31 research outputs found
Strange Bedfellows? Representative Democracy and Academic Engagement with the Defense Industry
This chapter concludes a book that grew out of 2015 a conference hosted by the University of Pennsylvania\u27s Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law, which brought together defense industry leaders, academics, and lawyers to discuss ethical challenges to the defense industry. Authors from the academy, practitioners, and policy-makers offer perspectives and insights such that the collection spans a broad range of disciplines, from philosophy, economics, law, and political science, to the management of corporate compliance.
In addition to attempting (no doubt unsuccessfully) to tie many of the book\u27s themes together, the chapter itself asserts that the academic community is well served to keep scholars and students talking and thinking about the defense industry, warts and all. Indeed, our sense is that this was Eisenhower’s ultimate plea in his military-industrial-complex speech: that an “alert and knowledgeable citizenry” would influence our elected leadership to make ethical decisions for the public good
Transformer maintenance: Health indices and life assessment methodology
Nowadays, trendy attempts to avoid transformer failures include life assessment programs, software and health indices. Although many efforts are invested in these approaches, the transformer failure rate is not significantly reduced. This article will highlight the main critical points that have to be taken into consideration when index and life assessment is concepted and evaluated. The more details are taken into consideration and the more deeply they are treated, the more representative and accurate the health index will be. An accurate health index is probably the best maintenance strategy to have for a large transformer fleet, and it may be ingrained in the mind of any human interdisciplinary expert, or in the code of an artificial intelligence software
Transformer maintenance: Health indices and life assessment methodology
Nowadays, trendy attempts to avoid transformer failures include life assessment programs, software and health indices. Although many efforts are invested in these approaches, the transformer failure rate is not significantly reduced. This article will highlight the main critical points that have to be taken into consideration when index and life assessment is concepted and evaluated. The more details are taken into consideration and the more deeply they are treated, the more representative and accurate the health index will be. An accurate health index is probably the best maintenance strategy to have for a large transformer fleet, and it may be ingrained in the mind of any human interdisciplinary expert, or in the code of an artificial intelligence software
The alignment of university curricula with the building of a smart city: a case study from Barcelona
This paper argues the role of the University in the Smart City transformation strategy. The theoretical structure takes as reference the recent Complexity theory for city development and their application to the networks of the Connected city. The approach is based on a justified selection of Barcelona and its four universities. We carry out a deductive and interpretivist method interviewing 19 senior experts whole profiles represent the dif- ferent forces of the Triple Helix model. Our results show the Barcelona city hall has the objective to implement five main innovative services which are fuelled by six main emerging technologies. Nevertheless, we demon- strate that the universities curriculum is not aligned with the city hall's objectives and a gap exists to prepare the undergraduates to the professions required for the Smart City. We recommend six propositions to reshape the University program curricula and leverage the application of Complexity theory to network. The originality of this study is to propose a 3-phases method along with a framework with pre-filled templates and protocols of interviews to analyze universities that pursue the objective to support Smart Cities implementation in a new context of science of cities.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Managing logistics outsourcing to China: business problems and solutions for Australian firms
This study aims to investigate the outsourcing relationships between firms in Australia and China by using a problem-solution approach, and find out practical solutions. Empirical data from Australian firms were collected by a questionnaire survey and interviews. The survey data were analysed by descriptive statistics and correlation to find the most common problems and related solutions, and then eight case studies were compiled. The results agree that outsourcing can achieve many significant benefits, though it presents a variety of new risks. Solutions found include increasing communication levels, trust and management control
Examining the popularity trajectory of outsourcing as a management concept
This paper examines the popularity trajectory of outsourcing as a management concept. The paper shows that while outsourcing is an old management practice that has roots that date back centuries, it did not gain widespread popularity as a modern organizational practice until the 1980s. While the initial outsourcing hype and craze of the late 1980s and early 1990s has waned, outsourcing has shown considerable staying power as a management concept, even in the face of counter-movements such as backsourcing and insourcing. Although the experiences with implementation of outsourcing are mixed, outsourcing remains a widely used management concept. However, the current relatively low satisfaction level among users could influence the future popularity trajectory of the outsourcing concept
The role of mobile service providers in combating mobile bullying among adolescent in South Africa
Modern-day mobile communications technology has advanced in rapid phases, triggered by the presence of mobile technology applications. This advancement has accelerated the notion of enriched data, information and services that individuals have access to. The value presented to users of mobile technology in terms of limitless access to a wealth of enriched data is beneficial to society. However, this benefit window also exposed the users into a virtual sphere that is riddled with a wide variety of subtle and overt risks; mobile service providers have lawful responsibilities and concrete moral obligations to protect their customers. It is for this purpose that the researcher focused on examining the extent to which mobile service providers are assisting society to combat the new phenomenon of mobile bullying. A deductive research approach was followed in this study, and a conceptual model was developed to examine the extent of the involvement of the mobile service providers in reducing mobile bullying. The sampling method used in this study is a purposive or judgemental sampling method to obtain data from four (4) major mobile service providers. In the empirical evidence, it has been found that service providers have sufficient knowledge of the law that governs them in distributing mobile content in order to protect minors from the harmful content. Furthermore, another key finding indicates that the service providers' input is inadequate by way of providing education programs to assist mobile users and society in an effort to combat the new phenomenon of mobile and cyber-bullying. This study can act as a base for future research into examining the extent of the role of mobile service providers in reducing mobile bullying, educating society about mobile bullying as well as informing mobile service providers about the importance of their role in combating mobile bullying
New forms of entrepreneurship and innovation for developing smart cities
Cities are receiving more and more residents while the natural resources are getting scarce and scarce. As a possible answer, diverse streams of thoughts have emerged declaring that cities need to become intelligent, wired or human. We decided to consider the last stage of this reflection that defines the paradigm of Smart Cities to highlight the use of the information and telecommunication technologies for a better efficiency of the urban services and in response to the residents' needs. In a Smart City, public officials monitor the services of the city and enable a better quality of life.
Social insurance schemes and tax-financed municipal services are monetarily constrained and are unable to respond effectively to growing societal needs. As a consequence, the urban development has moved from a public managerial to an entrepreneurial focus where the emerging technologies e.g. Big Data, Social Media and Internet of Things (IoT) are the drivers of this transformation. My research consists on exploring, describing and analysing different forms of innovation and entrepreneurship in the city. Accordingly, we decided to orientate our epistemological works on studying the cases of two Smart Cities internationally recognized (i.e. Barcelona and Nice).
To achieve this objective, we have split this research in four studies according to four chapters. The first chapter studies and shortlists amongst all the emerging technologies those which play a principal role in the building of the Smart City. It analyses also the gap that the universities have to cross to prepare the students to develop new models of urban services. The second chapter presents a case of business development in the domain of public parking. It focuses on the conditions of establishment of a digital business ecosystem based on an IoT platform and analyses the value created and captured by this model.
The third chapter presents the case of a citizen initiative in the domain of the education called 'the school road'. It has the objective to list, classify and analyse the barriers that limit this project. It finalizes proposing different solutions to mitigate the impediments and stress the possible social contribution of the small and local shops for this initiative. In the final chapter, following these recommendations, we investigate how the stores spread in the urban grid could play this social role. Focusing on the first phase of the entrepreneurship process, i.e., the opportunity identification, we suggest a heuristic able to recommend and numerically prioritize the vacant locations as per their opportunity of business value creation. The originality of this heuristic resides on the capacity to cover social and business perspectives together.
The first and third study are inductive and qualitative researches whereas the second and fourth are deductive and quantitative ones. The qualitative researches are based on interviews to Smart City experts and a survey sent to parents. The quantitative ones are supported by scientific theories about business model generation. The value calculation of the digital business ecosystem is verified by paired T-Test and polynomial linear regression analysis. Data from parking sensors are collected and analysed with a Big Data analytics solution. The heuristic leverages the theory of complex networks applied to the urban grid.
We recommend the entrepreneurs to consider our results before starting any new services based on an IoT supply chain platform or deciding on the location of their future shop. We advise also public managers to leverage our findings to revise their urban policy if their goal is to revitalize the local industrial and services urban base.Las ciudades reciben cada vez más población a pesar de que los recursos naturales se hacen cada vez más escasos. Como posible respuesta, diversas corrientes de pensamiento han declarado que las ciudades necesitan ser inteligentes, cableadas o humanas. Decidimos considerar la última etapa de esta reflexión que define el paradigma de Smart Cities para resaltar el uso de las tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación en la mejora de la eficiencia de los servicios urbanos y como respuesta a las necesidades de los residentes. En una Smart City, los responsables públicos monitorizan los servicios de la ciudad y ascienden así la calidad de vida. Los modelos de prestación social y de servicios municipales basados en la recaudación de impuestos están monetariamente limitados e incapaces de responder efectivamente a las necesidades crecientes de la sociedad. Como consecuencia, el desarrollo urbano se ha movido desde un foco gerencial hacia el empresarial donde las tecnologías emergentes p. ej. Big Data, Social Media e Internet of Things (IoT) son los motores de esta transformación. Mi investigación trata de explorar, describir e analizar diferentes formas de innovación y de emprendimiento en la ciudad. Decidimos también orientar nuestros trabajos epistemológicos a estudiar los casos de dos Smart Cities internacionalmente reconocidas (Barcelona y Niza). Para conseguir este objetivo, hemos separado la investigación en cuatro estudios según cuatro capítulos. El primer capítulo estudia y selecciona entre todas las tecnologías emergentes las que juegan un rol principal en la construcción de la Smart City. Analiza también la brecha que las universidades tienen que atravesar para preparar a los estudiantes a desarrollar nuevos modelos de servicios urbanos. El segundo capítulo presenta un caso de desarrollo de negocio en el área del aparcamiento público. Se centra en las condiciones de fundación de un ecosistema de negocio digital basado en una plataforma IoT y analiza el valor creado y capturado por este modelo. El tercer capítulo presenta el caso de una iniciativa ciudadana en el dominio de la educación llamado "el camino escolar". Tiene como objetivo listar, clasificar y analizar las barreras que limitan este proyecto. Acaba proponiendo diferentes soluciones para mitigar los impedimentos y destaca la posible contribución social del comercio local de la ciudad a esa iniciativa. En el último capítulo, siguiendo estas recomendaciones, investigamos como las tiendas repartidas por la red urbana podrían jugar este papel social. Enfocándonos en la primera fase del proceso de emprendimiento, o sea, la identificación de la oportunidad, sugerimos una heurística capaz de recomendar y priorizar numéricamente los locales vacíos según su oportunidad de creación de valor económico. La originalidad de esta heurística consiste en la capacidad de cubrir perspectivas de negocio y sociales a la vez. El primer y tercer estudio son inductivos y cualitativos mientras que el segundo y cuarto son deductivos y cuantitativos. Los cualitativos se basan en entrevistas exploratorias a expertos en Smart City y en una encuesta enviada a padres de familia. Los cuantitativos se apoyan en teorías científicas sobre modelos de negocio. El cálculo del valor del ecosistema digital está verificado con unas pruebas emparejadas y unas regresiones lineares polínomiales. Los datos de los sensores de aparcamiento son recogidos y analizados con una solución Big Data analítica. La heurística aprovecha la teoría de las redes complejas aplicadas a la rejilla urbana. Recomendamos a los emprendedores que consideren nuestros resultados antes de empezar cualquier servicio basado en una plataforma IoT de aprovisionamiento o de decidir sobre la localización de su próxima tienda. Aconsejamos también a los responsables públicos aprovechar nuestros hallazgos para revisar su política urbana si su objetivo es revitalizar el tejido industrial y de las empresas de servicio
La comunicación digital en las organizaciones de la mediación comunicativa a la interacción social mediada
La presente investigación indaga por una concepción particular de los medios y redes sociales (MSRS) utilizados dentro del ámbito de la comunicación digital en las organizaciones (CDO). Esta se realiza, por un lado, a partir de los estudios disponibles sobre la comunicación organizacional soportada en sistemas tecnológicos, y por el otro, desde un marco teórico elaborado con aportes significativos de la sociología. Estos dos frentes confluyen en un estudio de campo en el que se examina la validez de la noción de que las mediaciones sociales integran cualidades asociadas a la interacción social, y no solo las de índole comunicativa, como normalmente se asume. En la labor de revisión se identifica el concepto de mediación comunicativa como eje central del campo de estudio que emerge en la confluencia de comunicación, organizaciones y tecnologías de información y comunicación (TICs). Dentro de los problemas que sobresalen y que orientan el curso que toma la investigación posteriormente, se destacan en especial los siguientes: la polarización hacia posturas restrictivas influidas por el temor o aceptación de un posible determinismo tecnológico; la insuficiencia teórica que contrasta con la práctica extensiva de la comunicación digital en la cotidianeidad; los vacíos en torno a los avances en la mediación comunicativa de tipo digital; y las notables disimilitudes y deficiencias de la investigación hispanoamericana frente a la escuela norteamericana. Luego, la atención se dirige hacia la coyuntura actual que enfrentan las mediaciones digitales. Dentro de las tendencias destacables aparece, entre otras, aquella relativa al avance que ofrecen las mediaciones sociales. Como resultado de los vacíos identificados en la revisión, la investigación se centra en la elaboración de una propuesta de fundamentación que supla la necesidad de contar con un marco teórico relevante para su estudio. En atención al atributo de ‘sociales’ con el que se denomina a este tipo de tecnologías comunicativas —y luego de la debida evaluación— se recurre a la teoría de la sociedad masas (TSM) y al análisis de redes sociales (ARS). Desde estos dos ámbitos de la sociología se procura identificar aportes significativos para la construcción de una propuesta original de fundamentación teórica..