Development of a project level performance measurement model for improving collaborative design team work

This research explored a new direction of improving collaborative design by performance measurement. More specifically, a novel 3-dimensional performance measurement model is developed and the purpose of this model is to help project managers improve team collaboration by indicating strengths and weaknesses of team members during the project development process. Considering the complexity of collaborative design work, a multiple criteria model is proposed to reflect the design dynamics, which highlights five performance indicators: efficiency, effectiveness, collaboration, management skills and innovation. These five indicators are mostly influenced by role-based performance measurement criteria (the second dimension). Design and development process (time) is also considered (the third dimension). This 3D model allows all involved design participants to measure work performance at any time during the product development process. In order to develop this model, the role-based task analysis and industrial survey methods were utilized. Three groups of role-based product design and development performance measurement criteria were identified for measuring design performance of the top managers, middle managers and individual designers in a project team. A 3-dimensional performance measurement method was proposed to calculate final performance scores from a performance measurement matrix. The proposed model was evaluated as a tool which can support project managers to reduce potential design and collaboration risks and increase confidence in decision-making process. The model has been discussed on implementing in a web-based application for measuring design performance throughout the product design and development proces

Sustainable Adjustment of Global Imbalances

This paper uses NIESR’s global econometric model, NiGEM, to analyse possible adjustment paths for the US current account, if its current level of 6 per cent of GDP proves unsustainable. Nominal exchange rate shifts have only a transitory impact on current account balances, so any long-term improvement of the US current account balance would require a real and sustained reduction in domestic absorption, or a rise in foreign absorption. This could be effected through a sequence of exchange rate movements driven by a gradual rise in the risk premium on US assets. This would induce a permanent change in the real exchange rate, and would also reduce domestic absorption in the US due to a rise in real interest rates. Global policy coordination, which involved raising domestic demand in countries such as China and Japan, could speed the process of adjustment and ease the negative impact on the US economy.global imbalances, real exchange rate realignment, risk premia, US current account

An Empirical Analysis of Monetary Policy Choices in the Pre-EMU Period

We argue that the choice of exchange rate regime in the process of accession to the European Union and EMU can affect the growth rate of the economy in the medium term. Empirical analysis is employed. We discuss the effects of exchange rate choice, and of the timing of transition to EMU on the core accession countries using model simulations.

Hysteresis loss of supermalloy at different temperatures

The object of this investigation was to measure the hysteresis loss of supermalloy at different temperatures, and to see if temperature had any effect on hysteresis loss and permeability. The maximum magnetizing current was held constant for all temperatures --Introduction, page 1

CCD QE in the Soft X-ray Range

e2v has previously provided back-illuminated CCDs for several solar observation projects, resulting in a number of key articles on CCD QE in the soft X-ray region. To update these, e2v has arranged for tests on X-ray optimised EMCCDs at a synchrotron. These have shown QE of at least 45% from 40 eV to 2000 eV, with Enhanced process devices having significantly higher QE than Basic process. The measured values were similar to data published from the SDO SXI mission, showing that the e2v process has been stable over many years. The soft X-ray QE measurements show a reasonable fit to the simple layer model for energies > 600 eV. For energies < 100 eV, measurements show slightly lower QE than the model prediction for both Basic and Enhanced processes. For energies 100 eV to 600 eV, measurements show a reasonable fit to the model for the Basic process, but less improvement from the Enhanced process than the model predicts. Comparing the ~80% typical QE for UV-optimised CCDs at 385 nm with the 45% QE measured at 120 eV in this study, there is a discrepancy in QE for two photon energies with the same absorption length measured on CCDs from the same back-thinning process (one type with AR coating, one type without)

The impact of EMU on growth and employment

This study addresses and evaluates the impacts of the introduction of the euro on both actual and potential output and employment. In order to achieve this, a descriptive and analytical examination of developments before and after the launch of the euro is undertaken, with comparisons drawn between countries that are EMU members and non-EMU members. There are several channels through which the euro may have affected growth and employment: greater transparency and its impact on competitiveness and the effectiveness of the single market; integration of financial markets, which may raise productivity; and a more stable macroeconomic environment, which affects risk and investment decisions. We analyse the impact of each of these channels on the drivers of growth, after controlling for factors such as workforce skills, research base, openness, demographic developments and structural reform on the evolution of output. The central result of our study is that EMU affects output growth directly and also promotes reductions in output and real effective exchange rate volatility and thereby influences the accumulation of productive capital. Many potential concerns preceding the launch of the euro seem to have been unfounded, and our work suggests that the effects of EMU that we observe have been beneficial for economic growth and employment overall. Our analysis suggests that the direct positive effects of EMU are likely to be larger in the core countries, despite their recent slow growth, and that EMU may lead to agglomeration of activities.EMU, euro, euro and growth, euro and employment

Classification and selection of tools for quality knowledge management

Abstract Knowledge managers need to select which knowledge management tool to use for any given problem and problem environment. The graphical tool, named the “House of Knowledge Management Tool Selection” is proposed, based on the House of Quality Matrix used in the quality function deployment methodology. A simple case study is described that acts as a proof of concept to show the House of Knowledge Management Tool Selection can systematically evaluate potential tools to solve a knowledge management problem. To help identify the tools to populate the house, an examination was undertaken of how knowledge management tools had previously been listed and classified, but these existing classifications were found to be of little help. No classification existed that categorised the tools in terms of the knowledge problems they helped resolve, yet this classification would seem more useful for knowledge managers. To meet this need, knowledge problems were divided into ten subtypes and the knowledge management tools where then categorised according to their effectiveness at solving each subtype. This new classification was flexible enough to include all types of knowledge management tools and could also change with each problem environment. It was found to give a greater understanding of the knowledge management tools in the context of a particular knowledge problem and it could therefore help populate the house tool. The House of Knowledge Management Tool Selection is a promising development of a tool that should be able to become an essential part of a manager’s decision making toolkit

Which Exchange-Rate Regime in the EMU Accession Period: An Empirical Analysis

This study is the second part of larger empirical work focused on the timing of European Monetary Union (EMU) accession and on the selection of a pre-accession exchange-rate regime. The tool of our empirical analysis used in both studies is a model simulation that benefits from a consistent macro framework and estimated model equations. Five accession countries were studied. The results demonstrate that it is important to design pre-EMU exchange-rate regimes independently, according to the characteristics of each accession country, such as openness, flexibility, or level of financial wealth. Following the European Exchange-rate Mechanism (ERM II) as a core monetary-policy strategy for the whole of the pre-EMU period may be beneficial only for some accession countries. While Poland would benefit from introducing a fixed-rate regime for the pre-EMU period, for example, the Czech Republic and Slovenia would benefit more from maintaining a floating exchange rate. For Estonia and Hungary, both options have comparable benefits.accession countries; exchange-rate regime; empirical analysis

When to Join the Eurozone: An Empirical Analysis

The paper is the first part of a broader empirical study that considers the entry timing of accession economies into the eurozone and their exchange-rate regimes between the EU entry and prior to the eurozone entry. The presented empirical analysis is based on model simulations and on the outcomes of previous work related to panel estimates of model equations for five accession economies. The first conclusion is that is not possible to search for one-for-all answers as to timing and exchange-rate regimes. Each of the accession countries should decide in accordance with specific country characteristics. According to our analysis, Poland could benefit most from entering the eurozone relatively quickly, while the Czech Republic and Hungary may benefit from a more cautious approach. This diversity reflects different characteristics such as openness, flexibility, and financial wealth. Postponing entry after 2009 would likely carry fewer additional benefits, however.accession; eurozone; empirical analysis; Czech Republic; Hungary; Poland

An Econometric Macro-model of Transition: Policy Choices in the Pre-Accession Period

This paper analyses current policy choices facing the candidate countries for EU accession using newly developed econometric macromodels of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Estonia. The models allow for endogenous growth, and they have been incorporated into an existing global econometric model (NiGEM). This allows long-term projections to be made consistently with expected developments in other economies and allows full feedbacks with the rest of the world so that we can understand impacts on existing EU members as well as the candidate countries. This paper has several novel features, in that we use modern panel data techniques on short time series data in order to construct models of a number of economies. In constructing the models, we have taken special care to consider the roles of openness and foreign investment on productivity and growth. Different policies toward growth and the enhancement of technology transfer are analysed using the models, and policy advice on the accession and integration are made.accession. macro-model. panel data. transition.