Action Research: Its Role in the University/Business Relationship

The Action Research (AR) PhD program at Monash University had its genesis in Systems Thinking and Organizational Learning. This paper discusses the role of the university in AR projects in business and the central role that AR projects can have in a Faculty's strategic positioning. The issues that have emerged in the project to date are discussed.     

Total systems intervention and human inquiry: The search for a common ground

Total Systems Intervention (TSI) is an approach to intervening in problem situations which has much to offer where complex interacting issues need to be addressed by the complementary use of intervention methodologies. That such an approach has much in common with Action Research (AR) has been recognized, with much recent effort being devoted to the relationship between AR and Critical Systems Thinking (CST), the theoretical endeavor underpinning TSI. This paper further develops this line of debate and relates AR or Human Inquiry (HI) more directly to TSI, using an information systems intervention to enhance the study. The outcome is a demonstration of how TSI implicitly uses techniques informed from the field of Action Research, and how a more thorough synthesis of HI with TSI might serve to improve the overall intervention process.     

The Application of Critical Systems Thinking to Enhance the Effectiveness of a University Information System

Faced with the common problem of dissatisfaction with the outcome of investments in information systems (IS), the IS community has long sought ways to improve information systems development (ISD). This paper reports on action research (AR) that sought to improve the effectiveness a UK university’s student record system (SRS), which had exhibited persistent problems. Critical systems thinking (CST) is seen to have value for ISD and was used to guide the AR. In the first stage of this research, the issues with the initial design of the SRS were identified to have largely resulted from insufficient elicitation of the underlying assumptions about, and perspectives on, complex organisational issues. The second stage centred on examining the situation from an “ought” perspective analysing what should be done and how, in order to develop creative solutions to the problems uncovered. The third stage involved recommending solutions to address the problems identified in order to improve the effectiveness of the SRS. Overall, the AR indicates that CST enables those involved to view the design and implementation of the SRS as a holistic system, critically reflect upon broad and complex human, technological and organisational issues from different perspectives, and thereby identify creative solutions. The main contribution of this research is in generating support for an ISD intervention guided by CST. The results of, and the understanding developed from, this intervention are likely to be relevant to the problems that frequently occur in similar situations.     

户外增强现实系统关键技术及其应用的研究

增强现实技术是虚拟现实技术发展的一个重要分支，具有虚实结合、实时交互、三维注册的新特点，户外增强现实系统是近年来增强现实技术方面的一个新的研究方向，建立一个成功的户外增强现实系统的的最大障碍是缺少在户外条件下的准确跟踪技术。本文分析了实现户外增强现实系统的关键技术及其与室内增强现实系统的区别并讨论了户外增强现实系统的进展及应用。     

Action Research on Operations Research for Street Children

This paper discusses an application of the CRASP model of Action Research (AR) on Operations Research (OR). The CRASP model portrays AR as a style of staff development that would lead to professionalism. It also advocates social responsibility, committed and informed action, and a critical approach. All of these concerns are inherent to the process of reflection and development characteristic of OR. As an OR practitioner I participate in this process of reflection and development and applied the CRASP model of AR in performing one application novel to OR, namely, OR for street children. Reflecting on this application of AR on OR for street children, some similarities between AR and OR surface, as well as some difficulties in applying AR on OR, thereby enriching both AR and OR. It is hoped that through collaborative reflection with other AR and OR practitioners, this paper will further our professional development.     

Towards an Understanding, Through Action Research, of the Socio-Organizational Issues Impacting on Mobile Technology Adoption and Diffusion Within a Small-to-Medium South African Construction Company

We investigated, through an action research approach, social issues that impact on mobile technology adoption and diffusion in a professional construction management team of a small-to-medium sized South African construction company. The outcome of the study resulted in a framework of thinking that integrates social factors at individual and organisational levels that impacted on the adoption of mobile technologies in the organisation. At the methodological level the study is part of a limited collection of papers that used AR in the study of technology adoption and diffusion and it presents an example of the capability of AR as a method to allow for the integration of the social contexts of users into adoption frameworks.     

The Role of Action Research (AR) in Environmental Research: Learning from a Local Organic Food and Farming Research Project

We expand on the FMA model of inquiry elucidated by Checkland and Holwell (Syst Pract Act Res 11:9, 1998) and identify three kinds of research: interactive Action Research (AR), extractive participatory research, and traditional science, that were integrated into an interdisciplinary agro-environmental research project involving researchers from eight countries around the Baltic Sea. The research project held the goal of creating scientific understanding of the ecological, economic and social effects of the sustainable development of local food systems, while also having the explicit goal of implementing change in the studied systems. Based on our experience working as action researchers in the project, we highlight the role that normative goals and facilitation process competence play in complex interdisciplinary research projects. Our reflections focus on project design, including the relation between AR and other kinds of research when employed in a single project, and includes reflections on preconditions for stakeholder participation in AR projects.     

Research and Reflection: Potential Impact on the Professional Development of Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students

In occupational therapy education in South Africa, community service (CS) focuses learning opportunities during fieldwork placements. CS therefore enabled the researcher to utilise successive small scale research projects to guide learning of students during fieldwork while simultaneously developing the occupational therapy service at a residential care facility. This community setting provided a powerful environment through which research, in combination with opportunities for reflection, contributed to nurturing skills needed by these future health professionals. A technical action research (AR) approach incorporated AR cycles and opportunities for structured reflection. Therefore situations were created for the students to embrace experiential learning. Experiential learning in the form of anticipatory reflection, reflection-in-action, reflection on reflection and retrospective reflection impacted on the quality of the students’ work. Besides encouraging unique leaning opportunities for students when engaging in research during their fieldwork placement, engagement in AR cycles simultaneously improved service delivery to residents in the facility. Key benefits of this investigation were that fieldwork education utilising AR cycles within a CS situation promoted students to identify voids in their theoretical background as well as practice skills; to apply reflective practice that could contribute to their personal and professional development; and to utilize learning opportunities optimally. Despite positive gains showed by this study, the role of power relations between the researcher as fieldwork educator and the students prohibited the AR cycles from being more emancipatory in nature and should be addressed in follow-up studies.     

基于AR模型的飞机尾流距离检测方法

尾流复杂的电磁散射特性使得传统基于快速傅里叶变换(fast Fourier transformation, FFT)的频域检测方法不适用。首先,基于FFT的谱估计方法频率分辨率较低,尤其在短脉冲序列条件下性能较差;其次,尾流作为一种频域扩展目标,其回波能量在频域较为分散,单通道或多通道求和检测都会损失较多能量。利用分辨率更高的自回归(autoregressive, AR) 模型进行谱估计,并基于AR流形上的距离定义一种距离检测器,将尾流谱整体进行检测,能充分利用尾流的多普勒信息,通过利用尾流数据对距离检测器和传统方法的检测性能进行仿真比较分析,验证了所提方法的有效性。     

Action research and critical systems thinking: Two icons carved out of the same log?

My intention in this paper is to make sense of the relationship between Action Research (AR) and Critical Systems Thinking (CST). On the surface, the two strands of thinking do not seem to have much in common. There is hardly any common reference in texts written within each tradition. Deeper down, however, there may be common concerns. The point of departure is to focus on how professionals interact with real-world problems and to clarify the underlying values for professional practice. To facilitate a discussion on the relationship between AR and CST, a frame of reference is developed based on analyzing the meaning construction process. Based on this platform, the relationship among theory, practice, and people shapes the ground for the discussion. Within this discussion three questions are raised: (1) Is the theory understood by the people and based on their interests? (2) Are the research questions relevant for the people? and (3) Are people emancipated to act in their own interests? The relationship between AR and CST can be examined based on these three questions. In concluding, I argue for the potential of a mutual and fruitful dialogue between AR and CST.     

随机利率下缴费预定型企业年金保险中生存年金精算现值模型

利用时间序列将投资利率为条件稳定AR(l)模型推广为条件稳定AR(p)模型和广义条件AR(p)模型，并根据生存年金理论得到缴费预定型企业年金保险中相应利率下的生存年金精算现值模型，这对解决企业合理发放养老金，避免企业养老基金出现赤字等问题具有重要理论指导意义和实际应用价值。     

Computer Simulation Within Action Research: A Promising Combination for Improving Healthcare Delivery?

Action research (AR) is increasingly being used to study the improvement of healthcare delivery. Ensuring that all the stakeholders in the AR are willing to take action, however, can be difficult. Especially in healthcare contexts, action plans may challenge the autonomy of the healthcare professionals and the positions of the different stakeholder groups. Does the use of computer simulation techniques within the AR promote action taking by all the stakeholders? We performed an AR experiment with computer simulation in a university hospital’s emergency department in the Netherlands. A simulation model was designed that replicated the actual healthcare delivery process in the study setting. Together with representatives from the medical and nursing staff and department management, we used the model to discuss improvement actions. The team designed an improvement scenario that fundamentally rearranged the task division between the physicians and the nurses. The promising projections in the simulation model motivated the team to try the scenario in reality. The implementation was successful, although it generated much concerns and discussion. The new task division successfully improved patient length of stay (LOS) in the ED. The results achieved by the single team turned out to have lasting effects on the other stakeholders in the ED. Our AR experiment with computer simulation promoted action taking by all the stakeholders. Computer simulation within AR is a promising combination for improving healthcare delivery.     

基于随机死亡率与利率模型下的生存年金组合风险分析

在L ee-Carter随机死亡率模型和AR(1)随机利息力模型条件下,建立了生存年金组合精算现值模型,并推导了年金组合现值的一、二阶矩。在利用我国死亡率经验数据估计模型参数的基础上,具体分析了一类生存年金组合,并通过年金组合现值的方差系数研究了年金组合面临的长寿风险与利率风险。     

基于EMD与关联维数的故障诊断AR模型

提出了一种基于EMD和关联维数的转子系统故障诊断方法。该方法用EMD将转子系统振动信号分解成若干个基本模式分量IMF,对包含主要故障信息的IMF分量建立AR模型,AR模型自回归参数的关联维数作为特征量神经网络识别转子系统的工作状态和故障类型。对实验数据分析的结果表明,该方法能有效地应用于转子系统的故障诊断。     

数据缺失状态下目标威胁评估的AR(p)动态突变排序法

针对目标威胁评估过程中观测数据缺失、难以综合考虑来袭目标的动态威胁态势以及已有评估方法大多需要确定各指标权重而过多依赖专家经验的问题,将自回归(auto regressive,AR(p))预测模型、时间序列赋权及突变理论相结合,提出了目标威胁评估的AR(p)动态突变排序法。该方法通过AR(p)模型预测时间序列上的缺失目标数据,为综合各时刻数据进行威胁评估提供了基础数据信息;采用泊松分布逆形式对时间序列进行赋权,全面考虑了当前时刻和之前时刻的目标关联信息;在突变理论基础上抽象出了突变排序的思想,将目标威胁评估指标体系中下层指标对上层指标的作用归因为控制变量对状态变量的作用,并采用归一化公式对作用程度进行求解,以此方式由底层往上逐层推进最终得到目标威胁评估值。实例分析结果表明,AR(p)动态突变排序法适用于目标数据缺失时的威胁评估,更贴合实战,且不需确定各指标权重,计算过程简洁高效,可操作性强,由于综合考虑了目标的动态威胁态势,评估结果更加合理,具有一定的实用价值。     

Action Research: Its History and Relationship to Scientific Methodology

Scientific Methodology (SM) has long suited those who favour analytical and quantitative research in management. Thus the dilemma between the rigour and relevance of contemporary management research methods is fuelled by action researchers who keep wanting to contrast Action Research (AR) with SM. This paper presents a Western philosophical view on the development of belief systems and theory-based methods over time. It thus links the progressive and cumulative development of SM with the contemporary AR methodology. In doing this it presents a different point of view—that the traditions of SM and AR have much closer relationships than people often give them credit for.     

基于AR模型和支持向量机的转子系统故障诊断方法

提出了基于AR模型和支持向量机的转子系统故障诊断方法.该方法对转子系统的振动信号建立AR模型,以AR模型主要的自回归参数和残差的方差作为特征向量,然后建立支持向量机分类器,进而判断转子系统的工作状态和故障类型.实验结果分析表明,该方法能有效地应用于转子系统的故障诊断.并通过支持向量机与BP神经网络的性能比较,说明了支持向量机的优点.     

无码率码在无线传感器网络中的应用研究

传统固定码率通信方案在大规模网络中存在时延和多反馈情况,影响无线传感器网络(wireless sensor network, WSN)的传输性能。无码率码能够根据信道状态实时改变传输码率,很好地解决这一问题。本文以多源多中继网络模型为基础,设计了基于累积无码率(accumulate rateless, AR)码的分布式协同传输机制,并对传输的广播、转发、译码等阶段进行了阐述和分析。结合使用外信息转移(extrinsic information transfer, EXIT)图和凸优化工具对方案中的AR码度分布进行了联合优化求解。仿真结果和对比分析表明,所提分布式AR码度优化方案,在错误平层上明显优于分布式卢比转换码方案,在译码性能上较现有Raptor方案和AR码单独度分布优化方案分别减小3.7%和1.3%的码率倒数。     

一种基于Hilbert-Huang变换和AR模型的滚动轴承故障诊断方法

提出了一种基于Hilbert-Huang变换和AR模型的滚动轴承故障诊断方法.采用Hilbert-Huang变换将滚动轴承振动信号分解成若干个平稳的IMF(IntrinsicModeFunction)分量,求出每一个IMF分量的瞬时幅值和瞬时频率,然后对每一个IMF分量的瞬时幅值和瞬时频率序列建立AR模型,以模型主要的自回归参数和残差的方差作为特征向量建立Mahalanobis距离判别函数,进一步判断滚动轴承的工作状态和故障类型.实验结果分析表明,本文方法能有效地应用于滚动轴承的故障诊断.     

Augmented reality system for aiding engineering design process of machinery systems

The paper presents the application of augmented reality for aiding product design and development of machinery systems.Augmented reality technology integrates an interactive computer-generated word with an interactive real word in such a way that they appear as one environment.AR technology can enhance a user's perception of the real world with information that is not actually part of the scene but is relevant to the user's present activity.Presented in the AR system is a mode for changing views of data-...