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This paper is about ways of visualizing and achieving harmonious balance between technical and managerial considerations with regard to environmental aspects of the design of complex systems. Environmental considerations strongly involve GeoSpatial Technology (GST) in the overall Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of a total Product Realization Process (PRP). Hence, GST is a critical Emerging Technology essential for competitiveness and sustainable development in a global economy. Human dimensions of sustainable development are discussed as part of Total Productivity Management (TPM), and it is shown that certain aspects of the so-called “reengineering revolution” are not robust in the sense of Taguchi (and therefore are not sustainable). The concept of profit is discussed, and management considerations for maximizing corporate profit are examined through use of Kistler’s Productivity Gain Function (PGF) or Generalized Productivity Gain Function (GPGF) to account for numerous complex issues.

This paper reports on an extensive tank test program performed on a modal representative of a typical modern semisubmersible drilling vessel. Specific response values obtained in this study apply only to the configuration_and mass c~ar acteristics of the model tested. However, the general conclusion of the study is that wave steepness effects can be important, and this finding is of significance for all sucn configurations to be certified for operation in severe seas. Distinct nonlinearities were found at drafts of 70, 60, and 50 ft. There were test conditions where the heave response ratio was substantially linear, but at other conditions the nonlinearity ranged from moderate to severe. In general, the nonlinearities were more severe at the shallower draft.References and illustrations at end of paper.