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    Suicide risk and protective factors : a network approach : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (by thesis) in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Holman, Mikayla
    Suicide is a complex phenomenon, with numerous factors contributing to an individual’s risk of suicide. To visualise and quantify complex interactions between variables, a novel approach called network analysis can be used. The aim of the present study was to explore how risk and protective factors for suicide interact with one another, and to determine which factors were most central to a network of these factors. Using an online survey, cross- sectional data was collected from a sample of 515 individuals who lived in New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, who were recruited through either social media or Prolific Academic. A network of 18 risk and protective factors for suicide was estimated using network analysis. In the network, suicidal ideation was strongly related to the suicide risk factors of feeling depressed, anxious, and hopeless, as well as substance use and perceived burdensomeness. In contrast, self-esteem, resilience, access to mental health services and a positive attitude towards these services were each protective against suicidal ideation. Factors which had the highest strength centrality were feeling depressed, feeling hopeless, perceived burdensomeness, self-esteem, and social support. The results of this research emphasise the importance of examining protective factors as well as risk factors when determining an individual’s suicide risk.
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    Diagnosing and designing process stability and adaptability at Transpower New Zealand Limited using the Process Warrant of Fitness and the Viable Process Model : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Quality Systems at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2019) Lemaire, Gregory Michael
    This research developed an evaluative model and tool incorporating principles and practices of the Work Systems Method (WSM) and Viable System Model (VSM) to assess the viability of processes at Transpower NZ Limited, a New Zealand State Owned Enterprise. The assessment tool looks for opportunities to sustain process identity, as well as identifying the potential for enhanced planning, control, and coordination of the work, and preserving connections to the outside world, including suppliers, customers, and regulators. Eight employees took part in interviews to reveal Transpower’s collective process requirements. These requirements became a key input into the assessment tool, called the Process Warrant of Fitness (WOF). The tool was tested on a range of Transpower processes, successfully identifying viability enhancement opportunities. The assessment tool was then tested on two non-Transpower processes to gauge its applicability outside of Transpower. To lower the barriers to adoption of the tool, an end to end user participation format, called the Viable Process Model (VPM) was also developed, further drawing on WSM and VSM principles. The VPM guides the user to identify processes to assess, apply the assessment tool, and undertake post-assessment activities. While each workplace may appear to have its own unique process viability challenges, the assessment tool and user participation format showed potential as a universal pathway to process viability, having identified opportunities in the organisations that had its processes assessed.
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    The analysis and design of an automated tool to support structured systems analysis : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Computer Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1988) Tucker, Joanne
    Systems analysis is an inherently difficult task. Errors that are introduced in the analysis and design phases become progressively more expensive to fix in the later stages of the system life cycle. Systems analysis and design methodologies attempt to reduce the number of errors introduced into a system model and to detect (and correct) those errors that do occur as early as possible in the system development lifecycle. One such methodology that is widely used in New Zealand is Structured Systems Analysis. Users of Structured Systems Analysis tend to find that the documentation produced using the methodology is easier to read and understand than documentation produced by other currently used methodologies. This thesis presents the functional specification of MUSSAT, a tool to provide automated support for the Structured Systems Analysis methodology. MUSSAT was designed for a specific group of users. The needs of these users are discussed, together with an introduction to the tools and techniques of Structured Systems Analysis. Existing versions of Structured Systems Analysis are reviewed and a modified form of the methodology, incorporated in MUSSAT, is presented. A discussion of the tools and techniques used to specify the MUSSAT model are discussed. This is followed by an introduction to the MUSSAT system model. Details of the MUSSAT model are included as a series of technical appendices. Finally, an overview of the extent to which Structured Systems Analysis is supported by existing Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools is presented together with a discussion of where MUSSAT fits with these CASE tools.
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    SAME, structured analysis modelling environment : the design of an executable data flow diagram and dictionary system : a dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1989) Docker, Thomas William George
    The research reported in this thesis has been an investigation into the use of data flow diagrams as a prototyping tool for use during the analysis of a system. Data flow diagrams are one of the three main tools of structured systems analysis (the other two are a data dictionary, and some means for representing process' logic, such as minispecs). The motivation for the research is a perceived need for better tools with which analysts and end-users can communicate during the requirements gathering process. Prototyping has been identified by many researchers and practitioners as such a tool. However, the output from the requirements analysis phase is the specification, which is a document that should provide the framework for all future developments of the proposed system (and should evolve with the system). Such a document should be provably correct. However this is seen as an ideal, and the most that can be hoped for is a document which contains within it a mixture of formality. Executable data flow diagrams are considered to provide an environment which serves both as a means for communication between analysts and end-users (as they are considered relatively easy to understand by end-users), and as a method for providing a rigorous component of a specification. The rigour comes from the fact that, as demonstrated in this thesis, data flow diagrams can be given strict operational semantics based on low level ('fine-grain') data flow systems. This dual focus of executable data flow diagrams is considered significant. Given the approach adopted in the research, executable data flow diagrams are able to provide an informal, flexible framework, with considerable abstraction capabilities, that can be used to develop executable models of a system. The number of concepts involved in providing this framework can be small. Apart from data flow diagrams themselves, the only other component proposed in the research is a system dictionary in which the definitions of data objects are stored. Procedural details are de­ emphasised by treating the definition of data objects as statements in a single­ assignment programming language during the execution of a model. To support many of the ideas proposed in the research, a prototype implementation (of the prototype tool) has been carried out in Prolog on an Apple Macintosh. This system has been used to produce results that are included in this thesis, which demonstrate the general soundness of the research.
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    The application of network analysis to assess the structure and function of aquatic food webs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2017) Canning, Adam Douglas
    The health of aquatic communities is under threat globally by anthropogenic impacts. A healthy ecological community is one that maintains its structure and function over time in the face of disturbance (i.e., they are stable). If we are to effectively monitor change in ecological health and instigate appropriate environmental management responses, then we first need to measure ecological health appropriately. Most methods of indicating ecological health in rivers measure structural aspects of a community, with little attention given to functional aspects. Ecological network analysis (ENA) provides a range of food web metrics that can measure both structural and functional aspects of ecological communities. The aim of this thesis was to apply ENA metrics to assess the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems and explore how they may change with habitat. In a general comparison of aquatic ecosystems, I found that rivers, lakes and estuaries have structurally similar food webs, except have lower neighbourhood connectivity which is reminiscent of unstable habitats. Through species extinction simulations of aquatic energy flow networks, I showed that aquatic food webs were most stable when trophic cascades were weak and average trophic levels were small. In examining the effects of riparian deforestation in Taranaki rivers, dietary changes altered the structure of riverine macroinvertebrate communities considerably and drove greater community respiration. In the Hutt River, I modelled changes in the biomass of trout (exotic predator) and periphyton, and showed that more periphyton, but not more trout, can result in greater community temporal variability. Furthermore, increased trout and periphyton can drive more interspecific competition. I also demonstrated the need for managers to consider the impacts of decisions on adjacent ecosystems as well as target ecosystem by showing that the Hutt River and Wellington Harbour respond substantially different to increases in algal biomass. Finally in rivers differing in nutrient enrichment the Manawatu, I showed that food webs in enriched rivers may be more stable to random species loss but more susceptible to species loss from floods. Similarly to riparian deforestation, highly enriched rivers had greater community respiration (excluding microbial activity), which may exacerbate hypoxic conditions and drive the loss of sensitive species.
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    A direct manipulation object-oriented environment to support methodology-independent CASE tools : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Zhong, Bei
    The aim of the thesis is research into application of direct-manipulable OO graphical environments to the development of methodology-independent CASE tools. In this thesis, a Methodology-Independent Graphical OO CASE Environment (M1GOCE) is proposed. MIGOCE consists of three parts: OO Notation Workshop, OO Notation Repository and Universal OO Diagramming Tool. OO Notation Workshop is an OO graphical editor which is used to design existing and new notations; OO Notation Repository is a notation database that stores different notations designed by the notation workshop; Universal OO Diagramming Tool is an upper-CASE graphical environment, by which a user can draw arbitrary OO diagrams of different methodologies. The MIGOCE database management system provides OO notation sets management, OOA/OOD diagrams management and OO repository management for data integrity and sharing. MIGOCE has three outstanding characteristics: Methodology-independence, Directly-manipulable graphical environment and Easily-expanded program structure MIGOCE is completely methodology-independent. It not only supports existing OO methodologies, but also supports users' own notation designs. It provides support for mixing, updating existing methodologies or defining new ones. It typically allows the user to switch quickly different OO notation sets supported by corresponding methodologies for designing diagrams. Direct manipulation interfaces of MIGOCE enable it more flexible and distinctive. The user can easily add, delete, edit or show notation shapes, and get the system feedback very quick on the screen. The MIGOCE system itself is programmed using object-oriented programming language - C++. Its program structure enable the functions of itself easy to be modified and expanded. Although MIGOCE is a prototype, it provides a new way to develop the real methodology-independent OO CASE environment. So far, the way and style taken by MIGOCE have not been found in OO CASE literatures. This system gives a complete possibility of implementing a methodology-independent OO CASE tool and shows distinct effectiveness of such a tool in practice.
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    The application of systems analysis to a problem of county amalgamation : the proposed amalgamation of Kairanga, Kiwitea, Manawatu, Oroua and Pohangina counties : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1970) Le Heron, Richard Bernard
    Throughout New Zealand County Councils are endeavouring to fulfil various designated functions without imposing an increasing rate burden on their ratepayers. Rising costs of county operation have confronted a number of county councils with prospects of reduced expenditure on development, rate increases, greater efforts to secure more subsidies and reorganisation of county operations so that available money goes further. The last alteration has often taken the form of an amalgamation between counties In the Manawatu area the counties of Kairanga, Kiwitea, Manawatu, Oroua and Pohangina, undertook an investigation of the desirability of amalgamation, An independent investigation was recommended as a suitable thesis topic by Mr P.G.R. Saunders of the Geography Department, Massey University. After a preliminary study of the county investigation it was decided to examine in detail aspects that would not be covered by the counties. only a few studies have so far been carried out on examples of county amalgamation. Those were comparative and descriptive studies that failed to provide factual evidence either for or against amalgamation. It was, therefore, necessary to find an approach that would assist the compilation of analytical evidence about any proposed amalgamation.
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    Piata mai : a case study of a Kaupapa Māori approach to developing an electronic system for Ohomairangi Early Intervention Service : thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Information Science in Computer Science at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2003) Donaldson, Karina
    This thesis endeavours to explore the possibility of developing a system for a small Māori organisation incorporating their Kaupapa Māori needs. A project was undertaken to develop a system for "Ohomairangi", an Early Intervention Service to assist with sustainable management of data and the production of reports. For this project, a Kaupapa Māori approach to development was chosen to enhance cultural validity, to acknowledge the tikanga and kaupapa of Ohomairangi, create a stronger sense of shared understanding and trust, and to enable a more appropriate and user-friendly system to be developed. This project was commissioned by, financially supported by, and will be utilised within Ohomairangi Trust Early Intervention Service (See Appendix B).
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    Complexity and maintenance : a comparative study of object-oriented and structured methodologies : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Information Systems at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Bailey, Michael Andrew
    Maintenance has been found to be one of the most expensive phases in the life of an information system. It has been suggested that the use of object-oriented methods instead of traditional structured methods may be one way of reducing the cost of maintenance required for an information system. This thesis is an attempt to determine whether the object-oriented approach does in fact undergo a relatively smaller increase in complexity when subjected to a change in specifications than a similar system that is developed using a "structured methodology", and is therefore easier to maintain. The methodologies used in this study were Yourdon's (1989) Modern Structured Methodology and Booch's (1994) Object-Oriented methodology. The analysis phase of both methodologies were applied to the same case study twice in order to evaluate the effects of a change in the system's specifications. Once the two models for each methodology were complete, various metrics were applied to the structured system and a separate set of metrics were applied to the object-oriented system. The results of the models and the metrics were then analysed and validated in order to determine which system suffered a smaller proportional increase in complexity as a result of the changes to the system. It was found that overall, the object-oriented system proved to undergo a smaller increase in complexity, and it was therefore easier to maintain as a result of the changes than the structured system.
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    Performance and management characteristics of Wairarapa and Tararua wool production systems : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Farm Management at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1994) Gavigan, R. G.
    In 1992/93 the New Zealand wool industry was based on approximately 52.5 million sheep that produced 255500 tonnes of greasy wool. The New Zealand Wool Board Grower Services Group, among others, provided the 24000 sheep farmers involved in wool production with management advice and technical assistance in growing and harvesting wool which was subsequently sold, exported, processed and promoted by a network of wool industry participants. The purpose of this study was to : • compile a detailed database of Wairarapa/Tararua wool production systems. • compare the database compiled with existing databases to test their suitability for describing Wairarapa/Tararua wool production systems. • identify management variable that may be important in achieving high levels of wool production and returns. • identify methods to improve New Zealand Wool Board extension in the Wairarapa/Tararua region. This was achieved by a combined mail and personal interview survey of a stratified random sample of 75 Wairarapa/Tararua wool producers. Descriptive statistical methods were used to describe the physical and financial characteristics of wool production systems and the management systems employed. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the relative importance of different management strategies and farm physical characteristics on wool production and clean wool price. Few significant differences in mean wool production system performance within farm class, summer rainfall, sheep flock size and summer rainfall/farm class groupings were noted in the study. Thus, the Wairarapa/Tararua region was relatively homogeneous in terms of wool production system performance over the past three seasons. A large range in values for most wool performance parameters suggested that wool production system performance on individual farms was influenced more by management variables than by farm physical attributes. A comparison of the New Zealand Meat and Wool Boards' Economic Service (NZMWBES) Sheep and Beef Farm Survey and Wairarapa Farm Improvement Club (WFIC) databases with data collected in this study indicated that NZMWBES and WFIC data were satisfactory for describing some, but not all of the characteristics of wool production systems in the region. Therefore, in order to maintain a representative overview of Wairarapa/Tararua wool production systems it is recommended that this study should be regularly updated. Aspects of wool production systems that could be improved on many Wairarapa/Tararua sheep farms mainly related to : the quantification of sheep breeding objectives; use of objective criteria for replacement ewe hogget and ram selection; improved summer feeding of mixed age ewes {if wool prices improve); and improved marketing {objective measurement and offer of wool to a wider range of buyers) of privately sold wool. These aspects can be addressed by New Zealand Wool Board mass extension activities, primarily through newspapers and free publications. While improvements in management for wool production are likely to increase monetary returns to the regions' wool producers, they should be promoted in the context of assisting individual wool producers to achieve their personal goals/objectives.