Best Practices and Methodologies for IT Project Portfolio Management

Abstract. In today's business environment, a key factor for decision making is the IT projects portfolio management (ITPPM). IT projects must be aligned with the objectives, goals and strategies, which is achieved through the appropriate application of a methodology for ITPPM. The experienced application of a methodology depends on the experience of the managers of ITPPM, considering that the application of methodologies generates best practices, it becomes necessary to study some of the more representative methodologies and obtain the best practices that allow novice administrators to initiate their portfolio management activities in information technology projects. In this article, three methodologies are studied, from which best practices are obtained, as results; a hierarchy of best practices is obtained so that project managers can be guided or introduced in their field

Current Trends of Teaching Computer Programming in Undergraduate CS Programs: A Survey from Ecuadorian Universities

Abstract. Computer programming has become a relevant element of the modern era. Practically it is involved in all sectors of modern society. Currently, many universities around the globe offer bachelor’s degree programs that contain computer programming related courses. In order to gain insight into how computer programming is taught in Ecuadorian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), we have conducted the first national survey on teaching computer programming in undergraduate CS programs. In this survey participated 53 respondents from 13 Ecuadorian HEIs. We report on programming paradigms, programming languages, integrated development environments and teaching strategies used in the programming learning process. We found that the object-oriented paradigm along with the Java programming language are the most often used. The NetBeans integrated development environment is the most commonly used among the respondents. Concerning teaching strategies, e-learning platforms are commonly used as part of computer programming courses. More than half of the respondents use collaborative strategies such as pair programming in their courses. Finally, a half of the respondents use traditional computer labs for teaching programming; however, other approaches such as mobile devices, games and simulations, Arduino kits and robots start to be used as a teaching strategy. Our findings can serve as a starting point for addressing reforms in computer programming courses taught in Ecuadorian CS undergraduate programs

Data from: Abundance drives broad patterns of generalisation in plant-hummingbird pollination networks

Abundant pollinators are often more generalised than rare pollinators. This could be because abundant species have more chance encounters with potential interaction partners. On the other hand, generalised species could have a competitive advantage over specialists, leading to higher abundance. Determining the direction of the abundance-generalisation relationship is therefore a ‘chicken-and-egg’ dilemma. Here we determine the direction of the relationship between abundance and generalisation in plant-hummingbird pollination networks across the Americas. We find evidence that hummingbird pollinators are generalised because they are abundant, and little evidence that hummingbirds are abundant because they are generalised. Additionally, most patterns of species-level abundance and generalisation were well explained by a null model that assumed interaction neutrality (interaction probabilities defined by species relative abundances). These results suggest that neutral processes play a key role in driving broad patterns of generalisation in animal pollinators across large spatial scales

Plant-hummingbird interaction networks

19 plant-hummingbird interaction networks. If used, please ensure taxonomy is up-to-date and cite Simmons, B. I., Vizentin‐Bugoni, J. , Maruyama, P. K., Cotton, P. A., Marín‐Gómez, O. H., Lara, C. , Rosero‐Lasprilla, L. , Maglianesi, M. A., Ortiz‐Pulido, R. , Rocca, M. A., Rodrigues, L. C., Tinoco, B. , Vasconcelos, M. F., Sazima, M. , González, A. M., Sonne, J. , Rahbek, C. , Dicks, L. V., Dalsgaard, B. and Sutherland, W. J. (2019), Abundance drives broad patterns of generalisation in plant–hummingbird pollination networks. Oikos. doi:10.1111/oik.0610

Data from: Abundance drives broad patterns of generalisation in plant-hummingbird pollination networks

Abundant pollinators are often more generalised than rare pollinators. This could be because abundant species have more chance encounters with potential interaction partners. On the other hand, generalised species could have a competitive advantage over specialists, leading to higher abundance. Determining the direction of the abundance-generalisation relationship is therefore a ‘chicken-and-egg’ dilemma. Here we determine the direction of the relationship between abundance and generalisation in plant-hummingbird pollination networks across the Americas. We find evidence that hummingbird pollinators are generalised because they are abundant, and little evidence that hummingbirds are abundant because they are generalised. Additionally, most patterns of species-level abundance and generalisation were well explained by a null model that assumed interaction neutrality (interaction probabilities defined by species relative abundances). These results suggest that neutral processes play a key role in driving broad patterns of generalisation in animal pollinators across large spatial scales

Species abundances from each of the 19 plant-hummingbird pollination networks

If used, please ensure taxonomy is up-to-date and cite Simmons, B. I., Vizentin‐Bugoni, J. , Maruyama, P. K., Cotton, P. A., Marín‐Gómez, O. H., Lara, C. , Rosero‐Lasprilla, L. , Maglianesi, M. A., Ortiz‐Pulido, R. , Rocca, M. A., Rodrigues, L. C., Tinoco, B. , Vasconcelos, M. F., Sazima, M. , González, A. M., Sonne, J. , Rahbek, C. , Dicks, L. V., Dalsgaard, B. and Sutherland, W. J. (2019), Abundance drives broad patterns of generalisation in plant–hummingbird pollination networks. Oikos. doi:10.1111/oik.0610

Plant-hummingbird interaction networks

19 plant-hummingbird interaction networks. If used, please ensure taxonomy is up-to-date and cite Simmons, B. I., Vizentin‐Bugoni, J. , Maruyama, P. K., Cotton, P. A., Marín‐Gómez, O. H., Lara, C. , Rosero‐Lasprilla, L. , Maglianesi, M. A., Ortiz‐Pulido, R. , Rocca, M. A., Rodrigues, L. C., Tinoco, B. , Vasconcelos, M. F., Sazima, M. , González, A. M., Sonne, J. , Rahbek, C. , Dicks, L. V., Dalsgaard, B. and Sutherland, W. J. (2019), Abundance drives broad patterns of generalisation in plant–hummingbird pollination networks. Oikos. doi:10.1111/oik.0610

Species abundances from each of the 19 plant-hummingbird pollination networks

If used, please ensure taxonomy is up-to-date and cite Simmons, B. I., Vizentin‐Bugoni, J. , Maruyama, P. K., Cotton, P. A., Marín‐Gómez, O. H., Lara, C. , Rosero‐Lasprilla, L. , Maglianesi, M. A., Ortiz‐Pulido, R. , Rocca, M. A., Rodrigues, L. C., Tinoco, B. , Vasconcelos, M. F., Sazima, M. , González, A. M., Sonne, J. , Rahbek, C. , Dicks, L. V., Dalsgaard, B. and Sutherland, W. J. (2019), Abundance drives broad patterns of generalisation in plant–hummingbird pollination networks. Oikos. doi:10.1111/oik.0610