QUICK-GEOMETRY, a rapid response method for mathematically modeling configuration geometry

The philosophy, development, and various applications of the QUICK-GEOMETRY system were outlined. This system provides a practical method for developing the geometry models that are essential to the operation of computer-based design and manufacturing systems. Of particular interest are the various methods for modeling surface geometry that are used by aerodynamic analysis codes

Principles of Project Management Applied to Non-profit Organizations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify the characteristics of successful project management within nonprofit organizations in Alaska. This study includes a wealth of existing literature surrounding both project management as well as nonprofit organizations. This research is intended to add to the existing body of knowledge as well as fill the gap in the existing literature on project management within nonprofit organizations. The use of a qualitative approach to this research allowed the researcher to explore participants’ thoughts, beliefs, and feelings surrounding their organizations’ methods. The findings, consisting of seven themes present the experiences of four organizations as related to project manager selection and professional development of existing project managers. The findings indicate a strong delineation between the perceived private sector responses with that of the nonprofit organization responses. Additionally, a faith element was strongly introduced into this study as deeply held beliefs impacted the answers of every participant, and thus must not be ignored. This study, in addition to adding to the body of knowledge, offers recommendations to leaders, nonprofit organizations, consultants, volunteers, politicians, and researchers

Maureen Vachris Awarded Grant to Hopkins Research

Originally published in The Classmate Magazine (1961-2001), initially a publication of the Naval Postgraduate School's Officer Students' Wives' Club

Improving inter-spatial comparison of construction costs

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare construction costs between nations, which is an important part of international economic statistics. Methods employed for these comparisons to date have yielded questionable results. The paper presents a summary of the problem and the results of proof-of-concept testing for a new method. Design/methodology/approach Prices were estimated for a simple basket of two construction components using cost-estimating guides for several nations. Both developed and developing nations were included. The prices were obtained for the components installed in the field, including labor, equipment, and materials. Purchasing power parities (PPPs) were calculated from the baskets. Findings The results indicate that the basket of construction components approach provides construction sector results much more in keeping with the overall consumption PPPs for the countries tested. This result suggests that the values obtained from this method provide a reasonable measure of construction price differentials. The method also requires substantially fewer resources than previous project-based approaches

More evidence that university administrators are utility maximizing bureaucrats

Coates and Humphreys (2000) found evidence that administrators affect enrollment supply and faculty demand using a panel of eleven public colleges and universities in Maryland, implying that institutions have enough market power to permit the preferences of administrators to influence these variables. We extend this framework to include political constraints on administrators’ behavior and add data from public higher education in Virginia. The results from these extensions are consistent with the earlier findings. However, we find that political considerations and differences in the governance of higher education in the two states have relatively little influence on enrollment supply and faculty demand decisions of university administrators. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin/Heidelberg 2004Enrollment supply, political constraints, higher education,