Roadmap For Planning Research Articles

Validation of Opportunities to Strengthen the National Disaster Medical System: The Military-Civilian NDMS Interoperability Study Quantitative Step.

The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Pilot Program was authorized by Congress to improve the interoperability, capabilities, and capacity of the NDMS. To develop a roadmap for planning and research, the mixed methods Military-Civilian NDMS Interoperability Study (MCNIS) was conducted in 2020-2021. The initial qualitative phase of the study identified critical themes for improvement: (1) coordination, collaboration, and communication; (2) funding and incentives to increase private sector preparedness; (3) staffing capacity and competencies; (4) clinical and support surge capacity; (5) training, education, and exercises between federal and private sector partners; and (6) metrics, benchmarks, and modeling to track NDMS performance. These qualitative findings were subsequently refined, validated, and prioritized through a quantitative survey. Expert respondents ranked 64 statements based on weaknesses and opportunities identified during the qualitative phase. Data were collected using Likert scales, and multivariate proportions and confidence intervals were estimated to compare and prioritize each statement's level of support. Pairwise tests were conducted for each item-to-item pair to determine statistically significant differences. The survey results corroborated the earlier qualitative findings, with all weaknesses and opportunities ranked as important by a majority of respondents. Survey results also pointed to specific priorities for interventions within the 6 previously identified themes. As with the qualitative study, the survey found that the most common weaknesses and opportunities were related to coordination, collaboration, and communication, especially regarding information technology and planning at the federal and regional levels. These priority interventions are now being developed, implemented, and validated at 5 pilot partner sites.

Online Language Assessment the Exception, Not the Rule: For Inclusive Language Learning

The study investigates teachers’ perceptions of the use of online language assessment (OLA) using technology and examines the scope of using online applications to validate the mode of assessment. It looks for EFL teachers’ opinions of OLA to comprehend the many worries associated with the issues and improve the online assessment tools. The researchers included the teachers who taught and assessed their students online using the Blackboard application at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. The study was descriptive, using an online survey for data collection. Participants were from different colleges and nationalities teaching English to students enrolled in the preparatory course. Descriptive analysis of the open-ended questionnaire and interview data illustrated the salient features of the online assessment were instant feedback, randomized question order, statistical description of the exam, and immediate scores on exam completion. Teachers reported the effectiveness of the online assessment system but with some remedial actions to further improve the online assessment systems. Also, quality prospects, in pandemic-like situations, should not be thought of as offline teaching and challenges in various domains like language assessment security, time limitation, internet accessibility, ethical aspects, digital literacy and expertise, technological failures, and learning outcomes. Finally, the article offers a roadmap for planning, developing, implementing, evaluating, and carrying on research in online language assessment in new and in crisis contexts.

A Research & Development Model of Resource Mapping for Livelihood Planning

The envisioned R&D Model of Resource Mapping for Livelihood Planning is based on the experience gained in a survey-based research work on resource mapping for livelihood planning, conducted in the backward district of Purulia (West Bengal, India) in 2018-20. The research work identified some parameters and attributes associated in the villagelevel resource mapping work, and highlighted the scope of the application of information technology in the work process through analysis of geo-referenced data – to render an extra edge in real time analysis. The research work produced a combined database having 67 baselevel attributes, containing spatial and non-spatial data of the area of study comprising of 606 mouzas. It was felt that such database, when powered with GIS-enabled search engine and WebGIS infrastructure, may generate huge volume of strategic just-in-time information, which when linked with e-governance mechanism of the government, may help promote livelihood at the village level through optimal utilization of resources. Technological tools like Geographical Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing Data Analysis help us to develop spatially connected databases. Such database when combined with strategic non-spatial data-sets may produce a combined database, which once made up to village level, can provide a tremendous boost in the planning and monitoring of activities of social projects of the governments and NGOs, as well as may provide efficient and quality service to the entrepreneurs by way of providing just-in-time information. In livelihood resource mapping work, criteria analysis of resource mapping data can help in extracting relevant information in super-imposed form from multi-layered datasets, through multiple object-based inter-related queries. Four case studies are illustrated in this paper that offer examples of the ways to generate criteria maps for strategic information (along with its dataset) from combined database of GIS, in response to multi-level queries. Such criteria maps provide information on the existing and other socio-economic conditions of the region. Thousands of such multi-level queries may generate numerous Resource Planning Maps and Participatory Planning Maps, useful for livelihood planning and its implementation. Livelihood planning and its implementation at the grass-root level need collaborative efforts at various levels – both the government and non-government institutions may join hands in the fields of survey works, compilation of combined databases, analysis of the data, generating strategic information for livelihood planning, and most important, in the task of livelihood cluster development works at the grass-root level. A participative planning roadmap is given in the concluding note.

IWeek experience: the innovation challenges of digital transformation in industry

Information Technology, communication, and innovation require specific, essential competencies that employers look for in engineers. Responding to this, Tecnologico de Monterrey has been implementing the Tec21 Educational model to foster students' competencies by involving them in challenge-based learning (CBL). The iWeek is one of the first implementations of this model, where students experience immersive learning for a whole week. This study presents the iWeek Innovation Challenge to improve students' innovation and information technology and communication skills through a CBL didactic technique. During this iWeek, a group of students developed efficient solutions with Microsoft Power Apps to solve real challenges confronting a global company. The results proved that students could quickly learn and apply knowledge and develop practical, innovative solutions to real problems in Industry. It was a revelation to the stakeholders to notice how fast students can become familiar with new information technology tools to propose solutions that positively impact the company. Strong partnerships between academia and industry are crucial to developing student disciplinary and transversal competencies by challenging them to solve real-life problems in real-world environments. This work presents a roadmap for planning and designing a CBL iWeek with an educational partner from Industry. It includes the implementation details, assessment instruments, and results analysis. Finally, we also highlight the significant contributions of iWeek to explain the value of this immersive experience in the teaching–learning process.

Toward Asymptotically-Optimal Inspection Planning via Efficient Near-Optimal Graph Search.

Inspection planning, the task of planning motions that allow a robot to inspect a set of points of interest, has applications in domains such as industrial, field, and medical robotics. Inspection planning can be computationally challenging, as the search space over motion plans grows exponentially with the number of points of interest to inspect. We propose a novel method, Incremental Random Inspection-roadmap Search (IRIS), that computes inspection plans whose length and set of successfully inspected points asymptotically converge to those of an optimal inspection plan. IRIS incrementally densifies a motion planning roadmap using sampling-based algorithms, and performs efficient near-optimal graph search over the resulting roadmap as it is generated. We demonstrate IRIS's efficacy on a simulated planar 5DOF manipulator inspection task and on a medical endoscopic inspection task for a continuum parallel surgical robot in cluttered anatomy segmented from patient CT data. We show that IRIS computes higher-quality inspection plans orders of magnitudes faster than a prior state-of-the-art method.

The pre- and post-event planning roadmap for Expo 2020: Dubai’s coming-out-party

Purpose Expo 2020 is scheduled to open on October 20, 2020, and will be the largest mega-event to-date in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, drawing in up to 300,000 visitors a day, half of them from abroad, in its six months of operation. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview on how the story has evolved in terms of preparation for the event since Dubai won the bid to host Expo 2020 in 2013. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis of the existing literature was undertaken and industry white papers and government portals were consulted to assimilate knowledge sources and to formulate an informed opinion about the impact of Expo 2020 on Dubai. Findings The backdrop to Expo 2020 is outlined, followed by an overview of events with the support of literature. The pre-event buildup in terms of policies and infrastructure is assessed and an impact analysis is performed based on the framework of the triple bottom line model. The framework is used to explore post-event challenges, and the steps that will need to be taken by stakeholders and policymakers are also discussed. Originality/value There is a dearth of academic literature on Dubai as a destination. This paper brings into focus the importance of Expo 2020 to Dubai's sustainable development and, thus, addresses a critical gap in literature.

DESIGN THINKING AND PRODUCT ROADMAPPING IN THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

The paper employs the combination of design thinking and product mapping approaches for building key skills and capabilities for technology management during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It presents an overview of the literature of these two approaches, showing a gap in research that proposes their combination. It defines technology roadmapping planning as a human-centred complex problem and proposes a simple three-step sequence to assess when design thinking is applicable. The paper presents the results of using this approach in a business unit in a private non-profit research and development institute. One is the identification of six different, but interlinked, concepts of technology road-mapping that are relevant to stakeholders. The other is a ―Joint Planning‖ experiment, which suggests that road-mapping planning should rely on the co-creation of all relevant stakeholders and should take place in multiples points of the process, in order to grasp any new learning and context that may arise during the execution of the road-mapping initiative

Developing a roadmap for planning and implementation of interoperability capability in e-government

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a tool in the form of a roadmap for planning and implementation of interoperability capabilities. The issue of interoperability is gaining importance for offering services as “one-stop shop” due to rapid developments in the field of e-government in recent times. Several complexities are associated with this important dimension, and there is an urgent need for developing a tool to facilitate rollout of e-government projects with interoperability capabilities. The proposed roadmap can enable knowledge sharing among key stakeholders for building a common vision and contribute to planning and implementation of interoperability features of e-government. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is an exploratory study using the phenomenographic interpretive approach. The literature review identifies the facets and the issues that are crucial for facilitating interoperability. The status of interoperability in some of the developed countries is reviewed where e-government is in a relatively mature stage. Based on the review, this paper identifies an initial set of issues that can guide semi-structured interviews with policymakers, partners and the government agencies implementing e-government projects. The views of these key stakeholders are then analyzed and used for developing the roadmap for implementation of interoperability of e-government services. The findings are then mapped in India’s context for triangulation purpose. Findings – The paper provides insights into various planning and implementation issues that have to be addressed for building interoperability capability. A roadmap is proposed encompassing the essential legal, regulatory, organizational and technical aspects that are deemed essential for successful planning and implementation of interoperability capability. Research limitations/implications – The study has the limitation that the exploratory part of the study is based on inputs from key actors in the Indian context only. It needs to be validated by empirical studies in various contexts. Practical implications – The roadmap proposed will be useful for the policymakers, as it can guide them for planning and implementing e-government systems with interoperability capabilities. It can be used as a knowledge-sharing tool for spreading awareness of steps required for designing and implementing interoperability capabilities. Originality/value – The paper contributes by providing a tool in the form of a roadmap that can be used by the policymakers and implementers to take a holistic view of requirements for development of interoperability capabilities. The paper can form the basis for future research in specific issues of interoperability.

The innovations initiative: Technological approaches for addressing maternal, newborn and child health

coverage and quality of critical interventions. A key constraint in many low resource settings is the lack of available health facilities capable of delivering critical MNCH interventions, leading to large investments in expanding physical infrastructure and human resources. Efficient allocation of resources requires information about the existing availability of services and key gaps in service configuration. However, this information is not often available. The University of Manitoba’s Centre for Global Public Health is implementing a Technical Support Unit embedded within the Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) to provide support for the planning and implementation of MNCH programs under the National Health Mission. There is a specific focus on 25 high priority districts (population approximately 60 million), which contribute disproportionately to maternal, neonatal and infant mortality. To improve the GoUP’s planning and scale-up of the availability of MNCH services, we mapped facilities in the public and private sectors to assess availability, identify gaps and develop a planning roadmap for efficiently increasing service availability through the National Health Mission. Methods: We conducted a rapid, large scale mapping and assessment of health facilities in the public and private sectors in 25 high priority districts of Uttar Pradesh in India. The mapping tools were designed to capture details of population, physical infrastructure, staff, drugs, equipment, supplies, services (antenatal care, delivery, postpartum, postnatal, abortion, newborn and child health), certain service statistics and use of facilities’ untied funds. The mapping occurred over a three month period and covered a total of 7,560 public facilities (90% response rate) and 1,150 private facilities (63% of those identified as providing delivery care). Consent was obtained from the primary respondents at the facilities. Findings: The mapping found that only 44% of an estimated 429,315 deliveries occurred in public facilities (39%) or identified private facilities (5%). The large majority of deliveries in public facilities occurred in block (sub-district) level facilities (52%) or district hospitals (15%). There were large gaps in the availability of delivery points, general infrastructure, human resources, equipment, drugs and supplies in the public sector at all levels of care, with large disparities between and within the 25 districts. Interpretation: Facility mapping data were used to develop a strategic plan to expand service delivery points across the state and within each district, through a mix of enhancing the signal functions of existing facilities and activating dormant delivery points. This planning was incorporated into the National Health Mission project implementation plans at the district and state levels, and these plans are being tracked through ongoing assessments of the expansion of service availability. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Abstract #: 01ITIS027

Integration of roadmapping and scenario planning for implementing science, technology and innovation strategic priorities - the case of Russia

Technology and market roadmapping are well-established instruments for companies' research and innovation planning. Recent advances in the literature have developed approaches to integrate technology and market roadmaps to allow a more comprehensive understanding of technology development. Inspired by the companies' widespread implementation of integrated roadmaps, public authorities have recently begun to adopt this tool for identifying science, technology and innovation priorities nationally. Making public investment in science, technology and innovation a priority is essential as countries must often make strategic choices about where to invest due to limited public resources. Accordingly, a thorough analysis of potential fields is required which provides a reasonable ratio of cost and expected value of the investment. The paper develops an integrated approach of roadmapping and scenario planning for public authorities' priority setting in science, technology and innovation. The methodology combines foresight, roadmapping and scenario planning in particular and then tests this methodology using a case study on priority setting in Russia.

Interactive planning for strategy development in academic-based cooperative research enterprises

The evolution of strategic management concludes that formulation and implementation is an emergent process. In today's knowledge-based society this requires that managers develop more creative ways to align strategies with core competencies to maximise organisational performance and efficiencies. This paper evaluates the approach taken by a university-based research collaborative to illustrate an integrated planning process that supports strategic management in higher education environments. Utilising the concepts of road mapping and interactive planning, this case study provides insights into the participative approach used and provides a modification of several conceptual models to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of this process.

The Road to Population Health: Using Healthy People 2010 in Nursing Education

Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health and corresponding state health improvement plans provide roadmaps for planning, monitoring, and evaluating population health improvement in the United States. These documents offer relevant guidance for nursing education because they address health workforce education specifically, use a population perspective, and include evidence-based action priorities. However, information about how these documents are used in nursing education is limited. This article discusses the relevance of national and state health planning documents for nursing education. Nurse educators are encouraged to reflect on the alignment of current nursing education efforts with national and state health planning agendas. Suggestions for future use of national and state population health improvement planning documents in guiding strategic, curricular, and course planning are offered.

Water industry receives roadmap for planning, operating in homeland security environment

Several major developments in late 2002 provided U.S. water utilities with a strengthened federal framework for assessing and addressing vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks and updating emergency response plans as well as a measure of certainty in these uncertain times. Chief among them, and the focus of this article, are enactment of legislation creating the new Homeland Security Department, implementation by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) of a protocol for ensuring the security of written copies of the vulnerability assessments (VAs) that community water systems serving more than 3,300 people must submit (along with submission instructions), and further development of related tools, training, and technologies.