Buying Core Competencies?A Study of the Impact of Outsourcing on IT Infrastructure Flexibility

In business, information technology (IT) outsourcing is the practice of purchasing information systems equipment or services from a vendor external to the firm. In businesses where information technology is key to business processes or products, issues concerning outsourcing are quite controversial. Does outsourcing allow firms to reduce high overhead costs and thus improve overall performance? Or does purchasing information systems services from the market weaken the business\u27s position to use the technology either to innovate strategic uses or to keep up with competitors\u27 innovations? A great deal of print has been dedicated to this debate in practitioners\u27 professional and trade journals (see, for example, Halper\u27s 1993 works) as well as in high-profile case studies (Huber 1993, and Loh and Venkatraman 1992b). Yet little deliberate research has been conducted to date (a notable exception is Loh and Venkatraman, 1992a). In a 1994-95 study on IT infrastructure flexibility in the insurance industry, data on outsourcing behavior was collected from 82 firms to determine whether it affected infrastructure flexibility. Preliminary analysis of the data has resulted in evidence that in the insurance industry, outsourcing is negatively correlated with certain characteristics of infrastructure flexibility. This paper summarizes the theoretic grounds for both attitudes about outsourcing, briefly describes the study conducted, and explains the nature of the early findings

Strain accumulation in the Santa Barbara Channel, 1971-1987

Geophysical evidence suggests a significant amount of north-south convergence occurs across the Santa Barbara Channel. Tectonic studies indicate a discrepancy between observed fault slip in California and the North American-Pacific plate motion. Newer plate motion models (NUVEL-1) yield a lower rate of convergence. Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected in the Santa Barbara Channel in 1987, when combined with 1971 trilateration measurements, should be sufficient to resolve the present-day convergence rate. In early 1987. from January 3 to 7, GPS data were collected at 14 sites in California and at 5 additional stations throughout North America. The data can be used to estimate the rate of crustal deformation (convergence) ocurring across the Santa Barbara Channel. The GPS baselines were computed with the Bernese 2nd generation software. A comparison was made between baseline lengths obtained with the Burnese and MIT softwares. Baseline changes from 1971 to January, 1987 (GPS-Bernese) across the Santa Barbara Channel were computed. A uniform strain model was calculated from the baseline changes. The present-day rate of convergence across the Santa Barbara Channel was determined to be 8 to 10 mm/yr. This conclusion is obtained from changes in the baseline length measured with a 1971 trilateration survey and a January, 1987, GPS survey. The rapid convergence rate, in addition to the history of large seismic events, suggests this region is a prime target for future geodetic and geophysical studies

In Search of The IS Question: Stalking the Wild Information Event in its Amorphous Habitat

The problem of defining the IS discipline has been approached from two perspectives: purpose and practice. While both of these approaches provide useful windows into the science of IS, they include a common limitation in capturing and defining its amorphous character. This paper examines defining statements of two IS-related disciplines to identify their components. We examine the components in the context of the IS discipline to identify key problems which impede progress in distinguishing a discipline-generative statement. Two characteristics of the definition components appear to sidetrack a clear disciplinary focus in IS: 1) Our concepts of information, far from uniform, affect our perceptions of what we do and why.2) The practice of IS science itself is operating on its context in a manner which increasingly redefines and undermines traditional definitions of the business organizational context

Challenges in Designing a Future for Distributed Education

Distance education (DE) and learning is expanding in use from educational institution applications to a broader spectrum of business applications. As these uses grow it is important to recognize the driving forces and future challenges. To date the driving forces can be identified as enhanced educational opportunities, and the development of new delivery technologies involving audio, video, and data transmissions. Many- increased distance learning (DL) applications are the result of changing strategic plans of many higher education institutions to increase their student base. Understanding the current and future challenges concerning DL will result in the proper strategic planning for the development of new infrastructures as well as the design, implementation, and delivery of new course materials and approaches

Client Weight as a Barrier to Non-Biased Clinical Judgment

A sample of 95 Christian and 68 Non-Christian mental health professionals were given a picture of either an overweight or average-weight male or female client and a generic case vignette. Participants were asked to make clinical judgments of pathology and client attributions for the pictured client. Results indicated that mental health professionals ascribe more pathology and negative attributes to obese clients than to average-weight clients. In addition, Christian mental health professionals are just as likely as non-Christians to ascribe more negative attributes to obese clients. Ways to remove barriers to unbiased psychotherapy and deal with countertransference issues are discussed from a Christian perspective

Degradation and forgone removals increase the carbon impact of intact forest loss by 626%

Intact tropical forests, free from substantial anthropogenic influence, store and sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon but are currently neglected in international climate policy. We show that between 2000 and 2013, direct clearance of intact tropical forest areas accounted for 3.2% of gross carbon emissions from all deforestation across the pantropics. However, full carbon accounting requires the consideration of forgone carbon sequestration, selective logging, edge effects, and defaunation. When these factors were considered, the net carbon impact resulting from intact tropical forest loss between 2000 and 2013 increased by a factor of 6 (626%), from 0.34 (0.37 to 0.21) to 2.12 (2.85 to 1.00) petagrams of carbon (equivalent to approximately 2 years of global land use change emissions). The climate mitigation value of conserving the 549 million ha of tropical forest that remains intact is therefore significant but will soon dwindle if their rate of loss continues to accelerate

Q Fever Update, Maritime Canada

Since the 1990s, reports of Q fever in Nova Scotia, Canada, have declined. Passive surveillance for Q fever in Nova Scotia and its neighboring provinces in eastern Canada indicates that the clinical manifestation of Q fever in the Maritime provinces is pneumonia and that incidence of the disease may fluctuate

Taste Manipulation and Swallowing Mechanics in Trauma-Related Sensory-Based Dysphagia

Purpose: This study explored the effects of highconcentration taste manipulation trials on swallow function in persons with sensory-based dysphagia. Method: Dysphagia researchers partnered with clinical providers to prospectively identify traumatically injured U.S. military service members (N = 18) with sensorybased dysphagia as evidenced by delayed initiation and/or decreased awareness of residue/penetration/ aspiration. Under videofluoroscopy, participants swallowed trials of 3 custom-mixed taste stimuli: unflavored (40% weight/volume [wt/vol] barium sulfate in distilled water), sour (2.7%wt/vol citric acid in 40% wt/vol barium suspension), and sweet–sour (1.11% wt/vol citric acid plus 8% wt/vol sucrose in 40% wt/vol barium suspension). Trials were analyzed and compared via clinical rating tools (the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile [Martin-Harris et al., 2008] and the Penetration-Aspiration Scale [Rosenbek, Robbins, Roecker, Coyle, & Wood, 1996]). Additionally, a computational analysis of swallowing mechanics (CASM) was applied to a subset of 9 swallows representing all 3 tastants from 3 participants. Results: Friedman’s tests for the 3 stimuli revealed significantly (p \u3c .05) improved functional ratings for Penetration-Aspiration Scale and pharyngoesophageal opening. CASM indicated differences in pharyngeal swallowing mechanics across all tastant comparisons (p ≤ .0001). Eigenvectors revealed increased tongue base retraction, hyoid elevation, and pharyngeal shortening for sweet–sour and, to a lesser extent, sour than for unflavored boluses. Conclusion: Advantageous changes in certain parameters of oropharyngeal swallowing physiology were noted with high-intensity tastants per both clinical ratings and subsequent CASM, suggesting potential therapeutic application for taste manipulation

Bear Facts

After days of locked doors, brain-storming, policy-making, Madison Avenue sessions, a towering accomplishment looms over B.J.C. - the all-new, glossy, \u27Bear Facts\u27 is born.https://openspace.dmacc.edu/banner_news/1017/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, November 8, 1948

Stars and starlets to present talents in vaudeville show • Coeds join sororities as rush week ends • Facts and figures of NSA presented for student study • Lantern adds five to augment staff for November issue • Fall sports dance to highlight varied week-end activities • WSSF drive begins week from today • Prof. to discuss UN at second forum • What did you think of the election results? • Cliff Naylor leaves after two years of kitchen service • College women given the air by indignant male rebuttals • Duck, lassies! Fur flies fast as Upper-Crust sounds off • Bowens, father and son, registered in Ursinus soph class • Grizzlies to tackle mighty PMC eleven in final home tilt • F&M routs Bears 34-6; Jane MacWilliams gains all-star honors • Belles cop team honors with three wins; Penn lands eight players on first team • Young\u27s TD gives bruins early lead but Diplomats rebound in second half • Lincoln soccermen trounce bruins 5-1 with 2nd half rally • Strong team looms as 52 candidates report to Seeders • Rosicrucians admit five members at dessert held in Shreiner Hallhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1601/thumbnail.jp