Determinants for successful deployment of clinical prediction models : a design science research in the Dutch healthcare sector

Whereas the promises of (predictive) analytics in healthcare are clear and extensively reported, the executive practicalities are not. Mapping the factors that have a hand in the implementation and continuation (i.e. deployment) of such projects improves the execution of prediction models and hence improves diagnostic and prognostic healthcare for patients. This research takes a design science approach to create an artifact aimed at successful deployment of clinical prediction models (CPMs). Through a literature review, various factors that play a role in the deployment of CPMs are categorized. Interviews with an extensive expert panel lead to the development of the CRISP-DM Deployment Extension for CPMs. Next to opinions on the importance of each factor, new in-sights are collected on related topics. A case study at a Dutch hospital allows for the testing of the artifact. A gap analysis is conducted, leading to a practical advice in terms of successful deployment. The research concludes with a proposed deployment strategy and a list of eight recommendations that can be considered the determinants for successful deployment of clinical prediction models

Plan on the move : mobile participation in urban planning state-of-the-art and future potential

Citizen participation in urban planning has been a topic of academic and practical interest since the 1960s. The adoption of information and communication technologies for civic participation, electronic participation, impacts how citizens and urban planners interact. Within the field of electronic participation, mobile participation is a rather recent chapter. The proliferation of mobile technologies enables both novel forms of participation and the embeddedness of these technologies into existing practices of participation. This dissertation contains five studies exploring how emerging practices of mobile participation are changing citizen participation in urban planning. Each of the five studies describes a facet of mobile participation, beginning with an overview of participatory planning apps in use; exploring next how citizens develop apps themselves; turning then to the theoretical basis of mobile participation grounded in previous theories of participation and the digital divide; covering further the actual usage of the Täsä urban planning app; and finally, discussing self-organized community planning using mobile technologies. The results provide an overview of the specific features enhancing democratic urban planning, asses who develops mobile apps and with what intentions, and contrasts the circumstances conducive to inclusiveness in mobile participation. Mobile phones are ubiquitous and possess a combination of unique affordances such as situated engagement and participatory sensing, enabling rich, real-time data collection and experimentation. These features resonate with early adopters who, in order to affect change, need to be embedded in the institutional civic participation setting. For citizens, mobile technologies have diversified the roles of participation, so that citizens can choose between being informed, contributing ideas, or developing applications. Finally, the apps developed with open data are the result of negotiations between developers’ agency and open data availability. Overall, this dissertation suggests that mobile participation is socially constructed in as far as the features and practices implemented are subject to a host of stakeholder interests. To this end, mobile participation is conceptualized as maximum allowed deviation: it affords new practices that reshape citizen participation while being part of established forms of civic participation.Kansalaisten osallistuminen kaupunkisuunnitteluun on kiinnostanut sekä tiedeyhteisöä että suunnittelijoita jo 1960-luvulta lähtien. Informaatio- ja kommunikaatioteknologian omaksuminen sekä sähköinen osallistuminen ovat vaikuttaneet siihen, miten kaupunkilaiset ja suunnittelijat ovat vuorovaikutuksessa toisiinsa. Mobiiliosallistuminen on uusi sähköisen osallistumisen ilmiö. Mobiililaitteiden nopea leviäminen sekä mahdollistaa uusia osallistumismuotoja että sulautuu jo olemassa oleviin käytäntöihin niitä muuntaen. Tämä väitöskirja koostuu viidestä artikkelista, joissa tutkitaan miten mobiiliosallistuminen muuttaa kansalaisten osallistumista kaupunkisuunniteluun. Osatutkimukset tarkastelevat mobiiliosallistumista eri näkökulmista. Ensimmäiseksi on kartoitettu millaisia kaupunkisuunnitteluun ja kaupunkien hallintaan osallistavia sovelluksia maailmassa oli käytössä vuoteen 2015 mennessä. Toiseksi on tutkittu, miten kansalaiset osallistuvat itse sovelluksien kehittämiseen avoimen datan kilpailuissa. Kolmanneksi on tutkittu edellytyksiä mobiiliosallistumiselle, perustaen tarkastelu sosiaalisiin ja poliittisiin osallistumisteorioihin sekä digitaalisen kuilun ylittämistä koskeviin tutkimuksiin. Neljännessä osatutkimuksessa esitellään Turussa 2015 toteutetun mobiiliosallistumisen kokeilun (Täsä) tuloksia ja viidennessä käsitellään mobiiliteknologian käyttöä kaupunkilaisten itse-organisoituvassa osallistumisessa. Tulokset kertovat miten teknologiset ominaisuudet muuttavat osallistuvaa kaupunkisuunnittelua, mikä ja mitkä tahot vaikuttavat sovellusten kehittämiseen avoimella datalla, ja millä ehdoilla mobiililaitteiden avulla voidaan saavuttaa laaja osallistuminen. Mobiililaitteet ovat jo nyt ihmisten mukana kaikkialla. Niiden ominaisuudet mahdollistavat osallistumisen paikan päällä (situated engagement) ja osallistumisen sensoridatan keräämiseen (participatory sensing) ja siten uusiin ja aiempaa monipuolisempiin käyttäjä- ja paikkalähtöisiin analyyseihin. Tämä ominaisuudet ovat olleet houkuttelevia aikaisille omaksujille. Institutionaalista tukea kuitenkin tarvitaan, että uuden teknologian mahdollisuudet voidaan tehdä tutuksi laajalle yleisölle. Mobiiliosallistuminen on myös monipuolistanut osallistumisrooleja: sen avulla kansalaiset voivat aiempaan helpommin valita mitä informaatiota saavat, esittää omia ideoitaan ja kehittää omia sovelluksia.Avoimen datan kilpailuissa kehitetyt sovellukset ovat kompromissi kehittäjien tavoitteiden ja käytössä olevan datan välillä. Kokonaisuudessaan väitöskirja esittää, että mobiiliosallistuminen on sosiaalisesti rakentunutta, siinä määrin kuin sen ominaisuudet ja käytännöt määrittyvät eri tahojen intressien yhteensovittamisessa. Tämän vuoksi mobiiliosallistuminen käsitteellistyy ”suurimmaks sallituksi poikkeamaksi”: se mahdollistaa uusia käytäntöjä jotka muokkaavat kansalaisten osallistumista samalla kun ne ovat jo osa vakiintunutta kansalaisten osallistumista

Feasible Form Parameter Design of Complex Ship Hull Form Geometry

This thesis introduces a new methodology for robust form parameter design of complex hull form geometry via constraint programming, automatic differentiation, interval arithmetic, and truncated hierarchical B- splines. To date, there has been no clearly stated methodology for assuring consistency of general (equality and inequality) constraints across an entire geometric form parameter ship hull design space. In contrast, the method to be given here can be used to produce guaranteed narrowing of the design space, such that infeasible portions are eliminated. Furthermore, we can guarantee that any set of form parameters generated by our method will be self consistent. It is for this reason that we use the title feasible form parameter design. In form parameter design, a design space is represented by a tuple of design parameters which are extended in each design space dimension. In this representation, a single feasible design is a consistent set of real valued parameters, one for every component of the design space tuple. Using the methodology to be given here, we pick out designs which consist of consistent parameters, narrowed to any desired precision up to that of the machine, even for equality constraints. Furthermore, the method is developed to enable the generation of complex hull forms using an extension of the basic rules idea to allow for automated generation of rules networks, plus the use of the truncated hierarchical B-splines, a wavelet-adaptive extension of standard B-splines and hierarchical B-splines. The adaptive resolution methods are employed in order to allow an automated program the freedom to generate complex B-spline representations of the geometry in a robust manner across multiple levels of detail. Thus two complementary objectives are pursued: ensuring feasible starting sets of form parameters, and enabling the generation of complex hull form geometry

Enabling long journeys in electric vehicles:design and demonstration of an infrastructure location model

This research develops a methodology and model formulation which suggests locations for rapid chargers to help assist infrastructure development and enable greater battery electric vehicle (BEV) usage. The model considers the likely travel patterns of BEVs and their subsequent charging demands across a large road network, where no prior candidate site information is required. Using a GIS-based methodology, polygons are constructed which represent the charging demand zones for particular routes across a real-world road network. The use of polygons allows the maximum number of charging combinations to be considered whilst limiting the input intensity needed for the model. Further polygons are added to represent deviation possibilities, meaning that placement of charge points away from the shortest path is possible, given a penalty function. A validation of the model is carried out by assessing the expected demand at current rapid charging locations and comparing to recorded empirical usage data. Results suggest that the developed model provides a good approximation to real world observations, and that for the provision of charging, location matters. The model is also implemented where no prior candidate site information is required. As such, locations are chosen based on the weighted overlay between several different routes where BEV journeys may be expected. In doing so many locations, or types of locations, could be compared against one another and then analysed in relation to siting practicalities, such as cost, land permission and infrastructure availability. Results show that efficient facility location, given numerous siting possibilities across a large road network can be achieved. Slight improvements to the standard greedy adding technique are made by adding combination weightings which aim to reward important long distance routes that require more than one charge to complete

Internal benchmark of IKEA's Sourcing Assignment processes and documents across business areas and categories - A multiple case study

Background: The IKEA Range & Supply organisation consists of business areas (BAs) and categories. BAs work with product development toward end-customers while the material-based categories work toward suppliers with purchasing and sourcing related tasks. There exists an internal cross-organisational interface between these units and IKEA recently created Sourcing Assignment as a tool to encourage BAs and categories to formally meet, discuss and document agreements. Previously these interactions occurred informally. A Sourcing Assignment starter package (status quo), containing general guidelines on way of working, a checklist and proposed document template, was shared with the involved employees in early 2016. Supply Chain Managers (SCMs), representing BAs, and Category Managers (CMs), representing categories, were suggested as the key internal stakeholders to create documented handshakes in the form of Sourcing Assignments. SCMs and CMs were given the freedom to set up Sourcing Assignment as preferred, with status quo as a reference. Sourcing Assignment implementation took place during spring 2016 and an internal evaluation was planned in autumn 2016. However, it was never conducted. The master’s thesis study was carried out around a year after Sourcing Assignment was launched companywide. Problem formulation: Complexity exists in the cross-organisational interface between 10 BAs, divided into 20 home furnishing businesses (HFBs), and 7 category areas, divided into 34 categories. BAs work with several different categories while the opposite also applies, i.e. categories work with multiple BAs as well. This means that SCMs and CMs must handle many different Sourcing Assignment relations in IKEA. It was specified in status quo that BAs were expected to take the lead for Sourcing Assignment and approach the categories. BAs started developing their own ways of working (processes) and document templates meaning that a category working with multiple BAs could expect different approaches. Sourcing Assignment was portrayed as a documented handshake which primarily categories, but also BAs, should consider further in their business plan (BPL) and action plan (APL) processes. These BPL and APL processes are sub-processes in an IKEA core process with the purpose to “optimise the value chain and define a world class supplier base satisfying short- and long-term capacity and quality demands based on Sourcing Assignments from HFBs” (IKEA, 2017A). Consequently, CMs responsible for widespread categories working with many BAs could in a worst-case scenario have 10 different ways of working and document templates at hand. This can cause confusion once all individual Sourcing Assignments are compiled. The IKEA supervisors raised concerns regarding diverging ways of working with Sourcing Assignment, and want to map the as-is situation in dialogue with categories to identify an internal best practice, i.e. one way of working, applicable to the entire IKEA Range & Supply organisation. Purpose: The purpose with this master’s thesis is to develop and recommend an improved way of working with Sourcing Assignment, i.e. the process and document template, so that IKEA can work more structured and aligned with Sourcing Assignment in the future. Methodology and method: The master’s thesis followed a constructive research approach (CRA) and mostly an inductive research process within the CRA. The chosen CRA highlights the importance of testing a developed construct, i.e. the solution to the problem, under authentic circumstances. Two qualitative tests were conducted in IKEA leading to minor modifications of the developed construct. The inductive research process meant that an extensive theoretical frame of reference was not developed for empirical testing prior to data collection. The main motivator was scarcity of academic literature treating equivalents to Sourcing Assignment and the highly practical and internal nature. Therefore, data collection, via interviews and documents, began at an early stage for the two units of analysis, namely the Sourcing Assignment process and document. Then, internal best practice was built from empirics, in line with the qualitative grounded theory philosophy, while theoretical elements were integrated deductively along the way leading to a more balanced research process. A multiple-case study was followed as research method which resulted in empirical data being collected from IKEA employees in 6 BAs and 9 categories. Interview material was condensed into 6 case descriptions pinpointing e.g. potential problems and desired way of working. Data analysis consisted of cross-case analysis to point out elements to include or exclude in an internal best practice. Conclusions: Several different individual process approaches were identified as result of the cross-case analysis, namely clustering, top priority, all-inclusive, short-term focus and information sharing approaches. None of the cases were considered as standalone internal best practice, but several individual best practice elements were identified within the separate cases. Collectively these elements could be combined into a best practice for IKEA’s Sourcing Assignment. The developed construct, i.e. the recommended improved way of working with the Sourcing Assignment process and document template, consists of a new Sourcing Assignment: • Framework • Process map • Year cycle • Handbook The proposed framework outlines a best practice way of working with Sourcing Assignment. Two priority levels are distinguished with different process and document scope depending on the internal power-dependency between BAs and categories. The Sourcing Assignment handbook is the new document template accompanied with the new framework, process map and year cycle as complementary appendix. Keywords: • Sourcing Assignment • Internal benchmark • Multiple-case study • Cross-case analysis • Internal best practice • Category management in purchasing • Category source/sourcing plan • IKEA way of workin

Future Cities in the Making: overcoming barriers to information modelling in socially responsible cities

Building and City Information Modelling (BIM and CIM) could potentially facilitate better planning outcomes, more efficient service provision, and more inclusive community engagement. In doing so, these technologies could help deliver on some of the goals common amongst aspiring smart cities, using data to improve efficiency, services and quality of life. However, information modelling uptake has been slow, and most cities do not incorporate information modelling in their planning processes. Looking beyond information modelling, planning systems worldwide have been slow to adapt to the digital future: most planning systems have not yet digitalised, and lack the tools and incentives to help local authorities and planners make use of emerging technologies. This research explores the barriers to and opportunities for using information modelling in planning in the UK, and probes the ethical questions around how cities and local authorities can use data while protecting citizens’ right to privacy. The project approaches its analysis through three case studies in two UK nations, relying on stakeholder interviews, document analysis, and a questionnaire. We selected three case studies, Bristol, Cambridge and Scotland, to reflect areas with different socioeconomic profiles, planning systems, local authority sizes, and governance structures. The project identified that organisational, data-related, technological, human resource, financial and legal barriers are interrelated. Solutions for overcoming these barriers are themed around enhancing collaboration, leadership, resource management, technology and the planning system at larg