Data Collection in Studies on Internet of Things (IoT), Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), and Sensor Cloud (SC): Similarities and Differences

Data collection is an essential part of sensor devices, particularly in such technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks (WSN), and sensor cloud (SC). In recent years, various literature had been published in these research areas to propose different models, architectures, and contributions in the domains. Due to the importance of efficient data collection regarding reducing energy consumption, latency, network lifetime, and general cost, a momentous literature volume has been published to facilitate data collection. Hence, review studies have been conducted on data collection in these domains in isolation. However, a lack of comprehensive review collectively identifies and analyzes the differences and similarities among the data collection proposals in IoT, WSN, and SC. The main objective of this research is to conduct a comprehensive survey to explore the current state, use cases, contributions, performance measures, evaluation measures, and architecture in the IoT, WSN, and SC research domains. The findings indicate that studies on data collection in IoT, WSN, and SC are relatively consistent with stable output in the last five years. Nine novel contributions are found with models, algorithms, and frameworks being the most utilized by the selected studies. In conclusion, key research challenges and future research directions have been identified and discussed

An Evaluation of the Implementation of Total Quality Management in a Service Organization

This research consists of a formative evaluation designed to identify the steps necessary to revitalize a formerly successful Total Quality Management (TQM) process at a U.S. Navy engineering and logistics support organization. The research also developed a methodology to account for the fact that the investigator is a well-informed insider who served as one of the principle change agents for the TQM implementation. The research is based on the researcher\u27s observation that the major cause for the waning implementation was due to senior management and leadership issues and the organization-wide processes with which they interface. The investigation consisted of an extensive review of the literature to identify, from a leadership perspective and theory framework, an ideal implementation for this organization. Then a case study was conducted to identify the espoused and actual implementation processes, again from a leadership viewpoint. The gaps or differences between ideal and espoused and espoused and actual were analyzed to identify conditions and relationships which must be addressed as part of the formative evaluation. Significant concerns were identified in leadership actions, TQM processes, allocation of assets and cultural issues which hindered the adoption of the principles of TQM. Each of these was addressed by the development of specific recommendations which, if followed, would result in actions to revitalize the implementation of TQM. The research recognized that much of the discovery and mutually agreed understanding of the incidences associated with TQM had occurred during the actual implementation. The challenge was to develop methods of obtaining validity and insure a true mutual agreement on the occurrences in a manner to satisfy academic standards. This was accomplished through multiple techniques involving the researcher making statements which he believed accurate, frequently in writing, and then either finding substantiating documentation in the historical records or having multiple other insiders correct the understanding, either through interview or in writing response. This formed a method of mutual mirroring which insured multiple viewpoints and shared understanding. This research developed a systematic revitalization process which may have application to other similar organizations and improved methods of implementing TQM, especially for planning and developing improvements in quality of daily work. The literature research provided an improved integration of TQM principles with the underlying theories of organizational change and leadership. Specific leadership actions to implement TQM were identified