A fuzzy clustering methodology to analyze interfaces and assess integration risks in large-scale systems

“Interface analysis and integration risk assessment for a large-scale, complex system is a difficult systems engineering task, but critical to the success of engineering systems with extraordinary capabilities. When dealing with large-scale systems there is little time for data gathering and often the analysis can be overwhelmed by unknowns and sometimes important factors are not measurable because of the complexities of the interconnections within the system. This research examines the significance of interface analysis and management, identifies weaknesses in literature on risk assessment for a complex system, and exploits the benefits of soft computing approaches in the interface analysis in a complex system and in the risk assessment of system integration readiness. The research aims to address some of the interface analysis challenges in a large-scale system development lifecycle such as the ones often experienced in aircraft development. The resulting product from this research is contributed to systems engineering by providing an easy-to-use interface assessment and methodology for a trained systems engineer to break the system into communities of dense interfaces and determine the integration readiness and risks based on those communities. As a proof of concept this methodology is applied on a power seat system in a commercial aircraft with data from the Critical Design Review”--Abstract, page iv

Knowledge Modeling for Readiness Self-Assessment

Online readiness self-assessments are widely used in universities providing distant education, and they can help prospective students to understand the requirements and their readiness to study in these universities. Most of the self-assessment systems are Web-based static questionnaires. In this paper, a novel adaptive online self-assessment system AM I READY is introduced. The system is based on knowledge models, including static and dynamic user model, counseling model and self-assessment process model. It can dynamically filter questions to be asked to a specific user and adjust the contents of webpage dialog between the user and the system according to knowledge models and the user’s responses. The system is more effective and helpful than the usual ones

ERP Pre-Implementation Readiness Assessment Framework: A Multi Stakeholders’ Perspective

These days, there is a growing trend towards ERP systems in Ethiopia. This in turn created an opportunity for ERP vendors to promote their products in the country. Due to large size and inherent complexity of ERP systems, organizations are strongly advised to check their readiness prior ERP system implementation. There are some prior research attempts to develop ERP pre-implementation readiness assessment models and frameworks. However, extant literature reveal that multi stakeholders’ perspective is not well considered in those prior attempts. Besides, most of the prior attempts are in the context of developed countries. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework to evaluate ERP pre-implementation readiness from multi-stakeholders perspective in developing country context. As a foundation, a set of critical success factors were identified from prior literature. Interview and survey questionnaire were used for data collection. Based on the result, an ERP pre-implementation readiness assessment framework is proposed. Feasibility assessment of the proposed framework revealed that the case company has limitations on a number of dimensions. Accordingly, recommendations are forwarded to address the identified gaps

Exploring health system readiness for adopting interventions to address intimate partner violence: a case study from the occupied Palestinian Territory.

Domestic violence (DV) against women is a widespread violation of human rights. Adoption of effective interventions to address DV by health systems may fail if there is no readiness among organizations, institutions, providers and communities. There is, however, a research gap in our understanding of health systems' readiness to respond to DV. This article describes the use of a health system's readiness assessment to identify system obstacles to enable successful implementation of a primary health-care (PHC) intervention to address DV in the occupied Palestinian Territory (oPT). This article describes a case study where qualitative methods were used, namely 23 interviews with PHC providers and key informants, one stakeholder meeting with 19 stakeholders, two health facility observations and a document review of legal and policy materials on DV in oPT. We present data on seven dimensions of health systems. Our findings highlight the partial readiness of health systems and services to adopt a new DV intervention. Gaps were identified in: governance (no DV legislation), financial resources (no public funding and limited staff and infrastructure) and information systems (no uniform system), co-ordination (disjointed referral network) and to some extent around the values system (tension between patriarchal views on DV and more gender equal norms). Additional service-level barriers included unclear leadership structure at district level, uncertain roles for front-line staff, limited staff protection and the lack of a private space for identification and counselling. Findings also pointed to concrete actions in each system dimension that were important for effective delivery. This is the first study to use an adapted framework to assess health system readiness (HSR) for implementing an intervention to address DV in low- and middle-income countries. More research is needed on HSR to inform effective implementation and scale up of health-care-based DV interventions

Improving State Evaluation of Principal Preparation Programs

Intended for state officials involved in the assessment and approval of university and other programs to train future school principals, this report describes five design principles for effective program evaluation. "While states will undoubtedly want and need to develop systems unique to their context, they could benefit from having guideposts to organize what can be complex work," says the report, which was written jointly by representatives from New Leaders, which helps train school leaders and designs leadership policies and practices for school systems, and the University Council for Educational Administration, a consortium of universities that seeks to promote high-quality education leadership preparation and research. The principles, which emerged from a New Leaders/University Council project to develop a model evaluation system and accompanying of tools, are:Structure the review process in a way that is conducive to continuous program improvement.Create appropriate systems to hold programs accountable for effective practices and outcomes.Provide key stakeholders with accurate and useful information.Take a sophisticated and nuanced approach to data collection and use.Adhere to characteristics of high-quality program evaluation.The report also describes how two states, Illinois and Delaware, have approached evaluation, and provides a tool from its model-development work, an assessment that states can use to determine their degree of "readiness" for building a stronger system to evaluate principal preparation programs

Author(iz)ing literacy: a rhetorical/historical analysis of literacy for college readiness in Kentucky from KERA to the Common Core (and beyond).

This dissertation traces the economy of documents representing literacy for college readiness through an analysis of the interplay of literacy theory, literacy policy, and policy documentation. Specifically, this dissertation examines how college-level literacy is defined in Kentucky through a network of related documents. With Latour’s Actor-Network Theory serving as a theoretical frame, this dissertation tracks not only the vast and interconnected system of compositions operating as articulations of college-level literacy but also the presence (or absence) of rhetoric and composition’s compositions within the network of relations defining literacy for college readiness. This dissertation is divided into five chapters. Chapter One outlines the historical foundations, research methodologies, and theoretical framework for the project. Chapter Two contextualizes literacy for college readiness in the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and corresponding implementation of an assessment and accountability structure, including the adoption of the writing assessment portfolio. This chapter includes the translation of legislation into Transformations, Kentucky’s expansive curriculum framework. Chapter Three analyzes the introduction of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) into the network of relations tracking literacy for college readiness. This chapter details the translation of national literacy policy for accountability into Kentucky’s state assessment and accountability structure with the implementation of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). Chapter Four examines the durability of the Common Core State Standards (Common Core) in the network of relations as national literacy standards, purportedly operating as universals, are translated into state systems of assessment and accountability. Chapter Five considers the implications of this project’s research outcomes for rhetoric and composition scholarship in terms of sources of authority and locations of participation in defining literacy for college readiness

Air Force Inspection System: An Application For System-Of-Systems (SOS) Engineering

The Air Combat Command (ACC) Inspector General (IG) assesses the operational readiness and combat effectiveness of units by evaluating individual wings. Today\u27s conflicts; however, are waged as a joint force. The Joint Forces Commander (JFC) leverages the resources of the entire military complex to achieve strategic objectives. The synergistic effects, created by the integration of individual weapon systems, produce greater results than the individual components. Evaluating wings outside the joint System of Systems (SoS) architecture does not provide a true assessment of combat readiness. Using a case study method, this research examines the idea of integrating a joint SoS architecture with the ACC/IG inspection system. First, this study assesses the current nature of military operations and the risks associated with joint operations. Next, it defines several joint attributes to enhance the ACC/IG inspection checklist. Further, it outlines several joint exercises as areas for implement a joint inspection system. Finally, this study explores limitations and counter arguments to adopting a joint SoS into the inspection system. Based on this analysis, the ACC/IG should assess units through a larger system-ofsystem framework, which offers the possibility to reduce integration risks prior to deployment, and provide a better assessment of wing readines

Wholistic Sustainment Maturity: The Extension of System Readiness Methodology across all Phases of the Lifecycle of a Complex System

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the applicability of the Stevens Institute of Technology (hereinafter Stevens) Systems Development & Maturity Laboratory (SysDML) System Readiness Level (SRL) Model and methodology for analysis of ‘wholistic’ maturity of a complex system measured by other metrics beyond Technology Readiness Level (TRL). This paper proposes a ‘wholistic’ Systems Maturity model that includes a Manufacturing Maturity measured by a Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) analysis and Sustainment Maturity measured by a Sustainability Maturity Level (SML) analysis based on the Stevens SRL methodology 1. In addition, the contextual relational metrics needed for the SRL model will be defined for sustainment maturity in order to determine ‘wholistic’ sustainment maturity of large scale, complex systems. The general purpose of this ‘wholistic’ sustainment maturity is to facilitate effective decision-making by Program Managers and Systems Engineering Leads and provide a composite evidence-based maturity assessment for large scale, complex systems for Department of Defense (DoD) milestones and reviews.This paper will address the ‘wholistic’ system view where a system's object can be defined as a technology starting from a capability/component up to a system within a System of Systems (SoS). As long as there is parity for all objects under analysis and the appropriate interface/integration/interoperability readiness level (IRL) point of view is maintained the SRL model can provide the relative maturity of a complex system and the contextual maturity of each object within that system providing insight into potential areas needing further analysis and focus by Program Managers and Systems Engineering Leads. Note that this method will not provide a definitive composite value for maturity. The data this methodology provides can assist the Program Manager in determining where additional focus and/or resources may be needed as well as a relative “value” for the maturity of the ‘wholistic’ system to determine if progress is being made along the development timeline.This paper will describe how the SRL Model can be used for ‘wholistic’ Sustainability maturity and will define the relational connections between objects with respect to technology and manufacturing that can be used for the model. Additionally, the paper will define the ordinal scales, aligned to the TRL MRL and SML scales as well as the key milestones and reviews of the various phases of a development program. Finally, the paper will recommend methods for displaying the aforementioned system maturity, based on Human Factors, in order for an analyst to easily determine what is of highest and lowest importance within the results of the new ‘wholistic’ readiness model

KSC Base Operations Contractor Launch Readiness Assessment System

In a continuing emphasis of preparation for return-to-flight,EG&G Flordia has implemented a computerized on-line real time Launch Readiness Assessment System(LRAS). LRAS compares the current status of readiness against that which is the required status of readiness necessary for EG&G to support every Space Shuttle preparation milestone. The comparison process includes the requirements categories of personnel training, certifications and qualifications, operations maintenance and requirements documentations, system and equipment validations, facility and equipment open work items, and mission essential spare parts. The input of a graded problem hierarchy in terms of constraints, concerns, deviations ,and waivers is also provided for. For each and every Shuttle mission/milestone, the Integrated Operations LRAS Manager generates the set of detail requirements(mission planning) that must be satisfied by every EG&G Responding Unit (performing) organization that provides some level of support for each Shuttle preparation milestone. The detail requirements are derived from Master Data Base files that contain the milestone, Responsilble Responding Unit(RRU) relationships, and requirement assessment categories. The Master Data Base files are maintained by the LRAS Manager from inputs received from each RRU as new equipment/facility/systems requirements enter and/or leave the system