bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Metric-Based and Empirical Approaches for	Cognitive Analysis of Modeling Languages
Authors: Kamandi Ali , Habibi Jafar
Published: December 2019

Modeling languages are needed to describe the conceptual construct underlying software. Several modeling languages have been proposed during the last decades. Cognitive complexity is one of the common problems in designing modeling languages. Users have to split their attention and cognitive resources between two different tasks when working with complex language: solving the problem and understanding the elements composing the language. Several researches have been accomplished to evaluate cognitive complexity of modeling languages, among them, metric based and empirical approaches aremore important and convenient than others. In this paper, we compared these two methods. Results show that there is no significant relation between outputs generated by these approaches.
Series-Parallel Automata and Short Regular Expressions
Authors: Moreira Nelma , Reis Rogério
Published: December 2019

Computing short regular expressions equivalent to a given finite automaton is a hard task. In this work we present a class of acyclic automata for which it is possible to obtain in time O(n $^{2}$ log n) an equivalent regular expression of size O(n). A characterisation of this class is made using properties of the underlying digraphs that correspond to the series-parallel digraphs class. Using this characterisation we present an algorithm for the generation of automata of this class and an enumerative formula for the underlying digraphs with a given number of vertices.
Normalized-scale Relations and Their Concept Lattices in	Relational Databases
Authors: Lei Yuxia , Sui Yuefei , Cao Cungen
Published: December 2019

Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) is a valid tool for data mining and knowledge discovery, which identifies conceptual structures from (formal) contexts. As many practical applications involve non-binary data, non-binary attributes are introduced via a many-valued context in FCA. In FCA, conceptual scaling provides a complete framework for transforming any many-valued context into a context, in which each non-binary attribute is given a scale, and the scale is a context. Each relation in relational databases is a many-valued context of FCA. In this paper, we provide an approach toward normalizing scales, i.e., each scale can be represented by a nominal scale and/or a set of statements. One advantage of normalizing scales is to avoid generating huge (binary) derived relations. By the normalization, the concept lattice of a derived relation is reduced to a combination of the concept lattice of a derived nominal relation and a set of statements. Hence, without transforming a relation into a derived relation, one can not only determine concepts of the derived relation from concepts of given scales, but also determine concepts of the derived relation from concepts of a derived nominal relation and a set of statements. The connection between the concept lattice of a derived nominal relation and the concept lattice of a derived relation is also considered.
A New Algorithm for Optimal Path Finding in Complex Networks Based	on the Quotient Space
Authors: Zhang Ling , He Fu-gui , Zhang Yan-ping , Zhao Shu
Published: December 2019

The optimal path finding problem in weighted edge networks is an old and interesting one in many fields. There were many well-known algorithms to deal with that issue. But they were confronted with the high computational complexity while the network becoming larger. We present a hierarchical quotient space model based algorithm that reduces the computational complexity. The basic idea is the following. The nodes of a given network are partitioned with respect to the weights of their adjacent edges. We construct a variety of coarser versions of the given network with new nodes corresponding to the blocks of partitions at various levels of granularity. They are called the quotient spaces (networks) of the original network. The construction of the (sub- )optimal path is then done incrementally, throughout the hierarchy of quotient networks. Since each version of the network is much simpler than the original one, especially of the coarsest spaces, the computational complexity is reduced. In this paper, we present the basic principles of the algorithm and its experimental comparison to other well-known algorithms.
Friendly Color Visual Secret Sharing by Random Grids
Authors: Chen Tzung-Her , Tsao Kai-Hsiang , Yang Yan-Ting
Published: December 2019

The visual secret sharing (VSS) approach by random grids (RG-based VSS) has drawn people's attention "again" recently. Nevertheless, the current RG-based VSS approaches suffer from the problem of meaningless share images (cipher-grids) so that it is not user-friendly to manage noise-like share images. This paper presents a novel color RG-based VSS scheme aiming at providing the friendly color cipher-grids with all the advantages of traditional VSS schemes. To our best knowledge, this paper is the first effort to develop the friendly technique. The experimental results show that the scheme does work.
From Glushkov WFAs to \mathbb{K}-Expressions
Authors: Caron Pascal , Flouret Marianne
Published: December 2019

We take an active interest in the problem of conversion of a Weighted Finite Automaton (WFA) into a \mathbb{K}-expression. The known algorithms give an exponential size expression in the number of states of the given automaton. We study the McNaughton-Yamada algorithm in the case of multiplicities and then we show that the resulting \mathbb{K}-expression is in the Star Normal Form (SNF) defined by Brüggemann-Klein [3]. The Glushkov algorithm computes an (n + 1)-state automaton from an expression having n occurrences of letters even in the multiplicity case [5]. We reverse this procedure and get a linear size \mathbb{K}-expression from a Glushkov WFA. A characterization of Glushkov WFAs which are not in SNF is given. This characterization allows us to emphasize a normal form for \mathbb{K}-expressions. As for SNF in the boolean case, we show that every \mathbb{K}-expression has an equivalent one in normal form having the same Glushkov WFA. We end with an algorithm giving a small normal form \mathbb{K}-expression from a Glushkov WFA.
Constraint Satisfaction Problems in Clausal Form II: Minimal Unsatisfiability and Conflict Structure
Authors: Kullmann Oliver
Published: December 2019

Concluding this mini-series of 2 articles on the foundations of generalised clause-sets, we study the combinatorial properties of non-boolean conjunctive normal forms (clause-sets), allowing arbitrary (but finite) sets of values for variables, while literals express that some variable shall not get some (given) value. First we study the properties of the direct translation (or “encoding”) of generalised clause-sets into boolean clause-sets. Many combinatorial properties are preserved, and as a result we can lift fixed-parameter tractability of satisfiability in the maximal deficiency from the boolean case to the general case. Then we turn to irredundant clause-sets, which generalise minimally unsatisfiable clause-sets, and we prove basic properties. The simplest irredundant clause-sets are hitting clause-sets, and we provide characterisations and generalisations. Unsatisfiable irredundant clause-sets are the minimally unsatisfiable clause-sets, and we provide basic tools. These tools allow us to characterise the minimally unsatisfiable clause-sets of minimal deficiency. Finally we provide a new translation of generalised boolean clause-sets into boolean clause-sets, the nested translation, which preserves the conflict structure. As an application, we can generalise results for boolean clause-sets regarding the hermitian rank/defect, especially the characterisation of unsatisfiable hitting clause-sets where between every two clauses we have exactly one conflict. We conclude with a list of open problems, and a discussion of the “generic translation scheme”.
Multiplicative Transition Systems
Authors: Winkowski Józef
Published: December 2019

The paper is concerned with algebras whose elements can be used to represent runs of a system from a state to a state. These algebras, called multiplicative transition systems, are categories with respect to a partial binary operation called composition. They can be characterized by axioms such that their elements and operations can be represented by partially ordered multisets of a certain type and operations on such multisets. The representation can be obtained without assuming a discrete nature of represented elements. In particular, it remains valid for systems with infinitely divisible elements, and thus also for systems with elements which can represent continuous and partially continuous runs.
A Multi-Criteria Metric Algorithm for Recommender Systems
Authors: Akhtarzada Ali , Calude Cristian S. , Hosking John
Published: December 2019

Information overload and an abundance of choices create situations where selecting one option becomes extremely difficult or even worse, a guessing game. Collaborative ranking systems are widely used to alleviate this problem by creating intelligent rankings of items based on an aggregation of user opinions. Current ranking systems can still be improved in a number of areas, including accuracy, transparency and flexibility. This paper presents a multi-criteria ranking algorithm that can be used on a non-rigid set of criteria. The system implementing the algorithm fares well with respect to the above qualities.
The Sequence Equivalence Problem for Marked DT0L Systems
Authors: Honkala Juha
Published: December 2019

We study the DT0L sequence equivalence problem for marked morphisms. We show that to decide this problem it is enough to consider initial terms involving at most 2n morphisms where n is the cardinality of the underlying alphabet.
Minimum Unique Substrings and Maximum Repeats
Authors: Ilie Lucian , Smyth William F.
Published: December 2019

Unique substrings appear scattered in the stringology literature and have important applications in bioinformatics. In this paper we initiate a study of minimum unique substrings in a given string; that is, substrings that occur exactly once while all their substrings are repeats. We discover a strong duality between minimum unique substrings and maximum repeats which, in particular, allows fast computation of one from the other. We give several optimal algorithms, some of which are very simple and efficient. Their combinatorial properties are investigated and a number of open problems are proposed.
Membrane Systems with Qualitative Evolution Rules
Authors: Kleijn Jetty , Koutny Maciej
Published: December 2019

In membrane systems, biochemical reactions taking place in the compartments of a cell are abstracted to evolution rules that specify which and how many objects are consumed and produced. The recently proposed reaction systems also investigate processes carried by biochemical reactions, but the resulting computational model is remarkably different. A key difference is that in reaction systems, biochemical reactions are modeled using a qualitative rather than a quantitative approach. In this paper, we introduce so-called set membrane systems, a variant of membrane systems with qualitative evolution rules inspired by reaction systems. We then relate set membrane systems to Petri nets which leads to a new class of Petri nets: set-nets with localities. This Petri net model provides a faithful match with the operational semantics of set membrane systems.
Two-Way Reversible Multi-Head Finite Automata
Authors: Morita Kenichi
Published: December 2019

A two-way reversible multi-head finite automaton (RMFA) is introduced as a simple model of reversible computing, and its language accepting capability is studied. We show that various non-regular context-free languages, and non-context-free context-sensitive languages are accepted by RMFAs with a few heads. For example, we give an RMFA with three heads that accepts the language consisting of all words whose length is a prime number. A construction method of a garbage-less RMFA from a given RFMA is also shown.
Characterizations and Existence of Easy Sets without Hard Subsets
Authors: Tran Nicholas
Published: December 2019

This paper introduces and studies two notions of easy sets without hard subsets: i) 𝒞-hollow sets are defined to be sets in P that have no 𝒞 – P subsets for (presumably) superclasses 𝒞 of P such as NP, PSPACE, E, NE, RE, etc.; and ii) 𝒞-scant sets are defined to be sets in P that have no many-one 𝒞-complete subsets. These sets complement well-studied objects in complexity such as P-printable sets, immune sets and complexity cores. First, characterizations of 𝒞-hollow sets and 𝒞-scant sets are obtained in terms of universally easy sets, introduced and studied in [7] as an automatic method for generating easy instances of intractable problems. Second, the following results regarding existence of 𝒞-hollow sets are obtained: infinite NP-hollow tally (equivalently, P-printable) sets exist iff some nondeterministic time complexity class equals its deterministic counterpart; in contrast, infinite E/NE/RE-hollow sets do not exist. Finally, it is shown that P-printable-immune sets in P are 𝒞-scant for E and NE.
Forward-Secure Identity-Based Public-Key Encryption without Random Oracles
Authors: Yu Jia , Kong Fanyu , Cheng Xiangguo , Hao Rong , Fan Jianxi
Published: December 2019

In traditional identity-based encryption schemes, security will be entirely lost once secret keys are exposed. However, with more and more use of mobile and unprotected devices, key exposure seems unavoidable. To deal with this problem, we newly propose a forward-secure identity-based public-key encryption scheme. In this primitive, the exposure of the secret key in one period doesn't affect the security of the ciphertext generated in previous periods. Any parameter in our scheme has at most log-squared complexity in terms of the total number of time periods. We also give the semantic security notions of forward-secure identity-based public-key encryption. The proposed scheme is proven semantically secure in the standard model. As far as we are concerned, it is the first forward-secure identity-based public-key encryption scheme without random oracles.
A Kleene-Schützenberger Theorem for Trace Series over Bounded Lattices
Authors: Huschenbett Martin
Published: December 2019

We study weighted trace automata with weights in strong bimonoids. Traces form a generalization of words that allow to model concurrency; strong bimonoids are algebraic structures that can be regarded as “semirings without distributivity”. A very important example for the latter are bounded lattices, especially non-distributive ones. We show that if both operations of the bimonoid are locally finite, then the classes of recognizable and mc-rational trace series coincide and, in general, are properly contained in the class of c-rational series. Moreover, if, in addition, in the bimonoid the addition is idempotent and the multiplication is commutative, then all three classes coincide.
Uncovering Bivariate Interactions in High Dimensional Data Using Random Forests with Data Augmentation
Authors: Arevalillo Jorge M , Navarro Hilario
Published: December 2019

Random Forests (RF) is an ensemble technology for classification and regression which has become widely accepted in the bioinformatics community in the last few years. Its predictive strength, along with some of the utilities, rich in information, provided by the output, has made RF an efficient data mining tool for discovering patterns in high dimensional data. In this paper we propose a search strategy that explores a subset of the input space in an exhaustive way using RF as the search engine. Our procedure begins by taking the variables previously rejected by a sequential search procedure and uses the out of bag error rate of the ensemble, obtained when trained over an augmented data set, as criterion to capture difficult to uncover bivariate patterns associated with an outcome variable. We will show the performance of the procedure in some synthetic scenarios and will give an application to a real microarray experiment in order to illustrate how it works for gene expression data.
Inflation Algorithms for Positive and Principal Edge-bipartite Graphs and Unit Quadratic Forms
Authors: Kosakowska Justyna
Published: December 2019

We describe combinatorial algorithms that compute the Dynkin type (resp. Euclidean type) of any positive (resp. principal) unit quadratic form q : $\mathbb{N}$n → $\mathbb{N}$ and of any positive (resp. principal) edge-bipartite connected graph Δ. The study of the problem is inspired by applications of the algorithms in the representation theory, in solving a class of Diophantine equations, in the study of mesh geometries of roots, in the spectral analysis of graphs, and in the Coxeter-Gram classification of edge-bipartite graphs.
Antirandom Test Vectors for BIST in Hardware/Software Systems
Authors: Mrozek Ireneusz , Yarmolik Vyacheslav
Published: December 2019

Antirandom testing has proved useful in a series of empricial evaluations. It improves the fault-detection capability of random testing by employing the location information of previously executed test cases. In antirandom testing we select test pattern (test vector) such that it is as different as possible from all the previous executed test cases. Unfortunately, this method essentially requires enumeration of the input space and computation of each input vector when used on an arbitrary set of existing test data. This avoids scale-up to large test sets and (or) long input vectors. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for antirandom test generation that is computationally feasible for BIST (Built In Self Test) tests. As the fitness function we use Maximal Minimal Hamming Distance (MMHD) rather than standard Hamming distance as is used in the classical approach. This allows to generate the most efficient test vectors in term of weighted number of generated k-bits tuples. Experimental results are given to evaluate the performance of the new approach.
Free Word-Order and Restarting Automata
Authors: Mráz František , Otto Friedrich , Plátek Martin
Published: December 2019

In natural languages with a high degree of word-order freedom, syntactic phenomena like dependencies (subordinations) or valences do not depend on the word-order (or on the individual positions of the individual words). This means that some permutations of sentences of these languages are in some (important) sense syntactically equivalent. Here we study this phenomenon in a formal way. Various types of j-monotonicity for restarting automata can serve as parameters for the degree of word-order freedom and for the complexity of word-order in sentences (languages). Here we combine two types of parameters on computations of restarting automata: the degree of j-monotonicity, and the number of rewrites per cycle. We study these notions formally in order to obtain an adequate tool for modelling and comparing formal descriptions of (natural) languages with different degrees of word-order freedom and word-order complexity.
Discrete Duality for Tense Łukasiewicz–Moisil Algebras
Authors: Figallo Aldo V. , Pelaitay Gustavo
Published: December 2019

In 2007, tense Łukasiewicz–Moisil algebras were introduced by Diaconescu and Georgescu as an algebraic counterpart of tense n–valued Moisil logic. These algebras constitute a generalization of tense algebras. In this paper we describe a discrete duality for tense Łukasiewicz–Moisil algebras bearing in mind the results indicated by Dzik, Orłowska and van Alten in 2006, for De Morgan algebras.
On the Completion of Rough Sets System Determined by Arbitrary Binary Relations
Authors: Umadevi Dwaraganathan
Published: December 2019

In this paper, a solution is given to the problem proposed by Järvinen in [8]. A smallest completion of the rough sets system determined by an arbitrary binary relation is given. This completion, in the case of a quasi order, coincides with the rough sets system which is a Nelson algebra. Further, the algebraic properties of this completion has been studied.
Modelling Progressive Filtering
Authors: Armano Giuliano
Published: December 2019

Progressive filtering is a simple way to perform hierarchical classification, inspired by the behavior that most humans put into practice while attempting to categorize an item according to an underlying taxonomy. Each node of the taxonomy being associated with a different category, one may visualize the categorization process by looking at the item going downwards through all the nodes that accept it as belonging to the corresponding category. This paper is aimed at modeling the progressive filtering technique from a probabilistic perspective. As a result, the designer of a system based on progressive filtering should be facilitated in the task of devising, training, and testing it.
Competitive intelligence key players within firms: The case of high-technology European firms
Authors: Salvetat David , Laarraf Zouhair
Published: December 2019

Competitive Intelligence (CI) key players remain poorly identified in existing firms. Previous studies disagree as to the identification of those responsible for producing the CI process. Facing this reality, this study aims to map employees who directly or indirectly participate in this process of information management within firms. In other words, who practices the CI process within a firm? To answer this question, an empirical study was conducted on a sample of 153 high-technology European firms. Results indicate that the role of the top management is essential, but that middle management participates heavily in the CI process with information experts. Nevertheless, our findings show that employees remain non-participatory in the process.
Edge of emergence, relativistic complexity and the new leadership
Authors: Liang Thow Yick
Published: December 2019

In this paper, the edge of chaos is re-examined, and shifted to the third critical value. The second critical value is re-defined as the edge of emergence. This shift allows the macro-dynamic of emergence to be better comprehended. Upon crossing the edge of order (first critical value), first degree self-organization or self-transcending constructions occurs leading to intra-system emergence. Similarly, after crossing the new edge of emergence, second degree self-organization or self-transcending constructions occurs leading to inter-system emergence. In all biological systems, a complexity-intelligence linkage exists intrinsically, and this is even more so in human organizations. As human agents' self-stability and self-centricity possesses a mental dimension due to their intense intelligence and consciousness; complexity is in the mind of the beholder. Complexity in the human world can be relativistic. Thus, a human agent or human organization may perceive certain spaces of complexity as spaces of relativistic order – leading to the emergent of relativistic complexity. In this analysis, the relativistic complexity dynamic (encompassing order, relativistic order, and complexity) and its association with the intelligence leadership strategy will also be analyzed.
Re-thinking Kauffman's NK fitness landscape: From artifact & groupthink to weak-tie effects
Authors: Mckelvey Bill , Li Meng , Xu Haoyue , Vidgen Richard
Published: December 2019

A review of some of the 35 + studies applying Kauffman's NK model to an administrative context unquestioningly presume that groupthink predominates—a misrepresentation of reality in many firms. Groupthink results from strong ties (contacts); novelty and entrepreneurship results from weak ties. The biological basis of the NK model leads to groupthink. But employees don't usually behave like genes. Recent findings in the strong-tie/weak-tie literature are presented, leading up to the notion of a tipping point. But, how many weak-ties does a firm need before its overall behavior tips from groupthink to innovation? The NK model is changed in just one way so that it produces results showing the transition from strong- to weak-tie situations. The one change introduces F, the number of contacts per year; it varies from once a week to once a year. How “weak” do ties have to become before novelty effects result? Our results clearly show that the “F” variable negates the standard NK effect of emergent “complexity catastrophe,” which is a dramatic loss of overall fitness. And, yes, there is a tipping point.
When team members meet in a new team: An exploration of team development
Authors: Yang Inju
Published: December 2019

This paper presents an integrated view of the formation of teams by examining individuals' emotions in relation to trust in the context of identity and exchange. We recognize the importance of trust within a team, especially in the process of team formation. By looking at the issue of trust within a framework of social exchange and identity, this paper provides an extensive view of the psychological aspects of team formation and development, from assignment to a team at the beginning, to evolving into a cooperative team on the one hand, or into a non-cooperative team on the other. Most newly formed teams somehow function despite the fact that the members are strangers to each other, however some of them regress into non-functioning teams as members become familiar with each other i.e. the team working status is worse than when the team started. We argue that emotions are crucial in defining the direction of team development to either the functional or dysfunctional side by influencing formation of affect based trust (or distrust). Identity as a mental framework and exchange as behavioral interaction are important to understanding the affective experience of individuals within a team.
Can Lean Systems Engineering enhance the value of astrophysical projects?
Authors: Belvedere Valeria , Stringhetti Luca
Published: December 2019

This paper reports the findings of a research carried out at INAF (the Italian Institution of Astrophysics), aimed at checking whether a cultural barrier concerning the concept of “value” can prevent the effective implementation of Lean Management principles in organizations where Systems Engineering is adopted. Our hypothesis concerns the possibility that this barrier could threaten the integration of such two approaches and prevent the effective introduction of Lean Management. To investigate this issue, we have conducted a survey among the project leaders of INAF and 40 usable questionnaires have been collected and analyzed. The empirical evidence shows that INAF project leaders consider the technical perfection of the product a key goal of their organization. Furthermore, data analysis points out a kind of overlap between the concepts of “value” and “perfection”, which can prevent a more appropriate understanding of what “value” is in the eyes of the stakeholders of the project.
Practice of industry – mismanagement of people
Authors: Sandkull Bengt
Published: December 2019

This article highlights recent research on the impact of technical and organizational changes on workers in industry. Based on an analysis of changes in management-control principles and practices accompanying automation, the article presents one case of a number of in-depth studies. The case demonstrates the impotence of workers when, despite formal participative rights, management introduces technical changes derived from models void of human values. When computers enter into the critical operations of a labor process, the workers' abilities to understand and contest management decisions are sharply reduced. Loyalty disappears and productivity goes down.
Evocative metaphors
Authors: Huff Anne Sigismund
Published: December 2019

The complex and diverse character of many organizations and their environments leads to similarly complex and diverse perspectives among organization members. This paper suggests that metaphors can be deliberately used to help delineate situations in which organization participants are unclear or do not agree. Three techniques are described. Each uses metaphor to find overlap in the diverse perspectives of a group. Each attempts to use the ‘logic’ of one area of perception to illuminate another. The general approach outlined also applies to situations in which diverse or unclear interpretations exists among researchers interested in the development of theory about organizations.
The organizational impacts of flexible manufacturing systems: some initial findings
Authors: Gerwin Donald , Leung Thomas K.
Published: December 2019

Flexible manufacturing systems are highly customized, computer integrated machining systems with the potential for automating small batch production. So far research has concentrated on the solution of their technical problems; very little effort has been devoted to the organizational issues they raise. This paper discusses some initial findings from an ongoing in-depth case study of the organizational problems of flexible manufacturing systems in a division of a large corporation. Five implementation issues are stressed: transfer of technical knowledge, workgroup structure, quality control and maintenance, impacts on other parts of the organization, and the meaning of flexibility. Where possible, solutions are recommended for the problems raised.
People react to more than the message
Authors: Grossman Steven D. , Lindhe Richard
Published: December 2019

The behavior which is induced by a message is often related to factors apart from the message itself. These factors serve to establish the mental framework of the receiver, his ‘mental set’. The implications of these observations for management information systems are obvious: ‘wonderful’ MIS systems do not get properly implemented and used because people interpret and react to data with respect to the evoked mental sets. Some suggesions as how the perceptions of messages can be affected are included.
Creep-Creep: out of human scale
Authors: Lowen Walter
Published: December 2019

With our American penchant for ‘bigger and better’, the pressures of the working environment constantly tempt us, individually, to amplify successful ideas. The article examines the consequences of such actions and points out that it often leads to a distortion of human scale. Consequently, we find ourselves operating with magnitudes and scales which are no longer meaningful to human beings. Such an invidious distortion of scale is claimed to be bad design and can only cause technological alienation.
Innovation management in diversified corporations: Problems of organization
Authors: Mensch Gerhard O.
Published: December 2019

Developing a new product line or innovation within an ongoing line of business is a difficult undertaking, requiring unusual amounts of motivation, creativity, and the cooperation and trust of the persons involved. Corporate innovation processes often fail because of external factors, but more often because of internal ones, such as lack of support, insufficient preparation, or plain error. This article focuses upon internal risks of failure (“internal uncertainties”) resulting from disturbances in human relations and organizational behavior. The author proposes a concept of favorable positioning for the firm, and postulates that – other things being equal – the firm's favorable position tends to deteriorate naturally as the technology base of the firm ages (Wolfs Law of Progress). Corporate innovation processes take time. Hence, the preconditions for success of any single innovation within the firm may deteriorate faster than organized innovative activity can move on and seize the opportunity. For many firms this reported failure of seizing the market opportunities will eventually lead to an unmanageable, irreversible situation (“shake-out”). This article highlights the findings of an extensive exploratory, “clinical” field study of innovation processes in small, medium, and medium-large industrial firms in Berlin, Germany. Clinical research (usually preceding analytical research in a scientific enterprise such as “innovations research”) looks at “clinical syndromes” (Roethlisberger, 1977) of the type “under certain conditions, x seem to appear together with y” (rather than analyzing how x varies with y). Our clinical research reveals a set of clinical syndromes for the deterioration of the firm's position, and suggests some human resource management actions, such as participative strategy formulation, conflict resolution, and interface facilitation, which can turn the situation around and enhance the chances of success for corporate innovation processes.
High-stake decision making – An empirical study based on house purchase processes
Authors: Chan S.J. , Park C.W. , Yu P.L.
Published: December 2019

High-stake decision making, such as corporate strategic planning or dissolution of international conflicts is characterized by a high level of uncertainty and a great impact on future welfare. Usually, there are many conflicting criteria/attributes involved, and their importance varies with time and situation variables. In order to understand human decision/behavior in a high-stake decision process, a sample of 108 house purchase decision processes is systematically observed and studied. Using Yu's [9] paradigm of behavior bases and the least resistance principle, decision net and some technical measurements as tools, we shall report (i) how goal setting and state valuation can be suggested and organized for decision makers, (ii) how the final choice can be predicted in terms of the least resistance principle by using compromise solution approximation, (iii) how cognitive changes occur during the decision processes, (iv) how familiarity and time stress can affect the process, (v) how consensus can emerge when team decision makers (husbands and wives) are involved, and (vi) possible means for decision aid and further research.
Conditions for boards' governing corporations
Authors: Weber C. Edward
Published: December 2019

Boards of directors can govern corporations effectively only when issues flow to them, their decisions are within the limits of rationality and appropriate approaches to decision making are applied. Issues flow to boards under seven conditions: strategic issues exist; the corporate ideology is that directors should govern; boards are part of dominant or rival coalitions; directors' status is equal to or greater than the chief executive's; procedures require problems to flow to boards; the load of problems on boards' agendas is light; and boards have independent sources of information. Boards' decisions are within the limits of rationality under five conditions: strategic issues are ambiguous; corporate ideology is one of directors' governance; causal relations exist between strategy and the corporate environment; directors are associated with dominant or rival coalitions; and directors' view of knowledge accepts contradictions and ambiguity. Four approaches to decision making are associated with boards' governance. The use of analytical decision making is a condition inimical to boards's governing, but dialectical and bargaining processses are sufficient for their governance. The case of fortuitous decision making leaves boards' governance problematic. Chairmen of boards need to be sensitive to changing conditions and assert the board's leadership only when the conditions are appropriate.
Obstructions to development
Authors: Gharajedaghi Jamshid
Published: December 2019

Obstructions to development can be viewed as malfunctioning in anyone of the five dimensions of the social system. Scarcity, maldistribution and insecurity in anyone of the five social functions, that is, scientific, political, economic, ethical, and aesthetic are considered to be primary obstructions. Corruption, alienation, polarization and so on are among the social phenomena that represent secondary obstructions to development. Secondary obstructions are coproduced by the interaction of more than one dimension. Therefore, their resolution requires some kind of structural change. To understand the obstructions to the development of a social system we will deal with the structures and processes which help or limit the creation of collective desire and ability in a social system for the pursuit of its ends.
Ethos of management for participation and decentralization
Authors: Eto Hajime
Published: December 2019

As the managerial importance of manpower is highly evaluated and the workers' satisfaction is given greater value, participation and decentralization attract more attention. However, these are hardly implemented in real management. Various models have been proposed but they are usually discussed from a mathematical point of view, ignoring the managerial climate behind their proposals. This paper discusses what conditions work favorably for their implementation and claims that ethos of management and cooperation are the key conditions.
Effective business strategy: A Japanese example*
Authors: Haley Michael
Published: December 2019

After touring Japanese factories, especially those of Komatsu, a world leader in construction machinery, it became clear that Japanese managers applied their productivity strategies in a way that motivated employee performance. These business strategies appeared effective because the Japanese were equally concerned about developing a realistic strategy and understanding the planning and control process itself. This paper attempts to first describe what is effective business strategy. Then Komatsu's successful application of quality circles and total quality control is provided as an example, which may provide some insights into Japanese management practice as well. More importantly, the paper will indicate how an effective strategy like Komatsu's commitment to total quality control can help any business adapt to change.
The relationship between perceived task attributes and job satisfaction and performance among plateaued and nonplateaued managers
Authors: Orpen Christopher
Published: December 2019

The relationship between perceived task attributes and job satisfaction and performance were examined among 82 plateaued and 130 nonplateaued managers. The plateaued managers had been in their current positions for more than seven years and for a longer period than their predecessors; nonplateaued managers had been in their current positions for less than three years and for a shorter period than their predecessors. Four of the five task attributes assessed were significantly correlated with job satisfaction among the nonplateaued managers, whereas only one was among the plateaued managers. There was no difference between the task attribute-performance correlations in the two groups. Implications of the results are discussed.
Total or framework planning? Alternative systems of computerized production control in mechanical engineering
Authors: Manske Fred , Wobbe Werner
Published: December 2019

In recent years computer-aided production control systems have become available also for small-batch mechanical engineering. Using these systems, the scheduling of production can be better planned than has been the case using the classic method with a foreman, which has long represented the typical form of organisation in mechanical engineering production. In the following contribution important results of an empirical investigation into the use of EDP-aided production control systems in mechanical engineering firms in West Germany have been summarised. Two different management concepts have been focussed on: one is ‘total planning and control’ (of the production process), and the other ‘framework planning and control’. We will show the consequence production control systems installed according to these concepts are having upon foremen, workers, control personnel and operating results. In addition, indications are put forward for discussion concerning the design of computer-aided production control systems taking into account the interests of all groups in the firm.
The changing face of CAD
Authors: Medland A.J. , Inglis Stephanie
Published: December 2019

In line with the current interest in New Technology and automated manufacturing, an outline of the existing status of CAD systems is given; with attention paid to their path of development, and their applicability to Design and in the Drawing Office. In the process, areas requiring further investigation and development are highlighted. These include the need to take a fundamental look at ways of aiding the designer; the need for a thorough analysis of the total benefits provided by a CAD system and the development of some means of measuring them; and the need for further investigation into the interaction of man and machine. It is concluded that present systems, developed and applied in a piecemeal fashion, are still a long way from achieving the total integration and automation of the design and manufacturing process.
The organizational impact of expert systems
Authors: O'Leary Daniel E. , Turban Efraim
Published: December 2019

This paper examines the potential organizational impact of expert systems (ES's), in particular, the impact on decision making, organizational structure, degree of decentralization, level of organizational effectiveness, content of organizational roles, leadership and power, communications and information flow and the personnel requirements of the organization. Generally, the nature and magnitude of the impact can be described as a function of many factors, four of which are considered in this paper: the suitability of tasks to ES's, the purpose of use of the ES, the ES tools used and the ES computing environment.
PM: A Plausible Mathemachine
Authors: Kochen Manfred , Resnick Paul
Published: December 2019

Given a knowledge base that is sufficiently large, organized, and relevant, a few simple and powerful ideas can capture much of the effectiveness of inductive mathematical reasoning. This claim is supported by PM, a program written in a frame-based language. Given a goal, such as ‘Find a relation among the side lengths of a right triangle,’ PM is designed to generate conjectures and to improve its ability to do so. The program repeatedly uses generalization, specialization, and analogy in patterns of plausible inference suggested by Polya. Knowledge is organized by links between entities in the knowledge base so that it need only be searched locally. The point of this paper is to raise the issue of how we should prepare now to manage systems capable of discovery by computer to serve human ends, should it be proved possible.
Worker perceptions of job complexity*
Authors: Albin Peter S. , Bahn Charles , Mourgos Stergios L. , Hormozi Farokh , Weinberg Arthur
Published: December 2019

Until recently, variations in job design practices have not been considered important determinants of economic performance in the United States. The enormous productivity successes of several foreign models of work organization, however, are drawing attention to the restructuring of the work place as an industrial strategy. The introduction of computer-based control technologies brings the matter of job design very much into the policy domain because it is not only altering the relationship of workers to the production process but also the organization of the labor process itself. This paper, by introducing a precise measurement methodology, defines ‘job content’ and ‘task complexity’ in a formal quantitative manner. Furthermore, by utilizing empirical findings it presents analyses of worker perceptions of job complexity and decision content and points toward the development of robust techniques for the classification of work settings and man-machine interfaces. It also shows that the methodology used provides a basis for associating occupational behavior with variations in control technology, organizational design and work content; and, therefore, a link to economic analysis of productivity change.
A topology of financial versus manufacturing management information systems
Authors: Ronen Boaz , Palley Michael A.
Published: December 2019

Manufacturing management information systems (MIS) are in a relatively less mature state than financial information systems. This difference in maturity is due, in part, to historical reasons, and to the complex and dynamic nature of manufacturing system attributes. This paper compares the various system attributes belonging to manufacturing and financial information systems. Application of inappropriate system design techniques (based on these system attribute differences) has contributed to the relatively high failure rate of manufacturing MIS. The paper analyzes the need for the development of design tools geared specifically toward manufacturing MIS.
Organisation for regional resources management
Authors: Espejo R.
Published: December 2019

This paper offers a conceptual framework to discuss the organisational dimension of regional management. The regional system is defined as a ‘black box’ transforming regional resources into output products and services. The discussion is centred in the management of these transformations. It is argued that the complexity that managers have to see in the regional system is only that which is left unattended by the system's self-regulating and self-organising processes. However, the complexity that the regional system must see and respond to in its environment is defined by ‘socially implied’ criteria of performance. A mismatch between this and the actual complexity absorbed by the regional system may imply that managers are overloaded by a large unattended residual complexity. To redress the balance structural changes are likely to be necessary. This paper deals with only one aspect of structural design, namely the partitioning of the tasks implies by the missions of the regional system. The 1974 re-structuring of Local government in England and Wales is analysed from this perspective. This paper was originally presented at a IIASA workshop on Regional Resources Management (Albena, Bulgaria 1985). Hence its focus in the regional system, however, its content is general to all organisational systems.
The impact of technological change on clinical laboratory and radiology manpower
Authors: Torres Roberto E.
Published: December 2019

The paper examines how technological change in clinical laboratories and radiology in the U.S. have impacted the health manpower requirements to provide those services. The main argument is that the introduction of new diagnostic technology affects the manpower structure in diverse ways. The impacts range from the creation of new occupations or changes in manpower mix to changes in the educational system such as the emergence of new training programs and curriculums, to name a few. The planning and policy implications for the health care system are discussed, as well as some potentially useful policies for future action.
Revision of Some Trade Theory Laws of Economics
Authors: Minabe Shigeo
Published: December 2019

Since the end of the 1960s, the pattern of international trade has exhibited a great change world over. This fact has arised from the increasing importance of the Japanese economy, especially during the 1970s and from that of NIES in Asia later during the 1980s. Notably in the U.S. political economists (those in political science and business administration) have raised serious questions as to the validity of the orthodox trade theories. However, most economists either deny or neglect what political economists have been saying. Despite elegant technical sophistication in traditional international trade theories, the essence of trade theories still remain naive. In this article, some basic problems are pointed out with a view to initiating more convincing trade theories in the light of actual economic development in the future.