A uniformization-based algorithm for model checking the CSL until operator on labeled queueing networks

We present a model checking procedure for the CSL until operator on the CTMCs that underlie Jackson queueing networks. The key issue lies in the fact that the underlying CTMC is infinite in as many dimension as there are queues in the JQN. We need to compute the transient state probabilities for all goal states and for all possible starting states. However, for these transient probabilities no computational procedures are readily available. The contribution of this paper is the proposal of a new uniformization-based approach to compute the transient state probabilities. Furthermore, we show how the highly structured state space of JQNs allows us to compute the possible infinite satisfaction set for until formulas. A case study on an e-business site shows the feasibility of our approach

Understanding the effects of e-business on business processes, a simulation approach

This thesis defines a new approach to the analysis of the effect of e-business on business processes, utilising simulation as evaluation tool. This research was focused on answering five research questions about the suitability of simulation in this context, the role of static modelling and generic business processes, the identification of patterns for e-business activities and how to operationalise these patterns into components in simulation software, as well as how to use these components. Requirements for modelling of e-business processes were identified and documented. Pilot cases studies proved the potential of simulation for studying e-business processes (Feasibility). Generic e-business activities were derived and classified from the literature and case studies in order to fill gaps identified in existent process models. Re-usable simulation components are proposed as a result of the unique combination of simulation and e-activities in order to make simulation modelling of e-business easier. The components were tested in industrial case studies and quasi-experiments with end users for feasibility, usability and usefulness. Results show that the components' approach is feasible, that having re-usable components promotes a better analysis, (usefulness) and that it is easy to build models using the components (usability). The theoretical novelty of this research resides in bringing together three areas of study: ebusiness, simulation and business processes to analyse e-business implementations. The research contributes to the knowledge of components and re-use theory in simulation by proposing a new approach to component development, operationalisation and analysis of the degree of granularity required for these components. From a practical point of view, this research provides companies with an easier and more complete way of analysing e-business processes, breaking the barrier for the use of simulation, speeding up model building of eprocesses and getting a better understanding of the dynamics of e-processes. Future work in the area will include extending the component approach to supply chains and inter-company transactions.This thesis defines a new approach to the analysis of the effect of e-business on business processes, utilising simulation as evaluation tool. This research was focused on answering five research questions about the suitability of simulation in this context, the role of static modelling and generic business processes, the identification of patterns for e-business activities and how to operationalise these patterns into components in simulation software, as well as how to use these components. Requirements for modelling of e-business processes were identified and documented. Pilot cases studies proved the potential of simulation for studying e-business processes (Feasibility). Generic e-business activities were derived and classified from the literature and case studies in order to fill gaps identified in existent process models. Re-usable simulation components are proposed as a result of the unique combination of simulation and e-activities in order to make simulation modelling of e-business easier. The components were tested in industrial case studies and quasi-experiments with end users for feasibility, usability and usefulness. Results show that the components' approach is feasible, that having re-usable components promotes a better analysis, (usefulness) and that it is easy to build models using the components (usability). The theoretical novelty of this research resides in bringing together three areas of study: ebusiness, simulation and business processes to analyse e-business implementations. The research contributes to the knowledge of components and re-use theory in simulation by proposing a new approach to component development, operationalisation and analysis of the degree of granularity required for these components. From a practical point of view, this research provides companies with an easier and more complete way of analysing e-business processes, breaking the barrier for the use of simulation, speeding up model building of eprocesses and getting a better understanding of the dynamics of e-processes. Future work in the area will include extending the component approach to supply chains and inter-company transactions

T2B Model-Experiencing the Successful Conversion of Traditional Enterprise to e-Business

Successful selling over the Internet involves organizing the entire value chain around the Internet and determines where they can exploit technology to add value. Such conversion in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) is still at its enfant stage; knowing on the large enterprises’ experiences, this enlarges the non-empirical qualitative learning and possibilities for empirically testable theories to come up with a well-structured framework for such conversion. Based on theories from technological innovation literature, this paper presents an integrated model for T2E (Traditional to Electronic) business conversion for SME. Our novel T2E model makes use of a 3-layers hybrid approach: which unifies the technique of IDEF [Integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) DEFfinition] to assist in business process design; the concept of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) for business structure re-organization; and Innovation Diffusion (ID) theory for progressive introduction of new e-business functions. Our model is intended to minimize the impact of operational and cultural changes on SMEs while taken the critical successful factors of e-business projects in consideration. The feasibility of our conceptual framework is testified by a case study SME - Valentino World Fashion (VW), Inc

Trust Model Based On Islamic Business Ethics and Social Network Analysis

Buyers and sellers in e-commerce market such as e-auction form a virtual community. They use the feedback system to rate each other following a completed transaction and these ratings are used to build their reputation in the virtual community.  Existing reputation systems can often be easily manipulated by forming cohesive group in giving fake user feedbacks to increase their respective reputation. This practice is a clear violation of Islamic business ethics. In addition, there is currently no real-time support for reputation system and this causes users to be misinformed on the reputation of a seller. To improve the reputation system this study developed a trust framework based on business Islamic ethics. In this paper, a trust model which evaluates conformance to nine Islamic business ethical codes is proposed to calculate users’ initial trust value based on their ethical behavior. The trust model proposed the Islamic business ethics algorithm which calculates the user compliance to Islamic business ethics (IBE) score based on trading partner’s feedbacks. Because of feedback frauds can still occur, this study introduces a cohesive group algorithm to track users who collaborate to give false feedbacks. The cohesive group algorithm applied k-core algorithms which is capable of determining the strength of the relationship of every user in the cohesive group. The cohesive group algorithm also proposed a cohesive score to determine the feedback reliability of every user’s transaction based on the user’s k-core and the highest k-core. In the group user reputation (trust score) is measured by considering the feedback reliability status for all transactions. A reputation prototype system for e-auction was developed as the test bed to validate the trust model through simulation of the set of initial experiments, showing the feasibility and benefit of the model

Entrepreneurial finance and its impact on e-business

Entrepreneurial activity is important not just from an economic point of view but it also recognizes the power and value of an individual. In a developing country like Pakistan that ranks high when it comes to ease of doing business but very low in entrepreneurship, alternatives must be devised to empower individuals socially and economically. The Pakistani women being empowered than ever before have to be paid special attention to in case of entrepreneurship. The current study is thus aimed at assessing the e-business related entrepreneurial finance and potential of women doing e-business. E-business helps women overcome many traditional barriers to employment and entrepreneurship. Using Theory of Planned behavior and entrepreneurship models, a framework for assessing e-business and seeking entrepreneurial finance alternatives is developed. Unlike the previous theories which suggested eight variables the current study found that for e-business entrepreneurs only perceived propensity, desirability, feasibility, motherhood, management and meso and macro environment are significant. Besides money, market and management which are important for starting any business, IT knowledge is important. The results based on regression analysis suggest that the model fits well as it predicts value of the entrepreneurial intention at 95% with a 5% significance value. Based on the findings of the study a new model for assessment of e-business entrepreneurial intention is developed which includes all significant variables and IT knowledge as a moderating variable. Based on this assumption, there is a clear implication for the policy makers to stress IT literacy to encourage entrepreneurial activity

Pengembangan E-Modul Materi Teks Surat Lamaran Pekerjaan Pada Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia Peserta Didik Kelas XII SMAN 19 Surabaya

AbstrakKeterampilan dalam menulis teks surat lamaran pekerjaan sangat dibutuhkan ketika peserta didik akanmemasuki dunia kerja. Materi ini mulai diajarkan di tingkat SMA, termasuk di SMAN 19 Surabaya kelasXII. Sebagai studi kasus, pembelajaran materi ini di SMA Negeri 19 Surabaya selama dua tahun berturutturut, sebanyak 40% peserta didik masih belum bisa menyusun surat lamaran pekerjaan sesuai dengankriteria minimal yaitu 76. Kondisi peserta didik yang masih belum mengenal dunia usaha dan keadaanbekerja membuat peserta didik mengalami masalah dalam menyusun surat yang sesuai dengan keperluandan bahan ajar yang tersedia belum mendukungnya. Berdasarkan hal ini, artikel ini memaparkan hasilpenelitian mengenai pengembangan sebuah e-modul untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut. Adapun tujuan daripenelitian ini ialah mengetahui kelayakan dari e-modul yang telah dikembangkan sesuai dengan tujuan dankarakteristik materi materi pokok Teks Surat Lamaran Pekerjaan pada mata pelajaran Bahasa Indonesia kelasXII SMA Negeri 19 Surabaya. E-modul dalam penelitian ini dikembangkan dengan model ADDIE (Analyze,Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation). Proses untuk pengumpulan data oleh peneliti denganmelakukan proses wawancara serta menggunakan angket untuk mengetahui kelayakan media yangdikembangakan. Berdasarkan hasil dari proses uji kelayakan materi menunjukan hasil sangat baik denganpersentase 92,5%. Sedangkan untuk hasil dari uji kelayakan media 85,45 %. Sehingga dapat disimpulkanbahwa pengembangan media e-modul materi pokok Teks Surat Lamaran Pekerjaan telah layak dan dapatdigunakan dalam kegiatan pembelajaran peserta didik kelas XII SMA Negeri 19 Surabaya.Kata Kunci: pengembangan, e-modul, teks surat lamaran pekerjaan AbstractWriting application letter skill is needed when graduated students are about to enter tehe working field.This material began to be taught at the high school level, including in class XII at SMAN 19 Surabaya. Asa case study, learning this material at SMA Negeri 19 Surabaya for two consecutive years, some studentsstill have not finished compiling a job application letter according to the minimum criteria. The conditionof students who are still unfamiliar with the world of business and the conditions of work make studentshave problems in compiling letters according to their needs and the teaching materials available do notsupport it. Based on this, this article describes the results of research on the development of an e-moduleto overcome this problem. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of the e-module that hasbeen developed in accordance with the objectives and characteristics of the subject matter of the JobApplication Letter Text in Indonesian class XII SMA Negeri 19 Surabaya. The e-module in this study wasdeveloped using the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation). Theprocess for data collection by researchers by conducting an interview process and using a questionnaire todetermine the feasibility of the media being developed. Based on the results of the feasibility test the materialshowed very good results with a percentage of 92.5%. Meanwhile, the results of the media feasibility testare 85.45%. So it can be concluded that the development of e-module media, the subject matter of the JobApplication Letter Text, is feasible and can be used in the learning activities of class XII students of SMANegeri 19 Surabaya.Keywords: development, e-module, job application letter tex

E-commerce business of Kaymu.com.bd in Bangladesh

This internship report is submitted in a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Business Administration, 2015.This paper examines the prospect of Kaymu Bangladesh in the Bangladeshi e-commerce industry. This paper looks into the e-commerce industry in the Bangladesh, introduces Kaymu and its business model, compares it with current market players and looks to see the feasibility and sustainability of Kaymu Bangladesh. Kaymu is the brainchild of the world's largest internet incubator Rocket Internet. It started its operations in Bangladesh at the end of 2013 and within a very short span of time, has become quite popular. Kaymu replicates the eBay model of buying and selling where sellers sell on Kaymu in exchange of a commission percentage on sales. Kaymu is an online marketplace where sellers and buyers meet and exchange goods. Buyer can order anything from Kaymu and pay via cash on delivery (especially in Dhaka) and can receive products via home delivery all over Bangladesh (some sellers take prepayment via bank account or mobile banking). Kaymu markets the brand names of the sellers via social media, e-marketing (newsletters) and Google Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The sellers find Kaymu easy to sell through to as Kaymu does not keep their stocks neither do they handle the payment. The sellers use Kaymu as a platform to get buyers and they do the contacting buyer and product delivery on their own or by using third party delivery system. Problems arise when delivery systems become unable to take the pressure and buyers suffer. Kaymu is still on the lookout for a dependable delivery partner. Given the fact that Kaymu is a new company in the market, this study gives a clear look at the operations of Kaymu in Bangladesh, its challenges and talks about the buyer seller experiences and comparisons with other e-commerce sites

Mathematical modelling of Anaerobic Digestion plants on bench and industrial scale

Il lavoro di Dottorato si è incentrato con successo sullo studio della possibilità di applicare il modello ADM1 per la descrizione e verifica di impianti industriali di digestione anaerobica. Dai dati sperimentali il modello e l'implementazione in software di analisi numerica si sono rivelati strumenti efficaci. Il software sviluppato è stato utilizzato come strumento di progettazione di impianti alimentati con biomasse innovative, analizzate con metodiche biochimiche (BMP) in scala di laboratorio. Lo studio è stato corredato con lo studio di fattibilità di un impianto reale con verifica di ottimo economico.This work of thesis succesfully studied the feasibility of ADM1 application to Anaerobic Digestion industrial biogas plant description. The model and its implementation in numerical analysis software is an efficient tool. The software was applied to new substrates tested in bench scale tests (BMP tests) to design innovative AD bioreactors on industrial scale. This study also features the feasibility study of an existing industrial biogas plant, completed with the economic study (business plan)

A methodology for economic evaluation of cloud-based web applications

[EN] Cloud technology is an attractive infrastructure solution to optimize the scalability and performance of web applications. The workload of these applications typically fluctuates between peak and valley loads and sometimes in an unpredictable way. Cloud systems can easily deal with this fluctuation because they provide customers with an almost unlimited on-demand infrastructure capacity using a pay-per-use model, which enables internet-based companies to pay for the actual consumption instead of peak capacity. In this paradigm, this paper links the business model of an internet-based company to the performance evaluation of the infrastructure. To this end, the paper develops a new methodology for assessing the costs and benefits of implementing web-based applications in the cloud. Traditional performance models and indexes related to usage of the main system resources (such as processor, memory, storage, and bandwidth) have been reformulated to include new metrics (such as customer losses and service costs) that are useful for business managers. Additionally, the proposed methodology has been illustrated with a case study of a typical e-commerce scenario. Experimental results show that the proposed metrics enable internet-based companies to estimate the cost of adopting a particular cloud configuration more accurately in terms of the infrastructure cost and the cost of losing customers due to performance degradation. Consequently, the methodology can be a useful tool to assess the feasibility of business plans.This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under Grant TIN2013-43913-R.Domenech, J.; Peña Ortiz, R.; Gil, JA.; Pont Sanjuan, A. (2016). A methodology for economic evaluation of cloud-based web applications. International Journal of Information Technology and Decision Making. 15(6):1555-1578. https://doi.org/10.1142/S021962201650036XS1555157815

Feasibility Analyses of Integrated Broiler Production

The major obstacles in the development of broiler raising is the expensive price of feed and the fluctuative price of DOCs. The cheap price of imported leg quarters reduces the competitiveness of the local broilers. Therefore, an effort to increase production efficiency is needed through integration between broiler raising and corn farmers and feed producers (integrated farming). The purpose of this study is to analyze the feasibility of integrating broiler raising with corn cultivation and feed production. Besides that, a simulation was conducted to analyze the effects of DOC price changes, broiler price and production capacity. The analyses showed that integrated farming and a mere combination between broiler raising and feed factory of a 10,000 bird capacity is not financially feasible. Increasing the production to 25,000 broiler chickens will make the integrated farming financially feasible. Unintegrated broiler raising is relatively sensitive to broiler price decreases and DOC price increases compared to integrated farming