Organizational Unit:
College of Design

Permanent Link
https://hdl.handle.net/1853/70628
Research Organization Registry ID
Description
Previous Names
Parent Organization
Parent Organization
Includes Organization(s)
ArchiveSpace Name Record
https://finding-aids.library.gatech.edu/agents/corporate_entities/101

Filters

2006 - 2009 3 2010 - 2011 2
5
5
Reset filters

Settings
search.filters.applied.f.advisor: Kangari, Roozbeh × Has files: Yes × search.filters.applied.f.isOrgUnitOfPublicationTitle: College of Design × search.filters.applied.f.isOrgUnitOfPublicationTitle: School of Building Construction × search.filters.applied.f.resourcesubtype: Dissertation ×

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    High occupancy toll lanes ignoring the potential for a environmental justice violation
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2011-04-05) Rodgers, Charner Lynn
    In the US transportation system, environmental justice (EJ) issues are regulated by a variety of laws to ensure that all have fair treatment with respect to implementation of policies. If State Departments of Transportation adhere to all regulations properly but unconsciously, then an underlying negative impact on a community may still exist as a result of a newly implemented project. Since the implementation of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes are fairly new, and since there have been numerous concerns from the public about their discriminatory nature, a decision support system is needed to identify potential EJ violations and issues when implementing a new or converted HOT lane. No prior model exists. The goal of this research is to assist state's Department of Transportation (DOT) in the early stages of the development of an HOT lane by developing a Potential Environmental Justice Violation Model that will help state agencies predict potential EJ violations before additional resources are invested into a project. By developing a model, this study identifies and classifies characteristic drivers of potential EJ violations related to communities' economic, social, or health and safety status. The Potential Environmental Justice Violation Model (PEJVM) allows state DOTs employees to define and evaluate the distribution of impacts in the relevant categories. The model provides a method for transforming complex qualitative and quantitative data about a project into a user-friendly format where the results can then be visualized using a spider radar diagram to determine the level of impact of each identified variable. The PEJVM was validated using two previous anonymous HOT case studies and demonstrated using the Interstate 85 Case Study in Atlanta, Georgia. This model offers a uniform method of identifying potential environmental justice violations when implementing a HOT lane. The model will also help inform state agencies of potential violations early in the planning stages of HOT lane projects so that the agency can solve any potential EJ issues before additional resources are invested.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Auditory distractions in open office settings: a multi attribute utility approach to workspace decision making
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010-04-22) Juneja, Parminder K.
    In open office settings, auditory distractions coming from surrounding work environment are shown to be a considerable source of indirect costs to an organization, such as performance costs, behavioral costs, and healthcare costs, to name a few. These costs are substantial to affect the net productivity of an organization, where productivity is equal to revenue minus the costs. This research argues that the costs of auditory distractions should be estimated when evaluating the value of a workspace for an organization. However, since organizational decisions are generally guided by cost-benefit analysis and a precise dollar figure cannot be attached to the stated indirect costs because these are subjective in nature; therefore, these are generally ignored. Costs that are critical to sustainability and development of a business and the fact that cost-benefit approach is no longer appropriate for these decisions, a more robust decision-based approach to workspace selection is proposed. Decision-based approach is seen as an organized approach to select between workspace options under uncertainty and risk wherein the selected workspace is maximized in terms of some expected utility. Here utility is defined as the measurement of strength or intensity of a person's preferences. Decision-based approach include consideration of a multitude of environmental decision variables, objective or subjective, in a single equation and processing of the same in a limited amount of time with rationality and consistency. A multi-attribute workspace choice utility decision model is developed with the intent to facilitate systematic understanding and analysis of workspace alternatives for an organization. This research shows how the decision-making approach to workspace selection simplifies the problem by providing a structure that is easily comprehensible, and allows simultaneous processing of both, qualitative and quantitative conflicting objectives, through a single decision-making model. In doing so, this research firmly establishes the importance of workspace's adaptability to auditory distractions for office workers, particularly knowledge workers, who are constantly undertaking a range of complex tasks. The study holistically and systematically addresses the fundamental issue prevalent in state-of-the-art North American open plan office settings of substantiality of two extremely contrasting requirements, concentration and collaboration, in the same workspace and work environment at a given time.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Artificial neural network (ANN) based decision support model for alternative workplace arrangements (AWA): readiness assessment and type selection
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009-11-11) Kim, Jun Ha
    A growing body of evidence shows that globalization and advances in information and communication technology (ICT) have prompted a revolution in the way work is produced. One of the most notable changes is the establishment of the alternative workplace arrangement (AWA), in which workers have more freedom in their work hours and workplaces. Just as all organizations are not good candidates for AWA adoption, all work types, all employees and all levels of facilities supports are not good candidates for AWA adoption. The main problem is that facility managers have no established tools to assess their readiness for AWA adoption or to select among the possible choices regarding which AWA type is most appropriate considering their organizations' business reasons or objectives of adoption and the current readiness levels. This dissertation resulted in the development of readiness level assessment indicators (RLAI), which measure the initial readiness of high-tech companies for adopting AWAs and the ANN based decision model, which allows facility managers to predict not only an appropriate AWA type, but also an anticipated satisfaction level considering the objectives and the current readiness level. This research has identified significant factors and relative attributes for facility managers to consider when measuring their organization's readiness for AWA adoption. Robust predictive performance of the ANN model shows that the main factors or key determinants have been correctly identified in RLAI and can be used to predict an appropriate AWA type as well as a high-tech company's satisfaction level regarding the AWA adoption.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Employee engagement model for the multi-family rental housing industry
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009-03-23) Phillips, Deborah Ann
    Employee Engagement Model for the Multi-family Rental Housing Industry Deborah R. Phillips 238 Pages Directed by Roozbeh Kangari The multi-family rental housing industry has faced numerous challenges in the past decade. Increased competition, declining occupancy rates and higher operating expenses have forced management companies to re-examine their organizational strategies, particularly as it applies to its human capital. Employee engagement has become an emerging topic and shows that engaged employees perform better, put in extra effort to help get the job done, show a strong level of commitment to the organization, and are more motivated and optimistic about their work goals. Companies now recognize the value in fostering a climate in which engaged employees drive sales by creating loyal customers. However, despite documented support identifying the link between engaged employees and more impressive business outcomes, little research has concentrated on the special needs and challenges of the multi-family rental housing industry. Further, there are limited tools available to assist owners and managers with the task of identifying the drivers affecting employee engagement. An Employee Engagement Model (EEM) was developed to allow multi-family apartment rental property owners and managers to determine the percentage of satisfied residents for a given average level of engagement score. This research utilized statistical analysis, neural network techniques, and probabilistic modeling to develop the Employee Engagement Model. The Employee Engagement Model (EEM) offers new knowledge in the relationship between employee engagement and resident satisfaction in the multi-family rental housing industry. New knowledge may also be derived in correlations of certain aspects of employee engagement and the likelihood of residents extending their leases or referring others to his/her community, thus improving business performance. It is expected that the Employee Engagement Model (EEM) will provide useful feedback to multi-family professionals in their process of talent management. It is also expected that further discussions toward improvements in measuring employee engagement and its impact on satisfaction will be prompted by this research.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Automation Performance Index
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006-11-30) Makarechi, Shariar
    Automation is intended to improve overall building performance. Building Automation Systems (BAS) are attractive and popular due to their promise of increased operational effectiveness. BAS can be optimized and a well-designed and well-implemented BAS is expected to increase a buildings overall appeal and value as a result of improvement to its performance. In order to improve the level of automation in buildings, a measurement tool in the form of a performance index is needed. The goal of this research is to quantify a buildings level of automation-performance. The specific objective is to develop an Automation Performance Index (API) model for evaluating the extent of a buildings automation-performance. A methodology is outlined with ten tasks to accomplish the goals of this research and a criterion for each task is described. An extensive literature research and expert survey are performed to identify the key parameters that influence the performance of BAS. Seminars related to the building automation and commissioning fields were also attended to obtain the views of practitioners, manufacturers experts, as well as scholars in the field of building automation and performance commissioning. A Delphi method of research approach is conducted through a series of interviews and surveys of industry and academia experts. The feedback from experts and the research from literature, industry and academic resources are combined, classified and categorized for identification of significant parameters around which Automation Performance Index (API) model can be defined.