471 research outputs found
Silent Transitions in Automata with Storage
We consider the computational power of silent transitions in one-way automata
with storage. Specifically, we ask which storage mechanisms admit a
transformation of a given automaton into one that accepts the same language and
reads at least one input symbol in each step.
We study this question using the model of valence automata. Here, a finite
automaton is equipped with a storage mechanism that is given by a monoid.
This work presents generalizations of known results on silent transitions.
For two classes of monoids, it provides characterizations of those monoids that
allow the removal of \lambda-transitions. Both classes are defined by graph
products of copies of the bicyclic monoid and the group of integers. The first
class contains pushdown storages as well as the blind counters while the second
class contains the blind and the partially blind counters.Comment: 32 pages, submitte
Do institutional arrangements make a difference to transport policy and implementation? Lessons for Britain
This paper describes local government decision-making in transport in three areas of the UK, London, West Yorkshire and Edinburgh, in which major changes in local government decision-making structures have taken place over the last decade, and between which arrangements are now very different. The research discusses whether institutional change has had a beneficial or adverse effect, and whether any of the current structures provides a more effective framework for policy development and implementation. The results show that although the sites share a broadly common set of objectives there are differences in devolved responsibilities and in the extent to which various policy options are within the control of the bodies charged with transport policy delivery. The existence of several tiers of government, coupled with the many interactions required between these public sector bodies and the predominantly private sector public transport operators appears to create extra transactional barriers and impedes the implementation of the most effective measures for cutting congestion. There is, however, a compelling argument for the presence of an overarching tier of government to organise travel over a spatial scale compatible with that of major commuter patterns. The extent to which such arrangements currently appear to work is a function of the range of powers and the funding levels afforded to the co-ordinating organisation
Private Financing or Not, That is the Question: Lessons from the Light Rail Systems in Spain
The objective of this paper is to analyze if there
is any difference between the light rail systems in Spain
according to whether they have been carried out through
public financing or private financing (totally or partially).
The importance of this study lies in the fact that, for decades,
the public–private partnership has been proposed as
an alternative to public financing of public transport projects
in order to obtain additional financial resources,
reduce the public deficit, and increase efficiency. However,
there are hardly any detailed studies describing how these
initiatives have turned out. Therefore, the present study
analyzes if there is any difference in the main variables
explaining the performance of light rail projects in Spain
depending on their source of funding can be found. For
this, the relationship between variables related to design,
operation and costs of the projects, and the percentage of
private financing were statistically analyzed. As the most
relevant conclusion, we underline the fact that the investment
per passenger increases when financing is completely
private. This would indicate that the most cost-effective
lines, from a social standpoint, were financed totally or
partially by the public administrations, whereas the least
beneficial ones for society were assigned to private enterprises.
This finding provides an advance in the knowledge
of the consequences of private participation in the financing
of public transport projects, indicating, moreover, that
the biggest beneficiaries of this type of projects might be
the construction companies and the politicians involvedThe authors would like to thank the ERDF of
European Union for financial support via project ‘‘Herramienta para
la evaluacio´n previa de infraestructuras de transporte pu´blico’’
(GGI3003IDIE). We also thank to Public Works Agency and
Regional Ministry of Public Works and Housing of the Regional
Government of Andalusia (AOPJA) and the Ministry of Education,
Culture and Sports of the Government of Spain
Consumer perceptions of co-branding alliances: Organizational dissimilarity signals and brand fit
This study explores how consumers evaluate co-branding alliances between dissimilar partner firms. Customers are well aware that different firms are behind a co-branded product and observe the partner firms’ characteristics. Drawing on signaling theory, we assert that consumers use organizational characteristics as signals in their assessment of brand fit and for their purchasing decisions. Some organizational signals are beyond the control of the co-branding partners or at least they cannot alter them on short notice. We use a quasi-experimental design and test how co-branding partner dissimilarity affects brand fit perception. The results show that co-branding partner dissimilarity in terms of firm size, industry scope, and country-of-origin image negatively affects brand fit perception. Firm age dissimilarity does not exert significant influence. Because brand fit generally fosters a benevolent consumer attitude towards a co-branding alliance, the findings suggest that high partner dissimilarity may reduce overall co-branding alliance performance
Monitoring of pre-frontal oxygen status in helicopter pilots using near-infrared spectrophotometers
Value Creation from Big Data: Looking Inside the Black Box
The advent of big data is fundamentally changing the business landscape. We open the ‘black box’ of the firm to explore how firms transform big data in order to create value and why firms differ in their abilities to create value from big data. Grounded in detailed evidence from China, the world’s largest digital market, where many firms actively engage in value creation activities from big data, we identify several novel features. We find that it is not the data itself, or individual data scientists, that generate value creation opportunities. Rather, value creation occurs through the process of data management, where managers are able to democratize, contextualize, experiment and execute data insights in a timely manner. We add richness to current theory by developing a conceptual framework of value creation from big data. We also identify avenues for future research and implications for practicing managers
The moderating role of transformational leadership on HR practices in M&A integration
Scant research exists examining the effect of HRM practices on employee behavior in M&A integration and the role that leaders play within this. This paper develops a conceptual framework that focuses on the moderating role of transformational leadership on the achievement of human integration and organizational identification in M&A integration. We argue that communication, employee involvement, teamwork, and training and development have a positive effect on employee behavior and their identification with the newly formed organization. Moreover, we argue that transformational leadership behaviors will moderate the implementation of HRM practices in M&As, leading to positive employee behavior and employee identification in the new organization. We suggest that further research is necessary to test propositions of the present study in order to achieve finer-grained understanding of the role of transformational leadership on the achievement of human integration and organizational identification in M&A integration
Business models in rail infrastructure: explaining innovation
Policy decisions about the UK railway industry often draw on models and frameworks that treat technology and organisational processes as static and unchanging. As a result, policy makers often have limited understanding of how changes in policy will influence organisational knowledge, learning and the allocation of risk that subsequently affects innovation and system development. This paper applies a business model lens, focused on the mechanisms firms use to create and capture value, to connect policy decisions to subsequent changes in the organisation and industrial structure of the UK railway sector. By analysing innovation-related activity across several different governance structures, the paper highlights how policy impacts in network-based infrastructure sectors are mediated by business strategy, sometimes leading to unintended outcomes. The findings suggest that policy to improve the performance should focus upon coordination rather than just ownership. The application of a business model approach to complement existing economic and policy models in system analysis for policy decisions is advocated
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