Online revenue model adoption in the media sector: in-depth results from an exploratory study in the Netherlands

Especially for companies in the media sector such as publishers, the Internet has created new strategic and commercial opportunities. However, many companies in the media sector are struggling with how to adapt their business and revenue model for doing profitable business online. This exploratory study goes into the success factors and the level of adoption of online revenue models by media sector companies. We use Chaffey (2002) in determining online revenue models in which we included Osterwalder’s (2001) four ‘pillars’ of business models. These four pillars cover the twelve critical success factors for e-businesses as identified by Sung (2004). This theoretical framework was used for in-depth interviews with 20 senior managers within the media sector in the Netherlands. From this, it appeared that advertising is the most used online revenue model, with targeting advertising, lead generation and a combination of content and customer profiles as most promising. Ease of use is distinguished by all senior managers as success factor. Still, in order to be successful, all factors should be applied, and this appears not to be the case. Organizations in the media sector need to invest in technical and organizational expertise by hiring the right employees with the right knowledge. Emphasis on target advertising and lead generation are most promising. A combination of content and customer profiles is a focus-point for the near future

La « route des autochtones » de la Montagne du Guerrero (Mexique) : Un instrument de développement durable et équitable ?

La construction d’une route par le gouvernement mexicain dans l’une des régions autochtones les plus marginalisées du pays soulève aujourd’hui d’importants débats dans la Montagne du Guerrero. Malgré des nécessités économiques criantes, plusieurs autochtones touchés par la nouvelle construction s’interrogent sur les impacts réels qu’aura cette route sur la région. Le présent article montre que ces doutes, de même que d’importantes limites aux bienfaits de la nouvelle infrastructure, sont dus au fait que plusieurs décisions relatives aux objectifs et aux critères d’évaluation de la route Tlapa-Marquelia ont été soustraites au politique, et en particulier aux aspirations politiques des habitants de la région, pour être inscrites plutôt dans le champ du technique. L’histoire complexe qui a présidé à l’élaboration d’un réseau routier dans la région depuis au moins la fin du xixe siècle s’est ainsi trouvée évacuée au profit de simples indicateurs standardisés visant à « mesurer » la marginalité et à offrir un barème pour la comprendre et la corriger. Après une lecture des objectifs qui ont animé le projet d’une telle route dans la région à diverses époques, les auteurs analysent les réserves qu’ont les autochtones face à cette nouvelle construction. Finalement, la tension entre le technique et le politique et leur rapport avec l’aménagement du territoire dans une visée de développement durable et équitable d’une région autochtone sont discutés.The building of a road, by the Mexican government, in one of the poorest indigenous regions of the country has raised important debates in the mountain region of Guerrero. Despite obvious economic necessities, a number of indigenous communities touched by the new construction express doubts about the real impacts that the new road will have on the region. This article argues that these doubts, as well as important limits to potential advantages coming from the new infrastructure, are intimately tied to the fact that a number of decisions relative to the objectives and evaluation criteria for the Tlapa-Marquelia road have been disconnected from the field of the political, and especially from local political aspirations, and inscribed in the field of the technical. By that process, the complex history that underlies the elaboration of a transport grid in the region has been evacuated from debates and replaced by a number of simple, standardized indicators purporting to “measure” marginality and to offer a framework to understand and correct it. After a review of the objectives that have driven the project to build such a road during different period, the authors will address, in context, the criticisms that indigenous people have toward the new construction. Finally, the tension between the technical and the political, as they relate to infrastructure planning and sustainable development in an indigenous region, will be addressed

Utilisation de la spectroscopie par résonance maghétique pour la détection et la gradation de la stéatose hépatique

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Post-cutting Mortality Following Experimental Silvicultural Treatments in Unmanaged Boreal Forest Stands

Partial cutting has been recommended as an alternative harvesting method to ensure the sustainable management of boreal forests. The success of this approach is closely linked to the survival of residual trees as additional losses through mortality could affect post-cutting timber production at harvest. To better quantify post-cutting mortality in previously unmanaged boreal forests, we addressed two main questions: (1) what is the level of mortality 10 years after cutting? and (2) what ecological factors are involved in this phenomenon? Even-aged black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] stands in the Canadian boreal forest were subjected to three experimental shelterwood treatments, a seed-tree treatment and an untreated control. Tree status (live/dead) was recorded prior to cutting and 10 years after cutting. Dead trees were classified as standing dead, overturned or broken. Ten years after experimental seed-tree treatment, 60% of residual trees were dead, compared to 30% for the shelterwood cuttings. Windthrow (overturned and broken trees) represented 80% of residual tree mortality; only the amount of overturning was influenced by treatment. Broken trees were associated with small-diameter trunks, stands having high growth prior to cutting, younger stands or forest plots located near to adjacent cuts (<200 m). Overturning was associated with a high harvesting intensity and large-diameter trees. Standing dead mortality was the most difficult to explain: it was related to untreated plots having suppressed and small-diameter trees. Based on these results, applying intermediate levels of harvest intensity could reduce post-cutting damage. Understanding tree mortality after cutting is essential to reduce economic losses, improve silvicultural planning and stand selection and ensure ultimately the sustainable harvest of North American boreal forests

Technical, economic and environmental evaluation of advanced tertiary treatments for micropollutants removal (oxidation and adsorption)

International audienceTwo pilots for tertiary treatment, an advanced oxidation processes (AOP - O3/UV/H2O2) pilot and a granular activated carbon pilot, were tested in three different wastewater treatment plants after a secondary treatment. A total of 64 micropollutants including drugs, pesticides, alkylphenols, PAHs and metals were analysed in the samples at the inlet and the outlet of the pilots. The tertiary treatments studied (ozone, AOP and activated carbon) were efficient for the removal of most of the compounds analysed in this study, except metals. The addition of hydrogen peroxide to ozone increased the number of substances well removed but it did not improve the removal of substances that readily react with ozone (such as betablockers or carbamazepine). The other AOP (ozone/H2O2 and UV/H2O2) did not improve the number of substances well removed in comparison with ozone alone. The granular activated carbon was still efficient (R>70%) after 6 months working 24/7 for most of the drugs and the urea and triazine pesticides. The 5 technologies studied were sized at full scale in order to calculate their cost for two sizes of WWTP. The implementation of a tertiary treatment on a 60 000 to 200 000 PE WWTP would increase the wastewater treatment cost by 1,5 to 17,6 euros cents per cubic meter treated according to the technology and the removal objective. Concerning the environmental impact, for the big WWTP, the activated carbon is more impacting than the other processes for most of the impacts calculated. The order of POA by increasing environmental impact is ozone < ozone/H2O2 < ozone/UV ~ UV/H2O2. For the medium size WWTP however, the activated carbon is comparable to the other solutions regarding environmental impact

Identity ambiguity and the promises and practices of hybrid e-HRM project teams

The role of IS project team identity work in the enactment of day-to-day relationships with their internal clients is under-researched. We address this gap by examining the identity work undertaken by an electronic human resource management (e-HRM) 'hybrid' project team engaged in an enterprise-wide IS implementation for their multi-national organisation. Utilising social identity theory, we identify three distinctive, interrelated dimensions of project team identity work (project team management, team 'value propositions' (promises) and the team's 'knowledge practice'). We reveal how dissonance between two perspectives of e-HRM project identity work (clients' expected norms of project team's service and project team's expected norms of themselves) results in identity ambiguity. Our research contributions are to identity studies in the IS project management, HR and hybrid literatures and to managerial practice by challenging the assumption that hybrid experts are the panacea for problems associated with IS projects

The significance of hazardous chemicals in wastewater treatment works effluents

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Science of The Total Environment. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2012 Elsevier B.V.The advent of increasingly stringent and wider ranging European Union legislation relating to water and the environment has required regulators to assess compliance risk and to respond by formulating appropriate pollution control measures. To support this process the UK Water Industry has completed a national Chemicals Investigation Programme (CIP), to monitor over 160 wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) for 70 determinands. Final effluent concentrations of zinc, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene), “penta” congeners (BDEs) 47 and 99, tributyltin, triclosan, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, ibuprofen, propranolol, fluoxetine, diclofenac, 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethinyl estradiol exceeded existing or proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) in over 50% of WwTWs. Dilution by receiving water might ensure compliance with EQSs for these chemicals, apart from the BDEs. However, in some cases there will be insufficient dilution to ensure compliance and additional management options may be required

Enhancing Employability for Autistic Graduates: Using TRIZ Theory to Design Virtual Reality Solutions for Fostering Inclusive Communications in Workplace Environments

The underemployment of post-secondary graduates with autism AP-PSD is a critical concern This issue often stems from difficulties in workplace integration and communication This research explores the potential of virtual reality VR systems to alleviate these challenges by simulating work environments The methodology rooted in the TRIZ Theory a problem-solving algorithm refines the use of VR systems for enhanced adaptability and efficiency The primary objectives include enhancing employers understanding of AP-PSD-related issues and identifying significant workplace challenges faced by AP-PSDs Through literature reviews surveys and focus groups the study investigates the factors impacting AP-PSDs and identifies key components to develop a more effective VR system to support their workplace integration The research also scrutinizes existing technological adaptations that could improve situation recognition communication and understanding in the workplace Additionally the potential role of human supervision in conjunction with VR technology support for AP-PSD employees is considered The results suggest that regardless of company size supporting AP-PSDs in the workplace is a feasible goal that can enhance their wellbeing Crucially the AP-PSD s active participation in their own integration process which encompasses training human support and environmental adaptations along with the specific involvement of the human resources manager has proven vital With the right accommodations AP-PSDs can demonstrate up to 30 greater productivity than neurotypical employees offsetting accommodation costs This research emphasizes the need to blend human-centered approaches with technological innovations to boost AP-PSDs employability Though industry-specific integration details are beyond the scope of this study the results underline the potential for tailored solutions aligned with each company s unique culture The paper presents a prototype for further co-design phase