On Research Efficiency: A Micro-Analysis of Dutch University Research in Economics and Business Management

We argue that efficiency assessments of academic research should focus on micro-units of research production rather than on conventionally employed (aggregated) macro-units, and show that such a detailed analysis of research performance provides interesting insights. In addition, we propose a non-parametric methodology that is specially tailored for analyzing the productive efficiency of research: it starts from a specification of the managerial objectives of research activities while imposing minimal structure on the (typically unknown) production technology. We illustrate our points by assessing the productive efficiency of research in Economics and Business Management faculties at Dutch universities. Next to measuring productive efficiency, we look for specific patterns in efficiency distributions over universities, years and areas of specialization. In addition, we investigate the impact of external funding and of the size of research programs on academic research efficiency.productive efficiency of research; micro-units of production; non-parametric analysis; research in economics; determinants of research efficiency

On research efficiency: a micro-analysis of Dutch university research in economics and business management.

We argue that efficiency assessments of academic research should focus on micro-units of research production rather than on conventionally employed (aggregated) macro-units, and show that such a detailed analysis of research performance provides interesting insights. In addition, we propose a non-parametric methodology that is specially tailored for analyzing the productive efficiency of research: it starts from a specification of the managerial objectives of research activities while imposing minimal structure on the (typically unknown) production technology. We illustrate our points by assessing the productive efficiency of research in Economics and Business Management faculties at Dutch universities. Next to measuring productive efficiency, we look for specific patterns in efficiency distributions over universities, years and areas of specialization. In addition, we investigate the impact of external funding and of the size of research programs on academic research efficiency.Business; Economics; Efficiency; Management; Research; Research in economics; University; University-research;

The impact of Facebook use on micro-level social capital: a synthesis

The relationship between Facebook use and micro-level social capital has received substantial scholarly attention over the past decade. This attention has resulted in a large body of empirical work that gives insight into the nature of Facebook as a social networking site and how it influences the social benefits that people gather from having social relationships. Although the extant research provides a solid basis for future research into this area, a number of issues remain underexplored. The aim of the current article is twofold. First, it seeks to synthesize what is already known about the relationship between Facebook use and micro-level social capital. Second, it seeks to advance future research by identifying and analyzing relevant theoretical, analytical and methodological issues. To address the first research aim, we first present an overview and analysis of current research findings on Facebook use and social capital, in which we focus on what we know about (1) the relationship between Facebook use in general and the different subtypes of social capital; (2) the relationships between different types of Facebook interactions and social capital; and (3) the impact of self-esteem on the relationship between Facebook use and social capital. Based on this analysis, we subsequently identify three theoretical issues, two analytical issues and four methodological issues in the extant body of research, and discuss the implications of these issues for Facebook and social capital researchers

Scalability analysis of large-scale LoRaWAN networks in ns-3

As LoRaWAN networks are actively being deployed in the field, it is important to comprehend the limitations of this Low Power Wide Area Network technology. Previous work has raised questions in terms of the scalability and capacity of LoRaWAN networks as the number of end devices grows to hundreds or thousands per gateway. Some works have modeled LoRaWAN networks as pure ALOHA networks, which fails to capture important characteristics such as the capture effect and the effects of interference. Other works provide a more comprehensive model by relying on empirical and stochastic techniques. This work uses a different approach where a LoRa error model is constructed from extensive complex baseband bit error rate simulations and used as an interference model. The error model is combined with the LoRaWAN MAC protocol in an ns-3 module that enables to study multi channel, multi spreading factor, multi gateway, bi-directional LoRaWAN networks with thousands of end devices. Using the lorawan ns-3 module, a scalability analysis of LoRaWAN shows the detrimental impact of downstream traffic on the delivery ratio of confirmed upstream traffic. The analysis shows that increasing gateway density can ameliorate but not eliminate this effect, as stringent duty cycle requirements for gateways continue to limit downstream opportunities.Comment: 12 pages, submitted to the IEEE Internet of Things Journa

Fine-grained management of CoAP interactions with constrained IoT devices

As open standards for the Internet of Things gain traction, the current Intranet of Things will evolve to a truly open Internet of Things, where constrained devices are first class citizens of the public Internet. However, the large amount of control over constrained networks offered by today's vertically integrated platforms, becomes even more important in an open IoT considering its promise of direct end-to-end interactions with constrained devices. In this paper a set of challenges is identified for controlling interactions with constrained networks that arise due to their constrained nature and their integration with the public Internet. Furthermore, a number of solutions are presented for overcoming these challenges by means of an intercepting intermediary at the edge of the constrained network

Integration of heterogeneous devices and communication models via the cloud in the constrained internet of things

As the Internet of Things continues to expand in the coming years, the need for services that span multiple IoT application domains will continue to increase in order to realize the efficiency gains promised by the IoT. Today, however, service developers looking to add value on top of existing IoT systems are faced with very heterogeneous devices and systems. These systems implement a wide variety of network connectivity options, protocols (proprietary or standards-based), and communication methods all of which are unknown to a service developer that is new to the IoT. Even within one IoT standard, a device typically has multiple options for communicating with others. In order to alleviate service developers from these concerns, this paper presents a cloud-based platform for integrating heterogeneous constrained IoT devices and communication models into services. Our evaluation shows that the impact of our approach on the operation of constrained devices is minimal while providing a tangible benefit in service integration of low-resource IoT devices. A proof of concept demonstrates the latter by means of a control and management dashboard for constrained devices that was implemented on top of the presented platform. The results of our work enable service developers to more easily implement and deploy services that span a wide variety of IoT application domains

More than just water - Planning scenarios for a sustainable development of the Belgian part of the North Sea

Although the sea is one of the most decisive factors for the planning of any coastal region, Belgian planners and policymakers have been doing it with their back towards the sea. But in the face of new spatial claims for more marine transport, windmill farms, sand and gravel extraction, and even nature conservation, policymakers are forced to rethink the role of this seemingly endless surface of water. In the future this role will become even more important as the sea level will rise due to climate change. The dominant land-oriented planning discourse of which the Belgian 'Atlantic Wall' and the Dutch 'Delta works' are exemplary, will no longer be tenable within the concept of sustainable spatial development. For more than a decade, different departments of the Ghent University have engaged in research on the BCP, the Belgian Continental Part of the North Sea. Through the years valuable information about the use, the natural and economical dynamics and even the socio-cultural meaning of this small part of the North Sea has been gathered. But only recently with the introduction of spatial planners in the GAUFRE-research project "towards a spatial plan for the Belgian part of the North Sea” (financed by the Belgian Federal Public Planning Service Science Policy), the main focus shifted from gathering scientific information, as part of an extensive analysis of the BCP, to formulating future scenarios by which we could plan the BCP. This paper, as a result of the GAUFRE-project, formulates new planning approaches for the development of the BCP and the 67 km short strip of the Belgian coast, based on the specific dynamics and characteristics of the sea itself. In order not to end in a final regional plan or a fixed set of planning regulations but in a totally new and sea-oriented planning discourse, the research tries to open the perspective on the sea and the coast by using different development scenarios. Starting from three core values – these are the social, economical and ecological value of the BCP - or a combination of two of them, six thematic scenarios were developed through design-oriented research. In every scenario the underused potential of the water was looked at in a totally different way in order to develop the water in a sustainable way. Water proved to be a much richer resource by which we could plan the sea and the coast than it is currently considered to be. Whether it is used for transport (short sea shipping, harbour islands), recreation (at the coast or on new islands), fishery (in concession areas or based on a rotation system), nature conservation (dynamic coastline, natural coastal defence, Marine Protected Areas) or even for new functions like windmill farms, aquaculture and mariculture (as land-based development of resources of the sea), water becomes a real structuring element

Consumer motivation to recycle when recycling is mandatory: Two exploratory studies.

Studies;