2,380 research outputs found

    The Internet's Effects on Global Production Networks: Challenges and Opportunities for Managing in Developing Asia

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    Placing global production networks (GPN) on the Internet poses a fundamental challenge, but also creates new opportunities for managing in Developing Asia. Network flagships can now select best-performing suppliers on a global scale, increasing the pressure on Asian suppliers. But the transition form EDI to the Internet may also provide new opportunities for Asian suppliers, by reducing barriers to network entry, and by enhancing knowledge diffusion. A conceptual framework is introduced to assess how the Internet reshapes business organization and GPN. That framework is applied to one of the role models of managing in Asia, Taiwan's Acer Group. The paper highlights a vicious circle that must be broken to reap the benefits of the Internet: Asian firms must reduce a huge efficiency gap between manufacturing and the management of supporting digital information systems (DIS). The challenge is to embrace the Internet as flexible infrastructures that support not only information exchange, but also knowledge sharing, creation and utilization. The Internet facilities this task: it provides new opportunities for the outsourcing of mission-critical support services.

    Workshop proceedings: Information Systems for Space Astrophysics in the 21st Century, volume 1

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    The Astrophysical Information Systems Workshop was one of the three Integrated Technology Planning workshops. Its objectives were to develop an understanding of future mission requirements for information systems, the potential role of technology in meeting these requirements, and the areas in which NASA investment might have the greatest impact. Workshop participants were briefed on the astrophysical mission set with an emphasis on those missions that drive information systems technology, the existing NASA space-science operations infrastructure, and the ongoing and planned NASA information systems technology programs. Program plans and recommendations were prepared in five technical areas: Mission Planning and Operations; Space-Borne Data Processing; Space-to-Earth Communications; Science Data Systems; and Data Analysis, Integration, and Visualization

    Understanding Technology, Changing the World

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    Project-Based Learning in Non-Traditional Settings in Engineering Education

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    The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of utilizing the principles of Project-based learning (PJBL) in nontraditional settings in engineering education. There is ample literature related to the usage of PJBL techniques in engineering education but there are also challenges with incorporating PJBL within the curriculum. It is the aim of this dissertation to build upon this understanding of the advantages and limitations of PJBL in engineering education and identify areas within the existing body of knowledge in which more research is needed. This dissertation divides this topic into 4 sub-topics. The first sub-topic explores how PJBL can be utilized in non-classroom settings and is detailed in Chapters 2-4. In Chapter 2, the application of PJBL in engineering outreach is explored. It is found that through PJBL learning challenges, high-school age girls can be exposed to engineering disciplines in a positive and supportive environment where girls and women are promoted. This chapter details the format of the event ‘Parent Daughter Engineering Night’ as well as lessons learned and practical methods to create an event based upon PJBL methodology that reduces stereotype threat and increases belonging. Chapter 3 describes operation and management of an on-campus center designed with PJBL methodology. This chapter describes the benefits to the University and the community through detailed examples of projects as well as provides lessons learned in project selection and student intern management. Chapter 4 identifies 10 maxims of promoting creativity in engineering education that have been identified by Kazerounian and Foley. This chapter addresses each of these maxims by providing an example in the ways in which PJBL can be used as an explicit means of developing creativity in engineering students. The next subtopic is how PJBL can be utilized in non-traditional classroom settings. Chapter 5 describes a PJBL challenge that can be used in a virtual learning environment that functions to bridge course content in one project by including elements of manufacturing processes, material science, and applied statistics. This chapter presents the PJBL challenge as a case-study and highlights key learning outcomes that can be achieved. The next subtopic is intended to examine how PJBL is supported by theories of learning. Chapter 6 describes existing theories of learning and provides 6 different mathematical models of learning that are then evaluated using tools of applied mathematics. In this chapter, strengths and weaknesses of each model are considered as well as the future need to evaluate a learning model with empirical data. Lastly, the final sub-topic highlights the ability of PJBL to function as a tool to promote social change. Chapter 7 describes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the responsibility of educators and future engineers to address these goals. In this chapter, examples are provided of explicit ways in which PJBL can serve the dual purpose of promoting engineering education through the completion of projects that are intended to support or promote the SDGs

    efnMOBILE 2.0 / Efficient Envelopes

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    Based on the experiences of efnMOBILE 1.0 the hands-on student workshop activities and exhibitions took place in different evironments and locations encouraging new technologies and methodologies. Like efnMOBILE 1.0 the new workshop series efnMOBILE 2.0 provides the European Facade Network (efn), its conferences and the connected professional community with a local platform for communication, exhibition, innovative development and interaction. efnMOBILE 2.0 is reaching out to be developed from a European communication and technology exchange instrument into an international tool to exchange with the global facade community. All events of efnMOBILE 2.0 follow an overall theme: ‘Efficient Envelopes’. Focusing towards adaptive and transdisciplinary approaches to improve the building envelope’s thus the building’s performance through human-centered solutions in facade technology. The task is to inspire the upcoming generation of architects, designers and engineers to allow themselves to follow uncharted paths of development, think outside the box, to build showcase examples, and to come up with ground-breaking solutions – for a better design as it relates to climate, health and an overall building design approach. The concept is supposed to foster the dialogue around sustainable design and development and to increase awareness and actionable solutions for sustainable design. In 2016 and 2017 efnMOBILE 2.0 has been present at three annual conferences of efn: Lucerne 2016, Delft 2017 and Detmold 2017 and additionally at the glasstec fair 2016 in Dusseldorf (Germany), and in 2017 at the University of Antwerp and the ICBEST conference in Istanbul (Turkey). Each event includes a three-to-five-days-workshop on location – to inspire and innovate - followed by a period designated to design development and engineering, and concludes with a final presentation to the professional public at fairs, conferences or in the educational context. During each event, the participants build mock-ups of different scales, do field research or intercultural exploration. To reach this goal the project contributes to the following outcomes: increased knowledge sharing between the various European research and education centres and between those centres and industry and further international actors. development of novel concepts and technologies and/or the new combinations of existing technologies. development of new knowledge such as effective evaluation tools/methods for adaptive facades. start of new collaborations and research projects in the area of facades technologies. This time efnMOBILE 2.0 also included an international online survey on facade education with responses from more than 200 participants. The survey addressed practitioners and scholars and was focussing on the needs and expectations of facade industry and consultancy. The results of the survey will help to further improve the existing programs and to develop new programs overseas. efnMOBILE 2.0 has been made possible through the funding of the ALCOA Foundation. The editors and the efn-members like to thank ALCOA Foundation for supporting this initiative to make building envelope design and connected educational programmes more efficient and successful by creating a platform for organized sustainable creative thinking
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