Analyzing inter-organizational systems from a power and interest perspective

Inter-organizational systems (IOS) are ICT-based systems that enable organizations to share information and to electronically conduct business across organizational boundaries. Especially since the increasing availability of the Internet, there have been less technological barriers to implement IOS. However, that does not imply that IOS-possibilities are implemented successfully in all occasions: other barriers may remain. Innovation is not only a technical process of ?solving problems?, it also involves economic and political processes in which interests are articulated, alliances are built and outcomes are struggled over. To explore this observation, this paper presents a model that helps to describe and analyze IOS from a power and interest perspective of multiple parties. To illustrate this model, eight case studies of IOS are discussed, of which two in more depth. After that, we will put the findings of the analysis in a broader perspective. The paper concludes with the assertion that the scope for the design of an effective IOS depends on a combination of technical, economic and social

Towards a framework of enterprise information system conflicts

AbstractConflicts are an inherent part of organizational life and managers deal with confrontations and conflicts on an almost daily basis. EIS implementations are a type of change that often leads to open or hidden conflicts. Managers and others involved can only deal with such conflicts effectively if they understand the nature and causes of enterprise information system conflicts (EIS conflicts). To contribute to such an understanding, this study focuses on the analysis of EIS conflicts. In so doing, it aims to identify various types of IS conflicts and to develop a framework that can be helpful in assessing these conflicts. To this end, we have conducted a meta-ethnographic study – that is, we synthesized earlier case studies in which EIS conflicts are described. We purposefully selected eleven qualitative descriptions of EIS conflicts and we analyzed the topics, contexts, and processes of these conflicts. Based on this analysis, we propose a two-dimensional framework of EIS conflicts that leads to a categorization involving four EIS conflict types: task, implementation process, structure, and value conflicts. Based on the conflicts that were studied, this paper also reveals that, in reality, many EIS conflicts have a hybrid form and develop from one type to another over time

Information system conflicts: causes and types

Conflicts are an inherent part of organizational life and managers deal with confrontations and conflicts on an almost daily basis. Information Systems (IS) implementations are a type of change that often leads to open or hidden conflicts. Managers and others involved can only deal with such conflicts effectively if they understand the nature and causes of information system conflicts (IS conflicts). To contribute to such an understanding, this study focuses on the analysis of IS conflicts. In so doing, it aims to identify various types of IS conflicts and to develop a framework that can be helpful in assessing these conflicts. To this end, we have conducted a meta-ethnographic study – that is, we synthesized earlier case studies in which IS conflicts are described. We purposefully selected 11 descriptions of IS conflicts and we analyzed the topics, contexts, and processes of these conflicts. Based on this analysis, we propose a two-dimensional framework of IS conflicts that leads to a categorization involving four IS conflict types: task; implementation process; structure; and value conflicts. Based on the conflicts that were studied, this paper also reveals that, in reality, many IS conflicts have a hybrid form and develop from one type to another over time

RFI mitigation strategies for phased-array SKA concepts

Proceedings available on http://www.skads-eu.org/PDF/limelette2_v1.1.pdf ISBN : 978-90-805434-5-4International audienceAlthough the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) will be located in remote areas, astronomical observations may be hampered by man-made radio frequency interference (RFI). In this paper we consider possible interference mitigation options in relation to complexity and cost. As RFI signals will be present even in remote places (e.g. satellite signals and signals from airplanes), SKA design has to consider and take into account effects of interference. These effects may concern linearity of the analogue and digital signal processing chain, such as the number of (analogue-digital converter, ADC) bits, low-noise amplifier (LNA) dynamic range, and (fibre) signal transport dynamic range. RFI signals may also influence the astronomical end-product as additive noise with certain spectral, temporal and spatial properties. As these properties usually differ from the astronomical signal properties, interference can in principle be mitigated. Mitigation however, always includes a cost both in terms of money and often also in terms of signal integrity. RFI mitigation counter measures therefore should be balanced in the sense that the cost of including RFI measures in the design is justified in terms of regained spectrum

Implementation of LOFAR RFI mitigation strategy

ASTRON is building the world’s largest radio telescope for low frequencies, LOFAR. LOFAR is optimized for detecting astronomical signals in the 30-80 MHz and 120-240 MHz frequency windows. Since this part of the spectrum is in extensive use by others, a special RFI mitigation strategy is implemented which will be described in the paper. International RFI measurements will be presented and we will focus on practical implementation issues such as the impact of Digital Video Broadcast, RF emissions from power lines and the influence of large wind turbines on the EM environmen

DARIS, a fleet of passive formation flying small satellites for low frequency radio astronomy

DARIS (Distributed Aperture Array for Radio Astronomy In Space) is a mission to conduct radio astronomy in the low frequency region from 1-10MHz. This region has not yet been explored, as the Earth's ionosphere is opaque to those frequencies, and so a space based observatory is the only solution. DARIS will undertake an extragalactic survey of the low frequency sky, and can also detect some transient radio events such as solar or planetary bursts. To achieve these scientific objectives, DARIS comprises a space-based array, forming a very large effective aperture, as required for such a long wavelength survey. Each station in the array (each required to be a small satellite to ensure several nodes can be flown) carries three orthogonal dipole antennas, each 5m in length. The more station nodes in the array, the more sensitive the antenna. The entire fleet remains within a 100km diameter cloud. \ud A very large data volume is generated by each node, as the antennas have to capture all radio signals, after which the data can be correlated to find the astronomical signal in the noise. As the astronomical signals also have a noise-like nature, no compression is possible on the data captured by the nodes. The data volume is too high to transfer directly to Earth, and will need to be correlated in space. Distributed correlation between the nodes is technically challenging, and therefore a mothership acts as the central correlator and then downlinks the correlated data (lower volume) to Earth. \u

RFI mitigation: cyclostationary criterion

Radio astronomical observations are increasingly corrupted by radio frequency interferences. Thus, real- time ltering algorithms are becoming essential. One approach is to use a speci c time property of the Telecoms signals : the cyclostationarity. This property can be exploited for detection purpose or ltering purpose. In par- ticular, new generations of radio telescopes will be based on antenna arrays providing the possibility of applying spatial ltering techniques. In this paper, we compare the performance between classical approaches based on power statistics and cyclic approaches. This comparison is done through simulations on synthetic data and through simulations on real data acquired with the new generation low frequency array radio telescope, LOFAR

Space-based Aperture Array For Ultra-Long Wavelength Radio Astronomy

The past decade has seen the rise of various radio astronomy arrays, particularly for low-frequency observations below 100MHz. These developments have been primarily driven by interesting and fundamental scientific questions, such as studying the dark ages and epoch of re-ionization, by detecting the highly red-shifted 21cm line emission. However, Earth-based radio astronomy below frequencies of 30MHz is severely restricted due to man-made interference, ionospheric distortion and almost complete non-transparency of the ionosphere below 10MHz. Therefore, this narrow spectral band remains possibly the last unexplored frequency range in radio astronomy. A straightforward solution to study the universe at these frequencies is to deploy a space-based antenna array far away from Earths' ionosphere. Various studies in the past were principally limited by technology and computing resources, however current processing and communication trends indicate otherwise. We briefly present the achievable science cases, and discuss the system design for selected scenarios, such as extra-galactic surveys. An extensive discussion is presented on various sub-systems of the potential satellite array, such as radio astronomical antenna design, the on-board signal processing, communication architectures and joint space-time estimation of the satellite network. In light of a scalable array and to avert single point of failure, we propose both centralized and distributed solutions for the ULW space-based array. We highlight the benefits of various deployment locations and summarize the technological challenges for future space-based radio arrays.Comment: Submitte