Information systems offshore outsourcing: a descriptive analysis

Purpose - The present paper has as its aim to deepen in the study of Information Systems Offshore Outsourcing, proposing three essential steps to make this decision: weighing up the advantages and risks of Offshore Outsourcing; analysing the taxonomy of this phenomenon; and determining its current geography. Design/Methodology/Approach - With that objective in mind, it was decided to base the research work on the literature about this topic and the review of reports and statistics coming from different sources (consultants, the press, public institutions, etc.). Findings - Offshore Outsourcing has grown vertiginously in recent years. Its advantages exceed even those of onshore outsourcing, though it also involves greater risks derived from the (cultural and physical) distance existing between customer and provider. Various types of services and customer-provider relationships hide under the umbrella of Offshore Outsourcing; i.e. it is not a homogeneous phenomenon. The main Offshore Outsourcing customers can be found in the USA and Europe, mainly in the UK but also in other countries such as Germany and France. As for provider firms, most of them are located in Asia −outstandingly in India but also in China and Russia. At present, there are important providers scattered in other continents as well. Originality/Value - The conclusions suggest that the range of potential Offshore Outsourcing destinations must be widened and that the search for a provider cannot be based exclusively on cost savings; other considerations such as quality, security and proximity of the provider must also be taken into consideration. That is precisely the reason why the study of new countries like Spain as Offshore Outsourcing destinations is proposed

Alberto Sols y su labor pionera en la investigación y la enseñanza de la Bioquímica en España

Alberto Sols (1917-1989) fue uno de los mayores científicos españoles, cuya labor, a partir de la década de los años 50, hizo posible el despegue de la investigación bioquímica en nuestro país con relevancia comparable a la que se hacía fuera de nuestras fronteras. Su obra, unánimemente reconocida, fue decisiva dentro del campo de la enzimología y el control fisiológico del metabolismo, donde muchos de sus trabajos son hoy considerados clásicos. Su labor investigadora y docente en la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid fue piedra fundacional de este centro. En este artículo se han reflejado aspectos de su personalidad y su trayectoria científica y universitaria que pueden acercarle a aquellos que no tuvieron la oportunidad de conocerl

A quaternionic fractional Borel-Pompeiu type formula

Quaternionic analysis relies heavily on results on functions defined on domains in $\mathbb R^4$ (or $\mathbb R^3$) with values in $\mathbb H$. This theory is centered around the concept of $\psi-$hyperholomorphic functions i.e., null-solutions of the $\psi-$Fueter operator related to a so-called structural set $\psi$ of $\mathbb H^4$. Fractional calculus, involving derivatives-integrals of arbitrary real or complex order, is the natural generalization of the classical calculus, which in the latter years became a well-suited tool by many researchers working in several branches of science and engineering. In theoretical setting, associated with a fractional $\psi-$Fueter operator that depends on an additional vector of complex parameters with fractional real parts, this paper establishes a fractional analogue of Borel-Pompeiu formula as a first step to develop a fractional $\psi-$hyperholomorphic function theory and the related operator calculus

A quaternionic proportional fractional Fueter-type operator calculus

The main goal of this paper is to construct a proportional analogues of the quaternionic fractional Fueter-type operator recently introduced in the literature. We start by establishing a quaternionic version of the well-known proportional fractional integral and derivative with respect to a real-valued function via the Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative. As a main result, we prove a quaternionic proportional fractional Borel-Pompeiu formula based on a quaternionic proportional fractional Stokes formula. This tool in hand allows us to present a Cauchy integral type formula for the introduced quaternionic proportional fractional Fueter-type operator with respect to a real-valued function.Comment: 20 page

Adaptive Vectorial Filter for Grid Synchronization of Power Converters Under Unbalanced and/or Distorted Grid Conditions

This paper presents a new synchronization scheme for detecting multiple positive-/negative-sequence frequency harmonics in three-phase systems for grid-connected power converters. The proposed technique is called MAVF-FLL because it is based on the use of multiple adaptive vectorial filters (AVFs) working together inside a harmonic decoupling network, resting on a frequency-locked loop (FLL) which makes the system frequency adaptive. The method uses the vectorial properties of the three-phase input signal in the αβ reference frame in order to obtain the different harmonic components. The MAVF-FLL is fully designed and analyzed, addressing the tuning procedure in order to obtain the desired and predefined performance. The proposed algorithm is evaluated by both simulation and experimental results, demonstrating its ability to perform as required for detecting different harmonic components under a highly unbalanced and distorted input grid voltage

Research on the Information Systems Offshore Outsourcing Area

El Offshore Outsourcing consiste en la externalización del trabajo relacionado con las Tecnologías de la Información a un proveedor localizado en un país diferente al cliente. Dado el creciente interés por el Offshore Outsourcing tanto en el mundo empresarial como académico, el presente trabajo realiza una revisión de la literatura en esta área. Se han analizado los artículos sobre el tema publicados en revistas de reconocido prestigio, examinando las metodologías de investigación, el nivel de análisis de los estudios, la perspectiva de datos, las teorías económicas más usadas, dónde se ubican los clientes y proveedores de estos servicios, qué tópicos son los más tratados y qué autores y países han aportado más hasta el momento en esta área. Las conclusiones destacan la falta de formalización teórica, el carácter fundamentalmente divulgativo y el mayor interés por conocer no sólo la perspectiva de los clientes sino también de los proveedores de estos servicios.Offshore Outsourcing consists on the externalisation of the work related with Information Technologies to a supplier located in a country different from the client. Given the growing interest on Offshore Outsourcing in the managerial world as well as in the academic arena, the present work carries out a revision of the literature in this area. We have analysed research articles about this topic published in prestigious journals. Research methodologies, level of analysis of the studies, perspective of the data, economic theories used, where the vendors and clients of this services are located, most frequent topics in the area and the most prolific authors and countries are analysed. The conclusions highlight the lack of theoretical formalization, the documentary character and the biggest interest on the perspectives of the vendors as well as of the clients of these services.Este artículo se ha realizado gracias a la financiación del Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación de la Universidad de Alicante (GRE- 09-08)

Facebook and Academic Performance: A Positive Outcome

The objective sought with the present paper consists in analyzing the literature about Facebook in order to know the conclusions of the different works with regard to its influence on those results. The examination of 37 papers devoted to this thematic area allows us to know which journals publish more about the impacts that Facebook has on academic performance, which data collection methods are more often used, which topics emerge in parallel to the use of Facebook in the academic context, and which countries are more prolific in this field. The conclusions suggest that, despite the divergence of results, the overall outcome is positive when it comes to the use of Facebook in academic environments

Information Systems Outsourcing reasons and risks at the largest Spanish firms

El outsourcing de sistemas de información es una práctica habitual en las empresas en imparable crecimiento. Por ello resulta imprescindible conocer en profundidad cuáles son las razones que llevan a las empresas a externalizar y cuáles son los principales riesgos inherentes a esta práctica. El presente trabajo hace una propuesta de estas razones y riesgos y las valora en el caso de las mayores empresas españolas a través de una encuesta que se ha replicado por segunda vez. El análisis longitudinal permite trazar tendencias y evaluar la continuidad y el cambio en las razones y riesgos del outsourcing. Aunque las razones siguen una tendencia bastante estable, en los últimos años los riesgos se han modificado en cuanto a su valoración. En cualquier caso, la propuesta de razones y riesgos debería ser tenida en cuenta por los directivos, previa a cualquier decisión de outsourcing.Information Systems Outsourcing is a common practice in companies with unstoppable growth. It is therefore essential to know in depth what are the reasons that lead companies to outsource and what the major risks are inherent in this practice. This paper makes a proposal for these reasons and risks and it assesses them in the case of the major Spanish companies through a survey that was replicated twice. The longitudinal analysis allows to draw trends and to assess continuity and change in the reasons and risks of outsourcing. Although the reasons are fairly stable the risks have changed, in terms of their valuation trend in recent years. In any case the proposed reasons and risks should be taken into account by management, prior to any outsourcing decision