Towards a fuller understanding of selected molecular compounds

This work is separated into two distinct sections. The first section deals with the analysis by variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction of crystalline molecular materials with novel physical properties. The second section details the electron density analysis of selected crystalline compounds using high resolution, low temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction. Chapter 1 provides introduction to X-ray diffraction outlining the theory this work is based on. Chapter 2 introduces the molecular material studies based on materials containing the bis(ethylenedithio)-tetrathiaftilvalene molecule. The aim of these studies was to achieve a greater understanding of the materials and the changes they undergo when exposed to variations in temperature whilst in the crystalline state. These structural changes observed are very minor but have dramatic effects on the electrical properties of the materials studied. It became apparent that the only way to form a full understanding of these materials was to be able to 'see' the electronic configuration of the materials, not just their gross structure. The field of electron density analysis by X- ray diffraction is now a well documented area. Chapter 4 provides an introduction to the field of electron density analysis. Diffraction experiments were conducted on systems of different complexity to investigate this field and these results are reported in Chapter 5. No electron density analyses have been conducted on the molecular materials studied in Chapter 3 as yet, due to the lack of crystals of suitable quality. It was also noted that to fully categorise the nature of the physical changes occurring in these structures that a diffractometer capable of analysing these samples throughout the temperature range of their physical phenomena was needed. An outline for the development of such a diffractometer is detailed in Chapter 6, 'future works'

Characterizing product-service systems in the healthcare industry

Since the 1970s, marketing and innovation management communities have been investigating how to incorporate customer-desired functions into new product and service designs. These wide-ranging enquiries have shed light on the impact of lead-user engagement in new product development, demonstrated ways to examine service production and delivery, such as the use of ‘line of visibility’ in service blueprints and the modeling of ‘service encounters’, and have created new terms such as ‘value co-creation’. Despite these efforts, recent reviews have identified the lack of an holistic approach to new product-service system (PSS) development. This deficiency needs to be rectified, especially for complex PSS developments in regulated industries such as healthcare, as often there are multiple stakeholders posing conflicting priorities to the development team. This paper describes a PSS characterization approach that supports the early-stage new PSS development process. The approach is generated from eleven healthcare case studies, involving twenty-five new products, services and PSSs. Following the methodology of action research, further cases are selected for the application of the approach to a new product, service or PSS concept in facilitated workshops. Initial implications of employing this approach in three cases are discussed in this paper.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IEEE at http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6921091

Characterising product-service systems in the healthcare industry

Since the 1970s, marketing and innovation management communities have been investigating how to incorporate customer-desired functions into new product and service designs. These wide-ranging enquiries have shed light on the impact of lead-user engagement in new product development, demonstrated ways to examine service production and delivery, such as the use of „line of visibility‟ in service blueprints and the modelling of „service encounters‟, and have created new terms such as „value co-creation‟. Despite these efforts, recent reviews have identified the lack of an holistic approach to new product-service system (PSS) development. This deficiency needs to be rectified, especially for complex PSS developments in regulated industries such as healthcare, as often there are multiple stakeholders posing conflicting priorities to the development team. This paper describes a novel PSS characterisation approach that supports the early-stage new PSS development process. The approach is originated from eleven healthcare case studies, involving twenty-five new products, services and PSSs. Following the methodology of action research, further cases are selected for the application of the approach to a new product, service or PSS concept in facilitated workshops. Initial implications of employing this approach in three cases are discussed in this paper.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2015.05.01

Authentic Intervention in Information Systems Practice

In this paper the philosophical concept of authenticity is used as a framing device for providing an interpretation of aspects of both ethical and practical action on the part of information systems (IS) professionals. It is argued that ethical codes and IS methods may be of limited value in IS work. Both ethical codes and IS methods are complicated by the need to adopt positions on, and give recommendations about, IS practice. One key problem here is that IS analysts and designers have to intervene in organisations (and thereby intervene in the lives of the members of those organisations). It is argued that an important issue for IS research is whether they to do so in (what will be characterised as) an authentic manner, or in sincere adherence with either a code of professional ethics or with a series of methodological precepts

Technology management as a profession and the challenges ahead

This paper is aimed at current and future managers in the field of technology management (TM), and those who train and educate them. After briefly describing TM as a management discipline, the potential challenges likely to rise in the field are introduced according to three processes given in the TM framework: innovation, operation and strategy. Then, a set of propositions are developed regarding the potential impact of those challenges on TM professionals. Concentrating on a long term perspective provides TM professionals with the opportunity to consider their existing knowledge and skill base so that they can prepare for the challenges they will face in the future. The paper ends with implications for professionals and educators.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2016.05.00

Integrating Multiple Stakeholder Interests into Conceptual Design

The engineering design process transforms stakeholder needs into design specifications. This study focuses on the engineering design process for systems of products and services known as product-service systems (PSS) and proposes a novel way to analyze PSS ideas by four characteristics: customer perceived value level, connectivity number, type and degree of connectivity, and configuration type. The process to apply this characterization scheme examines the inter-dependencies within a PSS and between the PSS and its environment and holistically incorporates the interests of customers, end-users, and social and environmental stakeholders early in the development process. This process clarifies design specifications in seven cases across five industries

Comparison of Simulation Codes for the Beam Dynamics of Low-Energy Ions

Results are presented of the simulation of low–energy ion dynamics with three different codes: KOBRA, IGUN and CPO. To share work between different codes one needs to be confident that they agree. For test cases, good agreement was found between the codes and analytical solutions. Where possible, results have been compared to experimental data from the CERN Laser Ion Source. These simulations are in general agreement with the data of the real beam line. c The following article has been submitted to Review of Scientific Instruments. After it is published, it will be found at http://ojps.aip.org/rsio/

Avoiding Attention? Assessing the Reasons for Register Office Weddings in Victorian England and Wales

This is the final version. Available on open access from Routledge via the DOI in this recordThe option of getting married in a register office was introduced by the Marriage Act 1836, and over the course of Victoria’s reign over a million couples availed themselves of it. Yet surprisingly little is known about them. This article analyses information about 286 register office weddings celebrated between 1837 and 1901, with examples from 40 counties and 151 different registration districts. It shows that, while those marrying in a register office were drawn from across the social scale and of a median age broadly in line with the national average, brides and grooms from older age groups were overrepresented, reflecting the fact that a higher percentage of marriages in the register office were remarriages for one or both of the parties. Further analysis of their marital histories shows that earlier or subsequent weddings had often taken place in a church, indicating that marriage in a register office cannot be interpreted as evidence of an ideological preference for civil marriage. Some couples chose to marry in a register office because of a desire to keep the wedding private. Others did so because of practical considerations of location, cost, and speed, but these were dependent on the local context and were not static over time. As this indicates, in assessing the reasons for register office weddings, it is important to locate it in the context of an individual’s life history

Value co-creation in early stage new product-service system development

This is the final version. It was first published by Linköping University Electronic Press at http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp_article/index.en.aspx?issue=067;article=030.The need to develop systems that comprise medical equipment and services to improve healthcare service efficiency and availability has become a pertinent concern in developed countries, as governments continue to focus on controlling healthcare expenditure. This research intends to explore value co-creation with multiple stakeholders at early stage new product-service system (PSS) development in regulated industries such as the medical equipment industry. This paper identifies the literature gap of stakeholder involvement in the process of new PSS development and compares the identified gap with the experience of industry practitioners. The fields relevant to the research focus are described and the characteristics of a new PSS are proposed as the basis of the research. This paper concludes with an initial proposition, that there is a need for an holistic approach to new PSS development and to have early multiple stakeholder input