The impact of work management software on well-being: the ITCup software case

In this thesis we partnered with a start-up to improve upon a business process management software by developing a project that would increase its impact on worker well-being. We had two goals, one of evaluating the impact of the software “as is” and another of proposing additional features to expand said effects, but we were only able to follow through with the second one due to external constraints. Through a series of meetings with the start-up and the analysis of several articles and books of reference, we reached upon a set of variables that can could worked upon. Our proposal is a series of features based on said variables to implement on the software that are expected to yield positive effects on both well-being and performance at work based on theoretical evidence. To improve the impact of this study, we propose that further research is made to empirically prove the results that should occur upon the software’s implementation in organizations, as well as expanding the width and depth of the software’s features.Nesta tese associámo-nos com uma start-up para trabalhar sobre um software de gestão de processos de trabalho através do desenvolvimento de um projeto que melhorasse o seu impacto no bem-estar dos trabalhadores. Existiam dois objetivos, um de avaliar o impacto do software no seu estado inicial e outro de propor funcionalidades adicionais para expandir estes efeitos, mas apenas foi possível concluir o segundo devido a constrangimentos externos. Através de uma série de reuniões com a start-up e à análise de vários artigos e livros de referência foi possível chegar a um conjunto de variáveis sobre as quais se trabalhou. A nossa proposta é uma série de funcionalidades baseadas nestas variáveis para serem implementadas no software que esperamos sortir efeitos positivos no bem-estar e performance no trabalho com base nas evidências teóricas. Para melhorar o impacto deste estudo, propõe-se que seja feita investigação adicional para se provar empiricamente os resultados que deverão ocorrer após a implementação deste software nas organizações, bem como que se expandam a abrangência e profundidade das funcionalidades do software

Extravehicular activities limitations study. Volume 1: Physiological limitations to extravehicular activity in space

This report contains the results of a comprehensive literature search on physiological aspects of EVA. Specifically, the topics covered are: (1) Oxygen levels; (2) Optimum EVA work; (3) Food and Water; (4) Carbon dioxide levels; (5) Repetitive decompressions; (6) Thermal, and (7) Urine collection. The literature was assessed on each of these topics, followed by statements on conclusions and recommended future research needs

Workplace Internet Leisure and Employee Productivity: Mediating Role of Employee Engagement

There is an ongoing discussion on the role of workplace internet leisure (WIL) and whether it is a vice or virtue. Considering this, Current study is aimed to examine the effects of Workplace internet leisure on employee productivity with mediating role of employee engagement in the Army health care sector of Pakistan. The data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from Armed forces nursing officers of different Army hospitals and institutes through convenience sampling size of 300.SPSS model macro Version 3 (Hayes, 2018) was used to analyze the respondents’ feedback. For analysis of workplace internet leisure influence on employee engagement regression is calculated and results indicates that workplace internet leisure has positive and significance impact on employee engagement, while work place internet leisure has positive but insignificance impacts on employee productivity. Additionally, indirect analysis is calculated for mediation analysis, results indicate that employee engagement positively mediates association between workplace internet leisure and employees productivity. Keywords: Workplace internet leisure (WIL), Employee productivity (EP), Employee engagement (EE), Self-determination theory(SDT), Job demand-resource model (JDR

Multi-modal post-editing of machine translation

As MT quality continues to improve, more and more translators switch from traditional translation from scratch to PE of MT output, which has been shown to save time and reduce errors. Instead of mainly generating text, translators are now asked to correct errors within otherwise helpful translation proposals, where repetitive MT errors make the process tiresome, while hard-to-spot errors make PE a cognitively demanding activity. Our contribution is three-fold: first, we explore whether interaction modalities other than mouse and keyboard could well support PE by creating and testing the MMPE translation environment. MMPE allows translators to cross out or hand-write text, drag and drop words for reordering, use spoken commands or hand gestures to manipulate text, or to combine any of these input modalities. Second, our interviews revealed that translators see value in automatically receiving additional translation support when a high CL is detected during PE. We therefore developed a sensor framework using a wide range of physiological and behavioral data to estimate perceived CL and tested it in three studies, showing that multi-modal, eye, heart, and skin measures can be used to make translation environments cognition-aware. Third, we present two multi-encoder Transformer architectures for APE and discuss how these can adapt MT output to a domain and thereby avoid correcting repetitive MT errors.Angesichts der stetig steigenden Qualität maschineller Übersetzungssysteme (MÜ) post-editieren (PE) immer mehr Übersetzer die MÜ-Ausgabe, was im Vergleich zur herkömmlichen Übersetzung Zeit spart und Fehler reduziert. Anstatt primär Text zu generieren, müssen Übersetzer nun Fehler in ansonsten hilfreichen Übersetzungsvorschlägen korrigieren. Dennoch bleibt die Arbeit durch wiederkehrende MÜ-Fehler mühsam und schwer zu erkennende Fehler fordern die Übersetzer kognitiv. Wir tragen auf drei Ebenen zur Verbesserung des PE bei: Erstens untersuchen wir, ob andere Interaktionsmodalitäten als Maus und Tastatur das PE unterstützen können, indem wir die Übersetzungsumgebung MMPE entwickeln und testen. MMPE ermöglicht es, Text handschriftlich, per Sprache oder über Handgesten zu verändern, Wörter per Drag & Drop neu anzuordnen oder all diese Eingabemodalitäten zu kombinieren. Zweitens stellen wir ein Sensor-Framework vor, das eine Vielzahl physiologischer und verhaltensbezogener Messwerte verwendet, um die kognitive Last (KL) abzuschätzen. In drei Studien konnten wir zeigen, dass multimodale Messung von Augen-, Herz- und Hautmerkmalen verwendet werden kann, um Übersetzungsumgebungen an die KL der Übersetzer anzupassen. Drittens stellen wir zwei Multi-Encoder-Transformer-Architekturen für das automatische Post-Editieren (APE) vor und erörtern, wie diese die MÜ-Ausgabe an eine Domäne anpassen und dadurch die Korrektur von sich wiederholenden MÜ-Fehlern vermeiden können.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Projekt MMP

An Analysis of Remote Communication Processes Involved in Video- Mediated and Text-Based Computer-Mediated Communication During Collaborative Problem Solving

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of current available communication mediums on the process of collaborative problem solving tasks in today\u27s modern society. Seven male-only dyads were asked to complete two tasks, both with a finite and definable solution, by communicating through one of three possible ways: face-to- face (FTF), a synchronous text-based computer system (CMC), and a video-mediated system (VMC). The effectiveness of the medium was evaluated based on time to solution, number of turns and words in relation to a visual search task and a spatial task. Results showed a significant difference in time to solution between dyads communicating through CMC and VMC and FTF mode for the visual search task. For the spatial task, significant time differences were found between all modes of communication, with the computer-mediated group taking the longest time to complete the task. No difference was found between FTF mode and VMC mode in regards to number of words and turns for the visual task, and for the special task no significant difference was found between FTF mode and CMC mode

Exploring Associations between Language and Working Memory Abilities in Children with Specific or Combined Impairments in Language and Working Memory

Children with disproportionate deficits in language, known as Specific Language Impairment (SLI), often demonstrate deficits in nonverbal cognitive abilities, such as working memory. Such findings have prompted much debate on the association between language and working memory functioning. The primary aim of this thesis was to examine the connection between working memory and language abilities among children with specific or combined impairments in these domains. Study 1 examined the potential of narrative retell performance to indicate impairment in language or working memory among 17 children with specific or combined impairment in language or working memory as well as 9 controls. Quantitative analysis using logistic regression revealed that language impairment was predicted best by the interaction between mean length of utterance, percent grammatical utterances, and age, whereas working memory impairment was best predicted by the interaction between events recalled and subordinate clauses per utterance. Exploratory qualitative analysis using qualitative descriptors differentiated narratives of children with and without impairment and revealed clusters of descriptors that identified contrasting speaking styles. Study 2 tested domain-specific interventions in language or working memory using a single subject design. Chapter 3 reports the effects of a narrative-based language intervention for 10 children with language impairment with or without working memory impairment. Results showed gains on narrative ability for most participants, and broader linguistic gains for half of the participants. Intervention effects on related domains (i.e., working memory, reading, math) were evident for some participants as well. Chapter 4 reports the effects of a working memory training program for 7 children with working memory impairment with or without language impairment. Results showed training effects on working memory tasks similar to training tasks for all participants. Transfer to language ability was seen for 4 participants, and transfer to reading or math was evident for 3 participants. Responder analyses for Study 2 showed associations between intervention effectiveness and baseline cognitive abilities, age, speaking style, and intervention intensity. Results support the view that working memory and language are separable but closely related cognitive processes. Responder analyses highlight the importance of considering heterogeneity among children with impairments in research and clinical settings

Benchmark Portfolio for SOFT 261: Software Engineering IV

This benchmark portfolio documents the course objectives, teaching strategies, and assessments for the inaugural offering of SOFT 261: Software Engineering IV at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). This is the final course in the core sequence of software engineering courses taken by students in the new undergraduate program in software engineering at UNL. These courses teach fundamental computer science concepts in the broader context of engineering software. As an ACE (Achievement-Centered Education) 2 course, the instructional material in SOFT 261 is focused on teaching visual communications skills in the context of applying software engineering processes to a real-world software project. This portfolio describes the course objectives and how this course fits into the broader context of software engineering education at UNL. It also describes the instructional strategies used to teach visual communications embedded in a software engineering course and the assessments used to evaluate student learning. This portfolio also analyzes student learning to assess the effectiveness of the teaching strategies and course materials. Finally, this portfolio reflects on the intellectual challenges of designing and teaching a visual communications course specifically for software engineering majors that incorporates team-based, hands-on learning working with and communicating with software developers on a large open-source project

Factors linked to employees’ preferences for teleworking: a mixed-methods study of UK employees.

Background: Teleworking has become more common since Covid-induced restrictions. While many employees enjoy teleworking, 17% prefer returning to the office full-time. This creates a potential conflict between teleworkers who would like to return to the office and employers who wish to expand teleworking practices. To address this, understanding the factors that influence teleworking preferences is important. Aims: This thesis investigates factors influencing teleworking preference among UK white-collar employees, aiming to develop a valid and reliable tool for measuring teleworking preference predictors. It also seeks to enhance conceptual understanding using Mokhtarian and Salomon's (1994;1995) Model of Telecommuting Adoption as a reference. Methods: The research includes a narrative review of teleworking literature, a meta-aggregative review of qualitative teleworking-related studies, a qualitative study of 21 UK white-collar teleworkers, and the development and validation of a teleworking preference predictors (TPP) scale involving 310 white-collar teleworkers. Results: The meta-aggregative review identified four cross-study generalisations which were advantages and disadvantages of teleworking, factors influencing teleworking experiences, and Covid-induced restrictions impact. In the qualitative study the following themes were created: benefits of teleworking, drawbacks of teleworking, adaptation to teleworking, and importance of voluntariness. The TPP scale had content validity, face validity, construct validity, internal reliability, and split-half reliability established. After the EFA analysis, final 28 items and four factors explained 38% of the teleworking preference variance. Conclusions: Teleworking preference is positively influenced by saved costs and time, reduced stress, increased productivity, avoidance of unwanted social situations, ability to pursue personal interests, and voluntariness. Negative teleworking preference influences include communication difficulties, reduced trust, lack of financial support from employers

Improving Business Performance Through The Integration Of Human Factors Engineering Into Organizations Using A Systems Engineeri

Most organizations today understand the valuable contribution employees as people (rather than simply bodies) provide to their overall performance. Although efforts are made to make the most of the human in organizations, there is still much room for improvement. Focus in the reduction of employee injuries such as cumulative trauma disorders rose in the 80 s. Attempts at increasing performance by addressing employee satisfaction through various methods have also been ongoing for several years now. Knowledge Management is one of the most recent attempts at controlling and making the best use of employees knowledge. All of these efforts and more towards that same goal of making the most of people s performance at work are encompassed within the domain of the Human Factors Engineering/Ergonomics field. HFE/E provides still untapped potential for organizational performance as the human and its optimal performance are the reason for this discipline s being. Although Human Factors programs have been generated and implemented, there is still the need for a method to help organizations fully integrate this discipline into the enterprise as a whole. The purpose of this research is to develop a method to help organizations integrate HFE/E into it business processes. This research begun with a review of the ways in which the HFE/E discipline is currently used by organizations. The need and desire to integrate HFE/E into organizations was identified, and a method to accomplish this integration was conceptualized. This method consisted on the generation of two domain-specific ontologies (a Human Factors Engineering/Ergonomics ontology, and a Business ontology), and mapping the two creating a concept map that can be used to integrate HFE/E into businesses. The HFE/E ontology was built by generating two concept maps that were merged and then joined with a HFE/E discipline taxonomy. A total of four concept maps, two ontologies and a taxonomy were created, all of which are contributions to the HFE/E, and the business- and management-related fields