Exploring the Factors Promoting Team Effectiveness in the Process of Creating International Technology Standards A Case Study of ISO/SAE-joint Standard (21434) for Road Vehicle Cybersecurity

International Technology Standards play an essential role in supporting technology adoption and implementation. Emerging technologies are reshaping global commerce. New technologies have been shown to be an essential factor in boosting the economy as they offer great prospects for growth. It is a complicated journey from promising emerging technology to full industrialization and commercialization. However, the process of creating International Technology Standards itself is dynamic and complicated, consists of many underlying dimensions, and is influenced by political, economic, socio-demographic, and technological changes during the development process. Few theoretical frameworks exist to help in understanding the process of creating technology standards as well as to provide practical guidelines. This dissertation bridges this gap by conducting an in-depth case study analysis that aims to extend our knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the process of creating International Technology Standards. The case I selected is the first ever joint International Technology Standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO, a Europe-based standards development organization), and SAE International (SAE, a U.S.-based standards development organization). The purpose of the standard in question is to setup global policies and guidelines for automotive 4 cybersecurity, in the era during which cars will become fully connected and will soon be autonomous. In this case study, data were collected through documents, observations, interviews, and questionnaires. A total of 18 semi-structured individual and group interviews, including 24 participants, were conducted within four months, and 25 completed questionnaires were collected. Coding was adopted as the data analysis method. The results reveal a set of Input-Process- Outcome (IPO) factors and components that impact team effectiveness in the process of creating International Technology Standards. To be specific, team structure is the most critical IPO factor that influences the team effectiveness. Additionally, an Input-Choice-Outcome (ICO) conceptual framework and several lessons-learned are offered for future International Technology Standards creation projects. The study contributes to literature and practice by providing theoretical and practitioner insights into the process of International Technology Standards creation

A value-based corporate leadership in the areas of conflit between profit maximization and business ethics

A corporate leadership aims at maximizing profits in order to secure long-term existence. The concept of a value-based corporate leadership includes a concept of increasing value, which refers to the enhancement of shareholder value. Leadership behavior and value-based leadership is primarily based on the profit interests of a firm’s shareholders. Investments in the firm are mainly focused on increasing shareholder value. This monistic focus on maximizing profits contrasts with economic ethical guidelines, which evolves in the context of sustainable responsibility and business ethics, since these two concepts diverge due to their different objectives. To practice ethics in the capital market, it requires renunciation and long-term rethinking. Economize cost-effectively and gaining profits is the first objective of any firm. However, it is an inherent ambivalence of a mutual condition of the economy and morale, which is reflected in the market economy and in the economic middle class. Nowadays, more and more firms get involved with regard to social responsibility and corporate leadership. Monetary and material donations for public facilities are provided, volunteering or free services are offered. This selfevident, social engagement is receiving increased appeal and hearing in public. As a result, firms not only demonstrate their social responsibility, but at the same time improve their image. But is this sufficient to withstand a value-based corporate leadership in the areas of conflict between profit maximization and business ethics? A value-based corporate leadership has to succeed in connecting the responsibility of the firm and its entrepreneurial and ethical perspectives, so that it serves in a supportive way and pursues a common goal. This attitude is justified in arguing that firms are not only necessarily dependent on operating profitably, but also on gaining social acceptance, which legitimize its economic actions. A successful corporate leadership has to go hand in hand with the concepts of profit maximization and the moral commitment of a firm. Moral commitment strengthens the foundation of legitimacy of entrepreneurial actions. The later presented Holistic Value Driver Scorecard is the main content of this work and the author´s contribution to science. The aim of this work is to provide firms a managerial tool to improve their business processes and detect value drivers as well as destroyers

Responsible AI and Analytics for an Ethical and Inclusive Digitized Society

publishedVersio

How will standards facilitate new production systems in the context of EU innovation and competitiveness in 2025?

Standards are very important as they provide requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. They contribute to remove technical barriers to trade, leading to new markets and economic growth for industry. They also facilitate technology transfer and they contribute to ensure safety of products thereby affecting the daily life of citizens. This report ‘How will standards facilitate new production systems in the context of EU innovation and competitiveness in 2025?’ is the outcome of a foresight process looking at how standards and standardisation can become even more relevant policy tool supporting different European policies. The study has especially looked at the areas where Europe drives innovation, where the development of new products and processes could lead to new trade of goods, services and technologies. The foresight process has dealt with standardisation by using a holistic approach. It explored at how effective standards can be developed within a European industrial landscape vision able to contribute to jobs and growth in a sustainable manner. The report provides a clear overview of the evolution of the European production system and illustrates what are the drivers of change influencing the future production system. The Industrial Landscape Vision was used to identify the its implications on the European Standardisation System and it highlights priorities for the development of standards in the future.JRC.DDG.02-Foresight and Behavioural Insight

Building a Texas Water Data Hub as a model for National Water Data Infrastructure

Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) water data is a buzz word in the industry for good reason (Making Public Data FAIR, 2018). Without these objectives, poor water data across the United States will continue to cripple the ability of decision makers to manage and develop sustainable practices (Building Data Infrastructure, 2022). In an effort to implement these standards, this research was designed to first understand the past and current water data infrastructure throughout Texas and the United States and then create a findable, accessable, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) water data hub (Making Public Data FAIR, 2018). An important part of this effort was to include stakeholders and decision makers from the water data industry. This research provides an overview of initial data collection and follows with detailed updates to water categorization and standards, stakeholder engagement and best practices, the creation of the Texas Water Data Hub and finally, recommendations to expand this state effort to a national level. The discussion speaks to the complexity of organizing water data due to the overlapping needs of such a project. The conclusion points out the additional challenges to scaling up these procedures to a national level. All of these efforts are part of building FAIR water data and is essential in our increasing need and care of water

Business excellence models in UK Universities: two contrasting case studies

The overall aim of the research was to explore the reason(s) for the apparent disparity in acceptance and adoption of Business Excellence Models (BEMs) in UK universities and to identify ways to help quality assurance staff make the best use of these models. BEMs provide organisations with management frameworks based around quality and are praised for allegedly improving global competitiveness and performance. BEMs are also criticised for allegedly being fads, over-promising and contradicting the nature of HE. This study also investigated whether BEMs were seen as fads and what makes them sustainable. Two contrasting case studies in London were examined: a research-intensive Russell Group university and a teaching-focused newer (Post 92s) university. 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Vice Chancellors/Pro-Vice Chancellors; senior managers; heads of department and professional services/quality assurance staff. In contrast to previous literature, only one interviewee thought BEMs were fads. All the Russell Group interviewees thought BEMs were applicable to the HE sector whereas some interviewees from the newer university were more sceptical. Advocates of BEMs cited their intrinsic value as well as operational benefits. Critics said BEMs were too complicated and conflicted with academic freedom. Although all the participants agreed that effective leadership was vital for successful implementation, they disagreed on what this meant. Some emphasised motivation and inspiration but others highlighted the need to occasionally force change. Participants generated six criteria for evaluating BEMs. Four of these ((a) improved student experience; (b) adequately trained and mentored staff; (c) increased community engagement and (d) compatibility with league table requirements) are found in previous literature. Two ((a) strong personal tutoring and (b) students informing resource allocation and report generation) are not. Participants also identified seven Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that influenced their institution’s choice of BEM. Three of these (team, process and collaboration) are found in previous literature. Four (location, brand, personal tutoring and transparency) are not. Finally, a conceptual framework was developed to explain how BEMs can be sustained. Three elements of the framework match previous literature (human resource management, institutionalisation and feedback). Four (leadership, resource allocation, monitoring and collaboration with the Student Union) are new

Examination of existing facilities management approaches to climate change and future directions

It is widely accepted that human activities have contributed to changing the world’s climate and that the pace of this change is ever increasing. Two approaches are being promoted by the international community to address the issue of climate change (1) Mitigation, seeking to reduce the amount of CO2; (2) Adaptation, which seeks to alter the way humankind live and work in response to the changing climate. Whilst facilities managers and their organisations have prioritised mitigation action, there is less evidence to suggest that they are addressing the implications that a changing climate may have on the demands being placed on their organisation’s hard and soft facilities (adaptation). This paper reports findings from a case study and questionnaire survey to ascertain the present approach taken by facilities managers to address mitigation and adaptation, their respective drivers, their view on climate change and their environmental inclination. It concludes that the facilities manager's approach to climate change is derived by a combination of factors; namely a) Organisation approach to climate change b) Legislation and c) the facilities mangers perception of the risks posed by future climate change and of the use of risk assessment methods and climate change projection data. The study concludes that the prevailing measure for addressing climate change impacts is reactive in nature, taking the form of Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning. The practical implication of the work is in the realization that mitigation, being quantifiable and legislative driven, is viewed as a strategic issue and of importance to an organisations Corporate Social Responsibility agenda which can be planned over the longer term (10-20 yrs). Adaptation on the other hand is measured through successful survival, increased resilience and adaptive capacity (absence of quantitative performance target), each of which are viewed as short term operational issues and as such adaptation struggles to find strategic importance. If organisations are to adapt to inevitable climate change then this situation needs to change

Geographic information systems in business

1st edition, ©200