Acquiring enterprise systems as a portfolio of real options

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Thursday Sessions, Volume IIThe Department of Defense (DoD) has an enterprise architectural vision and an accompanying transformation plan. The enterprise transformation plan describes multiple individual projects and systems that collectively deliver the desired capabilities and enterprise architecture. These projects are performed over planning horizons that span several years or more. Deciding on what projects to invest in, when to invest in them, and whether to continue the investment as time progresses is a difficult problem because of the uncertainty involved in the operational environment, the technology, and the associated project risks. This paper argues that enterprise systems acquisition can be modeled using real options to obtain project valuations that consider the environmental uncertainty and guide acquisition decisions. Moreover, because the enterprise architecture involves many projects that are interdependent, a portfolio investment approach is called for. We present a real options framework to plan a portfolio of projects as a collection of compound real options. We illustrate how the model can be applied in a case study derived from the DoD?s transformation plan. The model and method contribute an approach to value a portfolio of projects that intentionally creates options to preserve decision flexibility and acquire the target architecture?s capabilities at lower cost and risk.Prepared for the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

The Challenges and Obstacles of Post-Disaster Road Infrastructure Reconstruction in the Pre-Construction Phase

Purpose The reconstruction of road infrastructure in the post-disaster context require different approach when compared with road projects in the normal development context. Disaster recovery projects are seen as having their own unique identity, particularly due to stakeholder issues, resource challenges, capability issues, and even long-term reliability concerns. This paper invites a discussion regarding the challenges and obstacles identified in the reconstruction of road infrastructure in a post-disaster reconstruction setting, and focuses the discussion on the pre-construction phase. Design/ Methodology/ Approach The challenges and obstacles presented in this paper are based on the literature and the empirical evidence collected from the research in three case study districts in Aceh, Indonesia. Twenty-eight face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders of road infrastructure at the local, provincial and national level, and represented by respondents from the public works, planning agency, disaster management agency, consultant, contractors, and donor agencies. The findings were triangulated with the literature and consulted with five experts in the road infrastructure and disaster reconstruction area. Findings The identified challenges and obstacles are divided into three groups of discussion; planning and programming, road design, and procurement. Whilst some of these challenges are not unique to post-disaster context, the scale of the risks had been undermined. Originality/ value This paper identifies the challenges and obstacles of a road project in the post-disaster setting from the pre-construction perspective. Identification of these challenges and obstacles may help improve the implementation of post-disaster road infrastructure reconstruction projects in future recovery projects, particularly in the developing world

A Method for Establishing Outdoor Recreation Project Priorities in Alaska

The authors thank Theodore Smith, Edward Kramer and Nat Goodhue of the Division of Parks for information and comments supplied during this study, and Frank Orth, Charles Marsh, Ed Kramer, C.E. Logsdon, and Frank Wooding for reviewing the manuscript. Thanks is also due the Department of Business Administration, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Dale Swanson, Head, for their cooperation in this research project.The objectives of this study are to define outdoor recreation benefits to the public and to develop a priority ranking method for proposed outdoor recreation projects. A careful analysis of the benefits which people derive from outdoor recreation provides a frame of reference for evaluating a recreational facility. A project should supply those benefits which are most highly demanded by the public. Fifteen benefits of recreation are defined and discussed. They are divided into two major categories; those which accrue to recreational participants and those which accrue to non-participants.This research was supported by a grant from the Division of Parks, State of Alaska

Roads and residents : measurement and mitigation of psychological stress : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Environmental and Resource Planning at Massey University

Psychological stress, suffered by property owners who are forced to relinquish land for roading development, is difficult to quantify. However, psychological stress can have a significant adverse impact on affected home and business owners. Currently, evaluations of roading projects only include a cursory assessment of psychological stress in the planning balance sheet. The aim of this thesis was to measure psychological stress suffered as a result of the imposition of roading designations and forced property purchases. The main research objectives were to examine whether it was possible to directly quantify the level of psychological stress suffered, and to identify mitigating factors that would reduce the impact of psychological stress. Forty-four residential and business property owners affected by four roading projects in Hastings and Christchurch completed a questionnaire and face-to-face interview on their personal experience of stress as a result of the roading development. A possible method of measuring stress symptoms and the impact of life changes was tested, based on the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Almost all interviewees acknowledged that they had experienced some degree of stress because of the roading development. However, results of the stress symptoms and life impact surveys varied and appeared to be more dependent on the individual's circumstances than on the impact of the roading project. Eighty-five percent of interviewees believed that communication between roading authorities and property owners could be improved. It appears that stress can be significantly mitigated by providing affected owners with more direct contact with roading representatives and regular information updates on the development's progress. The issue of compensation also requires addressing in order to reduce the amount of stress suffered. Currently property owners receive the market value for any land and improvements lost but no other compensation is provided. All interviewees believed that they were financially worse off regardless of whether they were losing all or part of their property. However, where an independent negotiator had been employed to finalise the property purchases, interviewees were more positive and acknowledged that this had helped achieve a win-win solution and a reduction in the level of stress they had suffered

Teachers’ Use of Multiple Instructional Strategies: A Comparison of Reading Performance of Third Grade English Language Learners in ESL/Bilingual Programs

The purposes of this dissertation are three-fold. The first purpose is to identify the effects of four different English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) instructional strategies (graphic organizers, scaffolding, interactive read aloud, and leveled questions) on reading performance of English language learners (ELLs) across grade level, intervention duration, ESL/EFL environment, and sample size. The second purpose is to ascertain how frequently teachers should use these four strategies to enhance third-grade ELLs’ reading performance. The third purpose is to discuss how Project English Language and Literacy Acquisition (Project ELLA) curriculum can be modified to fit Taiwan’s English-language planning and education policy. To respond to the first purpose, a meta-analysis for quantitative synthesis was adopted to review and examine the effectiveness of the four instructional strategies on ELLs’ reading performance. For the second purpose, a multilevel path analysis using structural equation modeling was adopted to examine if teachers’ frequency of using these four instructional strategies moderates the relationship between ELLs’ reading performance on pretest and on posttest. For the third purpose, a case study was conducted to discuss incorporating Project ELLA into Taiwan’s English-language planning and education policy. The overall findings supported an educational belief that explicit instruction coupled with multiple instructional strategies is essential for enhancing ELLs’ reading performance. The findings further indicated that higher frequency of using multiple instructional strategies had a significant interaction effect on the relationship between ELLs’ reading performance on the pretest and the posttest. To conclude, the use of multiple instructional strategies is a key factor in predicting successful reading performance. To enhance ELLs’ performance in reading, teachers are strongly suggested to adopt multiple instructional strategies. When using these strategies, teachers should pay special attention to the frequency of use. A more frequent use of multiple instructional strategies should help improve ELLs’ reading performance. The four strategies combined with the curriculum of Project ELLA should strengthen Taiwan’s English-language planning and education policy

Taking the High Road: Protecting Open Space Along America's Highways

Examines the environmental impacts of road construction and the spiraling of land prices along new roads, and promotes best practices for linking land use and road construction. Includes success stories and recommendations for policymakers

Teachers’ Use of Multiple Instructional Strategies: A Comparison of Reading Performance of Third Grade English Language Learners in ESL/Bilingual Programs

The purposes of this dissertation are three-fold. The first purpose is to identify the effects of four different English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) instructional strategies (graphic organizers, scaffolding, interactive read aloud, and leveled questions) on reading performance of English language learners (ELLs) across grade level, intervention duration, ESL/EFL environment, and sample size. The second purpose is to ascertain how frequently teachers should use these four strategies to enhance third-grade ELLs’ reading performance. The third purpose is to discuss how Project English Language and Literacy Acquisition (Project ELLA) curriculum can be modified to fit Taiwan’s English-language planning and education policy. To respond to the first purpose, a meta-analysis for quantitative synthesis was adopted to review and examine the effectiveness of the four instructional strategies on ELLs’ reading performance. For the second purpose, a multilevel path analysis using structural equation modeling was adopted to examine if teachers’ frequency of using these four instructional strategies moderates the relationship between ELLs’ reading performance on pretest and on posttest. For the third purpose, a case study was conducted to discuss incorporating Project ELLA into Taiwan’s English-language planning and education policy. The overall findings supported an educational belief that explicit instruction coupled with multiple instructional strategies is essential for enhancing ELLs’ reading performance. The findings further indicated that higher frequency of using multiple instructional strategies had a significant interaction effect on the relationship between ELLs’ reading performance on the pretest and the posttest. To conclude, the use of multiple instructional strategies is a key factor in predicting successful reading performance. To enhance ELLs’ performance in reading, teachers are strongly suggested to adopt multiple instructional strategies. When using these strategies, teachers should pay special attention to the frequency of use. A more frequent use of multiple instructional strategies should help improve ELLs’ reading performance. The four strategies combined with the curriculum of Project ELLA should strengthen Taiwan’s English-language planning and education policy

Measurement and analysis of water/oil multiphase flow using electrical capacitance tomography sensor

The paper investigates the capability of using a portable 16-segmented Electrical Capacitance Tomo-graphy (ECT) sensor and a new excitation technique to measure the concentration profile of water/oil multiphase flow. The concentration profile obtained from the capacitance measurements is capable of providing images of the water and oil flow in the pipeline. The visualization results deliver information regarding the flow regime and concentration distribution of the multiphase flow. The information is able to help in designing process equipment and verifying the existing computational modeling and simu-lation techniques

Open Space Acquisitions and Management Opportunities in the City of Atlanta and Adjacent Jurisdictions

The great cities of the world are distinguished by their public parks. The urban fabric of New York, Barcelona, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Sydney, and Shanghai are all woven around great parks. Yet, with all of Atlanta's outstanding achievements, the City and the region have a notably undistinguished park system. In a study conducted by the Trust for Public Land and the Urban Land Institute, Atlanta ranks near the bottom of the nation's largest 25 cities in acreage of parkland per capita with 7.3 acres for every 1,000 residents. Compare that to Austin, Texas' 39 acres per 1,000 residents or Oklahoma City's 43 acres per 1,000 residents and it becomes clear that something is amiss in metro Atlanta.This study identifies the obstacles to acquiring and maintaining open and green spaces in the metro Atlanta region. Addressing open space shortages in metro Atlanta is a sizable task. This study could be considered the first step in a larger process. Time spent researching the various obstacles and opportunities regarding open space acquisition raised many questions that are beyond the scope of this project. A second phase might test the recommendations made in this phase by working with local officials on a few select projects, and begin to identify critical pieces of property in metro Atlanta that must be protected from development. A detailed inventory of significant open space and natural resources in the metro area that includes the existing inventory of land inside of Interstate 285 should be considered either as a separate study or included in this recommended second phase

Walking to the Park

Outlines the goals and potential challenges for the formation of an Urban Land Trust to serve the City of Los Angeles