title: Incorporating sustainability into supply management in the automotive industry - the case of the Volkswagen AG

authors: Koplin, Julia

subjects: sustainability

abstract: Companies are perceived as important actors in the drive for sustainability. Linked to this, and in response to increasing demands from various stakeholder groups, companies start to look at their supply chain to enhance their overall sustainability profile. Two major triggers can be identified: (1) focal companies are held responsible for environmental and social problems caused by their suppliers, which become more and more important as (2) an increasing share of value is created at the supplier level. In response to such demands, companies have to find ways to incorporate environmental and social aspects into their supply (chain) management. Therefore, environmental and social standards are integrated into supply management by amending the purchasing processes. This paper presents one approach to integrate social and environmental standards into supply policy and supply management at the Volkswagen AG, a focal company of the automobile industry. Therefore, required changes of the sourcing and supply structures were identified during an action research project, and possible options adaptable for company internal integration are shown.

text: Incorporating sustainability into supply management in the automotive industry - the case of the Volkswagen AG Companies are perceived as important actors in the drive for sustainability. Linked to this, and in response to increasing demands from various stakeholder groups, companies start to look at their supply chain to enhance their overall sustainability profile. Two major triggers can be identified: (1) focal companies are held responsible for environmental and social problems caused by their suppliers, which become more and more important as (2) an increasing share of value is created at the supplier level. In response to such demands, companies have to find ways to incorporate environmental and social aspects into their supply (chain) management. Therefore, environmental and social standards are integrated into supply management by amending the purchasing processes. This paper presents one approach to integrate social and environmental standards into supply policy and supply management at the Volkswagen AG, a focal company of the automobile industry. Therefore, required changes of the sourcing and supply structures were identified during an action research project, and possible options adaptable for company internal integration are shown.

year: 2007

title: Using machine learning techniques to track individuals & their fitness activities

authors: Reichherzer, Thomas

subjects: wearable fitness device

abstract: The use of wearable devices for fitness and health tracking is on an upward curve with a range of devices now available from a number of manufacturers. The devices work with smart devices to exchange data via Bluetooth communication protocol. This paper presents the results of an initial study on the security and privacy weaknesses of wearable fitness devices. It discusses methods to 1) capture and process data sent from a wearable device to its paired smartphone during synchronization and 2) analyze the records to track individuals and make predictions. The data analysis methods use supervised machine-learning techniques to train a classifier for associating synchronization records with the individuals, their physical activities, and conditions under which they were performed. Results of the study show that the methods allow individuals and their activities to be tracked, both of which infringe on the privacy of the user. The paper also provides recommendations on improving the security of wearable devices based on the initial research results.

text: Using machine learning techniques to track individuals & their fitness activities The use of wearable devices for fitness and health tracking is on an upward curve with a range of devices now available from a number of manufacturers. The devices work with smart devices to exchange data via Bluetooth communication protocol. This paper presents the results of an initial study on the security and privacy weaknesses of wearable fitness devices. It discusses methods to 1) capture and process data sent from a wearable device to its paired smartphone during synchronization and 2) analyze the records to track individuals and make predictions. The data analysis methods use supervised machine-learning techniques to train a classifier for associating synchronization records with the individuals, their physical activities, and conditions under which they were performed. Results of the study show that the methods allow individuals and their activities to be tracked, both of which infringe on the privacy of the user. The paper also provides recommendations on improving the security of wearable devices based on the initial research results.

year: 2017

title: Te ao hurihuri : iwi identification in the census

authors: Kukutai, Tahu

abstract: As the flagship of official statistics, the national population census is an important forum for the recognition of indigenous peoples in their homelands and territories (United Nations, 2008). While most governments worldwide count and classify their populations by ethnicity, New Zealand is rare in enabling multiple expressions of indigenous identity in the census. Since 1991, it has been possible to identify as Māori in three ways: by descent, ethnicity and iwi (tribal) affiliation (see Figure 1). The Māori descent population is the largest— in 2013, just under 669,000 individuals ticked the Māori descent box. The number identifying as Māori by ethnicity - intended as a measure of cultural belonging - was substantially lower at just under 600,000. Most of the remaining 69,000 Māori descendants identified solely as NZ European. In 2013 nearly 83 per cent of Māori descendants (n=535,941) reported belonging to at least one iwi. Of those that did not report an iwi affiliation, 40 per cent did not identify as Māori by ethnicity either.

text: Te ao hurihuri : iwi identification in the census As the flagship of official statistics, the national population census is an important forum for the recognition of indigenous peoples in their homelands and territories (United Nations, 2008). While most governments worldwide count and classify their populations by ethnicity, New Zealand is rare in enabling multiple expressions of indigenous identity in the census. Since 1991, it has been possible to identify as Māori in three ways: by descent, ethnicity and iwi (tribal) affiliation (see Figure 1). The Māori descent population is the largest— in 2013, just under 669,000 individuals ticked the Māori descent box. The number identifying as Māori by ethnicity - intended as a measure of cultural belonging - was substantially lower at just under 600,000. Most of the remaining 69,000 Māori descendants identified solely as NZ European. In 2013 nearly 83 per cent of Māori descendants (n=535,941) reported belonging to at least one iwi. Of those that did not report an iwi affiliation, 40 per cent did not identify as Māori by ethnicity either.

year: 2015