4,599 research outputs found
Empirical Assessment of Coherence in Information Technology Firms
Coherence is the ability to discover new – potentially profitable – combinations of various types of knowledge assets where complementarity is the basis for relevant combinations. Assets are considered complementary if doing (more of) any one of them increases the returns to doing (more of) others. Despite its strategic importance, few studies have addressed the issue of coherence in the Information Technology (IT) industry. This paper develops a novel methodology assess the extent of complementarity and coherence in the IT firms grounded in ‘sensemaking’, evolutionary economics, and strategic management. This paper uses managerial perspective for defining businesses. Managers and IT experts identify a typical IT firm based on the dimensions of applications (verticals) and specializations (service lines). Another feature of this paper is the use of survivor principle for assessing complementarity. The results on complementarity suggest that in case of applications, the boundaries between Transport & Ports and Airlines & Railways are getting blurred and these could become a generic combination. Similarly, in case of specializations Software maintenance migration and RDBMS, Datawarehousing & Datamining could become a generic combination. The results also suggest that there is substantial scope for improvement in coherence in both applications and specializations. Analysis of coherence also indicates greater fungibility of knowledge in applications than knowledge in specializations. Another finding is that the IT firms retain coherence with large number of applications but not with large number of specializations. Finally, as the number of applications and specializations reach a critical limit, the average coherence shows a definite decline.
Electronic administration in Spain: from its beginnings to the present
This study presents the basic lines of electronic administration in Spain.
The complexity of the Spanish political-administrative system makes such a
study challenging, in view of the considerable degree of autonomy and
competences of the regional administrative bodies and local agencies with
respect to the central government, the former being more visible in the 17
regions of Spain. Nonetheless, the central government maintains a series of
legal instruments that allow a certain common framework of action to be
imposed, aside from what is put into effect through diverse programs aimed
precisely to develop common tools for the regions and municipalities of Spain.
After an introduction that provides some necessary background, this study
describes the legislative framework in which Spain's electronic administrative
system has developed. The data included in the study refer to investment in
information and communication technologies (ICT) and the services offered by
the different Administrations on the internet; internet access by citizens,
homes, businesses, and employees, as well as the interactivity existing with
administrations by means of the internet; the origins and rise of various
political initiatives of the Central Government involving electronic
administration; and finally, the situation of civil service personnel, as
catalysts of the success of Information Society in the Public Administration
within Spain
A Conceptual Semi-Humanoid Wireless Robotic Lecturer for Distance Learning (DL)
Information and Communications Technology is causing a
worldwide revolution in virtually all fields of human
endeavor. The education sector is not left out as the delivery
of course content is no longer limited to the traditional
teacher-student classroom interaction but also via electronic
media. This paper presents a novel approach to e-Learning by
leveraging on advancements in Machine-to-Machine
communications (M2M), Internet-of-Things (IoT) and
robotics technologies to design and construct a semihumanoid
class teaching robot that aids teachers, lecturers and
other educational personnel in communicating effectively
with the students irrespective of their location and the distance
using a plastic mannequin. The implementation of the system
is achieved through hardware (mannequin) and software
designs.
The authors successfully developed a plastic mannequin with
embedded electronics systems to work as a telepresence
lecturer, allowing the elimination of time and distance
between a professional remote educator and the students. The
device was tested and compared with existing remote teaching
technologies such as teleconferencing, telepresence with
tablet screens and found to be more reliable, cheaper, and easy
to use than the existing ones. The paper therefore concludes
that the semi-humanoid robotic lecturer is a disruptive
innovation in the world of Distance Education Learning
(DEL)
E-Standards For Mass Properties Engineering
A proposal is put forth to promote the concept of a Society of Allied Weight Engineers developed voluntary consensus standard for mass properties engineering. This standard would be an e-standard, and would encompass data, data manipulation, and reporting functionality. The standard would be implemented via an open-source SAWE distribution site with full SAWE member body access. Engineering societies and global standards initiatives are progressing toward modern engineering standards, which become functioning deliverable data sets. These data sets, if properly standardized, will integrate easily between supplier and customer enabling technically precise mass properties data exchange. The concepts of object-oriented programming support all of these requirements, and the use of a JavaTx based open-source development initiative is proposed. Results are reported for activity sponsored by the NASA Langley Research Center Innovation Institute to scope out requirements for developing a mass properties engineering e-standard. An initial software distribution is proposed. Upon completion, an open-source application programming interface will be available to SAWE members for the development of more specific programming requirements that are tailored to company and project requirements. A fully functioning application programming interface will permit code extension via company proprietary techniques, as well as through continued open-source initiatives
ACUTA eNews June 1996, Vol. 25, No. 6
In This Issue
From the President
Virtual LAN at Univ. of Mississippi
DC at a Glance
Internet Phone
From ACUTA Headquarter
Three-Tier High-Performance Computing Environment - Baker Hughes
The Baker Hughes high-performance computing environment is deploying a three-tier approach to providing technical computing resources as an alternative to typical high-performance computing. Baker Hughes uses a complete spectrum of computer resources that break from the standards of high-density, dedicated resources. This environment is intended to provide a more flexible and efficient approach that is responsive to business needs. The design has been proven in production systems in the United States and the Russian Federation since the second quarter of 2010 with multiple proprietary and in-house scientific applications. This paper will discuss a computing infrastructure that Baker Hughes has built to better adapt to meet changing requirements in high-performance computing
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