MCMC Analysis Of Classical Time Series Algorithms

Identification of order of an Autoregressive Moving Average Model (ARMA) by the usual graphical method is subjective. Hence, there is a need of developing a technique to identify the order without employing the graphical investigation of series autocorrelations. To avoid subjectivity, this thesis focuses on determining the order of the Autoregressive Moving Average Model using Reversible Jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC). The RJMCMC selects the model from a set of the models suggested by better fitting, standard deviation errors and the frequency of accepted data. Together with deep analysis of the classical Box-Jenkins modeling methodology the integration with MCMC algorithms has been focused through parameter estimation and model fitting of ARMA models. This helps to verify how well the MCMC algorithms can treat the ARMA models, by comparing the results with graphical method. It has been seen that the MCMC produced better results than the classical time series approach.

Radioverkon mallintaminen nurba-pintaa hyödyntäen

Tässä työssä perehdytaan erilaisiin tapoihin mallintaa radioverkon kuuluvuutta verkon suunnittelua ja erilaisia palveluja varten. Tämän tarkastelun perusteella muodostetaan ongelmaan NURBS-pintaan perustuva ratkaisu, jolla radioverkon kuuluvuutta voidaan tarkastella kolmiulotteisesti. Radioverkon kuuluvuutta mallinnettaessa työssä kehitetty malli ottaa syötteenään tietoja rakennuksesta ja mitattuja signaalivoimakkuuksia ja luo näiden perusteella kolmiulotteisen pinnan, jonka avulla pystytään tarkastelemaan kuuluvuusaluetta. Kehitetyn mallin perusteella työssä toteutettiin radioverkon kuuluvuutta mallintava sovellus, joka pystyy tarjoamaan tietoa signaalin voimakkuudesta myös muiden sovellusten tarpeisiin.

Design and Analysis of Forward Error Control Coding and Signaling for Guaranteeing QoS in Wireless Broadcast Systems

Broadcasting systems are networks where the transmission is received by several terminals. Generally broadcast receivers are passive devices in the network, meaning that they do not interact with the transmitter. Providing a certain Quality of Service (QoS) for the receivers in heterogeneous reception environment with no feedback is not an easy task. Forward error control coding can be used for protection against transmission errors to enhance the QoS for broadcast services. For good performance in terrestrial wireless networks, diversity should be utilized. The diversity is utilized by application of interleaving together with the forward error correction codes. In this dissertation the design and analysis of forward error control and control signalling for providing QoS in wireless broadcasting systems are studied. Control signaling is used in broadcasting networks to give the receiver necessary information on how to connect to the network itself and how to receive the services that are being transmitted. Usually control signalling is considered to be transmitted through a dedicated path in the systems. Therefore, the relationship of the signaling and service data paths should be considered early in the design phase. Modeling and simulations are used in the case studies of this dissertation to study this relationship. This dissertation begins with a survey on the broadcasting environment and mechanisms for providing QoS therein. Then case studies present analysis and design of such mechanisms in real systems. The mechanisms for providing QoS considering signaling and service data paths and their relationship at the DVB-H link layer are analyzed as the first case study. In particular the performance of different service data decoding mechanisms and optimal signaling transmission parameter selection are presented. The second case study investigates the design of signaling and service data paths for the more modern DVB-T2 physical layer. Furthermore, by comparing the performances of the signaling and service data paths by simulations, configuration guidelines for the DVB-T2 physical layer signaling are given. The presented guidelines can prove useful when configuring DVB-T2 transmission networks. Finally, recommendations for the design of data and signalling paths are given based on findings from the case studies. The requirements for the signaling design should be derived from the requirements for the main services. Generally, these requirements for signaling should be more demanding as the signaling is the enabler for service reception.

Choice of Business Process Modeling Methodology - Case Northern Dimension Research Centre (NORDI) in Lappeenranta University of Technology

The main outcome of the master thesis is innovative solution, which can support a choice of business process modeling methodology. Potential users of this tool are people with background in business process modeling and possibilities to collect required information about organization’s business processes. Master thesis states the importance of business process modeling in implementation of strategic goals of organization. It is made by revealing the place of the concept in Business Process Management (BPM) and its particular case Business Process Reengineering (BPR). In order to support the theoretical outcomes of the thesis a case study of Northern Dimension Research Centre (NORDI) in Lappeenranta University of Technology was conducted. On its example several solutions are shown: how to apply business process modeling methodologies in practice; in which way business process models can be useful for BPM and BPR initiatives; how to apply proposed innovative solution for a choice of business process modeling methodology.

Use Of Systems Approach with Total Quality Management in Industrial Organizations

The objective of the work has been to study why systems thinking should be used in combination with TQM, what are the main benefits of the integration and how it could best be done. The work analyzes the development of systems thinking and TQM with time and the main differences between them. The work defines prerequisites for adopting a systems approach and the organizational factors which embody the development of an efficient learning organization. The work proposes a model based on combination of an interactive management model and redesign to be used for application of systems approach with TQM in practice. The results of the work indicate that there are clear differences between systems thinking and TQM which justify their combination. Systems approach provides an additional complementary perspective to quality management. TQM is focused on optimizing operations at the operational level while interactive management and redesign of organization are focused on optimization operations at the conceptual level providing a holistic system for value generation. The empirical study demonstrates the applicability of the proposed model in one case study company but its application is tenable and possible also beyond this particular company. System dynamic modeling and other systems based techniques like cognitive mapping are useful methods for increasing understanding and learning about the behavior of systems. The empirical study emphasizes the importance of using a proper early warning system.

Liiketoimintaprosessien mittaaminen ja mallintaminen

Tutkimuksessa tutkitaan mallintamista ja mittaamista osana liiketoimintaproses-sien parantamista, sekä näiden asioiden kuvaamista soveltuvalla työkalulla. Ensin esitetään teoreettinen viitekehys siihen, kuinka prosesseja voidaan mitata ja mal-lintaa. Sitten raportoidaan käytännössä suoritettu kehitystyö, jolle on määritetty lähtö- ja tavoitetila. Työn onnistumista mitataan johtajahaastatteluin ja saatuja tuloksia verrataan teoriaan. Tutkimuksessa yhdistettiin analyyttinen mallinrakennus, tieteellinen ongelman-ratkaisutoiminta sekä konsultointi tarkoituksena saada aikaan kohde organisaati-olle sopiva konstruktio esitettyyn ongelmaan. Johtajahaastattelut analysoitiin ja suoritettiin kvalitatiivinen tarveanalyysi. Haastatteluja täydennettiin muulla kerä-tyllä aineistolla ja analyysin tarkkuutta pyritään kasvattamaan eri lähdeaineistojen ristivertailuilla. Yrityksissä on niin liiketoiminnalle elintärkeitä ydinprosesseja kuin niitä tukevia tukiprosessejakin. Niiden toiminta perustuu ennalta suunniteltuihin ja uudelleen-käytettäviin menetelmiin. Prosessit tulee sopeuttaa yrityksen arkkitehtuuriin ja niitä on jatkuvasti kehitettävä. Kehittäminen voidaan toteuttaa suurilla kertamuu-toksilla, jatkuvalla laadun parantamisella tai niiden yhdistelmänä. Mallintamisella ja mittaamisella on tärkeä tehtävä liiketoimintaprosessien kehit-tämisessä. Niiden avulla voidaan helpottaa erityisesti prosessien suunnittelua luomalla konkreettisia malleja ja mittareita prosesseista. Toteutuksessa käytettiin prototyyppilähestymistapaa ja työn onnistumista arvioivat yhtiön johtajat. Tutki-muksen tuloksia ovat eri tason prosessimallit, joiden luomisessa käytettiin eri mallintamistekniikoita, sekä mittaristot mittaamaan yrityksen tuottavuutta ja te-hokkuutta.

Suljetun jäähdytysvesiverkon mallinnus

Työssä selvitettiin Neste Oil Porvoon jalostamon tuotantolinja 2 jäähdytysvesiverkon tilaa. Jäähdytysvesiverkon hydraulinen malli päivitettiin ja verifioitiin painemittauksin. Mallia tarkennettiin säätöventtiilien mallinnuksen sekä virhelähteiden tarkastelun perusteella havaituin muutoksin. Mallin verifioinnissa havaittiin huomattavia eroja mallin ja mitattujen paineiden välillä. Tämä johti mallin tarkempaan tarkasteluun, sekä virhelähteiden ja niiden vaikutusten selvittämiseen. Putkivarusteiden mallinnusmenetelmiä, sekä mallinnusperiaatteita vertailtiin keskenään. Koska jäähdytysveden kokonaiskierto oli riittämätön, tarkasteltiin kolmea vaihtoehtoa riittävän kiertovesimäärän aikaansaamiseksi. Nykyisten kiertovesipumppujen rinnanoperointi, sekä riittävän suureksi skaalatun pumpun käyttö simuloitiin. Kolmantena tapauksena arvioitiin lämmönvaihdinkohtaisen kuristussuunnitelman vaikutus putkiston painehäviöön, sekä putkistolle sopiva kiertovesipumppu. Vaihtoehdoille laskettiin suuntaa-antavat investointi- ja käyttökustannukset. Tarkastelun perusteella riittävän suureksi skaalattu pumppu todettiin kannattavimmaksi pienen hintaeron, sekä luotettavamman jäähdytysvesikierron käyttövarmuuden vuoksi. Työssä onnistuttiin tuottamaan yleispätevää tietoa suljetun jäähdytysvesiverkon hydrauliseen mallinnukseen vaikuttavista tekijöistä, sekä niiden vaikutuksesta mallin tarkkuuteen. Selvityksen perusteella tarkasteltua mallia saatiin tarkemmaksi.

Broadband excitation in the system identification of active magnetic bearing rotor systems

One of the targets of the climate and energy package of the European Union is to increase the energy efficiency in order to achieve a 20 percent reduction in primary energy use compared with the projected level by 2020. The energy efficiency can be improved for example by increasing the rotational speed of large electrical drives, because this enables the elimination of gearboxes leading to a compact design with lower losses. The rotational speeds of traditional bearings, such as roller bearings, are limited by mechanical friction. Active magnetic bearings (AMBs), on the other hand, allow very high rotational speeds. Consequently, their use in large medium- and high-speed machines has rapidly increased. An active magnetic bearing rotor system is an inherently unstable, nonlinear multiple-input, multiple-output system. Model-based controller design of AMBs requires an accurate system model. Finite element modeling (FEM) together with the experimental modal analysis provides a very accurate model for the rotor, and a linearized model of the magneticactuators has proven to work well in normal conditions. However, the overall system may suffer from unmodeled dynamics, such as dynamics of foundation or shrink fits. This dynamics can be modeled by system identification. System identification can also be used for on-line diagnostics. In this study, broadband excitation signals are adopted to the identification of an active magnetic bearing rotor system. The broadband excitation enables faster frequency response function measurements when compared with the widely used stepped sine and swept sine excitations. Different broadband excitations are reviewed, and the random phase multisine excitation is chosen for further study. The measurement times using the multisine excitation and the stepped sine excitation are compared. An excitation signal design with an analysis of the harmonics produced by the nonlinear system is presented. The suitability of different frequency response function estimators for an AMB rotor system are also compared. Additionally, analytical modeling of an AMB rotor system, obtaining a parametric model from the nonparametric frequency response functions, and model updating are discussed in brief, as they are key elements in the modeling for a control design. Theoretical methods are tested with a laboratory test rig. The results conclude that an appropriately designed random phase multisine excitation is suitable for the identification of AMB rotor systems.

Motivational Influences on Transfer: Dimensions and Boundary Conditions

The focus of this dissertation is the motivational influences on transfer in higher education and professional training contexts. To estimate these motivational influences, the dissertation includes seven individual studies that are structured in two parts. Part I, Dimensions, aims at identifying the dimensionality of motivation to transfer and its structural relations with training-related antecedents and outcomes. Part II, Boundary Conditions, aims at testing the predictive validity of motivation theories used in contemporary training research under different study conditions. Data in this dissertation was gathered from multi-item questionnaires, which were analyzed differently in Part I and Part II. Studies in Part I employed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, partial least squares (PLS) path modeling, and mediation analysis. Studies in Part II used artifact distribution meta-analysis, (nested) subgroup analysis, and weighted least squares (WLS) multiple regression. Results demonstrate that motivation to transfer can be conceptualized as a three-dimensional construct, including autonomous motivation to transfer, controlled motivation to transfer, and intention to transfer, given a theoretical framework informed by expectancy theory, self-determination theory, and the theory of planned behavior. Results also demonstrate that a range of boundary conditions moderates motivational influences on transfer. To test the predictive validity of expectancy theory, social cognitive theory, and the theory of goal orientations under different study settings, a total of 17 boundary conditions were meta-analyzed, including age; assessment criterion; assessment source; attendance policy; collaboration among trainees; computer support; instruction; instrument used to measure motivation; level of education; publication type; social training context; SS/SMC bias; study setting; survey modality; type of knowledge being trained; use of a control group; and work context. Together, the findings cumulated in this thesis support the basic premise that motivation is centrally important for transfer, but that motivational influences need to be understood from a more differentiated perspective than commonly found in the literature, in order to account for several dimensions and boundary conditions. The results of this dissertation across the seven individual studies are reflected in terms of their implications for theory development and their significance for training evaluation and the design of training environments. Limitations and directions to take in future research are discussed.

Voimalaitoksen käytönaikaisen optimoinnin määrittely

Tässä diplomityössä määritellään biopolttoainetta käyttävän voimalaitoksen käytönaikainen tuotannon optimointimenetelmä. Määrittelytyö liittyy MW Powerin MultiPower CHP –voimalaitoskonseptin jatkokehitysprojektiin. Erilaisten olemassa olevien optimointitapojen joukosta valitaan tarkoitukseen sopiva, laitosmalliin ja kustannusfunktioon perustuva menetelmä, jonka tulokset viedään automaatiojärjestelmään PID-säätimien asetusarvojen muodossa. Prosessin mittaustulosten avulla lasketaan laitoksen energia- ja massataseet, joiden tuloksia käytetään seuraavan optimointihetken lähtötietoina. Optimoinnin kohdefunktio on kustannusfunktio, jonka termit ovat voimalaitoksen käytöstä aiheutuvia tuottoja ja kustannuksia. Prosessia optimoidaan säätimille annetut raja-arvot huomioiden niin, että kokonaiskate maksimoituu. Kun laitokselle kertyy käyttöikää ja historiadataa, voidaan prosessin optimointia nopeuttaa hakemalla tilastollisesti historiadatasta nykytilanteen olosuhteita vastaava hetki. Kyseisen historian hetken katetta verrataan kustannusfunktion optimoinnista saatuun katteeseen. Paremman katteen antavan menetelmän laskemat asetusarvot otetaan käyttöön prosessin ohjausta varten. Mikäli kustannusfunktion laskenta eikä historiadatan perusteella tehty haku anna paranevaa katetta, niiden laskemia asetusarvoja ei oteta käyttöön. Sen sijaan optimia aletaan hakea deterministisellä optimointialgoritmilla, joka hakee nykyhetken ympäristöstä paremman katteen antavia säätimien asetusarvoja. Säätöjärjestelmä on mahdollista toteuttaa myös tulevaisuutta ennustavana. Työn käytännön osuudessa voimalaitosmalli luodaan kahden eri mallinnusohjelman avulla, joista toisella kuvataan kattilan ja toisella voimalaitosprosessin toimintaa. Mallinnuksen tuloksena saatuja prosessiarvoja hyödynnetään lähtötietoina käyttökatteen laskennassa. Kate lasketaan kustannusfunktion perusteella. Tuotoista suurimmat liittyvät sähkön ja lämmön myyntiin sekä tuotantotukeen, ja suurimmat kustannukset liittyvät investoinnin takaisinmaksuun ja polttoaineen ostoon. Kustannusfunktiolle tehdään herkkyystarkastelu, jossa seurataan katteen muutosta prosessin teknisiä arvoja muutettaessa. Tuloksia vertaillaan referenssivoimalaitoksella suoritettujen verifiointimittausten tuloksiin, ja havaitaan, että tulokset eivät ole täysin yhteneviä. Erot johtuvat sekä mallinnuksen puutteista että mittausten lyhyehköistä tarkasteluajoista. Automatisoidun optimointijärjestelmän käytännön toteutusta alustetaan määrittelemällä käyttöön otettava optimointitapa, siihen liittyvät säätöpiirit ja tarvittavat lähtötiedot. Projektia tullaan jatkamaan järjestelmän ohjelmoinnilla, testauksella ja virityksellä todellisessa voimalaitosympäristössä ja myöhemmin ennustavan säädön toteuttamisella.

Software Development Process Modeling. Developers Perspective to Contemporary Modeling Techniques

Formal software development processes and well-defined development methodologies are nowadays seen as the definite way to produce high-quality software within time-limits and budgets. The variety of such high-level methodologies is huge ranging from rigorous process frameworks like CMMI and RUP to more lightweight agile methodologies. The need for managing this variety and the fact that practically every software development organization has its own unique set of development processes and methods have created a profession of software process engineers. Different kinds of informal and formal software process modeling languages are essential tools for process engineers. These are used to define processes in a way which allows easy management of processes, for example process dissemination, process tailoring and process enactment. The process modeling languages are usually used as a tool for process engineering where the main focus is on the processes themselves. This dissertation has a different emphasis. The dissertation analyses modern software development process modeling from the software developers’ point of view. The goal of the dissertation is to investigate whether the software process modeling and the software process models aid software developers in their day-to-day work and what are the main mechanisms for this. The focus of the work is on the Software Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM) framework which is currently one of the most influential process modeling notations in software engineering. The research theme is elaborated through six scientific articles which represent the dissertation research done with process modeling during an approximately five year period. The research follows the classical engineering research discipline where the current situation is analyzed, a potentially better solution is developed and finally its implications are analyzed. The research applies a variety of different research techniques ranging from literature surveys to qualitative studies done amongst software practitioners. The key finding of the dissertation is that software process modeling notations and techniques are usually developed in process engineering terms. As a consequence the connection between the process models and actual development work is loose. In addition, the modeling standards like SPEM are partially incomplete when it comes to pragmatic process modeling needs, like light-weight modeling and combining pre-defined process components. This leads to a situation, where the full potential of process modeling techniques for aiding the daily development activities can not be achieved. Despite these difficulties the dissertation shows that it is possible to use modeling standards like SPEM to aid software developers in their work. The dissertation presents a light-weight modeling technique, which software development teams can use to quickly analyze their work practices in a more objective manner. The dissertation also shows how process modeling can be used to more easily compare different software development situations and to analyze their differences in a systematic way. Models also help to share this knowledge with others. A qualitative study done amongst Finnish software practitioners verifies the conclusions of other studies in the dissertation. Although processes and development methodologies are seen as an essential part of software development, the process modeling techniques are rarely used during the daily development work. However, the potential of these techniques intrigues the practitioners. As a conclusion the dissertation shows that process modeling techniques, most commonly used as tools for process engineers, can also be used as tools for organizing the daily software development work. This work presents theoretical solutions for bringing the process modeling closer to the ground-level software development activities. These theories are proven feasible by presenting several case studies where the modeling techniques are used e.g. to find differences in the work methods of the members of a software team and to share the process knowledge to a wider audience.

Parametrisen kustannusmallin validointi ja implementointi

Parametric cost modeling is a technique, where cost estimating relationships are built to meet products’ parameters. Parameters are directly defined from product features, when it is possible to solve product cost exact before even a single product is manufactured and calculated with general cost accounting. The parametric model can be used in product design, sourcing and comparing product cost of similar products. The model reveals the cost origin more clear than general accounting. The purpose of this thesis was to find out parameters for modeling elevator doors and validate the parameters to meet actual costs. The other target was to simulate cost impact and changes in the cost structure. The results were compared to previous calculations and actual costs and model was tested in new product design. The results of the calculations revealed, that material consumption is the most significant issue in design effectiveness as well as the complexity of the components and structure. To develop the model more research is needed for other continents cost structure and waste calculation principles.

Eri laskentamenetelmien vertailu hitsatun rakenteen väsymislaskennassa

Tässä työssä tutkittiin eri mitoitusmenetelmien soveltuvuutta hitsattujen rakenteiden vä-symislaskennassa. Käytetyt menetelmät olivat rakenteellinen jännityksen menetelmä, te-hollisen lovijännityksen menetelmä ja murtumismekaniikka. Lisäksi rakenteellisen jänni-tyksen määrittämiseksi käytettiin kolmea eri menetelmää. Menetelmät olivat pintaa pitkin ekstrapolointi, paksuuden yli linearisointi ja Dongin menetelmä. Väsymiskestävyys määritettiin kahdelle hitsiliitoksen yksityiskohdalle. Laskenta tehtiin käyttäen elementtimenetelmää rakenteen 3D-mallille. Tutkittavasta aggregaattirungosta oli olemassa FE-malli mutta alimallinnustekniikkaa hyödyntämällä pystyttiin yksityiskohtai-semmin tutkimaan vain pientä osaa koko rungon mallista. Rakenteellisen jännityksen menetelmä perustuu nimellisiin jännityksiin. Kyseinen mene-telmä ei vaadi geometrian muokkausta. Yleensä rakenteellisen jännityksen menetelmää käytetään hitsin rajaviivan väsymislaskennassa, mutta joissain tapauksissa sitä on käytetty juuren puolen laskennassa. Tässä työssä rakenteellisen jännityksen menetelmää käytettiin myös juuren puolen tutkimisessa. Tehollista lovijännitystä tutkitaan mallintamalla 1 mm fiktiiviset pyöristykset sekä rajaviivalle että juuren puolelle. Murtumismekaniikan so-veltuvuutta tutkittiin käyttämällä Franc2D särön kasvun simulointiohjelmaa. Väsymislaskennan tulokset eivät merkittävästi poikkea eri laskentamenetelmien välillä. Ainoastaan rakenteellisen jännityksen Dongin menetelmällä saadaan poikkeavia tuloksia. Tämä johtuu pääasiassa siitä, että menetelmän laskentaetäisyydestä ei ole tietoa. Raken-teellisen jännityksen menetelmällä, tehollisen lovijännityksen menetelmällä ja murtumis-mekaniikalla saadaan samansuuntaiset tulokset. Suurin ero menetelmien välillä on mal-linnuksen ja laskennan vaatima työmäärä.

Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon asiantuntijoiden palveluprosessien mallintaminen osana vastaanottotoiminnan kehittämistä

Diplomityön tavoitteena on soveltaa perinteisesti teollisesta tuotannosta lähtöisin olevia prosessijohtamisen menetelmiä sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon vastaanottotoiminnan kehittämiseen. Tarkoituksena on asiantuntijapalveluprosessien mallintamisen avulla kartoittaa prosessien nykytilaa tunnistamalla ongelma- ja kehittämiskohteita, joiden ratkaisemiseksi annettavien kehittämistoimenpide-ehdotusten muodostamisessa sovelletaan prosessijohtamisen menetelmien periaatteita. Tutkimuksen teoreettisen viitekehyksen mukaisesti tarkastellaan mm. prosessien mallintamista, eli kuvaamista ja analysointia, sekä sosiaali- ja terveydenhuoltoa palvelutuotantona. Tutkimuksessa hyödynnetään sekä kvalitatiivisia että kvantitatiivisia menetelmiä, ja tutkimusaineistoa kerätään haastattelujen, havainnoinnin ja tilastojen avulla. Asiantuntijoiden palveluprosesseista laaditaan aineiston perusteella kuvaukset, ja tunnistetaan prosesseihin tai laajemminkin sosiaali- ja terveydenhuolto-organisaatioon liittyviä ongelma- ja kehittämiskohteita. Kehittämistoimenpiteissä korostuvat asiakaslähtöisyys ja tuottavuus, ja niissä huomioidaan niin asiakkaan, henkilöstön, prosessien kuin asiakasohjauksen näkökulma. Työn keskeisimmät tulokset ovat prosessikuvaukset, tunnistetut ongelma- ja kehittämiskohteet sekä prosessien uudelleenmäärittämiseksi muodostetut kehittämistoimenpide-ehdotukset, joiden hyötyjä ja vaikutuksia mm. suorituskykyyn arvioidaan. Tulosten perusteella voidaan päätellä, että prosessijohtamisen menetelmät soveltuvat sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon toiminnan kehittämiseen, kunhan huomioidaan toimintaympäristön erityispiirteet ja haasteet.

Situational awareness concept in a multinational collaboration environment : challenges in the information sharing framework

Technological capabilities are built to support different types of collaboration, and this gives the justification to widely observe, how activity environments are influenced by technology. Technology as an enabler can be addressed from different perspectives, other than merely technological. Dynamic, evolving environment is at the same time interesting but also challenging. As a multinational collaboration environment, the maritime surveillance is an good example of time critical and evolving environment, where technological solutions enable new ways of collaboration. Justification for the inspiration to use maritime environment as the baseline for understanding the challenges in creating and maintaining adequate level of situational awareness, derives from the complexity of the collaboration and information sharing environment elements, needed to be taken into account, when analyzing criticalities related to decision making. Situational awareness is an important element supporting decision making, and challenges related to it can also be observed in the maritime environment. This dissertation describes the structures and factors involved in this complex setting, found from the case studies that should be taken into account when trying to understand, how these elements affect the activities. This dissertation focuses on the gray area that is between a life threatening situation and normal everyday activities. From the multinational experimentation series case studies, MNE5 and MNE6 it was possible to observe situations that were not life threatening for the participants themselves, but not also basic every day activities. These case studies provided a unique possibility to see situations, where gaining of situational awareness and decision making are challenged with time critical crisis situations. Unfortunately organizations do not normally take the benefit from the everyday work to prepare themselves for possible emerging crisis situations. This dissertation focuses on creating a conceptual model and a concept that supports organizations – also outside the maritime community – to improve their ability to support gaining of situational awareness from the individual training level, all the way to changes in organizational structures in aiming for better support for decision making from the individual level to the highest decision making level. Quick changes and unpredictability are reality in organizations and organizations do not have the possibility to control all the factors that affect their functioning. Since we cannot be prepared for everything, and predict every crisis, individual activities inside teams and as a part of organizations, need to be supported with guidance, tools and training in order to support acting in challenging situations. In fact the ideology of the conceptual model created, lies especially in the aim of not controlling everything in beforehand, but supporting organizations with concrete procedures to help individuals to react in different, unpredictable situations, instead of focusing on traditional risk prevention and management. Technological capabilities are not automatically solutions for functional challenges; this is why it is justified to broaden the problem area observation from the technological perspective. This dissertation demonstrates that it is possible to support collaboration in a multinational environment with technological solutions, but it requires the recognition of technological limitations and accepting the possible restrictions related to technological innovations. Technology should not be considered value per se, the value of technology should be defined according to the support of activities, including strategic and operational environment evaluation, identification of organizational elements, and taking into account also the social factors and their challenges. Then we are one step closer to providing technological solutions that support the actual activities by taking into account the variables of the activity environment in question. The multidisciplinary view to approach the information sharing and collaboration framework, is derived especially from the complexity of decision making and building of situational awareness, since they are not build or created in vacuity, but in the organizational framework by the people doing it with the technological capabilities, enabled by the organizational structures. Introduced case studies were related to maritime environment, but according to the research results, it is valid to argue, that based on the lessons learned it is possible to create and further develop conceptual model and to create a general concept to support a wider range of organizations in their attempt to gain better level of situational awareness (SA) and to support decision making. To proof the versatile usage of the developed concept, I have introduced the case study findings to the health care environment and reflected the identified elements from the trauma center to the created concept. The main contribution to complete this adventure is the presented situational awareness concept created in the respect to NATO concept structure. This has been done to tackle the challenge of collaboration by focusing on situational awareness in the information sharing context by providing a theoretical ground and understanding, of how these issues should be approached, and how these elements can be generalized and used to support activities in other environments as well. This dissertation research has been a several year evolving process reflecting and affecting presented case studies and this learning experience from the case studies has also affected the goals and research questions of this dissertation. This venture has been written from a retro perspective according to ideology of process modeling and design rationale to present to the reader how this entire journey took place and what where the critical milestones that affected the end result, conceptual model. Support in a challenging information sharing framework can be provided with the right type of combination of tools, procedures and individual effort. This dissertation will provide insights to those with a new approach to war technology for the organizations to gain a better level of awareness and to improve the capabilities in decision making. This dissertation will present, from the war technology starting point, a new approach and possibility for the organizations to create a better level of awareness and support for decision making with the right combination of tools, procedures and individual effort.