MECHANIZED CULTURAL REASONING AS A TOOL TO ASSESS TRUST IN VIRTUAL ENTERPRISES

International audienceThe globalized knowledge society generates virtual enterprises that are usually set up and managed on the web, and the new trend is to make the relevant technologies avail- able on intelligent portable devices. The existence of trust is a mandatory condition to make such enterprises successful. Trust has many facets ranging from very theoretical ones to fully heuristic features. One point is that trust can arise when one understands better the behavior of partners. In this paper we outline a new technology leading to the possibility to include inter-cultural issues among the factors having a strong impact on trust. This technology is called Abstraction-Based Information Technology. Its goal is to enable to design tools in articial intelligence to perform so-called cultural reasoning that ensures better trust among inter-cultural communities.We outline how Abstraction- Based Information Technology becomes feasible when working with virtual knowledge communities. An argument in favor of our approach is that it relies on a bottom-up ap- proach, particularly suitable for the web technology and for intelligent wearable devices. The solution of intercultural troubles then amounts to solve knowledge con icts among virtual knowledge communities

Human factors in mechanized cut-to-length forest operations

Although forest operations research has a more than 50-year-long tradition in the field of human factors, there is a current decline in resources put on continuous and systematic human factors research. Therefore, the overall aim of this thesis was to contribute new knowledge on working conditions in mechanized cut-to-length logging operations and their relationship to system performance. Findings from four different studies, each using different research methods and approaches, were compiled and discussed based on their relevance to operator working conditions and logging system performance in a Nordic context and with a broader international outlook. A human, technology and organization (HTO) framework was used in Study I to scrutinize the problems that exist in the interactions between these three aspects. The body of knowledge on the H, T and O aspects was extended in Studies II, III and IV based on problem identification Study I. In study II, it was emphasized that most Swedish logging contractors were relatively small enterprises working purely with machine operations. Consequently, with the exception of between harvester and forwarder, task rotation has limited potential to be implemented within most companies. In Study III, forwarder crane work was essentially ruled out as a major source of harmful levels of whole body vibration (WBV). The results also indicated that the choice of grapple may prove important with respect to avoiding costly growth losses for the landowner and environmental concerns. In Study IV, gaze behaviour was investigated in an observational field study. By comparing operators in first thinning, second thinning and final felling, a task-dependent information search pattern was identified. Specifically, the information on the bucking monitor and the tree being felled was less frequently attended to, i.e. less interesting, during first thinning than during the other operation types. Taken as a whole, much of the forestry literature focuses on individual aspects of the work environment, as in studies II-IV, and a systems perspective is less frequently applied. A hindrance to applying a systems perspective is that it demands transdisciplinary research teams and interdisciplinary research. However, this should be seen as an opportunity and not a hindrance to successful future research

Critique of Architectures for Long-Term Digital Preservation

Evolving technology and fading human memory threaten the long-term intelligibility of many kinds of documents. Furthermore, some records are susceptible to improper alterations that make them untrustworthy. Trusted Digital Repositories (TDRs) and Trustworthy Digital Objects (TDOs) seem to be the only broadly applicable digital preservation methodologies proposed. We argue that the TDR approach has shortfalls as a method for long-term digital preservation of sensitive information. Comparison of TDR and TDO methodologies suggests differentiating near-term preservation measures from what is needed for the long term. TDO methodology addresses these needs, providing for making digital documents durably intelligible. It uses EDP standards for a few file formats and XML structures for text documents. For other information formats, intelligibility is assured by using a virtual computer. To protect sensitive information—content whose inappropriate alteration might mislead its readers, the integrity and authenticity of each TDO is made testable by embedded public-key cryptographic message digests and signatures. Key authenticity is protected recursively in a social hierarchy. The proper focus for long-term preservation technology is signed packages that each combine a record collection with its metadata and that also bind context—Trustworthy Digital Objects.

Nonprofit Assessment: Examining Nonprofit Assessment Methodology Towards the Development of a Holistic Assessment Framework

This paper explores the existing methodology used to assess nonprofit organizations. Across the literature, there is no consensus as to which is the most effective way to evaluate a nonprofit’s work. Different opinions exist as to which aspects of the organizations are most influential in achieving the most impact on beneficiaries. Nonprofit evaluations allow organizations to determine areas where they are operating effectively and places where they can improve. It also will enable individuals to assess which organization to support and engage for donations to produce better outcomes. This will add to the current literature upon nonprofit evaluation by bringing together already proven models and highlighting their most substantial aspects. A literature review, interviews with experts in the field and analysis of current charity review sites were conducted. Utilising this framework, I assess three nonprofits working towards economic inclusion. This will test its thoroughness and provide conclusions as to the aspects analysed that proved most influential to achieve programmatic success and long term impact. Self-reported information, financial statements, third-party evaluations, and interviews with the leadership staff were conducted for the development of these assessments. Using a framework such as the one proposed will bring greater clarity for donors to choose what nonprofit to support that will achieve the best impact and provide a source nonprofits can refer to improve their operations

Creating "good" leaders : exploring the integration of leadership and ethics in Canadian post-secondary education

An examination of leadership and ethics literature demonstrates that, given the theoretical and practical links between the two subjects, they should also be linked within the context of adult post-secondary education. However, very little documented information exists with regard to the ways in which such integration of subject areas is achieved, and there is scant documentation indicating the kinds of pedagogical approaches that are employed for such a purpose. This study examined how the subject areas of leadership and ethics are conceptualized and integrated within the context of undergraduate credit courses at the University of Saskatchewan. The methods used to collect original data for this study were content analysis and qualitative interviews. The data collected in this study demonstrated that the integration of leadership and ethics subject areas is occurring, both implicitly and explicitly, in a variety of undergraduate courses offered through professional colleges at the University of Saskatchewan. The subjects of leadership and ethics are conceptualized in many different ways by course instructors; however, instructors perceive links between the two subject areas and expect their students to demonstrate an understanding of those links. The findings of this study will serve as a program planning resource for instructors who practice, or who wish to practice, the integration of leadership and ethics subject areas in their post-secondary classroom settings. In addition, the researcher concluded with some broad-based recommendations for further study, and suggestions regarding approaches to integration of leadership and ethics education at the University of Saskatchewan

Urban food strategies in Central and Eastern Europe: what's specific and what's at stake?

Integrating a larger set of instruments into Rural Development Programmes implied an increasing focus on monitoring and evaluation. Against the highly diversified experience with regard to implementation of policy instruments the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework has been set up by the EU Commission as a strategic and streamlined method of evaluating programmes’ impacts. Its indicator-based approach mainly reflects the concept of a linear, measure-based intervention logic that falls short of the true nature of RDP operation and impact capacity on rural changes. Besides the different phases of the policy process, i.e. policy design, delivery and evaluation, the regional context with its specific set of challenges and opportunities seems critical to the understanding and improvement of programme performance. In particular the role of local actors can hardly be grasped by quantitative indicators alone, but has to be addressed by assessing processes of social innovation. This shift in the evaluation focus underpins the need to take account of regional implementation specificities and processes of social innovation as decisive elements for programme performance.

Mirrors of Mechanized Man: Capitalism and Intertextuality as Represented in the Works of Herman Melville, Franz Kafka and Don Delillo

It is contended that literature, as a product of the socioeconomic conditions in which it was generated, can be used to explore the relationship between individuals and technological advancement, as existing within specific stages of capitalism’s development. Using Marxist analysis to examine texts generated during the cultural eras of realism, modernism, and postmodernism, it is argued that physical, mental, and emotional state of characters, as represented within works written by Herman Melville, Franz Kafka, and Don DeLillo, respectively, reflect the increasing levels of human alienation as experienced by individuals under the constraining forces of market capitalism, imperialism, and late capitalism

The use of psychometric test systems as a pre-selection tool for identifying successful harvesting machine operators

A shift towards fully mechanized forest activities, such as harvesting and, more recently, silviculture, has occurred from the early 2 000’s. The reason for mechanizing these activities differs for each country, although for most countries there is concern relating to the health and safety of forest workers. With mechanization in harvesting, the forest worker has moved away from the physical intensity of having to fell, debranch, debark and cross-cut trees into logs using either an axe or chainsaw, to operating a machine. Studies revolving around the human element (operator) have been conducted specifically relating to the ergonomics of the machines and how operators may influence machine productivity. Results showed that due to the repetitive nature of the work, the operators are exposed to associated stresses for longer periods. Typical injuries associated to these kinds of stressors are whole body vibrations (WBVs), repetitive hand and arm movements, non-neutral body postures and manual lifting, which lead to musculoskeletal symptoms in the lower back, neck and shoulders. However, as machine technology improves so does the ergonomic conditions which are experienced by machine operators. Machine productivity can be influenced by various factors, with the most influential being tree volume. However, a recent study showed that over 40% of variation in machine productivity has been observed amongst different machine operators operating similar machines. The specific reason for these differences has yet to be determined. However, decision making, motivation, planning capacity, concentration, memory, motor coordination, pattern recognition, logic reasoning, and spatial perception are abilities that have been described as important for successful harvesting work. The pre-selection of operators using psychometric and cognitive tests is not new to forestry, although very little information is available relating to the aptitude test known as the Vienna test system as well as the best possible demographic associated with successful harvesting operators. The overall aim of this study was to determine whether the high variation found amongst harvesting machine operators could be reduced initially through a preselection process which involves the use of aptitude tests (Vienna Test System) and demographic questionnaires. A study was implemented in Zululand, South Africa, testing whether there were significant productivity differences between nine machine operators.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 202

The use of psychometric test systems as a pre-selection tool for identifying successful harvesting machine operators

A shift towards fully mechanized forest activities, such as harvesting and, more recently, silviculture, has occurred from the early 2 000’s. The reason for mechanizing these activities differs for each country, although for most countries there is concern relating to the health and safety of forest workers. With mechanization in harvesting, the forest worker has moved away from the physical intensity of having to fell, debranch, debark and cross-cut trees into logs using either an axe or chainsaw, to operating a machine. Studies revolving around the human element (operator) have been conducted specifically relating to the ergonomics of the machines and how operators may influence machine productivity. Results showed that due to the repetitive nature of the work, the operators are exposed to associated stresses for longer periods. Typical injuries associated to these kinds of stressors are whole body vibrations (WBVs), repetitive hand and arm movements, non-neutral body postures and manual lifting, which lead to musculoskeletal symptoms in the lower back, neck and shoulders. However, as machine technology improves so does the ergonomic conditions which are experienced by machine operators. Machine productivity can be influenced by various factors, with the most influential being tree volume. However, a recent study showed that over 40% of variation in machine productivity has been observed amongst different machine operators operating similar machines. The specific reason for these differences has yet to be determined. However, decision making, motivation, planning capacity, concentration, memory, motor coordination, pattern recognition, logic reasoning, and spatial perception are abilities that have been described as important for successful harvesting work. The pre-selection of operators using psychometric and cognitive tests is not new to forestry, although very little information is available relating to the aptitude test known as the Vienna test system as well as the best possible demographic associated with successful harvesting operators. The overall aim of this study was to determine whether the high variation found amongst harvesting machine operators could be reduced initially through a preselection process which involves the use of aptitude tests (Vienna Test System) and demographic questionnaires. A study was implemented in Zululand, South Africa, testing whether there were significant productivity differences between nine machine operators.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Natural Resource Management, 202