Applying constraint solving to the management of distributed applications

Submitted to DOA08We present our approach for deploying and managing distributed component-based applications. A Desired State Description (DSD), written in a high-level declarative language, specifies requirements for a distributed application. Our infrastructure accepts a DSD as input, and from it automatically configures and deploys the distributed application. Subsequent violations of the original requirements are detected and, where possible, automatically rectified by reconfiguration and redeployment of the necessary application components. A constraint solving tool is used to plan deployments that meet the application requirements.Postprin

Structured spend analysis

In the ongoing joint venture between Ericsson and ST Microelectronics, EMP spend data needed to be extracted, consolidated and analyzed to support the ongoing joint venture. Provide an understanding what spend analysis is and how it can support the business and operations in the company. Purpose: The purpose with this master thesis was to create a foundation of spend analysis knowledge at the company and how this can be used for the purchasing department at ST‐Ericsson. The study clarified weaknesses and gaps how the function works today in this area and recommendations how spend analysis can be conducted at the company. The author proposes changes to the new company and new information about spend analysis, how the purchasing department can use this sort of tool in their business and operations. Methodology: The working procedure for this master thesis was to analyze current situations and find gaps where ST‐Ericsson should concentrate efforts to secure spend visibility and conduct analysis of spend in the new company. Logical reasoning in the company’s current spend to find weaknesses and opportunities in reducing costs. Conclusions: The company should focus on securing their processes for extracting and consolidating spend data. Considering new commodity classification to easier find opportunities and pooling spend with parents companies. Finally implement recommended spend analysis tool for analyzing both Performa spend and future spend in ST‐Ericsson

Kenyon Collegian - February 9, 1989

https://digital.kenyon.edu/collegian/1746/thumbnail.jp

Examining the impact of using social networks on political knowledge and political attitude by Iranian university students

Social Network Sites (SNSs) play key role to raise individuals’ awareness in terms of political issues around the world. Young generation particularly university students utilize social networks for political activism and discussion. The present study investigates the effect of social network on political knowledge and attitude of Iranian university students. Mixed- method design was employed to collect quantitative data through a questionnaire followed by an emailed interview with Iranian media experts. The sample size in the study consisted of 382 Iranian students and 12 media experts. The findings of the current study showed that there is generally a direct and positive relation between the level of use of social networks and political knowledge, and attitude. Moreover, the results revealed that using social network sites have a significant positive effect on student’s level of political knowledge and political knowledge mediates the positive effect of social network use by Iranian university students on their political behavior. The results of interview corroborate that easy access to modern information sources has increased political knowledge of the students. The results also implied the necessity of deploying an intelligent filtering rather than indiscriminate blocking of the social network websites

Distribution and Dispersal of Aquatic Invertebrates in the Waitomo Stream

A survey of the distribution and dispersal of aquatic macro invertebrates was carried out in the Waitomo caves catchment, located South of Hamilton, New Zealand. Eight sites were selected along the Waitomo stream. The sites represented a longitudinal gradient that flowed from the native forested, headwaters to pasture, then into native forest remnants, before flowing into pasture and onto the glowworm caves at the bottom of the catchment. It was found that both the benthic and drift fauna underwent a change in community composition along the length of the catchment. Initially, the diversity decreased and invertebrate abundance increased as the stream flowed from forest to pasture. There was also a change in community composition from 'sensitive' taxa e.g. Plecoptera and Archichauliodes diversus to more 'enrichment' tolerant eg chironomids and Austrosimulium sp. However the biota of the stream was 'restored' upon the stream flowing into a forest remnant, the Aranui reserve. There was also a seasonal reduction in drift of invertebrates from the Waitomo stream over winter. Additionally significant differences were found for many drift taxa between forest and pasture sites. Suggestions as to future research topics and recommendation for restoration of the catchment streams and biota were made

Developing sustainable tourism through ecomuseology

PhD ThesisSustainability is a concept that continues to evolve and perplex in tourism, one of the world’s largest industries. Effective new theories and practices are constantly explored to incorporate the three pillars of sustainability (economic, socio-cultural and environmental) into tourism frameworks. Although marginally successful, sustainable tourism development remains a much criticised concept due to its lack of consistent implementation and conceptual and practical difficulties. In comparison, due to their focus on participation processes, integration of resources and response to specific needs and contexts, ecomuseological principles can be very useful for the development of community-based sustainable tourism products. These principles can be recognized within the philosophy and practices that tend to characterise individual ecomuseums and can be viewed as the key values of the ecomuseum ideal. This research project examines the potential of using the principles of ecomuseology to support sustainable tourism development. In particular, the research adopted a mixed-methods approach which analysed the potential of using these principles for supporting sustainable tourism development in the Rupununi, an isolated and heritage-rich region in central Guyana. The data collection process involved a mixture of literature reviews, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with a variety of local, national and international stakeholders. The primary goal in data collection was to construct a profile of the Rupununi tourism structure to identify and evaluate areas in which ecomuseological principles would be best suited to provide support. The findings from this research suggest that the principles of ecomuseology possess considerable potential to support sustainable tourism development in the Rupununi and potentially other destinations internationally. Indeed, results demonstrated that several of these principles were already being implemented by stakeholders in the region, although the term ‘ecomuseum’ is not being used anywhere by stakeholders. However, many principles are decidedly underused while the Rupununi is currently experiencing a significant shift in its relationship with the ‘outside’ world where societal changes are already affecting local economic development, heritage resources and host communities. Ultimately, this dissertation argues that ecomuseology presents a flexible framework that can be used to address these changes and dually support heritage management and iii economic development in the region. However, adopting the ecomuseum name is not recommended as a way forward for Rupununi stakeholders to improve sustainability. Instead, incorporating particular ecomuseological principles including a holistic approach to interpretation and information sharing, placing equal attention on cultural and natural resources and monitoring the changes to the region over time can support the three pillars of sustainability in the region. Lastly, this research demonstrated that these principles can be applicable to sustainable tourism development in many developing world contexts. However, the researcher argues that the theoretical framework for ecomuseums needs to be re-considered before it can be fully adopted in the lesser developed countries. This dissertation concludes by addressing this and other areas in need of further research while outlining the future of Rupununi tourism

Facebook usage in government – a case study of information content

Social media is making its way into government agencies as a medium for citizen communication. A recent survey suggests that almost half of the population in Sweden uses Facebook. Consequently, government agencies such as municipalities have started adopting Facebook to ‘be where the users are’. Facebook offers new opportunities for rapid dissemination of information and dialogue with the public that may lead to greater transparency and increased e-democracy. However, relatively few studies exist that have examined the actual content in governments’ Facebook pages. In this exploratory case study of a Swedish municipality’s Facebook page, several categories of information posted on the Facebook wall are identified. While the municipality uses the wall primarily for marketing events, the public members display a diverse usage including requests for information or services, reports of service failure, and making complaints. Both parties also use the wall for community building

Communication management on social networking sites: Stakeholder motives and usage types of corporate Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages

Purpose – Over the last years, many corporations have started to maintain profile pages on social networking sites (SNS), but research on how and why organizational stakeholders use these profile pages has not kept pace. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The study applies a combined perspective of uses-andgratifications (U&G) and social cognitive theory (SCT) to investigate the reasons why politicians and digital natives consume and interact with corporations on SNS. In total, 65 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings – Results suggest that the two stakeholder groups differ in their motivations, as well as behavior to use corporate profile pages. Digital natives seem to prefer Facebook to interact with companies, politicians prefer Twitter. Corporate YouTube pages are almost not important to any of the groups. Research limitations/implications – The qualitative nature of the study does not allow for generalizations of the findings to larger populations. Suggestions for further research are addressed in the discussion section. Practical implications – The study results have numerous implications for the practice of communication management. Fans on SNS do not tend to interact with corporations to a large extent, but are loyal followers. Once a connection between an individual and a company is established, it is likely to last. This enables corporations to gain rich information from their networks to be included in customer service, product development, issues management and recruiting. Originality/value – This is the first study in the field of communication management, which applies a micro-level approach to interviewing users of corporate communication; in order to reveal the reasons why and how they use corporate social networking profile pages

William T. Grant Foundation 2015 Annual Report

In 2015, we embarked on a new direction in one of our two major focus areas, shifting our attention from understanding how and under what conditions research is used tounderstanding how to create those conditions. In the first six years of our work supporting studies of the use of research evidence, grantees deepened our understanding of the problem of research use and offered fresh ideas about how to improve its use--particularly with regard to the role of intermediaries in brokering research evidence and the importance of trusting relationships between researchers, decision makers, and practitioners in its uptake. The next phase of this work will build on this knowledge and advance understanding of how to improve the use of research evidence in policy and practice

Managing multi-tiered suppliers in the high-tech industry

Thesis (M. Eng. in Logistics)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-135).This thesis presents a roadmap for companies to follow as they manage multi-tiered suppliers in the high-tech industry. Our research covered a host of sources including interviews and publications from various companies, consulting companies, software companies, the computer industry, trade associations, and analyst firms among others. While our review found that many companies begin supplier relationship management after sourcing events, we show that managing suppliers should start as companies form their competitive strategy. Our five step roadmap provides a deliberate approach for companies as they build the foundation for effective and successful multi-tiered supplier relationship management.by Charles E. Frantz and Jimin Lee.M.Eng.in Logistic