Browsing by Department "Engineering Management"
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Item Acquisition integration framework for technology enterprise : the human factor(2010-12) Botes, Daan Jaco; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Cowan, KenAcquisitions are common in today’s business and people involved in acquisitions face challenges when they become part of this process. This thesis aims to provide an understanding of the human factors that determine the outcome of acquisition integration. Various frameworks exist in the literature that focuses on human and task integration as measures for success. In addition to these, the author explores an additional aspect, customer integration, as an important measure to determine overall integration success. Execution is the key to successful acquisition integration. Employees of a technology company were surveyed to gauge their acquisition experiences over three past acquisitions. The survey was a limited targeted case study that focused on analytical value, rather than statistical value. The survey data is analyzed and aligned with the literature data to identify some possible best practices the technology company could follow in future acquisitions. The survey results are used to establish the implications for the company’s acquisition process and to help the development of a playbook for acquisition integration.Item An analysis on starting up a specific small business(2010-12) Gomez, Juan Leonardo; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Duvic, Robert C.A unique business opportunity has been presented to me. I have been invited to create a small business that would initially offer mechanical design services to two main customer segments: automotive and biomedical device companies. My main responsibility is to help frame the small business and act as an investor partner. I will act as a silent partner once the day to day operations begin. My main focus of this paper is to provide practical information to answer many specific questions about starting this small business. A Net Present Value (NPV) and Profitability Index (PI) analysis will help me determine whether the required initial investment capital will be a good investment for all the parties involved. The legal aspect of managing people in a small business with less than 15 employees will be also reviewed. The conclusions from the Human Capital Framework and the main components of a business plan will be used in the future development of an operating procedure. A business structure will be selected as part of this analysis. Finally, the business values and strategic goals that are most important to all participating parties will be mentioned.Item An analysis to the main economic drivers for offshore wells abandonment and facilities decommissioning(2011-08) Wiegand, Sandra Milena; Nichols, Steven Parks, 1950-; Gupta, ManasDecommissioning and abandonment is a relevant issue in the petroleum industry because of the complex operations involved and the results after the decision has been made. Several factors could lead to abandoning wells and decommissioning platforms, among others hurricanes, production decline, economic limit, etc. Decommissioning and abandonment operations have a great impact in the revenue stream which is either lost or temporarily deferred depending on the situation. Every year between 100-150 platforms are decommissioned and approximately 620 wells are abandoned in the Gulf of Mexico. A case-by-case scenario should be revised on an annual basis and all the possible options to be considered and submitted to the Government. This thesis presents an overview of the topic and an analysis on when decommissioning and abandoning alternatives are recommended for the optimization of the economical resources.Item Assessing the effectiveness of Title V permitting as a compliance tool in Texas(2011-05) Janecka, Joseph Albert; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Newburger, ManuelThis paper is a study to determine whether the Title V program, as implemented in Texas, fulfills one of the goals of the Clean Air Act. That goal is to provide an effective compliance tool for particular sources (major sources of air contaminants). The study will include a description of elements that are a direct or indirect result of the Title V program including regulations, programs, permit and related documents, enforcement cases and violation data, etc. that will result in measurements or logical arguments to support the claim that the program is an effective compliance tool as compared to any system in place before it. I discuss Title V program elements that appear to detract from the compliance effectiveness, and explore the impact of these elements on compliance determination.Item Avery Drive area drainage improvement(2011-08) Sheng, Christopher Tong; Bagchi, UttarayanThe area of study is the Avery Drive drainage area. The objective of these projects is to alleviate frequent flooding at the Avery Drive neighborhoods. RC&A designed two options for improving the Avery Drive drainage area. Option one increases the capacity of the existing sewer system, and option two constructs a new storm drain system along Simon Street while keeping the existing system in place. Although both options offer preliminary solutions for alleviating flooding, the designs are unviable due to the lack of data that was available for the study. The following research will prove that RC&A fulfilled its contractual obligation of practicing due diligence by recommending further investigation to obtain valuable data for a complete and successful final design, rather than providing a solid recommendation based on existing data.Item BIM deployment : a process to adopt and implement a disruptive technology(2012-05) Hamilton, Timothy Leighton; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Nichols, StevenThis thesis determines a process to adopt and implement the disruptive practice and technology of Building Information Modeling (BIM) within the architectural-engineering-construction (AEC) community. Specific areas to address include: 1. Define process, adoption and integration as related to BIM implementation 2. Describe why BIM is a disruptive technology today 3. Identify reactive and proactive BIM outcomes 4. Evaluate and select process options for a specific BIM project 5. Describe the roles and responsibilities of participants, or stakeholders, in the BIM process 6. Identify consistent factors that influence BIM return on investment (ROI) at the project and company levels 7. Communicate the BIM process to management, colleagues and project stakeholders 8. Outline a process for BIM adoption and implementation at the project and company levels. The research methodology includes literature reviews and case studies. This research extends key teachings of the University of Texas at Austin Executive Engineering Management curriculum and gives the reader insight into the adoption and implementation of disruptive technologies.Item Business continuity planning and semiconductor manufacturing(2010-12) Urena, Enrique C.; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Duvic, Robert Conrad, 1947-In the current era of globalization in supply chain, business continuity planning should play an even more important role than previously. Business continuity planning provides company with an analysis of potential business threatening situations, everything from natural disasters to supply shortages, and ensures that actions are taken in order to mitigate the probability that those risks will become reality. Business continuity planning does not come without a cost, since companies will in some cases have to spend money in actions like redundancies (e.g. supplier). In the Semiconductor industry, supply chains might are extremely complex and globalized. These supply chains can go from having suppliers in the United States, to front-end manufacturing in Europe, to back-end manufacturing and packaging in Asia. Raw materials for semiconductor manufacturing, for example raw wafers, can be found for above $500 per wafer. It is due to not only the complexity of the supply chain in semiconductors, but also due to the high costs of raw materials and manufacturing, that it is crucial for companies in this particular industry to ensure business continuity planning is taken seriously, and adequate measures are taken to mitigate as many risks to their supply chain as possible.Item The case for public-private partnerships in infrastructure capital budgeting(2009-12) Kirunda, Emmanuel Sunlight; Ambler, Tony; Duvic, RobertCivil Infrastructure is needed both in the developed world and in developing countries. However, governments alone can no longer deliver the much needed projects mainly because of lack of money, but also due to the lack of technical skills and a changing type of citizenry. In today’s world, governments have to consult the market place to efficiently and optimally deliver the much needed infrastructure. The case for Public-Private Partnerships being better than the options of government run projects or fully privatized projects is that Public-Private Partnerships offer real advantages in three major areas: 1) risk benefits (financial, legal and project related benefits), 2) management and communication benefits (within the partnership but also importantly between both partners and the general public), and 3) the value addition to the public common good.Item A case for strategic change in the new space age(2010-12) Bostad, Mathew Curtis; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Herder, James F.Since the Space Race of the 1960s the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been the face of the U.S. space industry, responsible for driving aeronautics research, exploring our solar system through human and robotic missions, and inspiring the nation through scientific achievement. NASA and its core group of large aerospace contractors have worked to successfully carry out U.S. space exploration goals and have been responsible for some of the most significant engineering successes in history. Over the past decade or so, however, it has increasingly been the private space sector advancing new markets, capturing the public imagination, and working to reduce the timeline and cost of access to space. As the Obama administration’s new space policy begins to put increased emphasis on developing the U.S. commercial space sector, legacy NASA contractors are starting to see what may be the beginnings of a new competitive environment in the human spaceflight market. With the end of the Space Shuttle Program looming, and the restructuring of its successor the Constellation Program in progress, NASA continues to look for a way forward for its human spaceflight program. At the same time the agency’s contractors are dealing with a loss of significant work statement, a lack of new development programs, and an increase in the number of competitors entering the commercial space market. As Boeing Space Exploration attempts to traverse this turbulent period it must also look ahead to the competitive conditions which may result from these changes. It is critical that companies such as Boeing analyze the current structural trends in the industry and attempt to develop a robust strategy to position the company going forward. This paper aims to present analysis of the current market challenges faced by Boeing Space Exploration and the emerging competitive environment in the human spaceflight industry. General competitive strategies are discussed along with recommendations on which strategic pursuits might best allow the division to maintain its leadership in the industry and successfully compete in a new, more commercial space market.Item Clinically relevant adipose tissue engineering strategies and market potential(2010-12) Finkbiner, Jenny Jean; Ambler, Tony; Vail, Neal K.This thesis presents a foundation for developing a business case for companies interested in the reconstructive and cosmetic procedure markets. The focus is on reviewing adipose tissue engineering research and proposing technology opportunities that could be applied to challenging soft tissue reconstruction cases and adjacently applied to cosmetic applications. To establish the foundation for this type of program, this thesis includes an evaluation of the reconstructive and cosmetic procedure markets, current practices in these markets and their constraints, as well as a literature review of research in adipose tissue engineering and its potential clinical applications. Additionally it captures the competitive landscape of major players in the reconstructive market as well as up-and-coming players in the adipose tissue engineering field. Technology development opportunities with associated customer and business value are discussed with a recommendation for the development of a detailed business case to evaluate specific product development opportunities in these markets.Item Cloud computing : security risk analysis and recommendations(2011-12) Sachdeva, Kapil; Bagchi, Uttarayan; Walls, StephenCloud computing is here to stay and is the natural progression in the evolution of our computing and collaboration needs. The easy availability of computing infrastructures is motivating a new breed of entrepreneurs to realize their ideas and deliver innovations to masses. These innovations, however, have some serious security weaknesses. If not taken into account, these weaknesses could prove fatal for an organization’s reputation and existence. This thesis explains the potential risks associated with various types of cloud computing technologies and recommends methods to mitigate them.Item Cognitive Science in technology(2010-12) Cabrera, Victoria Marrujo; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Ambler, TonyCognitive Science is an interdisciplinary field that ties together the curricula of liberal arts and technical fields of study. However, it is de-emphasized in technical undergraduate studies such as Engineering. Cognitive Science is essentially the study of the human mind and how humans process information. It is the study of human responses, thinking, and perception. Human behavior and a person’s reaction are undetermined, but it can be better understood. Although human behavior and interaction is a routine part of life, engineers are taught to decipher code and not how to decipher a human’s behavior. Cognitive Science affects all aspects in the work environment. Organizational practices can be improved by understanding common biases and motivational theories in people. Having a cognitive awareness of typical human behavior will help to promote improved communication and positive reactions from people in the workplace. Human behavior is inevitable in any field but more crucial in technical fields especially when there is lack of communication or ambiguous guidelines and definitions. In technical fields, miscommunication or ambiguity can be a matter of life or death. In many situations, miscommunication can drive ambiguity. Although some people are happy with flexible guidelines, others seek to have well defined expectations. How do people react in situations surrounding miscommunication or ambiguity? In both situations, some people create opportunities and others become a hindrance. Processes and procedures can be put in place to alleviate ambiguous situations, but human performance and psychological factors still play a role as well. Human error can result from psychological factors, but the environment can be improved to limit those factors. As with any situation, mishaps are still prone to happen. Although human error is preventable in most cases, it’s never completely unavoidable. Human error continues to be a deep-rooted cause that can lead to negative outcomes. As stated by Alexander Pope, “to err is human…” (Moncur). This paper will explore underlying human behavior in daily activities. By understanding common biases and motivational theories driving human behavior, one can address negative behavior in a technical field in order to create opportunities.Item Colossal business failures(2010-08) Baysinger, Heinrich Nicholas; Ambler, Tony; McCann, BruceJune 22, 1918, Alonzo Sergent fell asleep while conducting a train that plowed into another train killing 86 passengers and injuring another 187. 17 days later, July 9, 1918, two passenger trains collided head on in what became known as The Great Train Wreck of 1918, killing 101 people and injuring 171 people. The investigations and analysis of failure in both accidents can be attributed to a single person. During this month, the single person failed to operate the company’s train properly, which lead to a colossal disaster which affected numerous lives, loss of business revenue, loss of credibility, and had a huge social impact. Similar to an analysis of a colossal train wreck, this report focuses on the complexities behind colossal business failures, analyzes the reasons for failure and the role of the CEO, and proposes recommendations that can be used to guard future businesses against colossal failure.Item Communicating without words: the power of nonverbal communication in business(2009-12) Green, Ryan Michael; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Paulson, Gaylen D.Communication is essential to business. A major component of communication is nonverbal communication. This form of communication has existed and been capitalized upon much longer than verbal communication. Nevertheless, the majority of people do not receive any formalized training on the subject. The objective of this report is to outline the importance of nonverbal communication by providing the reader with a practical introduction to the topic and define how it is applicable to business.Item Consumer preference measurement and its practical application for selecting software product features(2011-08) Ayers, Debra Lynn; Mackie, Kathleen Sue, 1947-; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-Consumer preference measurement is a quantitative field of study for modeling, collecting and analyzing product decisions by consumers. Discovering how consumers choose products is an important area of marketing research and recognized as a successful partnership between academic theory and practice over the past forty years. Despite preference measurement’s success in consumer products, little guidance is available for its application to software product management. This paper assesses the feasibility of applying advanced preference measurement techniques to software products and suggests a framework for conducting such studies. A summary of the methods is provided to give guidance to software product managers seeking to apply preference measurement to common product decisions. The paper concludes by recommending a technique called ‘maximum difference scaling’ to elicit customer feedback to help measure the importance of new features for software product improvement.Item Consumer-driven innovation : a photography case study(2011-08) Crawford, Brad Thomas; Nichols, Steven Parks, 1950-; Darwin, Thomas Jason, 1966-The effects consumer-driven innovation can have on an industry can be difficult to quantify. In this thesis I seek to highlight their existence and underscore their influence by observing the historical impact of numerous innovations on modern technology and society. Using the photography industry as a case study, I will show how successful companies leverage consumers to increase profits and technological development. Companies unable or unwilling to adapt will struggle to maintain profits and become insignificant in the market place. It is also important to consider the enablement of customers by these manufacturers. Advancements in the primary industry as well as supporting industries can lead to variability in market growth and often stimulate societal changes. As consumer innovators progress towards production, it is increasingly important that manufacturers adapt and redefine their market presence. Consumers are a powerful force and represent more than financial capital. My research shows that creative companies can harness consumer energy and find opportunities in the intellectual capital of the crowd.Item Contract manufacturing(2010-12) Patel, Sitansh Rajnikant; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; Darwin, Thomas J.By surveying literature on the topics of contract manufacturing, this report describes how organizations can make use of contract manufacturing to enhance their profitability and competitiveness. This paper is intended to serve as a guide for organization executives, managers, and team members who are exploring contract manufacturing. It is a how-to manual, and addresses various issues involved in the contract manufacturing, and suggests a methodology for addressing them. Finally, the report briefly describes the perceived benefits of contract manufacturing, but lack of understanding of the total costs involved in executing this initiative may adversely affect many organizations. Thus, the question arises how company decides if contract manufacturing is the right decision, and if yes, then how they perform it effectively and efficiently?Item Corporate responsibility as a strategic goal : open source healthcare appliances in developing countries(2010-12) Rosales, Antonio A., 1981-; Ambler, Tony; Duvic, Robert Conrad, 1947-Despite the trillions of dollars spent over the past decades on foreign aid 80% of humanity still lives on less than $10 dollars a day. There is an alarming need to deliver quality healthcare services and products to developing countries. The healthcare industry for developing countries is estimated to be $202 million and growing exponentially. However, intrinsic obstacles have prevented companies from fully deploying solutions in these countries. With the emergence of Citizen-Sector Organizations companies now have an alley to create High Value Chains enabling companies to deliver solutions to developing countries. Thereby, increasing shareholder value and increasing the living conditions of global citizens. As citizens of developing countries have better health care they are better equipped to succeed economically and consume other services and products the company has to offer. This paper discusses how an engineering manager can increase shareholder value by aligning corporate responsibility with the company’s strategic goals by leveraging High Value Chains. Specifically this paper discusses how open source methodologies can be utilized to improve healthcare in developing countries while increasing shareholder value.Item Deepwater ventures : organizing for Gulf of Mexico well construction operations(2010-12) Hernandez, Carlos Alberto, 1983-; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; McCann, BruceDeepwater Gulf of Mexico well construction operations are some of the most challenging and expensive operations in the E&P industry; not only does the outer continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico present the distinct environmental challenges of hurricanes and loop currents, its geologic profiles can include such challenges as salt, tar or pressurized zones. To overcome these challenges technology is being pushed to its operational and mechanical limits but technology advances can only accomplish so much without the presence of capable personnel. In the E&P industry, human resources are becoming more limited due to the “Big Crew Change”; a disproportionate relief of the retiring Baby Boomers by Generation X workforce that now requires Generation Y assistance. Regardless of the aforementioned, operators venture out into deepwater with hopes to capitalize on the recently discovered attractive development and exploratory opportunities, but to do so they must organize and properly develop their internal well construction organization in a manner that all members are capable to address the challenges as they come. Therefore, team organization is an operator’s priority, a challenge that should be addressed through common project management practices. This paper parallels the project management practices to establish the appropriate organizational structure for an operator’s deepwater well construction group, manage the human resources to properly delineate responsibilities and to structure their staff management processes to acquire, develop and manage personnel in a manner scalable with the operator’s expansion agenda.Item Developing a lessons learned program using a multi philosophy approach(2011-12) Benitez, Rodolfo; Lewis, Kyle, 1961-; McCann, BruceLessons Learned Programs (LLPs) can be used to acquire knowledge from individual employees for the benefit of the entire organization. The effectiveness of a LLP is highly dependent on the critical components of a LLP and the factors that impede or promote behaviors conducive to a LLP. This study identifies these critical components and the factors that influence the behaviors a LLP requires to succeed. I analyze an existing LLP to identify a process that will simultaneously promote behaviors to execute the LLP and develop the culture where a LLP can succeed. The primary objective of this research is to develop actionable recommendations to improve an existing LLP.