Effects of performance management systems–strategy alignment on lecturers' engagement with knowledge transfer: a perspective from Spain

Growing competition among higher education institutions (HEIs) explains their increasing interest in reinforcing strategies by incorporating knowledge transfer (KT) objectives into their strategic plans. However, this strategic formulation must be aligned with the implementation of performance management systems (PMSs) to properly achieve KT objectives. Thus, the aim of this paper is to examine whether aligning PMSs with KT strategic objectives improves KT performance while misalignment worsens it. To that end, PMSs are measured with respect to planning; cybernetic control; policies and procedures and reward and compensation elements. KT is specified as R&D contracts, extended patents, patents and licences. With a sample of 3812 Spanish university lecturers, we test the theoretical positive and negative effects of PMS–KT strategy alignment and misalignment on KT performance respectively. The results show not only that this alignment is effective for KT strategy implementation but also that misalignment has unintended effects on the achievement of long‐term KT objectives. Therefore, lecturers' behaviour is influenced by how closely KT strategy and PMSs are aligned. The findings are useful for managers and academics to develop PMSs that effectively contribute to the achievement of universities' strategic goals.La creciente competencia entre universidades explica su interés cada vez mayor por reforzar sus estrategias incorporando objetivos de transferencia del conocimiento (TC) en sus planes estratégicos. Sin embargo, esta formulación estratégica debe alinearse con la implantación de sistemas de gestión del rendimiento (SGR) para alcanzar los objetivos de transferencia del conocimiento. Así pues, el objetivo de este artículo es examinar si la alineación de los PMS con los objetivos estratégicos de TC mejora el rendimiento de TC mientras que la no alineación lo empeora. Para ello, se consideran los SGR relacionados con la planificación, el control cibernético, las políticas y los procedimientos, así como los elementos de reconocimiento y recompensa. Las actividades de TC consideradas son contratos de I+D, patentes extendidas, patentes y licencias. Con una muestra de 3.812 profesores universitarios españoles, se comprueban los efectos teóricamente positivos y negativos de la alineación y la no alineación de la estrategia de TC en el rendimiento de TC, respectivamente. Los resultados muestran no sólo que esta alineación es eficaz para la aplicación de la estrategia de TC, sino también que la no alineación tiene efectos no deseados en la consecución de los objetivos de TC a largo plazo. Por lo tanto, el comportamiento de los profesores se ve influido por el grado de alineación entre la estrategia de TC y los SGR. Los resultados son útiles para que los gestores y los académicos desarrollen SGR que contribuyan eficazmente a la consecución de los objetivos estratégicos de las universidades.Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Effects of performance management systems–strategy alignment on lecturers' engagement with knowledge transfer: A perspective from Spain

[EN] Growing competition among higher education institutions (HEIs) explains their increasing interest in reinforcing strategies by incorporating knowledge transfer (KT) objectives into their strategic plans. However, this strategic formulation must be aligned with the implementation of performance management systems (PMSs) to properly achieve KT objectives. Thus, the aim of this paper is to examine whether aligning PMSs with KT strategic objectives improves KT performance while misalignment worsens it. To that end, PMSs are measured with respect to planning; cybernetic control; policies and procedures and reward and compensation elements. KT is specified as R&D contracts, extended patents, patents and licences. With a sample of 3812 Spanish university lecturers, we test the theoretical positive and negative effects of PMS–KT strategy alignment and misalignment on KT performance respectively. The results show not only that this alignment is effective for KT strategy implementation but also that misalignment has unintended effects on the achievement of long-term KT objectives. Therefore, lecturers' behaviour is influenced by how closely KT strategy and PMSs are aligned. The findings are useful for managers and academics to develop PMSs that effectively contribute to the achievement of universities' strategic goals.S

Walkability index for the city of Bogotá

La movilidad peatonal es un aspecto recurrente en los discursos de la ciudad actual. Se espera que en las ciudades se generen espacios urbanos que fomenten la caminabilidad y, de esta manera, se promueva la reducción de la movilidad vehicular y la recuperación de la calidad ambiental, a fin de mejorar la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. De esta manera, es necesario evaluar en términos cuantitativos las diferentes condiciones que permitan tener desplazamientos a pie, y con ello servir de base para la implementación de políticas de movilidad y espacio público que aporten a la generación de entornos más amigables. Para el caso de Bogotá se plantea la construcción y medición del índice de caminabilidad basado en cinco componentes: calidad ambiental, densidad, confort, proximidad y entropía aplicados en las Unidades de Planeamiento Zonal (UPZ), mediante el análisis de bases de datos espaciales y herramientas de sistemas de información geográfica (SIG). Se construye el índice entendiendo que es un indicador relativo de qué tan bien está el entorno construido en diferentes áreas para caminar, y qué condiciones de entorno propician dicho comportamiento. Se logra diagnosticar cuáles son los grados de caminabilidad por cada UPZ, y se distinguen diversas condiciones en los sectores analizados.A mobilidade de pedestres é um aspecto recorrente nos discursos da cidade atual. Espera-se que, nas cidades, sejam gerados espaços urbanos que fomentem a caminhabilidade e, dessa maneira, seja promovida a redução da mobilidade veicular e a recuperação da qualidade ambiental a fim de melhorar a qualidade de vida dos cidadãos. Assim, é necessário avaliar, em termos quantitativos, as diferentes condições que permitem ter deslocamentos a pé e, com isso, servir de base para implantar políticas de mobilidade e espaço público que contribuam para gerar ambientes mais amigáveis. Para o caso de Bogotá, Colômbia, são propostas a construção e a mediação do índice de caminhabilidade baseado em cinco componentes: qualidade ambiental, densidade, conforto, proximidade e entropia aplicados nas Unidades de Planejamento Zonal (UPZ), mediante a análise de bases de dados espaciais e ferramentas de sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG). Foi construído o índice entendendo que é um indicador relativo de quão bem está o ambiente construído em diferentes áreas para caminhar e quais condições de entorno propiciam esse comportamento. Pode-se diagnosticar quais são os graus de caminhabilidade por cada UPZ e foram diferenciadas as condições nos setores analisados.Pedestrian mobility has been a recurrent aspect in discourses on the contemporary city. It is expected that cities generate urban spaces that encourage walkability, promoting thus the reduction of vehicular mobility and the recovery of environmental quality, seeking to improve the quality of life of citizens. For this reason, it is necessary to quantitatively evaluate different conditions that allow citizens to have displacements on foot, and to use this as a basis for the implementation of mobility and public space policies that allow generating more pedestrian-friendly environments. In the case of Bogotá and its administrative divisions, the paper proposes the construction and measurement of a walkability index based on five components (environmental quality, density, comfort, proximity, and entropy) at the level of Zonal Planning Units (UPZ), through the analysis of spatial databases and Geographic Information System tools. This index is a relative indicator of how well the environment is constructed in different areas with respect to walking and what environmental conditions favor such behavior. It helps to diagnose the degree of walkability for each UPZ, as well as to distinguish diverse conditions in the analyzed areas

An uncertainty model of approximating the analytical solution to the real case in the field of stress prediction

Deterministic mechanics has been extensively used by engineers as they needed models that could predict the behavior of designed structures and components. However, modern engineering is now shifting to a new approach where the uncertainty analysis of the model inputs enables to obtain more accurate results. This paper presents an application of this new approach in the field of the stress analysis. In this case, a two-dimensional stress elasticity model is compared with the experimental stress results of five different size tubes measured with resistive strain gages. Theoretical and experimental uncertainties have been calculated by means of the Monte Carlo method and a weighted least square algorithm, respectively. The paper proposes that the analytical engineering models have to integrate an uncertainty component considering the uncertainties of the input data and phenomena observed during the test, that are difficult to adapt in the analytical model. The prediction will be thus improved, the theoretical result being much closer to the real case

Bulk Co3O4 for Methane Oxidation: Effect of the Synthesis Route on Physico-Chemical Properties and Catalytic Performance

The synthesis of bulk pure Co3O4 catalysts by different routes has been examined in order to obtain highly active catalysts for lean methane combustion. Thus, eight synthesis methodologies, which were selected based on their relatively low complexity and easiness for scale-up, were evaluated. The investigated procedures were direct calcination of two different cobalt precursors (cobalt nitrate and cobalt hydroxycarbonate), basic grinding route, two basic precipitation routes with ammonium carbonate and sodium carbonate, precipitation-oxidation, solution combustion synthesis and sol-gel complexation. A commercial Co3O4 was also used as a reference. Among the several examined methodologies, direct calcination of cobalt hydroxycarbonate (HC sample), basic grinding (GB sample) and basic precipitation employing sodium carbonate as the precipitating agent (CC sample) produced bulk catalysts with fairly good textural and structural properties, and remarkable redox properties, which were found to be crucial for their good performance in the oxidation of methane. All catalysts attained full conversion and 100% selectivity towards CO2 formation at a temperature of 600 °C while operating at 60,000 h−1. Among these, the CC catalyst was the only one that achieved a specific reaction rate higher than that of the reference commercial Co3O4 catalyst.This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-107105RB-I00 AEI/FEDER, UE), Basque Government (IT1297-19) and the University of The Basque Country UPV/EHU (PIF15/335 and DOCREC21/23)

Catalytic removal of chlorinated compounds over ordered mesoporous cobalt oxides synthesised by hard-templating

This work evaluates the catalytic behaviour of a series of mesoporous bulk cobalt oxide prepared by hard-templating using SBA-15, SBA-16 and SBA-3. In addition, a bulk catalyst obtained by silica aquagel confined precipitation is also examined. The oxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane has been selected as a model reaction for determining their suitability for the efficient removal of chlorinated pollutants in gaseous waste streams. The catalytic behaviour is found to depend on the abundance of surface adsorbed oxygen species and a good low-temperature reducibility. These key physico-chemical properties are optimised for nanocasted Co3O4 prepared by using SBA-15 as hard template. This sample is characterised by a relatively high surface area, a nanorod-like morphology and a high quality 2D ordered mesoporous structure. At 375–400 °C this sample attains an efficient oxidation of the chlorinated feed to CO2 and HCl/Cl2 while keeping a reasonable stability with time.Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTQ2016-80253-R) Basque Government (Grant 2011/065, IT657-13

Practical Case Application for Stress Model Validation and Enhancement by Means of Metrological Tools

Models consider ideal and simplified situations that will never be met in the real case. The process of comparing model predictions and experimental observation is in the basis of scientific research. This comparison is however complicated because of the uncertainties of the model input data and the difficulty to control the accuracy of the tests and to obtain a significant statistical sampling. Moreover, there isn't yet a consensus on a validation parameter. This paper presents a three-step validation procedure that allows quantifying the application limits of a two-dimensional stress model in a three-dimensional situation. A global uncertainty model is calculated comprising the uncertainty of the model and also the uncertainty coming from the experimental results. The EN number, a statistical magnitude for interlaboratory comparisons, is used to analyse the compatibility between the experimental and theoretical results. Finally, a bootstrapping method is proposed to calculate the coverage interval of the sampling and determine if new experiments should be carried out. Numerical results of this new validation procedure are provided for the case under study. It is also demonstrated that the computed uncertainty budget can be a useful tool to enhance the two-dimensional model by enlarging its uncertainty limits

Co3O4 hollow nanotubes for the catalytic oxidation of C2-chlorinated VOCs

Structured Co3O4 catalysts with a hollow nanotube morphology were prepared by several synthesis routes based on the Kirkendall effect. The resulting samples were kinetically evaluated in the gas-phase oxidation of vinyl chloride and 1,2-dichloroethane, two model C2-chlorinated volatile organic compounds; and exhaustively characterised by means of BET measurements, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and temperature-programmed techniques (adsorption of ammonia and chlorinated VOC, O2-TPD, H2-TPR and TPO). The performance of the prepared nanotubes was essentially controlled by the presence of active oxygen species at the surface, which in turn depended on the Co2+/Co3+ molar ratio, and the adsorption capacity of the catalyst for the chlorocarbon. Both pollutants were efficiently converted to deep oxidation products at relatively low temperatures. In addition, the optimal catalyst exhibited an appreciable stability when operating during 120 h.Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-107105RB-I00 AEI/FEDER, UE and PDC2022-133897-I00) // Basque Government (IT1509-22) // University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (PIF18/185

On the Effect of the Synthesis Route of the Support in Co3O4/CeO2 Catalysts for the Complete Oxidation of Methane

Six ceria supports synthesized by various synthesis methodologies were used to deposit cobalt oxide. The catalysts were thoroughly characterized, and their catalytic activity for complete methane oxidation was studied. The supports synthesized by direct calcination and precipitation with ammonia exhibited the best textural and structural properties as well as the highest degree of oxidation. The remaining supports presented poorer textural properties to be employed as catalytic supports. The cobalt deposited over the first two supports presented a good dispersion at the external surface, which induced a significant redox effect that increased the number of Co3+ ions on their surface. Consequently, the presence of highly active lattice oxygen species on the surface of these catalysts was favored. Additionally, the optimal active catalyst (Co-DC) revealed a significant resistance to water vapor inhibition, owing to the high hydrophobicity of the ceria support.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-107105RB-I00 AEI/FEDER, UE and PDC2022-133897-I00), Basque Government (IT1509-22), University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (DOCREC21/23

Comparative Study of Strategies for Enhancing the Performance of Co3O4/Al2O3 Catalysts for Lean Methane Combustion

Spinel-type cobalt oxide is a highly active catalyst for oxidation reactions owing to its remarkable redox properties, although it generally exhibits poor mechanical, textural and structural properties. Supporting this material on a porous alumina can significantly improve these characteristics. However, the strong cobalt–alumina interaction leads to the formation of inactive cobalt aluminate, which limits the activity of the resulting catalysts. In this work, three different strategies for enhancing the performance of alumina-supported catalysts are examined: (i) surface protection of the alumina with magnesia prior to the deposition of the cobalt precursor, with the objective of minimizing the cobalt–alumina interaction; (ii) coprecipitation of cobalt along with nickel, with the aim of improving the redox properties of the deposited cobalt and (iii) surface protection of alumina with ceria, to provide both a barrier effect, minimizing the cobalt–alumina interaction, and a redox promoting effect on the deposited cobalt. Among the examined strategies, the addition of ceria (20 wt % Ce) prior to the deposition of cobalt resulted in being highly efficient. This sample was characterized by a notable abundance of both Co3+ and oxygen lattice species, derived from the partial inhibition of cobalt aluminate formation and the insertion of Ce4+ cations into the spinel lattice.This research was funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTQ2016-80253-R AEI/FEDER, UE), Basque Government (IT1297-19) and the University of The Basque Country UPV/EHU (PIF15/335