Digital Commons Network^™

Designing And Implementing Participative Management Within The Corporate Sector: A Primer, Robert R. Appel

Theses

The focus of this thesis is the study of participative management, in particular the use of quality circles in the corporate sector. After thoroughly researching the information available on quality circles t here will be developed a manual to be utilized to provide information to the managers and potential circle members of a company preparing to implement quality circles.

Research has shown that over fifty percent of the quality circle programs implemented in the United States failed. One of the major causes of this failure rate is the lack of information provided to the employees concerning quality circles.

After a …

The Motivation Of A Collegiate Level Educator Is Mobility Within The Profession, Andrew V. Carter

Theses

For as long as there have been Colleges and Universities, graduates have been making career decisions. The decision one makes to become a collegiate level educator has been made by thousands since this time. Due to this, the motivations these educators have felt are quite interesting.

This project will examine the motivations of the collegiate level educator. It will attempt to prove that the mobility within education is the greatest motivator.

The reader will become familiarized with history of the educator and the motivations that are present.

After the reader has been brought up to date, the author will attempt, …

Masks: A Viable Option For The Modern Stage, L. Arlene Chapman

Theses

It is the position of this paper that masks have a viable place on the stage today. As we look at the historical usage and at the present views of masks, we will see the mystical effect of masks has not changed. Although our technology has improved, masks still create a mystical illusion for the audience and for the actor. Learning of the many techniques and approaches to mask-making has been a delightful experience. I must thank Niki Juncker for the many times she has cleared my muddled thinking. Without her guidance I am sure this project would not have …

The Health Care Industry: Union Vs. Management, Maria Ciolfi

Theses

'This paper will begin with an overview of the legal enactments which allowed the National Labor Relations Board {NLRB) jurisdiction in the health care sector.. It will discuss the development of the reimbursement system, technological advancements and their. effect on the health care industry.

Based on these issues have developments, several human relations issues have emerged resulting in union activity in the health care environment . A dichotomy arises when both management and labor strive for high quality patient care . Management is forced to operate with in cost constraints , leaving labor to battle for equitable wages and benefits …

Noncommissioned Officer Education : The Need For Academic And Training Standards, Frederick Kelly Read

Theses

The purpose of this paper was to examine the high failure rate at the U. S. Army Reserve's noncommissioned officer academies . Specifically, this paper addressed three hypotheses which may influence the failure rate. The are : (a) The development of a procedures manual for instructors would be beneficial , (b) the current curriculum should be changed, and (c) students should be pre-tested.

To ascertain which of these interventions may reduce the failure rate, the researcher : (a) conducted an extensive literature review, (b) developed opinion surveys for students, instructors, and administrators , and (c) conducted on site visits.

The …

The Struggles For Success: Quality Of Work Life At General Motors Wentzville, Betty Sue Schumpert-Anderson

Theses

The implementation of team concept at General Motors (G.M.) Wentzville (Missouri) appears to be on the road to failure. By tradition, G.M. management and union relationships have been conflicting, but since the 1930's both parties have agreed that a more cohesive working environment would be advantageous for both parties. In the early 1970's General Motors and the United Auto Workers Union signed an agreement to start a new Quality-Of-Work-Life (QWL) program. This agreement lead to the development of team concept at General Motors Wentzville. Wentzville tried to model their team concept program similar to the Japanese but they seemed to …

The Determination Of The Most Important Criteria To The Success Of A Patient Care Hospital Information System, Robin Chris Henson

Theses

The focus of this thesis is the criteria which contribute to the overall success of a patient care hospital information system. A review of the literature discusses each stage of the implementation process in depth as the success of the final implementation is dependent upon the success of each individual phase. There are five major phases which are evident . These include planning, selection, development , training, and conversion. Each phase possesses many elements necessary for the successful completion of that particular phase and for the entrance into the next phase.

As our society progresses out of the "Industrial Age" …

Direct And Inferential Communication: An Investigation Of The Development Of Oral Communication Styles In Children Through Converging Methods, James H. Hoerchler

Theses

In an investigation involving 43 residents of a children's residential treatment facility, communication styles were determined through correlation of data from three converging measures. The participants received commands ranging from unspoken gestures to direct oral instructions. Communication styles were determined through three measures: Physical responses to seven commands (CT), written responses to a variation of the Zajonc line test (LT), and a psychometric instrument (DIPT).

The purpose of this study was twofold: To determine if communication style are observable and measurable, and to design a psychometric instrument specifically for this population, the Direct/Inferential Psychometric Test (DIPT), to measure direct and …

Assessment Of Integration In R & D / Marketing Interface Conditions In The New Product Development Process, Pamela A. Hoffman

Theses

This thesis will focus on the relationship between the Research and Development (R&D) and marketing functions as they relate to the new product development process in a corporate setting.

New product development processes are a complex and dynamic series of activities which require a transition in the organization from a hierarchical structure to a colleague-based, horizontal structure. Cross-departmental teams and project management methods lead to shared responsibilities for new products among R&D, manufacturing, and marketing groups.

Research has established that communication problems, goal conflicts, and a lack of openness often characterize the relationship between R&D and marketing. Research has also …

Development Of A Psychometric Instrument For The Measurement Of Communication Styles, Michael G. Holler

Theses

In an investigation involving 30 subjects. a dichotomous communication-style construct was examined along three dimensions. with the intent to develop a psychometric instrument to measure the placement of individuals on a communication styles continuum . The hypothesized styles of communication were inferential and direct. The construct craws together the verbal. nonverbal. and paralinguistic components of communication into one configuration with some predictability. A single-group research design was used to i:x-oduce a condition in which reception of messages was observable and measurable along a scale. which ranged from extremely inferential to extremely direct. Three converging measurement methods were derived from the …

The Impact Of Appraisal Reform On Ad Valorem Appraisal Practices: A Case Study Of Assessment Practices In The State Of Missouri, Steven A. Teague

Theses

This study examines the implications of Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) on the practice of real property appraisal, with a focus on its application to ad valorem property assessment in Missouri. FIRREA was enacted in response to the savings and loan crisis, which exposed widespread weaknesses in the appraisal profession and the valuation process used by financial institutions. The paper traces the federal government’s effort to restore confidence in the real estate market through the establishment of uniform appraisal standards and the creation of regulatory oversight mechanisms. Central to this reform …

A Study Of Nine Elderly Tenants In A Program For Assistance In Living And Drug And Food Interaction, Jane Mcintosh Thompson

Theses

Nine elderly tenants living independently in a retirement complex in their apartment in a program for the frail elderly were studied.

This study consisted of interviews of various professionals such as doctors, nurses, social workers, and an executive director; conversations with the tenants, their families, and aides working with the tenants; reading numerous articles and books; announced and unannounced visits to nursing homes, hospitals, and a facility for the handicapped; conversations with some of the residents and staff during the visits; observations of the elderly in the apartment and facilities visited; concluding with a brief study of the medications taken …

A Dynamic Scheduling Monitor For A Manufacturing Process, Gregory Weilnau

Theses

Dynamic scheduling is the ability to create an effective schedule based on the current state of a manufacturing factory. I have developed such a scheduler for an injection molding department. The molding department provides the "factory" for which the schedule is created. In order to test my scheduling algorithm, I have developed three modules that form a complete factory model. A user interface allows access to the factory system. A factory database system permits the user to create and maintain the data that is required. The schedule and run module creates a schedule and then, simulates the schedule being run …

Ray Tracing For Constructive Solid Modeling, Anju Sharma Mccanna

Theses

This thesis describes a system for the creation and realistic depiction of non-geometric, complex, three dimensional solid models by utilizing a ray tracing algorithm and a graphics relational database. Geometric primitives such as a sphere, cylinder, block, and cone are combined together by using the Boolean set operations of union (+), intersection (&), and difference (-). The three dimensional solid models are built based on the concept of constructive solid geometric modeling. The database provides functions for the creation, transformation, and deletion of the primitives and models. A model may be displayed as a wireframe for a fast display or …

Network Security: Risk Assessment Of Information Systems, Sher Lurain

Theses

This paper investigates fundamental security issues and the growing impact of security breaches on computer networks. Cost-effective security measures, such as asset-threat analysis, enable monitoring of security levels in complex systems. An evaluation of one technique, called the Livermore Risk Analysis Methodology (LRAM) is documentedC 1 ] . Untrusted communication lines, unauthorized access and unauthorized dissemination of information must be contained. The complexity and corresponding sophistication of todays' systems and the reliance of management on information generated by these systems make them attractive targets for computer related crimes. A profile of computer criminals and their crimes emphasize the importance of …

A Qualitative Study Of The Experience Of Breast Cancer Surgery: How Women Cope And What They Need, Malone Aderholt

Theses

This is a study of the internal and external experiences of women who have been breast surgery patients and have been forced to make adjustments in many areas of their lives. The study focused on the necessity of the breast cancer patient to face life in an altered state , which affects her physical , social, emotional and sexual well-being , as well as confronting her with the issues of death and dying.

The methodology employed in t his study was qualitative. Information was solicited through the use of informal personal interviews conducted by the researcher . A single one …

A Theoretical Model For Pre-Bereavement Counseling With Hospice Families And Research Into Its Implications Regarding Prevention Of Complicated Mourning, Elise Suzanne Miller

Theses

The proposal for research outlined herein is designed as a method of meeting the emotional needs of hospice patients and their families as they endure one of the most stressful situations in which any family can find itself. It proposes a heretofore untried course of pre-bereavement family counseling and then proposes a research model which may determine whether such intervention can positively affect the relative health of the family members during the period of mourning following the death of the patient. Included is a specific outline of the possible course the pre-bereavement counseling should take as well as a thoroughly …

Implementation Of A Management Information System, Suzanne Margaret Moran

Theses

This project presents a history of occupational medicine and workers' compensation laws in the United States as a prelude to discussing the development of computer systems in occupational health. The history of a private corporate health service is outlined and the development of a management information system for that corporate health service is discussed. A computer instruction manual developed for the management information system is included. The results of an evaluation of the billing system, a major component of the management information system, indicate that the majority of the clients of the corporate health service are pleased with the system.

An Assessment Of A Black Community: Stress Effects Relating To Hypertension, Patricia Edwards Parrish

Theses

The north side of St. Louis was chosen by the author for many reasons. Perhaps the most important reason is the many stressors within the black community which attribute to health problems such as hypertension. Not only is hypertension more prevalent in blacks than whites, but it is also more severe (Butcher & Allen, Dec. 1989). The vital statistics indicate that the mortality risk in black patients with hypertension is approximately two to six times more than in whites.

Some other reasons for its selection are: This community, according to the Sixth District Police Department (Personal Communication, Jan., 1989), is …

Agency Clustering: A Method To Survive The 1990'S As A Small Independent Insurance Agency, Donald L. Klein

Theses

This thesis will focus on the study of the small independent insurance agent and a method to survive in the 1990's.

The small independent insurance agency is faced with a number of problems which may jeopardize the future existence of the independent system as we know it today. These concerns include: lack of market availability; higher premium volumes required by the insurance companies; intense competition from direct writers, captive agents, and national brokerage houses; increased office and operating expenses; and a perpetuation plan £or the business in the event of death, disability or retirement.

Many agents feel that in order …

A Workshop For Teachers Using Manipulative Math Materials, Connie Rauch Burbes

Theses

The purpose of this paper was to justify the need for teachers to realize the value and accessibility of manipulatives in their classrooms. Principals in the Francis Howell School District felt the need from the comments made from their respective teaching staffs. A flyer sent to all K-2 district teachers describing the purpose of the workshop, substantiated the principals' feelings. A workshop with funding for each participant was set up for July 18. Research of literature and attendance at manipulative workshops by the presenter helped to build the knowledge and techniques that would be used in the presentation. An outline …

Modeling Of Light Absorption In Solid State Imagers, Robert H. Philbrick

Theses

In this paper, a model for predicting the quantum efficiency and responsivity of silicon based solid state photodiodes is presented. The model is first developed using semiconductor theory and then implemented in a computer software program. Correct operation of the modeling program is verified by comparing the published reflectance curves of several silicon dioxide-silicon substrate samples with the reflectance curves produced by the modeling program. Next, a system capable of measuring photodiode quantum efficiency and responsivity is presented and used to measure quantum efficiency and responsivity for a photodiode specimen. Finally, the measured and modeled quantum efficiency and responsivity results …

Parallelism In Declarative Languages, Catherine Eleftherios Chronaki

Theses

Imperative programming languages were initially built for uniprocessor systems that evolved out of the Von Neumann machine model. This model of storage oriented computation blocks parallelism and increases the cost of parallel program development and porting. Declarative languages based on mathematical models of computation, seem more suitable for the development of parallel programs. In the first part of this thesis we examine different language families under the declarative paradigm: functional, logic, and constraint languages. Functional languages are based on the abstract model of functions and (lamda)-calculus. They were initially developed for symbolic computation, but today they are commonly used in …

Time Puzzle, Deborah Beyer

Theses

Not provided.

Speech Intelligibility Estimation Via Neural Networks, Stephen Knight

Theses

Current methods of speech intelligibility estimation rely on the subjective judgements of trained listeners. Accurate and unbiased intelligibility estimates have a number of procedural and/or methodological constraints including the necessity for large pools of listeners and a wide variety of stimulus materials. Recent research findings however, have shown a strong relationship between speech intelligibility estimates and selected acoustic speech parameters which appear to determine the intelligibility of speech. These findings suggest that such acoustic speech parameters could be used to derive computer-based speech intelligibility estimation, obviating the procedural and methodological constraints typically associated with such estimates. The relationship between speech …

Reasoning With Visual Knowledge In An Object Recognition System, Christine Wojnowski

Theses

The impact of artificial intelligence on computer vision has provided various perspectives and approaches to solving problems of the human visual system. Some of the symbolic processing and knowledge-based techniques implemented in vision systems represent a meaningful extension to the low-level, algorithmic processing which has been emphasized since the advent of the computer vision field. The higher-level processes attempt to capture the essence of visual cognition, specifically by encompassing a model of the visual world and the reasoning processes that manipulate this stored visual knowledge and environmental cues. This thesis includes a discussion of existing computer vision systems surveyed from …

Enhancements To The Xns Authentication-By-Proxy Model, Peter D. Wing

Theses

Authentication is the secure network architecture mechanism by which a pair of suspicious principals communicating over presumably unsecure channels assure themselves that each is that whom it claims to be. The Xerox Network Systems architecture proposes one such authentication scheme. This thesis examines the system consequences of the XNS model's unique proxy variant, by which a principal may temporarily commission a second network entity to assume its identity as a means of authority transfer. Specific attendant system failure modes are highlighted. The student's associated original contributions include proposed model revisions which rectify authentication shortfalls yet facilitate the temporal authority transfer …

Using Conformal Mapping To Aid In Computer Animation, Highland Mary Agnello

Theses

Not provided.

Automated Knowledge Acquisition Tool For Identification Of Generic Tasks, Arlene J. Buck

Theses

Recent research in the Knowledge Acquisition (KA) field, centers on defining a formal methodology for the KA process. This research includes the following goals: automating the KA process to decrease the KA time constraint; applying psychological techniques to extract the underlying structure of the expert's knowledge; and defining expertise in terms of "generic tasks" to yield possible knowledge organizations and strategies for the implementation of the expert system. This thesis provides an overview of the benefits and concerns of an automated KA system, psychological scaling techniques as they apply to KA, and the relevance of generic tasks. A generic task …

Internetworking: An Analysis And Proposal, Gary M. Diana

Theses

As the number of computer networks has grown, so has the desire for users on these networks to communicate with each other, thus the need for internetworking. Unfortunately, many of these networks were not designed with internetworking capabilities in mind. The internetworking facilities offered by a typical network range from non-existent to state of the art. Two major efforts towards internetworking are the DARPA Internet protocols and the OSI Internetworking protocols. The goals of this thesis are to acquaint the reader with the qualities which are desired in an internetworking scheme, to describe how internetworking is accomplished currently, and how …