Management Challenges for DevOps Adoption within UK SMEs

The DevOps phenomenon is gathering pace as more UK organisations seek to leverage the benefits it can potentially bring to software engineering functions. However substantial organisational change is inherent to adopting DevOps, especially where there are prior and established methods. As part of a wider piece of doctoral research investigating the management challenges of DevOps adoption, we present early findings of a six month qualitative diary study following the adoption of DevOps within a UK based SME with over 200 employees. We find that within our case study organisation, the DevOps approach is being adopted for the development of a new system used both internally and by customers. DevOps, conceptually, appears to be generally well regarded, but in reality is proving difficult to fully adopt. This difficulty is down to a combination of necessity in maintaining a legacy system, lack of senior management buy-in, managerial structure and resistance. Additionally, we are finding evidence of job crafting, especially with the software developers. Taken together, we put forward the argument that DevOps is an interdisciplinary topic which would greatly benefit from further management and potentially psychology oriented research attention

The impact of beliefs about mental health problems and coping on outcome in schizophrenia.

Background. Using the theoretical framework of the Self Regulation Model (SRM), many studies have demonstrated that beliefs individuals hold about their physical health problems are important in predicting health outcomes. This study tested the SRM in the context of a mental health problem, schizophrenia. Method. One hundred and twenty-four people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were assessed on measures of symptom severity, beliefs about their mental health problems, coping and appraisal of outcome at two time points, 6 months apart. Results. Using multivariate analyses and controlling for severity of symptoms, beliefs about mental health were found to be significant predictors of outcome. Beliefs about greater negative consequences were the strongest and most consistent predictors of a poorer outcome in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Conclusions. These results suggest that the SRM is a promising model for mental health problems and may highlight important areas for development in clinical, and especially psychosocial interventions

Prioritising Sibling Relationships for Looked After Children

This is a complex area, involving several different legal processes, with associated legislation and guidance. Overall, looked after children have few enforceable rights at present in law in relation to placement and contact with siblings. It is clear that legislative change is needed to enable them to have rights they can vindicate, in order to maintain sibling relationships. We propose the following changes. The current situation and justification for proposed changes are set out in the accompanying paper

Changes in rumen microbial ecology during dietary transition in cattle and sheep: a molecular and metabolic approach

Ruminal acidosis is often characterised by decreased ruminal pH below pH 6.0, increased concentrations of ruminal D and L- lactate and volatile fatty acid concentrations in grain fed ruminants, creating an environment for growth of lactic acid producing bacteria such as S. bovis and Lactobacillus spp. and reduction in cellulolytic bacterial populations e.g. F. succinogenes. This thesis undertook genotypic studies of rumen microbial ecology based on five key bacterial species, Prevotella ruminantium, Fibrobacter succinogenes, Selenomonas ruminantium, Streptococcus bovis, and Lactobacillus spp. using quantitative real time PCR (qRT- PCR) of 16S rRNA genes. This methodology enabled true genetic monitoring of ecological changes rather than traditional phenotypic microbial culture studies. These genetic studies of rumen microbial ecology were aligned with changes in rumen metabolism. Application of qRT-PCR methodology was validated for complete and consistent extraction of DNA from mixed rumen samples to ensure reliable enumeration of rumen bacteria, and finally development of primers for use in the qRT-PCR assays. The qRT-PCR methods were then used to monitor changes in rumen microbial ecology in cattle managed under commercial conditions in feedlots rather than experimental conditions. The key species were stabilised in the rumen microbial ecology within 7 days of introduction of cattle to feedlots irrespective of feeding hay and grain separately or via total mixed rations. Moreover, metabolic indicators of high production potential coincided with the stable populations of the key rumen bacterial species F. succinogenes, P. ruminicola and S. ruminantium and no evidence of elevated S. bovis populations. Developmental changes in rumen bacterial ecology of steers born during either autumn or winter/spring showed similar trends in bacterial populations when adapting to feedlot rations irrespective of time of calving. However, the rumen protozoal populations were reflective of the time of calving with cattle born in winter/spring maintaining higher protozoal populations throughout the feedlot period. In commercial dairy herds, rumen metabolic end products were consistently correlated with changes in key bacterial populations. Rumen acidosis was observed in sheep fed lupins at 3 times maintenance. Decreased populations of F. succinogenes and increased populations of S. bovis with no decrease in rumen pH were observed in sheep fed high-fat soyabean diets. Molecular techniques such as qRT-PCR used here as well as newer molecular genetic approaches such as next generation sequencing will allow for more comprehensive interpretation of ecological changes in the rumen leading to improved management and productivity of cattle and sheep especially during dietary transitions

A new theory driven model of authentic leadership

In recent years, the concept of Authentic Leadership has become an important area of interest and study, encompassing, as it does, personal beliefs and values and how they are aligned and lived in one’s everyday leadership experience, (Cooper et al. 2005; Avolio & Gardner, 2005; Luthans & Avolio, 2003). However, whilst the literature surrounding it is ever-increasing, the concept and construct of Authentic Leadership is fragmented; complicated by different theorists’ perspectives and compounded by a lack of empirical research, particularly within the UK, (Gardner et al. 2011).Based on Novicevic et al.’s (2006) conceptualization, differentiating Authentic Leadership between its psychological and philosophical components, this research presents a new theoretical model of Authentic Leadership. A 4-factor model was developed and empirically tested using a classic psychometric approach, (Nunnally, 1978; Kline, 1979), and a 360° feedback design, as leaders have been shown to over-estimate their self-reported scores compared to subordinate and peer feedback ratings, (Atkins & Wood, 2002).Critically, the model was developed and tested using real leaders rather than students, who are generally more accessible to researchers, (Lagan, 2007). It is hypothesized that the resulting model and statistical data may therefore have greater validity and applied relevance than other comparative research in the field completed utilizing student populations with little or no, real-world leadership experience. Three UK leadership populations were employed: two business leader samples and, for the validation study, senior serving Royal Air Force officers. A 3-factor model emerged which both simplifies and unifies previous theoretical conceptualisations of Authentic Leadership.Whilst not a direct part of the research study, the author suggests that potentially, all modern leadership failures may be traced back to a deficiency in any one of these 3 ‘Pillars’ of Authentic Leadership: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation or Ethics. Implications for Authentic Leadership Development are identified and some suggestions for future research into the field made

The marine ΔR For Nenumbo (Solomon Islands): A case study in calculating reservoir offsets form paired sample data

It is necessary to calculate location-specific marine ΔR values in order to calibrate marine samples using calibration curves such as those provided through the IntCal98 (Stuiver et al. 1998) data. Where known-age samples are available, this calculation is straightforward (i.e. Stuiver et al. 1986). In the case that a paired marine/terrestrial sample calculation is performed, however, the standard calculation (i.e. Stuiver and Braziunas 1993) requires that the samples are treated as relating to isochronous events. This may not be an appropriate assumption for many archaeological paired samples. In this paper, we present an approach to calculating marine ΔR values that does not require the dated events to be treated as isochronous. When archaeological evidence allows the dated events to be tightly temporally constrained, the approach presented here and that described by Stuiver and Braziunas (1993) give very similar results. However, where tight temporal constraints are less certain, the 2 approaches can give rise to differing results. The example analysis considered here shows that a ΔR of –81 ± 64 ¹⁴C yr is appropriate for samples in the vicinity of Nenumbo (Reef Islands, southeast Solomon Islands) around the period 2000–3000 BP

Review of methods used in priority pollutant analysis

The Water Framework Directive (WFD), Directive 2000/60/EC, was introduced in 2000 with the aim of member countries attaining ‘good status’ in water bodies that are below good status at present, as well as retaining good or better status where it already exists by 2015. According to WFD [1] 41 priority substances and a further 25 priority hazardous substances were identified to be included in water monitoring programmes. These substances can be divided into four main groups: pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals and trace elements. A standardised, reliable and efficient method, incorporating both sample preconcentration and analysis steps, is required to facilitate these monitoring programmes. As popular techniques currently in use involve solid-phase extraction (SPE), or liquid chromatography (LC), a critical evaluation has been carried out on their applications, with regard to priority pollutants and hazardous substances. SPE is used for sample pre-concentration and cleanup, for removal of specific substances from aqueous solutions, and for the purification of various chemicals, while LC is used for the separation and subsequent detection of analytes

Monitoring and modelling the occurrence of priority substances in wastewater

In 2000 the Water Framework Directive (WFD), 2000/60/EC, was introduced and a group of 66 chemicals, including pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and metals were listed as chosen priority pollutants. The levels of these priority pollutants in the environment are regulated by set environmental quality standards (EQSs) and are affected by a number of emission factors including anthropogenic activities, population equivalents, and weather. In order for these EQSs to be enforced, regular monitoring of all water bodies must be carried out, a process which is both costly and time consuming. We have developed a model defining emission levels relating to priority pollutants occurrence in the environment. This is based on information collected from local authorities, Met Eireann and pollutant levels in waste water treatment plant (WWTP) effluents