A Phenomenological Exploration of Adaptation in a Polycontextual Work Environment

The rise of new ways of working through the use of information and communication technology brings about new phenomena that are powerful in the effects that they have on people. The potency of phenomenology lies in its philosophical simplicity and it provides the researcher with the ability to study the essence of an observable but scarcely understood phenomena: How do people perform effectively and efficiently in a geographically and temporally dispersed work environment? Collective action across multiple time zones continues to challenge both academics and practioners. This study provides a unique view of how globally dispersed participants achieve collective action. It throws light into how the creation of shared understanding is tempered by differences in time zones and how participants adapt through their choice of media, work practices and communication. Following an analysis of a case studied using phenomenology, this paper concludes with a model of adaptation in polycontextual work environments

Smart business networks: architectural aspects and risks

This paper summarizes key attributes and the uniqueness of smart business networks [1], to propose thereafter an operational implementation architecture. It involves, amongst others, the embedding of business logic specific to a network of business partners, inside the communications control networks .It also involves the definition of business protocols between these partners and the joint management of some common functions relying on open networking standards. This implies some key paradigm changes, both of a technical and of a business nature, which are offered here for discussion via a set of propositions

Multi-Attribute Dispatching Rules For Agv Systems With Many Vehicles

Internal transport systems using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are widely used in many facilities such as warehouses, distribution centers and transshipment terminals. Most AGV systems use online dispatching rules to control vehicle movements. In literature, there are many types of dispatching rules such as single- and multi-attribute dispatching rules. However, a dispatching rule that is good for all cases does not exist. In this research, we study a specific type of AGV environments which has not received much attention from researchers - AGV systems with many vehicles as can be seen in airport baggage handling systems. We propose two new multi-attribute dispatching rules for this type of environment and compare their performance with that of two of the best dispatching rules in literature. Using simulation we show that the new multi-attribute dispatching rules are robust and perform very well

Satisfaction Attainment Theory as a Model for Value Creation

Organizations exist to create value for their stakeholders that stakeholders cannot create through individual effort. Information systems exist to increase an organization’s ability to create value using intellectual capital. A theoretical explanation of value might therefore be useful to increase the likelihood that IS/IT professionals would design and deploy systems in ways that increase value for stakeholders. This paper proposes Satisfaction Attainment Theory (SAT) as causal model of value creation. An organizational stakeholder is a person whose wellbeing might be advanced by an organization. Perceptions of value have reference to some object-of-value. The term, object, in the context of this paper, means anything to which one could ascribe value – e.g. goods, services, states, or outcomes. SAT assumes that people hold multiple, conflicting goals, and so must sacrifice the yield of some goal to attain others. It posits that an individual automatically and subconsciously sets an expectation for some level of utility from attaining a goal and assesses the likelihood that a goal will be attained. It also posits that individuals automatically and subconsciously assess yield the yield of a Set of Salient Goals (SSG). Any perceived Shift in the Yield Assessment (SYA) for the salient set of goals is automatically accompanied by an affective arousal proportional to and with a valence in the direction of the perceived SYA. SAT proposes that the value of an object is a positive function of the SYA that occurs when an individual contemplates sacrificing the yield of other goals to obtain the yield that could be derived from the object. Value is therefore created by making an individual aware of an opportunity to attain a positive SYA by sacrificing the yield of one set of goals to attain the yield of another set

Simple heuristics for push and pull remanufacturing policies

Inventory policies for joint remanufacturing and manufacturing have recently received much attention. Most efforts, though, were related to (optimal) policy structures and numerical optimization, rather than closed form expressions for calculating near optimal policy parameters. The focus of this paper is on the latter. We analyze an inventory system with unit product returns and demands where remanufacturing is the cheaper alternative for manufacturing. Manufacturing is also needed, however, since there are less returns than demands. The cost structure consists of setup costs, holding costs, and backorder costs. Manufacturing and remanufacturing orders have non-zero lead times. To control the system we use certain extensions of the familiar (s,Q) policy, called push and pull remanufacturing policies. For all policies we present simple, closed form formulae for approximating the optimal policy parameters under a cost minimization objective. In an extensive numerical study we show that the proposed formulae lead to near-optimal policy parameters

Travel Time Estimation and Order Barching in a 2-Block Warehouse

The order batching problem (OBP) is the problem of determining the number of orders to be picked together in one picking tour. Although various objectives may arise in practice, minimizing the average throughput time of a random order is a common concern. In this paper, we consider the OBP for a 2-block rectangular warehouse with the assumptions that orders arrive according to a Poisson process and the method used for routing the order-pickers is the well-known S-shape heuristic. We first elaborate on the first and second moment of the order-picker's travel time. Then we use these moments to estimate the average throughput time of a random order. This enables us to estimate the optimal picking batch size. Results from simulation show that the method provides a high accuracy level. Furthermore, the method is rather simple and can be easily applied in practice

Postdigital Learning for a Changing Higher Education

This article draws upon the authors’ previous work on the opportunities and challenges learners face as they move into, through, and out of transitional learning spaces. The authors argue that equipping students to locate themselves with/in the tensions of learning is imperative, especially in postdigital learning environments. Teaching in ways that enable students to acknowledge their ‘will to learn’ and to understand that liminal learning can prompt distress and disjunction or the ability to think differently is discussed. This article begins by examining the relationship between the postdigital and the liminal, offers an Integrated Model of Transitional Learning Spaces, and presents different types of disjunctions. It then explores how learners navigate the liminal and concludes by arguing for a need to focus on postdigital learning and liminal learning in a changing higher education landscape

Real-Time Scheduling Approaches for Vehicle-Based Internal Transport Systems

In this paper, we study the problem of scheduling and dispatching vehicles in vehicle-based internal transport systems within warehouses and production facilities. We develop and use two rolling horizon policies to solve real-time vehicle scheduling problems. To solve static instances of scheduling problems, we propose two new heuristics: combined and column-generation heuristics. We solve a real-time scheduling problem by applying a heuristic to dynamically solve a series of static instances under a rolling horizon policy. A rolling horizon can be seen either as a fixed-time interval in which advance information about loads’ arrivals is available, or as a fixed number of loads which are known to become available in the near future. We also propose a new look-ahead dynamic assignment algorithm, a different dynamic vehicle-scheduling approach. We evaluate these dynamic scheduling strategies by comparing their performance with that of two of the best online vehicle dispatching rules mentioned in the literature. Experimental results show that the new look-ahead dynamic assignment algorithm and dynamic scheduling approaches consistently outperform vehicle dispatching rules

Reverse Logistics – Capturing Value in the Extended Supply Chain

Product flows in today’s supply chains do not end once they have reached the customer. Many products lead a second and even third or fourth life after having accomplished their original task at their first customer. Consequently, a product may generate revenues multiple times, rather than a single time. Capturing this value requires a broadening of the supply chain perspective to include new processes, known as ‘reverse logistics’, as well as multiple interrelated usage cycles, linked by specific market interfaces. Coordinating the successive product uses is key to maximizing the value generated. In this chapter, we review the field of reverse logistics. We discuss its opportunities and its challenges and indicate potential ways for companies to master them. We highlight what makes reverse logistics different from ‘conventional’ supply chain processes, but also point out analogies, and explain how both views can be integrated into an extended supply chain concept. We illustrate our discussion with examples of reverse logistics practice at IBM

Cesty k optimalizaci výuky jazyků a výukových materiálů: Jiný přístup k pokročilé jazykové výuce a učení

The PhD thesis "Optimizing Language Teaching and Learning Materials: A Different Approach to Advanced Language Teaching and Learning" deals with the most recent advances in linguoculturology and pushes forward the idea of a new advanced level language-teaching material. The first chapter of the thesis serves as an overture to the importance of using linguoculturology in the creation of language-learning materials. It also puts forth the importance of language in the creation of the language persona, which is further explained in the following chapters. Chapter two presents the development stages of contemporary linguoculturology and the basic terminology used in the study of this linguistic study. Chapter number three explores the advances in foreign language learning, combining different methods and finally introducing the concept of polycontextuality in foreign language-learning, along with the basic theoretical structure the proposed e-textbook. The fourth chapter presents the e- textbook intended for foreign advanced level language-learning, along with descriptions on similar projects and textbooks that exist today. In conclusion, a topic example is presented with examples coming from the native language of the author (Macedonian) along with English translation. This topic example is presented...Disertační práce "Cesty k optimalizaci výuky jazyků a výukových materiálů: Jiný přístup k pokročilé jazykové výuce a učení" se zabývá nejnovějšími pokroky v lingvulturologii a prosazuje myšlenku nového pokročilého jazykového vyučovacího práce slouží jako ouvertura k významu používání lingvulturologie při tvorbě jazykových učebních materiálů. Vyjadřuje také důležitost jazyka při tvorbě jazykové osobnosti, což je dále vysvětleno v následujících kapitolách. Druhá kapitola představuje vývojové etapy současné lingvulturologie a základní terminologii používanou při studiu této lingvistické studie. Třetí kapitola se zabývá pokrokem ve výuce cizích jazyků, kombinováním různých metod a konečně tuality do výuky cizích jazyků, spolu se základní teoretickou strukturou navrhované elektronické učebnice. Čtvrtá kapitola představuje e učebnici určenou pro cizí pokročilé jazykové vzdělávání spolu s popisy podobných projektů a učebnic, které í. V závěru je uveden vzor s příklady z rodného jazyka autora (makedonština) spolu s anglickým překladem. Tento příklad je prezentován v duchu polykontextového a multimodálního přístupu, který prezentuje několik pohledů na jedno téma, které představuje učebnice pro pokročilé cizojazyčné učení. Klíčová slova lingvulturologie, lingvultura, světonázor, jazyková osobnost, základní znalosti,...Katedra jihoslovanských a balkanistických studiíDepartment of South Slavonic and Balkan StudiesFilozofická fakultaFaculty of Art