Multi-Party Coordination in the Context of MOWS

Separation of concerns has been presented as a promising tool to tackle the design of complex systems in which cross-cutting properties that do not fit into the scope of a class must be satisfied. In this paper, we show that interactions amongst a number of objects can also be described separately from functionality, which enhances reusability of functional code and interaction patterns. We present our proposal in the context of Multi-Qrganisational Web-Based Systems (MOWS) and also present a framework that provides the infrastructure needed to implement multiparty coordination as an independent aspect

Aspect-oriented interaction in multi-organisational web-based systems

Separation of concerns has been presented as a promising tool to tackle the design of complex systems in which cross-cutting properties that do not fit into the scope of a class must be satisfied. Unfortunately, current proposals assume that objects interact by means of object-oriented method calls, which implies that they embed interactions with others into their functional code. This makes them dependent on this interaction model, and makes it difficult to reuse them in a context in which another interaction model is more suited, e.g., tuple spaces, multiparty meetings, ports, and so forth. In this paper, we show that functionality can be described separately from the interaction model used, which helps enhance reusability of functional code and coordination patterns. Our proposal is innovative in that it is the first that achieves a clear separation between functionality and interaction in an aspect-oriented manner. In order to show that it is feasible, we adapted the multiparty interaction model to the context of multiorganisational web-based systems and developed a class framework to build business objects whose performance rates comparably to handmade implementations; the development time, however, decreases significantly.Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC2000-1106-C02-0

Classification of Data to Extract Knowledge from Neural Networks

A major drawback of artificial neural networks is their black-box character. Therefore, the rule extraction algorithm is becoming more and more important in explaining the extracted rules from the neural networks. In this paper, we use a method that can be used for symbolic knowledge extraction from neural networks, once they have been trained with desired function. The basis of this method is the weights of the neural network trained. This method allows knowledge extraction from neural networks with continuous inputs and output as well as rule extraction. An example of the application is showed. This example is based on the extraction of average load demand of a power plant

The commensurability analysis en a person-environment fit measure: an empirical study

El principal problema metodológico que plantea cualquier investigación basada en un modelo de ajuste persona-ambiente (o ajuste P-A) reside en la medida del constructo del ajuste P-A, que impone una serie de condicionantes que raramente se demuestran empíricamente. Uno de los más discutidos consiste en la obtención de medidas conmensurables para sus componentes (P y A). En este artículo se revisa el concepto de conmensurabilidad y los métodos empleados para su estudio y se presenta una medida de ajuste P-A de tipo organizacional basada en ‘la teoría del ajuste laboral’ de Dawis y Lofquist (1984). Un estudio empírico examina la conmensurabilidad de sus componentes en una muestra de 591 sujetos de diferentes organizaciones españolas mediante análisis factoriales tanto de tipo exploratorio como confirmatorio. Los resultados dan un cierto apoyo a la similaridad en la medida de P y A, pero cuando ésta se estudia a partir de criterios de invarianza factorial, el apoyo solo es moderado. El artículo discute que aunque se haya concedido tanta importancia al condicionante de la conmensurabilidad, constituye un concepto que no está suficientemente claro ni estudiado y que precisa procedimientos más formales para su evaluaciónAn empirical study. The main methodological concern of any research based on a person-environment (P-E) fit approach is on the operationalization of the fit, which imposes some requirements that are rarely empirically demonstrated. One of the most discussed is the assessment of the P and E components along commensurate dimensions. This article reviews what we know about the commensurability concept and the ways in which it has been examined and presents an organizational P-E fit measure based on ‘the theory of work adjustment’ by Dawis and Lofquist (1984). One empirical study examines the commensurability on the P and E measures in a sample of 591 subjects from different Spanish organizations. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported that the P and E components are measured along commensurate dimensions but measurement invariance criteria only gave moderately support to this similarity. Even if the commensurability has been considered as a matter of concern, it is discussed that this concept remains unclear and needs a more rigorous evaluation approac

Aplicación de la metodología de superficies de respuesta en el estudio del ajuste persona-organización

This article summarizes the main characteristics of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and their connections with linear regression analysis. It also presents an example of the application of RSM to the study of person-organization (P-O) fit with real data from 591 subjects. First and second-order polynomial equations were estimated to describe the relationship between a measure of intent to leave and two person and organization commensurate measures. Results show the advantages of using RSM to avoid the traditional methodological problems in the study of P-O fit and to provide an appropriate interpretation of the three-dimensional relationship between O, P and a work outcomeEste artículo resume las principales características de la Metodología de Superficies de Respuesta (MSR) y sus conexiones con el análisis de regresión lineal. Asimismo, presenta un ejemplo de la aplicación de la MSR en el estudio del ajuste persona-organización (P-O) con datos reales de una muestra de 591 sujetos. Se estimaron las ecuaciones polinomiales de primer y segundo orden para describir la relación entre una medida de intención de abandono y dos medidas conmensurables de la persona y la organización. Los resultados muestran las ventajas del uso de la MSR para evitar los tradicionales problemas metodológicos en el estudio del ajuste P-O y proporcionar una interpretación adecuada de la relación tridimensional entre O, P y un resultado del trabaj