Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Operational value'

Cette recherche se situe à l'interface de la gestion des opérations durables, de la gestion de la technologie et de la finance. Plus précisément, dans mes recherches, j'essaie d'examiner les mesures incitatives des entreprises pour adopter des mesures d'amélioration technologique qui conduisent à une utilisation plus efficiente des intrants et affectent ainsi la structure des coûts, l'exposition aux risques et la performance environnementale des entreprises. Ainsi, je cherche à identifier les facteurs qui affectent --- et les mécanismes par lesquels ils le font --- la décision d'une entreprise d'investir dans TI: forces dans une chaîne d'approvisionnement, incertitude des prix sur les marchés des intrants, contraintes de trésorerie, couverture financière mécanismes, la concurrence de l'industrie et la stratégie de prix compétitive de l'entreprise. En collaborant avec des professeurs dans les domaines de la recherche opérationnelle, de l'économie et de la finance, j'ai adopté une approche multidisciplinaire pour étudier l'adoption de technologies efficaces et durables.En particulier, dans mon premier chapitre, «L'amélioration des technologies dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement sous pouvoir de négociation asymétrique», j'examine comment le pouvoir de négociation asymétrique --- entre les acheteurs et les fournisseurs --- affecte le niveau optimal d'investissement dans l'amélioration technologique. Dans mon deuxième chapitre, «Gestion des risques liés aux prix des intrants: amélioration de la technologie et couverture financière», j'explore le mécanisme qui guide l'intérêt d'une entreprise pour TI en raison de l'incertitude accrue sur les prix des intrants. Enfin, dans le troisième chapitre, «La valeur de la gestion des risques financiers dans l'investissement dynamique de capacité et l'amélioration technologique», j'étudie le rôle de la contrainte budgétaire et de la couverture financière sur le choix de la technologie
This research is in the interface of sustainable operations management, technology management, and finance. Specifically, in my research I strive to examine firm's incentives to adopt `technology improvement' (TI) measures that lead to the more efficient use of inputs in operations and thereby affect the cost structure, risk exposure, and environmental performance of firms. Thus I seek to identify the factors that affect---and the mechanisms by which they do so---a firm's decision to invest in TI: forces within a supply chain, price uncertainty in the markets for inputs, cash constraints, financial hedging mechanisms, industry competition, and the firm's competitive pricing strategy. By collaborating with professors in the fields of operations research, economics, and finance, I have embraced a multidisciplinary approach to studying the adoption of efficient and sustainable technologies.In particular, in my first chapter, ``Technology Improvement Contracting in Supply Chains under Asymmetric Bargaining Power'' I examine how asymmetric bargaining power---between buyers and suppliers---affects the optimal level of investment in technology improvement. In my second chapter, ``Input-price Risk Management: Technology Improvement and Financial Hedging'', I explore the mechanism driving a firm's interest in TI under increased uncertainty about input prices. Finally, in the third chapter, ``The Value of Financial Risk Management in Dynamic Capacity Investment and Technology Improvement'', I study the role of budget constraint and financial hedging on the choice of technology

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: McDonald's is world renowned for the benchmark standards it sets in operations management. This is evidenced by the numerous references in operations management textbooks over the last 10-15 years. However, since 1999, McDonald's has not been able to link this operations excellence to creating shareholder value. In fact, the McDonald's share price has declined by 64 % over the last 4 years. In comparison, Wendy's (McDonald's biggest competition in the US fast food market) share price has increased by 2 % over the same period. Understanding why McDonald's has not been able to link operational excellence and the creation of shareholder value is the reasoning behind this mini-thesis. The hypothesis is that there are a number of factors. which influence shareholder value, and operational excellence is but one of these factors. A literature survey was conducted in order lO understand the underlying theories which link operational excellence and shareholder value creation. Evidence supporting this hypothesis is then presented and discussed. In Chapter 3, McDonald's ability to deliver operational excellence is evaluated against the evidence presented in operations management textbooks and other sources. The success of McDonald's in delivering perfonnance in the other factors affecting shareholder value is then discussed in Chapter 4 and compared to its biggest competition. Firstly, the share price of McDonald's is compared to its biggest competition (Wendy's), then the strategy of McDonald's and its impact on shareholder value creation is discussed, along with McDonald's ability to implement the other important factors and drivers, namely customer value creation, efficiency of value delivery and direct financial impact on shareholders. As a result of the above evidence. it was found that there are two basic reasons why McDonald's has not been able to link operational excellence and shareholder value creation: 1. Relative to its competition, McDonald's has not demonstrated sufficient competence in the other factors, which influence shareholder value creation. These factors are: customer value creation and the efficiency of customer value delivery. This is further evidenced by the financial output measures of McDonald's relative to its competition. 2. McDonald's ability in delivering operational excellence has diminished recently. This is evidenced by falling ratings in customer satisfaction surveys. The above reasons are evidenced by customer satisfaction survey results, comparative financial results and a number of non-direct driver results. In order to increase shareholder value creation, it is recommended that McDonald's change the focus of its strategy from operations to the creation of customer value. In order to support this change, the organisational structure and business processes will have to be changed by top management, who must be the crusaders of this change.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: McDonald's is bekend vir die maatskappy se wereldklas bedryfs bestuur standaardc. Die standaarde word tel kens na verwys in menige bedryfs bestuur handboeke oor die afgelope 10 tot 15 jaar. McDonald's kon egtcr nie daarin slaag om die hoe bedryfsbetuur standaarde in aandeelhouer waarde te omskep nic. Die waarde van die McDonald's aandele het met 64% gedaaJ oor die afgelope 4 jaar. In kontras het Wendy's (McDonald's se grootste mededinger in die Amerikaanse kitskos mark) se aandeel pryse met meer as 2% gestyg oor dieselfde peri ode. Die redc vir hierdie studie is dan juis om te bepaal waarom McDonald's nie hul voortrcflike bestuurs standaarde kon koppel aan stygende aandeelhouer waarde nic. Die hipotese is dat daar 'n aantal faktore is wat die aandeelhouer waarde van 'n maatskappy bepaal en dat bedryfs bestuur standaarde maar net een van hierdie faktore is. 'n Literatuur studie is gedoen om te bepaal wat die verwantskap is tussen puik bedryfsbetuur standaarde en die skepping van aandeelhouer waarde. Die bewyse vanuit die literatuurstudie is dan gebruik om die hipotese mee te toets. In Hoofstuk 3 is die vennoe van McDonald' s om hoe bedryfsbestuur standaarde te handhaaf evalueer aan die hand van die literatuur studie. McDonald's se sukses in die implementering van die ander faktore wat lei tot verhoogde aandeelhouer waarde is in Hoofstuk 4 bespreek en terselfde tyd vergelyk met die verrnoens van sy grootste mededingers. Eerstens is die aandeelprys van McDonald's met die van sy grootste mededinger (Wendy's) vergelyk en tweedens is die strategie van McDonald's en die impak daarvan op aandeelhouer waarde bespreek. Ander belangrike faktore soos kliente waarde skepping. effektiwiteit van waarde toevoeging en direkte finansiele impak op aandeelhouers is ingesluit in die bespreking. Daar is gevind dat daar twee hoofredes is waarom McDonald's nie daarin geslaag het om bedryfs bestuur uitmuntenheid te omskep in aandeelhouer waarde nie: 1. McDonald's het in vergelyking met sy mededingers nie goed genoeg gedoen m.b.t. die ander faktore wat aandeelhouer waarde bernvloed nie. Hierdie faktore is kliente waarde skepping en effektiwiteit van waarde toevoeging. 2. McDonald's se bedryfs bestuur standaarde het begin afneem. Dit word gestaaf deur laer waarderings in klante tevredenheids bepalings. Die onvermoe van McDonald' s om die bogenoemde faktore te implementeer word deur die klante tevredenheids bepalings, vergelykende finansiele resultate en 'n aantaJ indirekte maatstawwe gestaaf. Daar word dus voorgestel dat McDonald's sy stralegiese fokus moet verskuif vanaf bedryfs bestuur optimisering na kliente waarde skepping. Die organisasie struktuur en besigheids prosesse van McDonald's sal dus deur bestuur herorganiseer moet word om die verandering in strategie te kan ondersteun.

Extreme-value theory is concerned with the tail behaviour of probability distributions. In recent years, it has found many applications in areas as diverse as hydrology, actuarial science, and finance, where complex phenomena must often be modelled from a small number of observations.Extreme-value theory can be used to assess the risk of rare events either through the block maxima or peaks-over-threshold method. The choice of threshold is both influential and delicate, as a balance between the bias and variance of the estimates is required. At present, this threshold is often chosen arbitrarily, either graphically or by setting it as some high quantile of the data.Bayesian inference is an alternative to deal with this problem by treating the threshold as a parameter in the model. In addition, a Bayesian approach allows for the incorporation of internal and external observations in combination with expert opinion, thereby providing a natural probabilistic framework to evaluate risk models.This thesis presents a Bayesian inference framework for extremes. We focus on a model proposed by Behrens et al. (2004), where an analysis of extremes is performed using a mixture model that combines a parametric form for the centre and a Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) for the tail of the distribution. Our approach accounts for all the information available in making inference about the unknown parameters from both distributions, the threshold included. A Bayesian analysis is then performed by using expert opinions to determine the parameters for prior distributions; posterior inference is carried out through Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods. We apply this methodology to operational risk data to analyze its performance.The contributions of this thesis can be outlined as follows:-Bayesian models have been barely explored in operational risk analysis. In Chapter 3, we show how these models can be adapted to operational risk analysis using fraud data collected by different banks between 2007 and 2010. By combining prior information to the data, we can estimate the minimum capital requirement and risk measures such as the Value-at-Risk (VaR) and the Expected Shortfall (ES) for each bank.-The use of expert opinion plays a fundamental role in operational risk modelling. However, most of time this issue is not addressed properly. In Chapter 4, we consider the context of the problem and show how to construct a prior distribution based on measures that experts are familiar with, including VaR and ES. The purpose is to facilitate prior elicitation and reproduce expert judgement faithfully.-In Section 4.3, we describe techniques for the combination of expert opinions. While this issue has been addressed in other fields, it is relatively recent in our context. We examine how different expert opinions may influence the posterior distribution and how to build a prior distribution in this case. Results are presented on simulated and real data.-In Chapter 5, we propose several new mixture models with Gamma and Generalized Pareto elements. Our models improve upon previous work by Behrens et al. (2004) since the loss distribution is either continuous at a fixed quantile or it has continuous first derivative at the blend point. We also consider the cases when the scaling is arbitrary and when the density is discontinuous.-Finally, we introduce two nonparametric models. The first one is based on the fact that the GPD model can be represented as a Gamma mixture of exponential distributions, while the second uses a Dirichlet process prior on the parameters of the GPD model.
La théorie des valeurs extrêmes concerne l'étude du comportement caudal de lois de probabilité. Ces dernières années, elle a trouvé de nombreuses applications dans des domaines aussi variés que l'hydrologie, l'actuariat et la finance, où l'on doit parfois modéliser des phénomènes complexes à partir d'un petit nombre d'observations.La théorie des valeurs extrêmes permet d'évaluer le risque d'événements rares par la méthode des maxima bloc par bloc ou celle des excès au-delà d'un seuil. Le choix du seuil est à la fois influent et délicat, vu la nécessité de trouver un équilibre entre le biais et la précision des estimations. À l'heure actuelle, ce seuil est souvent choisi arbitrairement, soit à partir d'un graphique ou d'un quantile élevé des données.L'inférence bayésienne permet de contourner cette difficulté en traitant le seuil comme un paramètre du modèle. L'approche bayésienne permet en outre d'incorporer des observations internes et externes en lien avec l'opinion d'experts, fournissant ainsi un cadre probabiliste naturel pour l'évaluation des modèles de risque.Cette thèse décrit un cadre d'inférence bayésien pour les extrêmes. Ce cadre est inspiré des travaux de Behrens et coll. (2004), dans lesquels l'étude des extrêmes est réalisée au moyen d'un modèle de mélange alliant une forme paramétrique pour le cœur de la distribution et une loi de Pareto généralisée (LPG) pour sa queue. L'approche proposée exploite toute l'information disponible pour le choix des paramètres des deux lois, y compris le seuil. Une analyse bayésienne tenant compte d'avis d'experts sur les paramètres des lois a priori est ensuite effectué; l'inférence a posteriori s'appuie sur une chaîne de Markov Monte-Carlo. Nous appliquons cette approche à des données relatives aux risqué opérationnels afin d'analyser sa performance.Les principales contributions de cette thèse sont les suivantes :-On fait rarement appel aux modèles bayésiens pour l'analyse du risque opérationnel. Au chapitre 3, nous montrons comment adapter ces modèles à l'analyse du risqué opérationnel au moyen de statistiques de fraudes recueillies par des banques entre 2007 et 2010. L'intégration d'information a priori aux données nous permet d'estimer le capital minimal requis pour chaque banque, ainsi que diverses mesures de risque telles que la valeur à-risque (VaR) et le déficit prévu (DP).-Les avis d'experts jouent un rôle clef dans la modélisation du risque opérationnel. Toutefois, cette question est souvent traitée de façon incorrecte. Au chapitre 4, nous examinons le problème dans son contexte et montrons comment choisir une loi a priori à partir de mesures que les experts connaissent bien, dont la VaR et le DP. Le but est de faciliter le choix de la loi a priori et de mieux refléter l'avis des experts.-À la section 4.3, nous décrivons diverses techniques de synthèse d'opinions d'experts. Bien que ce problème ait déjà été abordé dans d'autres domaines, il est relativement nouveau dans notre contexte. Nous montrons comment élaborer une loi a priori à partir d'avis d'experts et mesurons leur influence sur la loi a posteriori. Des données réelles et simulées sont utilisées aux fins d'illustration.-Au chapitre 5, nous proposons plusieurs nouveaux modèles faisant intervenir des mélanges de lois gamma et de Pareto généralisées. Ces modèles étendent les travaux de Behrens et coll. (2004) dans la mesure où la loi des pertes peut être continue à un quantile donné ou avoir une première dérivée continue au point de jonction. Nous traitons aussi les cas o ù l'échelle est arbitraire et la densité est discontinue.-Enfin, nous présentons deux modèles non paramétriques. Le premier s'appuie sur le fait que le modèle LPG peut être représenté comme un mélange gamma de lois exponentielles; dans le second, l'information a priori sur les paramètres du modèle LPG est représentée par un processus de Dirichlet.

Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018.
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 87-88).
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is a concept that proposes to provide short-range transportation solutions that enable customers to travel point-to-point more quickly than they can today using cars or public transportation. The concept of Urban Air Mobility is not new, but there has been rapidly increasing interest in providing air transportation services within major metropolitan areas. The combination of increasing congestion and advancements in electric aircraft and automation makes the Urban Air Mobility market more attractive for vehicle manufactures and transportation companies. There are many potential applications for new aircraft. However, these applications cannot be based solely on what is technological feasible, but must consider the market, demand, and customer needs. This thesis investigates these factors in order to identify operational challenges that may develop during the implementation and operation of an Urban Air Mobility system. The study focuses on Dallas-Fort Worth to set the scope to one potential early adoption market. The objective is to understand the Dallas-Fort Worth environment better in two dimensions. The first is resident's current perceptions and values. The second is the operational challenges and constraints associated with operating a UAM system. In order to meet this objective, a survey of community members and potential early adopters is conducted to determine customer's perceptions of a UAM system and identify operational challenges that may develop based on customer needs. Next, a case study is completed using 10 reference missions in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The missions represented potential commuter trips, point-to-point trips like sporting events, and randomly generated missions. Through this case study, nineteen operational challenges are identified that may impact the development, implementation, and operation of an Urban Air Mobility system. After reviewing each reference mission, community acceptance of aircraft noise and take off and landing area availability were identified as the operational constraints likely to cause the greatest challenges for UAM operations in Dallas Fort Worth.
by Nicholas Dunn.
M.B.A.
S.M.

This thesis draws on the analysis of data from interviews, observations, documents and archival records to examine the conditions of possibility for PFI procurements by three English National Health Service (NHS) Trusts and the extent to which these projects are affordable and delivering Value for Money (VfM). Drawing from Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice and his social praxeology, the thesis problematizes the critical explanations for the adoption of PFI by NHS Trusts and the VfM evaluations in operational projects. It contributes to the literature by theorising and empirically examining the operational conditions that have made NHS PFI a viable possibility, and the affordability and VfM issues arising from choosing and implementing PFI. On the conditions of possibility, the thesis finds that the state, through a statecraft of modernisation, structured local dispositions for PFI programmes using multi-layered and multi-directed reforms. Reforms restructuring the bureaucracy and financing of healthcare delivery, together with state-wide neoliberal practices, made Trusts more receptive to the use of the PFI. In addition, the increasingly evolving demands from national healthcare delivery frameworks in their applications to insufficiently resourced Trusts, defined the spatio-temporal adoption of the PFI. The thesis also finds that the projects are relatively unaffordable, but the reasons for their unaffordability are complex and multi-layered. In addition, VfM in operational projects is polysemous; has largely become symbolic and inconsequential, with its pursuit and constitution taken for granted. Ex-post evaluation programmes are not executed as procurers hold the costs of such exercises to outweigh the benefits. Furthermore, HM Treasury’s regime for VfM determination, in application, constructs a VfM reality removed from the ‘lived’ experiences of the procurers; and accounts for the apathetic inertia in PFI procurements. However, this same regime works to the benefit of stakeholders vested with financial and ideological interests in the functioning of the PFI.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2010.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-73).
Gauge production line in Company X has an average daily demand of 13 gauges now. And the demand expects to rocket to 26 gauges per day in 2011. However, the current daily throughput is 10 gauges. The current state value stream map was constructed to understand current production and find out the waste. To eliminate operational waste, operator work load was balanced and corresponding standard work procedure for operators and production monitoring technique were developed. The daily production throughput increased by 30% from 10 gauges to 13 gauges. To achieve the daily throughput of 26 gauges, the capacity of current line was analyzed and necessary improvements for flow were identified. Operator workload was rebalanced to meet the demand. Kanban system was suggested for production control. And to reduce the lead time, the production line was also recommended to schedule for mixed production. Finally, the future state value stream map was constructed. The total lead time for electronics parts and mechanical parts from receiving to shipping was reduced from 100 days to 51 days and 57 days to 31 days respectively. And the processing time was reduced from 4.1 hours to 2.5 hours for each gauge.
by Xiaoling Lang.
M.Eng.

This dissertation investigates the implications of using the Advanced Measurement Approaches (AMA) as a method to assess operational risk capital charges for banks and insurance companies within Basel II paradigms and with regard to U.S. regulations. Operational risk has become recognized as a major risk class because of huge operational losses experienced by many financial firms over the last past decade. Unlike market risk, credit risk, and insurance risk, for which firms and scholars have designed efficient methodologies, there are few tools to help analyze and quantify operational risk. The new Basel Revised Framework for International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards (Basel II) gives substantial flexibility to internationally active banks to set up their own risk assessment models in the context of the Advanced Measurement Approaches. The AMA developed in this thesis uses actuarial loss models complemented by the extreme value theory to determine the empirical probability distribution function of the overall capital charge in terms of various classes of copulas. Publicly available operational risk loss data set is used for the empirical exercise.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering.
"May 2005." Title from PDF title page (viewed on August 2, 2006). UMI No.: AAT 3189235 Thesis advisor: S. Hossein Cheraghi. Includes bibliographic references (leaves 136-161).

More and more capital is being directed towards the private equity industry. As a result, private equity owned firms make up an increasingly large share of the economy. Therefore, it is becoming more important to understand the nature of how the operational performance of firms change under private equity ownership. This study looked at how the operational efficiency in terms of EBIT-margin changed over a three-year period after a private equity acquisition in the Nordic market. The study found that companies which had an initial positive EBIT margin behaved differently from companies with an initial negative EBIT margin and therefore two separate models where created. It was found that in the case where the company had a positive EBIT margin before being bought by a private equity firm saw an average decrease in EBIT margin of 1.14% units. In the case of a firm with initial negative EBIT-margin a private equity acquisition led to an average increase in EBIT margin by 1.99% units compared to the reference data. This study thus shows that private equity ownership affects the operational efficiency of companies. Moreover, it shows that one should make a distinction between PE ownership in profitable growth cases and turn-around cases of inefficient companies and that the impact of PE ownership in terms of effect on operational profitability can be vastly different depending on the nature of the acquisition in this regard.
Private Equity industrin ser ökande inströmning av investeringskapital, vilket resulterat i att en allt större del av ekonomin utgörs av private equity-ägda företag. Därmed ökar vikten av att förstå hur private equity firmor påverkar sina portföljbolag under ägandeperioden. Denna studie undersöker hur EBIT-marginalen i företag förändrats över en treårsperiod efter att företagen blivit förvärvade av ett nordiskt private equity-bolag. Studien hittade en signifikant skillnad mellan hur företag med initialt positiv, respektive negativ EBIT-marginal påverkades under treårsperioden och två separata modeller skapades för att utvärdera effekten. Resultaten påvisade med signifikans att företag med initial positiv EBIT-marginal minskade sin EBIT-marginal med 1.14% relativt jämförbara företag efter ett private equity förvärv. För företag med initialt negativ EBIT-marginal påvisades med signifikans en ökning av EBIT-marginalen med 1.99% relativt jämförbara företag efter ett private equity förvärv. Studien påvisar därmed att private equity ägande har en påverkan på operationell lönsamhet och att den skiljer sig markant beroende på ifall företaget initialt är operativt lönsamt eller ej.

Today, companies have to redesign and improve their operational performance to cope with the market competition. While research related to organizational improvements has focused on applications of value stream mapping in mass production plants, it is unclear whether value steam mapping can be applied in new product introduction organizations. This thesis strives to generate and describe a customized value stream mapping tool adapted to manage twofold customer value within new product introduction environments, processes that construct products and information gathered from the production and incorporated into next generation products. The study is conducted with a case study approach including an application of the model in an industrial setting. The findings implicate that the value stream mapping tool is applicable when managing performance improvements during new product introduction. Moreover, performance measures to evaluate the new product introduction information loop are presented.

The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Atlanta, Georgia’s radial I-85 had long been providing sub-optimal throughput in the peak traffic hours, as the two-person occupancy requirement allowed the lanes to become heavily congested. The Georgia Department of Transportation converted 15.5 miles of HOV 2+ lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, one in each direction on I-85. The lanes use dynamic value pricing to set toll levels based on the volume and average speed of traffic in the lanes. The goal of this research was to investigate the responses to toll lane pricing and the factors that appear to inform lane choice decisions, as well as examining values of travel time savings and toll price elasticity for users of the Express Lanes. This study of the metropolitan Atlanta I-85 Express Lanes operates at the microscopic level to examine the impact of demographic characteristics, congestion levels, and pricing on users’ decisions to use or not use the I-85 Express Lanes. The dissertation examined the value of travel time savings distributions across income segments. The differences in these distributions among lower, medium, and higher income households were marginal at best. The results did not indicate that higher income households had the highest value of travel time savings results, as may have been expected. The modeling work performed here provided a number of insights into toll lane use. The determinants of lane choice decision-making in the morning peak had notable differences from the determinants of the afternoon peak. The initial analysis involved models which were estimated across three different income segments to examine differences in decision making between low, medium, and higher income households. The results indicated that the parameters were largely consistent across the three segments. Further segmenting the households showed that lane choice determinants varied more within the ‘Higher’ income segment than across the original three-segment structure. In particular, the five-segment models illustrated lower elasticities with regard to corridor segment counts and toll levels for the highest-income households in the sample, as well as higher household income level elasticities for afternoon trips by that same cohort. The research was among the first in the available literature to use revealed preference lane use data for both the toll lane users and the unpriced general purpose lane users. The use of household level marketing data, rather than census or survey data, was another unique characteristic of this research. The analysis of value of travel time savings with a demographic component that looks at household income has not yet been seen in the literature; similarly, the findings regarding differing behavior among very high income households appear to be unseen in the existing literature. The results from this analysis, such as willingness-to-pay values for different population segments, will be useful inputs to the decisions surrounding future HOT implementations in the Atlanta region. The use of new data sources, the evaluation of those types of data sources, and the application of methods that have previously been unused in this field make up the primary contributions of this dissertation.

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2004.
"June 2004."
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-115).
This paper assesses the value of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the transportation forecasting, planning, and execution processes for truckload (TL) and less than truckload (LTL) services. The results show that the value of RFID in transportation highly varies according to the sub-process and the player which are considered. The value in forecasting and planning is high for consignees and TL carriers, but low for shippers. For the execution process, the value is high for consignees, moderate for shippers, low for TL carriers and potentially high for LTL carriers. Fundamentally, the common value that RFID can bring to each player is labor cost reduction, obtained by automation of dock and clerical activities, and better service in tracking and reconciling, thanks to accurate and up-to-date information. The potential for dramatic improvement in transportation through RFID exists. Achieving such improvement will be possible only if information sharing rules, such as those espoused by Collaborative Transportation Management (CTM), and well formalized procedures are implemented. RFID can give to CTM invaluable "raw material", while CTM can enable the transportation players to fully take advantage of this material.
by Antoine Guitton.
M.Eng.in Logistics

The importance of environmental analysis in the strategic management process and the effects of economic value drivers on firm or industry performance have been discussed conceptually and empirically by researchers in corporate failure, and in the areas of finance, accounting, strategic management, and the hospitality industry in the past. The belief is that the more systematic and frequent the scanning performed by managers the higher the chances of improving the firmâ s or industryâ s performance. The present study is an attempt to identify economic value drivers that impact the casual theme sector of the restaurant industry and to ascertain the degree of the impact during the period 1994-2003.

The statistical analysis was based on time series data, using Cross Correlation, Granger Causality, and Multivariate Regression. An exhaustive range of economic value drivers within ten categories were tested: commodity market; foreign currency market; labor market; inflation; stock market; national income and output; interest rate; government revenue, spending, debt, and taxes; money supply; and consumer spending. The unit of analysis was done at the industry level, and an index of operational cash flows of the casual theme sector of the restaurant industry was developed.

Economic value drivers within the categories of commodity markets, labor markets, inflation, stock market, national input/output, government revenue/spending/debt/taxes, money markets, and consumer spending indicated co-movements with and causality to the index of operational cash flows per unit in the casual theme restaurant industry. A high variance in the operational cash flows in the casual theme restaurant industry was explained by a set of economic value drivers within commodity markets, inflation, and labor markets.

In broad, practical terms, the study intends to support the importance of assessing the economic environment for better performance of the restaurant industry and to provide food service managers with a conceptual model to understand the unanticipated effects on the performance of existing or new strategies. In real terms, the model and set of economic value drivers in the model would help them decide what kinds of action or investment in a firm or industryâ s weakness should be taken to buffer future operational risks against value drivers within economic environment.
Master of Science

Numerous companies experienced the digital transformation of their functional and operationalstrategies. Among all the business sectors, which are being transformed, the industrial sector exhibits aconsiderable delay in transforming its operational strategy. The most significant underlying reason isthe high expenditure involved in upgrading the hardware components and infrastructure. According tothe literature, transformed companies enjoyed higher revenues and became more innovative. However,in most researches, an instant character was given to the transformation, and only a few years wereinvestigated; therefore, there was a need to describe the dynamics of the transformation with differentstages based on how it was executed. The digital transformation variable constructed in this studycontained the missing information from both the time the transformation was implemented and thespecific level it has reached. In particular, the investigated sample included ten firms from theindustrial sector of motion, automation, and robotics over ten years, and a panel data analysis wasconducted by utilizing the developed digital transformation variable. The analysis revealed that boththe business revenue and patented innovations were positively related to the transformation. Thetransformation brought immediate results to the innovation aspects, and all the examined companiesimproved their patented innovations. In contrast, the relationship of the business revenue with thelevel of the digital transformation was found impaired compared to previous studies. The investigationof the impact of the time lag resulted in the same conclusions for both explored variables, whereas themodel has been found robust against changes in the constructed digital transformation variable. Sincemore time and resources are required for the industrial sector to enjoy the transformation benefits, thissector must be studied independently by understanding its unique implications for the interpretation ofthe transformation outcomes.

Thesis (M.S. in Information Technology Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2006.
Thesis Advisor(s): Thomas J. Housel. "June 2006." Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-72). Also available in print.

Digitalization as a driving force in the AEC industry is no longer a new subject when talking about accelerating innovation and solving environmental challenges. Traditional approaches can limit some of these outcomes and typically imply that many issues that could have been predicted with early involvement of stakeholders, are recognized in much later stages of the project at great expense. In a long run outlook, the operational phase of a building is notably the most demanding if accounting the lifecycle perspective of a building. Still, why is O&M lagging in adopting integrated models? This thesis approaches this subject from the assumption that Information Management plays a strategic role to oversee the different demands, urgencies and use from both sides.  The first theoretical framework used was Lean Management’s main premise that value is created through the identification of waste in a continuous improvement process. The second theoretical framework presented was to analyze the findings with the intention to simulate an optimal context for information flow and understand where the biggest bottlenecks are. The findings show that the perceived value on the information added is low from actors actually feeding the model, a bit higher from project managers but an essential part of information managers responsibility. Main issues related to digitalization were directly linked to the lack of communication between teams, lack of standards across different teams as well as difficulty in finding effective and accurate information. Practical issues with high information models related by the industry also demonstrate a necessity of more roles focused on information management. A model based on the five principles of Lean Management is in equivalence to Information Management is presented and then inserted as enablers for a continuous improvement cycle. Based on the findings, further research can evaluate in more detail the view from operational teams towards information management roles.
Digitalisering som en drivande kraft i AEC-industrin är inte längre ett nytt ämne när man talar om att påskynda innovation och lösa miljöutmaningar. Traditionella tillvägagångssätt kan begränsa vissa delar av resultatet och många frågeställningar som kunde ha besvarats genom ett tidigt engagemang av intressenter, blir lösta i mycket senare skeden av projektet, till stora kostnader. På lång sikt är driftsfasen i ett byggprojekt den mest krävande när man tittar på livscykeln av en byggnad. Så varför ingår inte O&M i integrerade modeller? Denna uppsats tar sig an detta ämne utifrån antagandet att informationshantering spelar en strategisk roll för att övervaka de olika kraven, hur brådskande det kan vara och användningen från båda sidor. Den första teoretiska utgångspunkten som användes var Lean Managements huvudsakliga premiss att värde skapas genom identifiering av avfall i en kontinuerlig förbättringsprocess. Den andra teoretiska utgångspunkten som användes var för att analysera resultaten med avsikten att simulera ett optimalt sammanhang för informationsflöde och förstå var de största flaskhalsarna låg. Resultaten visar att det upplevda värdet på den tillagda informationen är lågt från aktörer som faktiskt matar modellen, lite högre för projektledare men en viktig del av informationschefernas ansvar. Problemen relaterade till digitalisering var direkt kopplade till bristen på kommunikation mellan team, brist på standarder mellan olika team samt svårigheter att hitta effektiv och korrekt information. Praktiska problem med informationsmodeller relaterade till branschen visar också att det behövs fler roller som fokuserar på informationshantering. En modell baserad på Lean Management fem olika principer är i likhet med Information Management-praxis och presenteras och infogas sedan som möjliggörare för en kontinuerlig förbättringscykel. Baserat på resultaten kan vidare forskning utvärdera mer detaljerat synen från operativa team mot informationshanteringsroller.

Post deregulation, many U.S. airlines created hubs with banked schedules, however, in the past decade these same airlines began to experiment with depeaking their schedules to reduce costs and improve operational performance. To date there has been little research that has investigated revenue and operational shifts associated with depeaked schedules; yet understanding the trade-offs among revenue, costs, and operational performance at a network level is critical before airlines will consider future depeaking and related congestion-management strategies. This study develops data cleaning and analysis methodologies based on publicly available data that are used to quantify airport-level and network-level revenue and operational changes associated with schedule depeaking. These methodologies are applied to six case studies of airline depeaking over the past decade. Results show that depeaking is associated with revenue per available seat mile (RASM) increasing slower than the rest of the network and the industry as a whole. Depeaking is associated with improved operations for both the depeaking airlines and competitors. Airports benefit from increases in non-aeronautical sales associated with connecting passengers spending more time in the terminal. The underlying reasons driving airlines' scheduling decisions during depeaking vary greatly by case. Results from the study provide insights for airlines that are considering depeaking and the airports which are affected. The results suggest that losses in RASM and no improvement in operations could potentially lead an airline to repeak, and that RASM is prone to fall when a strong competitive threat exists.

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) combined with Target Value Design (TVD) is a better way to deliver value for the client than traditional guaranteed maximum price (GMP) methods. With traditional GMP delivery methods, the interests of the parties are often at odds. The goal of IPD is to align all party interests in order to achieve a win-win scenario. Due to the aligning nature of IPD and the fact that each party’s success is dependent on achieving the project objectives as a whole; a non-biased, transparent, decision-making process is necessary in order to deliver the project objectives within the constraints of the TVD. Thus delivering the expected value for the client and ensuring that all parties achieve project success. The need for this transparent decision-making process is compounded by the fact that a “target” based system rapidly declines to a less than optimal state if there is no unbiased decision-making process in place. If we treat the entire lifespan of a project as the complex system that it is, we can begin to take advantage of the hierarchical nature of complex systems. The goal of this paper is to show that by modeling the life span of a project through a multi-criteria decision making model, built on a hierarchical framework will allow you to find a non-inferior solution to your TVD. I’m proposing to use Hierarchical Holographic Modeling (HHM) as the framework for an Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) multi-criteria decision-making model complete with post-optimality analysis as the preferred project management method.

Thesis (MScEng)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It has been postulated that lean thinking principles can be successfully applied to any industry. Following on that postulation, there have been great advances in the area of lean thinking outside the “traditional” domain of manufacturing. One such advancement has been in the area of maintenance operations where lean thinking has been used through the concept of lean maintenance. However, a problem lies in the fact that the work that has been done so far has been largely limited to the manufacturing environment where lean maintenance is practised as a prerequisite for lean manufacturing. Little evidence exists of the use of frameworks or models that can test, let alone apply, lean thinking in operational maintenance environments outside of the manufacturing context. The main objective of this research was to come up with a framework, based on lean thinking tools and relevant performance measures, which will prove the applicability or otherwise, of lean thinking in an operational maintenance environment outside the traditional domain of manufacturing. A case study of the rolling stock section of the Salt River depot of PRASA, Metrorail, which is a typical non-traditional domain for lean thinking, was used to build and verify the framework. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) together with the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) process, is used in building and quantifying the judgements made in developing elements of the framework. The Value Stream Management process is used to predict the possible outcomes of using the proposed framework in the case study. The study was based on the hypothesis that lean thinking can also be applicable to non-manufacturing oriented maintenance organisations. The ensuing framework is used to make the argument for the use of the lean thinking approach in non-manufacturing oriented maintenance environments and hence expand the body of knowledge in this subject area. It also provides a roadmap for PRASA, Metrorail and other similar maintenance organisations in the rail industry to streamline and improve current operations through value addition and waste elimination efforts.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word bespiegel dat die beginsels van besparende denke (“lean thinking”) suksesvol toegepas kan word op enige industrie. As gevolg van hierdie hipotese is daar groot vooruitgang op die gebied van besparende denke buite die “tradisionele” gebied van vervaardiging. Een sodanige vooruitgang is op die gebied van die verrigting van instandhouding waar besparende denke bekend is as die konsep van “lean maintenance”. Die problem is dat die vooruitgang tot dusver beperk is tot die vervaardigingsomgewing waar besparende instandhouding beskou word as ‟n vereisde vir besparende vervaardiging. Daar word min gebruik gemaak van raamwerke of modelle om besparende denke te toets of om dit toe te pas in instandhoudingsomgewings buite die vervaardigingskonteks. Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie navorsing is om te vore te kom wet ‟n raamwerk wat gegrond is op besparende denke en relevante prestasie maatstawwe, en wat die toepaslikheid van besparende denke , al dan nie, op die verrigting van instandhouding buite die tradisionele gebied van vervaardiging sal bewys. ‟n Gevalle studie van die Soutrivier Depot van PRASA Metrorail, wat tipies is van ‟n nie-tradisionele gebied vir besparende denke, is gebruik vir die bou en stawing van die raamwerk. Die analitiese hiëragiese proses (AHP) tesame met die kwaliteits funksionele ontplooiing (QFD) proses word gebruik in die kies van elemente vir die raamwerk. Die waarde stroom bestuursproses word gebruik om die moontlik uitkomste van die gebruik van die voorgestelde raamwerk, te voorspel. Die studie is gegrond op die hipotese dat besparende denke ook toegepas kan word op nie-vervaarding-georienteerde instandhoudingsorganisasies. Die raamwerk word gebruik om te bewys dat die besparende denke benadering gebruik kan word in nie-vervaardiging–georienteerde instandhoudingsomgewings en dus kennis hieroor uit te brei. Die raamwerk kan ook gebruik word as ‟n padkaart deur Metrorail en ander soortgelyke instandhoudingsorganisasies in die spoorweg industrie, om hulle huidige werksverrigting deur waarde toevoeging te verbeter en om verkwisting te voorkom.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado.
This paper proposes the application and implementation of the lean thinking methodology at a company dedicated to selling vehicles, spare parts, and post-sales services. For these purposes, tools such as process maps, flowcharts, indicators, system layout planning tools, and 5S implementation are used, supported by training sessions for process participants. As a result, customer complaints were reduced by 0.13% per month, and the number of work orders handled by the site increased by 0.38% per month. Moreover, a 0.32% increase in man/hour productivity was reported, leading to a 44.32% decrease in Duster vehicle delivery times.

Alma Andina EIRL. es una empresa interesada en invertir en el rubro agrícola mediante la producción y comercialización de productos hidropónicos en la región Tumbes; por lo que requiere la creación del Caso de Negocio que servirá para sustentar la factibilidad sobre la inversión de USD $449,369.94 necesaria para incursionar en esta nueva línea de negocio, frente a su posible socio capitalista. Dicha inversión espera un Valor Presente Neto (VPN) de US$161,950.05 para 5 años de operación y una Tasa Interna de Retorno (TIR) de 16.72%. Para la realización de dicha inversión será necesario la ejecución de un proyecto que involucra el “Diseño, Construcción y Equipamiento de una Planta de Producción Hidropónica en la Región Tumbes” con una capacidad diaria de producción de 2000 unidades, un Presupuesto Total de $364,114.80 y un plazo de ejecución de 6 meses. Para asegurar el éxito en la ejecución de dicho proyecto se realizará un Plan para la Dirección del Proyecto aplicando las buenas prácticas de clase mundial que brinda el PMI® a través de los estándares presentados en la Guía del PMBOK®, 5ta Edición.
Alma Andina EIRL. is a company interested in investing in agriculture through the production and marketing of hydroponic products in the Tumbes region; so, it requires the creation of the Business Case that will serve to support the feasibility of the investment of USD $449,369.94 necessary to enter this new line of business in front of its potential capitalist partner. This investment expects a Net Present Value (VPN) of US$161,950.05 for 5 years of operation and an Internal Return Rate (IRR) of 16.72%. To carry out this investment will require the execution of a project involving the "Design, Construction and Equipment of a Hydroponic Production Plant in the Tumbes Region" with a daily production capacity of 2000 units, a Budget Total $364,114.80- and 6-month execution time. To ensure success in the implementation of this project, a Plan for Project Management will be carried out applying the world-class best practices provided by the PMI® through the standards presented in the PMBOK guide®, 5th Edition.
Trabajo de investigación

The focus of this doctoral research is on developing an enhanced understanding of the nature and operational significance of fair values by studying the organisational systems and processes through which such values are produced. The external reporting of fair values in corporate financial statements has created significant controversy and debate, particularly during the global financial crisis with various accusations and competing defences as to whether or not such a form of accounting caused or exacerbated the crisis. Fair value accounting has been debated mainly from a relevance and reliability perspective, with much attention paid to the relative usefulness of fair value accounting to investors and claims and counter claims relating to the reliability and subjectivity of fair values compared to historical costing approaches. Investigation into implementation issues affecting reliability, however, has been little studied. While an emerging strand of the literature has pointed to the importance of recognising fair value accounting’s social constructed nature, relatively few research papers have examined the construction of fair values and the ways in which such values are shaped by social and organisational contextual influences. This research contributes to such an emerging literature through a detailed case study of the construction of fair values in an international financial services organisation. The primary focus of analysis is the work of the organisation’s central governing body in this area, namely its Fair Value Committee (FVC). The work of the FVC provides a rich empirical base from which to examine the key factors and perspectives influencing the organisation’s approach to fair values. In particular, through a detailed analysis of its formal minutes and supporting interviews with senior members of the FVC and other key organisational actors, the research documents and reflects on the nature and direction of change that the organisation experienced during the global financial crisis with respect to the operation of its fair value system. The main research findings in relation to the nature of the fair value system are: Firstly, the operation of an organisational fair value accounting system emerges not as a demonstrative example of objective, arm’s length pricing but as a social, relational process influenced by the organisational context. Secondly, in studying the way in which fair values are made sense of or constructed to be market consistent, patterns of sensemaking generally invoke a rational and prudent view of the market, which stimulates questioning as to whether fair value accounting is inherently pro-cyclical and exacerbates swings in the financial market. Thirdly, ‘fair value’ pricing should not be seen as being without a semblance of order and routine. Fourthly, the observed growing dependency of fair value accounting on valuation experts provides confirmation of the weakening jurisdictional authority of auditors and their monitoring role in overseeing fair value accounting. Finally, the research reveals clear evidence of the constitutive effects of fair value accounting on the organisation’s investment policy and permitted investments. As such, the acceptance of specialist models to construct fair values should not only be seen as being reflective of the particular organisational context but also serving in part to permit (and encourage) investments in esoteric financial instruments - a constitutive impact on the organisation's investment strategy and risk profile. The study encourages a greater empirical analysis of the operational construction, development and utilisation of fair values so as to advance knowledge and move the debate beyond polemical debates on the status of fair value accounting.

Thesis (MMil (Computer Information Systems))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
Since the 1940s, the evaluation of information systems has been the topic of many authors’ research. When taking into account the amount of resources invested in an organisation’s information systems, especially in the present fiscal conditions, then the evaluation of an information system’s success is imperative. Traditionally, monetarybased evaluation measures were used to evaluate the success of an information system, however, these types of measures were found to be inadequate in their attempt to measure the complexity of information systems successfully. Surrogate measures, such as the user’s satisfaction with the information system, were developed to replace monetary-based evaluation measures. These forms of measures are often perceptual by nature and usually encompass the different stakeholders involved in the information system.

Our interest in this thesis is first to combine the different measurement techniques for operational risk in financial companies, and we highlight more and more the consequences of estimation risk which is treated as a particular part of operational risk. In the first part, we will present a full overview of operational risk, from the regulatory laws and regulations to the associated mathematical and actuarial concepts as well as a numerical application regarding the Advanced Measurement Approach, like Loss Distribution to calculate the capital requirement, then applying the Extreme Value Theory. We conclude this first part by setting a scaling technique based on (OLS) enabling us to normalize our external data to a local Lebanese Bank. On the second part, we feature estimation risk by first measuring the error induced on the SCR by the estimation error of the parameters, to having an alternative yield curve estimation and finishing by calling attention to the reflections on assumptions of the calculation instead of focusing on the so called hypothesis "consistent with market values", would be more appropriate and effective than to complicate models and generate additional errors and instability. Chapters in this part illustrate the estimation risk in its different aspects which is a part of operational risk, highlighting as so the attention that should be given in treating our models

Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2003.
Thesis advisor(s): Samuel E. Buttrey, Robert Koyak. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-78). Also available online.

The research for this thesis "Options for Developing a New Mid Micron Value Proposition for Consumers", is a part of a larger "New Mid Micron Products" project initiated by Mid Micron New Zealand Inc with the key goal of turning the Mid Micron Sector into a more vibrant and profitable one. The motivation for the project can be found in the dramatic fall in demand for New Zealand Mid Micron wool over the past decade. Two dominant causes for the fall in demand for Mid Micron wool were identified: the substandard skin comfort of final products made from Mid Micron wool, and a problem with the structure of the Mid Micron Sector. These problems are addressed in the "New Mid Micron Products" project that combines new product development and new marketing initiatives. Product development involved the use of new spinning technology to improve skin comfort quality and develop new products that are softer and prickle free. The aim is to extract more value for woolgrowers by having the wool converted into a higher value product. The new marketing initiatives, which were identified in this thesis research, Focusing On New Market Segments via E-Commerce and Reconfiguring The Value Chain, and concentrate on the operational issues of capturing the value from the newly developed Mid Micron products. Taking into account the nature of the overall Mid Micron Project and type of developed products, this research identified the Operational Excellence and Product Leadership models as alternative routes to develop a new Mid Micron Value Proposition for consumers. Operational Excellence, and the associated Cost Leadership strategy, is a low capital investment option, while Product Leadership and the associated Differentiation strategy is a high capital investment option. The models' principles and their elements, products, price and delivery to market, are evaluated in the context of the Mid Micron Business.

Master of Regional and Community Planning
Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning
Richard L. Hoag
Abstract On October 6, 2006 President Bush signed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act, Pub. Law No. 109-308). The Act ensures that state and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency (The Library of Congress, 109:H.R. 3858, 2006). This thesis identifies nineteen indicators to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the PETS program in the areas of economics and public health. This report gives specific examples of how each indicator can be used to measure, assess, guide, and monitor the outcomes of evacuating pets in state or local emergency preparedness operational plans.

ISO 14001 is the specification and guideline providing the framework for the establishment of the EMS. It was first published in September 1996 and updated in November 2004. It was developed by ISO, a Geneva-based NGO that promotes the development and implementation of international standards (Darnall, 2001:2). EMS is part of the organisation’s management system used to develop and implement its environmental policy and manage its environmental impacts (ISO 14001, 2004:2). In South Africa there is no legal requirement for EMSs to be put into place, other than where it may have been made a condition of a permit or licence application. All Underground Platinum Mines are required to develop, document, implement, maintain and review their EMS, which should be certified toISO14001:2004 (AEW, 2009:13). The problem is that the implementation of an EMS is associated with a number of shortcomings and may be seen as a paper exercise to satisfy the needs of external auditors during audits with no particular value accruing to the organisation. The aim of the research was to determine the operational value of the ISO 14001 EMS at selected Underground Platinum Mines. A structured survey-based research study was conducted among employees in three different operations within Underground Platinum Mine. This included literature and case studies review, interviews with key EMS implementers and distribution of questionnaires to those employees involved with the EMS implementation. The main aim of the research has been achieved and all the research sub-questions were answered. The study concludes that the ISO 14001 EMS as implemented at Underground Platinum Mine is not merely a paper exercise but has an operational value.
Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Currently, financial institutions are supposed to analyze and quantify a new type of banking risk, known as operational risk. Financial institutions are exposed to this risk in their everyday activities. The main objective of this work is to construct an acceptable statistical model of capital requirement computation. Such a model must respect specificity of losses arising from operational risk events. The fundamental task is represented by searching for a suitable distribution, which describes the probabilistic behavior of losses arising from this type of risk. There is a strong utilization of the Pickands-Balkema-de Haan theorem used in extreme value theory. Roughly speaking, distribution of a random variable exceeding a given high threshold, converges in distribution to generalized Pareto distribution. The theorem is subsequently used in estimating the high percentile from a simulated distribution. The simulated distribution is considered to be a compound model for the aggregate loss random variable. It is constructed as a combination of frequency distribution for the number of losses random variable and the so-called severity distribution for individual loss random variable. The proposed model is then used to estimate a fi -nal quantile, which represents a searched amount of capital requirement. This capital requirement is constituted as the amount of funds the bank is supposed to retain, in order to make up for the projected lack of funds. There is a given probability the capital charge will be exceeded, which is commonly quite small. Although a combination of some frequency distribution and some severity distribution is the common way to deal with the described problem, the final application is often considered to be problematic. Generally, there are some combinations for severity distribution of two or three, for instance, lognormal distributions with different location and scale parameters. Models like these usually do not have any theoretical background and in particular, the connecting of distribution functions has not been conducted in the proper way. In this work, we will deal with both problems. In addition, there is a derivation of maximum likelihood estimates of lognormal distribution for which hold F_LN(u) = p, where u and p is given. The results achieved can be used in the everyday practices of financial institutions for operational risks quantification. In addition, they can be used for the analysis of a variety of sample data with so-called heavy tails, where standard distributions do not offer any help. As an integral part of this work, a CD with source code of each function used in the model is included. All of these functions were created in statistical programming language, in S-PLUS software. In the fourth annex, there is the complete description of each function and its purpose and general syntax for a possible usage in solving different kinds of problems.

The main aim of the thesis is to optimize the management of the production process with the focus on the material flows in the manufacturing company Jung in Brno. The thesis takes into consideration the analysis of the current state of the company. In addition, the thesis describes the production programs and processes with the focus on the material flow and material stocks. The work also aims to identify and minimize bottlenecks in the production process. Apart from the main directions along which the material goes, the process of supply, removal from storage and efficiency of working with material during production is analyzed. The findings of the thesis of the work are suggestions that would make the operational business management effective, reduce production costs and increase the dynamics of the transformation process of production.

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Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa
Many authors consider Operational Risk as a key variable for maintaining the balance of the global financial market. The objective of this dissertation is to study the development of a Advanced Measurement Approach (AMA), specifically the Loss Distribution Approach (LDA) on a database of actual operational losses. Being more specifically, this study promotes an analysis about the results and possible limitations related to the implementation of the model. To achieve these goals, it is needed to discuss the definitions of Operational Risk, Monte Carlo Simulation and value-at-risk (VaR), considering that these concepts are crucial to the implementation of the LDA.
O risco operacional é considerado por muitos autores uma variável determinante para a manutenção do equilíbrio do mercado financeiro global. O objetivo desta dissertação é estudar o desenvolvimento de uma modelo de Abordagem de Mensuração Avançada (AMA),mais especificamente a Loss Distribution Approach (LDA), sobre um banco de dados reais de perdas operacionais. Mais especificamente este estudo promove uma análise sobre os resultados e sobre eventuais limitações relacionadas à aplicação do modelo. Para realização destes objetivos, abordam-se as definições do risco operacional, simulação de Monte Carlo e value-at-risk (VaR), haja vista que estes são conceitos cruciais para a aplicação do LDA.

Routing and designing are essential for transportation networks. With effective routing and designing policies, transportation networks can work safely and efficiently. There are two transportation problems: hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation and warehouse logistics. This dissertation addresses the routing of networks for both problems. For hazmat transportation, the routing can be regulated via network design. Due to catastrophic consequences of potential accidents in hazmat transportation, a risk-averse approach for routing is necessary. In this dissertation, we consider spectral risk measures, for risk-averse hazmat routing. In addition, we introduce a network design problem to select a set of closed road segments for hazmat traffic with conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) to regulate hazmat routing. In warehouses, the routing of electric forklifts with sufficient battery levels is for material handling. The optimization model of dynamic wireless charging lane location is proposed under the workflow congestion in parallel-aisle warehouses. Considering the uncertainty of demands, the wireless charging lane location problem is formulated as a two-stage stochastic programming model. We confirm the efficiency of the proposed algorithms in solving these problems and the key advantages of use the proposed routing and designing policies via case studies.

Nuclear energy is a source of carbon free power. With many countries striving to make deep carbon cuts in their energy sectors, nuclear energy could be a large part of the solution. One of the main obstacles standing in the way of the use of nuclear energy is the issue of used nuclear fuel disposal. According to the NEI, the U.S. creates about 2000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel per year and has generated around 76,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel over the last 4 decades. While there are technical problems that need to be solved, it is primarily the public and political opposition to the disposal of used nuclear fuel that stands in the way of progress in this area. This work addresses this issue through Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). To make a decision among ten different fuel cycles, we have brought together five stakeholders: Nuclear Scientists and Engineers, Environmental Scientists, Economists, Political Scientists, and The General Public. Using Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT), we have been able to develop decision models for each stakeholder as well as a model that combines them all and came to the conclusion that of the ten fuel cycles considered, the best decision is to continue to use On Site Dry Cask Storage. This decision is made with small sample sizes but the methodology could be applied at much larger scales and can potentially be used to choose a fuel cycle that encounters much less political and social opposition to its implementation.

An increased competitive climate has enhanced the importance for companies to differentiate from other companies. Today, the customer support within service organizations are often disregarded as a source of value due to the focus on costs. Further, it has become more important to leverage the contact with the customer at all encounters. New technological advancements within Business Intelligence have also enabled companies to increase their competitiveness through improved decision support. The objective of this thesis is through a case study investigate how an insurance company could leverage its customer support as a source of creating shareholder value as well as how to apply trends within Business Intelligence for increased decision support. This was done through developing a conceptual model based on academic theory in order to provide a tool for analysis and development of a customer support. The research questions intends to investigate how an customer support can contribute to, and balance a focus on service quality, costs and sales in order to enhance shareholder value. A business driven approach was further used in order to understand how a customer support could leverage the emerging trends of Business Intelligence. This since the thesis also aims to provide some first insights into how to leverage the trends of mobile- and Self-Service- Business Intelligence within the customer support within insurance companies. The research emphasizes the need to have a holistic view of what drives value and costs with regard to the retention, growth and acquisition of customers when viewing the customer support as a source of value. The thesis concludes that both the trends of mobile- and Self-Service- Business Intelligence could enable an insurance company to gain new insights through utilizing existing internal as well as external data in order to conduct a more continuous and flexible analysis of important matters.

Digital platforms and tools have already taken over a large part of human daily lives and with the latest pandemic of COVID-19 it is clear how these technological trends have just increased, in both intensity and complexity, across most of the different aspects that comprehend our everyday activities. For instance, people are staying more at home and people now socialize, consume and work with help of different digital tools, which in other words means that the homes’ original role is changing to a more multifaceted and integral function. Based on such reality, this master thesis aims to investigate how property owners of housing rentals in Stockholm could extract value from these mentioned trends and context by incorporating new alternative income streams in their current business models. Moreover, this academic inquiry also intends to investigate the financial effect that these streams incorporation could have on a property valuation in the housing rental sector of Stockholm.  This thesis project follows two different, yet subsequential, lines of research, where the first one is an interview with local industry experts that provided insights in which kind of potential new value streams that property owners could incorporate in their current business models. They also shared information regarding which kind of digital tools are needed nowadays to make the new offering to the tenants in the most effective way within the Stockholm Private Rental Sector context. The industry experts also gave estimations of the cash flows enhancements that these service incorporation could bring to the owner . This information created the foundation that was used to later interview property owners. The property owners gave information of which kind of digital tools they used today, and what their view was about incorporating the new services and contracts that the industry experts had pointed out as possible new income streams. Both sets of interviews were analyzed with help of finding themes and reviewed literature that allowed the authors of this project to move on to evaluate the financial effect on a housing rental property in Stockholm whenever the new cash flows of the filtered income streams were considered.  The thesis has reached the conclusion that an incorporation of provision of services can create value for both the tenant and the property owner, even though specific services that should be incorporated aren't pointed out. The market was, at the time this thesis was written, immature and fast moving, which makes it hard to say which services will be successful in the Swedish market. Despite this are the results pointing out that contracts as home-electricity and insurances are among the services that have the lowest barrier to implement, and have already been tried by some actors in the industry. For those actors that have started an incorporation of provision of services have already noticed new cash-flows streams, even if they today are minor. The second conclusion is that those cash-flows will in the future trigger higher property values as properties will be a more attractive asset to possess. To be able to identify the demand and extract value from it in a successful way is a user-centered approach a key aspect, as the transaction must create new value for all actors involved
Digitala plattformer och verktyg har redan tagit över en stor del av människors dagliga liv och med den senast Corona-pandemin är det tydligt hur teknologiska trender har ökat, i både intensitet och komplexitet, och påverkar de flesta människors vardagsaktiviteter. Under Corona-pandemin har människor spenderat mer tid hemma och människor har socialiserar, konsumerar och arbetar med hjälp av olika digitala verktyg, vilket innebär att hemmets originella funktion har förändrats till en mer mångfacetterad funktion i människors liv. Baserad på detta så undersöker denna masteruppsatsen hur fastighetsägare, av hyresrätter i Stockholm, kan extrahera värde från dessa nämnda trender genom att inkorporera nya intäktsströmmar i deras befintliga affärsmodell. Denna akademiska uppsats undersöker också vilken påverkan dessa nya intäktsströmmar har på fastighetsvärden i hyresrättssektorn i Stockholm.  Metoden för att nå en slutsats är uppdelad i två processer, där den första är att intervjua vad som benämns i uppsatsen som industri-experter inom ämnet proptech. Dessa bidrar med insikt kring vilka nya intäktsströmmar som möjliga att inkorporera i fastighetsägares nuvarande affärsmodell. Dom understödjer också med information kring vilka digitala verktyg som är nödvändiga för att kunna inkorporera tjänsteförmedling på ett effektivt sätt till hyresgäster i Stockholms privata hyressektor. Utöver detta så ger industri-experterna estimeringar kring vilka värden som kunde tillfalla fastighetsägarens för varje enskild tjänsteförmedling. Denna information används som ett underlag vid nästa skede av intervjuprocessen med fastighetsägarna. Fastighetsägarna bidrar med information kring vilka digitala verktyg dom använde, vid tidpunkten denna uppsats skrevs, och deras syn på att inkorporera förmedling av de tjänster och kontrakt som industri-experterna pekar ut under första intervjuprocessen. Intervjuerna analyseras med hjälp av tematisk analys och parallellt med detta analyseras litteratur, vilket skapade möjlighet att utvärdera vilka finansiella effekter som en inkorporering av tjänsteförmedling kan få på hyresrättssektorn i Stockholm.  Uppsatsen når slutsatsen att inkorporering av tjänsteförmedling kan skapa värde för både hyresgästen och fastighetsägaren, även om de specifika tjänsterna inte pekas ut. Marknaden var vid tidpunkten när denna uppsats skrevs omogen och utvecklades snabbt vilket gör det svårt att svara på vilka tjänster som kommer vara framgångsrika i en svensk marknad. Trots detta pekar resultat på att kontakt som hushållsel och hemförsäkring hade låga ingångsbarriärer i marknaden att implementera, och vissa fastighetsägare har redan påbörjat denna process. Denna inkorporering har för dessa aktörer inneburit vissa nya intäktsströmmar, som dock är väldigt begränsade. Den andra slutsatsen är att de nya intäktsströmmar i framtiden kommer utlösa högre fastighetsvärderingar då fastigheter kommer bli en attraktivare tillgång att inneha. För att kunna identifiera efterfrågan och extrahera värdet ur en tjänsteförmedlingen, på ett framgångsrikt sätt, är en användarcentrerad strategi en viktig aspekt då transaktionerna som sker mellan fastighetsägaren och hyresgästen måste vara värdeskapande för alla inblandade aktörer.

El objetivo de la publicación es acercar los conceptos y técnicas que conforman las finanzas operativas a los lectores. El autor del libro explica, en seis capítulos, los aspectos básicos del análisis financiero, los ratios y medidas de creación de valor, el apalancamiento, la planeación financiera, la gestión y financiamiento del capital de trabajo.
The purpose of the publication is to show the operational finance’s concepts and techniques to the readers. The author explains, over six chapters, the basic aspects of financial analysis, ratios and measures of value creation, leverage, financial planning, management and working capital financing.

The real estate sector is a capital-intensive industry, where the combination of debt and equity is used to finance the property investment. Companies tend to increase the loan-to-value ratio, to use financial leverage. However due to banks being more restrictive with their lending as well as having different ways of assessing risk in different property companies, there is a belief that the loan-to-value ratio is affected by the property segment distribution in a company. Based on previous research, there are many factors that could affect the loan-to-value (LTV) in a company such as size, profitability, revenue growth and cost of debt. This paper aims to examine these factors, as well as the operational risk that might be visible in the property segment distribution. The study was done through using a quantitative approach by investigating the largest real estate companies in each Swedish municipality. 614 Swedish real estate companies were investigated and pooled into an OLS regression model. Based on the regression, there is enough evidence in this paper that shows that factors such as size, profitability, revenue growth and cost of debt all have significant impact on the LTV. Furthermore, no general conclusion regarding the relationship between property segment distribution and LTV was found in this paper. Although, there is evidence that residentials- and small house units affect the LTV positively while industrial units affect the LTV negatively.
Fastighetssektorn är en kapitalintensiv bransch där kombinationen av skuld och eget kapital används för att finansiera fastighetsinvesteringar. Företag tenderar att öka belåningsgraden för att använda finansiell hävstång. Däremot på grund av att bankerna på senare år blivit mer restriktiva med sin utlåning och att de har olika sätt att bedöma risker på i olika fastighetsbolag, finn fog att förutsätta att belåningsgraden påverkas av fördelningen av fastighetssegment i ett företag. Baserat på tidigare forskning finns det många faktorer som kan påverka belåningsgraden (LTV) i ett företag, såsom storlek, lönsamhet, intäktsökning och kostnad för lånat kapital. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka dessa faktorer samt den operativa risk som kan synliggöras i fördelningen av fastighetssegment. Studien gjordes via ett kvantitativt tillvägagångssätt genom att undersöka de största fastighetsbolagen i alla Sveriges kommuner. 614 svenska fastighetsbolag undersöktes och analyserades i en OLS- regressionsmodell. Baserat på regressionen finns det tillräckligt med bevis i denna uppsats på att faktorer som storlek, lönsamhet, inkomsttillväxt och kostnad för lånat kapital har en betydande inverkan på LTV. Vidare hittades ingen allmän slutsats angående sambandet mellan fördelning av fastighetssegment och LTV i denna uppsats. Det finns dock bevis för att bostäder och småhusenheter påverkar LTV positivt medan industriella enheter påverkar LTV negativt.

Дисертаційну роботу присвячено обґрунтуванню теоретико-методичних основ та розробці практичних рекомендацій щодо побудови конкурентної стратегії торговельного підприємства, яка спрямована на формування динамічних конкурентних переваг в процесі забезпечення сталого розвитку підприємства. Розвинено категорійно-понятійний апарат теорії конкуренції, конкурентних стратегій, а також запропоновано концептуальний підхід до формування конкурентної стратегії на основі безперервної інноваційної моделі. Розглянуто і критично проаналізовано еволюціонування теорії конкуренції в перебігу формування економічних систем та доведено, що Індустрія 4.0 докорінно трансформує основні важелі конкурентного середовища, соціальний базис конкурентних стратегій та інструментів суперництва, основаних на інтелектуальній компоненті. Таке бачення уможливлює імплементування основних елементів Індустрії 4.0 в діяльність торговельних українських підприємств, зважаючи на їх роль у ланцюгу створення цінності. Визначено особливості функціонування механізму формування динамічного конкурентного потенціалу, який забезпечує швидкість реагування на зміни ринкової ситуації, стратегічну гнучкість та готовність підприємства до змін. На основі систематизації наукових підходів до формування конкурентної стратегії запропоновано її безперервну інноваційну модель, рушійним механізмом якої мають стати стратегічні дії підприємства щодо вдосконалення бази знань, а отже формування стійких та динамічних конкурентних переваг. До їх числа віднесено: мотиваційні механізми конкурування; системи управління знаннями й продукування генерації ідей та інновацій; інструменти маркетингу, сценарії досягнення лідерства; забезпечення інтересів стейкголдерів; партнерські стратегії. Удосконалено науково-методичний підхід щодо формування концептуального паттерну стратегічного конкурентного потенціалу підприємства роздрібної торгівлі, який на відміну від інших розробок включає: можливості, що склалися у зовнішньому середовищі; споживчий потенціал; потенціал внутрішнього середовища підприємства, і спрямований на підвищення конкурентного потенціалу підприємства. Концептуальний паттерн формування стратегічного конкурентного потенціалу, здатний не тільки формувати й підтримувати конкурентні переваги, але й продукувати інновацію цінностей для забезпечення безперервності розвитку торговельного підприємства. Виокремлено та обґрунтовано забезпечуючий ланцюг системних цінностей, який продукується функціональними підсистемами торговельного підприємства та формує унікальну торговельну пропозицію. Пропонований підхід забезпечить сучасне підґрунтя для формування конкурентної стратегії торговельного підприємства. Ідентифіковано та проведено класифікацію факторів впливу на формування конкурентних стратегій та культуру безперервного інноваційного бізнес-моделювання, яка, на відміну від усталених, виокремлює екзогенні (глобалізаційні процеси, межі ринків, темпи розвитку технологій, невизначеність середовища); ендогенні (динаміка та розмір внутрішнього потенціалу підприємств торгівлі, організаційні знання та навики, рівень між фірмової невизначеності) та стратегічні дії підприємств щодо вдосконалення бази знань та забезпечення безперервності розвитку конкурентної стратегії (партнерські стратегії, сценарії досягнення лідерства, забезпечення інтересів стейкголдерів, співконкуренція, внутрішні інноваційні процеси). Такий підхід дозволяє підприємствам торгівлі при формування конкурентної стратегії базуватися на безперервній інноваційній моделі. Дістала подальшого розвитку теоретизація понятійного апарату конкурентної стратегії підприємства, а саме: визначено сутність поняття «конкурентна стратегія», яка, на відміну від усталених поглядів, розглядається як динамічна модель поведінки підприємства, спрямована на досягнення сталої конкурентоспроможності в межах місії, націленої на задоволення потреб споживачів та забезпечення економічних, масштабних та іміджевих ефектів підприємства. Розвинено трактування сутності поняття «інновація цінності», яку на відміну від інших, запропоновано визначати як стратегію, що забезпечує здатність системи продукувати ринкові зміни на основі збалансованого поєднання виключної корисності, цільової собівартості, стратегічного ціноутворення задля безперервного розвитку підприємства у конкурентному середовищі. На підставі моніторингу ринку канцтоварів України удосконалено науково-методичний підхід до якісного оцінювання ситуації на ринку, який на відміну від інших розробок, ґрунтується на визначенні системи інтегрованих оцінок зовнішнього конкурентного макропотенціалу, в розрізі визначальних екзогенних факторів і залежить від їх варіації та рівня впливу на діяльність підприємства, що дозволило оцінити зовнішній конкурентний потенціал, який впливає на формування конкурентної стратегії підприємств роздрібної торгівлі. Сформовано теоретико-методичний підхід до визначення ефективності управління конкурентною позицією торговельного підприємства, що базується на інтегрованій оцінці масштабу конкурентного потенціалу, сили конкурентного впливу та результативності стратегічних дій конкурентів, та спрямований на трансформування стратегічного бачення позиції підприємства на ринку як конкурентної стратегії, а стійкість конкурентних переваг дозволяє визначати в контексті можливості утримання конкурентної позиції у довгостроковій перспективі. Запропоновано комплексний інтегральний показник ефективності управління конкурентною позицією підприємств роздрібної торгівлі на основі результативності стратегічних дій та сили конкурентного впливу. Все це формує аналітичну складову розробки конкурентної стратегії, яка забезпечить механізм порівняння динамічності, гнучкості конкурентних переваг, для формування сталої конкурентоспроможності в межах корпоративної стратегії спрямованої на задоволення потреб споживачів та забезпечення економічних, масштабних та іміджевих ефектів підприємства торгівлі. Набув подальшого розвитку ресурсний підхід до оцінювання внутрішнього конкурентного потенціалу підприємств роздрібної торгівлі, в основу якого, на відміну від інших, покладено розрахунок інтегрального показника на основі збалансованої системи часткових показників за такими складовими потенціалу, як: споживчий, фінансовий, клієнтський, бізнес-процесів, стратегічний та потенціал розвитку, що дає можливість комплексно визначити рушійні сили конкурентного потенціалу, розглянути синестезію пріоритетних конкурентних складових підприємства роздрібної торгівлі з цілями його корпоративної стратегії та забезпечити порівняння між існуючим станом та прогнозним рівнем конкурентного потенціалу підприємства. Запропоновано системно-раціональний підхід до реалізації тактичного конкурентного позиціювання в напрямку активних стратегічних дій підприємства роздрібної торгівлі в межах загальної конкурентної стратегії комбінування. Даний підхід ґрунтувався на припущенні, що формування мережі магазинів одного підприємства має відбуватися на основі експоненціального приросту корисності, ефекту масштабу, накопиченого досвіду й знань, зростанням довіри з боку зацікавлених осіб. Даний підхід складається з методики перевірки наявності тісноти синергійних зв’язків між магазинами, що входять до складу одного підприємства та моделі визначення раціонального масштабу мережі магазинів, побудованої на основі показника відносного загального доходу, який продукується мережею магазинів. Удосконалено науково-методичний підхід до формування конкурентної стратегії підприємства роздрібної торгівлі канцтоварами, який об’єднує в собі послідовність дій інтуїтивної аргументації сценаріїв досягнення лідерства на ринку та, на відміну від існуючих розробок, враховує структуризацію цілей тактичної конкурентної позиції, виявлення альтернативних тактичних завдань, які формують тактичні конкурентні переваги та тактик конкурування з подальшою ітерацією конвергенції ймовірнісного та бажаного стану системи в умовах ресурсних та часових обмежень. Результати отриманих досліджень та практичне вирішення завдань щодо формування конкурентної стратегії знайшло відображення у практичній діяльності підприємств роздрібної торгівлі канцтоварами міста Вінниці та Хмельницької торговельно-промислової палати. Ключові слова: стратегія, конкурентна стратегія, конкурентоспроможність, конкурентна позиція, конкурентні переваги, сила конкурентного впливу, інтенсивність конкуренції, споживчий потенціал, інновація цінності, функціональна цінність, вартісна цінність, споживча цінність, операційна цінність, організаційна цінність, комбінована конкурентна стратегія, тактична конкурентна позиція, тактика конкурування.
The dissertation is devoted to substantiation of theoretical and methodical bases and development of practical recommendations on construction of competitive strategy of commercial enterprise which is directed on formation of dynamic competitive advantages in the process of maintenance of sustainable development of the enterprise. It is developed categorical and conceptual system of theory of competition, competitive strategies, and also it is proposed a conceptual approach to the formation of a competitive strategy based on a continuous innovation model. It is considered and critically analyzed the evolution of competition theory during the formation of economic systems and it is proved that Industry 4.0 radically transforms the main levers of the competitive environment, the social basis of competitive strategies and rivalry tools based on the intellectual component. Such vision enables the implementation of the main elements of Industry 4.0 in the activities of Ukrainian commercial enterprises, considering to their role in the chain of creation the value. It is defined the peculiarities of functioning of the mechanism of formation of dynamic competitive potential which provides speed of reaction to changes of market situation, strategic flexibility and readiness of the enterprise to changes. Based on the systematization of scientific approaches to the formation of competitive strategy it is proposed its continuous innovative model, the driving mechanism of which should be the strategic actions of the enterprise to improve the base of knowledge, and therefore the formation of sustainable and dynamic competitive advantages. These include: motivational mechanisms of competition; knowledge management systems and production of idea generation and innovation; marketing tools, scenarios of achieving the leadership; ensuring the interests of stakeholders; partnership strategies. It is improved the scientific and methodological approach to the formation of the conceptual pattern of strategic competitive potential of the retail enterprise, which, unlike other developments, includes: opportunities that have developed in the external environment; consumer potential; the potential of the internal environment of the enterprise, and aims to increase the competitive potential of the enterprise. Conceptual pattern of formation of strategic competitive potential is able not only to form and maintain competitive advantages, but also to produce innovation of values to ensure the continuity of development of commercial enterprise. It is highlighted and grounded the providing chain of system values, which is produced by the functional subsystems of trade enterprise and forms a unique trade offer. The suggested approach will provide a modern basis for formation of competitive strategy of commercial enterprise. It is identified and carried out the classification of impact factors on the formation of competitive strategies and culture of continuous innovative business modeling, which, unlike established, carves out exogenous (globalization processes, markets borders, the rate of technology development, the uncertainty of the environment); endogenous (dynamics and size of internal potential of trade enterprises, organizational knowledge and skills, the level interfirm uncertainty) and strategic actions of enterprises to improve the knowledge base and ensure the continuity of competitive strategy (partnership strategies, scenarios of achieving the leadership, ensuring the interests of stakeholders, co-competition, internal innovation processes ). Such approach allows the trade enterprises during the formation of competitive strategy to base on continuous innovation model. Received of further development of theorizing conceptual system of competitive strategy of the enterprise, namely: it is defined he essence of the concept of «competitive strategy», which, unlike established views, is considered as a dynamic model of enterprise behavior aimed at achieving sustainable competitiveness within the mission aimed at meeting consumer needs and ensuring economic, large-scale and image effects of the enterprise. It is developed interpretation of the essence of the concept of «value innovation», which, unlike others, is proposed to define as a strategy that ensures the ability of the system to produce market changes based on the balanced combination of exceptional utility, target prime cost, strategic pricing for continuous development in the competitive environment. Based on the monitoring of the stationery market of Ukraine, it is improved the scientific and methodological approach to qualitative assessment of the market situation, which, unlike other developings, is based on the definition of the system of integrated assessment of external competitive macro-potential, in terms of determinative exogenous factors and depends on their variation and the level of impact on the enterprise activity, which is allowed to assess external competitive potential that effects on the formation of competitive strategy of the retail trade enterprises. It is formed theoretical and methodical approach of determination of management efficiency of competitive position of commercial enterprise, which is based on the integrated assessment of the scale of competitive potential, strength of the competitive impact and effectiveness of strategic actions of competitors, and aims at transforming of strategic vision of the position of the enterprise on the market as a competitive strategy, and the stability of competitive advantages allows to determine in the context of the possibility of maintaining a competitive position in the long prospect. It is suggested a complex integrated indicator of the effectiveness of managing the competitive position of the retail trade enterprises based on the effectiveness of strategic actions and the strength of competitive influence. All it forms an analytical component of the development of competitive strategy, which will provide a mechanism of comparing the dynamism, flexibility of competitive advantages, to form a sustainable competitiveness within the corporate strategy aimed at meeting consumer needs and ensuring economic, scale and image-building effects of trade enterprise. It is acquired further resource approach to assessing the internal competitive potential of the retail trade enterprises, on the basis, unlike others, is laid the calculation of integrated indicator based on a balanced system of partial indicators for such components of potential as consumer, financial, customer, business processes, strategic and development potential, which allows to determine comprehensively the driving forces of competitive potential, to consider the synesthesia of priority competitive components of the retail trade enterprise with the goals of its corporate strategy and to provide a comparison between the existing state and the forecast level of competitive potential. It is suggested system-rational approach to realization of tactical competitive positioning in the direction of active strategic actions of the retail trade enterprise within general competitive strategy of combination. This approach was based on the assumption that the formation of chain store system of one enterprise should be based on the exponential increase of utility, effect of scale, accumulated experience and knowledge, increasing trust from interested person. This approach consists of a method of checking the closeness of synergies between stores that are part of the same enterprise and the model of determining the rational scale of the chain store system, built on the basis of the relative total revenue, which is produced by the chain store system. It is improved scientific and methodological approach to the formation of a competitive strategy of the retail trade enterprise of stationery, which consisits of combination of sequences of actions of intuitive reasoning scenarios of achieving the leadership at the market and, in contrast with the existing developings, takes into account the structuring of tactical competitive position, identifying alternative tactical tasks tactical which forms tactical competitive advantages and competitive tactics with subsequent iteration of the convergence of the probable and desired state of the system in terms of resource and time constraints. The results of the received researches and practical decision of issues to form the competitive strategy were reflected in practical activity of the enterprises of retail trade enterprises of stationery of Vinnytsia and Khmelnytskyi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver novas alternativas de identificação modal para estruturas sob excitações em condição de operação baseadas em funções de transmissibilidade. Recentes metodologias formuladas sobre conceitos de transmissibilidade têm surgido como alternativa para a identificação de parâmetros modais de estruturas. A identificação nestas metodologias é independente do espectro da excitação, sendo uma vantagem importante com respeito a metodologias anteriores no domínio da frequência que supõem a excitação como ruído branco. Dessa forma, aproveitando os diferentes trabalhos dirigidos a avaliar parâmetros modais com uso da transmissibilidade, são propostas três novas alternativas. A primeira delas propõe a decomposição de valores singulares sobre matrizes de funções de transmissibilidade escalar com densidade espectral para estimar frequências naturais e modos de vibração. A segunda alternativa propõe o conceito de funções de transmissibilidade multivariável com diferente referência para a identificação modal. E a terceira introduz uma melhora na primeira alternativa incluindo a possibilidade da estimação de taxas de amortecimento. Uma ferramenta computacional para a análise modal é desenvolvida como apoio para as simulações numéricas de verificação das metodologias de identificação modal propostas. Diferentes exemplos numéricos com uma viga submetida a excitações de ruído colorido mostram que os métodos propostos são capazes de identificar parâmetros modais sem a introdução das frequências adicionais devido às excitações de ruído colorida utilizadas. Além disso, os dados de um teste de vibrações sobre uma ponte em operação foram utilizados para verificar os métodos.
This research aims to develop new alternatives of modal identification for structures under excitation in operation condition based on transmissibility functions. Latest methodologies based on transmissibility concepts have been arising as alternatives for modal parameter identification of structures. Modal parameter identification in this type methodology is input spectrum independent being an important advantage with respect previous frequency domain methods that assumes white noise excitation. Different alternatives of modal identification based on transmissibility functions are proposed in this work. The first of them proposes singular value decomposition on scalar transmissibility functions matrices with spectral density to estimate natural frequencies and vibration modes (PSDTM-SVD method). A second alternative proposes the concept of multivariable transmissibility functions with different transferring outputs for modal parameter identification. And the third alternative proposes an enhanced PSDTM-SVD method, which permits to identify modal damping. Computational tool for modal analysis is developed as a support for the numerical simulations of verification of modal identification methodologies proposed. Different numerical examples of a beam model subjected to colored noise excitations show that the proposed methods are capable of identifying modal parameters without the introduction of the additional frequencies due to the excitations used. Furthermore, data from an operational vibration bridge test were used to verify the methods.

A tese apresenta um método para a solução dos problemas do valor inicial (PVIs) com margens de erro comparáveis às de métodos numéricos consagrados (MN), tanto para a função quanto para suas derivadas. O método é aplicável a equações diferenciais (EDs) lineares ou não, sendo o ferramental desenvolvido até a quarta ordem, que pode ser expandido para ordens superiores. A solução é uma expressão polinomial de alto grau com coeficientes expressos pela razão entre dois inteiros. O método se mostra eficaz mesmo em alguns casos em que os MN não conseguiram dar a partida. As resoluções são obtidas considerando que o espaço de soluções é um espaço de Hilbert, equipado com a base completa dos polinômios de Legendre. Em decorrência do método aqui desenvolvido, os majorantes de erros para a função e derivadas são determinados analiticamente por um cálculo matricial também deduzido nesta tese. Paralelamente a toda fundamentação analítica, foi desenvolvido o software SAM, que automatiza todas as tarefas na busca de soluções dos PVIs. A tese propõe e verifica a validade de um novo critério de erro no qual pesam tanto os erros locais quanto os erros globais, simultaneamente. Como subprodutos dos resultados já descritos, igualmente integrados ao SAM, obtiveram-se também: (1) Um critério objetivo para analisar a qualidade de um MN, sem necessidade do conhecimento de seu algoritmo; (2) Uma ferramenta para aproximações polinomiais de alta precisão para funções de quadrado integrável em determinado intervalo limitado, com um majorante de erro; (3) Um ferramental analítico para transposição genérica (linear ou não) dos PVIs até 4ª ordem, nas mudanças de domínio; (4) As matrizes de integração e diferenciação genéricas para todas as bases polinomiais do espaço de Hilbert.
This thesis shows a new method to get polynomial solutions to the initial value problems (IVP), with an error margin comparable to the consecrate numerical methods (NM), for both the function and its derivatives. The method works with differential equations (DEs) linear or not, beeing the developed tolls available until 4th order, whose can be expanded to higher orders. The solution is a polynomial high degree expression with coefficients expressed by the ratio between two integers. The method behaves efficiently even in some cases that NM cannot get started. The resolutions are gotten considering that, the solution space is a Hilbert space, equipped with a complete set basis of Legendre Polynomials. Due the method here developed, the errors majoratives for the function and its derivatives are found analytically by a matrix calculus, also derived in this thesis. Beside all analytical foundation, a software (SAM) was developed to automate the whole process, joining all the tasks involved in the search for solutions to the IVP. This thesis proposes, verifies and validates a new error criterion, which takes in account simultaneously the local and global errors. As sub-products of the results described before, also integrated to the SAM, the following achievements should be highlighted: (1) An objective criterion to analyze the quality of any NM, despite of the knowledge of its algorithm; (2) A tool for a polynomial approximation, of high precision, for functions whose square is integrable in a given limited domain, with an errors majorative; (3) A tool-kit for a generically transpose (linear or not) of the IVPs domain and form, taking into account its derivatives, until the 4th order; (4) The generic matrices for integration and differentiation for all the polynomial basis of the Hilbert space.

The main aim of this thesis is  to demonstrate and critically assess life cycle approaches’ and environmental certification (EC) tools’ potential for supporting decisions for improved environmental performance in the building and real estate sectors. Using life cycle approaches, the thesis shows that for new build and renovation cases aiming for low operational energy use that embodied global warming potential (GWP) due to material production can constitute a large portion of a building’s lifetime GWP. Therefore life cycle based information about materials’ embodied GWP needs to be made available to and utilized by design process decision makers. It was also shown that applying the Swedish EC tool Miljöbyggnad was useful in highlighting potential positive and negative changes in indoor environmental quality arising from renovation packages aiming at significant operational energy use reduction in existing multifamily buildings. However such renovation packages are not profitable from a property owner perspective. Miljöbyggnad may be useful when designing policy instruments to overcome this.    The thesis also showed that EC and related environmental enhancements contribute to achieving property owners’ and tenants’ overall strategic objectives for value creation. For property owners this arises for example through lower energy costs and attracting desirable tenants. For tenants, value creation arises as support for internal and external environmental communication. For the further development of life cycle approaches’ and EC tools’ application to buildings and real estate it is important to consider how they can be adapted to consider ‘distance to sustainable’ targets referencing for instance the planetary boundaries approach. It is also interesting to investigate how valuation of buildings and real estate may be performed in a way that expands from the current narrow focus on the economic perspective to also include environmental and social perspectives.

QC 20170210

As intelligent hydraulic systems with embedded sensors become more ubiquitous, the real or perceived reliability challenge associated with sensors must be addressed to encourage their adoption. In this paper, a fault-tolerant control strategy for an intelligent independent metering valve that allows continued operation if a sensor fails is described. The twin-spool valve example utilizes position sensors to stabilize the spool positions and eliminate hysteresis, and pressure sensors to provide digital pressure compensation, electronic load sensing, and other features. An independent metering valve has redundancy provided by four sensors working together to control the flow into and out of a single actuator. Although two sensors are needed to control the flow through a spool, the controller can be reconfigured to ensure the flow is always controlled on the spool with both sensors working. To accomplish this, the concept of cross-port pressure control is introduced that uses the faulty side of the valve to maintain constant pressure on the non-faulty side. By maintaining a constant pressure, the flow in and out of the actuator are balanced. Experimental results on the boom of a backhoe demonstrate the operation of the fault tolerant control strategy.

The service sector has been identified as the main force of economic and potentially sustainable growth in most developed economies. Nevertheless, despite the role of services in today's economy, little is known about what drives service innovation and which tools and methods determine successful service design and development. This dissertation focuses on addressing the challenges associated with the design, development and operation of service offerings. In the first essay (Chapter II) we explore the design challenges of an organization that develops an experiential service. In experiential services, the customer value extends beyond the functional benefits of the service, and it encompasses the overall experience. We draw upon the perspective of the customer journey, which is widely used by design firms (e.g., IDEO), and we model the entire service experience as a process comprising individual service steps (also known as touchpoints). The value of the service is "co-produced" over several touchpoints between the customer and the service provider. We identify the non-monotonic effects of the co-production losses and service complexity on the provider's design decisions, (i.e., price), and the touchpoints she controls. Finally, we fully characterize the conditions under which the service provider may use these design decisions to effectively signal the experience potential of the service offering. In the second essay (Chapter III) we study the auto manufacturer's choice regarding whether to provide mobility service (e.g., car sharing) in conjunction with the traditional sales channel. A utility maximization model is used to characterize the consumer's choice between purchasing a vehicle, benefiting from the mobility service or relying on an outside option (e.g., public transportation). We characterize the benefit to the manufacturer of providing mobility service and the environmental implications of this strategy. In the third essay (Chapter IV) we study the implications of "reference point" effects on the optimal service design. We envision the service delivery as a two-stage process in which customer satisfaction is stochastic. The service provider needs to determine the optimal level of effort to exert at each stage, given that the customer experience at the first stage of the process can affect the expectations regarding the experience at the second stage of the process.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-64).
This thesis demonstrates how factories can use the Value Stream Mapping method to reduce both direct and indirect labor cost components through a non-value-added step reduction. The principal objective of this internship was to identify instances of non-value-added work in a product value stream and implement actions to reduce or eliminate it. Operations improvements included actions to eliminate waste through bottleneck utilization improvements, paperwork reduction, planning tool development and safety stock level calculation. From a leadership perspective, this thesis explores the challenges of cross-cultural and second-language change management.
by Anthony C. Gambell.
S.M.
M.B.A.

La presente tesis doctoral se presenta en forma de compendio de publicaciones, en la cual se han desarrollado diversos Modelos Causales para ayudar en la toma de decisiones usando como herramienta principal las relaciones causa-efecto inherente del sistema. A continuación se describen brevemente los artículos incluidos en la tesis doctoral El artículo titulado “A CD&CR causal model based on path shortening/path stretching techniques” publicado por la revista Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies esta enfocado hacia la investigación académica de alto nivel que aborda el desarrollo, las aplicaciones y consecuencias, de las nuevas tecnologías en el campo del transporte. El enfoque del modelo causal desarrollado en Redes de Petri Coloreadas aportan no solo una metodología innovativa per se, sino que su aplicación e implicaciones en la etapa de planificación, diseño, y gestión, es de particular interés en el rendimiento general del sistema de transporte aéreo. En artículo titulado "Revisiting the pallet loading problem using a discrete event system approach to minimise logistic costs” publicado en la revista International Journal of Production Research (IJPR) se presenta un modelo orientado a eventos discretos para abordar el Problema del Palletizado (PLP) usando como formalismo de especificación las Redes de Petri Coloreadas. El problema de Paletizado conforma una parte fundamental en el flujo logístico de diversos sistemas de transporte (terrestre o aéreo), siendo un factor clave en etapas aguas arriba (e.g. producción) y abajo del sistema (e.g. distribución). El trabajo presenta una novedosa forma de modelado con una importante mejora de los kPI’s respecto a los actuales entornos comerciales, soportando tanto diferentes heurísticas así como su integración con el sistema para encontrar configuraciones óptimas para el acomodo de cajas con una tipología diversa. El artículo denominado "Integrating and sequencing flows in terminal maneuvering area by evolutionary algorithms," publicado por la IEEE/AIAA en el Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), 2011 presenta una aproximación innovadora para aliviar el problema de congestión en el espacio aéreo terminal (terminal maneouvering área). En este artículo se analiza un procedimiento alternativo para la integración y secuenciación de las aeronaves en la fase de aterrizaje. El artículo ha recibido diversas menciones tal como el mejor artículo de la sesión, mejor artículo en la sección de mejoras a la capacidad del sector aéreo y mejor artículo de estudiante. Estas menciones indican la importancia y trascendencia de dicho trabajo donde se utilizan algoritmos desarrollados para la optimización de sistemas altamente complejos como es el espacio aéreo terminal. El artículo que lleva por nombre “A TMA 4DT CD/CR causal model based in path shortening/path stretching techniques”, publicado en el International Conference on Research in Air Transportation — ICRAT 2010, ha recibido la mención Best paper award reconociendo las aportaciones del trabajo presentado. El modelo desarrollado en Redes de Petri Coloreadas para la solución de conflictos entre aeronaves presenta resultados experimentales validados mediante simuladores de vuelo de la compañía Aireuropa que permiten validar las trayectorias obtenidas mediante el modelo desarrollado. Finalmente, el articulo Causal model to sequence and merge 4DT flows in TMA, se encuentran publicados en las memorias del International Conference on Application and Theory of Automation in Command and Control Systems ATTACS2011 donde se presenta un algoritmo de solución para la secuencializacion y fusión de flujos de aterrizaje de aeronaves donde se muestra el gran potencial para mejorar de la toma de decisiones usando el espacio de estados de los modelos de RdPC.
The present PhD thesis report has been elaborated as a compendium of publications, in which diverse Causal Models have been developed to assist in the decision making process using a cause-effect relationship approach inherent in the system. A brief description of the items included in the doctoral thesis. The document is organized in four different parts. First, the Chapter called “Basic Notions” introduces the basic notions and a general perspective on the systems approach. Particular interest has been placed in the Discrete-Event Systems approach, presenting the main features of this formalism. The main theory behind the Coloured Petri Nets approach is presented in Section 2.1.1 Different case studies are provided from Chapters 3 to 5. Chapter 3 presents the work named “A CD&CR causal model based on path shortening/path stretching techniques”, which has been accepted for publication in the Journal Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. This work depicts a groundbreaking approach to alleviate the airspace congestion and to deal with the implications for the planning, design, and management of Air Traffic Control operations. Particular interest has been placed Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) where the traffic conditions impose to take time-critical decisions. Therefore, an appropriate management of arrival operations could alleviate congestion which impacts directly in capacity and efficiency of the overall Air Traffic Management operations. To evaluate the performance of the the resolution strategy to avoid non-efficient procedures, diverse scenarios have been tasted in a busy traffic period at Gran Canaria’s airport. The result obtain contribute with the planning and management of Air Traffic Control operations to increase the overall predictability of the Air traffic, with benefit to airlines and airports, among others. Chapter 4 corresponds to the article "Revisiting the pallet loading problem using a discrete event system approach to minimise logistic costs” published in the International Journal of Production Research (IJPR). This work presents an innovative and challenging modelling approach to optimize the space and distribution of boxes into a pallet, supporting the inherent box diversity (heterogeneous palletizing problems) of present production and distribution logistic systems. The space utilization is modelled as squares that can be fragmentise and de-fragmentise. In a first approach, the state space analysis is performed to evaluate different optimal configurations to load the maximum number of boxes on a rectangular pallet. The second approach implements heuristics to show that acceptable occupancy results can be obtained without requiring the exhaustive evaluation of the different feasible combination. Chapter 5 introduces the work "Integrating and sequencing flows in terminal maneuvering area by evolutionary algorithms" in proceeding of the IEEE/AIAA en el Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), 2011. This work has received three mentions: Best student paper award; Best paper in the ATM Capacity Improvements track award; y Best paper of session award which confirm the transcendence and implications of such approach. This chapter presents a new approach to optimize a set of aircraft planned to land at a given airport. It is proposed to merge the incoming flows from different routes by mean of speed and path changes. Those changes aim to remove conflicts at merging points and to maintain separation of aircraft following the same route link according to their wake turbulence constraint. The optimization criteria are based on the minimum deviation from the initial path planning. This algorithm has been successfully applied to Gran Canaria airport in Spain with real traffic demand samples for which conflict free flow merging is produced smoothly with optimal runway feeding. Finally, Chapter 5 contains the overall conclusions, future work, summary of contributions and complementary publications on the author. The work presented in annex called “Causal model to sequence and merge 4DT flows in TMA” summarizes the development of a decision support algorithm to tackle the merging and sequencing problem within the Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) sector. The algorithm works with multiple landing traffic flows that share the airspace in the same time window. A flexible terminal area route structure is proposed; it eliminates conflicts within the Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) while traffic is merged prior converging on to the final approach. As a first instance the first come first serve (FCFS) sequence policy will be tasted and later on the sequence will be altered by means of the Constrained Position Shifting (CPS) algorithm. Gran Canaria STAR is used to evaluate the benefits of the proposed model under synthetic traffic; and to determine the spacing buffers the ICAO Separation minima (ICAO DOC-4444) criteria is used as on current methodology. Finally, in Annex, the paper “A TMA 4DT CD/CR causal model based in path shortening/path stretching techniques” introduces the basic ideas behind a discrete event model for Conflict Detection and Conflict Resolution algorithm in a TMA 4D trajectory scenario in presented which focuses mainly on the arrival phase. This model brings a very interesting knowledge about the events that take place in the management of 4DT and their interactions in Gran Canaria TMA to remove non-effective operations, avoid delay propagation between arrivals and optimize the occupancy of the runway. The causal model developed considers different alternative predefined turning points for each flight evaluating path shortening/path stretching of all trajectories upwards the merging point in a TMA.

Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017.
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2017.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 55).
One of Company X's many services is to refurbish systems at regular intervals during their use. Quick turnaround times are of the utmost importance both to keep Company X's costs low and to ensure the systems are returned to perform their services in the field as rapidly as possible. This research had two distinct elements in service to accelerated turnaround times: 1) Improving inventory management practices to align with the need for replacements for failed parts to reduce cycle times, and 2) Diagnosing the reasons for and developing mitigations against failures in the blind mating of two connectors. Regarding the first element of the research performed, Company X hypothesized that improving the inventory management system would yield shorter cycle times. In order to test this hypothesis, part failure and inventory histories needed to be compared to confirm if parts were not in stock at the time of failure. A model was developed to analyze both of these history files but the poor quality of the data precluded accurate conclusions from being drawn. Once the data input methods have controls placed on them, the model will serve to accurately represent the failure rates and types of failures of all parts, allowing for proper stocking of inventory needed to service these failures. An investigation of process failure rates and their impact on cycle time was also conducted. This analysis included quantifying how many times each operation was performed, at which steps failures occurred or were noticed most, and how much time was required to complete each operation and service each failure. This analysis ultimately yielded the generation of a diagnostic tool with a flexibility that allowed simultaneous analysis to be performed on over 1,100 operations. One of the key insights generated by using this tool was that the majority of failures are found at late-stage inspections, highlighting that improving the thoroughness of early-stage inspections could prevent the necessity of substantial rework to remedy the issues found late in the process. With respect to the second element of the research performed, an understanding of why and how connectors were failing was sought out. Through observing the process and analyzing the historical data detailing the connector's failure modes, multiple explanations for the failures and related solutions resulted. The first failure mode was loose connections, for which a tool was shortened to increase the operator's ease of accessing the connector to properly apply torque and secure the connection. The other modes of failure were caused due to connector misalignment, for which a bracket was redesigned as an auto-alignment feature to aid in the mating process, and operator deviations from the work instructions were addressed as they pertained to connector failures. The combination of these actions are expected to yield an annual savings of $100,000, net of costs.
by Tyler Lee Capps.
M.B.A.
S.M.