176,068 research outputs found
Findings from an Experiment on Flow Direction of Business Process Models
A core aspect of diagrammatic process modeling is the visualization of the logical and temporal order in which tasks are to be performed in a process. While conventions and guidelines exist that promote modeling processes from left-to-right or from top-to-bottom, no empirically validated design rationale can be provided for this choice so far. Therefore, this paper seeks to determine whether some flow directions are better than others from a cognitive point of view. We present the results of a controlled pilot experiment comparing the effects of four flow directions (left-to-right, right-to-left, top-to-bottom, bottom-to-top) on process model comprehension with a small sample size of 44 participants. Although there is a variety of theoretical arguments which support the use of a left-to-right flow direction as convention for process models, the preliminary empirical results of the pilot experiment were less clear-cut and showed that model readers also adapted well to uncommon reading directions
Directed percolation in aerodynamics: resolving laminar separation bubble on airfoils
In nature, phase transitions prevail amongst inherently different systems,
while frequently showing a universal behavior at their critical point. As a
fundamental phenomenon of fluid mechanics, recent studies suggested
laminar-turbulent transition belonging to the universality class of directed
percolation. Beyond, no indication was yet found that directed percolation is
encountered in technical relevant fluid mechanics. Here, we present first
evidence that the onset of a laminar separation bubble on an airfoil can be
well characterized employing the directed percolation model on high fidelity
particle image velocimetry data. In an extensive analysis, we show that the
obtained critical exponents are robust against parameter fluctuations, namely
threshold of turbulence intensity that distinguishes between ambient flow and
laminar separation bubble. Our findings indicate a comprehensive significance
of percolation models in fluid mechanics beyond fundamental flow phenomena, in
particular, it enables the precise determination of the transition point of the
laminar separation bubble. This opens a broad variety of new fields of
application, ranging from experimental airfoil aerodynamics to computational
fluid dynamics.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figure
The Structured Process Modeling Method (SPMM) : what is the best way for me to construct a process model?
More and more organizations turn to the construction of process models to support strategical and operational tasks. At the same time, reports indicate quality issues for a considerable part of these models, caused by modeling errors. Therefore, the research described in this paper investigates the development of a practical method to determine and train an optimal process modeling strategy that aims to decrease the number of cognitive errors made during modeling. Such cognitive errors originate in inadequate cognitive processing caused by the inherent complexity of constructing process models. The method helps modelers to derive their personal cognitive profile and the related optimal cognitive strategy that minimizes these cognitive failures. The contribution of the research consists of the conceptual method and an automated modeling strategy selection and training instrument. These two artefacts are positively evaluated by a laboratory experiment covering multiple modeling sessions and involving a total of 149 master students at Ghent University
The role of learning on industrial simulation design and analysis
The capability of modeling real-world system operations has turned simulation into an indispensable problemsolving methodology for business system design and analysis. Today, simulation supports decisions ranging
from sourcing to operations to finance, starting at the strategic level and proceeding towards tactical and
operational levels of decision-making. In such a dynamic setting, the practice of simulation goes beyond
being a static problem-solving exercise and requires integration with learning. This article discusses the role
of learning in simulation design and analysis motivated by the needs of industrial problems and describes
how selected tools of statistical learning can be utilized for this purpose
Holding on for too long? An experimental study on inertia in entrepreneurs’ and non-entrepreneurs’ disinvestment choices
Disinvestment, in the sense of project termination and liquidation of assets including the cession of a venture, is an important realm of entrepreneurial decision-making. This study presents the results of an experimental investigation modeling the choice to disinvest as a dynamic problem of optimal stopping in which the patterns of decisions are analyzed with entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs. Our experimental results reject the standard net present value approach as an account of observed behavior. Instead, most individuals seem to understand the value of waiting. Their choices are weakly related to the disinvestment triggers derived from a formal optimal stopping benchmark consistent with real options reasoning. We also observe a pronounced ‘psychological inertia’, i.e., most individuals hold on to a losing project for even longer than real options reasoning would predict. The study provides evidence for entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs being quite similar in their behavior.Real-Options, Disinvestment, Exit Behavior, Experimental Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Agricultural Finance, Institutional and Behavioral Economics,
Carving out new business models in a small company through contextual ambidexterity: the case of a sustainable company
Business model innovation (BMI) and organizational ambidexterity have been pointed out as mechanisms for companies achieving sustainability. However, especially considering small and medium enterprises (SMEs), there is a lack of studies demonstrating how to combine these mechanisms. Tackling such a gap, this study seeks to understand how SMEs can ambidextrously manage BMI. Our aim is to provide a practical artifact, accessible to SMEs, to operationalize BMI through organizational ambidexterity. To this end, we conducted our study under the design science research to, first, build an artifact for operationalizing contextual ambidexterity for business model innovation. Then, we used an in-depth case study with a vegan fashion small e-commerce to evaluate the practical outcomes of the artifact. Our findings show that the company improves its business model while, at the same time, designs a new business model and monetizes it. Thus, our approach was able to take the first steps in the direction of operationalizing contextual ambidexterity for business model innovation in small and medium enterprises, democratizing the concept. We contribute to theory by connecting different literature strands and to practice by creating an artifact to assist managemen
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