Volume II Acquisition Research Creating Synergy for Informed Change, Thursday 19th Annual Acquisition Research Proceedings

ProceedingsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Framework as software service (fass) an agile e-toolkit to support agile method tailoring

In a real software application development environment, a pre-defined or fixed methodology, whether plan-based or agile, is unlikely to be successfully adopted "off-the-shelf. Agile methods have recognised that a method should be tailored to each situation. The purpose of this paper is to present an agile e-toolkit software service to facilitate the tailoring of agile processes in the overall context of agile method adoption and improvement. The agile e-toolkit is a web-based tool to store and manage agile practices extracted from various agile methods and frameworks. The core component of the e-toolkit is the agile knowledge-base or repository. The agile knowledge-base contains agile process fragments. Agile consultants or teams can then use agile process fragments stored in the agile knowledge-base for the tailoring of situation-specific agile processes by using a situational method engineering approach. The e-toolkit software service has been implemented using a service-oriented cloud computing technology platform (Software as a Service-SaaS). The agile e-toolkit specifications and software application details have been summarized in this paper

ICS Materials. Towards a re-Interpretation of material qualities through interactive, connected, and smart materials.

The domain of materials for design is changing under the influence of an increased technological advancement, miniaturization and democratization. Materials are becoming connected, augmented, computational, interactive, active, responsive, and dynamic. These are ICS Materials, an acronym that stands for Interactive, Connected and Smart. While labs around the world are experimenting with these new materials, there is the need to reflect on their potentials and impact on design. This paper is a first step in this direction: to interpret and describe the qualities of ICS materials, considering their experiential pattern, their expressive sensorial dimension, and their aesthetic of interaction. Through case studies, we analyse and classify these emerging ICS Materials and identified common characteristics, and challenges, e.g. the ability to change over time or their programmability by the designers and users. On that basis, we argue there is the need to reframe and redesign existing models to describe ICS materials, making their qualities emerge

Air Force Institute of Technology Research Report 2019

This Research Report presents the FY19 research statistics and contributions of the Graduate School of Engineering and Management (EN) at AFIT. AFIT research interests and faculty expertise cover a broad spectrum of technical areas related to USAF needs, as reflected by the range of topics addressed in the faculty and student publications listed in this report. In most cases, the research work reported herein is directly sponsored by one or more USAF or DOD agencies. AFIT welcomes the opportunity to conduct research on additional topics of interest to the USAF, DOD, and other federal organizations when adequate manpower and financial resources are available and/or provided by a sponsor. In addition, AFIT provides research collaboration and technology transfer benefits to the public through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). Interested individuals may discuss ideas for new research collaborations, potential CRADAs, or research proposals with individual faculty using the contact information in this document

7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21)

Information and communication technologies together with new teaching paradigms are reshaping the learning environment.The International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd) aims to become a forum for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas, experiences,opinions and research results relating to the preparation of students and the organization of educational systems.Doménech I De Soria, J.; Merello Giménez, P.; Poza Plaza, EDL. (2021). 7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD21.2021.13621EDITORIA

A conceptual framework for generating insights from log analysis in support of mHealth App evaluations

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the digital health domain, particularly mobile health apps (mHealth), continues to grow, considerable benefits exist for addressing resource-constrained healthcare challenges. Evidence supporting the use, implementation, and sustainability of the Apps are required to realise these benefits. Unfortunately, traditional Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) methods are not suited to Apps’ fast-paced agile developments, resulting in a lack of the required evidence base. However, these Apps generate a plethora of log data that provide evidence of the user-technology interactions. Consequently, the log data could be used to support the needed M&E practices for mHealth Apps. Currently, there is a lack of structure and standards required for log analysis to contribute to M&E practices and move beyond descriptive statistics. This research project addresses this need by implementing a Design Science Research (DSR) approach to develop a conceptual framework. The VILA (Valuable Insights from Log Analysis) Framework, developed in this study, structures how insights can be generated from log analysis to support the M&E practices of mHealth Apps. It thereby contributes to the increased use of log data towards building the required evidence base for the support and sustainability of mHealth initiatives. The research design implemented is divided into two phases and five stages. Phase 1 (Theoretical component) incorporates two rigour cycles to inform the first design cycle. A preliminary review, two narrative overviews, an umbrella review, and a scoping review identify the necessary M&E, Digital Health, and Data Science concepts and categories to inform the conceptual framework. The existing M&E frameworks for mHealth Apps are identified and used to develop domain concepts where log analysis would be able to contribute. Thereby, the preliminary VILA Framework is developed based on the existing knowledge base. Next, the research design’s Phase 2 (Evaluation component) uses three stages to evaluate and refine the VILA Framework, thereby ensuring the practical value of the artefact. The VILA Framework is evaluated using two relevance cycles and one change and impact cycle according to the DSR approach. The first relevance cycle evaluates the efficacy, quality, and generalisability of the preliminary VILA Framework using expert reviews. The expert reviews consist of semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire with eight South African subject matter experts. The expert reviews confirm the quality and efficacy of the VILA Framework and highlight findings such as the need for a structured process, the challenges of log data, and the generalisability of the VILA Framework. During the second design cycle, the findings are translated into conceptual and structural improvements to develop the refined VILA Framework. The second relevance cycle applies the refined VILA Framework to a real-world case study to structure the log analysis of a South African App. The case study incorporates quantitative and qualitative data analysis, interviews, and four focus groups to evaluate the validity, utility, applicability, and sustainability of the VILA Framework. The case study outcomes include improvement suggestions and future recommendations for the VILA Framework and the company’s M&E practices. Thereby, the case study benefits the participating company and the researcher, establishing the value of the DSR approach and the VILA Framework. Finally, the case study findings are implemented to develop the final VILA Framework (design cycle 3). This research project contributes Level 1 and Level 2 knowledge contributions by providing the developed artefact (i.e., VILA Framework) and documenting its development and evaluation processes. Therefore, adhering to the pragmatic paradigm and DSR principles, the VILA Framework suffices the problem statement. It benefits researchers and practitioners who aim to standardise log analyses or improve the M&E of mHealth Apps. In addition, the project also highlights valuable research topics for future recommendations to improve or optimise the VILA Framework or research within this scope.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aangesien die digitale gesondheidsdomein, veral mobiele gesondheidstoepassings (mGesondheidstoeps), aanhou groei, is daar aansienlike voordele om hulpbronbeperkte gesondheidsorguitdagings aan te spreek. Bewyse wat die gebruik, implementering en volhoubaarheid van die toepassings ondersteun, word vereis om hierdie voordele te verwesenlik. Ongelukkig is tradisionele Monitering en Evaluasie (M&E) metodes nie geskik vir Toeps se vinnige behendige ontwikkelings nie, wat lei tot 'n gebrek aan die vereiste bewysebasis. Hierdie toepassings genereer egter 'n oorvloed logdata wat bewys lewer van die gebruiker-tegnologie interaksies. Gevolglik kan die logdata gebruik word om die nodige M&E-praktyke vir mGesondheidstoeps te ondersteun. Tans is daar 'n gebrek aan struktuur en standaarde wat vereis word vir log-analise om by te dra tot M&E praktyke en verby beskrywende statistiek te beweeg. Hierdie navorsingsprojek spreek hierdie behoefte aan deur 'n “Design Science Research” (DSR)-benadering te implementeer om 'n konseptuele raamwerk te ontwikkel. Die VILA (“Valuable Insights from Log Analysis”) Raamwerk, soos ontwikkel in die studie, struktureer hoe insigte uit log-analise gegenereer kan word om die M&E-praktyke van mGesondheidstoeps te ondersteun. Dit dra daardeur by tot die verhoogde gebruik van logdata om die vereiste bewysebasis vir die ondersteuning en volhoubaarheid van mGesondheids-inisiatiewe te bou. Die navorsingsontwerp wat geïmplementeer is, word in twee fases en vyf subfases verdeel. In Fase 1 (Teoretiese komponent) word twee deeglikheidsiklusse bygewerk om die eerste ontwerpsiklus in te lig. 'n Voorlopige oorsig, twee narratiewe oorsigte, 'n sambreeloorsig en 'n omvangsoorsig lei tot die identifisering van die nodige M&E, Digitale Gesondheid en Datawetenskap konsepte en kategorieë om die konseptuele raamwerk te ontwikkel. Die bestaande M&E-raamwerke vir mGesondheidstoeps word geïdentifiseer en gebruik om domeinkonsepte te ontwikkel waar log-analise ‘n bydra sou kon maak. Daardeur word die voorlopige VILA Raamwerk ontwikkel op grond van die bestaande kennisbasis. Vervolgens word die navorsingsontwerp se Fase 2 (Evalueringskomponent), wat bestaan uit drie subfases, gebruik om die VILA Raamwerk te evalueer en verfyn, daardeur word die praktiese waarde van die artefak verseker. Die VILA Raamwerk word geëvalueer deur twee relevansiesiklusse en een verandering- en impaksiklus volgens die DSR-benadering te gebruik. Die eerste relevansiesiklus evalueer die doeltreffendheid, kwaliteit en veralgemeenbaarheid van die voorlopige VILA Raamwerk deur deskundige resensies te gebruik. Die deskundige resensies bestaan uit semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en 'n vraelys met agt Suid-Afrikaanse vakkundiges. Die deskundige resensies bevestig die kwaliteit en doeltreffendheid van die VILA Raamwerk en beklemtoon bevindinge soos die behoefte aan 'n gestruktureerde proses, die uitdagings van logdata en die veralgemeenbaarheid van die VILA Raamwerk. Tydens die tweede ontwerpsiklus word die bevindinge in konseptuele en strukturele verbeterings omgesit om die verfynde VILA Raamwerk te ontwikkel. Die tweede relevansiesiklus pas die verfynde VILA Raamwerk toe op 'n werklike gevallestudie om die log analise van 'n Suid-Afrikaanse Toep te struktureer. Die gevallestudie inkorporeer kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data-analise, onderhoude en vier besprekingsgroepe om die geldigheid, bruikbaarheid, toepaslikheid en volhoubaarheid van die VILA Raamwerk te evalueer. Die gevallestudie-uitkomste sluit verbeteringsvoorstelle en toekomstige aanbevelings vir die VILA Raamwerk en die maatskappy se M&E praktyke in. Daardeur bevoordeel die gevallestudie die deelnemende maatskappy en die navorser, wat die waarde van die DSR-benadering en die VILA Raamwerk vasstel. Laastens word die bevindinge van die gevallestudie geïmplementeer om die finale VILA Raamwerk (ontwerpsiklus 3) te ontwikkel. Hierdie navorsingsprojek dra Vlak 1- en Vlak 2-kennisbydraes by deur die ontwikkelde artefak (VILA Raamwerk) te verskaf en die ontwikkelings- en evalueringsprosesse daarvan te dokumenteer. Daarom, met die nakoming van die pragmatiese paradigma en DSR-beginsels, is die VILA Raamwerk voldoende om die probleemstelling aan te spreek. Dit bevoordeel navorsers en praktisyns wie daarop mik om log-ontledings te standaardiseer of die M&E van mGesondheidstoeps te verbeter. Daarbenewens beklemtoon die projek ook waardevolle navorsingsonderwerpe vir toekomstige werk om die VILA-raamwerk of toekomstige navorsing binne hierdie navorsingsomvang te verbeter of te optimaliseer.Master

Healthy snacks consumption and the Theory of Planned Behaviour. The role of anticipated regret

Two empirical studies explored the role of anticipated regret (AR) within the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework (Ajzen, 1991), applied to the case of healthy snacks consumption. AR captures affective reactions and it can be defined as an unpleasant emotion experienced when people realize or imagine that the present situation would be better if they had made a different decision. In this research AR refers to the expected negative feelings for not having consumed healthy snacks (i.e., inaction regret). The aims were: a) to test whether AR improves the TPB predictive power; b) to analyze whether it acts as moderator within the TPB model relationships. Two longitudinal studies were conducted. Target behaviors were: consumption of fruit and vegetables as snacks (Study 1); consumption of fruit as snacks (Study 2). At time 1, the questionnaire included measures of intention and its antecedents, according to the TPB. Both the affective and evaluative components of attitude were assessed. At time 2, self-reported consumption behaviors were surveyed. Two convenience samples of Italian adults were recruited. In hierarchical regressions, the TPB variables were added at the first step; AR was added at the second step, and the interactions at the last step. Results showed that AR significantly improved the TPB ability to predict both intentions and behaviours, also after controlling for intention. In both studies AR moderated the effect of affective attitude on intention: affective attitude was significant only for people low in AR

Air Force Institute of Technology Research Report 2011

This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; lists student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedures for contacting the school. Included in the report are: faculty publications, conference presentations, consultations, and funded research projects. Research was conducted in the areas of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electro-Optics, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Systems and Engineering Management, Operational Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics and Engineering Physics