Process Asset Library based on Knowledge Management Techniques

Software Engineering Lab is a research center at Carlos III University of Madrid (Spain) that is developing a Process Asset Library (PAL) including concepts about Knowledge Management in order to contribute to generate, acquire, share and distribute knowledge of processes defined in the organization for developing software projects. The technology minimizes the risk of losing essential knowledge to meet goals. It is searching technical collaboration for this project

Methodological Framework for implementing and evaluating Living Labs

A Living Lab constitutes a research approach for innovation that challenges the whole research and innovation process in real-life conditions by human, social, cultural, organizational and institutional aspects having an impact on sustainable service, business and technology development. In this sense, Living Labs are experimentation and validation environments characterized by the early involvement of user communities, closely working together with developers and other stakeholders, and driving rapid cycles of ICT-based innovations. There is a lack of formalized methods for implementing and evaluating Living Labs regarding how Living labs act as innovation environments and what is the impact of such Living labs in creating value for users, stakeholders in the setting where they are established. This methodological framework contributes to the determination of the following issues: • Determine and disseminate the efficient practices for creating and implementing Living Labs. • Determine and assess the relative progress and impacts of living labs and understand the determining factors and processes. • Understand how LL influence their rural and regional environments • Understand the different development patterns of Living Labs and understand the determining factors • Assess the performance of the Living labs as innovation methodolog

Biblioteca de Activos de Procesos de Software basada en Técnicas de Gestión del Conocimiento

Software Engineering Lab es un centro de investigación de la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (España) que está desarrollando una Biblioteca de Activos de Procesos (PAL) incorporando conceptos de Gestión del Conocimiento, que contribuya a la generación, adquisición, compartición y distribución del conocimiento sobre los procesos definidos en la organización para desarrollar proyectos de software. La tecnología minimiza el riesgo de perder conocimiento esencial para cumplir sus objetivos. Se busca colaboración técnica para la realización de este proyecto

Marco metodológico para la implementación y evaluación de Living Labs

El Living Lab constituye un enfoque de investigación para la innovación que desafía todo el proceso de innovación e investigación en condiciones de la vida real mediante aspectos institucional, organizacional, cultural, social y humano, teniendo un impacto sostenible en servicio, negocio y desarrollo de tecnología. En este sentido, Living Labs son entornos de experimentación y validación caracterizados por el temprano compromiso de comunidades de usuario, que trabajan conjuntamente con los desarrolladores y otros stakeholders, y que concluye en ciclos rápidos de innovaciones basadas en TIC. Hay una falta de métodos formalizados para implementar y evaluar los Living Labs respecto a cómo estos actúan como entornos de innovación y qué impacto tienen al crear valor para los usuarios, stakeholders en el medio donde están establecidos. Este marco metodológico contribuye a la determinación de los siguientes temas: - Determinar y propagar las prácticas eficientes al crear e implementar Living Labs - Determinar y evaluar el progreso relativo e impactos de los Living Labs y comprende los factores determinantes y procesos - Entender como el Living Lab influye en su entorno rural y regional - Entender los diferentes patrones de desarrollo de los Living Labs y los factores determinantes - Evaluar el desempeño de los Living Labs como metodología de la innovació

Popular Power and Environmental Governance: The Cuban approach to natural hazards and disaster risk reduction

This thesis explores factors that have endowed Cuba with an outstanding approach to natural hazards and disaster risk reduction (DRR). In addition, the research analyses the connection of these factors with the practice of environmental governance within the Cuban development model. Cuba’s development model is embedded in its socialist project, which has been historically contested by hegemonic paradigms. Therefore, Cuba’s socialist model is examined in relation to the concept of legitimacy. For this purpose, the concept of participatory or direct democracy is also analysed. This alternative democracy model emphasises representativeness and people’s participation in decision-making (popular power). Legitimacy is here considered essential by a perspective that goes beyond strictly political. Its importance is rather based on a general goal of this research: to discuss factors that can be applied worldwide to improve disaster risk reduction strategies. Natural hazards represent a worldwide threat and their effects are particularly devastating in poor countries (C. Field, 2012; Gencer, 2013; Mas Bermejo, 2006). These effects are not only evidenced in the short term by fatalities and material losses; they can also affect countries in the long term by hindering businesses and enterprises that may contribute to economic development (UNISDR, 2013). Finding solutions to cope with this problem is a matter of concern for countries in general, and particularly important to countries that show the worst results in these aspects. Cuba’s example of Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM, see Thompson & Gaviria, 2004) is noteworthy not only for providing solutions that can be worldly applied. Cuba’s example demonstrates that successful approaches to natural hazards are not necessarily based on the income level of countries, nor to the degree of investment in disaster risk management. Cuba’s remarkable results in disaster management could be better explained by the socio-political context in which its disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy is immersed. The research carried out for this thesis used a mixed-method approach (qualitative and quantitative) and was carried out in areas in Cuba that have been affected by natural hazards, according to available historical data of human and economic losses. The findings obtained in the selected areas were analysed within the socio-political context of the country. The consistency of these findings with national policies and popular practices provides the basis of a discussion of particular aspects of environmental governance and legitimacy of alternative models of democracy.M-IE

Silence ≠ Death: On Not-Not Coming Out

Tacit Subjects: Belonging and Same-Sex Desire among Dominican Immigrant Men by Carlos Ulises Decena. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2011. Pp. 328, 1 photograph. $84.95 cloth,$23.95 paper