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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Sustainability Assessment Of A Municipal Utility Complex: A System Of Systems Approach, Tarek Fahmy Jan 2015

Sustainability Assessment Of A Municipal Utility Complex: A System Of Systems Approach, Tarek Fahmy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Construction of municipal utility complexes has to support continuing population growth, economic development, and a widespread of social interest in environmental preservation. Municipalities face challenges in designing, constructing, and operating environmentally sustainable utility complexes, and their primary goal in developing such a complex is to minimize the environmental impact resulting from energy production and waste treatment (both liquid and solid), management, and disposal. However, decision and policy makers lack a system of systems approach that takes into account multiple interdependent systems comprised of the functional system (infrastructure, facilities, operations within the complex…), the economic system, the social/cultural system, and the …


A Generic Framework For Multi-Method Modeling And Simulation Of Complex Systems Using Discrete Event, System Dynamics And Agent Based Approaches., Konstantinos Mykoniatis Jan 2015

A Generic Framework For Multi-Method Modeling And Simulation Of Complex Systems Using Discrete Event, System Dynamics And Agent Based Approaches., Konstantinos Mykoniatis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Decisions about Modeling and Simulation (M&S) of Complex Systems (CS) need to be evaluated prior to implementation. Discrete Event (DE), System Dynamics (SD), and Agent Based (AB) are three different M&S approaches widely applied to enhance decision-making of complex systems. However, single type M&S approaches can face serious challenges in representing the overall multidimensional nature of CS and may result in the design of oversimplified models excluding important factors. Conceptual frameworks are necessary to offer useful guidance for combining and/or integrating different M&S approaches. Although several hybrid M&S frameworks have been described and are currently deployed, there is limited guidance …


A Holistic Framework For Transitional Management, Ahmed Elattar Jan 2014

A Holistic Framework For Transitional Management, Ahmed Elattar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For all business organizations, there comes a time when a change must take place within their eco-system. It consumes a great deal of thought and planning to ensure that the right decision is made as it could alter the entire course of their business for a number of years to come. This change may appear in the form of a brilliant CEO reaching the age of retirement, or an unsuccessful Managing Director being asked to leave before fulfilling the term of her contract. Regardless of the cause, a transition must occur in which a suitable successor is chosen and put …


A Framework For Workforce Management An Agent Based Simulation Approach, Mario Marin Jan 2014

A Framework For Workforce Management An Agent Based Simulation Approach, Mario Marin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In today's advanced technology world, enterprises are in a constant state of competition. As the intensity of competition increases the need to continuously improve organizational performance has never been greater. Managers at all levels must be on a constant quest for finding ways to maximize their enterprises' strategic resources. Enterprises can develop sustained competitiveness only if their activities create value in unique ways. There should be an emphasis to transfer this competitiveness to the resources it has on hand and the resources it can develop to be used in this environment. The significance of human capital is even greater now, …


Total Ownership Cost Modeling Of Technology Adoption Using System Dynamics: Implications For Erp Systems, Behzad Esmaeilian Jan 2013

Total Ownership Cost Modeling Of Technology Adoption Using System Dynamics: Implications For Erp Systems, Behzad Esmaeilian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Investment in new technologies is considered by firms as a solution to improve their productivity, product and service quality and their competitive advantages in the global market. Unfortunately, not all technology adoption projects have met their intended objectives. The complexity of technology adoption along with little consideration of the long term cost of the technology, are among the factors that challenge companies while adopting a new technology. Companies often make new technology adoption decision without enough attention to the total cost of the technology over its lifecycle. Sometimes poor decision making while adopting a new technology can result in substantial …


A Framework For Measuring The Value-Added Of Knowledge Processes With Analysis Of Process Interactions And Dynamics, Jose Cintron Jan 2013

A Framework For Measuring The Value-Added Of Knowledge Processes With Analysis Of Process Interactions And Dynamics, Jose Cintron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The most known and widely used methods use cash flows and tangible assets to measure the impact of investments in the organization’s outputs. But in the last decade many newer organizations whose outputs are heavily dependent on information technology utilize knowledge as their main asset. These organizations’ market values lie on the knowledge of its employees and their technological capabilities. In the current technology-based business landscape the value added by assets utilized for generation of outputs cannot be appropriately measured and managed without considering the role that intangible assets and knowledge play in executing processes. The analysis of processes for …


Strategic Improvement: A Systems Approach Using The Balanced Scorecard Methodology To Increase Federally Financed Research At The University Of Central Florida, Joseph Walters Jan 2013

Strategic Improvement: A Systems Approach Using The Balanced Scorecard Methodology To Increase Federally Financed Research At The University Of Central Florida, Joseph Walters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The University of Central Florida has many successful measures to reflect on as it celebrates its 50th year in 2013. It is the university with the 2nd largest student population in the U. S. and its overall ranking in the U.S. News & World Report has improved 4 years in a row. However, with respect to research, the federally funded research and development for the University of Central Florida (UCF) has remained flat. In addition, when compared to other schools, its portion of those federal research dollars is small. This thesis lays the groundwork for developing a model for improving …


A Hybrid Simulation Methodology To Evaluate Network Centricdecision Making Under Extreme Events, Sergio Quijada Jan 2006

A Hybrid Simulation Methodology To Evaluate Network Centricdecision Making Under Extreme Events, Sergio Quijada

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Currently the network centric operation and network centric warfare have generated a new area of research focused on determining how hierarchical organizations composed by human beings and machines make decisions over collaborative environments. One of the most stressful scenarios for these kinds of organizations is the so-called extreme events. This dissertation provides a hybrid simulation methodology based on classical simulation paradigms combined with social network analysis for evaluating and improving the organizational structures and procedures, mainly the incident command systems and plans for facing those extreme events. According to this, we provide a methodology for generating hypotheses and afterwards testing …


A Methodology For Minimizing The Oscillations In Supply Chains Using System Dynamics And Genetic Algorithms, Ramamoorthy C.V.V. Lakkoju Jan 2005

A Methodology For Minimizing The Oscillations In Supply Chains Using System Dynamics And Genetic Algorithms, Ramamoorthy C.V.V. Lakkoju

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a critically significant strategy that enterprises depend on to meet challenges that they face because of highly competitive and dynamic business environments of today. Supply chain management involves the entire network of processes from procurement of raw materials/services/technologies to manufacturing or servicing intermediate products/services to converting them into final products or services and then distributing and retailing them till they reach final customers. A supply chain network by nature is a large and complex, engineering and management system. Oscillations occurring in a supply chain because of internal and/or external influences and measures to be taken …