Exploring how complex solution-based capabilities (CSC) are developed and integrated in engineering companies

This paper explores how engineering companies develop and integrate solution-based capabilities for complex ‘one-off’ or small-batch production. Although there is extant literature on developing a standalone service, product and process capabilities, an integrated solution-based capability for effective execution of complex ‘design-build’ projects is currently underdeveloped. For such firms to be successful in delivering complex solutions, there is the need for organisational structured routines and processes which we conceptualise as complex solution-based capabilities (CSC). The study was based on a multiple case study using in-depth semi-structured interviews with managers and engineers. Primary data collected were complemented by documentary evidence, for triangulation and validity. The data were analysed using thematic analysis to develop a framework of CSC. The findings show that the case study companies have developed and integrated CSC through organisational routines and processes of make-to-concept approach, value creation, and strategic coordination. Implications and future research are discussed

Addressing stability issues in mediated complex contract negotiations for constraint-based, non-monotonic utility spaces

Negotiating contracts with multiple interdependent issues may yield non- monotonic, highly uncorrelated preference spaces for the participating agents. These scenarios are specially challenging because the complexity of the agents’ utility functions makes traditional negotiation mechanisms not applicable. There is a number of recent research lines addressing complex negotiations in uncorrelated utility spaces. However, most of them focus on overcoming the problems imposed by the complexity of the scenario, without analyzing the potential consequences of the strategic behavior of the negotiating agents in the models they propose. Analyzing the dynamics of the negotiation process when agents with different strategies interact is necessary to apply these models to real, competitive environments. Specially problematic are high price of anarchy situations, which imply that individual rationality drives the agents towards strategies which yield low individual and social welfares. In scenarios involving highly uncorrelated utility spaces, “low social welfare” usually means that the negotiations fail, and therefore high price of anarchy situations should be avoided in the negotiation mechanisms. In our previous work, we proposed an auction-based negotiation model designed for negotiations about complex contracts when highly uncorrelated, constraint-based utility spaces are involved. This paper performs a strategy analysis of this model, revealing that the approach raises stability concerns, leading to situations with a high (or even infinite) price of anarchy. In addition, a set of techniques to solve this problem are proposed, and an experimental evaluation is performed to validate the adequacy of the proposed approaches to improve the strategic stability of the negotiation process. Finally, incentive-compatibility of the model is studied.Spain. Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (grant TIN2008-06739-C04-04

Complex negotiations in multi-agent systems

Los sistemas multi-agente (SMA) son sistemas distribuidos donde entidades autónomas llamadas agentes, ya sean humanos o software, persiguen sus propios objetivos. El paradigma de SMA ha sido propuesto como la aproximación de modelo apropiada para aplicaciones como el comercio electrónico, los sistemas multi-robot, aplicaciones de seguridad, etc. En la comunidad de SMA, la visión de sistemas multi-agente abiertos, donde agentes heterogéneos pueden entrar y salir del sistema dinámicamente, ha cobrado fuerza como paradigma de modelado debido a su relación conceptual con tecnologías como la Web, la computación grid, y las organizaciones virtuales. Debido a la heterogeneidad de los agentes, y al hecho de dirigirse por sus propios objetivos, el conflicto es un fenómeno candidato a aparecer en los sistemas multi-agente. En los últimos años, el término tecnologías del acuerdo ha sido usado para referirse a todos aquellos mecanismos que, directa o indirectamente, promueven la resolución de conflictos en sistemas computacionales como los sistemas multi-agente. Entre las tecnologías del acuerdo, la negociación automática ha sido propuesta como uno de los mecanismos clave en la resolución de conflictos debido a su uso análogo en la resolución de conflictos entre humanos. La negociación automática consiste en el intercambio automático de propuestas llevado a cabo por agentes software en nombre de sus usuarios. El objetivo final es conseguir un acuerdo con todas las partes involucradas. Pese a haber sido estudiada por la Inteligencia Artificial durante años, distintos problemas todavía no han sido resueltos por la comunidad científica todavía. El principal objetivo de esta tesis es proponer modelos de negociación para escenarios complejos donde la complejidad deriva de (1) las limitaciones computacionales o (ii) la necesidad de representar las preferencias de múltiples individuos. En la primera parte de esta tesis proponemos un modelo de negociación bilateral para el problema deSánchez Anguix, V. (2013). Complex negotiations in multi-agent systems [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/21570Palanci

Playing the game: the study of knowledge processes across organisational boundaries in the videogames industry

This thesis studies knowledge processes which span organisational boundaries, examining how knowledge is formed and shared between two companies with divergent interests, facing the challenges of innovation processes. Cross-boundary work provides access to diverse sources of knowledge, specialties and approaches, and this enhances the innovative performance of firms. However, managing knowledge and spanning diverse boundaries has proven to be difficult. While the epistemic and social challenges have been identified to trigger conflicts and misunderstandings across boundaries, the complexity, inter-dependency and uncertainty of innovation processes have been found to multiply these challenges. Informed by the practice-based perspective, this thesis examines how the challenges of integrating knowledge in such a context are addressed and resolved. Building upon this theoretical perspective, the thesis aims to enhance understandings of knowledge processes between the large bureaucratic organisations (publishers) and small/medium-sized companies (developers) in the videogames industry. Underpinned by a social constructionist and interpretivist methodology, a qualitative study of three publisher-developer relationships was conducted. With thirty six semi-structured interviews with senior directors, managers and team leaders, the thesis examined cross- boundary practices and the conflicts experienced in this process. In order to achieve this, the study focused on the role that boundary objects, trust development and power structures played in facilitating knowledge processes. The thesis recognises the evolving and relational character of boundary objects, highlighting that a combination of static and dynamic boundary objects were effective in facilitating knowledge integration in the publisher-developer relationship. It also reveals that despite high levels of distrust between the parties involved, they managed to create and maintain a working relationship by resorting to opportunistic practices, such as knowledge hiding, deception and collusion. It is emphasised that understanding the power dynamics in the publisher-developer relationship is a pre-requisite to explaining 2 how knowledge is managed across organisational boundaries during the course of a project. Drawing upon a Foucauldian perspective, the thesis identifies the positive and enabling aspects of power dynamics in this relationship. It argues that when the parties have discrepancies, competition and high levels of distrust, power games positively influence cross-boundary practices, the use of boundary objects and knowledge processes, ultimately mobilising knowledge integration. The thesis makes four significant contributions to the knowledge management and cross-boundary work literature. First, it identifies an evolving role for boundary objects, showing how they develop during the course of a project. Second, it finds a relational and politicised dimension for boundary objects, highlighting the role of brokers to manipulate and mobilise the use and effectiveness of these objects. Third, the thesis extends the existing literature by revealing that despite high levels of distrust, parties can create a working relationship. The research shows that this is achieved through resorting to opportunistic behaviour, such as knowledge hiding, deception and collusion. As a result, this thesis adds a complementary level to Carlile's Integrated Framework, explaining that when there are high levels of differences, dependencies and novelty in the cross-boundary work, knowledge hiding, deception and collusion are the driving force to facilitate knowledge integration and maintain a functional relationship. The fourth contribution of this thesis is recognising the positive and productive aspects of power dynamics that enable and mobilise boundary objects and knowledge processes, ultimately bringing positive outcomes and creating a functional relationship between two companies with divergent interests

Kombinatorische Auktionen als Instrument zur Verhandlung von Verträgen mit interdependenten Eigenschaften

Der technologische Fortschritt beim E-Commerce, bei der betrieblichen Planung und im Zusammenhang mit intelligenten Multi-Agenten-Systemen eröffnet eine Vielzahl an Möglichkeiten für automatisierte Verhandlungen durch Softwareagenten. Die Interdependenz verschiedener Verhandlungsgegenstände in der Form von Vertragseigenschaften kann dabei zu nicht-linearen Vertragsräumen führen, sodass Verträge mit hoher sozialer Wohlfahrt nicht erreicht werden. Als Lösungsansatz wurde ein kombinatorisches Auktionsverhandlungsprotokoll entwickelt, das Bestimmungsrechte zu Vertragseigenschaften versteigert. Das Verhandlungsprotokoll wurde simulativ getestet und mit weiteren Protokollen in Bezug auf Wohlfahrtsgüte, Rechenleistung und Anreizkompatibilität verglichen. Als Ergebnis erreichte das vorgeschlagene Auktionsverhandlungsprotokoll Verträge mit der höchsten Wohlfahrt innerhalb für die adressierten Anwendungen praxistauglicher Rechenzeit verbunden mit vollständiger Anreizkompatibilität

Human Rights Impact Assessment of Trade Agreements: Analysis and Critiques of Methodology

The profound impacts on human rights brought about by international and regional trade agreements have increasingly been recognized by scholars in the fields of human rights and trade, as well as international organizations and civil societies. Most notably, the intersection between human rights and trade has been reaffirmed by the United Nations, evidently in the reports by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights dated back to the early 2000s. Discourse on human rights impacts of trade agreements has recently developed further. Examples to this development can be found in the latest debate on two major international free trade agreements - the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the European Union and the United States and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). They have attracted significant publicity and ignited public debates regarding their potential impacts on human rights in the countries that are partners to the agreements. Opponents to these trade agreements have expressed concerns on their potential human rights impacts and called for thorough human rights impact assessments to be conducted on the agreements. Human rights impact assessment (HRIA) has been identified by many as the most relevant tool to examine the impacts that trade agreements may have upon human rights. While it has been developed and utilized rather extensively in the private sector to measure human rights impacts of business operation, HRIA to measure the impacts of trade agreement remains underdeveloped regarding its methodology despite the growing human rights concerns and extending scope of impacts of international free trade agreements in the recent years. The gap between the expanding need for HRIA of trade agreements and the limited available methodologies has prompted this thesis to analyze the existing methodologies of HRIA of trade agreements. By carefully identifying their contributions as well as shortcomings, the thesis will then determine the best approach to assess the human rights impacts resulted from international trade agreements. This thesis first starts off by establishing the link between human rights and trade, which serves as the basis to argue for the necessity of a HRIA of Trade Agreements. It will then address the values that HRIA can bring in comparison to other impact assessments. Once the linkage between human rights and trade is clear, and the values of HRIA are identified, the existing approaches and methodologies of HRIA of trade agreements will be analyzed and evaluated on the basis of the proclaimed “added values” of HRIAs that are discussed earlier. The thesis argues that existing methodologies of HRIA of trade agreements do not live up to several key cross-cutting human rights principles that they claim to embody and they fail to deliver the added values that HRIA promised. By offering critiques of existing methodologies of HRIA of Trade Agreements and examining the most prominent alternative approach to HRIA of Trade Agreements – the integrated impact assessment, the thesis advocates for the former approach, arguing that while it is largely flawed, the existing methodologies are mostly constrained by resource availability which can be resolved, while the alternative approach entails much higher risks of watering down fundamental human rights principles and rendering HRIA meaningless. Methodologies of HRIA of Trade Agreement leave a lot to be desired, however, for the time being, they can be improved and operational given the right attentions at the right time and place

Governing beyond PISA:knowledge, networks and narratives

OECD’s search for a new set of prescriptions for governing education is expressed in their Governing Complex Education Systems project (GCES), which seeks to combine identification of best practices in system organisation, with specific narratives of equity and quality supported by metrics that create a “robust evidence base” for policy. This paper analyses the content and direction of GCES, considers its take up in policy in Scotland, especially as reflected in the aftermath of the 2015 OECD report on improving education there, and of the 2016 PISA results. The paper discusses the content of the recommendations, especially as they relate to the key concepts of knowledge, networks and narratives, and their attempted translation into policy, and concludes by identifying tensions within OECD’s governing project.La búsqueda de la OCDE por un nuevo conjunto de prescripciones para gobernanza de la educación está expresado en su proyecto de Gobernanza de Sistemas Educacionales Complejos (GSEC) que busca combinar la identificación de mejores prácticas de organización de sistemas con narrativas específicas de equidad y calidad basadas en las mediciones que crean una "robusta base de evidencias" para la política. Este artículo analiza el contenido y la dirección del GSEC, considera su reanudación en la política en Escocia, especialmente como reflejado a raíz del informe de la OCDE 2015 sobre mejoras de la educación en ese país y de los resultados del PISA 2016. El texto discute el contenido de las recomendaciones, especialmente en relación con los conceptos clave de conocimiento, redes y narrativas, y sus intentos de traducción a la política, y concluye identificando tensiones en el marco del proyecto de gobernanza de la propia OCDE.A busca da OCDE por um novo conjunto de prescrições para governança da educação está expresso em seu projeto de Governança de Sistemas Educacionais Complexos (GSEC) que procura combinar a identificação de melhores práticas de organização de sistemas com narrativas especificas de equidade e qualidade baseadas em mensurações que criam uma “robusta base de evidencias” para a política. Este artigo analisa o conteúdo e a direção do  GSEC, considera sua retomada na política na Escócia, especialmente como refletido no rescaldo do relatório da OECD 2015 sobre melhoramentos da educação naquele país e dos resultados do PISA 2016. O texto discute o conteúdo das recomendações, especialmente como relacionam com os conceitos chave de conhecimento, redes e narrativas, e suas tentativas de tradução para a política, e conclui identificando tensões no interior do projeto de governança da própria OCDE

Governando para além do PISA: conhecimento, redes e narrativas

OECD’s search for a new set of prescriptions for governing education is expressed in their Governing Complex Education Systems project (GCES), which seeks to combine identification of best practices in system organisation, with specific narratives of equity and quality supported by metrics that create a “robust evidence base” for policy. This paper analyses the content and direction of GCES, considers its take up in policy in Scotland, especially as reflected in the aftermath of the 2015 OECD report on improving education there, and of the 2016 PISA results. The paper discusses the content of the recommendations, especially as they relate to the key concepts of knowledge, networks and narratives, and their attempted translation into policy, and concludes by identifying tensions within OECD’s governing project.La búsqueda de la OCDE por un nuevo conjunto de prescripciones para gobernanza de la educación está expresado en su proyecto de Gobernanza de Sistemas Educacionales Complejos (GSEC) que busca combinar la identificación de mejores prácticas de organización de sistemas con narrativas específicas de equidad y calidad basadas en las mediciones que crean una "robusta base de evidencias" para la política. Este artículo analiza el contenido y la dirección del GSEC, considera su reanudación en la política en Escocia, especialmente como reflejado a raíz del informe de la OCDE 2015 sobre mejoras de la educación en ese país y de los resultados del PISA 2016. El texto discute el contenido de las recomendaciones, especialmente en relación con los conceptos clave de conocimiento, redes y narrativas, y sus intentos de traducción a la política, y concluye identificando tensiones en el marco del proyecto de gobernanza de la propia OCDE.A busca da OCDE por um novo conjunto de prescrições para governança da educação está expresso em seu projeto de Governança de Sistemas Educacionais Complexos (GSEC) que procura combinar a identificação de melhores práticas de organização de sistemas com narrativas especificas de equidade e qualidade baseadas em mensurações que criam uma “robusta base de evidencias” para a política. Este artigo analisa o conteúdo e a direção do  GSEC, considera sua retomada na política na Escócia, especialmente como refletido no rescaldo do relatório da OECD 2015 sobre melhoramentos da educação naquele país e dos resultados do PISA 2016. O texto discute o conteúdo das recomendações, especialmente como relacionam com os conceitos chave de conhecimento, redes e narrativas, e suas tentativas de tradução para a política, e conclui identificando tensões no interior do projeto de governança da própria OCDE