440,895 research outputs found

    Australian software developers embrace quality Assurance Certification

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    [Abstract]: This paper details a research project undertaken to assess the extent of adoption of quality assurance (QA) certification by Australian software developers. A brief history of government QA policy, the catalyst in the sudden interest in certification, is included. Primary data for the study were gathered from a survey of 1,000 Australian software developers, and were used to determine the extent of adoption of QA certification by Australian developers, their organisational characteristics, capability maturity and perceptions regarding the value of QA certification. Secondary data from the JAS-ANZ register of certified organisations enabled validation of survey responses and extrapolation of QA certification adoption. Major findings of the study revealed that 11 percent of respondents are certified to ISO 9001 or AS 3563, seven percent are in progress and 21 percent plan to adopt QA certification. It also revealed that specialist developers are adopting QA certification at twice the rate of in-house developers. Other factors found to be associated with adoption of QA certification are large development groups, developers with government or overseas clients, organisations with whole- or part-foreign ownership, and organisations undertaking corporate TQM initiatives. From the findings, detailed implications are drawn for managers and policy analysts

    THE IMPROVEMENT OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT LEARNING SMK N 3 YOGYAKARTA OF BUILDING SKILLS BEFORE AND AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEACHER CERTIFICATION (ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-2010)

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    This study aims at understanding the development of student achievement SMK N 3 Yogyakarta area of building expertise before and after the certification of teachers of the school year 2005-2010. Specifically, this study also seeks to identify the developmental competency of teachers in building expertise SMK N 3 Yogyakarta along with the implementation of the teacher certification program organized government. This study is a quantitative descriptive research. In this study sample will be deducted from the student of SMK N 3 Yogyakarta areas of building expertise in the academic year 2005-2010. Data collection was using documentation in the form of a data value rapport/results student school year 2005-2010. Analysis of the development of student achievement in terms of learning outcomes in one eye training, learning on the combined results of training the eye, and in terms of teacher certification passing score. Data analysis techniques were using quantitative descriptive analysis of the figures presented in the form of tables, graphs and pie charts. The results (1) in terms of one eye on the teacher's training certification, in 2005 (6.539), 2006 (7.136), 2007 (7.528), 2008 (7.318), 2009 (7.328), 2010 (7.217). In the teacher has not been certified, in 2005 (6.886), 2006 (6.774), 2007 (7.202), 2008 (7.162), 2009 (7.364), 2010 (7.143). (2) in terms of combined eye on the teacher's training certification, in 2005 (6.783), 2006 (7.002), 2007 (7.401), 2008 (7.332), 2009 (7.656), 2010 (7.211). In the teacher has not been certified, in 2005 (6.586), 2006 (6.868), 2007 (7.202), 2008 (7.216), 2009 (7.306), 2010 (7.107). (3) in terms of graduation teacher certification, graduation interval 650- 799 (7.299), 800-949 (7.180), 950-1099 (7.524), 1100-1249 (7218). Key words: learning achievement, certified teacher

    Bias Corrected Estimates of GED Returns

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    Using three sources of data, this paper examines the direct economic return to GED certification for both native and immigrant high school dropouts. One data source %u2013 the CPS %u2013 is plagued by non-response and allocation bias from the hot-deck procedure that biases upward the estimated return to the GED. Correcting for allocation bias and ability bias, there is no direct economic return to GED certification. An apparent return to GED certification with age found in the raw CPS data is due to dropouts becoming more skilled over time. These results apply to native born as well as immigrant populations.

    Consumer Willingness-To-Pay for Different Organic Certification Logos in Turkey

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    Using data from focus group discussions with consumers and a choice experimentconducted in some of Turkey’s major cities, this study investigates whetherTurkish consumers prefer certain organic labelling schemes over others attemptsand to elicit their willingness to pay (WTP) for different organic certificationlogos. Although the level of awareness regarding organic certification logos waslow, consumers’ perceptions of the logos were generally positive. The results ofthe random parameter logit models indicated a positive WTP for the presence ofone of the three tested certification body logos in addition to the mandatorygovernmental logo. Given the low level of certification logo awareness, theconclusion is that both purchasing decisions and perceptions regarding logoswere affected by subjective criteria. Both the government and certification bodiesshould develop measures to increase consumer awareness of their logos and formconsumer perceptions and attitudes regarding the quality of the certificationimplied by the logo

    Synthesizing Certified Code

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    Code certification is a lightweight approach for formally demonstrating software quality. Its basic idea is to require code producers to provide formal proofs that their code satisfies certain quality properties. These proofs serve as certificates that can be checked independently. Since code certification uses the same underlying technology as program verification, it requires detailed annotations (e.g., loop invariants) to make the proofs possible. However, manually adding annotations to the code is time-consuming and error-prone. We address this problem by combining code certification with automatic program synthesis. Given a high-level specification, our approach simultaneously generates code and all annotations required to certify the generated code. We describe a certification extension of AutoBayes, a synthesis tool for automatically generating data analysis programs. Based on built-in domain knowledge, proof annotations are added and used to generate proof obligations that are discharged by the automated theorem prover E-SETHEO. We demonstrate our approach by certifying operator- and memory-safety on a data-classification program. For this program, our approach was faster and more precise than PolySpace, a commercial static analysis tool

    Modelling risk-based inspections in EU organic certification: data requirements and analysis tools

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    A Risk Based Inspection (RBI) scheme is a planning tool used to develop the optimum plan for the execution of inspection activities. Organic certification system could benefit from the implementation of RBIs in terms of higher effectiveness, i.e. trustability, and lower transaction costs for organic operators. Data from certification bodies provide basic information about non-compliances and structural aspects of organic operators. Here we propose a methodological approach to risk analysis modelling, based on discrete choice models and Bayesian networks, both aiming at the identification of key risk factor in the organic certification process in the European Union

    Do private sustainability standards contribute to income growth and poverty alleviation? : a comparison of different coffee certification schemes in Ethiopia

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    Private sustainability standards are increasingly important in food trade with developing countries, but the implications for smallholder farmers are still poorly understood. We analyze the implications of different coffee certification schemes in Ethiopia using cross-sectional survey data, and regression and propensity-score-matching techniques. We find that: Rainforest Alliance (RA) and double Fairtrade-Organic (FT-Org) certifications are associated with higher incomes and reduced poverty, mainly because of higher prices; Fairtrade (FT) certification hardly affects welfare; and Organic (Org) certification reduces incomes, chiefly due to lower yields. Cooperative heterogeneity importantly shapes these results. Results imply that private standards may not always deliver what they promise to consumers

    The Role of Certification in the Brazilian Fruit Chain

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    Concerns about food safety and standards in the developed countries, particularly in Europe and the United States have made certification inevitable for worldwide fruit producers who target such export markets. The fact that certification is demanded by final consumers is increasingly making buyers, retailers and wholesalers buy certified products from the producers. For the fruit industry in Brazil, certification has important consequences as it ensures access to export markets. Using primary data obtained from interviews with 303 small, medium and large mango and grape producers in the regions of Juazeiro/BA and Petrolina/PE in Brazil, this paper aims at assessing the determinants of demand for certification among mango and grape producers. Empirical analysis using a logit model shows that grapes farmers have higher likelihood for certification than mango growers. The farmer’s education level and years of experience producing fruits are the major positive determinants for certification. The factors which decrease the chances to adopt certification are small size of the farm, nonagricultural income, awareness and trust type of arrangement.Certification, fruits, logit model
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