Forming a Practice Perspective for Agility in Information Systems

This paper focuses on agility in information systems, and how the IT function can enable this capability. IS theory and a best practice framework on agility are compared, and gaps are identified. A goal of the research is to reconcile the IS theoretical and practice perspectives. We illustrate that the cybernetic framework of Beer’s Viable System Model can be used to reconcile gaps between theory and practice, drawing on the cybernetic notion of control. The paper reports on a research project, where the findings from an applicability check with experienced IS practitioners are discussed, and a mailed survey to test the research propositions is outlined. From a relevancy perspective, the paper illustrates how theory can inform a high-ranking issue of IT management concern. Better agility outcomes from an extended best practice framework are anticipated

Protecting Religious Freedom in a Human Rights Act

In this article we outline the international and comparative approach taken to protect freedom of religion, and contrast this to the position in Australia

Pulsar timing noise and the minimum observation time to detect gravitational waves with pulsar timing arrays

The sensitivity of pulsar timing arrays to gravitational waves is, at some level, limited by timing noise. Red timing noise - the stochastic wandering of pulse arrival times with a red spectrum - is prevalent in slow-spinning pulsars and has been identified in many millisecond pulsars. Phenomenological models of timing noise, such as from superfluid turbulence, suggest that the timing noise spectrum plateaus below some critical frequency, $f_c$, potentially aiding the hunt for gravitational waves. We examine this effect for individual pulsars by calculating minimum observation times, $T_{\rm min}(f_c)$, over which the gravitational wave signal becomes larger than the timing noise plateau. We do this in two ways: 1) in a model-independent manner, and 2) by using the superfluid turbulence model for timing noise as an example to illustrate how neutron star parameters can be constrained. We show that the superfluid turbulence model can reproduce the data qualitatively from a number of pulsars observed as part of the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array. We further show how a value of $f_c$, derived either through observations or theory, can be related to $T_{\rm min}$. This provides a diagnostic whereby the usefulness of timing array pulsars for gravitational-wave detection can be quantified.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Correcting for the solar wind in pulsar timing observations: the role of simultaneous a nd l ow-frequency observations

The primary goal of the pulsar timing array projects is to detect ultra-low-frequency gravitational waves. The pulsar data sets are affected by numerous noise processes including varying dispersive delays in the interstellar medium and from the solar wind. The solar wind can lead to rapidly changing variations that, with existing telescopes, can be hard to measure and then remove. In this paper we study the possibility of using a low frequency telescope to aid in such correction for the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) and also discuss whether the ultra-wide-bandwidth receiver for the FAST telescope is sufficient to model the solar wind variations. Our key result is that a single wide-bandwidth receiver can be used to model and remove the effect of the solar wind. However, for pulsars that pass close to the Sun such as PSR J1022+1022, the solar wind is so variable that observations at two telescopes separated by a day are insufficient to correct the solar wind effect.Comment: accepted by RA

Cybernetics and the agility question

The ability to sense and respond effectively to fluctuations in an environment is the fundamental problem addressed by cybernetics. When applied to the context of the organizational IT function, agility denotes the capacity of the IT function to perceive &quot;signals&quot; from its internal and external environments, to interpret these, and respond appropriately. The processing of such signals requires the selection and filtering of information to drive decision-making for response in a timely way. The challenge for the IT function is processing an overwhelming collection of signals, in un-standardized formats, and from overlapping sources, that tends to overload decision-makers. Informed by a cybernetic model, we studied how the IT function enables agility. We found evidence (1) that the more mature the policy processes of the IT function, the more the IT function will create agility in information systems; (2) The more mature the intelligence processes of the IT function to look outside the organization, the more the IT function will create agility in information systems and; (3) The more mature the control processes of the IT function that focus on the current use of information systems, the more the IT function will create agility in information systems.<br /

Agility in Information System

This paper focuses on agility in information systems, and how the IT function can enable this capability. An IT consultancy provides insights into agility from observations of its entire client base, a broad cross-section of industries and types of organizations. The IT consultancy’s observations include factors that: determine the relevance of agility in information systems to an organization; enable an IT function to leverage the existing information systems for emerging opportunities; and intervene in the IT function’s enablement of agility. The paper is the result of a Delphi-like study between practitioners from the IT consultancy and IS researchers. It illustrates how research and practice can inform a high-ranking management concern. The paper proposes the IT function is more likely to leverage existing information systems with an investment into the maturity of particular capabilities, and that different IT governance models can drive or confound the enablement of agility

IDENTIFYING CAPABILITES FOR THE IT FUNCTION TO CREATE AGILITY IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS

In this paper, we identify the necessary capabilities of the IT function to create agility in existing information systems. Agility is the ability to quickly sense and respond to environment perturbations. We contrast the agility perspective from a widely used industry framework with research perspectives on agility in the IS literature. We suggest Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) is a useful meta-level theory to house agility elements from IS research literature, and apply VSM principles to identify the capabilities required of the IT function. Indeed, by means of a survey of 34 organisations, we confirm that the meta-level theory better correlates with reported agility measures than existing practice measures do on their own. From a research perspective, the incorporation of the VSM mechanism helps to explain ‘why’ the IT function is capable of creating agility. From a practical perspective of ‘how’, the findings point to a new set of capabilities of the IT function for future versions of the industry frameworks to enable agility

One year of monitoring the Vela pulsar using a Phased Array Feed

We have observed the Vela pulsar for one year using a Phased Array Feed (PAF) receiver on the 12-metre antenna of the Parkes Test-Bed Facility. These observations have allowed us to investigate the stability of the PAF beam-weights over time, to demonstrate that pulsars can be timed over long periods using PAF technology and to detect and study the most recent glitch event that occurred on 12 December 2016. The beam-weights are shown to be stable to 1% on time scales on the order of three weeks. We discuss the implications of this for monitoring pulsars using PAFs on single dish telescopes.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in PAS

Offshore Outsourcing and Organizational Learning: A Model of Cultural Occlusions

Offshore outsourcing of information technology services is a recent global trend. Organizations may not have considered the impact of outsourcing on their learning capabilities for future competitive competencies. The impact on learning may depend on the national cultures of the client organization and of the offshore outsourcing vendor. A conceptual model of cultural occlusions to organizational learning in IT outsourcing relationships is developed in this paper. Suggested solutions include employing boundary spanners to mitigate of any unfavourable impacts. The cultural occlusions model may inform IT practitioners in an offshore outsourcing relationship, and the IT industry strategy of developing countries offering offshore outsourcing services