Information Management Approaches Research Articles

Supply Chain Innovation Research: A Conceptual Approach of Information Management with Game Theory

Whilst investigating the problem of information sharing throughout the supply chain, Cachon and Lariviere (Manag Sci 47(5):629–646, 2001) studied the amount of demand information that supply chain participants need to share in order to create the appropriate capacity in which to supply it. The producer benefits from the supplier’s high capacity, especially when there is a high demand forecast. The supplier, on the other hand, has to manage increased storage costs derived from the higher dimension. In these situations, the player (producer) has the incentive to inflate his demand, waiting for the other player (supplier) to believe in it and to create additional capacity. Unfortunately, the supplier is aware of the incentive of the producer to distort the forecast, and thus views it with skepticism. Given this, the question remains how the player (producer) is able to increase the credibility of their forecast in order to convince the supplier to invest in this additional capacity. Hence, our research problem consists of evaluating game theory as a suited methodology to demonstrate and quantify the value of information sharing throughout the supply chain.

Automated planning of concrete joint layouts with 4D-BIM

Abstract Concrete pouring represents a major critical path activity that is often affected by design limitations, structural considerations and on-site operational constraints. As such, meticulous planning is required to ensure that both the aesthetic and structural integrity of joints between cast in-situ components is achieved. Failure to adequately plan concrete pouring could lead to structural defects, construction rework or structural instability, all having major financial implications. Given the inherent complexity of large-scale construction projects, the ‘manual planning’ of concrete pouring is a challenging task and prone to human errors. Against this backdrop, this study developed 4D Building Information Management (BIM) approach to facilitate automated concrete joint positioning solution (as a proof of concept) for design professionals and contractors. The study first developed structural model in Revit, then extracted spatial information regarding all construction joints and linked them to dynamic Microsoft (MS) Excel and Matlab spreadsheets using integration facilitated by Dynamo software. Midspan points of each beam as well as floor perimeter information were gathered via codes developed in MS Excel macros. Based on the Excel outputs, Matlab programming was used to determine best concreating starting points and directions, and daily allowed concrete volume, considering limitations due to cold joints. These information were then pushed back to Revit via Dynamo in order to develop daily concrete scheduling. The developed automated programme framework offers a cost-effective and accurate methodology to address the limitations and inefficiencies of traditional methods of designing construction joints and planning pours. This framework extends the body of knowledge by introducing innovative solutions to integrate structural design considerations, constructional procedures and operational aspects for mitigating human error, and providing a novel, yet technically sound, basis for further application of BIM in structural engineering.

Building Information Management (BIM) and Blockchain (BC) for Sustainable Building Design Information Management Framework

At present, sustainable design is experiencing energy consumption and cost-effectiveness challenges in the building industry. A recent body of literature argues that the development of emerging smart digital technologies, such as Building Information Management (BIM) and blockchain (BC), offer immediate benefits to the industry. However, the current application of BIM and BC in the sustainable design and construction process focuses on smart energy and construction management, with little attention to addressing challenges for applying BIM to sustainable design and proposing strategies in terms of the usability of these technologies in the management of building construction projects. Therefore, this paper sets out to explore the potential roles of an integrated BIM and BC approach for sustainable building design information management. The first attempt is presented to use BC aided BIM for sustainable building design coordination and collaboration in multiple building stages. BC has the potential to address challenges that hinder the industry from using BIM for sustainable design, which has been unearthed. An innovative BC enhanced transaction process in BIM is required for sustainable building development. Roles of a user level driven smart contract system of BC can be used to enhance BIM system in the sustainable buildings process. The role of BC is primarily at user level driven smart contracts and their record value exchange capabilities. A user level (BIM stakeholders) driven BC technology for transaction in BIM process flow is revealed, and the user level (sustainable building design project stakeholders/BIM clients) driven and the smart contract enabled BIM+ BC architecture to address challenges of BIM for sustainable design has been further circulated according to the literature. Subsequently, a conceptual architecture of BIM + BC for Sustainable Building Design Information Management Framework in building project management has been proposed, validated, and refined. The Framework has two level encompassing structures and flow. The high-level framework is focused on strategy, whilst the low-level framework demonstrates technical components in detail. This architecture supporting project stakeholders in managing information, has the potential to achieve and ensure the realization of sustainable design goals through the interactive realization of smart contracts integrated into the user level driven BIM + BC system and its recording value exchange function through three user-driven levels, namely user, system, and transaction.

Expecting the Unexpected: Effects of Data Collection Design Choices on the Quality of Crowdsourced User-Generated Content

As crowdsourced user-generated content becomes an important source of data for organizations, a pressing question is how to ensure that data contributed by ordinary people outside of traditional organizational boundaries is of suitable quality to be useful for both known and unanticipated purposes. This research examines the impact of different information quality management strategies, and corresponding data collection design choices, on key dimensions of information quality in crowdsourced user-generated content. We conceptualize a contributor-centric information quality management approach focusing on instance-based data collection. We contrast it with the traditional consumer-centric fitness-for-use conceptualization of information quality that emphasizes class-based data collection. We present laboratory and field experiments conducted in a citizen science domain that demonstrate trade-offs between the quality dimensions of accuracy, completeness (including discoveries), and precision between the two information management approaches and their corresponding data collection designs. Specifically, we show that instance-based data collection results in higher accuracy, dataset completeness, and number of discoveries, but this comes at the expense of lower precision. We further validate the practical value of the instance-based approach by conducting an applicability check with potential data consumers (scientists, in our context of citizen science). In a follow-up study, we show, using human experts and supervised machine learning techniques, that substantial precision gains on instance-based data can be achieved with post-processing. We conclude by discussing the benefits and limitations of different information quality and data collection design choices for information quality in crowdsourced user-generated content.

Upper-extremity function prospectively predicts adverse discharge and all-cause COPD readmissions: a pilot study.

BackgroundFrailty can inform management approaches for individuals with COPD. However, inpatient measures of frailty are seldom employed because they are time-consuming or inapplicable for bed-bound patients. We investigated the feasibility and potential of an innovative sensor-based upper-extremity function (UEF) test for frailty assessment in predicting adverse outcomes.MethodsHospitalized patients with COPD-related exacerbations (aged ≥55 years) were recruited and performed the UEF test within 24 hours of admission. UEF parameters were obtained and fed into our previously developed frailty model to calculate frailty status (non-frail, pre-frail, and frail) and frailty score (0: extreme resilience to 1: extreme frailty). In-hospital (length of stay) and post-discharge (discharge disposition, 30-day exacerbation with treatment, and all-cause 30-day readmission) outcomes were collected. Associations between UEF frailty and outcomes were investigated using ANOVA and logistic models adjusted for demographic data.ResultsIn total, 42 patients were recruited. All participants were able to perform the UEF test. Based on UEF, participants were stratified into three groups of non-frail (n=6, frailty score =0.18±0.09), pre-frail (n=14, frailty score =0.45±0.09), and frail (n=22, frailty score =0.78±0.11). Both frailty status and frailty score were significantly associated with unfavorable discharge disposition (P<0.005) and all-cause 30-day readmission (P<0.05). On the other hand, UEF frailty measures were associated with neither hospital length of stay (P>0.5) nor 30-day exacerbation with treatment (P>0.70). Age was only significantly associated with unfavorable discharge disposition (P=0.048).ConclusionIn agreement with previous work, the current findings underline the importance of measuring frailty for risk-stratification of COPD patients. The UEF was feasible and easily performed among all hospitalized COPD patients. In this study, we have shown that, using our quick and objective frailty measures, COPD patients can be prospectively risk-stratified in terms of unfavorable discharge disposition and all-cause 30-day readmissions.

Evidence based Practices for Drug Abuse Information Management and Awareness Approaches

The harmful use of illicit drugs “Drug abuse” is the most frequent problem in the world. Khat, heroin, cocaine, cigarette and cannabis have been the most common used drugs in African countries, for instance Tanzania. Youth have been identified as the most vulnerable group and highly affected. Drug abuse results into economic, social and health effects including; mental retardation, lung diseases, heart diseases and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), disorders in adolescence, young adults and the general public. Several awareness and initiatives program were done by the government and private sectors in bringing awareness on the effects of drug abuse through community and school based education, distribution of brochures as well as media. However, in Tanzania, management of addict’s data, statistics about addicts, storage and accessibility of drug abuse information are conducted on paper based approaches resulting into several problems such as damage of data and loss of information, time consumption in data collection, delay in reporting, and difficulties in reaching the large number of people during awareness programs. This paper presents the evidence of practices, awareness and information management on drug abuse, case of Dar es Salaam and Arusha major cities in Tanzania, with web and mobile application designed solution for drug abuse data management and awareness creation.

SEAMANCORE: A spatially explicit simulation model for assisting the local MANagement of COral REefs

Simulation models have a broad potential as decision-support tools for resource management by mechanistically representing and projecting complex ecological processes. In the case of socioeconomically and biologically important coral reef ecosystems, models have been used to address important questions regarding the effects of human impacts on their ecological dynamics and to inform management approaches. However, few of the models integrate benthic and fish dynamics with the influence of external anthropogenic stressors, and virtually none is available as a user-friendly platform for non-scientist managers to easily access. We propose a new ecological model to assess the effects of simultaneous stressors on coral reef ecosystems which includes a dynamic representation of benthic and fish spatial processes, linked by their ecological feedbacks. SEAMANCORE is a two-dimensional model representing the dynamics of local coral reefs which can be used to explore the influence of bleaching, eutrophication, and fishing, including destructive fishing such as bomb and cyanide fishing. The model is coupled with a menu-based interface that allows users with no programming experience to simulate numerous scenarios in specific contexts that can be customized with depth profile maps and initial coral reef conditions of fish and benthos functional group abundance. This study includes SEAMANCORE’s description and shows the model’s sensitivity to its parameters by means of sensitivity analyses. Its utility is exemplified by exploring various scenarios of no stressors, fishing and bleaching regimes in a theoretical coral reef. We expect that linking fish demographics with changing habitat quality will prove insightful for fisheries management.

Managing information in road traffic: best practices

When considering road safety, applying the appropriate infrastructure and methods of using it occurs. Thus, it seem important to ask the question not only how to gather the information, but also, how to manage it. Possessing information does not equal using it, therefore, there have been analysed the methods used to gather and manage the information concerning the traffic incidents and the warnings about the conditions that could possibly increase the probability of the occurrence of such happenings. The comparative analysis and short overview have been performed for the requirements of hereby article so as to address the abovementioned issues. Those have led to creating short portfolio of most interesting solutions that may be applicable to the systems monitoring the safety in high density road infrastructure. The conclusions try to answer the questions which highlight the correlation that is perceived between the effective use of the chosen method and the information management approach, as well as the correlation between the scope of the investment performed and the effectiveness of the launched solution. It may happen the latter may not be directly linked with the former, although it cannot be denied that many of the systems are usually a bit expensive.

Concept of Sustainable Data for a Selective Laser Melting Machine

Due to increased digitalization in the production environment, data, information, and sustainable management approaches should be developed in order to enable production machines for data acquisition, data exchange and data analysis. Especially for additive manufacturing technologies, those approaches are extremely important to detect and avoid failures in the manufacturing process. A critical failure during the manufacturing process could lead to a defective workpiece, wasting resources. Within this context, this work addresses the concept of sustainable data for a selective laser melting machine tool. The selective laser melting process is one of the additive manufacturing technologies that is capable of producing lighter and more complex functional workpieces in comparison to conventional manufacturing technologies. Beyond the use of the machine tool system internal data (e.g. process data, internal sensors), additional information such as energy consumption and data provided using external sensors are required to detect the current condition of production process. In order to observe if the considered data sources are capable of identifying abnormal conditions of the machine tool, failures from five subsystems were inserted during a manufacturing process of a reference workpiece. Four of the five data sources detect failures that influenced the layer quality while they are occurring. Thus, the results could be used to allow the operator to take measures to save energy and resources.

Designing Information Product (IP) Maps On the Process of Data Processing and Academic Information

Information Product Approach (IP Approach) is an information management approach. It can be used to manage product information and data quality analysis. IP-Map can be used by organizations to facilitate the management of knowledge in collecting, storing, maintaining, and using the data in an organized. The process of data management of academic activities in X University has not yet used the IP approach. X University has not given attention to the management of information quality of its. During this time X University just concern to system applications used to support the automation of data management in the process of academic activities. IP-Map that made in this paper can be used as a basis for analyzing the quality of data and information. By the IP-MAP, X University is expected to know which parts of the process that need improvement in the quality of data and information management.&#x0D; &#x0D; Index term: IP Approach, IP-Map, information quality, data quality.&#x0D; REFERENCES[1] H. Zhu, S. Madnick, Y. Lee, and R. Wang, “Data and Information Quality Research: Its Evolution and Future,” Working Paper, MIT, USA, 2012.[2] Lee, Yang W; at al, Journey To Data Quality, MIT Press: Cambridge, 2006.[3] L. Al-Hakim, Information Quality Management: Theory and Applications. Idea Group Inc (IGI), 2007.[4] “Access : A semiotic information quality framework: development and comparative analysis : Journal ofInformation Technology.” [Online]. Available: http://www.palgravejournals.com/jit/journal/v20/n2/full/2000038a.html. [Accessed: 18-Sep-2015].[5] Effendi, Diana, Pengukuran Dan Perbaikan Kualitas Data Dan Informasi Di Perguruan Tinggi MenggunakanCALDEA Dan EVAMECAL (Studi Kasus X University), Proceeding Seminar Nasional RESASTEK, 2012, pp.TIG.1-TI-G.6.

Assessing flexibility in event-driven process adaptation

Business process management (BPM) has emerged as a prominent information management approach focusing on the design, execution and governance of organizational business processes. The ability to deal with both foreseen and unforeseen changes in business processes is considered critical for contemporary business process management systems. This paper proposes an approach that couples an event-driven framework for detecting and reasoning in situations that pose the need for process adaptations with MCDM methods for selecting adaptations. The proposed approach has been implemented in an aspect-oriented extension of a BPMN2.0 engine in order to enact adaptations of business processes in real-time.

The Gendered Experiences of Women Staff and Volunteers in Sport for Development Organizations: The Case of Transmigrant Workers of Skateistan

This study seeks to better understand broad management issues associated with the employment of female workers in one sport for development (SfD) project. Through interviews with the executive director and five female staff members of Skateistan—the skateboarding SfD project operating in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa—this study offers insights on female transmigrant workers who relocated to work for the project in Afghanistan, focusing particularly on how formal and informal management strategies are experienced by international female staff and volunteers. Extending the work of Black, Mendenhall, and Oddou with a poststructural feminist approach, we identify six key themes related to the experiences of female transmigrant workers moving into and during SfD assignments: (a) initial motivations, (b) organizational selection mechanisms, (c) management of risk, (d) work–life balance, (e) managing the self, and (f) negotiating postcolonial critiques of development work. In so doing, this paper recognizes women’s lived experiences as a valid and valuable form of knowledge that could be used to inform management approaches adopted by SfD organizations.

Nurse manager risk information management for decision-making: A qualitative analysis

BackgroundNurse managers enact changes to practice based on information collected from the local ward environment with the aid of electronic risk management and incident reporting systems. Despite being key users of electronic risk management and incident reporting systems, little knowledge exists on nurse managers’ use and communication of information derived from these systems. AimThis qualitative study aimed to explore nurse manager information requirements, risk management practices, and influences on decision-making when interacting with an electronic risk management and incident reporting system. MethodsFocus groups with eight nurse managers were conducted at a teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia. FindingsDecision-making and information management approaches varied depending on whether the nurse manager investigated a single incident report or viewed summarised incident reports. Thematic and content analysis produced three themes: navigating the system, relying on data, and communication and feedback. DiscussionNurse managers faced individual and organisational barriers preventing them from using the risk management and incident reporting system to its full potential. ConclusionThe findings from this study will assist nursing and health care administrators in identifying ineffective practice and meeting nurse manager information requirements.

An Integrated Approach for Monitoring and Information Management of the Guanling Landslide (China)

Landslide triggered by earthquake or rainstorm often results in serious property damage and human casualties. It is, therefore, necessary to establish an emergency management system to facilitate the processes of damage assessment and decision-making. This paper has presented an integrated approach for mapping and analyzing spatial features of a landslide from remote sensing images and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Several image interpretation tools have been provided for analyzing the spatial distribution and characteristics of the landslide on different dimensions: (1D) terrain variation analysis along the mass movement direction and (3D) morphological analysis. In addition, the results of image interpretation can be further discussed and adjusted on an online cooperating platform, which was built to improve the coordination of all players involved in different phases of emergency management, e.g., hazard experts, emergency managers, and first response organizations. A mobile-based application has also been developed to enhance the data exchange and on-site investigation. Our pilot study of Guanling landslide shows that the presented approach has the potential to facilitate the phases of landslide monitoring and information management, e.g., hazard assessment, emergency preparedness, planning mitigation, and response.

Examining Human Perception of Elephants and Large Trees for Insights Into Conservation of an African Savanna Ecosystem

ABSTRACTAfrican elephants (Loxodonta africana) and large trees have ecological and human value, but elephant impact on large trees may influence conservation strategies. We used a self-administered questionnaire to examine perceptions of elephants, large trees, and elephant management endeavors among tourists and residents in the Associated Private Nature Reserves, South Africa to inform management approaches. The questionnaire included photographs of different elephant types and of vegetation with varying degrees of elephant-impact. Respondents reported high attractiveness rankings for all elephant types, but they scored non-impacted trees higher than photos of trees with visible elephant impact. Results also revealed a significant positive correlation between elephant types known to cause high tree impact and attractiveness of non-impacted trees. Residents favored more intrusive elephant management methods, with environmental manipulation representing the most supported and balanced option for both interest groups. Respondents advocated management that focuses on ecosystem functioning more so than elephant population control.

Integrating Stakeholders into the Governance of Data Exchange from Smart Metering

The electricity supply chain is changing due to the integration of renewable energies. Two developments are in the focus of this paper: First, the emergence of third parties and second, the requirement for information management (i.e. the management of data exchange from smart metering) as a new step in the supply chain. Information management needs to secure the neutral and non-discriminatory integration of third parties into smart grids. This can be accomplished by a collaborative governance approach. Based on veto player theory we identify two key issues for the voting process within a collaborative governance approach for information management. First, we show that a voting process based on “individual veto players” will result in governance lock-in situations, where governance innovation will be impeded. Second, we discuss that “collective veto players” can secure governance innovation for information management, but that the non-discriminatory integration for third parties might be at stake, if less than a qualified majority is required to vote on a veto.

Innovations in information management and access for assessments.

The third National Climate Assessment (NCA3) included goals for becoming a more timely, inclusive, rigorous, and sustained process, and for serving a wider variety of decision makers. In order to accomplish these goals, it was necessary to deliberately design an information management strategy that could serve multiple stakeholders and manage different types of information - from highly mature government-supported climate science data, to isolated practitioner-generated case study information - and to do so in ways that are consistent and appropriate for a highly influential assessment. Meeting the information management challenge for NCA3 meant balancing relevance and authority, complexity and accessibility, inclusivity and rigor. Increasing traceability of data behind figures and graphics, designing a public-facing website, managing hundreds of technical inputs to the NCA, and producing guidance for over 300 participants on meeting the Information Quality Act were all aspects of a deliberate, multi-faceted, and strategic information management approach that nonetheless attempted to be practical and usable for a variety of participants and stakeholders.

Real-virtual interaction in AR assembly simulation based on component contact handling strategy

Purpose – This paper aims to propose and implement an integrated augmented-reality (AR)-aided assembly environment to incorporate the interaction between real and virtual components, so that users can obtain a more immersive experience of the assembly simulation in real time and achieve better assembly design. Design/methodology/approach – A component contact handling strategy is proposed to model all the possible movements of virtual components when they interact with real components. A novel assembly information management approach is proposed to access and modify the information instances dynamically corresponding to user manipulation. To support the interaction between real and virtual components, a hybrid marker-less tracking method is implemented. Findings – A prototype system has been developed, and a case study of an automobile alternator assembly is presented. A set of tests is implemented to validate the feasibility, efficiency, accuracy and intuitiveness of the system. Research limitations/implications – The prototype system allows the users to manipulate and assemble the designed virtual components to the real components, so that the users can check for possible design errors and modify the original design in the context of their final use and in the real-world scale. Originality/value – This paper proposes an integrated AR simulation and planning platform based on hybrid-tracking and ontology-based assembly information management. Component contact handling strategy based on collision detection and assembly feature surfaces mating reasoning is proposed to solve component degree of freedom.

Forgetful Digital Memory

With the growing volumes of and reliance on digital content, there is a clear need for better information managementapproaches that keep relevant information accessible and usable in long-term encapsulated together with the evolving context information that is needed for its interpretation. Inspired by the role of forgetting in the human brain, in this paper, we envision a concept of managed forgetting for systematically dealing with information that progressively ceases in importance and also with redundant information - leading to a form of Forgetful Digital Memory. Managed forgetting is meant to complement rather than copy human remembering and forgetting. It can be regarded as functions of attention and significance dynamics relying on multi-faceted information assessment. Its goal is to introduce an alternative to the dominating 'keep-it-all' strategy for digital content, which ensures that the important content is kept safe, useful, and understandable over time

Wireless Lighting Control in Food Enterprise under Internet of Things Environment

This paper studies the food enterprise mode, information management approaches under Internet of Things environment and proposed an intelligent lighting control system in the food enterprise. Using CC2530 of the TI Company, the system researches and designs a sending module and a receiving module of intelligent wireless lighting control system. The ZigBee terminal node sends control signal to the coordinator node. The coordinator node CC2530 output of PWM wave signal according to the control instruction signal the output of the PWM wave signal controlled the LED brightness through PT4115 chip LED driver circuit. Through tests, the results show that it can meet the demand of daily light regulation.