A Task-Based Approach to Organization: Knowledge, Communication and Structure

We bridge a gap between organizational economics and strategy research by developing a task-based approach to analyze organizational knowledge, process and structure, and deriving testable implications for the relation between production and organizational structure. We argue that organization emerges to integrate disperse knowledge and to coordinate talent in production and is designed to complement the limitations of human ability. The complexity of the tasks undertaken determines the optimal level of knowledge acquisition and talent. The relations between tasks, namely, complementarities or substitutabilities and synergies, determine the allocation of knowledge among members of the organization. Communication shapes the relation between individual talent, and governs the organizational process and structure that integrates disperse knowledge to perform tasks more efficiently. Organization structure can also be deliberately designed ex ante to correct bias of individual judgement, the extent to which is dependent on the attributes of tasks. Organization process and the routinized organizational structure are the core of organizational capital, which generates rent and sustains organizational growth. This task-based approach enriches the existing body of organization studies, in particular the knowledge-based theory of the firm and the dynamic capabilities theory.task-based approach, complementarities, tacit knowledge, codifiable knowledge, code,vertical communication, horizontal communication, organizational architecture, decision bias

The XMM-Newton serendipitous survey. VII. The third XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue

Thanks to the large collecting area (3 x ~1500 cm$^2$ at 1.5 keV) and wide field of view (30' across in full field mode) of the X-ray cameras on board the European Space Agency X-ray observatory XMM-Newton, each individual pointing can result in the detection of hundreds of X-ray sources, most of which are newly discovered. Recently, many improvements in the XMM-Newton data reduction algorithms have been made. These include enhanced source characterisation and reduced spurious source detections, refined astrometric precision, greater net sensitivity and the extraction of spectra and time series for fainter sources, with better signal-to-noise. Further, almost 50\% more observations are in the public domain compared to 2XMMi-DR3, allowing the XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre (XMM-SSC) to produce a much larger and better quality X-ray source catalogue. The XMM-SSC has developed a pipeline to reduce the XMM-Newton data automatically and using improved calibration a new catalogue version has been produced from XMM-Newton data made public by 2013 Dec. 31 (13 years of data). Manual screening ensures the highest data quality. This catalogue is known as 3XMM. In the latest release, 3XMM-DR5, there are 565962 X-ray detections comprising 396910 unique X-ray sources. For the 133000 brightest sources, spectra and lightcurves are provided. For all detections, the positions on the sky, a measure of the quality of the detection, and an evaluation of the X-ray variability is provided, along with the fluxes and count rates in 7 X-ray energy bands, the total 0.2-12 keV band counts, and four hardness ratios. To identify the detections, a cross correlation with 228 catalogues is also provided for each X-ray detection. 3XMM-DR5 is the largest X-ray source catalogue ever produced. Thanks to the large array of data products, it is an excellent resource in which to find new and extreme objects.Comment: 23 pages, version accepted for publication in A&

Finding the Important Factors in Large Discrete-Event Simulation: Sequential Bifurcation and its Applications

This contribution discusses experiments with many factors: the case study includes a simulation model with 92 factors.The experiments are guided by sequential bifurcation.This method is most efficient and effective if the true input/output behavior of the simulation model can be approximated through a first-order polynomial possibly augmented with two-factor interactions.The method is explained and illustrated through three related discrete-event simulation models.These models represent three supply chain configurations, studied for an Ericsson factory in Sweden.After simulating 21 scenarios (factor combinations) each replicated five times to account for noise a shortlist with the 11 most important factors is identified for the biggest of the three simulation models.simulation;bifurcation;supply;Sweden

Systems design analysis applied to launch vehicle configuration

As emphasis shifts from optimum-performance aerospace systems to least lift-cycle costs, systems designs must seek, adapt, and innovate cost improvement techniques in design through operations. The systems design process of concept, definition, and design was assessed for the types and flow of total quality management techniques that may be applicable in a launch vehicle systems design analysis. Techniques discussed are task ordering, quality leverage, concurrent engineering, Pareto's principle, robustness, quality function deployment, criteria, and others. These cost oriented techniques are as applicable to aerospace systems design analysis as to any large commercial system

Experimental Design for Sensitivity Analysis, Optimization and Validation of Simulation Models

This chapter gives a survey on the use of statistical designs for what-if analysis in simula- tion, including sensitivity analysis, optimization, and validation/verification. Sensitivity analysis is divided into two phases. The first phase is a pilot stage, which consists of screening or searching for the important factors among (say) hundreds of potentially important factors. A novel screening technique is presented, namely sequential bifurcation. The second phase uses regression analysis to approximate the input/output transformation that is implied by the simulation model; the resulting regression model is also known as a metamodel or a response surface. Regression analysis gives better results when the simu- lation experiment is well designed, using either classical statistical designs (such as frac- tional factorials) or optimal designs (such as pioneered by Fedorov, Kiefer, and Wolfo- witz). To optimize the simulated system, the analysts may apply Response Surface Metho- dology (RSM); RSM combines regression analysis, statistical designs, and steepest-ascent hill-climbing. To validate a simulation model, again regression analysis and statistical designs may be applied. Several numerical examples and case-studies illustrate how statisti- cal techniques can reduce the ad hoc character of simulation; that is, these statistical techniques can make simulation studies give more general results, in less time. Appendix 1 summarizes confidence intervals for expected values, proportions, and quantiles, in termi- nating and steady-state simulations. Appendix 2 gives details on four variance reduction techniques, namely common pseudorandom numbers, antithetic numbers, control variates or regression sampling, and importance sampling. Appendix 3 describes jackknifing, which may give robust confidence intervals.least squares;distribution-free;non-parametric;stopping rule;run-length;Von Neumann;median;seed;likelihood ratio

Pembinaan dan penilaian program rekabentuk rasuk keluli (PRRK) sebagai alat kognitif dalam pembelajaran rekabentuk struktur di kalangan pelajar diploma kejuruteraan awam KUiTTHO

Kajian awal yang telah dijalankan mendapati pelajar Kejuruteraan Awam KUiTTHO menghadapi masalah kognitif dalam pembelajaran mata pelajaran Rekabentuk Struktur khasnya dalam pemahaman konsep dan prosedur reka bentuk. Langkah pengiraan yang terlalu banyak selalunya mengelirukan pelajar sehinggakan mereka hilang minat dan tumpuan. Bagi membantu mereka, satu program telah disediakan dengan menggunakan perisian Microsoft Excel bagi tujuan menganalisis dan mereka bentuk rasuk keluli bagi meningkatkan tahap kemahiran kognitif terhadap matapelajaran tersebut. Program Rekabentuk Rasuk Keluli (PRRK) ini disediakan berdasarkan kaedah reka bentuk yang diamalkan oleh British Standard Institution, Structural Use of Steel Work In Building. Seramai dua puluh satu orang pelajar semester akhir Diploma Kejuruteraan A warn yang mengambil mata pelajaran Rekabentuk Struktur telah diminta menilai program ini. Penilaian telah dijalankan terhadap isi, sifat mesra pengguna dan kebolehlaksanaan program menggunakan kaedah skor min. Selain itu perkaitan antara pengalaman pelajar menggunakan komputer sebagai sumber pembelajaran dengan penilaian PRRK juga telah dilihat. Keputusan skor min menunjukkan isi PRKK adalah baik, bersifat mesra pengguna dan mempunyai sifat kebolehlaksanaan. Ujian korelasi Spearman pula menunjukkan bahawa tidak terdapat sebarang perkaitan yang signifikan di antara pengalaman pelajar menggunakan komputer sebagai sumber pembelajaran dengan penilaian PRRK

Transition on the Shop Floor - The Restructuring of a Weaving Mill, Hungary 1988-97

While a variety of studies analysed the benign effects of privatisation on firm performance under post-socialist transition using financial data very little is known about how the apparent productivity gains were achieved. This paper follows a weaving mill from 1998 to 1997 on its way of becoming a capitalist enterprise and gives a detailed account of the sources and limits of productivity growth. The data suggests that the factory was not far from the competitive optimum given the size of ‘plant and equipment’ - efficiency gains were mostly achieved by plant size reduction and asset stripping. The gains from this sort of initial restructuring helped many former state enterprises stay on the market but they did not necessarily indicate high levels of adaptability, capacity to innovate and ability to attract outside investors. In economies with many `seemingly restructured` privatised enterprises the elimination of the former state sector jobs is likely to continue within the private sector. The process may last for years after privatisation as a legal act had been fully accomplished.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40031/3/wp645.pd

General aviation piston-engine exhaust emission reduction

To support the promulgation of aircraft regulations, two airports were examined, Van Nuys and Tamiami. It was determined that the carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from piston-engine aircraft have a significant influence on the CO levels in the ambient air in and around airports, where workers and travelers would be exposed. Emissions standards were set up for control of emissions from aircraft piston engines manufactured after December 31, 1979. The standards selected were based on a technologically feasible and economically reasonable control of carbon monoxide. It was concluded that substantial CO reductions could be realized if the range of typical fuel-air ratios could be narrowed. Thus, improvements in fuel management were determined as reasonable controls

Farm to fork risk assessment of emerging mycotoxins in fresh produce : the case of tomato considering climate change

The overall objective of the presented work was to establish a farm to fork risk assessment of emerging mycotoxins in fresh produce and derived products in view of the pressure of potential climate change scenarios and increasing import across European borders. A first objective of this work was gaining insights in the potential presence and characterization of emerging mycotoxins in fresh produce and their derived products. Therefore, a multiple mycotoxin extraction and detection method was developed. Based on those results it was decided to work on the tomato case. Stability experiments during the processing of derived tomato products were performed. A second objective of the presented work was the evaluation of pre-harvest conditions on mould growth and mycotoxin production during tomato cultivation. Models were developed for the growth of Alternaria arborescens and the influence of climate change on mould growth was evaluated for two productions regions: Spain and Poland. The third objective of the presented study was a risk assessment calculation on the emerging mycotoxins and their discussion in view of established mycotoxins in plant products

Simulation and optimization in production planning: A case study (Version 2)

Management Information Systems;Production;produktieleer/ produktieplanning