Digital Commons Network^™

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Perception Levels Of Prime Beef Training And Readiness Task Confidence, D. Wade Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the readiness training perception levels and task self-confidence of CE Prime BEEF personnel, and investigated the relationships between these two constructs. A heuristic model was developed which hypothesized that since previous research has shown that perception of training affects self-efficacy, and that self-efficacy affects performance, it may be inferred that training perception ultimately affects task performance. Surveys were sent to the target population to gather demographic data, perceptions of Prime BEEF readiness training and task confidence in both self and unit. Despite an improvement in perceptions over the past 12 years, results showed somewhat mediocre perception levels …

Information Superiority: Outsourcing An Air Force Core Competency?, Hugh J. Mcterman

Theses and Dissertations

The information age is upon us. More businesses are relying on access to immediate and accurate information just to survive in the global marketplace. This reliance has caused most companies to take a closer look at what core business the firm is actually in, how information impacts those strategic areas, and how best to obtain the needed information. Joint Vision 2010 identifies information superiority as the foundation for joint war fighting doctrine and concepts moving toward the year 2010. This thesis explores the perceived relationship between the core competency requirements for information superiority and the tasks defined for the Air …

Organizational Support Of Internet Technology Infusion: An Exploratory Analysis., Anthony J. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis identifies managerial, organizational, and individual attributes which influence Internet technology infusion. Infusion can be defined as the incorporation of a technology into an organization's key processes. As infusion increases, the extended, integrative and emergent use of the technology increases, leading to increased leveraging of the technology. A survey was distributed to 1100 Air Force members throughout four Major Commands, divided into 600 officers and 500 enlisted. The analysis used Structural Equation Modeling to test models relating managerial, organizational and individual constructs as positive influences on infusion. Findings in the officer group indicate executive involvement and participation, policy, receptivity …

Ethical Issues In A Networked Environment, Kristen G. Sallberg

Theses and Dissertations

The research objective was to provide a preliminary understanding of how USAF computer users perceive the ethical considerations of computer networks and how the USAF is addressing ethical issues of networked environments. A survey was undertaken to explore questions of ethics in the use of information networks. The literature review explored issues of ethics in the private sector and USAF guidance regarding use of official government resources. The sample population consisted of military members stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Ohio. The responses regarding certain attitudes about behaviors and actions in a networked environment were consistent overall. A significant difference …

A Strategic Marketing Plan For Welltech International, Renee Denlow

Theses

It's here, and whether you know it or not, you are getting swept away by a strong underlying current of the "digital revolution ." For many, life has become an inoperative treadmill on the loose, for the pace gets quicker and more challenging. How often do you find yourself or the people surrounding you saying, "Fax me the draft, so I can review it prior to tomorrow's meeting.," "Leave me a message on my car phone," and/or "e-mail me the latest statistics before noon?" Electronic mail (E-mail) is just one of many of the technologies that is changing the landscape …

The Effect Of Managers' Clarification Of Business Linkage Of Training On Trainees' Transfer Of Training, Elizabeth J. Benanzer

Dissertations

This study investigated the hypotheses that if managers were engaged in specific activities aimed at increasing their understanding of the linkage of employee training to business goals, then they would in turn create a more positive transfer environment, resulting in greater transfer of training received by their employees. Some managers of trainees participated in a workshop in which they used an “impact mapping” procedure to clearly explain the relationship between training of their employees and strategic goals of the business; another group of managers did not receive this impact mapping training. Then, all managers’ employees participated in a supervisory training …

Contingent Pay And Employee Performance, Rania Mohamed Abou Senna

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Eu-Egypt Partnership Agreement, Gehan Mamdouh Saleh

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Usaf Pilot Perceptions Of Workload Assessment In A Combat Or High-Threat Environment, Kadircan Kottas

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the self-reported survey responses of 219 Air Force Pilots concerning their perceptions of workload assessment in a combat or a high threat environment. The first objective of this study was to determine and compare the combat workload factors of varying importance in combat workload assessment by aircraft and mission type flown. The second objective was to examine the pilots' perception of combat mission inflight workload. A stepwise regression model to predict the pilots' perceptions of inflight workload using pilots' characteristics data was explored. Research conclusion varied among aircraft types. Combat workload items indicated as distractingly important were …

An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Online Peer Feedback At The United States Air Force Academy, Annette M. Driscoll

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the effectiveness of the Air Force Academy's Department of English local area network peer feedback system. Four main questions were examined. These questions explored a) whether students reported improvement in their writing, b) whether students reported that feedback is worthwhile, c) whether students reported that LAN sessions increase enjoyment of writing, and d) what types of feedback the students 1) received and 2) found most helpful. Three groups were studied. Forty-six students received feedback online, fifty students received feedback face to face, and thirty-three students did not receive feedback. Comparisons were made for the questions mentioned above …

A Comparison Of The Decision Quality Of Group Decisions Made In A Face-To-Face Environment With Decisions Made Using A Distributed Group Decision Support System, Hope D. Cullen

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force is increasingly turning to a team approach for decision making. When team members are geographically separated it can be expensive for them to meet in a traditional face to face setting. Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS), designed to help groups make decisions, may be able to support these groups in a distributed mode. The assertion of this thesis is that a GDSS can indeed support such distributed processes and that these processes will be of higher quality than decisions made in a face to face environment. This study explores decision quality in terms of quality of the …

A Decision Analysis Model For Allocating The Military Family Housing Investment Budget, Timothy G. Imdieke

Theses and Dissertations

Allocating resources is a difficult task when resources fall considerably short of the requirements, and there are many different opinions on what requirements should have priority. The Air Staff Housing Division must decide how to allocate a $25OM/year budget to best achieve the Air Force goals for military family housing. The decision is complex because requirements are much larger than the available resources, and there are many conflicting objectives to consider. This research uses value-focused thinking and multi-attribute utility theory to develop a decision analysis model to assist the decision maker in selecting a budget strategy. A deterministic analysis (using …

An Analysis Of The Air Force Environmental Management System, Christopher M. Lindhorst

Theses and Dissertations

In order to be effective and responsible stewards of the environment, the Air Force needs an environmental management system that is properly constructed, organized, and operated. Unfortunately, the current state of the Air Force's environmental management system is not clear. This research, utilizing a variety of analytical and quantitative tools, provides a better understanding of the current stat of the environmental management system in the Air Force. First, areas of vulnerability within the existing Air Force environmental management system were identified through an analysis of Environmental Compliance Assessment and Management Program (ECAMP) data and a field investigation. Through this analysis, …

Strategic Performance Measurement In An Air Force Logistics Organization, Michael A. Grover

Theses and Dissertations

Strategic performance measures are being used to define and communicate longer term planning imperatives to organizational members and external stakeholders. These measures are designed to support the concept of a strategic management process, in which the progress towards strategic goals, and also the goals are continuously reviewed and updated. The measures are linked through associations and communicate the strategy as a series of hypothesized cause and effect relationships. One such performance measurement system, the balanced scorecard, describes the organizational strategy with reference to four common organizational perspectives: Financial, Customer, Internal Process and Growth and Development. A case study is performed …

Development Of Activity Based Costing (Abc) Optimization Tool For An Environmental Organization, Anthony J. Gutterman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to develop a tool that would allow the user the ability to determine the activities an organization should track using Activity Based Costing (ABC). This was accomplished through the assignment of costs to the maintenance of ABC data and the determination of the benefit received as a result of using ABC. While obtaining the information pertinent to the cost of ABC was relatively straightforward and well documented, the information regarding the value of the benefit of ABC was not available. Therefore, using information provided in the literature concerning savings resulting from making the polluter …

An Analysis Of Early Software Reliability Improvement Techniques, John G. Leonard, Ric K. Nordgren

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores early life cycle software reliability prediction models or techniques to predict the reliability of software prior to writing code, and a method for increasing or improving the reliability of software products early in the development life cycle. Five prediction models and two development techniques are examined. Each model is statically analyzed in terms of availability of data early in the life cycle, ease of data collection, and whether data is currently collected. One model and the two techniques satisfied those requirements and are further analyzed for their ability to predict or improve software reliability. While the researchers …

Group Decision Support Systems (Gdss) And Influence Modes: A Comparative Field Study Between Gdss Mediated Groups And Non-Gdss Mediated Groups, L. Grant Bridgewater

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effect of Group Decision Support System (GDSS) technology on perceived influence modes. The researcher measured perceived influence modes in two group treatments: GDSS groups and non-GDSS (N-GDSS) mediated groups. Actual groups in both treatments performed judgmental tasks of their own choosing. Group members then completed a survey which measured their perceptions regarding five influence sources: expert influence, influence from legitimate authority, referent influence, reward influence, and coercive influence. The survey also measured the extent to which members perceived an "opportunity to influence" other group members. For each variable measured in both treatment groups, mean scores were …

The One With The Most Information Wins? The Quest For Information Superiority, Stacy M. Clements

Theses and Dissertations

The escalation of interest in information as a corporate resource is reflected in the military's quest for information superiority. A volume of directives, articles, and doctrine is appearing to meet the unique challenges presented by information as a resource. Discussions of how to achieve information superiority have given rise to investigations of such related concepts as information warfare and information operations, with associated taxonomies and ideas of how to use information capabilities for attack and defense. This thesis examines information superiority and the related concepts, and examines current information technology initiatives in order to discern the characteristics which can aid …

An Investigation Of Environmental Paradigms And Organizational Classifications, Marvin T. Ee

Theses and Dissertations

The extent of environmental management in organizations is largely determined by what paradigms are espoused with respect to maintaining both natural resources and raw materials. Environmental management paradigms possibly stem from whether an organization is private or public, producing a product or providing a service. However, no established methods exist for comparing organizations with regard to environmental management approaches and perspectives. The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether particular organizational classifications are linked to specific environmental management paradigms. This study incorporates several environmental management concepts to develop an analytical instrument for observing organizations. Environmental management paradigms provide a …

Get Your Hands Out Of My Drawers: A Survey Of Information Ownership And Stewardship At The Air Force Institute Of Technology, Keith E. Kolekofski Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Despite beliefs in the benefits of good Information Resources Management (IRM) practices, executives still find their organizations plagued by outdated, inconsistent, and unavailable information. This information is often stored in disparate, standalone systems spread throughout the business. The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) fails to reap the synergistic benefits of shared information despite its bounty of information systems and proclamations for IRM principles. Previous researcher postulated that this disconnect may be explained, in part, by an ownership attitude at the functional level. Empirical evidence gathered from a survey of AFIT's members failed to support Plant's hypothesis. Exploratory factor analysis …

Information Resource Management: An Analysis Of The Critical Skills, Training Sources, And Training Adequacy As Perceived By Air Force Communications And Information Officers, Donald A. Schmidt

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores what Information Resource Management (IRM) skills are required as perceived by the Air Force officers performing IRM duties. The following questions set the stage for this research: (1) What does current literature say about the required skills needed for IRM professionals? (2) What IRM skills do officers in the field perceive as important to the IRM mission? (3) What is the primary source of any IRM training received by the officers? (4) How adequate was this training, if any? The results suggest that Air Force officers have a grasp of IRM concepts and know what skills are …

An Integrated Environment For Problem Solving And Program Development, Fadi Pierre Deek

Dissertations

A framework for an integrated problem solving and program development environment that addresses the needs of students learning programming is proposed. Several objectives have been accomplished: defining the tasks required for program development and a literature review to determine the actual difficulties involved in learning those tasks. A comprehensive Study of environments and tools developed to support the learning of problem solving and programming was then performed, covering programming environments, debugging aids, intelligent tutoring systems, and intelligent programming environments. This was followed by a careful analysis and critique of these systems, which uncovered the limitations that have prevented them from …

The Socio-Economic Role Of Crude Oil In The United States And Finland, Judith Deak Kallo

Theses

Running a company requires daily assessment of opportunities, risks and trends which involve socio-economic changes and scientific uncertainties. Technical-material resources play a major role in the uncertainty of corporate economics. Overproduction combined with increasing efficiencies have resulted in accelerated use and misuse of resources, accompanied by socio-ecological abuses related to wars and pollution. A significant current threat is global warming. As a result of this global challenge several companies have moved towards a more comprehensive environmental business management model. This is seen in corporate management initiating life cycle assessment and risk analysis of their products.

The socio-economic role of crude …

The Effects Of Organizational And Individual Learning On Job Satisfaction And Organizational Commitment, David Lee Wright

Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to assess how certain organizational-level and individual-level factors affect member job attitudes. Specifically, market orientation and organizational learning, contingent on the individual's orientation toward learning, were examined as potential predictors of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Individual performance of employees affects organizational performance. Consequently, these organizational and individual factors are significant to management because of their potential influence on the attitudes of employees.

A national sample consisting of sales and marketing executives made up the sample frame. A self-report questionnaire was mailed to 2000 randomly selected potential respondents. The return of 213 usable questionnaires …

Do Women Have The Same Opportunity As Men To Coach Teams Of The Opposite Sex At The Ncaa Division Ii Level?, Jeff Studdard

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

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A Proposed Approach To Iso Compliance And Validation For Metrology Laboratories, J. Lyle Bagley

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

International competition among metrology laboratories, as well as their customers, has intensified the incentive to seek either accreditation to ISO Guide 25 or ISO 9000 quality system registration for the laboratory. The debate continues as to which is more beneficial to the laboratory and its customers once the decision is made to pursue one or the other. This study addresses the advantages and limitations of each, and how best to prepare for complying with ISO standards. The literature was reviewed and ISO certification experts were questioned about these issues. The results were combined with new applications of existing operations research …

Minimizing Post-Production Weight Growth In Tanks Using A Decision Analysis Model, Michael F. Cochrane

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Post-production weight growth of tanks is an historic problem for the military. Tanks are difficult to transport because of their weight, and post-production modifications tend to cause this weight to increase over the lifecycle of the tank. In this thesis, a computer model is constructed which uses influence diagrams to model tank weight growth as a probabilistic process. Historical weight data for the MI Abrams tank program is used to derive probabilities for the model. The model is used to predict tank weight growth over both the short and long term with the goal of understanding more about how and …

The Influence Of Foreign Culture On Air Force Contingency Contracting Operations, Christian M. Ruefer

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Contingency Contracting Officers (CCOs) are increasingly finding themselves an integral part of overseas deployments, purchasing in theater whatever the combat forces cannot bring with them. As a result, CCOs must deal directly with businesses and the individuals who operate them in the deployed location. Cultural differences between the CCO and suppliers can become an issue not encountered in stateside operations. This thesis was designed to explore the possible impact of culture on the deployed CCO's ability to do their job. There were four objectives of this study. First, those tasks CCOs must accomplish in order to perform their job …

An Examination Of The Demographic And Career Progression Of Air Force Institute Of Technology Cost Analysis Graduates, Christopher S. Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) was asked to develop a graduate curriculum to support cost analysts in the acquisition arena in October 1980. The first class entered in May 1982 and graduated in September 1983 with Master of Science degrees in Systems Management. This degree program gained autonomy by offering its first true Master of Science degree in Cost Analysis in 1988. Now there are nearly thirteen years of graduate cost analysts (GCAs) in the workforce. This thesis examined the impact this program has had on these graduates and the Air Force. Surveys were mailed out to 73 …

A Study Of Historical Inflation Forecasts Used In The Department Of Defense Future Years Defense Program, Mark S. Sweitzer

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores historical inflation forecasts used in the Department of Defense (DoD) Future Years Defense Program. The study examines historical DoD forecasts against experienced inflation as measured by the Gross National Product and Gross Domestic Product implicit price deflator (GNP/GDP IPD) from 1979 to 1996. This study also compares the accuracy of DoD forecasts with those made by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Data Resources, Incorporated (DRI). The results regarding the performance of historical DoD inflation forecasts are mixed. Upon examining budget through five year GNP/GDP IPD forecast spans, DoD short-term results do not indicate a downward bias …