A use case of service-based knowledge management for software development

Large, international cooperative efforts pose high expectations for knowledge management support. In this paper we present a use case of a knowledge management solution in an inter-national research project, which offers several novel features applicable in other cases as well. The primary goals are to make the implicit knowledge explicit, to organize knowledge objects according to multiple criteria of multiple user roles and to serve this knowledge to users in an interactive way adapting Web 2.0 principles. A Knowledge Management System called the BREIN Roadmap has been realised applying service-based knowledge management using PROMOTE® supporting developers and externals who want to make use of the know-how and software components of the project

Les comportements en matière de RSE des sociétés coopératives : homogénéité discursive et hétérogénéité des pratiques

CSR behaviors of cooperative companies: a discursive homogeneity and heterogeneity of practicesThis research aims to improve knowledge on CSR and the CSR behaviors, specifically in cooperative enterprises (Scop, in French). By studying five Scop, the research shows a relative discourse homogeneity in terms of CSR but heterogeneous practices. Thus, the results lead us to identify the main characteristics of CSR behaviors for a Scop and suggest the importance of management support al along the process and the membership in the cooperatives enterprises network as positives factors that aim the CSR commitment

Risk management exploration of occupational safety and health for coconut tappers of Nira Satria Cooperative in Banyumas regency

Background: Occupational safety and health (K3) for informal sector is still low, as evidenced by the increasing trend of work accidents by 5-10%, including work accidents experienced by coconut tappers. Currently, there are only few research discussing about the implementation of SMK3, especially those dealing with risk management in reducing and preventing work accidents for coconut tappers. The objective is to explore the implementation of risk management for coconut tappers in working group of Nira Satria Cooperative, Banyumas Regency. Method: This qualitative research used a case study approach. It was conducted in two villages, namely Sokawera and Pageraji. There were ten research informants involved in this research consisting of the Chief of Pageraji and the Chief of Sokawera, the staff of community health center, the staff of Cooperative, the family of coconut tappers, and the coconut tappers of Nira Satria Cooperative. Data collection was carried out by in-depth interviews and field observations. Results: A total of 702 coconut tappers in Banyumas Regency were reported to have had accidents over the last five years. The work accidents experienced by coconut tappers of Nira Satria Cooperative were influenced by three factors, namely knowledge, availability of PPE, and behavior. The informants’ knowledge of risk management was very limited, five out of nine informants interviewed were still unable to identify and assess risk at work. The availability of PPEs is only 10% of the total tappers and when used they hindered the tappers’ time and work. The behavior of coconut tappers at work did not reflect good practice of risk management. Conclusion: Coconut tappers of Nira Satria Cooperative had not implemented risk management properly, there were no strict rules from the Cooperative and there was no support from the stakeholders. The coconut tappers and the stakeholders should have awareness to prioritize the safety and health of the coconut tappers in Banyumas Regency, especially those of Nira Satria Cooperative

Adaptation Under the Canopy: Coffee Cooperative and Certification Contributions to Smallholder Livelihood Sustainability in Santa Lucía Teotepec, Oaxaca

The collapse and reorganization of global coffee markets associated with the “coffee crisis” have had profound, negative impacts on smallholder producer livelihoods throughout the world. In Mexico, the collapse of the International Coffee Agreement (ICA) coincided with withdrawal of government support for agriculture, which devastated producers dependent on coffee for their livelihoods. Smallholders responded by shifting livelihood strategies to diversify income, migrating, and converting primary forest cover to subsistence crops and pasture to support household livelihood security. In some instances, producers also joined or formed cooperative organizations to access specialty certifications that offer higher priced markets, extension information, and other benefits. However, certifications have had limited benefits for producers, particularly where administered through cooperatives. This research applied a livelihoods framework to a smallholder coffee producing community, Santa Lucía Teotepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, in order to understand smallholder responses to economic crisis and prolonged stress, benefits derived from cooperative membership, and motivations behind rustic shade- grown coffee management decisions. The study used qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain in-depth data about livelihood strategies, household adaptations to crises, producer experiences and opinions regarding opportunities and constraints of cooperative membership and local knowledge, uses and management practices of shade trees in coffee farms. Results suggest that responses to the coffee crisis have been mostly reactive, coping strategies limited in their duration and ability to bolster livelihood security. Membership in the cooperative UNECAFE has resulted in some income, material, and social benefits as compared with non-member producers. However, the benefits are minimal and constrained by factors common to the coffee industry as a whole (i.e., persistent low prices and disease) and particular to community context, notably that the cooperative was not a grassroots organization and had strained relationships with producers. Results indicate that shade tree values and management practices do not vary due to cooperative membership or certification, but rather due to ecological attributes of coffee plots and producers’ access to resources. Producers derive a wide range of benefits from traditional shade coffee systems that reflect cultural traditions and rich local ecological knowledge. This study points to the need to develop locally-based cooperatives and to invest in their institutional and management capacities, to increase local representation in cooperative leadership, and to support and build upon traditional ecological knowledge and management practices in conservation and development initiatives

ARMENIAN RURAL COOPERATIVES AND MARKETING: DAIRY SECTOR

Armenian milk marketing cooperatives provide several benefits, of which the increased opportunity for milk marketing is valued most by member farmers. During the cooperative action milk production has also increased due to seminars on cattle feeding, artificial insemination, sanitation programs, and support by cooperatives in feed procurement. Another benefit is that through pooling products of specified grade or quality, marketing cooperatives are better able to market milk to large-scale buyers than individual owners. Putting their efforts together cooperatives can move to distant markets and thus expand their sales opportunities. This is of paramount importance for those cooperatives that have a sole buyer. In addition to milk marketing, almost all of the cooperatives expressed desire to integrate themselves vertically in milk processing with the aim of capturing greater share of the consumers’ food expenditures. It’s worth mentioning that all managers stated the importance of seminars and educational tools to the success of their organizations. However, in their self-assessment lower ratings were noted in the areas of financial management, financial statement analysis, strategic planning, and higher scores were stated for business decision-making and cooperative principles. Our findings indicate that an opportunity exists to reinforce managers’ knowledge in the areas of cooperative principles, division of responsibility between managers and the Board, and financial management. The results of the research come to advocate for continuing cooperative business and extending their activities over other aspects of the agricultural sphere (technical service, agricultural production, etc.), thus enabling farmers to further integrate themselves in food marketing system and improve their incomes.agriculture, cooperation, cooperative, milk production, transition economy, Agribusiness, International Relations/Trade,

A meta-study of SAP financials in the Queensland Government

This thesis consists of three related studies: an ERP Major Issues Study; an Historical Study of the Queensland Government Financial Management System; and a Meta-Study that integrates these and other related studies conducted under the umbrella of the Cooperative ERP Lifecycle Knowledge Management research program. This research provides a comprehensive view of ERP lifecycle issues encountered in SAP R/3 projects across the Queensland Government. This study follows a preliminary ERP issues study (Chang, 2002) conducted in five Queensland Government agencies. The Major Issues Study aims to achieve the following: (1) identify / explicate major issues in relation to the ES life-cycle in the public sector; (2) rank the importance of these issues; and, (3) highlight areas of consensus and dissent among stakeholder groups. To provide a rich context for this study, this thesis includes an historical recount of the Queensland Government Financial Management System (QGFMS). This recount tells of its inception as a centralised system; the selection of SAP and subsequent decentralisation; and, its eventual recentralisation under the Shared Services Initiative and CorpTech. This historical recount gives an insight into the conditions that affected the selection and ongoing management and support of QGFMS. This research forms part of a program entitled Cooperative ERP Lifecycle Knowledge Management. This thesis provides a concluding report for this research program by summarising related studies conducted in the Queensland Government SAP context: Chan (2003); Vayo et al (2002); Ng (2003); Timbrell et al (2001); Timbrell et al (2002); Chang (2002); Putra (1998); and, Niehus et al (1998). A study of Oracle in the United Arab Emirates by Dhaheri (2002) is also included. The thesis then integrates the findings from these studies in an overarching Meta-Study. The Meta-Study discusses key themes across all of these studies, creating an holistic report for the research program. Themes discussed in the meta-study include common issues found across the related studies; knowledge dynamics of the ERP lifecycle; ERP maintenance and support; and, the relationship between the key players in the ERP lifecycle

Flexible Process Support for Student Project Management

Student projects m higher education are used to help students prepare themselves for meeting the challenges they face in real world projects. However, the dynamic nature of a project had caused it to have ill-defined tasks during the planning process. The use of emails, face-to-face meetings and project reports to manage student projects do not appear efficient. The implementation of X CHIPS (a cooperative hypermedia system with flexible process support) in the EXTERNAL project has suggested that this system is able to provide efficient project management. This dissertation aims to answer the research question: "How a cooperative hypermedia based flexible process support approach is able to support project supervisors and students in managing student project". A case study approach has been adopted to investigate this phenomenon. In order to provide compelling evidence to support the answer to our research question, data from different sources was collected. In addition, triangulation was used to increase the reliability of the study. Our findings from the case study demonstrated that the cooperative hypermedia based flexible process support approach can support project supervisors and students to create, monitor and adapt project plans cooperatively. Project supervisors and students can identify emerging problems from the project plan and discuss issues in project meetings. Furthermore, this approach also supports meeting process modifications and unplanned meeting process. Project meetings between project supervisors and students are facilitated by synchronous and asynchronous cooperation. Therefore, this approach provides flexible ways of solving emergent problems in a timely manner. No previous studies on using cooperative hypermedia based flexible process support in supporting student project management have been found. Therefore, this study can be taken as a pilot study that is able to provide invaluable knowledge to researchers who are interested in this field of study

Space radiation health program plan

The Space Radiation Health Program intends to establish the scientific basis for the radiation protection of humans engaged in the exploration of space, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a firm knowledge base to support cancer risk assessment for future planetary exploration. This document sets forth the technical and management components involved in the implementation of the Space Radiation Health Program, which is a major part of the Life Sciences Division (LSD) effort in the Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). For the purpose of implementing this program, the Life Sciences Division supports scientific research into the fundamental mechanisms of radiation effects on living systems and the interaction of radiation with cells, tissues, and organs, and the development of instruments and processes for measuring radiation and its effects. The Life Sciences Division supports researchers at universities, NASA field centers, non-profit research institutes and national laboratories; establishes interagency agreements for cooperative use and development of facilities; and conducts a space-based research program using available and future spaceflight vehicles

HealthyGrowth - From Niche to Volume with Integrity and Trust, FULL CASE STUDY REPORT for the Dairy cooperative EKO Žemaitija - Lithuania

The Lithuanian case study report is a part of a series report of the project “Healthy Growth: From Niche to Volume with Integrity and Trust”. This project investigated a range of successful mid-scale organic value chains in order to learn how they are able to combine volume and values, and to use this knowledge to support the further development of organic businesses and initiatives. Research teams from 10 European countries contributed to the project and analysed 19 cases. The organic dairy cooperative EKO Žemaitija with the related value chain of organic farm products and the stakeholder network around the cooperative was the investigation object of the Lithuanian research team. The case study report presents the development of the cooperative since its establishment in 2006 including changes in the number of cooperative members and in the farm structure as well as in its performance aiming to get a higher value for production. The in-depth analysis covers six tasks/perspectives: organisation and governance, business and management logic, quality and market differentiation, communication of values, transmission of values and qualities, and risk and resilience

Developing Best Practice in the Education of Cooperative Members

The statement that a co-ops’ member is the most important asset [22] assumes that members of the cooperative have a central position in a cooperative. The central member position is due to the cooperative being an organization of, by, and for members. Furthermore, the presence of a central position is due to members having a function as owners and users of cooperative service. Member education, as one of the cooperative principles, is necessary because the members’ knowledge of the cooperative will support the role or central position of the members. Efforts to implement member education, among others, are implemented by means of best practice development. Best practice (dictionary.com) is a procedure or set of procedures that is preferred or considered as a standard within an organization, industry, etc. Best practice development is based on organizational management experience. This research was conducted on Multipurpose Cooperative Makmur Sejati Malang. Analysis of information from key informants is done by triangulation analysis. The findings of the research indicate that the analysis of best practices is in line with the stages of development of cooperative organizations as part of member education. Best practice, in establishing Rukun Ibu for example, gives awareness to members to avoid lending activities. In addition, best practice at development stage is emphasized on member education. The fact that the fulfillment of obligations is executed by the 12th, as well as the loan service starting on the 13th of each month, instills an understanding of the need to balance the fulfillment of obligations and the utilization of rights as members of the cooperative.   Keywords: member education, best practic