In-house Capability Research Articles

Transforming local e-government services: the use of application service providers

This study examines the potential of application service providers (ASPs) to transform electronic government (e-government) services at the local level. The ASP model helps local governments overcome barriers to offering next wave e-government services such as a shortage of skilled IT staff and limited financial resources. The realization of full potential, however, requires first the adoption of an ASP model. Five conditions that favor the decision to use an ASP are (1) strong top management support, (2) promise of large efficiency gains, (3) enough IT capability on the part of the government unit to identify key piece of technology, (4) less burdensome outsourcing rules and procedures, and (5) a variety of high quality and reliable ASPs from which to choose locally. To ensure the success of an ASP project, local governments need to build in-house IT capability to evaluate an ASP and to develop proper performance measures. Management should focus on serving citizens and businesses and develop the capability to negotiate as well as manage service-level contracts with ASPs. Continual top management support is necessary for dealing with possible initial resistance and ensuring interdepartmental communication and cooperation.

Technology Transfer Strategy, Management, Process and Inhibiting Factors. A Study Relating to the Technology Transfer of Intelligent Systems

International Journal of Innovation ManagementVol. 04, No. 01, pp. 97-122 (2000) No AccessTECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: STRATEGY, MANAGEMENT, PROCESS AND INHIBITING FACTORS. A STUDY RELATING TO THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMSANDY WALKER and HARRY ELLISANDY WALKERMerrill Lynch Investment Managers, 33, King William Street, London EC4R 9AS, United Kingdom Search for more papers by this author and HARRY ELLISUniversity of Greenwich Business School, Wellington Street, London SE18 6PF, United Kingdom Search for more papers by this author https://doi.org/10.1142/S1363919600000068Cited by:7 PreviousNext AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsRecommend to Library ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AbstractOrganisational growth, as well as survival, is becoming more dependent on innovation, yet no company or organisation can hope to have all its required technology to be developed in-house. Thus, at some stage, it will be necessary to import technology. In the development of corporate strategy, it is considered essential that there should be a subset strategy relating to technology or R&D which differentiates in-house technological capability and availability, and technology which must be imported. Technology transfer is, more often than not, a complex process and requires cooperation at a number of organisational levels. A lack of understanding of the processes of technology transfer leads to numerous problems and in some cases, disaster, with large amounts of money spent and little to show for it. It is imperative, therefore, that a well-planned and executed programme is developed to avoid many of the possible pitfalls, a number of which are described later in this paper.It is very difficult to arrive at one model for technology transfer because each technology has different elements. However, the results of some recent research suggest that there are some basic rules that do apply across the board and if these are followed, then successful outcome of the transfer is high.Keywords:technology transferstrategyinnovationmanagement Remember to check out the Most Cited Articles! Be inspired by these New Titles in Business and Management FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited By 7Enabling Transfer of Intermediate Technologies - A Rural Business Project Case in Rural ColombiaDeycy Janeth Sanchez Preciado19 Jun 2022Gestaltung von Kommunikationsprozessen in ProduktionsnetzwerkenDavid Herberger and Peter Nyhuis25 May 2018 | Zeitschrift für wirtschaftlichen Fabrikbetrieb, Vol. 113, No. 5DRR technology sharing and transfer through web-based platformsYongkyun Kim, Hong-Gyoo Sohn, Youngjai Lee and Jong-Moon Chung1 Aug 2016 | Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 25, No. 4Transferring intermediate technologies to rural enterprises in developing economies: a conceptual frameworkDeycy Janeth Sánchez Preciado, Björn Claes and Nicholas Theodorakopoulos1 Jun 2016 | Prometheus, Vol. 34, No. 2Research technology organisations as leaders of R&D collaboration with SMEs: role, barriers and facilitatorsJosé Albors-Garrigós, Carlos A. Rincon-Diaz and Juan Ignacio Igartua-Lopez9 November 2013 | Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, Vol. 26, No. 1Organizational effectiveness through technology innovation and HRM strategiesZhongming Wang and Zhongming Wang1 Sep 2005 | International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 26, No. 6Performance Implications of Co-Alignment of Business and Technological Innovation StrategySanjay Goel, Ángela González-Moreno and Francisco J. Sáez-Martínez15 September 2016 | The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Vol. 4, No. 4 Recommended Vol. 04, No. 01 Metrics History Received 29 October 1999 Revised 25 February 2000 Accepted 28 February 2000 Keywordstechnology transferstrategyinnovationmanagementPDF download

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: STRATEGY, MANAGEMENT, PROCESS AND INHIBITING FACTORS. A STUDY RELATING TO THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS

Organisational growth, as well as survival, is becoming more dependent on innovation, yet no company or organisation can hope to have all its required technology to be developed in-house. Thus, at some stage, it will be necessary to import technology. In the development of corporate strategy, it is considered essential that there should be a subset strategy relating to technology or R&D which differentiates in-house technological capability and availability, and technology which must be imported. Technology transfer is, more often than not, a complex process and requires cooperation at a number of organisational levels. A lack of understanding of the processes of technology transfer leads to numerous problems and in some cases, disaster, with large amounts of money spent and little to show for it. It is imperative, therefore, that a well-planned and executed programme is developed to avoid many of the possible pitfalls, a number of which are described later in this paper. It is very difficult to arrive at one model for technology transfer because each technology has different elements. However, the results of some recent research suggest that there are some basic rules that do apply across the board and if these are followed, then successful outcome of the transfer is high.

Medical and Economic Benefit of a Comprehensive Infection Control Program That Includes Routine Determination of Microbial Clonality

Nosocomial infections are a major part of the problem of reemerging pathogens causing infectious diseases, affecting 5% of patients hospitalized in the United States during 1995. We assessed the medical and economic effects on the overall nosocomial infection rate of an intervention that provided an enhanced, integrated infection control program, including an in-house molecular typing laboratory capability to rapidly assess microbial clonality. Data on nosocomial infections for 24 months prior to the change in approach to infection control were compared with data from the 24 months immediately following implementation of the new program. Infections per 1,000 patient-days and percentage of hospitalized patients in whom nosocomial infection developed were assessed. Overall, nosocomial infections per 1,000 patient-days decreased more than 10% (P = .027), and percentage of patients with nosocomial infection decreased 23% during the post-intervention period compared with the previous control 24 months. This translated to a mean reduction of some 270 patients per year with nosocomial infection, and lowering of actual health care costs for our institution by $4,368,100 over the 2 years of the intervention.

Relations between statistical offices and governments

In their relations with the rest of society (especially the world of politics) statisticians may encounter two types of problems: the statistical object may be handled without the caution and distance that are sometimes required; the statistical object may be exposed to radical criticism. This paper outlines that research and analysis can help to resolve these difficulties. It also addresses the more controversial issue of whether national statistical institutes themselves should engage in statistical and economic studies. While there are the advantages of an in-house research and analysis capability, some study areas must be excluded from the NIS’s terms of reference in order to avoid an excessive closeness to the political sphere.

TU Electric’s Experiences with the Development and NRC Approval of a Reload Safety Analysis Methodology

TU Electric has developed and obtained U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval of the methodologies required to support core reload safety analyses. The Electric Power Research Institute-sponsored computer codes RETRAN-02 and VIPRE-01 are used in the non-loss-of-coolant-accident thermal-hydraulic analyses. These methods were employed to support the loading of the core of the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Unit 1 (CPSES-1), Cycle 5.An overview of the reload safety analysis development effort is provided, with the focus on the qualification of the system transient analysis methodologies. Interactions with the NRC are described. Included is a discussion of the types of questions asked by the NRC and the corresponding TU Electric responses. Comparisons of calculated results to actual plant data which demonstrate the validity of the CPSES plant model, are provided. The importance of performing “good” benchmark comparisons is addressed as it relates to the demonstration of technical competence in the use and interpretation of RETRAN.The effectiveness of the approach used by TU Electric to obtain NRC approval of the reload safety analysis methodology is examined in retrospect. Finally, an assessment is made of the benefits, tangible and intangible, derived from having an in-house reload safety analysis capability.

Development of international competitiveness in industries and individual firms in developing countries: The case of the Chilean forest-based industry and the Chilean engineering firm Arze, Reciné and Asociados

The report, which is based on case studies of the Chilean forest-based industry and the Chilean engineering firm Arze, Reciné and Asociados (ARA), discusses and analyzes the interdependence over time between technology and knowledge of foreign origin and in-house innovative capability in connection with development of international competitiveness in a developing country environment. The case studies illustrate the important role that foreign technology and know-how have played for the development of the Chilean forest-based industry as well as for ARA. A common denominator of the two cases, however, is that the acquisition of foreign technology and knowledge has often been initiated from the Chilean side which has made possible a successful assimilation and “internalization” of the acquired technology, resulting in increased self-sufficiency. An analysis of the “productivity status” of various factors of production for selected sectors of the Chilean forest-based industry points out the pulp sector as the most competitive in the international context. However, as this competitiveness is primarily based on natural cost advantages and low wages, sustained international competitiveness for the pulp sector as well as for other sectors will, increasingly depend on the ability to replace basic factor advantages with advantages based on more sophisticated capabilities and competences. This will allow for a gradual shift from the vulnerable cost-based strategies presently applied, to more stable and long-lived strategies based on differentiation. A similar analysis of ARA reveals that the firm, in order to become competitive in the international market, needs to improve in all respects related to operating internationally, including international marketing, language skills and representation abroad. The internationalization of ARA could be implemented either in-house or in partnership with other domestic firms or with foreign firms. The strategic alliances with foreign firm that the firm has experienced in the past have contributed significantly to improve ARA's competitiveness in the domestic market, but yielded very little in terms of participation in international assignments. This is due to, among other things, low confidence in the foreign market in the qualities and capabilities of Chilean products and firms and protectionistic behavior of foreign partners and governments. In case foreign partnership would be chosen as internationalization strategy, the ideal partner would be a small or medium-sized firm whose specific know-how within a certain field of technology is complementary to that of ARA.

Outsourcing: Telecommunications outsourcing — A legal perspective

The outsourcing of a company's telecommunications function b an Increasingly popular option available to managers, In essence, an outsourcing is the transfer of an in-house department or capability to an external suppller, which then provides the outsourcing company or user, with services which are at least the same as, and hopefully better than, the services provided in-house. if done properly, this arrangnment generally allows the user to retain a large degree of control over the telecommunications system, whilst transferring day to day management and respoosbility to the supplier, often with the added benefit of increased flexibility and cost savings. As any manager of a telecommunlcations network will be inrare, problems services cm have a serious and direct impact on a company. Consequently, wJ poor quality or Interrupted considering any outsourcing. particular care needs into the outsourcing contract from the start.

Combinatorial Chemistry in the Drug Discovery Process

AbstractCombinatorial chemistry is redefining the way pharmaceuticals and other high performance chemicals and materials are discovered and developed. Less than a decade ago, combinatorial chemistry was roundly heralded as the successor to rational drug design. It afforded faster, less expensive and more comprehensive exploitation of new drug targets. In fact, these two techniques are now routinely used in tandem in any given discovery project. As with every new technological breakthrough, combinatorial chemistry imposes new operational constraints while improving the efficiency of discovery operations. Examples of these will be discussed. Combinatorial chemistry is now part of the mainstream staff resources of drug discovery companies, who regard the in-house capability as fundamental to their business operations. For the smaller, entrepreneurial companies, this has led to a period of acquisition and industry consolidation.

A primary standard high vacuum calibration station for industrial applications

The Metrology Laboratory at Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space in Sunnyvale, CA, has developed a primary standard high vacuum calibration station. Maintaining an in-house capability for calibrating Bayard–Alpert gauge tubes and spinning rotor gauges (SRGs) at the primary level eliminates the need for external sources of calibration. This not only significantly reduces costs but also provides for continuous monitoring of the reference standards used to support research programs and manufacturing processes. A constant volume, pressure drop flowmeter is used to generate known pressures in a vacuum chamber partitioned by an orifice of calculable conductance. Data are presented which show vacuum chamber pressure to be directly proportional to flowmeter pressure drop in the three decades of vacuum spanned by the SRGs (10−3–10−6 Torr). Using a SRG calibrated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the proportionality constant is determined and shown to agree well with the constant calculated from system fixed parameters and measured pressure ratios. A new design of flowmeter is discussed. An estimate of when the system will be fully utilized as a primary reference will be made.

Information technology outsourcing in Europe and the USA: Assessment issues

The paper combines findings from two studies of European and North American information technology/information systems outsourcing practice, and focuses on the economics of outsourcing, and contracting and performance measurement issues. The studies found weaknesses in organizational understanding of the economics imbedded in vendor bids, not least because in-house costs and performance of information systems were not always fully known or identified. Sources of hidden costs are related to poor prior evaluation practice and contracting. Building on previous work some economic myths in information technology outsourcing are identified. Respondent experiences in setting up measurement systems are discussed, including contexts in which tight and loose contracting can be successful and processes for setting up measures and service levels. Finally the paper identifies six problem areas that practitioners need to be wary of when running measurement systems in respect of information technology outsourcing contracts. On assessment, the paper concludes by stressing the importance of retaining in-house capability sufficient to actively manage the vendor, contract and measurement systems.

The Montana Natural Resource Information System

The Montana Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) is a program created by the legislature to make sources of data and information on Montana's natural resource easily and readily accessible. The program serves business and industry, state and federal agencies, and private citizens by providing a clearinghouse and referral service to link data users with the best sources of information. In addition, NRIS helps coordinate among agencies and organizations that collect, manage, or use the same types of natural resource information to prevent duplication of effort and promote information sharing. The NRIS program consist of the following components: Natural Heritage Program, a computer-assisted inventory of Montana's biological resources emphasizing the locations of rare or endangered plant and animal species and biological communites; Water Information System, a program for locating all kinds of water resource information including data on surface water, groundwater, water quality, riparian areas, water rights, and climate data; Geographic Information System, which provides technical assistance for statewide GIS projects and to agencies developing in-house GIS capability and coordinates GIS data standards and sharing throughout the state; and Natural Resource Index, a geographical and subject area indexing system for existing data sources (published and unpublished sources).

The decay of NASA's technical culture

The ability of the US government to carry out future space policies depends upon the maintenance of a technically capable space flight agency. During its first decade of operation the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) developed an organizational culture supporting very high levels of reliability. This ‘technical culture’ stressed the importance of in-house technical capability, ‘hands on’ activity and extensive testing. Forces at work on the agency since 1970 have tended to erode the original culture. This article explains the ways in which the beliefs and norms guiding NASA operations have changed since the agency's first decade of operations.

Application of Ground/Air Data Link to General Aviation Operations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently upgrading secondary surveillance radars with systems which will have an integral data link capability, the Mode Select (Mode S) beacon system. These new systems will allow two-way data communications between ground systems (e.g., weather databases and Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems) and aircraft that are equipped with data link compatible Mode S transponders and suitable display and input devices. Initial data link services include both weather information and ATC advisories. The MITRE Corporation* is developing an in-house capability to perform end-to-end operational evaluation of data link services. Initially, a low-cost, portable pilot position man-machine interface is being developed for use in general aviation operations. The objective is to explore operational issues in laboratory and limited flight test environments, and to demonstrate these services on a data link I/O device, a laptop portable personal computer (PC) with touch panel. A group of pilots will bench test the interface design, and the results will be incorporated into the design used in flight testing. This paper describes the project's objectives and results to date, including implementation details and pilot test results.

PPG-Scripps Biotech R&D Linkup Poised To Pay Dividends

PPG Industries is a relative latecomer to the biotechnology business. Although the company had a limited biotechnology research program for several years, it was only in 1985 that the Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of glass, glass fiber, coatings and resins, and chemicals succumbed in a major way to the siren song of molecular biology that already had snared so many others. PPG is entering biotechnology somewhat differently than have other large companies. Instead of setting up an in-house basic research capability in molecular biology or acquiring an established biotechnology firm, PPG formed a relationship with the Research Institute of Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif. According to Paritosh M. Chakrabarti, PPG vice president for R&D, and James B. Hicks, senior managing scientist for biotechnology, the arrangement with Scripps is now beginning to pay dividends in terms of basic research with potential commercial applications. The deal with Scripps calls for PPG to invest $120 million over 15 years ...

The Development and Application of System Analysis at Kansas Gas and Electric Company

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has encouraged utilities to perform their own safety analyses to support reload applications, technical specification amendments, etc., to significantly improve their understanding of plant behavior. During the meetings of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards on the Wolf Creek project, Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KGandE) was urged to develop ''a strong in-house capability for analyzing and understanding the nuclear-thermal-hydraulic behavior and systems performance.'' KGandE fully intends to develop a strong in-house analytical capability and responded as such to the NRC. Part of this in-house analytical capability will be provided through the Safety Analysis Section. The development and application of system analysis is an integral part of the Safety Analysis Section. The development phases of achieving in-house system analysis capability are discussed. They include intermediate and long-term goals, a technical review of all non-loss-of-coolant accident transients performed by Westinghouse in Chap. 15 of the Final Safety Analysis Report, and the development of RETRAN system analysis models. Applications of system analysis are also discussed. Applications include an analysis of the plant loss-of-flow startup test to relax the acceptance criteria and a joint effort with Union Electric to reanalyze the steam generator tube rupture event formore » the NRC licensing commitment.« less

ICRAF's first ten years

This article is about the institutional development of the International Council for Research in Agroforestry. It follows the Council's history from the initial ideas in the IDRC-sponsored study “Trees, Food and People”, its formalization in 1977, the early years up to 1980, when the Council was searching for an identity, the expansive years 1981–85, when in-house capability was built up and the foundation laid of the agroforestry discipline, to the present phase, from 1986, when major field research programmes are being initiated. The main emphasis is on the strategies and priorities behind the programmes in the different phases. A summary is given of the Council's development and growth in terms of funding and staffing. In the final section, some thoughts are expressed about ICRAF in the 1990s.

Insurance Practices of Utility Contractors

The experiences and practices concerning construction-related insurance were the focus of a nationwide survey conducted with utility contractors. The survey obtained information related to: contract requirements for insurance, general liability coverage, workmen's compensation insurance, particular services provided by insurance companies, and specific practices of contracting firms relating to insurance matters. The results show specific differences of the practices of contractors depending on whether the owner is public or private. Additional differences were noted in the practices of firms in differing sizes. In general, the different practices of contractors appear to reflect differences in business philosophy or in the in-house capability of company personnel.

A practical method for estimating forging loads with the use of a programmable calculator

The forging engineer must often estimate the load necessary in a press forging operation. Thus, the appropriate press capacity can be selected and, in some cases, it can be decided whether or not in-house capability exists for quoting on a given forging. This paper describes a simple load calculation method and its application to forging a steel connecting rod. The results, obtained with a hand calculator, are evaluated by comparing them with the results of computer-aided analysis and with experimental forging data. This comparison indicated that hand calculator results are sufficiently accurate for estimating forging loads and stresses. It is expected that the technique, described in this paper, will be a useful tool for the engineers in forge shop practice.

Management Science in the Public Sector—The Estevan Case

A consultant's study commissioned by the Canadian Department of Transport, (DOT), recommended that the oldest of the five ships then in service, the Estevan, be replaced, and furthermore suggested that a sixth ship might be needed to meet growing Coast Guard duty requirements. The “good news” to build a new ship at the Vancouver shipyards was announced by the minority Liberal government during the 1968 federal election. To decide which combination of features was to be specified in the design of the new ship, Mr. Baldwin, DOT's Deputy Minister, commissioned an optimal investment study from the National Energy Board's OR Branch as DOT did not at the time have an in-house OR group. This OR study led to the startling conclusion that the Estevan need not be replaced and that only three ships were required to perform all Coast Guard functions, thereby leaving one ship available for standby and emergencies. The decision to build a new ship was accordingly set aside. As the federal elections had by then taken place, this decision was perceived as a breach of a campaign promise and was brought up in Parliament. Mr. Hellyer, then Minister of Transport, effectively disposed of this question by stating that it was an OR study and budgetary considerations rather than politics that led to the “setting aside” of plans for a new ship. The OR plan was then successfully implemented and has been credited both with the saving of the cost of a Coast Guard vessel estimated at about six million dollars in 1968 currency and with the subsequent savings in Coast Guard operations and investments estimated at many times this amount. Furthermore, this success led Mr. Baldwin to create an in-house OR capability at DOT.