, con un forte coinvolgimento del ricercatore sul campo.
Da un punto di vista teorico la tesi contribuisce allo studio dell’IR come strumento gestionale che rappresenta un aspetto della letteratura ancora poco esplorato, essendo gli studi sulle modalità di sviluppo e sugli effetti in practice del report integrato ancora limitati. La tesi contribuisce anche a mettere in evidenza il ruolo di guida che il Business Model può assumere nella progettazione del report integrato e nella scelta degli indicatori. Inoltre il riferimento al Business Model ha favorito anche la coerenza tra i sistemi di misurazione “locali” (a livello di singola funzione) e il sistema di misurazione “globale” (a livello aziendale).
Da un punto di vista pratico lo sviluppo del report integrato ha permesso di misurare e comunicare in maniera più efficace il valore delle attività intangibili, rispondendo ad una specifica esigenza dell’azienda.The Integrated Reporting (IR), though it is designed as an external reporting system, is considered by some authors also useful for internal managerial purposes because it permits, through the concept of integrated thinking, to represent connections amongst different information, stimulating greater awareness in the definition of strategy and actions, considering their effects both in the short and long term. This could help to promote a more holistic approach in business management. This thesis, through an interventionist case study, explores the process of design and implementation of an integrated report within a company, the Loccioni Group, for managerial purposes, highlighting levers and barriers to its adoption, as well as benefits and critical issues emerging from practice. The interventionist case study was conducted using the constructive approach, with a strong researcher involvement in the field. From a theoretical point of view the thesis contributes to the study of IR as a management tool, a literature topic still unexplored, as studies on integrated report design and its internal effects in practice are still limited. The thesis also helps to highlight the leading role that the Business Model can take into the integrated report design and choice of indicators. The thesis also highlights how the Business Model has encourages the coherence between “local” measuring systems (referred to company departments) and the “global” measurement system (referred to the company as a whole). From a practical point of view the development of the integrated report permits to better measure and communicate the value of intangible assets, responding to a specific need of the company.
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Lahoual, Dounia. "Conceptualiser les activités constructives et le développement du sujet capable : le cas de la médiation à l'art orientée jeune public dans un musée d'art moderne et contemporain." Thesis, Paris 8, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017PA080098.
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Au coeur des problématiques culturelles récentes, les institutions muséales portent un projet de démocratisation culturelle visant la mise en accessibilité de l’art et de l’environnement muséal à une diversité de publics. Appuyée par la loi française de 2002 relative aux musées, ce projet est d'autant plus accentué à destination des enfants et des adolescents avec la mise en place d'une médiation culturelle et d'une diversité d'offres muséales spécifiques. Considéré comme le visiteur de demain, ce jeune public cristallise un ensemble d'attentes et de questionnements auprès des institutions culturelles en termes de connaissance du public, et de leviers pour la fréquentation, la fidélisation de ces espaces et l’accessibilité à l’art. Ces lieux de médiation culturelle représentent une opportunité pour suivre le parcours des visiteurs et comprendre les diverses dynamiques subjectives à l'oeuvre à travers diverses configurations tout en mobilisant le prisme de l'ergonomie : des rencontres avec les oeuvres en situation de visite d'une part, et des activités de création plastiques et narratives en situation d'atelier d'autre part. L'analyse de l'activité dans ces situations constituera une portée d'entrée privilégiée pour explorer et alimenter notre compréhension des traces des activités constructives et du développement afin de les conceptualiser. Ces contributions empiriques et épistémiques permettront de concevoir un ensemble de ressources et d'offres de médiation culturelle adaptées aux activités du jeune public et aux professionnels de la médiationAt the heart of recent cultural issues, museum institutions implement a cultural democratization project promoting art and museum spaces accessibility to a diversity of audiences. Based on France’s law on museums from 2002, this project is focusing on children and teenagers thanks to the creation of cultural mediation and specific museum offers. Regarded as the visitor of tomorrow, this young audience generates to museums a set of expectations and questionings regarding visitor knowledge, tools for increasing attendance, loyalty and art accessibility. These cultural mediation spaces become an opportunity for tracking visitors' journey and understanding intrinsic points of views. We will study various situations throughout the prism of Ergonomics by highlighting encounters with works of art during a guided tour on one hand, plastic and narratives creation during workshops on the other hand. Activity analysis will be an effective way for exploring and improving our understanding of traces of constructive activities and development in order to conceptualize them. These empirical and theoretical contributions will help developing appropriate resources of cultural mediation offers to young audiences and mediation professionals
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Ripley, Angela N. "Surviving Set Theory: A Pedagogical Game and Cooperative Learning Approach to Undergraduate Post-Tonal Music Theory." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437583773.
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Anderson, Paul M. "Construction collaboration : a QFD approach." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2006. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/7809.
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The UK Construction industry is a wide ranging complex environment with constantly evolving cultural, technical and organisational dynamics. Collaboration systems are used within that environment to store information and aid construction professionals in dealing, manipulating and completing information vital to projects. There are many collaboration systems available to the construction market, but most are based on versions used in other less similar industries. As a result though the software packages available to work at a level acceptable to the major construction contractors, they are not fully satisfying the customers need. The quality of the software available currently could be improved. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a Japanese product development tool developed in the 1960s. It is a quality system for strategic competitiveness; it maximises positive quality that adds value; it seeks out spoken and unspoken customer requirements, translates them into technical requirements, prioritises them and directs the process to optimise those features that will bring the greatest competitive advantage. QFD has been applied largely anonymously to software in the United States of America, and sparingly to construction within the UK. Blitz QFD is a form of QFD that focuses specifically on the essential quality items of the customer. This method could be implemented within the construction industry creating a fully auditable transfer of customer needs to essential software design features. Blitz QFD would be a valuable development methodology in a construction industry that demands faster, user focused project collaboration software where the user's needs are not currently being satisfied.
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Shin, Hyung John. "Fuzzy approach to construction activity estimation." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1994. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/10830.
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Past experience has shown that variations in production rate value for the same work item is attributed to a wide range of factors. The relationships between these factors and the production rates are often very complex. It is impossible to describe an exact mathematical causal relationship between the qualitative factors(QF) and production rates. Various subjective approaches have been attempted to quantify the uncertainties contained in these causal relationships. This thesis presents one such approach by adopting a fuzzy set theory in conjunction with a fuzzy rule based system that could improve the quantification of the qualitative factors in estimating construction activity durations and costs. A method to generate a Standard Activity Unit Rate(SAUR) is presented. A construction activity can be defined by combining the Design Breakdown Structure, Trade Breakdown Structure and Work Section Breakdown Structure. By establishing the data structure of an activity, it is possible to synthesis the SAUR from published estimating sources in a systematic way. After the SAUR is defined, it is then used as a standard value from which an appropriate Activity Unit Rate(AUR) can be determined. A proto-type fuzzy rule based system called 'Fuzzy Activity Unit Rate Analyser(FAURA)' was developed to formalise a systematic framework for the QF quantification process in determining the most likely activity duration/cost. The compatibility measurement method proposed by Nafarieh and Keller has been applied as an inference strategy for FAURA. A computer program was developed to implement FAURA using Turbo Prolog. FAURA was tested and analysed by using a hypothetical bricklayer's activity in conjunction with five major QF as the input variables. The results produced by FAURA iii show that it can be applied usefully to overcome many of the problems encountered in the QF quantification process. In addition, the analysis shows that a fuzzy rule base approach provides the means to model and study the variability of AUR. Although the domain problem of this research was in estimation of activity duration/cost, the principles and system presented in this study are not limited to this specific area, and can be applied to a wide range of other disciplines involving uncertainty quantification problems. Further, this research highlights how the existing subjective methods in activity duration/cost estimation can be enhanced by utilising fuzzy set theory and fuzzy logic.
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Lowe, John G. "Construction productivity : an input-output approach." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/1441.
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This Thesis describes an approach to the development and testing of a model that can compare construction performance across time, space, and economic system. Labour and capital productivity measures as well as the multi-factor approach were evaluated. Capital productivity alone, as a 'pure' financial ratio, appears able to deal with the key problems posed by indexation, to deal with inflation for time-series comparisons, and fluctuating currency exchange rates, for international comparisons. The major flaws with traditional capital productivity measures, particularly the problems inherent in valuing the 'capital' employed in a given industry or sector, are discussed and the model is developed to meet the objections. The notion of capital productivity employed in the model, while in computational terms similar to the traditional approach, is different in philosophical terms. Thus instead of than attempting to 'value' the capital employed in the productive process, the cost of capital 'sunk' is valued making allowance for notional depreciation based on the balance of the different types of assets employed. The discount rate emerges by counterpoising the discounted value of anticipated future profits against the historic cost of investment sunk into the current stock of capital goods. There are problems specific to construction, in particular the incidence of off-site prefabrication and plant hire, which tend to make traditional capital productivity largely irrelevant to the construction process. An input-output framework is used to examine the productivity involved in the total building process as opposed to the on-site activities. In addition, the problems of incompatibility across economic systems manifested in such issues as differential rates of indirect taxation etc., is allowed for by adjusting the price levels from market prices to 'eigenprices' an input-output based approach. The resulting model is tested via an inter-industry time-series Case Study of the UK over the period 1948 to 1990 using six broad industrial groupings. The strengths and weaknesses of the approach are discussed in the light of the Case Study results.
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Qambar, Sami Ali. "A systems approach to construction productivity." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.312207.
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Garnett, Naomi A. "Changing construction performance using lean construction : an action research approach." Thesis, University of Reading, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.394430.
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Hasda, Ranjan Kumar. "Contribution to the optimization of Unequal Area Rectangular Facility Layout Problem." Thesis, Ecole centrale de Nantes, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017ECDN0026.
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L'agencement d'espace est un problème courant dans la plupart des secteurs industriels. Ce problème est de nature continue et discret et il est considéré comme un problème NP-difficile. Les méthodes d'optimisation traditionnelles, plus appropriées pour une recherche locale sont difficilement utilisables aux problèmes d'agencement. Afin de contourner ces limitations inhérentes aux méthodes classiques, nous proposons deux algorithmes adaptés aux problèmes d'agencement statique de composants de différentes tailles. Pour les problèmes d'agencement considérés, les fonctions objectives à minimiser sont non linéaires et représentent les coûts associés aux sommes pondérées des distances entre les composants. La première approche que nous considérons est une méthode hybride en deux étapes. La première étape consiste à construire un agencement en se basant sur la méthode dite "bas-gauche" comme une solution locale. Ensuite, la solution obtenue est améliorée en appliquant un algorithme génétique modifié. Les opérateurs de croisement et de mutation sont alors adaptés pour prendre en compte les spécificités du problème d'agencement. La deuxième approche est une combinaison entre une recherche locale et globale. Dans ce cas, l'algorithme génétique est également modifié par l'introduction d'un opérateur spécialisé pour le traitement des rotations des composants. Il permet notamment d'éviter le couplage entre les variables réelles et entières et permet également de réduire considérablement le nombre de variables du problème d'optimisation. Les performances des deux approches sont testées et comparées avec les exemples de référence extraits des publications traitant du problème d'optimisation d'agencement. Nous démontrons que les deux approches que nous proposons obtiennent de meilleures performances que les approches existantesA facility layout design is one of the most commonly faced problems in the manufacturing sectors. The problem is mixed-integer in nature and usually an NP-hard problem, which makes it difficult to solve using classical optimization techniques, which are better for local search. To overcome these limitations, two algorithms have been proposed for solving static facility layout problems with the unequal size compartments. The objective function of the problems considered is nonlinear in which the sum of the material handling cost has been minimized. In the first approach, a hybrid constructive and improvement model has been proposed where an advanced bottom-left fill technique was used as constructive approach. The constructive model proposed also acts as a local search method based on greedy algorithm. For improvement approach a hybrid genetic algorithm has been proposed, where the crossover and mutation operator are specially designed to handle the solution representation which itself is used as constructive model. In the second approach, a combined local and global search model was proposed where a rotation operator was used to avoid mixed-integer formulation of the problem. Use of rotation operator has also reduced the number of variables significantly. Apart from the conventional evolutionary operators this model has also used exchange and rotation operators. The performances of both model are tested over a previously solved problem selected from the literature. The evaluation of the results shows that the performances of the proposed models are better than many existing algorithms and has the potential for field applications
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Chinda, Thanwadee. "A System Dynamics Approach to Construction Safety Culture." Thesis, Griffith University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367917.
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Throughout the world, the construction industry has had a poor safety record, and is disproportionately more dangerous when compared to other industries. The major cause of construction accidents is attributed to unsafe behaviours and work practices, which are viewed as the direct result of having a poor safety culture. The development of a mature safety culture has been recognized as a vital element in the achievement of high standards of safety, alongside an effective safety management system. A better understanding of how to improve safety culture greatly assists an organization to allocate appropriate safety resources, and thus improve its overall occupational health and safety performance. Recently, researches have been undertaken to measure the ‘health’ of construction safety culture in an attempt to plan for safety culture improvement. Those studies, however, have focused neither on the interactions among key safety culture elements, nor on the consequences of safety initiatives being undertaken over time. Importantly, construction organizations need to be able to measure their current safety culture maturity level, and identify areas for safety improvement, to enable them to progress through to higher maturity levels. Such actions are essential, as the implementation of safety initiatives that do not address prioritized areas for improvement, may add little value to the organization in its quest to improve its safety culture, and reduce costs in the long term.
To address these issues, this study developed a model of construction safety culture, and investigated the interactions and causal relationships between the five enablers (what the organization should be doing) and Goals (what the organization aims to achieve), and their consequences over time. The ‘construction safety culture index’, developed through modelling construction safety culture, was used to measure the level of construction safety culture maturity in the organization, and identify areas for safety improvement...Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
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Berglund, Jonny. "A Construction Grammar Approach to the Phrase." Thesis, Stockholm University, Stockholm University, Department of English, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-8691.
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This essay adopts a construction grammar approach to the linguistic pattern why don’t you. It argues that the pattern can have two different senses: an interrogative sense and a suggestive sense. Further it argues that the suggestive sense is a construction similar to the definition of a construction described by construction grammar theory.
In other words, the linguistic pattern why don’t you can have a specific underlying semantics that cannot be reached by an examination of its formal pattern.
Keywords: Construct, Construction, Construction Grammar, Idiom, Interpretation, Linguistic Pattern, Marker, Underlying Semantics
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Sivasothinathan, Ramanan. "A bootstrap approach for constructing superconvergent interpolants." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ34042.pdf.
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Francis, Hartwell S. "Transitivity in Arapaho: A construction grammar approach." Diss., Connect to online resource, 2006. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3207774.
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Peyravian, Mohammad. "An Algorithmic approach to constructing protocol converters." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/13526.
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Rogerson, Paul. "Problems in historical construction : an idealist approach." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 1990. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/6126/.
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An idealist approach to history construes what historians do in terms of coherence, unity and individuality. An outline of the historical thought of Dilthey and Croce in chapter one signposts the major concerns of Collingwood and Oakeshott. Both approach history from an idealist perspective yet, their conclusions differ radically for Collingwood the historian re-thinks the thoughts of past individuals, inferred from evidence, in answer to a question. The object of historical thought is not dead actions but living thoughts. The limits of historical thought reflect the boundaries of our mental faculties, and the identity of subject and object in historical re- enactment becomes the model for all genuine knowledge. Oakeshott rejects this identity. History is a particular understanding of objects left-over from the past, governed by organising postulates, and logically distinct from other "modes" of understanding. It has no privileged subject-matter, neither a real past of events, nor an every-increasing archive of authenticated evidence. The past is constructed within historical thought. Chapters four and five are spent tracing the implications of an idealist understanding of history. I argue that analytical philosophy's interest in explanation and truth in history is never "second- order", there is always a prior idea of what it is that historians try or fail to explain and make true statements about. I pay particular attention to those thinkers who have accepted, rejected or modified the idea that history is something constructed and not transcribed, and to the fragile border between description and prescription in the philosophy of history. An idealist critique of the realist assumption inherent in history urges, a re-think about the nature of historiographical conclusions and defences of history's legitimacy. It is not an invitation to scepticism. The attempt, however, to ground the autonomy of history upon a priori postulates and so secure its role in our self-understanding cannot be sustained.
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吳彬 and Pin Ng. "A tabular approach for constructing class hierarchies." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1996. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31213510.
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Ng, Pin. "A tabular approach for constructing class hierarchies /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1996. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B17538439.
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Hsu, Yung-Chen 1962. "The goal programming approach for test construction." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/291347.
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A goal programming approach for selecting items from an item bank to construct a test, based on item response theory (IRT), was proposed. This approach can simultaneously handle multiple and conflicting goals, which is more realistic and practical than the linear programming approach that deals with only a single goal. An example was presented to show the procedures of applying the goal programming approach for constructing a test based on IRT one-parameter logistic model. The results provide the test constructor flexible ways to select items to meet different needs.
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Tezel, Bulent Algan. "A Statistical Approach To Lean Construction Implementations Of Construction Companies In Turkey." Master's thesis, METU, 2007. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12608658/index.pdf.
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One of the major change efforts for the construction industry is lean
construction. This thesis analyzes the practices of the construction
companies in Turkey from the lean construction perspective. Prior to the
analysis in question, requisite information about change in the
construction industry, lean thinking and lean construction will be
presented.
A questionnaire, based on a lean construction model, is used to survey
the practices and gather the data for the analysis. Various statistical
analysis methods are performed on the gathered data to make
inferences. According to these analyses, the lean construction
characteristics of the construction companies will be discussed and the
recommendations for improving the lean conformance of the construction
companies will be presented.
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Ren, Zhaomin. "A multi-agent systems approach to construction claims negotiation." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2002. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/6813.
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Claims negotiation plays an important role in construction claims settlement and disputes resolution. However, claims negotiations are normally conducted inefficiently. Although many research projects have been undertaken on human behaviours in negotiation (e.g. negotiation planning, documentation and negotiation strategies) and computer-aided negotiation, there is not an effective approach to solving such problem. The development of multi-agent systems provides an innovative approach to facilitating claims negotiation, where intelligent agents can negotiate with each other for the real world parties that they represent. The significance of multi-agent systems lies in the fact that they match the fragmented nature of the construction industry. This thesis describes the work of developing a multi-agent system for construction claims negotiation (MASCOT). The objectives are to create an architecture for the agent system, and develop a negotiation mechanism for agent interaction. A conceptual MASCOT model is designed based on a thorough analysis of the nature, characteristics and problems of construction claims negotiation, multi-agent systems negotiation mechanisms, and negotiation theories. A modified Monotonic Concession protocol and the related negotiation strategies which are based on the integration of Zeuthen's risk evaluation model and Bayesian learning model were developed. A prototype was built using the ZEUS agent building toolkit and Java. The system was then assessedin terms of the quality of the negotiation mechanisma nd prototype using critical evaluation criteria and prototype evaluation. The result revealed that the MASCOT system could significantly enhance the efficiency of construction claims negotiation. Furthermore, it is recognised that multi-agent systems have a great potential to solve the fragmentation problem in other construction areas such as scheduling, concurrent engineering; and collaborative design, particularly when the project team members are geographically distributed. This research not only contributes to the improvement of construction claims negotiation, bdt also provides an effective approach for the development of multi-agent 'system negotiation mechanism.
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Goh, Bee Hua. "Construction demand modelling : a systematic approach to using economic indicators and a comparative study of alternative forecasting approaches." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.393033.
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Sharma, Anamika. "An interactive visual approach to construction project scheduling." [Milwaukee, Wis.] : e-Publications@Marquette, 2009. http://epublications.marquette.edu/theses_open/14.
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Even-Sturlesi, Doron. "A systematic approach to global optical design." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/29834.
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Al-Yami, Ali M. H. "An integrated approach to value management and sustainable construction during strategic briefing in Saudi construction projects." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2008. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/8106.
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There has recently been considerable concern regarding the degradation of the environment caused by depletion of natural resources, air pollution, global warming and the lack of consideration paid to the earth's ecosystem. The principles of sustainable construction are thus being widely adopted by many countries all over the world. This quest towards sustainable development throughout the world has put a spotlight on the construction industry. Sustainable construction is a major concept underlying a variety of efforts to ensure a good quality of life for the present and future generations. Most developing countries have experienced a fast uptake of urbanisation and the acceleration of infrastructure development, all of which fuel the necessity of establishing sustainable construction principles; this is true in Saudi Arabia as in other countries. This research has carefully investigated the current situation of Value Management (VM) and Sustainable Construction (SC) in the Saudi construction industry in terms of their application, clients' attitudes, barriers to implementation, identification of enablers that could overcome these barriers and improve their implementation, and determination of the level of existent knowledge about both subjects among people who work in the Saudi public sector. It has also defined Sustainable Construction principles in three dimensions, in Saudi Arabia: environmental, economic and social. The research findings have revealed that SC principles are not a major consideration in the Saudi construction industry and many people who work in the Saudi public sector have little or no experience in sustainable development. On the contrary, VM has been applied in the Saudi construction industry for more than three decades and its application is mandatory in all governmental projects funded by the Saudi government. This enables those people who work in the VM sector to possess great experience, skills and knowledge. However, there are a number of barriers that could impede or affect the VM performance in the Saudi construction industry which were taken into account in this research. (Continues...).
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Nguyen, Viet Hang. "Constructive approaches to the rigidity of frameworks." Thesis, Grenoble, 2013. http://www.theses.fr/2013GRENM052/document.
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La théorie de la rigidité étudie l'unicité des réalisations des graphes, i.e., des charpentes. Initialement motivée par l'ingénierie des structures, la théorie de la rigidité trouve aujourd'hui des applications dans plusieurs domaines importants comme la prédiction de la flexibilité des protéines, la conception assistée par ordinateur, la localisation dans les réseaux des capteurs, etc. Cette thèse traite une grande variété de problèmes concernant différents types de rigidité, qui correspondent à différents niveaux d'unicité (locale/infinitésimale, globale et universelle) dans des modèles variés de charpentes. D'abord, nous développons des résultats sur la construction récursive et la décomposition des graphes avec des conditions mixtes de sparsité ainsi que des résultats sur le packing des arborescences avec des contraintes de matroïde. Ces résultats sont alors utilisés pour obtenir des caractérisations de la rigidité infinitésimale des charpentes avec des contraintes mixtes. Nous étudions aussi l'effet des opérations d'extension sur des charpentes et étendons un résultat connu sur la préservation de la rigidité globale d'$1$-extension dans les charpentes à direction et à longueur de la dimension deux aux dimensions supérieures. Pour la rigidité universelle, un sujet que l'on connait très peu, nous obtenons une caractérisation complète pour la classe des charpentes biparties complètes sur la ligne. Nous généralisons aussi une condition suffisante pour la rigidité universelle des charpentes en permettant des positions non généralesThe theory of rigidity studies the uniqueness of realizations of graphs, i.e., frameworks. Originally motivated by structural engineering, rigidity theory nowadays finds applications in many important problems such as predicting protein flexibility, Computer-Aided Design, sensor network localization, etc. The present thesis treats a wide range of problems concerning different kinds of rigidity, corresponding to different scopes of uniqueness (local/infinitesimal, global and universal), in various types of frameworks. First, we develop results in inductive construction and decomposition of graphs with mixed sparsity conditions as well as results on the packing of arborescences with matroidal constraints. These results are then used to obtain characterizations of infinitesimal rigidity in frameworks with mixed constraints. We also investigate the effect of extension operations on frameworks and extend a known result on the global rigidity preservation of $1$-extension on direction-length frameworks in dimension two to all dimensions. For universal rigidity, where little is known, we obtain a complete characterization for the class of complete bipartite frameworks on the line. We also generalize a sufficient condition for the universal rigidity of frameworks by allowing non-general positions
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Thompson, Eric Tano. "A rational approach to computer integration in construction." Thesis, London South Bank University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.263738.
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Ndekugri, Issaka E. "Construction contract information management : an integrated systems approach." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1986. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/6731.
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Even by 1980 it was observed that software for construction management comprised many independent packages with different programming languages and hardware. By and large, not only were these packages stand alone systems but they were also not suitable for their individual functions. Not only do construction projects increase in complexity but competition and volatile markets also generate pressures for better management and that requires integrated and effective systems. The hypothesis of this research has been that computer technology and systems concepts can be used to develop the necessary tools that will make integration possible and effective. To that end, the following research has been undertaken: * an investigation of the causes of the lack of integration, *a survey of the operations of the management functions, * the specification, development and testing of a computer-based system called PLUS VAL to demonstrate the viability of integration, * an assessment of PLUS VAL. Causes of lack of integration revealed include: * segregated education, training and working of functional groups, * development of software by people without the relevant expertise, * inadequate research and failure to apply research findings due to the structure of the construction industry. A survey of the operations showed: * the various methods of carrying them out, * the flow of data among them, * their interdependencies. The major features of PLUS VAL are: * it assists valuations, purchasing management and cost control, * it can be linked to estimating, planninq and accounting, * it allows quick access to contract information. Its assessment which involved demonstrating it to and interviewing potential users, and comparisons with similar packages commercially available showed that: * It provides all the facilities that the users wanted * It covers all the methods of operations of companies contacted - * It is more comprehensive than those surveyed - * Integration is possible and provides such benefits as: . reduced costs of data capture, . better use of computer storage, . reduced turn around times of data processing, increased data consistency. The results of the research show that the application of computer technology and systems concepts can produce effective integrated systems which not only assists contractors in carrying out their obligations but also provide reliable information for decision-making.
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Muya, Mundia. "A systematic approach for improving construction materials logistics." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1999. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/7076.
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In the 1990s, the UK construction industry directed considerable effort at improving productivity and reducing costs by harmonising relationships among clients, contractors, sub-contractors, specialist contractors and designers. Opportunities to accrue further benefits should be explored and capitalised upon from all areas of construction projects. Management of construction materials on well grounded logistics and supply chain management principles has the potential to yield results and augment efforts being made in other areas at making construction more efficient. The overall aim of this thesis was to develop a systematic supplier management decision-support process model that contractors can use for both short and long-term management of suppliers in the implementation of construction materials supply logistics. Such a process model would benefit construction companies by identifying essential elements that lead to improved supply of construction materials. The research findings were based upon a literature survey, two `minor-image' questionnaires (one sent to 71 UK contractors and the other to 76 UK construction materials suppliers); structured interviews with nine UK contractors and five UK construction materials suppliers; and a supplier management process model validation exercise with six UK contractors. From these, the research produced the following outcomes: systematic supplier management decision-support process map that contractors can use for short and long-term management of suppliers in the implementation of construction materials supply logistics; an understanding of the supply of construction materials into construction processes from the wider perspective of logistics and supply chain management as opposed to traditional materials management; the identification of the performance indicators against which the performance of suppliers can be evaluated and the quantification of the relative contribution of the performance indicators to improvements in customer service; the identification of factors which enable suppliers to improve levels of customer service and quantification of the relative extent to which the factors enable suppliers to contribute to improvements in their levels of customer service in the delivery of construction materials; identification of the extent to which both performance indicators and enablers were used in supplier evaluation and selection; evaluation and comparison of the extent to which contractors and suppliers used information and communication technologies in internal and external materials supply logistics processes; and evaluation of the nature of relationships between contractors and suppliers.
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Al-Sasi, Basil Omar. "A lean approach to capacity management in construction." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.443046.
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LOTLIKAR, HARSHAD SURESH. "A BEHAVIOR-BASED SAFETY APPROACH FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1116210023.
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Archias, Susan Dana 1953. "Kenneth Burke's approach to language and theory construction." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/276653.
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This thesis explains the "systematic" refinement of Kenneth Burke's theoretical process through his development of a theological paradigm for the dramatistic vocabulary. It describes the merging metaphysical and dialectical issues in Burke's critical thought and locates a theoretical shift in A Grammar of Motives, where Burke posits the prototype for his key term, "act." The study then interprets the formal treatment of the prototype in The Rhetoric of Religion: Studies in Logology, and demonstrates how the derived paradigm maintains and advances the convergence of metaphysics and dialectics, and how it reestablishes the interaction between language structure and usage in two types of definition or explanation (temporal-logical, narrative-tautological). This thesis also describes the purpose and functional range of Logology.