Inclusion Of Input Research Articles

Social cross-functional vendor selection in technologically uncertain sourcing situations

Based on an in-depth case study of an automotive manufacturer sourcing parts for high technology projects, this study investigates the intentions and structure of socialization within and between firms during the supplier selection process in technologically uncertain sourcing situations. Here, we aim to answer the question of how socialization can hedge against the high levels of uncertainty for manufacturers selecting suppliers of high technology resources. The case represents a major automotive manufacturer in Northern Europe, and is based on 38 semi-structured interviews with representatives of the different functions involved in the sourcing for the new development projects. Our data suggest that internal and external socialization during the supplier selection process can improve internal alignment and problem solving, and external familiarity towards the sourcing task. In this context, socialization took place on functional, cross-functional, and (inter)corporate levels, with higher functional autonomy during the assessment, and higher cross-functional integration during negotiations and decision making, adding to the debate on whether functions should be integrated or separated. • In some industries firms need to source technology from outside their existing supply base. • This has increased the uncertainty with future relationships and inclusion of input from multiple functions internally. • Higher level of socialization during supplier selection can increase familiarity with the supplier and reduce uncertainty. • Higher levels of internal socialization during supplier selection can improve alignment of the decision making.

On-farm evaluation of a predictive model for Australian beef and sheep producers’ vulnerability to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease

To explore Australian sheep and beef producer vulnerability to an emergency animal disease outbreak, Bayesian Network models have been developed, with the ultimate goal of creating risk management tool for outbreak preparedness. These models were developed using multiple stakeholder elicitation including modelling experts, epidemiologists and on-farm stakeholders, including on-farm/survey data. An evaluation of the model’s predictive capacity was conducted, using independent, blinded on-farm vulnerability assessments. Nine properties were visited, four each with sheep and beef enterprises, and one mixed enterprise. There were some discrepancies between the model predictions and on-farm assessment in the beef enterprises, with greater disparity with the sheep properties. Discrepancies between the model predictions and on-farm assessments have created opportunities for examination of the data collection process for the model development, the model itself and the on-farm assessment process. Bayesian Network approaches that allow for the inclusion of both continuous and discrete variables may improve the usefulness of these models, avoiding the loss of nuanced data by the need for discretisation of continuous variables, as will the inclusion of input from on-farm stakeholders in model development. Future work includes more data collection to improve the sensitivity of the model predictions, and a deeper, systemic exploration of the factors that may impact Australian producers’ vulnerability to an emergency animal disease outbreak.

Cognitive base for the information interchange in the processes of cultural communication

Cognitive processes underlying the interchange of cultural information are twofold: on the one hand, the anthropospheric level of cultural knowledge organization allows the recipient to receive it in a processed and ready-to-use form. On the other hand, obtaining from the culture ready-made solutions to the problems faced leads to a decrease in the individual’s ability to produce his or her own creative ideas. The processes of cultural information processing are divided into assimilative (aimed at the inclusion of input into the recipient’s mental system) and accommodative (aimed at adapting his or her own worldview to information coming from outside) ones. The information received in the process of cultural communication is internalized by the recipient to the extent he or she is sensitive to it. In this case, sensitivity is understood as the ability to harmoniously embed the input data into the existing system of cognitive schemes. At the same time, the act of informational translation becomes a stimulus, while the internalization of data is a reaction to it. A fundamental principle of cultural information assimilation is cognitive economy — the desire to obtain the most effective solution to the problem with the minimum expenditure of mental resources. Often, the result is development of cognitive laziness, inability and unwillingness to use the resources freed up for creative work which could then be used by the person as a donor of cultural information. With the increase in the amount of assimilated information, the level of its recipient’s adaptability to the system of culture increases both in the local and global sense applicable to humanity as a whole as the largest of the cultural groups. At the same time, increasing the degree of cultural adaptation leads to a decrease in the person’s creative potential since creativity takes a person beyond the general group vector of cultural development.

Assessing Organizational Readiness for Change Comment on "Development and Content Validation of a Transcultural Instrument to Assess Organizational Readiness for Knowledge Translation in Healthcare Organizations: The OR4KT".

This commentary provides an overview of the organizational readiness for change (ORC) literature over the last decade, with respect to prevailing definitions, theories, and tools to guide assessment of ORC in preparation for implementation. The development of the OR4KT by Gagnon et al is an important contribution to this body of work. This commentary highlights the strengths of the OR4KT including development based on two systematic reviews conducted by the authors to synthesize OR theory and measurement tools, and applicability to a wider range of high-income country healthcare settings through inclusion of input from a diverse group of international experts and transcultural adaptation of the tool, in the context of the literature to date. Limitations and future directions for further development of the tool are also discussed and include application of quantitative psychometric approaches and evaluation of the tool in a broader range of healthcare settings.

СЕРЕДНЬОГАЛУЗЕВІ ПОРІВНЯННЯ В АНАЛІЗУВАННІ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ РЕСУРСІВ ВІТЧИЗНЯНОГО СІЛЬСЬКОГОСПОДАРСЬКОГО ПІДПРИЄМСТВА

The key issue of this article is focused around industry-average comparisons, which allow choosing the right benchmarks about the current situation and development prospects of an enterprise in a certain field of activity. There is studied a case that takes into account the specifics of the domestic agricultural enterprise. Among the basic invariants of the limitations of the proposed methodology, the choice of both certain groups of resources and key indicators that will characterize them is considered. If it is necessary to combine group and individual indicators, different significances of these objects can be introduced into the resulting integral assessment, depending on the methodology used. The basis of comparison is also variable, which may be limited both by the needs of the user of the assessment and by the availability of data in the relevant statistical sources. The ways of combining indicators in the integral assessment are indicated. The estimated average industry data can be taken at the macroeconomic level (the level of the country's economy as a whole) and at the meso-economic level of varying degrees of detail: industry (depending on the selected level of gradation according to classification of types of economic activities (CTEA) or depending on the combination of activities that most closely correspond to the set of business areas in diversified operation of the assessed business entity), as well as territorial (group of regions, region, district, locality). For an agricultural company in this publication, such groups of resources as material, labor and financial are taken into consideration. Special attention is paid to the condition and use of fixed assets. The methodology was tested using data from a real domestic enterprise (“Agro-Optima” LLC), the level of its resources provision and their use in business processes was assessed. The basis for comparison is all-Ukrainian data on the activities of agriculture and their related services under Section 01 at CTEA-2010. All sectoral data are presented in a tabular form with the inclusion of input (statistical) and resulting single and group indicators depending on the estimated resources.

Utilizing end User Input in Early Product Development

A critical component in the development of new products is the inclusion of input from future users. This input is invaluable in defining and understanding the technical/functional needs that the product must fulfill. This input also serves as a guide to less tangible, but often as important, attributes such as satisfaction, acceptability or aesthetics. Along with the functional needs, these play an important role in the ultimate success of a product. This is particularly true in the case of assistive products where functionality is critical but the treatment of non-functional needs can play a large role in a device's acceptability, the stigma associated with it and reducing rates of abandonment. This paper will review the product development challenges faced by producers of assistive technology products. It will then describe results from two early studies which may provide new approaches to meeting these challenges. The first is an investigation of the accuracy of user input when it is provided based on different representations of a design (such as sketches, renderings or models) that are commonly available at various stages of the design process. A better understanding of this input will allow designers to focus more on the components of it that are more likely to accurately represent users’ opinion of a finished product. The second is an investigation into the use of augmented reality to facilitate usability testing of design concepts.

Improving accountability through expanded measures of performance

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how test‐based accountability has influenced school and district practices and explore how states and districts might consider creating expanded systems of measures to address the shortcomings of traditional accountability. It provides research‐based guidance for entities that are developing or adopting new measures of school performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study relies on literature review, consultation with expert advisers, review of state and district documentation, and semi‐structured interviews with staff at state and local education agencies and research institutions.FindingsThe research shows mixed effects of test‐based accountability on student achievement and demonstrates that teachers and administrators change their practices in ways that respond to the incentives provided by the system. The review of state and district measurement systems shows widespread use of additional measures of constructs, such as school climate and college readiness.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a clear need for additional research on the short‐ and long‐term effects of expanded systems of measures. In particular, currently little is known about how the inclusion of input and process measures influences educators’ practices or student outcomes.Practical implicationsThe research suggests several practical steps that can be taken to promote effective systems of measurement, including providing supports for high‐quality teaching to accompany new measures, offering flexibility to respond to local needs, and conducting validity studies that address the various purposes of the measures.Originality/valueThe paper provides new information about how states and districts are expanding their systems of measures for various purposes, and informs accountability policy by highlighting the benefits and limitations of current outcomes‐based approaches to accountability and by clarifying the trade‐offs and decisions that should be considered.

Métricas para a ciência e tecnologia e o financiamento da pesquisa: algumas reflexões

Traz-se a discussão da avaliação da ciência e da tecnologia para o campo da Ciência da Informação, enfatizando-se os problemas da adequação dos indicadores utilizados na avaliação desses dois tipos de conhecimento e a possível contribuição da área para o assunto. Argumenta-se que as diferenças na natureza da ciência e da tecnologia forçam a elaboração de indicadores também diferentes. Privilegia-se a ótica da avaliação e uso de métricas como instrumentos de suporte à decisão em questões de fomento por agências governamentais. Discutem-se primeiramente as métricas para ciência e tecnologia de maneira geral e, em seguida, as métricas específicas para a avaliação do conhecimento científico e do conhecimento tecnológico. Questões sobre quem pode melhor avaliar a tecnologia ou inovação e a necessidade de inclusão de dados externos ou de insumo à produção, são brevemente apresentadas.

Optimizing radiology in the new picture archiving and communication system environment.

Picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) have inescapably altered the face of radiology. Images are available to radiologists and clinicians alike, nearly instantaneously. For patient care management, service has improved, but without inclusion of input from radiologists. Effecting timely report availability requires reorganization of radiology. In a hospital-wide PACS environment, we undertook to render a preliminary report on all nonprocedural computed radiography examinations within 30 minutes in a teaching environment. Two periods of time in the same month were analyzed, one before reorganization and one after. Of 686 reports, 117 were examined with a statistical significance of alpha = .05 (95% confidence) and a power of 90%. Average times for examination acquisition to preliminary report availability on the PACS decreased from 5 hours to 31 minutes. Standard deviation in report generation times decreased from 8 hours to 30 minutes. This preliminary study suggests that business process reengineering can effect improvement in information flow within a teaching facility resulting in radiologists rejoining the patient care management team. Successes, pitfalls, and future requirements are discussed.