The emergence and management of an inter-organizationally networked IS development industry : An exploratory case study

The IS development industry is currently undergoing a fundamental change towards a more inter-organizational structure. These networks of smaller companies are expected to nest around existing, large development firms. In this context, this study addresses fundamental research objectives regarding both the motivation for this development and how the new structure can be managed; this from both perspectives, that of the large hubs and that of the smaller spokes. Relying on various economic and management theories, different factors are elaborated that are expected to play an important role for answering these questions. Testing this theoretical framework in ten case studies (two hubs and eight spokes), a comprehensive model of inter-organizational cooperation in IS development is developed. In this model, the motivational and the management factors can be shown to be in close interaction with each other over the existence of a partnership between hub and spoke. The Innovative product developed by a spoke in combination with an existing platform of the hub give both a better market reach. However, as IS development is probably one of the most dynamic industries in the world, successful partnerships do not necessarily have to last for a long time. While some do, other are quickly coming to an end, either through acquisition of the spoke or through imitation of its solution by the hub. The perceived ideal way for the spokes to avoid this fate is the development of new innovations, in which case the partnership process starts anew. This constant pressure can be considered one of the integral parts of the newly emerging networked structure and its ability to generate even more innovative products at a faster pace than it was possible in the old industry structure. This study is the first to offer a model that is able to explain exactly these dynamics within the IS development industry

Semantic discovery and reuse of business process patterns

Patterns currently play an important role in modern information systems (IS) development and their use has mainly been restricted to the design and implementation phases of the development lifecycle. Given the increasing significance of business modelling in IS development, patterns have the potential of providing a viable solution for promoting reusability of recurrent generalized models in the very early stages of development. As a statement of research-in-progress this paper focuses on business process patterns and proposes an initial methodological framework for the discovery and reuse of business process patterns within the IS development lifecycle. The framework borrows ideas from the domain engineering literature and proposes the use of semantics to drive both the discovery of patterns as well as their reuse

Proceedings of the Workshop on Space Telerobotics, volume 1

These proceedings report the results of a workshop on space telerobotics, which was held at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, January 20-22, 1987. Sponsored by the NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST), the Workshop reflected NASA's interest in developing new telerobotics technology for automating the space systems planned for the 1990s and beyond. The workshop provided a window into NASA telerobotics research, allowing leading researchers in telerobotics to exchange ideas on manipulation, control, system architectures, artificial intelligence, and machine sensing. One of the objectives was to identify important unsolved problems of current interest. The workshop consisted of surveys, tutorials, and contributed papers of both theoretical and practical interest. Several sessions were held on the themes of sensing and perception, control execution, operator interface, planning and reasoning, and system architecture

Chicana Power and Pedagogy

This dissertation focuses on the impact of social movement participation in the lives of Chicana youth who participated in the March 2000 student mobilization against Proposition 21 in Los Angeles, California. In keeping with radical traditions in education, the research contextualizes Chicanas within a wider historical context by using a materialist theory of consciousness, culture and politics. Critical narrative interviews are used to document the pedagogical power of non-alienated social formations in the context of movement labor. The analysis points to the centrality of struggle in the political formation of identity and reasserts the political vision of Chicana pedagogy as the practice of social movement linked to the feminist evolution of Chicana youth

The Second Conference on Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century, volume 2

These 92 papers comprise a peer-reviewed selection of presentations by authors from NASA, the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), industry, and academia at the Second Conference on Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century. These papers go into more technical depth than did those published from the first NASA-sponsored symposium on the topic, held in 1984. Session topics included the following: (1) design and operation of transportation systems to, in orbit around, and on the Moon; (2) lunar base site selection; (3) design, architecture, construction, and operation of lunar bases and human habitats; (4) lunar-based scientific research and experimentation in astronomy, exobiology, and lunar geology; (5) recovery and use of lunar resources; (6) environmental and human factors of and life support technology for human presence on the Moon; and (7) program management of human exploration of the Moon and space

Remedial investigation/feasibility study of the Clinch River/Poplar Creek operable unit. Volume 1: Main text

This report presents the findings of an investigation into contamination of the Clinch River and Poplar Creek near the US Department of Energy`s (DOE`s) Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) in eastern Tennessee. For more than 50 years, various hazardous and radioactive substances have been released to the environment as a result of operations and waste management activities at the ORR. In 1989, the ORR was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL), established and maintained under the federal Comprehensive environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). Under CERCLA, NPL sites must be investigated to determine the nature and extent of contamination at the site, assess the risk to human health and the environment posed by the site, and, if necessary, identify feasible remedial alternatives that could be used to clean the site and reduce risk. To facilitate the overall environmental restoration effort at the ORR, CERCLA activities are being implemented individually as distinct operable units (OUs). This document is the combined Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study Report for the Clinch River/Poplar Creek OU

Proceedings of the 2004 first annual DG ECFIN research conference on “Business Cycles and Growth in Europeâ€

In October 2004, the Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN) held its first annual research conference. Its theme was “Business Cycles and Growth in Europeâ€. The thirteen papers presented are collected here in revised form in two volumes as Economic Paper number 227, 1/2 and 2/2. Some of the contributions are followed by comments made by the discussants. The conference was subdivided into four main sessions:Differences and commonalities in business cycles and growth: evidence from the EU and US; International transmission of business cycles; Business cycles in Europe; Business cycles and growth: theory and evidence from old and new Member States. The papers presented here are printed in the order of the programme.business cycle, growth, conference, dg ecfin, Lars Jonung, research conference 2004,

The mental health nurse experience of providing care for people with delirium superimposed on dementia: influences in an activity system

Background: People with severe dementia are frequently cared for by registered mental health nurses due to their often complex cognitive or psychological care needs. This may present challenges in practice due to the inter relatedness of physical and mental health that accompanies dementia, not least the presentation of delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of mental health nurses who provide care for people with DSD. This will support better understanding of what influences or impacts their work. Methodology and Methods: Using Activity Theory to guide the study throughout, a mixed methods exploratory sequential design was constructed. Semi structured interviews were undertaken to collect qualitative data, before a quantitative exploration through questionnaire development and completion. Data analysis was undertaken utilising framework analysis in the qualitative phase, and descriptive statistics in the quantitative phase. Integration of data was undertaken, and findings presented in an activity system graphic. Participants were registered mental health nurses working in 24-hour care settings for people with dementia. Findings: Five key themes emerged from the data: 1. For RNMHs to use tools (such as scores or guidelines), they need to see them as useful and contextually relevant. Whilst they are aware of tools, they may choose not to use them if they do not see the value in them. 2. Knowing the person for whom they provide care is central and personal. The RNMHs favour aesthetic ways of knowing and use this to guide their care provision. 3. Hierarchy within the multidisciplinary team remains, however this is not seen as a negative. The RNMHs feel supported and secure within their wider MDT. 4. Burdens of care felt by the RNMHs is driven by the care environment and care context. 6. There remains a disconnection of mental and physical health in both care environments and how the RNMHs see their role

Collective Dynamics of Digitally Enabled Social Networks

This thesis investigates the role of technology in the collective dynamics of digitally enabled social networks. Based on a review of the historical foundation of research on crowds, collective behaviour, and collective dynamics in the social sciences and in research on complex systems, it develops a conceptualisation of collective dynamics in the context of digitally enabled social networks. This conceptualisation provides the foundation for one overarching and three subordinate research questions dedicated to different aspects of the role technology plays in understanding and managing the collective dynamics of digitally enabled social networks. The body of work comprising this dissertation is distributed across fifteen papers that contribute to these research questions