Ontological analysis of means-end links

The i* community has raised several main dialects and dozens of variations in the definition of the i* language. Differences may be found related not just to the representation of new concepts but to the very core of the i* language. In previous work we have tackled this issue mainly from a syntactic point of view, using metamodels and syntactic-based model interoperability frameworks. In this paper, we go one step beyond and consider the use of foundational ontologies in general, and UFO in particular, as a way to clarify the meaning of core i* constructs and as the basis to propose a normative definition. We focus here on one of the most characteristics i* constructs, namely means-end links.Postprint (published version

Barry Smith an sich

Festschrift in Honor of Barry Smith on the occasion of his 65th Birthday. Published as issue 4:4 of the journal Cosmos + Taxis: Studies in Emergent Order and Organization. Includes contributions by Wolfgang Grassl, Nicola Guarino, John T. Kearns, Rudolf Lüthe, Luc Schneider, Peter Simons, Wojciech Żełaniec, and Jan Woleński

An investigation into the issues of multi-agent data mining

Multi-agent systems (MAS) often deal with complex applications that require distributedproblem solving. In many applications the individual and collective behaviourof the agents depends on the observed data from distributed sources. The field of DistributedData Mining (DDM) deals with these challenges in analyzing distributed dataand offers many algorithmic solutions to perform different data analysis and miningoperations in a fundamentally distributed manner that pays careful attention to the resourceconstraints. Since multi-agent systems are often distributed and agents haveproactive and reactive features, combining DM with MAS for data intensive applicationsis therefore appealing.This Chapter discusses a number of research issues concerned with the use ofMulti-Agent Systems for Data Mining (MADM), also known as agent-driven datamining. The Chapter also examines the issues affecting the design and implementationof a generic and extendible agent-based data mining framework. An ExtendibleMulti-Agent Data mining System (EMADS) Framework for integrating distributeddata sources is presented. This framework achieves high-availability and highperformance without compromising the data integrity and security. © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved

The drivers of Corporate Social Responsibility in the supply chain. A case study.

Purpose: The paper studies the way in which a SME integrates CSR into its corporate strategy, the practices it puts in place and how its CSR strategies reflect on its suppliers and customers relations. Methodology/Research limitations: A qualitative case study methodology is used. The use of a single case study limits the generalizing capacity of these findings. Findings: The entrepreneur’s ethical beliefs and value system play a fundamental role in shaping sustainable corporate strategy. Furthermore, the type of competitive strategy selected based on innovation, quality and responsibility clearly emerges both in terms of well defined management procedures and supply chain relations as a whole aimed at involving partners in the process of sustainable innovation. Originality/value: The paper presents a SME that has devised an original innovative business model. The study pivots on the issues of innovation and eco-sustainability in a context of drivers for CRS and business ethics. These values are considered fundamental at International level; the United Nations has declared 2011 the “International Year of Forestry”

Accounting Historians Journal, 2010, Vol. 37, no. 1 [whole issue]

June issu

Usability in digitalen Kooperationsnetzwerken. Nutzertests und Logfile-Analyse als kombinierte Methode

Usability is a key factor when developing new applications. The interaction between the users and the application should be efficient, effective and engaging. Furthermore, a good usability includes a high error tolerance and an good learnability. Different methods allow the measurement of usability throughout the development (process). All methods have in common that the different employed steps like planning, conducting and evaluating are rather time-consuming. When end-users are included as subjects, usability tests are employed. Due to the high time-effort, usually ten or less tests are conducted. The thesis tries to solve this point by trying to combine usability tests and logfile analysis. The empirical work is two-folded. First, usability tests within a learning management system (LMS) are logged in the background. These logfiles are assigned to severe usability problems. Second, the paths of the severe usability problems are combined with logfile data from a real-world LMS that runs the same application. The real-world logfiles contain a period of about 300 days with 133 active users. Prior to the combination, both data sets converted into a similar format. Being a new procedure, the definite similarity value had to be specified by descriptive statistics and visual inspections. The final combination makes it possible to determine the severity of usability problems on the basis of real-world usage data. The proposed method offers a more precise overview of the occurrence of the found usability problems, independent of the test situation. This thesis provides additional value to the fields of (Web) Data Mining, Usability and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). It also offers additional knowledge to the field of software development, quantitative and quantitative research as well as computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and learning management systems (LMS)

Active Materials

What is an active material? This book aims to redefine perceptions of the materials that respond to their environment. Through the theory of the structure and functionality of materials found in nature a scientific approach to active materials is first identified. Further interviews with experts from the natural sciences and humanities then seeks to question and redefine this view of materials to create a new definition of active materials

Virtual Internationalization in Higher Education

Digital media and information and communication technology (ICT) are being used more and more in international contexts at universities. In her English-language dissertation, the author examines how this technological potential can be used strategically to expand internationalization. The data basis of the thesis is a content analysis of contributions to international conferences on university internationalization, online and distance learning, university management and research, and ICT and internationalization. The selected abstracts were analyzed based on the model of "Comprehensive Internationalization" (CI). From the results, the author outlines a model for Virtual Internationalization (VI) that considers curricula, international cooperation, and distance learning as well as the roles of university strategy, administration, management, and teaching staff. The highly topical dissertation closes a gap in university research and offers universities valuable starting points in research and practice of internationalization.Digitale Medien und Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie (IKT) werden mehr und mehr in internationalen Kontexten an Hochschulen eingesetzt. Wie dieses technologische Potenzial strategisch für den Ausbau von Internationalisierung eingesetzt werden kann, untersucht die Autorin in ihrer englischsprachigen Dissertation. Die Datenbasis der Arbeit bildet eine Inhaltsanalyse von Beiträgen zu internationalen Konferenzen zur Hochschul-Internationalisierung, zu Online- und Fernstudium, Hochschulmanagement und -forschung sowie zu den Themen IKT und Internationalisierung. Die ausgewählten Abstracts wurden auf Grundlage des Modells der "Comprehensive Internationalization" (CI) analysiert. Aus den Ergebnissen skizziert die Autorin ein Modell für Virtuelle Internationalisierung (VI), das Curricula, internationale Kooperationen und den Bereich Fernstudium ebenso berücksichtigt wie die Rollen von Hochschulstrategie, Administration, Management und Lehrpersonal. Die hochaktuelle Dissertation schließt eine Lücke in der Hochschulforschung und bietet Hochschulen wertvolle Ansatzpunkte in Forschung und Praxis der Internationalisierung