Strategic Outsourcing through Specifications

Outsourcing is one of the top priorities on the strategic agenda of Original Equipment Manufacturers [OEMs] in many industries. The decision of outsourcing an activity as opposed to doing it in-house and the development of a part or parts system is one of the most complex decisions facing today's industrial managers. Several models have been developed in order to aid in this process. The present paper analyses some of these models, and proposes an extension based on the role that specifications might play in outsourcing decisions. Based on how the specification is generated and on the nature of the data it contains, it can be of significant help in outsourcing decisions. The research reported in the paper is based on a longitudinal study of one automotive OEM [global family], one truck OEM and four medium sized expert supplier, all located in Europe. A procurement matrix is developed in which guidance for outsourcing decisions is provided in terms of specification generator, type of supplier, and contract relationship.Outsourcing; Specifications; collaboration; automotive industry

The Gladiatrix

Birth me mother, please, in silenceFor I’ll know no tranquil world.Only then will life be peacefulFor I’m a rebel girl. ~excerpt from poe

Innovation Hot Spots: the Case of the Computer Services Sector in the Region of Attica, Greece

Elaborating on the notion innovation hot spots, we examine the case of the computer services sector in the Region of Attica, Greece. Fast-growing, geographically and industrially clustered firms are becoming an increasingly important factor for innovation and regional development. As a result, innovation hot spots enjoy rapid growth, leading to job creation, knowledge expansion and, in the best cases, sustainable development. The most recent European Trend Chart Reports (2004 and 2005) present Greece as innovation leader in the computer services sector. Computer services are characterized by a high knowledge creation and knowledge diffusion intensity meaning that the hot spots exploiting such services position high on an innovation intensity scale. Consulting, implementation, operations management and support services enjoy similar growth since they are complementary industries forming the Attica IT innovation hot spot. The purpose of our research within this field is twofold. First, we present the conditions under which this innovation leadership has emerged and come to flourish. We argue that growth in the Region of Attica has been boosted by the Information Society Program, the Olympic Games and the necessity for modernizing Greek firms, which leads them to favor investments in new technologies. Moreover, the region presents a favorable macroeconomic environment, characterized by high rates of development, increase of consumption and investments. Second, we analyze and propose a framework for maintaining the dynamics in the region -and in innovation hot spots in general- as there is a significant risk of rise-and-fall patterns occurring, leading to former hot spots transforming into “blind spotsâ€, and core competencies developed turning into core rigidities and cultural lock-in.

Genetic analysis of the Replication Protein A large subunit family in Arabidopsis reveals unique and overlapping roles in DNA repair, meiosis and DNA replication

Replication Protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein complex that binds single-stranded DNA. In plants, multiple genes encode the three RPA subunits (RPA1, RPA2 and RPA3), including five RPA1-like genes in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis suggests two distinct groups composed of RPA1A, RPA1C, RPA1E (ACE group) and RPA1B, RPA1D (BD group). ACE-group members are transcriptionally induced by ionizing radiation, while BD-group members show higher basal transcription and are not induced by ionizing radiation. Analysis of rpa1 T-DNA insertion mutants demonstrates that although each mutant line is likely null, all mutant lines are viable and display normal vegetative growth. The rpa1c and rpa1e single mutants however display hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation, and combination of rpa1c and rpa1e results in additive hypersensitivity to a variety of DNA damaging agents. Combination of the partially sterile rpa1a with rpa1c results in complete sterility, incomplete synapsis and meiotic chromosome fragmentation, suggesting an early role for RPA1C in promoting homologous recombination. Combination of either rpa1c and/or rpa1e with atr revealed additive hypersensitivity phenotypes consistent with each functioning in unique repair pathways. In contrast, rpa1b rpa1d double mutant plants display slow growth and developmental defects under non-damaging conditions. We show these defects in the rpa1b rpa1d mutant are likely the result of defective DNA replication leading to reduction in cell division

Narcissism and Scene Perception

When people walk into a coffee shop, the amount of information in that scene greatly exceeds what people’s brains can process. Thus, people selectively attend to different information (e.g., the people in the coffee shop vs. the objects around them). The information individuals attend to may differ based on their personality traits. Here, we focus on how narcissistic individuals (those who are egotistical and self-focused) perceive and remember scenes. Previous research suggests that narcissists perform poorly on face recognition tasks, presumably because they care less about others. Research has yet to test narcissists scene recognition memory. Narcissists have an analytic cognitive-perceptual style, where they can easily disembed information from the context. This analytic cognitive-perceptual style may predict better memory for objects within scenes. In the current study, participants will complete a basic recognition memory paradigm for either indoor scenes containing people or indoor scenes without people. We hypothesize that narcissists will be better at remembering objects whereas non-narcissists will be better at remembering people. Specifically, narcissists’ analytic cognitive-perceptual style will predict better memory for objects within scenes. Identifying how narcissists perceive and organize information in their environment presents opportunities to alter such views and enhance narcissists' connection to others. Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled) Faculty Mentor: Miranda Giacomin Department: Psychology&nbsp

Skill-Based Cooking Class with the Health Care Share

Food Insecurity is a significant public health concern in Vermont. 64,370 Vermonters (10%) live in food insecure households. There are many contributing factors to food insecurity including lack of affordable housing, a decrease in affordable grocery stores, low wages, and lack of public transportation. One of the many strategies for addressing food insecurity in Chittenden County, Vermont is the Health Care Share (HCS). The HCS is a partnership between the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps farm and UVMMC that connects Vermont families experiencing food-insecurity with farm-fresh foods through a weekly farm share that includes skills and recipes to prepare healthy meals at home. Participants pick up their share weekly at their family practice. In this project, a skill-based cooking class was conducted with HCS participants where we worked together to cook a dish using produce from their share. Cooking confidence was assessed using a pre-class and post-class survey.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1450/thumbnail.jp

Project Atlas: A Mobile Universal Rocket Engine Test Stand

Project Atlas is a mobile, trailer-mounted, rocket engine test stand developed by Experimental Rocket Propulsion Lab (ERPL) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach, Florida campus. The integrated test stand and automated data-acquisition and control system supports ERPL’s multitude of engine research projects, including bipropellant liquid and hybrid rocket engines. The need for an integrated universal mobile test stand stems from the inability to conduct frequent test fires on campus due to Class-3 airspace and liability issues. The test stand is designed as a horizontal thrust structure utilizing a dual flame duct to redirect and cancel reaction forces acting upon the test stand. This duct minimizes the required anchoring strength and allows for friction-based anchoring systems. Forward of the blast shield and engine mount, there is an instrumentation system to measure thrust, temperature, and pressure inside the combustion chamber of the engine as well as the pressures and temperatures of the propellant feed system. The test stand’s data acquisition system is directly interfaced with the test stand’s on-board computer and control system, which executes automated test sequences. The Atlas mobile test stand enables further rocket engine design and evaluation, significantly helping to advance the university’s propulsion development capabilities

Teacher professional development in technology integration

The purpose of this project was to design, create, and produce a web site for teachers that instructs them on the creating, developing and sharing of Web Quests. Web Quests utilize the wealth of information on the internet to provide a means of moving the teacher away from lecturer and toward facilitator