stem Resonance within the Client-to-Client System: Criticality, Cascades, and Tipping Points By Published On :: Full Article
stem The Changing Face of Information Systems Research:A Longitudinal Study of Author Influence By Published On :: Full Article
stem Overcoming the Challenge of Cooperating with Competitors: Critical Success Factors of Interorganizational Systems Implementation By Published On :: Full Article
stem Measuring IS System Service Quality with SERVQUAL: Users' Perceptions of Relative Importance of the Five SERVPERF Dimensions By Published On :: Full Article
stem Integrating the Visual Design Discipline with Information Systems Research and Practice By Published On :: Full Article
stem Backbone or Helping Hand? On the Role of Information Systems and Non-systematic Information in Managers’ Work By Published On :: Full Article
stem Promoting Relevance in IS Research: An Informing System for Design Science Research By Published On :: Full Article
stem The Informing Science Institute: The Informing System of a Transdiscipline By Published On :: Full Article
stem Online Learning and Case Teaching: Implications in an Informing Systems Framework By Published On :: Full Article
stem The Role of Case Studies in Informing Systems: Introduction to the Special Series By Published On :: Full Article
stem Openness of Information-Communications Systems: The Rescue Tool for Preserving Information Age Heritage By Published On :: Full Article
stem Think Process, Think in Time: Advancing Study of Informing Systems By Published On :: Full Article
stem The Dynamics and Architecture of an Informing System By Published On :: 2015-10-20 The purpose of this investigation is to define the architecture of computer informing systems. The methodology is based on an interdisciplinary, big-picture view of the cognition units which provide the foundation for informing systems. Among the findings are the following: informing systems should be designed for rigor and relevance with respect to the cognitive units (information), integrating its purpose and goal to achieve its expected utility; informing systems should also be designed for reasoning richness, informing modes, informing quality, and predicting informing biases and filters. Practical implications: A well-designed informing system should provide as an output a message and resonant change by reflecting information that triggers the client’s behavior. Social implication: The quest for the development of informing systems is not supported by Academia in practice; it is only supported by a close circle of early leaders of such systemic applications who sought to enhance the existing information systems which very often process data but do not inform as they should. Originality: This investigation, by providing an interdisciplinary and graphic modeling of informing channels and systems, indicates the vitality of these systems and their potential to create better decision-making in order to solve problems and sustain organizations and civilization. Full Article
stem Informing Systems as the Transformers of Information Wave into Virtual Civilization and Their Ethics Question By Published On :: 2015-06-05 The purpose of this investigation is to define the central contents and issues of the impact of informing systems on the rise and development of Virtual Civilization. The methodology is based on an interdisciplinary big-picture view of the Virtual Civilization’s elements of development and their interdependency. Among the findings are: Virtual Civilization has infrastructural characteristics, a world-wide unlimited, socially constructed work and leisure space in cyberspace, and it can last centuries/millennia - as long as informing systems are operational. Practical implications: The mission of Virtual Civilization is to control the public policy of real civilizations in order to secure the common good in real societies. Social implication: The quest for the common good by virtual society may limit or even replace representative democracy by direct democracy which, while positively solving some problems, may eventually trigger permanent political chaos in real civilizations. Originality: This investigation, by providing an interdisciplinary and civilizational approach at the big-picture level defined the ethics question of the role of informing systems in the development of Virtual Civilization. Full Article
stem Case Study of a Complex Informing System: Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) By Published On :: 2015-08-02 The Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) event, organized by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), is conducted 3-4 times a year at various locations. The four day event can be characterized as an informing system specifically designed to facilitate structured and unstructured communications between a variety of parties—e.g., software developers, inventors, military and civilian users of various technologies, academics, and agencies responsible for identifying and procuring technology solutions—that frequently are constrained in their informing activities in more restrictive venues. Over the course of the event, participants may observe technology demonstrations, obtain feedback from potential users, acquire new ideas about their technologies might be employed and, perhaps most significantly, engage in ad hoc collaborations with other participants. The present paper describes an exploratory case research study that was conducted over a one year period and involved both direct observation of the event and follow-up interviews with 49 past participants in the event. The goal of the research was to assess the nature of participant-impact resulting from attending JIFX and to consider the consistency of the findings with the predictions of various theoretical frameworks used in informing science. The results suggest that participants perceived that the event provided significant value from three principal sources: discovery, interaction with potential clients (users) of the technologies involved, and networking with other participants. These findings were largely consistent with what could be expected from informing under conditions of high complexity; because value generally derives from combinations of attributes rather than from the sum of individual attributes, we would expect that overall value from informing activities will be perceived even though estimates of the incremental value of that informing cannot be made. Full Article
stem Designing to Inform: Toward Conceptualizing Practitioner Audiences for Socio-technical Artifacts in Design Science Research in the Information Systems Discipline By Published On :: 2015-08-02 This paper identifies areas in the design science research (DSR) subfield of the information systems (IS) discipline where a more detailed consideration of practitioner audiences of socio-technical design artifacts could improve current IS DSR research practice and proposes an initial conceptualization of these audiences. The consequences of not considering artifact audiences are identified through a critical appraisal of the current informing science lenses in the IS DSR literature. There are specific shortcomings in four areas: 1) treating practice stakeholders as a too homogeneous group, 2) not explicitly distinguishing between social and technical parts of socio-technical artifacts, 3) neglecting implications of the artifact abstraction level, and 4) a lack of explicit consideration of a dynamic or evolutionary fitness perspective of socio-technical artifacts. The findings not only pave the way for future research to further improve the conceptualization of artifact audiences, in order to improve the informing power – and thus, impact on practice and research relevance – of IS DSR projects; they can also help to bridge the theory-practice gap in other disciplines (e.g. computer science, engineering, or policy-oriented sociology) that seek to produce social and/or technical artifacts of practical relevance. Full Article
stem Design Science Research For Personal Knowledge Management System Development - Revisited By Published On :: 2016-11-01 The article presents Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) as an overdue individualized as well as a collaborative approach for knowledge workers. Designing a PKM-supporting system, however, resembles a so-called “wicked” problem (ill-defined; incomplete, contradictory, changing requirements, complex interdependencies) where the information needed to understand the challenges depends on upon one’s idea for solving them. Accordingly, three main areas are attended to. Firstly, in dealing with a range of growing complexities, the notion of Popper’s Worlds is applied as three distinct spheres of reality and further expanded into six digital ecosystems (technologies, extelligence, society, knowledge worker, institutions, and ideosphere) that not only form the basis for the PKM System Concept named ‘Knowcations’ but also form a closely related Personal Knowledge Management for Development (PKM4D) framework detailed in a separate dedicated paper. Reflecting back on a United Nations scenario of knowledge mass production (KMP) over time, the complexities closely related to the digital ecosystems and the inherent risks of today’s accelerating attention-consuming over-abundance of redundant information are scrutinized, concluding in a chain of meta-arguments favoring the idea of the PKM concept and system put forward. Secondly, in light of the digital ecosystems and complexities introduced, the findings of a prior article are further refined in order to assess the PKM concept and system as a potential General-Purpose-Technology. Thirdly, the development process and resulting prototype are verified against accepted general design science research (DSR) guidelines. DSR aims at creating innovative IT artifacts (that extend human and social capabilities and meet desired outcomes) and at validating design processes (as evidence of their relevance, utility, rigor, resonance, and publishability). Together with the incorporated references to around thirty prior publications covering technical and methodological details, a kind of ‘Long Discussion Case’ emerges aiming to potentially assist IT researchers and entrepreneurs engaged in similar projects. Full Article
stem Entry Level Systems Analysts: What Does the Industry Want? By Published On :: 2016-06-02 This study investigates the skill sets necessary for entry level systems analysts. Towards this end, the study combines two sources of data, namely, a content analysis of 200 systems analysts’ online job advertisements and a survey of 20 senior Information Systems (IS) professionals. Based on Chi-square tests, the results reveal that most employers prefer entry level systems analysts with an undergraduate Computer Science degree. Furthermore, most of the employers prefer entry level systems analysts to have some years of experience as well as industry certifications. The results also reveal that there is a higher preference for entry level systems analysts who have non-technical and people skills (e.g., problem solving and oral communication). The empirical results from this study will inform IS educators as they develop future systems analysts. Additionally, the results will be useful to the aspiring systems analysts who need to make sure that they have the necessary job skills before graduating and entering the labor market. Full Article
stem KnoWare: A System for Citizen-based Environmental Monitoring By Published On :: 2016-05-30 Non-expert scientists are frequently involved in research requiring data acquisition over large geographic areas. Despite mutual benefits for such “citizen science”, barriers also exist, including 1) difficulty maintaining user engagement with timely feedback, and 2) the challenge of providing non-experts with the means to generate reliable data. We have developed a system that addresses these barriers. Our technologies, KnoWare and InSpector, allow users to: collect reliable scientific measurements, map geo-tagged data, and intuitively visualize the results in real-time. KnoWare comprises a web portal and an iOS app with two core functions. First, users can generate scientific ‘queries’ that entail a call for information posed to a crowd with customized options for participant responses and viewing data. Second, users can respond to queries with their GPS-enabled mobile device, which results in their geo- and time-stamped responses populating a web-accessible map in real time. KnoWare can also interface with additional applications to diversify the types of data that can be reported. We demonstrate this capability with a second iOS app called InSpector that performs quantitative water quality measurements. When used in combina-tion, these technologies create a workflow to facilitate the collection, sharing and interpretation of scientific data by non-expert scientists. Full Article
stem Acceptance of ERP Systems: The Uses and Gratifications Theory Perspective By Published On :: 2017-12-27 Aim/Purpose: This study aims to provide a better understanding of individual acceptance of enterprise resource (ERP) systems. Based on the uses and gratifications theory (UGT) and informing science theory, the study developed and empirically tested a research model to explain the effects of ERP characteristics (specifically, informativeness and enjoyment) on ERP acceptance and use. Background: Individual acceptance of ERP systems is crucial for achieving the benefits associated with ERP systems. Unfortunately, little research has focused on acceptance of ERP systems at the individual level. This study attempts to fill this void. Methodology: A survey questionnaire was distributed to ERP users to collect data to empiri-cally test the research model developed in this study. In addition to demographic and background information question, the survey contained instruments to measure the study variables. Contribution: The empirical results show that UGT provides a sound theoretical framework for explaining users’ gratifications, attitudes, and behavioral intentions toward adopting and using an ERP. These results support the view that subsumes information systems and other fields that endeavor to inform their audience. Findings: Individuals’ perceptions of the informativeness and entertainment of ERP systems demonstrated strong direct effects on attitude toward using and satisfaction with ERP systems. In turn, satisfaction with ERP systems showed a direct significant impact on intention to use an ERP system. Recommendations for Practitioners: Maintaining a favorable environment and designing training workshops that highlight the information and enjoyment aspects of an ERP can boost users’ perceptions of ERP informativeness and enjoyment and, eventually, improve their attitude and satisfaction with an ERP. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should test the proposed research model with other types of ERP systems and in different environments to enhance the generalizability of the results to other systems and settings. Impact on Society: The results of is study can be used as a foundation on which to develop plans and design strategies to enhance individual acceptance of ERP systems and realize the benefits associated with these systems. Future Research: Future research should extend the research model by integrating other personal and technology variables to provide further insights into what influences individuals to accept or reject an ERP system. Full Article
stem Business Analytics as a Tool to Transforming Information into an Informing System: The Case of the On-Line Course Registration System By Published On :: 2017-06-18 Aim/Purpose: Sharing ideas generated in a Business Intelligence (BI) Applications class to upgrade an Information System in to an Informing System. Background: Course Registration is the essential university’s business process in a university that follows a liberal-arts education model. Almost all categories of users are involved, including students, individual faculties and departments, and administration. A typical Information System, designed to support this process, allows departments to schedule selected courses for a particular time slot and location, and allows students to choose courses to study for the semester. Methodology: The course project is to design a BI application. Domain knowledge is essential for such projects and course registration was the natural choice for this class. The assignment includes (1) identifying the categories of stakeholders; (2) identifying the information needs of different categories; (3) identifying available information sources; (4) identifying how is possible to acquire the additional data; and (5) designing the Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) process and interface scenarios in a way to inform clients. Contribution: Contributions are in two directions: (1) pedagogy - involving students in such a project motivates creativity, also enforcing students to think in cost-benefit framework may lead to creation of really effective and efficient solutions; (2) practice - implementation of some of the ideas could be with low cost, but with high impact. Findings: Exploring BI techniques may increase the informing value of existing Information Systems. Recommendations for Practitioners: Careful analysis of information needs and the way information is used, combined with deep domain knowledge and understanding the value provided by Data Mining techniques, is the way to initiate a process of transforming an Retrieval Information System to better inform clients. Recommendation for Researchers : Combining pedagogy with practice allows one to overcome routine thinking and may lead to effective solutions. This needs further structuring and research on outcomes. Impact on Society Transforming Information towards Informing Systems has a significant impact by allowing users to make rational data driven decisions in an efficient way. Future Research: The future of this project is implementation of developed ideas and assessment of the results. Impact on Society : Transforming Information towards Informing Systems has a significant impact by allowing users to make rational data driven decisions in an efficient way. Future Research: The future of this project is implementation of developed ideas and assessment of the results. Full Article
stem Devising Enabling Spaces and Affordances for Personal Knowledge Management System Design By Published On :: 2017-05-07 Aim/Purpose: Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) has been envisaged as a crucial tool for the growing creative class of knowledge workers, but adequate technological solutions have not been forthcoming. Background: Based on former affordance-related publications (primarily concerned with communication, community-building, collaboration, and social knowledge sharing), the common and differing narratives in relation to PKM are investigated in order to suggest further PKM capabilities and affordances in need to be conferred. Methodology: The paper follows up on a series of the author’s PKM-related publications, firmly rooted in design science research (DSR) methods and aimed at creating an innovative PKM concept and prototype system. Contribution: The affordances presented offer PKM system users the means to retain and build upon knowledge acquired in order to sustain personal growth and facilitate productive collaborations between fellow learners and/or professional acquaintances. Findings: The results call for an extension of Nonaka’s SECI model and ‘ba’ concept and provide arguments for and evidence supporting the claims that the PKM concept and system is able to facilitate better knowledge traceability and KM practices. Recommendations and Impact on Society: Together with the prior publications, the paper points to current KM shortcomings and presents a novel trans-disciplinary approach offering appealing opportunities for stakeholders engaged in the context of curation, education, research, development, business, and entrepreneurship. Its potential to tackle opportunity divides has been addressed via a PKM for Development (PKM4D) Framework. Future DSR Activities: After completing the test phase of the prototype, its transformation into a viable PKM system and cloud-based server based on a rapid development platform and a noSQL-database is estimated to take 12 months. Full Article
stem Transdisciplinary Knowledge Producing Teams: Toward a Complex Systems Perspective By Published On :: 2018-07-02 Aim/Purpose: Transdisciplinarity is considered as a framework for understanding knowledge producing teams (KPTs). Features of transdisciplinary knowledge producing teams (TDKPTs) are provided using a complex adaptive systems (CAS) lens. TDKPT features are defined and linked to complexity theory to show how team participants might develop skills that more truly express complex adaptive conditions. Background: TDKPTs are groups of stakeholder participants tasked with producing knowledge across disciplinary, sectoral, and ecological boundaries. TDKPTs reflect components of complex adaptive systems (CAS) and exemplify how CAS behave and function. Methodology: The paper accesses literature from the Science-of-Team-Science (SciTS), complexity theory, and systems theory to construct a typology of the features of TDKPTs. Contribution: This paper provides a list of features developed from a diverse body of literature useful for considering complexity within TDKPTs. Findings: The paper proposes a series of features of transdisciplinary knowledge producing teams. In addition, the authors identify important skill building aspects needed for TDKPTs to be successful. Recommendations for Practitioners: The paper provides a framework by which team functioning can be considered and enhanced within TDKPTs. Recommendation for Researchers: The paper suggests categorical features of transdisciplinary teams for research on the collaborative processes and outcomes of TD teams. Future Research: Knowledge producing team members need to engage in theoretical, episte-mological, and methodological reflections to elucidate the dynamic nature of TD knowledge producing teams. Understanding how conflict, dissonance, and reciprocal interdependencies contribute to knowledge generation are key areas of future research and inquiry. Full Article
stem Effective Selection of Quality Literature During a Systematic Literature Review By Published On :: 2020-05-16 Aim/Purpose: Although a literature review is the fundamental base for any research, it is often considered tedious and conducted with a lack of methodology and rigor. The paper presents a method for systematically searching and screening literature using modern search technologies. The method focuses on minimizing the amount of manual screening by employing the references among papers. Background: A method to select quality literature effectively using modern search technologies is presented and evaluated. Methodology: The method starts with a keywords search in which the most suitable keywords are identified. In the backward search, promising resources are collected based on the keywords and their reference sections are searched for duplicates to find often cited basic literature. Then, the forward search identifies current literature that cites the basic sources. Contribution: Modern search technologies have the potential to improve the effectiveness of the use of information channels significantly and thus of traditional literature searches. Findings: The selection method was applied to the field of literature review itself and to the field of functional modelling. In both cases, relevant literature was identified within a surprisingly short time. Recommendation for Researchers: Literature reviews should be done systematically by using modern search technologies. Future Research: The presented method may be adapted according to the evolution of search technologies. The tool support for the automated extraction of references should be improved and a quantitative evaluation of the method in comparison to traditional reviews may foster the findings. Full Article
stem The Translational Learning EcoSystem By Published On :: 2021-11-28 Aim/Purpose: In this paper we propose an ecosystem for translational learning that combines core learning principles with a multilevel construct that embraces the tenets of translational research, namely, teaming, translating, and implementing. The goal of the paper is to argue that knowledge of learning sciences is essential at the individual, team, and organizational levels in the translational science enterprise. Background: The two decades that we can now call the translational era of health and medicine have not been without challenges. Many inroads have been made in navigating how scientific teaming, translating knowledge across the health spectrum, and implementing change to our health systems, policies, and interventions can serve our changing global environment. These changes to the traditional health science enterprise require new ways of understanding knowledge, forging relationships, and managing this new tradition of science. Competency requirements that have become important to the enterprise are dependent on a deep understanding about how people learn as individuals, in teams, and within organizations and systems. Methodology: An individual, team, and organizational conceptual framework for learning in translational ecosystems is developed drawing on the learning science literature, a synthesis of 9 key learning principles and integrated with core competencies for translational science. Contribution: The translational learning ecosystem is a means by which to understand how translational science competencies can be reinforced by core learning principles as teaming, translating, and implementation intersect as part of the translational science enterprise. Findings: This paper connects learning science to tailored principles in a simplified way so that those working translational science with less knowledge of theories of learning and pedagogy may be able to access it in a clear and concise way. Recommendation for Researchers: This paper provides a framework for researchers who engage in the education of translational scientists as well as those who are charged with training new scientists in an emerging field critical to health and medicine. Future Research: The translational ecosystem described can serve to expand how teaching and learning impact scientific advances. In addition, it serves as a means in which to understand the impact of learning on micro, meso, and macro levels. Full Article
stem Informing at the Crossroads of Design Science Research, Academic Entrepreneurship, and Digital Transformation: A Platform Ecosystem Roadmap By Published On :: 2022-04-13 Aim/Purpose: Developing Digital Platform Ecosystems (DPE) to transform conventional Knowledge Management Systems (KM/KMS) scenarios promises significant benefits for individuals, institutions, as well as emerging knowledge economies. Background: The academic entrepreneurship project presented is aiming for such a KMS-DPE configuration. Having consolidated this author’s own and external re-search findings, realization is currently commencing with a start-up in a business incubator. Methodology: Design science research applying mixed one-sample case study and illustrative scenario approach focusing on conceptual analysis and entrepreneurship. Contribution: Although (academic) entrepreneurship is a young research area with recently growing interest, publications focusing on this transitional stage between maturing research and projected commercial viability of digital technologies are rare. Findings: A roadmap looking beyond the immediate early-start-up perspective is out-lined by integrating recent development-stage-related DPE-research and by addressing stakeholders diverse informing needs essential for system realization. Recommendations for Practitioners and Researchers: As this transdisciplinary perspective combines KM, informing, design science, and entrepreneurial research spaces, it may assist other researchers and practitioners facing similar circumstances and/or start-up opportunities. Impact on Society: The article advances the understanding of how DPE communities may serve members with highly diverse skills and ambitions better to gainfully utilize the platform’s resources and generative potential in their personal and local settings. Future Research: As the entrepreneurial agenda will complement (not substitute) the academic research, research priorities have been highlighted aligned to three future stages. Full Article
stem Organizing Information Obtained From Literature Reviews – A Framework for Information System Area Researchers By Published On :: 2022-01-12 Aim/Purpose: A literature review is often criticized for the absence of coherent construction, synthesis of topics, and well-reasoned analysis. A framework is needed for novice researchers to organize and present information obtained from the literature review. Background: Information and communication technologies advancement have yielded overwhelming information. The massive availability of information poses several challenges, including storage, processing, meaningful organization, and presentation for future consumption. Information System Researchers have developed frameworks, guidelines, and tools for gathering, filtering, processing, storing, and organizing information. Interestingly, information system researchers have vast information that needs meaningful organization and presentation to the research fraternity while conducting a literature review on a research topic. Methodology: This paper describes a framework called LACTiC (Location, Author, Continuum, Time, and Category) that we adapted from another framework called LATCH (Location, Alphabetical, Time, Category, and Hierarchy). LATCH was used to organize and present information on e-commerce websites for seamless navigation. We evaluated the LACTiC framework. Contribution: Information System Researchers can use the LACTiC framework to organize information obtained from literature review. Findings: The evaluation reveals that most researchers from information systems organize information obtained from the literature review category-wise, followed by continuum, author, time, and location. Recommendation for Researchers: Overall, the framework works well and can be helpful for researchers for an initial idea for organizing information obtained from the literature review. Future Research: To conceptualize the framework, the study was carried out using Information Systems related literature. To generalize the proposed framework, we may suggest that the study can be extended to other areas of business management, such as marketing, finance, operation, decision sciences, accounting, and economics. Full Article
stem Covid-19: Systems Transdisciplinary Generalization, Technical and Technological Ideas, and Solutions By Published On :: 2022-01-10 Aim/Purpose: The Covid-19 pandemic has created many adverse effects. It overloads the healthcare system, causes deaths, and angers some at anti-covid restrictions. This study examines the feasibility of using technical and technological ideas to overcome these effects. The solution is based on new knowledge about the virus, its nature, formation, and activation in the environment. Background: The rapid spread of a new coronavirus infection is taking place against the background of a lack of time required to create new treatment scenarios for the disease, development, production, and vaccine safety research. In such a situation, it became necessary to gain this time for organizing and conducting events that could reduce the burden on the healthcare system. Methodology: The science that studies the morphology, physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution of viruses is virology. The modern development of virology is moving towards a more accurate and comprehensive description of the mechanisms of interaction of viruses with the host organism. This contributed to the emergence of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and immunomics. However, in virology, there is no particular discipline that sets itself three fundamental goals: to substantiate a single concept of the emergence of viruses; to study the natural mechanisms of formation of virus molecules in the environment; to describe the natural mechanisms of activation of certain viruses in the environment that cause viral pandemics. As a result, there are many articles among the published scientific articles on viruses dealing with the mechanisms of interaction of viruses with the host organism. However, there are no articles on the natural mechanisms of formation and activation of certain viruses in the environment. In the absence of such specialized articles, we were forced to use the method of systems transdisciplinary generalization of disciplinary knowledge to achieve our article’s purpose. Generalization created new knowledge about the nature of viruses, about the mechanisms of their formation and activation in the environment and cells of biological organisms. It is logical to assume that to synchronize the state of biological objects of all functional ensembles on the planet, it is necessary to create and activate appropriate “technological tools.” We have suggested and proved that RNA viruses play the role of such tools. Piezoelectricity activates viruses. It occurs during the compression and stretching of sedimentary rocks and bases of continental plates in different territories. Contribution: The systems transdisciplinary generalization of the knowledge of scientific disciplines made it possible to edit the concept of viruses, to eliminate stereotypes that arose due to the use of unsuccessful analogies. As a result of this generalization, it was possible to prove that viruses are not intracellular parasites. The virus is a “technological tool” of the planetary organizing component. This “tool” aims to correct the genetic programs of organisms of all functional ensembles (plants, animals, people), which will maintain the state of organisms and the parameters of their metabolism in changing environmental conditions. Findings: The viruses that triggered pandemics in the 20th century and early 21st century are RNA viruses. RNA molecules play the role of “technological tools” that the planetary organizing component uses to carry out short-term and long-term adjustments and constant support of the genetic programs of biological organisms. Therefore, in such a situation, it is advisable to talk not about the fight against the virus but only about eliminating the negative manifestations of the Covid-19 pandemic: reducing the number of people in need of emergency hospitalization, eliminating cases of the acute course of the disease and deaths. It is proposed to use certain technical and technological ideas and solutions to eliminate these negative manifestations. Recommendation for Researchers: This paper recommends that researchers use new interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. They challenge assumptions and conclusions about the nature of viruses, and the mechanisms of their formation and activation in the environment can initiate. Such new research might describe the mechanisms that form and activate viruses in the environment and the body’s cells. They also might provide practical use of this knowledge to eliminate the multiple speculations and fears that arise against the background of reports of the likely appearance of more deadly viruses and viral infections. Future Research: The results of a systems transdisciplinary generalization of disciplinary knowledge about the nature and purpose of viruses are essential for expanding the horizon of the scientific worldview. Future fundamental research on the mechanisms of objective organizing constituents, a general description given in this article, will contribute to a deeper understanding of chemical and biological evolution mechanisms in which modern humanity is involved. In due time, such an understanding will allow a new look at the existing scenarios of the world socio-economic order, explore and describe new principles of sustainable development of society. Full Article
stem Transdisciplinary Issues of the United States Healthcare Delivery System By Published On :: 2024-09-20 Aim/Purpose: This paper applies informing science principles to analyze the evolution of United States (U.S.) healthcare delivery, exploring how policy shifts, technological advancements, and changing practices have transformed informing processes within this complex system. By examining healthcare delivery through a transdisciplinary lens, we aim to enhance the understanding of intricate informing environments and their dynamics. Background: The U.S. healthcare system epitomizes a complex, evolving transdisciplinary domain intersecting information systems, policy, economics, and public health. Recent transformations in stakeholder information flow necessitate an informing science perspective to comprehend these changes fully. Methodology: We synthesize literature on U.S. healthcare delivery changes, employing informing science frameworks such as Cohen’s “informing environment” concept to analyze the evolution of healthcare informing processes. Contribution: This study expands informing science theory by examining how changes in a complex transdisciplinary system impact information flow, decision-making, and stakeholder interactions. The results provide insights into challenges and opportunities within evolving informing environments. Findings: Our analysis reveals significant alterations in the U.S. healthcare informing landscape due to policy, regulatory, and technological changes. We identify key transformations in client-sender-delivery system relationships, shifts in information asymmetry, and the emergence of novel informing channels and barriers. Recommendation for Researchers: Future studies should develop informing science models capable of capturing the complexity and dynamism of healthcare delivery systems, particularly amidst rapid technological and policy changes. Future Research: Further investigation is needed into how emerging technologies reshape healthcare informing processes and their impact on care quality, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. Full Article
stem Leadership in Face-to-Face and Virtual Teams: A Systematic Literature Review on Hybrid Teams Management By Published On :: 2024-08-26 Aim/Purpose: The rise of virtual communication technologies and hybrid work contexts has brought significant changes to leadership dynamics, highlighting the need for effective management of teams operating in both face-to-face and virtual settings, known as hybrid teams. Background: This systematic review examines leadership models utilized in face-to-face and virtual teams, factors contributing to leadership emergence in these contexts, and effective strategies for leading hybrid teams. Methodology: In this study, three scientific databases were searched, resulting in the retrieval of 1,707 studies. These studies were then subjected to a review process following the PRISMA guidelines, ultimately leading to the inclusion of 15 research contributions in the final review. Contribution: Given the results, key strategies for practitioners include the development of strong communication skills, providing constructive feedback, and implementing efficient remote management techniques. Findings: The findings emphasize three prominent leadership models – transformational leadership, leader-member exchange (LMX), and shared leadership – all of which play crucial roles in hybrid team settings. Personality factors drive leadership emergence in face-to-face settings, while virtual settings benefit more from task-related behaviors. Recommendation for Researchers: This review informs researchers seeking to enhance leadership efficacy in modern group settings, aiding leaders in navigating the complexities of hybrid team environments. Full Article
stem Loss Function for Deep Learning to Model Dynamical Systems By search.ieice.org Published On :: Takahito YOSHIDA,Takaharu YAGUCHI,Takashi MATSUBARA, Vol.E107-D, No.11, pp.1458-1462Accurately simulating physical systems is essential in various fields. In recent years, deep learning has been used to automatically build models of such systems by learning from data. One such method is the neural ordinary differential equation (neural ODE), which treats the output of a neural network as the time derivative of the system states. However, while this and related methods have shown promise, their training strategies still require further development. Inspired by error analysis techniques in numerical analysis while replacing numerical errors with modeling errors, we propose the error-analytic strategy to address this issue. Therefore, our strategy can capture long-term errors and thus improve the accuracy of long-term predictions. Publication Date: 2024/11/01 Full Article
stem Aggregated to Pipelined Structure Based Streaming SSN for 1-ms Superpixel Segmentation System in Factory Automation By search.ieice.org Published On :: Yuan LI,Tingting HU,Ryuji FUCHIKAMI,Takeshi IKENAGA, Vol.E107-D, No.11, pp.1396-14071 millisecond (1-ms) vision systems are gaining increasing attention in diverse fields like factory automation and robotics, as the ultra-low delay ensures seamless and timely responses. Superpixel segmentation is a pivotal preprocessing to reduce the number of image primitives for subsequent processing. Recently, there has been a growing emphasis on leveraging deep network-based algorithms to pursue superior performance and better integration into other deep network tasks. Superpixel Sampling Network (SSN) employs a deep network for feature generation and employs differentiable SLIC for superpixel generation. SSN achieves high performance with a small number of parameters. However, implementing SSN on FPGAs for ultra-low delay faces challenges due to the final layer’s aggregation of intermediate results. To address this limitation, this paper proposes an aggregated to pipelined structure for FPGA implementation. The final layer is decomposed into individual final layers for each intermediate result. This architectural adjustment eliminates the need for memory to store intermediate results. Concurrently, the proposed structure leverages decomposed layers to facilitate a pipelined structure with pixel streaming input to achieve ultra-low latency. To cooperate with the pipelined structure, layer-partitioned memory architecture is proposed. Each final layer has dedicated memory for storing superpixel center information, allowing values to be read and calculated from memory without conflicts. Calculation results of each final layer are accumulated, and the result of each pixel is obtained as the stream reaches the last layer. Evaluation results demonstrate that boundary recall and under-segmentation error remain comparable to SSN, with an average label consistency improvement of 0.035 over SSN. From a hardware performance perspective, the proposed system processes 1000 FPS images with a delay of 0.947 ms/frame. Publication Date: 2024/11/01 Full Article
stem Designing a method to model the socio-technical systems By www.inderscience.com Published On :: 2024-07-29T23:20:50-05:00 To capture the complexity and diversity of systems with both technical and social features, modelling methods are needed that similarly provide various tools and concepts. Study of developed methods shows that despite all of their advantages and strengths, there is a need for a method that with a holistic approach integrates perspectives, strengths and tools of the developed methods and models with different aspects of socio-technical systems. The main aim of the current study is to design a method for modelling complex socio-technical systems. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to design a method that is based on creativity and existing knowledge base. Therefore, design science research is used as a research strategy to design proposed method. For the first time, design science research in the field of operations research has been used to design a modelling method. This study also presents new tools and concepts for modelling socio-technical systems. Full Article
stem Advancements in the DRG system payment: an optimal volume/procedure mix model for the optimisation of the reimbursement in Italian healthcare organisations By www.inderscience.com Published On :: 2024-08-06T23:20:50-05:00 In Italy, the reimbursement provided to healthcare organisations for medical and surgical procedures is based on the diagnosis related group weight (DRGW), which is an increasing function of the complexity of the procedures. This makes the reimbursement an upper unlimited function. This model does not include the relation of the volume with the complexity. The paper proposes a mathematical model for the optimisation of the reimbursement by determining the optimal mix of volume/procedure, considering the relation volume/complexity and DRGW/complexity. The decreasing, linear, and increasing returns to scale have been defined, and the optimal solution found. The comparison of the model with the traditional approach shows that the proposed model helps the healthcare system to discern the quantity of the reimbursement to provide to health organisations, while the traditional approach, neglecting the relation between the volume and the complexity, can result in an overestimation of the reimbursement. Full Article
stem Basics of the Adtech Ecosystem By www.gourmetads.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:04:40 +0000 Basics of the Adtech Ecosystem This guide delves into the intricacies of the adtech ecosystem, an elaborate mesh of platforms and technologies designed to facilitate and enhance the purchase and sale of digital advertising. Within this system, crucial elements such as ad servers, DSPs (Demand Side Platforms), SSPs (Supply Side Platforms), and ad [...] Full Article Programmatic Advertising adtech fundamentals programmatic advertising
stem Why are Abusive Supervisors Abusive? A Dual-System Self-Control Model By amj.aom.org Published On :: Thu, 14 May 2015 16:10:52 +0000 Building on prior work showing that abusive supervision is a reaction to subordinates' poor performance, we develop a self-control framework to outline when and why supervisors abuse poor performing subordinates. In particular, we argue poor performing subordinates instill in supervisors a sense of hostility towards the subordinate, which in turn leads to engaging in abusive supervision. Within this self-control framework, poor performance is more likely to lead to abusive supervision when (a) the magnitude of the hostility experienced is higher (e.g., for those with a hostile attribution bias), or (b) the translation of hostility into abusive supervision is unconstrained (e.g., for those who are low in trait mindfulness). In two experimental studies with full-time supervisors where we manipulated the independent variable (Study 1) and the mediator (Study 2), and in a multi-wave and multi-source field study with data collected from supervisor-subordinate teams (50 supervisors and 206 subordinates) at two time points (Study 3), we found overall support for our predictions. Implications for how to reduce the occurrence of abusive supervision in the workplace are discussed. Full Article
stem The Transition from the Soviet Higher Education System to the European Higher Education Area: The Case of Estonia By amle.aom.org Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 22:47:52 +0000 The interview questions deal with the means by which Estonia and other republics of the former Soviet Union managed to transform their educational systems and the impact of the Soviet heritage on this transformation. An interview was conducted with Professor Olav Aarna. In 1991 Professor Olav Aarna became the rector of TUT. From 2000 to 2003 he held the position of rector of the first private university in Estonia - Estonian Business School (EBS). From 2003 to 2007 Olav Aarna was member of the Estonian Parliament, serving also as Chairman of the Committee for Cultural Affairs responsible for education, research, culture and sports affairs. From 1998-2000 he was Vice Chairman of Estonian National Council for Research and Development. His experience in the field of educational legislation stems from his advisory position to the Minister of Education of Estonia from 1990 to1992. His competence in the field of the Bologna process results from the development of higher education legislation in Estonia (2002-...) and the development of a higher education quality assurance system for Estonia (2008-...). Olav Aarna has consulted third countries in the national qualifications framework (NQF) development as a European Training Foundation (ETF) expert. Full Article
stem Artificial intelligence to automate the systematic review of scientific literature from Computing By www.computingreviews.com Published On :: Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:00:00 PST The study shows that artificial intelligence (AI) has become highly important in contemporary computing because of its capacity to efficiently tackle intricate jobs that were typically carried out by people. The authors provide scientific literature that analyzes and Full Article
stem RTAC Large Lasercut MOLLE Backpack w/ Pistol Retention System $20.99 75%+ OFF! CODE By www.ammoland.com Published On :: Sat, 09 Nov 2024 15:05:02 +0000 RTAC Large Lasercut MOLLE Backpack with a Pistol Retention System is not just $20.99 after a sale and coupon code at check out. That is 75%+ off... Full Article Gun Deals Ammunition Depot Back Packs Daily Gun Deals Tactical Gear
stem No system, no control By www.philstar.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0800 What were some DOTr advisers thinking when they recommended to Secretary Jimmy Bautista that the EDSA Bus Lane be redesigned to counterflow so that non-buses will stop entering the lane? If the President of the Philippines can finally outlaw POGO in the Philippines by simply signing a piece of legislation, why can’t the DOTr, the MMDA, the LTO or the DPWH declare that the BUS LANE IS FOR BUSES ONLY! Full Article
stem WordPress - WPLMS Learning Management System | ThemeForest By themeforest.net Published On :: Wed, 07 May 2014 12:53:48 +0000 Tags: wordpress lms Full Article
stem Old Prada afternoon clutch system sacks set during 2015 By soweluyybags.webnode.page Published On :: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:07:00 +0200 Concentrate on any Prada afternoon clutches sacks, be sure to! The thing everyone must-have during 2015. It's well known any law related to being dressed in the appropriate costume for halloween within the ideal put. Which means that during March, any occasion four weeks, you'll possess loads of people to attend. You can not offer the procedure container into the occasion, that you're a good weirdo if you choose. To sum up, you might need a clutch system, consider a good sophisticated 2015... Full Article News
stem ASQ: Handbook of Investigation and Effective CAPA Systems, Second Edition By asq.org Published On :: Tue, 19 Apr 2016 17:23:42 +0000 In understanding and improving the CAPA system as a whole, this book reflects the importance of the investigation/root cause analysis stage as the necessary step of any effective corrective and preventive action system Full Article knowledgecenter open
stem Cybercom warfighting system faulted in Pentagon report By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:00:38 -0400 The military command in charge of conducting cyber warfare lacks the tools to conduct successful offensive attacks and defend against digital strikes by China and other adversaries, according to a report by the Pentagon's Defense Science Board. Full Article
stem Musical Ladder System? Licensing By www.musicacademysuccess.com Published On :: Sat, 07 Nov 2015 11:55:51 EST Musical Ladder System? LicensingPrice: $99.00To learn more about the Musical Ladder System? please call 803-917-1434 email info@musicacademysuccess.com or visit http://www.MusicalLadderSystem.com Musical Ladder System? Licensee Benefits Summary 1. Right to use Trademark 2. Right to use logos 3. Right to use the patent pending protected science behind the method. 4. Training sessions. 5. IRS contractor session. 6. Done for you marketing items. 7. Musical Ladder System? software 8. Unique portal for your school (no hosting fees) 9. Dedicated customer support for software, trophy and wristband orders. 10. The latest system and software updates for free. 11. Done for your certificate templates. 12. Access to purchasing the unique Musical Ladder System? trophies and wristbands. 13. Training to help ensure you will not lose students. 14. Training on how to deal with 15. Training on how to ‘roll’ out the system in your school. 16. 12 month 100% money back guarantee (trophy and wristband purchases not included). Full Article
stem Music Academy Success System-SIX Payments of $198.00 USD By www.musicacademysuccess.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:48:16 EDT Music Academy Success System-SIX Payments of $198.00 USDPrice: $198.00 Full Article
stem New age of tyranny: American system of checks and balances has failed By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:27:42 -0500 When one party dominates all three branches of government -- the executive, the legislative, and the judicial -- there is even more reason to worry. Full Article
stem Letter to the editor: Cultivate STEM knack early By www.washingtontimes.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:49:59 -0500 America has just gone through a bloodless conflict between competing political forces. Full Article
stem The BioFresh Blog - Perspective: Martin Sharman on ethics and the ecosystem services paradigm By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 11:18:00 +0300 In this guest post Martin Sharman opens up a rich area of debate by arguing that as a policy concept, ecosystem services puts human wants first and foremost and undermines moral-aesthetic value arguments for conservation that are widely held in society. Martin was the policy offer responsible for biodiversity and ecosystems in the European Commission’s DG Research & Innovation up until his retirement last November. During his career he made an enormous contribution to biodiversity research and policy, including the initiation of the BioFresh project. The opinions expressed in this post are, of course, his own and are not intended to represent a position of either the Commission or BioFresh. A "resource" is something that is useful to someone. A "natural resource" is something in the natural environment that a human can use to satisfy want or increase wellbeing. To adopt this vocabulary is to adopt a forthright utilitarian view of the natural environment, and implicitly to accept that human benefit is the only good. Not only is human benefit the only good, but it is quantifiable – for if not, then we can never agree on what constitutes a resource, or who has the greater right to it. Thus someone who speaks of natural resources accepts, again implicitly, that happiness and wellbeing can be quantified. The vocabulary also requires that this quantified human benefit remains, if not constant, then comparable over cultures and generations. More than this: the wellbeing of the "resource" is insignificant. It is only by setting concern for the wellbeing of the resource to zero that one can regard it as merely something to satisfy human want. Human benefit is the only good. This is the First Commandment; in the limpid words of the King James version of the bible, thou shalt have no other gods before me. In this observation lies much of the moral argument against the concept of ecosystem services: just as oranges are not the only fruit, so humans are not the only species. The concept of ecosystem services is one thing; the premise of its proponents is another. It is, in short, that conservation based on intrinsic value of biodiversity has failed to stop the loss of species, ecosystems, and the complex web of interactions between them. Since an ethical argument has failed, then we should try self-interest. By demonstrating that human wellbeing is increased by the services rendered by ecosystems, we can motivate people to protect the source of the service – biodiversity. We know that conservation is not working because we continue to lose biodiversity. Oh yeah? This is the equivalent of me deciding that my accelerator is not working because my car is losing speed. Why is such a daft non-sequitur accepted by otherwise intelligent people? You immediately thought of many reasons my car might be losing speed – I have the brakes on, I’m going up a hill, I’ve run out of fuel, I’ve run into sand, I’ve hit an oncoming truck. The obvious reason that we are losing biodiversity is the memento mori that stares at us from our looking glass – biodiversity loss is the inevitable result of our debt-based economic system and our swelling population’s unsustainable demands on nature. We all know that. Why do we mutely accept the dangerously diversionary nonsense that "biodiversity is being lost because conservation is not working"? Ecosystem services takes the utilitarian logic of natural resources one important step further. A "service" by definition benefits humans. If we are to protect services only if they benefit humans, then what happens to the useless ecosystems? Are they simply to be cemented over? I recently heard a discussion in which one person said "most people are useless", meaning that they are surplus to requirement. The outrage that this provoked was spearheaded by someone saying that you can never prove that anyone is useless, because you can never know enough about their contribution to their social fabric. So does this mean that you can never show that an ecosystem is useless? If so that leaves the ecosystem services argument saying that because some ecosystems benefit humans, we have to protect every ecosystem. Which may be the right answer, but why reach it by such objectionable means? For those of us with a reverence of nature, the ecosystem services rhetoric and mindset are abhorrent, being fundamentally immoral and unethical. They take the most ecologically damaging invasive species in the history of life, and place it above all other species on Earth. They cast all other – voiceless – species in the role of consumables. This mindset might have worked for Homo habilis. It will not work for Homo sapiens. Martin Sharman for the BioFresh Blog: http://biofreshblog.com/2013/07/03/perspective-martin-sharman-on-ethics-and-the-ecosystem-services-paradigm/ Full Article News
stem Biology must develop its own big-data systems By www.eubon.eu Published On :: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:54:00 +0300 Too many data-management projects fail because they ignore the changing nature of life-sciences data, argues John Boyle. From: Nature/Column: World View The last week of April was designated Big Data Week. But in modern biology, every week is big-data week: life-sciences research now routinely churns out more information than scientists can analyse without help. That help increasingly comes in the form of expensive data-management systems, but these are hard to design and most are even harder to use. As a result, a long line of data-management projects in the life sciences — many of which I have been involved with — have failed. The size, complexity and heterogeneity of the data generated in labs across the world can only increase, and the introduction of cloud computing will encourage the same mistakes. Just a stone's throw from where I work, at least three computer companies are already touting cloud-based data-management systems for the life sciences. We need to find ways to manage and integrate data to make discoveries in fields such as genomics, and we need to do this quickly. At their most basic, data-management systems allow people to organize and share information. In the case of small amounts of uniform data from a single experiment, this can be done with a spreadsheet. But with multiple experiments that produce diverse data — on gene expression, metabolites and protein abundance, for example — we need something more sophisticated. An ideal data-management system would store data, provide common and secure access methods, and allow for linking, annotation and a way to query and retrieve information. It would be able to cope with data in different locations — on remote servers, on desktops, in a database or spread across different machines — and formats, including spreadsheets, badly named files, blogs or even scanned-in notebooks. Read the full article here. Origial Source: Nature 499, 7 (04 July 2013) doi:10.1038/499007a Full Article News