bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network Marketing and Supply Chain Management for Effective Operations Management
Authors: Selladurai Raj
Published: August 2012

The use of network marketing by an organization as a distribution strategy in its global supply chain management activities is increasing and becoming very popular. This chapter looks at the “new” network marketing-supply chain paradigm, and analyzes some implications of the strategies for effective operations management. The network marketing paradigm has been greatly enhanced by the growth and popularity of the internet, which provides a powerful impetus to the whole concept of effective global network marketing-supply chain management area. This mainly theoretical study also provides a practical perspective by discussing manufacturing and service companies that are implementing the network marketing-supply chain strategy model in some form. It analyzes the supply chain management activities used by these organizations to achieve unprecedented success in their respective industry. This chapter concludes by developing an effective network marketing-supply chain management model that uses network marketing and supply chain management as key strategies in operations management.
Research Profiles
Authors: Jordan Gretchen , Mote Jonathon , Hage Jerald
Published: August 2012

Despite the increasing importance of the management of research for innovation, the range of differences among types of research, as well as projects and programs, is not adequately captured in current theories of either project or organizational innovation. This chapter offers preliminary discussions for a new perspective about alternative styles of management for different types of research, whether basic, applied, product development, manufacturing, quality control or marketing. Based on these discussions, the chapter proposes a framework for a new perspective of innovation management, called Research Profiles, which is derived from a literature review and extensive field research. This new perspective delineates four research profiles on the basis of two dimensions of research objectives and two dimensions of research tasks. In matching the research objectives and tasks, we identify inherent dilemmas that managers must address and this developing perspective suggests some appropriate research management approaches.
Cultural Models and Variations
Authors: Shi Yongjiang , Liu Zheng
Published: August 2012

This chapter provides the models and variation of culture. Specifically, the following concepts will be introduced: an understanding of the original of culture and how culture is studies in the academic field; the most influential culture theories which are adapted in business and management research. A detailed exploration on the methodology, dimensions, and implications of each model will be provided. An understanding of culture’s impact on manufacturing systems which stems from traditional factory-based model to inter-firm network with the increase of collaboration in globalization is given Some understanding of culture’s variation in the fast growing inter-firm collaboration with case observations are also elucidated.
Dynamics in Knowledge
Authors: Sugiyama Shigeki
Published: August 2012

Since the idea of “artificial intelligence with knowledge” had been introduced, so many thoughts, theories, and ideas in various fields of engineering, science, geology, social study, economics, and management methods have been proposed. Those things have been started as an extension of modern engineering control theories and practices. Firstly, expert system by using IF-Then rules came up to at a production spot in manufacturing, and then agent system method by using intelligent software programs for design, planning, scheduling, production, and management in manufacturing. And then after, the idea of “Knowledge” burst into the artificial intelligence field as a real aid for getting any purpose to be accomplished by having augmented the past key knowledge in terms of management (controlling). However, those augmented knowledge methods used to have usages only in a limited small area. In addition to this, lots of works have to be done before making the systems work for a target problem solving. And what is worse, lots of parts of systems have to be customized for a new application. This chapter introduces a new direction and a method in “Knowledge” by inaugurating the brand new idea of “Dynamics in Knowledge,” which will behave more flexibly and intelligently in real usages.
Tool and Information Centric Design Process Modeling
Authors: Miller William Stuart , Summers Joshua D.
Published: August 2012

A new design process modeling approach focused on the information flow through design tools is discussed in this chapter. This approach is applied to three long term mechanical engineering design projects spanning 24 months, 12 months, and 4 months. These projects are used to explore the development of the new modeling approach. This is a first step in a broader effort in 1) modeling of design processes, 2) establishing case study research as a formal approach to design research, and 3) developing new design process tools. The ability of engineers to understand the dynamic nature of information throughout the design processes is critical to their ability to complete these tasks. Such understanding promotes learning and further exploration of the design process allowing the improvement of process models, the establishment of new research approaches, and the development of new tools. Thus, enhancing this understanding is the goal of this research effort.
Application of Dynamic Analysis in a Centralised Supply Chain
Authors: Niu Mu , Sice Petia , French Ian , Mosekilde Erik
Published: August 2012

This chapter presents dynamic analysis of a model of a centralised supply chain. The research was conducted within the manufacturing sector and involved the breathing equipment manufacturer Draeger Safety, UK A simplified model of the Draeger Safety, UK centralised supply chain is developed and validated. Simulation and analysis are performed using System Dynamics, control theory, nonlinear dynamic and chaos theory. The findings suggest that destructive oscillations of inventory could be generated by internal decision making practices. Bifurcation diagram is plotted to indicate the bifurcation status of the model with different internal decision policies. A management microworlds is developed for managers to experiment with different decision scenarios and learn how the supply chain performs.
Design of Manufacturing Cells Based on Graph Theory
Authors: Ribeiro José Francisco Ferreira
Published: August 2012

In this chapter a comparative study is presented between (I) sequential heuristics, (II) simulated annealing, (III) tabu search, and (IV) threshold algorithm for graph coloring and its application for solving the problem of the design of manufacturing cells in a job shop system production. The job shop production system has a very large proportion of all manufacturing activity. The principal concepts of manufacturing cells, graph theory, and heuristics are presented. The results obtained with these algorithms on several examples found in the literature are consistently equivalent with the best solution hitherto known in terms of numbers of inter-cell moves and dimensions of cells.
Augmented Reality for Collaborative Assembly Design in Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Chen Rui (Irene) , Wang Xiangyu , Hou Lei
Published: August 2012

Some speculations regarding the current issues existing in current assembly work have been brought out in this chapter. The theoretical basis behind the idea that Augmented Reality systems could provide cognitive support and augmentation is established. Hence, this chapter analyses the foundations for assembly feasibility evaluation and discusses possible innovative ways to provide an efficient and robust solution for these problems of realism and efficiency in design and assembly processes. The proposed platform considers the multiple dependencies in different manufacturing sectors that allow the work to be conducted in a simultaneous way, rather than sequential order.
Green Computing as an Ecological Aid in Industry
Authors: Avram Oliver , Stroud Ian , Xirouchakis Paul
Published: August 2012

This chapter concerns the use of computing for ecological evaluation in the manufacturing industry. Here, ecological evaluation means identification and quantisation of various manufacturing process characteristics from the point of view of the environment. Manufacturing is a complex process with many different interactions between the parameters controlling the manufacturing machine tools. In the past, manufacturing planners and operators have set these parameters without understanding the consequences, leading to waste of energy, cutting fluid, and so on. This chapter presents a computer tool for evaluating and quantifying the effects of different manufacturing choices using chosen criteria. The tool was implemented as part of the work for a European project. It is based on an extensive analysis of machine tools to provide a way of handling the complexities of understanding the use phase of products.
Improving Energy-Efficiency of Scientific Computing Clusters
Authors: Niemi Tapio , Kommeri Jukka , Hameri Ari-Pekka
Published: August 2012

The authors applied operations management principles on scheduling and allocation to scientific computing clusters to decrease energy consumption and to increase throughput. They challenged the traditional one job per one processor core scheduling method commonly used in scientific computing with parallel processing and bottleneck management. The authors tested the effect of increased parallelism by using different test applications related to high-energy physics computing. The test results showed that at best their methods both decreased energy consumption down to 40% and increased throughput up to 100%, compared to the standard one task per CPU core method. The trade-off is that processing times of individual tasks get longer, but in scientific computing, the overall throughput and energy-efficiency are often more important.
Programming Robots in Kindergarten to Express Identity
Authors: Bers Marina U. , Ettinger Alyssa B.
Published: August 2012

This chapter presents a research program that uses robotics as a powerful tool to engage Kindergarten children in developing computational thinking and learning about the engineering design process. Using an ethnographic analysis of an experience in a Kindergarten classroom at the Jewish Community Day School (JCDS), a pluralistic school in Watertown, MA, in which children worked with robotics as a way to explore issues of identity, the chapter highlights both developmental and technological considerations that need to be addressed when engaging young children with robotic activities. This project used an innovative hybrid tangible programming system composed of interlocking wooden blocks, called CHERP, specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of young children. While many robotic programs highlight building aspects and their relationship to engineering education, the approach presented in this chapter complements this by focusing on programming by teaching powerful ideas from computer science at a very early age.
Software Process Lines
Authors: Niazi Mahmood , Zahran Sami
Published: August 2012

The industrial revolution transformed the cottage industry into mass production. In this chapter, the authors trace the recent advancement of the software industry and establish that it is following a similar route followed by the manufacturing industry towards industrialization. The chapter positions the concept of Software Product Lines (http://www.sei.cmu.edu/productlines/), as a possible foundation for software industrialization, and the authors introduce the concept of Software Process Lines as complimentary foundation for software industrialization. The chapter discusses a number of questions: What are the Software Process Lines? What are the justifications and benefits of Software Process Lines? What are the steps for implementing Software Process Lines? How can Software Process Lines enable and facilitate the establishment of a continuous Software Process Improvement environment?
Zero-Downtime Reconfiguration of Distributed Control Logic in Industrial Automation and Control
Authors: Strasser Thomas , Zoitl Alois , Rooker Martijn
Published: August 2012

Future manufacturing is envisioned to be highly flexible and adaptable. New technologies for efficient engineering of reconfigurable systems and their adaptations are preconditions for this vision. Without such solutions, engineering adaptations of Industrial Process Measurement and Control Systems (IPMCS) will exceed the costs of engineered systems by far and the reuse of equipment will become inefficient. Especially the reconfiguration of control applications is not sufficiently solved by state-of-the-art technology. This chapter gives an overview of the use of reconfiguration applications for zero-downtime system reconfiguration of control applications on basis of the standard IEC 61499 which provides a reference model for distributed and reconfigurable control systems. A new approach for the reconfiguration of IEC 61499 based control application and the corresponding modeling is discussed. This new method significantly increases engineering efficiency and reuse in component-based IPMCS.
Contracting for Logistics Services
Authors: Selviaridis Kostas
Published: August 2012

This chapter seeks to critically revisit existing third party logistics (3PL) purchasing literature with the aim of bridging the gap between academic research and industry practice regarding logistics outsourcing. This is achieved by focusing on hitherto under-emphasized issues (in the academic literature) relating to the role of the service provider, as opposed to that of the buyer, in 3PL exchange design and management, and the dynamics of the outsourcing process. Drawing on recent developments and practices in the 3PL industry and two in-depth case studies of logistics outsourcing, the study suggests that, under increasing complexity and uncertainty levels, the service provider in interaction with the buying firm significantly influences service definition, design, and evaluation throughout the outsourcing process. The exchanged service is not determined from the outset of the outsourcing process but it is (re)shaped in an iterative and ongoing fashion. Based on such findings, the chapter calls for increased emphasis on a dynamic and inter-organizational (buyer-service provider) perspective into the study of logistics outsourcing processes.
Logistics Service Providers
Authors: Eleni-Maria Papadopoulou
Published: August 2012

Supply chain complexity is reflected through the existence of multiple logistics service providers (LSPs). The decision on the appropriate logistics partner is considered significant for the chain efficiency. The managerial problem relies in the providers’ efforts to broaden their service portfolio, thus erasing controversies concerning the identification of their core competences. This issue mainly lies in the selection among an International Freight Forwarder (IFF), a Third Party Logistics Provider (3PL), and a Fourth Party Logistics Provider (4PL). The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the characteristics and services offered by the LSPs, present the benefits and drawbacks from the collaboration with each entity, and finally form a framework regarding their representative features. The framework is articulated based on literature review and aims to provide a guideline to the interested chain members, enabling them to assess their needs against the LSPs’ characteristics.
Outsourcing Execution in Transportation and Distribution
Authors: Mendes Paulo , Leal José Eugenio
Published: August 2012

Outsourcing can be a very effective strategy to increase operational performance and improve customer service; at the same time, that minimizes capital investment, freeing up capital to other important projects according to the company strategy that will increase revenue and profitability. However, when outsourcing is not performed in the right way, as there are several examples in the marketplace, it can also decrease performance and hurt customer service, reducing company competitiveness. Therefore, it is critical to establish a robust Outsourcing Execution Process to reduce risks of vendor failure due to lack of operational capability, performance management, and conflict of culture between 3PL and the company, just to enumerate a few possible real life problems. This chapter provides a broad and updated introduction of transportation and distribution operation, and based on literature review and practical experience from the authors, several best practices are reviewed to support outsourcing execution in transportation and distribution operation.
Outsourcing the Warehousing Function
Authors: Moschuris Socrates J. , Nikitas Socrates A.
Published: August 2012

Nowadays, more and more firms focus on core competencies and turn to external specialists (Third Party Logistics - 3PLs) for sophisticated logistics solutions. This research investigates the usage of 3PL services in the warehousing function by industrial firms operating in Greece. It focuses on three constructs (extent of use, decision making process, impact on user firms), which the authors believe are the primary determinants of the future usage on 3PL services in the warehousing function. The results, based on the analysis of data relating to 53 industrial firms operating in Greece, indicate that most users are satisfied with the service providers and believe that this has led to positive developments within the organization. With a high current level of satisfaction, a large number of these firms are likely to increase their usage of 3PL services.
Short-Term Time Series Prediction for a Logistics Outsourcing Company
Authors: Papana Angeliki
Published: August 2012

In this chapter, tools from univariate time series analysis and forecasting are presented and applied. Time series components, such as trend and seasonality are introduced and discussed, while time series methods are analyzed based on the type of the time series components. In the literature, linear methods are the most commonly used. However, real time series data often include nonlinear components, so linear time series forecasting may not be the optimal choice. Therefore, also a basic nonlinear forecasting method is presented. The necessity of these methods to logistics service providers and 3PL companies is presented by case studies that present how the operational and management costs can be cut down in order to ensure a service level. Short term forecasts are useful in all the units of activation of 3PL companies, i.e. supplies, production, distribution, storage, transportation, and service of customers.
Does the Outsourcing of Logistics Services Keep its Promise of Increased Efficiency?
Authors: Grigorenco Aliona , Papadopoulos Philippos , Rotsios Konstantinos
Published: August 2012

The aim of this chapter is to evaluate the efficiency of third party logistics (3PL) and the importance of outsourcing logistics services from the client’s perspective. The research focuses on current practices related to the extent of use, predictive value outsourcing and performance measures system of Colgate-Palmolive Company in Greece. The study examines the efficiency of the logistics service providers, and its impact on the overall client performance, evaluated through interviews with the 3PL Coordinator, the Logistics Manager, and the Manufacturing Director. The key findings of the work are that logistics outsourcing takes responsibility for non-core business functions, brings reductions of stocks and costs as well as order-to-delivery lead-time, accelerates capital turnover and capitalizes on synergies to achieve efficiency. Overall, its contribution is evaluated by the client as satisfactory and of medium significance, with room for improvements.
Distribution and Logistics Outsourcing in the Pharmaceutical Sector
Authors: Malindretos George
Published: August 2012

The scope of this chapter is to provide useful insights of the pharmaceutical supply chain and identify the prospects of outsourcing, with special reference to the Greek pharmaceutical sector. This goal is facilitated by a threefold analysis in combination: first, by the development of an integrated interdisciplinary research methodology framework; second, by the identification of the special characteristics of the pharmaceutical supply chain with special attention to the role of outsourcing; and third, by the description of the current pharmaceutical distribution channels in Greece and the identification of the potential opportunities for outsourcing. The findings of this study are outlined in an attempt to contribute in the yet unsettled research methodology issue which has particular importance for the R&D in the pharmaceutical sector. Certain specific suggestions for future research are expected to support the sustainability of the Greek pharmaceutical sector, with potential broader relevance.
Outsourcing Supply Chain Support and its Effectiveness and Implication in R&D Environment in Singapore
Authors: Folinas Dimitris , Sim LH
Published: August 2012

This study aims to study the outsourcing challenges and issues, specifically related to information sharing between partners that are faced by precision tool R&D organizations in Singapore. The research uses i3lab (a Singapore home grown R&D firm) as the case for study and employs interviews of 5 employees at i3lab. The interviews of the employees of i3lab revealed that there were concerns about security and integrity of the information that is being shared with the outsourcing partners, and this leads to an inherent reluctance in sharing sensitive information. The research also includes interviews of employees from three 3 outsourcing partners of i3lab, and it was found that lack of communications and lack of protocols for facilitating the information sharing between the partners were causes of low standardization, loss of quality, and increased costs, due to delays and re-works. There appeared to be a lack of strategic approach and planning to information sharing at different stages of outsourcing supply chain, which led to ad hoc and inadequate communications.
Selection and Evaluation of 3PL Providers
Authors: Keramydas Christos , Tsolakis Naoum , Xanthopoulos Anastasios , Aidonis Dimitrios
Published: August 2012

As supply chains continue to globalize, the need for robust Third Party Logistics (3PL) provider qualification, selection, and evaluation programs becomes increasingly critical. In this context, this chapter aims to present a methodological approach for the optimization of this specific type of outsourcing operations in today’s globalized supply chains. More specifically, the authors first present an analytical literature review of the criteria and the methods that are employed in this field of decision-making, and then propose a generic methodological framework for the 3PL partner selection and evaluation problem. This framework is constituted by a nine-phased conceptual decision-making methodology that outlines the whole life cycle of the 3PL provider selection and continuous evaluation processes.
Selection of the 3rd/4th Party Logistics Provider
Authors: Nikolaos Voulgarakis , Dimitris Aidonis , Charisios Achillas , Dimitrios Triantafillou , Nicolas Moussiopoulos
Published: August 2012

Logistics’ role in today’s global and competitive markets is critical for enterprises’ viability, since it can provide the grounds for firms to become leaders of the markets by simultaneously achieving performance maximization and cost minimization. Towards improving competitiveness and achieving their targets enterprises mostly paid attention to production and generally developing their core business. In a way to also achieve high performances in their logistics workload, enterprises often outsource non-core business, such as transportation, warehousing, et cetera. In this light, outsourcing has become lately a very common practice. However, nowadays there are numerous competitive firms that offer such services and decision-making towards selection of the most effective one is usually challenging. Towards this direction, a multi-criteria analysis approach has been developed for the selection of the optimal outsourcing strategy involving a number of service logistics providers. The approach follows the path of an outranking multi-criteria method, namely ELECTRE III. The approach is illustrated through two case studies.
Planning Negotiations for Logistics Service Providers
Authors: Sarigiannidis Miltiadis
Published: August 2012

This chapter provides a brief description of the negotiation process and its nature, and explores its advantages and disadvantages. It also explains the reasons for the appropriateness of this process in comparison to other means of dispute settlement, such as mediation and arbitration, and argues that it is an everyday necessary component for the logistics service providers.
Loyalty and Disloyalty in Logistics Outsourcing Relationships
Authors: Juga Jari , Juntunen Jouni
Published: August 2012

The goal is to identify factors that lead to continuity as well as changes in logistics outsourcing relationships. This may entail an intention to change the service provider or alter the scope of an outsourcing arrangement. Service performance and facilitating factors, notably good inter-firm relationships, play a key role in predicting outsourcing relationship continuity. By contrast, it is the failure in personal service performance that is the critical factor behind the buyer’s intention to switch the service provider. The buyer’s intention to extend the scope of outsourcing does not show a significant relationship with any of the antecedent factors. The study is based on survey data of 235 industrial companies in Finland. Multivariate methods including factor analysis and regression equations are used to test the relationships between the antecedent factors and the various aspects of loyalty or disloyalty in logistics outsourcing arrangements.
Managing the Risks of Outsourcing IT Security in Supply Chain
Authors: Tsiakis Theodosios , Tsiakis Panagiotis
Published: August 2012

Enterprises are expeditiously outsourcing the non-core business processes and functions. This is happening in order for new efficiencies to be found and costs to be reduced along with the increase of shareholder value. Enterprises in a supply chain use networks to share information assets. Information Systems and Information Technology are essential for their business operations. Organizations resort to outsourcing, in order to balance the infinite requirements with organisational assets. Supply chains that are relying upon sourced Information Systems (or/and IT) are vulnerable from Information Security (IS) specific types of risks to supply chains. These systems and their components are at increasing risk of supply chain. The process of securing all elements of IT systems (whether it is hardware, software, or services) throughout their life cycle is critical. The scope of the chapter is to identify the basic process of outsourcing Information Security functions/processes in Supply Chain and moreover to adduce the practice of it.
Leading Pedagogical Change with Innovative Web Tools and Social Media
Authors: McLoughlin Catherine
Published: August 2012

Today, in a globalised, digital world, leadership challenges in the adoption and integration of emerging social software tools to support learning abound. Today’s students, who have grown up in technology saturated environments, have never known a world without the internet, mobile phones, video on demand and personal computers. Leaders and educators must know their students, and cater for their diverse needs. Educational institutions in the 21st century must learn how to adopt social software tools and apply sound pedagogical strategies to add value to existing practices and enhance the learning process. ICT supplements and enhances learning and student engagement through access to global learning communities and rich resources, requiring educators to be conversant with the technology, able to lead by example and capable of creating authentic contexts and environments for learning. Educators in today’s media rich society must be ready to grapple with the significant pedagogic, cultural and social changes associated with technological innovation.
Workplace Incivility in Schools
Authors: Reio Thomas G. , Reio Stephanie M.
Published: August 2012

This paper investigates the prevalence of coworker and supervisor incivility in the context of K-12 schools and incivility’s possible link to teachers’ commitment to the school and turnover intent. The data were collected via surveys from 94 middle school teachers in the United States. Results indicated that 85% of the teachers experienced coworker incivility over the past year; 71% experienced supervisor incivility. MANOVA results suggested no statistically significant differences in incivility by gender or ethnicity. Hierarchical regression results suggested that supervisor incivility was associated negatively with commitment and positively associated with turnover intent. Coworker incivility was not a significant predictor in the regression equations. Macro- and micro-level human resource strategies are offered as possible tools to lessen the likelihood of uncivil behavior.
Literacy Level and Vocational Training for Substance-Using Hispanic Adults
Authors: Wood Michele M. , Fisher Dennis G. , Reynolds Grace L. , Guzman Yesenia , Pedersen William C.
Published: August 2012

The Hispanic population has become the largest ethnic minority group in the United States. To successfully incorporate this population in adult vocational training, social service, and health programs, it is essential that programs design and implement materials at a reading level appropriate for the population served. This study determines the reading level in a population of Hispanic adult substance users receiving HIV prevention services in Long Beach, California. One hundred seven Spanish speakers were administered the Spanish Reading Comprehension Test. Spanish reading ability was determined to be at the third grade level for this sample. Results suggest that substance-using subpopulations of Spanish speakers in the Southwest United States face considerable language and literacy barriers. Findings have implications for adult vocational training as well as social service and health programs that include Hispanic subpopulations, and highlight the importance of designing materials that do not exceed the reading abilities of target populations.
Educational Leadership and Ralph Tyler
Authors: Wang Victor X. , Parker Judith
Published: August 2012

This article addresses the traditional instructional leadership (characterized with Tyler’s four questions; teachers prescribe a curriculum; learners assume a submissive role of following instructors) in comparison with the andragogical or innovative instructional leadership. As more and more scholars cast their doubt on this particular instructional mode (traditional instructional leadership), especially when compared with the innovative instructional leadership, this article seeks to draw on traditional instructional leadership that revolves around Ralph Tyler’s model. In doing so, instructors and practitioners will see clearly what the traditional instructional leadership may bring to most education settings and above all, they may rely on a ready-made formula when planning curriculums, instruction, program planning, or evaluation. While traditional instructional leadership may have come under much criticism, there is much to learn from it.
E-Leadership in the New Century
Authors: Wang Victor X.
Published: August 2012

This article argues that E-leadership emerged out of technological development among all other major developments in our society. In the virtual environment, leaders are required to lead followers by using different approaches. This is not to say that traditional leadership has no place in the new virtual environment characterized by the constant use of technology. Rather, traditional leadership and leadership style studied and conceptualized by researchers and scholars enhance E-leadership supported by Rogers’ facilitative leadership. Leadership theories are meant to be applied to practice. Further, leadership theories can be applied in part or in whole. They are not ideologies that must be followed to the letter.
Vocational Interests and Needs of Unemployed, Low-Education Adults with Severe Substance Abuse Problems in Anchorage, Alaska
Authors: Johnson Mark E. , Reynolds Grace , Fisher Dennis G. , Harbke Colin R.
Published: August 2012

Vocational assessment data were collected from 94 low-education adults with severe substance abuse problems not currently in treatment. Participants completed the My Vocational Situation (MVS), Self-Directed Search (SDS), and Reading-Free Vocational Interest Inventory (R-FVII). Lower scores than the normative sample were revealed on all MVS scales, with scores for men being significantly lower than the normative sample. These findings indicate that these participants, particularly the men, lack a clear and stable view of their occupational future, need information to clarify their occupational options and goals, and perceive multiple barriers in attaining employment. SDS and R-FVII results provide detailed information about these participants’ occupational interests and vocational likes and dislikes. These findings highlight vocational counseling and guidance as critical needs for individuals with severe substance abuse problems who are unable or unwilling to seek treatment. Providing vocational services to this out-of-treatment population may be an essential pathway for their long-term recovery.
Fractal Geometry as a Bridge between Realms
Authors: Marks-Tarlow Terry
Published: August 2012

This chapter describes fractal geometry as a bridge between the imaginary and the real, mind and matter, conscious and the unconscious. Fractals are multidimensional objects with self-similar detail across size and/or time scales. Jung conceived of number as the most primitive archetype of order, serving to link observers with the observed. Whereas Jung focused upon natural numbers as the foundation for order that is already conscious in the observer, I offer up the fractal geometry as the underpinnings for a dynamic unconscious destined never to become fully conscious. Throughout nature, fractals model the complex, recursively branching structures of self-organizing systems. When they serve at the edges of open systems, fractal boundaries articulate a paradoxical zone that simultaneously separates as it connects. When modeled by Spencer-Brown’s mathematical notation, full interpenetration between inside and outside edges translates to a distinction that leads to no distinction. By occupying the infinitely deep “space between” dimensions and levels of existence, fractal boundaries contribute to the notion of intersubjectivity, where self and other become most entwined. They also exemplify reentry dynamics of Varela’s autonomous systems, plus Hofstadter’s ever-elusive “tangled hierarchy” between brain and mind.
Thinking Animals and Thinking Machines in Psychoanalysis and Beyond
Authors: Scalzone Franco , Zontini Gemma
Published: August 2012

In this chapter, the authors examine some similarities between computer science and psychoanalysis, and formulate some hypotheses by bringing closer the statute of connectionism to the energetic model of the psychic apparatus as well as the OOP (object-oriented programming) to the object relations theory. The chapter also describes the relation existing between the functioning of mnemic systems and human temporalities as dynamic structures/processes which might be represented as complementary images of each other. The authors make some remarks on the machine and people theme, the way in which men relate to machines, especially “thinking machines,” describing the fantasies they arouse. In order to do this, the chapter uses Tausk’s classic (1919/1933) “On the Origin of the ‘Influencing Machine’ in Schizophrenia”1, as well as some of Freud’s writings.
Recurrence Indicators for the Estimation of Characteristic Size and Frequency of Spatial Patterns
Authors: Mocenni Chiara , Facchini Angelo
Published: August 2012

In this chapter, the authors propose a method for the estimation of the characteristic size and frequency of the typical structure in systems showing two dimensional spatial patterns. In particular, they use several indicators caught from the nonlinear framework for identifying the small and large scales of the systems. The indicators are applied to the images corresponding to the instantaneous realization of the system. The method assumes that it is possible to capture the main system’s properties from the distribution of the recurring patterns in the image and does not require the knowledge of the dynamical system generating the patterns neither the application of any image segmentation method.
The Residence Time of the Water in Lake MAGGIORE. Through an Eulerian-Lagrangian Approach
Authors: Castellano Leonardo , Sala Nicoletta , Rolla Angelo , Ambrosetti Walter
Published: August 2012

This chapter describes a study designed to evaluate the spectrum of the residence time of the water at different depths of a deep lake, and to examine the mechanisms governing the seasonal cycle of thermal stratification and destratification, with the ultimate aim of assessing the actual exchange time of the lake water. The study was performed on Lake Maggiore (depth 370m) using a multidimensional mathematical model and computer codes for the heat and mass transfer in very large natural water bodies. A 3D Eulerian time-dependent CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code was applied under real conditions, taking into account the effects of the monthly mean values of the mass flow rates and temperatures of all the tributaries, mass flow rate of the Ticino effluent and meteorological, hydrological, and limnological parameters available from the rich data-base of the CNR-ISE (Pallanza). The velocity distributions from these simulations were used to compute the paths of a large number of massless markers with different initial positions and evaluate their residence times in the lake.
Possibility of Fractal Aesthetics
Authors: Kocic Ljubiša M.
Published: August 2012

Fast development of computer networking contributes to the global spreading and popularizing of the notion of fractals and complex patterns in their use in computer-aided design and computer art. This chapter looks for answers to the following questions: How are fractals perceived? Are fractals predominantly man-made or natural objects? How do fractals relate to the overall visual art experience of mankind? What are the main problems in using fractals in arts? What are the experiences from the visual art-history? Do Nature and artists use the same algorithm? What fractal experts can do to help artists?
Parametric Generator for Architectural and Urban 3D Objects
Authors: Lunazzi Renato Saleri
Published: August 2012

The authors developed and finalized a specific tool able to model the global structure of architectural objects through a morphological and semantic description of its finite elements. This discrete conceptual model - still in study - was refined during the geometric modeling of the “Vieux Lyon” district, containing a high level of morpho-stylistic disparity. Future developments should allow increasing the genericity of its descriptive efficiency, permitting even more sparse morphological and\or stylistic varieties. Its general purpose doesn’t consist in creating a “universal modeler,” but to offer a simple tool able to quickly describe a majority of standard architectural objects compliant with some standard parametric definition rules.
Fractals, Computer Science and Beyond
Authors: Sala Nicoletta
Published: August 2012

In the modelling of the natural shapes (clouds, ferns, trees, shells, rivers, mountains), the limits imposed by Euclidean geometry can be exceeded by the fractals. Fractal geometry is relatively young (the first studies are the works by the French mathematicians Pierre Fatou (1878-1929) and Gaston Julia (1893-1978) at the beginning of the 20th century), but only with the mathematical power of computers has it become possible to realize connections between fractal geometry and the other disciplines. It is applied in various fields now, from the biology to the architecture. Important applications also appear in computer science, because the fractal geometry permits to compress the images; to reproduce, in the virtual reality environments, the complex patterns and the irregular forms present in nature using simple iterative algorithms execute by computers. Recent studies apply this geometry for controlling the traffic in the computer networks (LANs, MANs, WANs, and the Internet) and in the realization of virtual worlds based on World Wide Web. The aim of this chapter is to present fractal geometry, its properties (e.g., the self similarity), and their applications in computer science (starting from the computer graphics, to the virtual reality).
Overview of Key Information Security Governance Frameworks
Authors: Rebollo Oscar
Published: August 2012

Security awareness has spread inside many organizations leading them to tackle information security not just as a technical matter, but from a corporate point of view. Information Security Governance (ISG) provides enterprises with means of dealing with the security of their information assets in a comprehensive manner, involving every stakeholder through the whole governance and management processes. Boards of Public and Private Entities cannot remain unaware of this development and should make efforts to include ISG into their business processes. Realizing of this relevant role, scientific literature contains a variety of proposals which define different frameworks to foster ISG inside any corporation. In order to facilitate the adoption of any of them by the public sector, this chapter compiles existing approaches, highlighting the main contributions and characteristics of each one. Senior executives and security managers may need support on their decisions about adopting one of these frameworks, so a comparative analysis is performed. This chapter tries to provide an overview of state of the art of the most current relevant security governance frameworks by means of a comparison through a set of comparative criteria that have been defined and applied to every proposal, so that strengths and weaknesses of each one can be pointed out. These criteria have been selected from a deep analysis of existing ISG papers, including both governance and management aspects.
Information Technology Service Management
Authors: Arcilla Magdalena , Calvo-Manzano Jose A. , de la Cámara Mercedes , Sáenz Javier , Sánchez Luis
Published: August 2012

Nowadays, there is an increasing dependence on information and on the systems that provide such information. So, for many organizations, the information and technology that supports them represent the most valuable assets of the company. Research on Information Technology (IT) management practices in many organizations around the world has revealed that most of them are not optimizing their investment on IT. The differentiating factor between those who succeed and those who failed is the participation of management in key IT decisions that must be aligned with the strategic and operational business plans and a proper corporate governance of IT. Corporate governance evaluates and directs the use of IT to support the organization, monitoring its use to achieve plans, and provides guidance to advising, informing or assisting directors, and assuring the compliance with laws and regulations. Some frameworks and models have been developed related to the governance and service management of IT. ITIL® (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) is the most used and extended model related to IT service management. The purpose of this chapter is to describe briefly the main phases and processes related to the ITIL® service lifecycle, detailed information related to the information security management process, and the qualifying system for IT Service Management with ITIL®.
Using Indicators to Monitor Security Risk in Systems of Systems
Authors: Ligaarden Olav Skjelkvåle , Refsdal Atle , Stølen Ketil
Published: August 2012

Systems of systems are collections of systems interconnected through the exchange of services. Their often complex service dependencies and very dynamic nature make them hard to analyze and predict with respect to quality in general, and security in particular. In this chapter, the authors put forward a method for the capture and monitoring of impact of service dependencies on the security of provided services. The method is divided into four main steps focusing on documenting the system of systems and IT service dependencies, establishing the impact of service dependencies on risk to security of provided services, identifying measureable indicators for dynamic monitoring, and specifying their design and deployment, respectively. The authors illustrate the method in an example-driven fashion based on a case within power supply.
Introduction to Academic Entrepreneurship
Authors: Lewandowski Mateusz
Published: August 2012

The aim of the chapter is to provide practitioners and researchers, who wish to investigate academic entrepreneurship in details, with the basic characteristics of the phenomenon as an introduction to further exploration. As university entrepreneurship is rooted in the broader entrepreneurship theory, the investigation encompassed a set of definitions, types, and processes pertaining to both industrial and academic context. It also provides an examination into the effectiveness of the policy-driven approach in enhancing academic entrepreneurship. This study has been conducted on the basis of the literature review and inductive argumentation, leading to the formulation of a conceptual framework for university entrepreneurship. The key finding is that although the classic forms of academic entrepreneurship, such as organizational creation, renewal, and innovation fit to the academic context, they are not sufficient to reflect the variety of all the forms. In turn, a new definition of university entrepreneurship is provided.
Introducing a Science-to-Business Marketing Unit to University Knowledge and Technology Transfer Structures
Authors: Kliewe Thorsten , Baaken Thomas , Kesting Tobias
Published: August 2012

This chapter addresses two major challenges in academic entrepreneurship. First, rather than continuously questioning and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of their knowledge and technology transfer (KTT) program, universities often get stuck in their day-to-day business. Second, unlike businesses, most research organisations do not base their strategy and operational activities on their research customers’ demands, namely companies, and thus often miss to meet the needs of their market. Starting with a theoretical discussion on university structures and market orientation in KTT, this chapter presents the successful case of Münster University of Applied Sciences (MUAS) in Germany. Separating strategic, operational, and analytical-scientific activities, MUAS established a Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre (S2BMRC) which conducts various activities to optimise relationships between academia and business based marketing principles. The chapter details the centre’s field of duties, benefits of having such a centre, and success factors in the formation and operation stage, thus giving insight for all those lacking a market-oriented KTT structure.