Pragmatic pluralism—An explication

The focus with which the paper is concerned is the process or task of intervention and, more specifically, the exploration of three (overlapping and interacting) questions pertinent to those who would intervene:

What is to be done?

How shall we decide what to do?

What can guide our actions?

In terms of what we will describe as pragmatic pluralism (our response to these questions), we intend this to be read in several different ways and on several different levels. Illustrating the discussion with examples from a number of different case studies, we will talk about pluralism in each of the following features:

in the use of specific methods/techniques

in the role(s) of the interventionists

in the modes of representation employed

in the use of different rationalities

in the ‘nature’ of the client

     

The Contribution of Innovation Strategy Development and Implementation in Active Facilitation of Pharmaceutical Front End Innovation

Front end innovation (FEI) represents the first building blocks of product development, but is often regarded as a weak link in innovation literature. Various theorists emphasize that a firm??s innovation can benefit substantially by improving the front end of innovation process (Reinertsen, Res Technol Manag 42:23?C31, 1999; Stevens and Burly, Res Technol Manag 46(2):16?C25, 2003; Verworn et al., R&D Manag 38(1):1?C19, 2008) and that innovation strategies play a central role in optimization of innovation (Clark and Wheelwright, Leading product development, Free Press, New York, 1995; Cottam et al., Eur J Innov Manag 4:88?C94, 2001; Morgan and Berthon, J Manag Stud 45(8):1329?C1353, 2008). Innovation strategies are suggested in literature (e.g. Page, J Prod Innov Manag 10:273?C287, 1993; Oke, J Change Manag 2(3):272?C281, 2002; Adams et al., Int J Manag Rev 8(1):21?C47, 2006; Igartua et al., Res Technol Manag May?CJune:41?C52, 2010) as a facilitator of innovation and may therefore also be targeted at FEI support. The pharmaceutical industry has experienced a worldwide decline in the number of applications for new molecular entities to regulatory agencies since 1997. Therefore high pressures are put on pharmaceutical research and FEI to produce more valid candidates and faster for drug development. This paper explores how pharmaceutical FEI can be actively supported through the development and implementation of an innovation strategy. The empirical field and applied methodology is an action oriented longitudinal case study of a Danish pharmaceutical company. The findings and key learnings from the study are presented as propositions of how innovation strategies can be applied to actively facilitate FEI and with measurable results.     

Systems Thinking and Higher Education: The Vanguard Method

Reforms to the higher education sector in the UK are only increasing competitive pressures between institutions. Universities are therefore looking to gain competitive advantage over their rivals both in terms of student experience and through administrative efficiency. This paper will present an alternative view of how to transform the way that the higher education system delivers service to students in an environment where ‘student choice’ will be viewed as of paramount importance. The paper will argue that the prevailing ‘command and control’ (Seddon 2003) management logic, which can be found at work throughout both the public and private sectors, is the primary cause of inferior, expensive service. As an alternative, this paper will explore the benefits of working in a systems thinking way, whilst comparing and contrasting this with the flawed thinking which currently prevails. The Vanguard Method (Seddon 2008) is one particular form of systems thinking which has been developed for use in service organisations (Jackson et al. 2008) and which has been applied to many public sector organisations (ODPM 2005; Middleton 2010; Zokaei et al. 2010). Using a case study methodology (Yin 2009), this paper will address what has been learnt by applying the Vanguard Method in an HEI environment for the first time.     

Construction of Social Development Index as a Theoretical Research Practice in Action Research by Using Soft Systems Methodology

This paper provides an illustration of the application of Soft Systems Methodology to construct social development index, based on a sociological concept of development proposed by Wirutomo et al. (Pengembangan Indeks Pembangunan Sosial (IPS) Bagi Sektor Informal di Perkotaan: Menuju Kebijakan Inklusif bagi Usaha Kecil, 2011). An action research (AR) is conducted in the field of street vendor promotion program perceived to be representing the social development practice. While the improvement of fundamental elements of societal life, i.e., social structure, culture, and social process can be identified in the field of street vendor promotion program, it is believed that the same development aspects can be explored at many other development sectors. A preliminary social development index is conctructed by using a single sector development program. It is expected that through a further research agenda, a comprehensive social development profile equipped with its related index can be presented. The findings of this SSM-based AR can be considered ??as primary ??thesis?? derived from ??messes?? or ??surprising facts?? of a real world problematic situation?? as described by Stephens et al. (Syst Pract Action Res 22:463?C474, 2009). As an AR practice, this research is a research interest, instead of a problem solving interest in AR (McKay and Marshall, Inf Technol People 14:46?C59, 2001); it is also a theoretical research practice, instead of a business change practice/empirical research practice and regular business practice (Cronholm and Goldkuhl, The 2nd European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management (ECRM 2003), 2003), and it is an interpretative actions and theory development actions as mentioned by Cronholm and Goldkuhl (The 2nd European Conference on Research Methods in Business and Management (ECRM 2003), 2003). This paper also provides an illustration of a variant relationship between P and A as introduced by McKay and Marshall (Inf Technol People 14:46?C59, 2001), which is ??there are some elements of P that overlap with some elements of A??.     

Editorial: Constructing Citizenship and Transnational Identity

The landscape of democracy and governance spans local and national boundaries. People are enmeshed in multiple contexts (Held et al. 1999; Held 2004; Held et al. 2005) and their associations (past and current) shape their identity. Some of the contributors to the journal have dual citizenship; they live and work in different places with family spanning continents. Some have experienced being non citizens in their place of birth or citizens without rights. The most vulnerable include the outsiders (immigrants and refugees, for example).     

Some semi-bent functions with polynomial trace form

This paper is devoted to the study of semi-bent functions with several parameters flexible on the finite field F2n.Boolean functions defined on F2n of the form f（r）ab（x） =Trn1（axr（2m-1））＋Tr41（bx（2n-1）/5） and the form g（rs）abcd（x）=Trn1（axr（2m-1））＋Tr41（bx（2n-1）/5）＋Trn1（cx（2m-1）1/2＋1）＋Trn1（dx（2m-1）s＋1） where n = 2m,m = 2（mod 4）,a,c ∈ F2n,and b ∈ F（16）,d ∈ F2,are investigated in constructing new classes of semi-bent functions.Some characteristic sums such as Kloosterman sums and Weil sums are employed to determine whether the above functions are semi-bent or not.     

Representation and Accountability in Glocal Governance and the 2030 Development Agenda: Narrowing the Gap between Perceived Needs and Outcomes

The paper responds to the 2030 Development Agenda and suggests a way to enhance representation and accountability by extending the Millennium Goals and UN Sustainable Development Agenda. It summarises the content of a forthcoming volume for the Contemporary Systems Series entitled: Towards a Planetary passport for Representation, Accountability and Re-generation’. The paper reflect on studies of alternative architectures for democracy and governance and suggests a way to extend local engagement in social, economic and environmental decision making. The paper discusses a new architectures for democracy and better governance through:

• Addressing the issue of a priori norms and a posteriori measures for transformation towards re-generative living
• Finding ways to match social, cultural, economic and environmental decisions to perceived needs with a focus on food, energy and water security
• Narrowing the gap between perceived needs and the way resources are distributed and the way it impacts on service outcomes.

     

Environmental Education: Enhancing Learning and Awareness Through Assessment

Environmental issues are rapidly gaining momentum globally as humans try to find sustainable solutions to the effects of climate change, carbon emissions, and the actions of human-kind (see Olver, Blacklist those who ‘greenwash’. Companies must walk the talk regarding climate. The Times, 2011a; The weather warriors’ war. Real change will come when a few good men and women say ‘enough is enough’. The Times, 2011b). To enhance learning and awareness of environmental issues among Environmental Education students and the community at large, this study situated assessments within communities of practice around the university. Using action engagement within action research students had to work with insiders from the community to identify, formulate action or intervention plans and find solutions to problem situations in the community. Using action engagement within action research in this study definitely enhanced student’s knowledge of their community’s problems. Their personal involvement and the cyclical approach adopted, enhanced students’ emotional understanding and gave them an insider perspective into the situations and problems that required intervention; and trust was built between the students and members of the community as they worked together to accomplish a common goal.     

Further study strong consistency of M estimator in linear model for \tilde \rho-mixing random samples

The strong consistency of M estimators of the regression parameters in linear models for $\tilde \rho$ -mixing random errors under some mild conditions is established, which is an essential improvement over the relevant results in the literature on the moment conditions and mixing errors. Especially, Theorem of Wu (2005) is improved essentially on the moment conditions.     

An on-line scheduling problem of parallel machines with common maintenance time

In this paper, the authors consider an on-line scheduling problem of m (m ≥ 3) identical machines with common maintenance time interval and nonresumable availability. For the case that the length of maintenance time interval is larger than the largest processing time of jobs, the authors prove that any on-line algorithm has not a constant competitive ratio. For the case that the length of maintenance time interval is less than or equal to the largest processing time of jobs, the authors prove a lower bound of 3 on the competitive ratio. The authors give an on-line algorithm with competitive ratio $4 - \tfrac{1} {m} $ . In particular, for the case of m = 3, the authors prove the competitive ratio of the on-line algorithm is $\tfrac{{10}} {3} $ .     

Systemic Model for Diagnosis of the Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises from Two Cities from the Countryside of the State of <Emphasis Type="Italic">São Paulo</Emphasis> in Brazil

This article presents a proposal of a systemic model composed for the micro and small companies (MSE) of the region of Ribeirão Preto and the agents which influenced their environment. The proposed model was based on Stafford Beer’s (Diagnosing the system for organizations. Chichester, Wiley, 1985) systemic methodologies VSM (Viable System Model) and on Werner Ulrich’s (1983) CSH (Critical Systems Heuristics). The VSM is a model for the diagnosis of the structure of an organization and of its flows of information through the application of the cybernetics concepts (Narvarte, In El Modelo del Sistema Viable—MSV: experiencias de su aplicación en Chile. Proyecto Cerebro Colectivo del IAS, Santiago, 2001). On the other hand, CSH focus on the context of the social group applied to the systemic vision as a counterpoint to the organizational management view considered by the VSM. MSE of Ribeirão Preto and Sertãozinho had been analyzed as organizations inserted in systems that relate and integrate with other systems concerning the public administration, entities of representation and promotion agencies. The research questions: which are the bonds of interaction among the subsystems in this process and who are the agents involved? The systemic approach not only diagnosed a social group, formed by MSE of Ribeirão Preto and Sertãozinho, public authorities and support entities, but could also delineate answers that aimed the clarification of obscure questions generating financial assistance to the formularization of efficient actions for the development of this system.     

A class of constacyclic codes over ring <Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">vR</Emphasis>

By constructing a Gray map, a class of constacyclic codes over ring R = R+vR is studied. Using cyclic codes and negacyclic codes of length p ^s over ring R, the structure of (1?2v)-constacyclic codes and dual codes of length p ^s over ring R are given, the Gray images of (1 ? 2v)-constacyclic codes in a particular case are also studied. It is shown that linear codes of length p ^s over ring R are (1?2v)-constacyclic codes if and only if their Gray images are distance-invariant cyclic codes of length 2p ^s over ring R.     

Collaborative Regional Innovation Initiatives: A Booster for Local Company Innovation Processes?

It is widely acknowledged that the rate of innovations can be enhanced through interaction between new constellations of actors, crossing borderlines between different mindsets, knowledge and skill bases (e.g. Brown and Duguid, Org Sci 2(1):40–57, 1991; Cooke and Morgan, The associational economy: firms, regions, and innovation, 1998; Leonard-Barton, Wellsprings of knowledge: building and sustaining the sources of innovation, 1995, p. 64; Stamm, Managing innovation, design and creativity, 2008, p. 335). Studies of economic prosperity have also pointed to cooperation and competition between neighboring actors as a driver for competitiveness and innovativeness, be it for a company, a business area or a region (e.g. Piore and Sabel, The second industrial divide: possibilities for prosperity, 1984; Porter, The competitive advantage of nations, 1990). The hypothesis behind the geographical focus is that geographical proximity between actors promotes interaction and hence innovation. In EU, and also in Norway, this has been used actively as guidance in national and regional policy, where construction of innovation systems such as clusters and interorganizational networks are promoted and funded. To get organizations and institutions in a region to collaborate more is seen as the panacea for innovation, transformation and prosperity. However, companies often treat such constructed initiatives as an add-on to their ordinary, often long-lasting, business relationships between customers and suppliers (Håkansson et al., Business in networks, 2009, p. 13). This could imply that the necessary anchoring of such new innovation system initiatives with the companies’ own innovation processes is weak or missing. The terminology system points to the importance of the different elements (actors) in the system, their interrelatedness and their impact on each other (Meadows, Thinking in systems. A primer, 2009). An innovation system, like a network, cannot deliver innovation if the elements (i.e. the companies) of the systems don’t respond with related actions to the common endeavor. However, the different actors’ intraorganizational innovation processes are hardly mentioned in the innovation systems theories, thus lacking the important system feedback link between the intraorganizational innovation processes within the single company and the interorganizational innovation processes which are taking place in the collaborative initiative. In this article it is argued, supported by a case story, that attention to both of these processes and the nexus between them is needed in order to construct sustainable interorganizational innovation system initiatives. A model for this is proposed, based on a dual organization development process, encouraging system feedback loops and thereby bridging the single participating organization and the interorganizational collaborative initiative.     

Building Organizational Identity: an Insider Action Research from a Founder’s Viewpoint

This paper features the implementation of an extensive insider action research, exhaustively following the framework of Coghlan and Brannick (2010, 2014). It consisted of two action research projects - the thesis action research and the core action research - which were done in a parallel manner, both following the iterative cycles of constructing, planning, taking, and evaluating action. The thesis action research was aimed at developing a theory on building organizational identity from the viewpoint of an organizational founder. On the other hand, the core action research was focused on promoting the specific identity of the Institute for Integrality, Inc. Quality and rigor were observed in the implementation of the action research cycles. In the fieldwork, there were three main cycles undertaken – understanding organizational identity, fine-tuning the practice of this identity, and designing the integration of this identity in organizational culture. Thereafter, significant learnings were derived from meta-learning in the form of content, process, and premise reflections. Finally, through the critical reflection of the project in the light of the experience and theory, A-Founder’s Integrative Theory of Organizational Identity Building was derived.     

Variational discretization for parabolic optimal control problems with control constraints

This paper studies variational discretization for the optimal control problem governed by parabolic equations with control constraints.First of all,the authors derive a priori error estimates where |||u-U₍h|||_L∞（J;L²（Ω））=O（h²+k）.It is much better than a priori error estimates of standard finite element and backward Euler method where |||μ-U_h|||₍L∞（J;L²（Ω））=O（h+ k）.Secondly,the authors obtain a posteriori error estimates of residual type.Finally,the authors present some numerical algorithms for the optimal control problem and do some numerical experiments to illustrate their theoretical results.     

Construction of one-gray weight codes and two-Gray weight codes over ℤ<Subscript>4</Subscript> + <Emphasis Type="Italic">u</Emphasis>ℤ<Subscript>4</Subscript>

This paper firstly gives some necessary conditions on one-Gray weight linear codes. And then we use these results to construct several classes of one-Gray weight linear codes over ?₄+u?₄(u ² = u) with type \({16^{{k_1}}}{8^{{k_2}}}{8^{{k_3}}}{4^{{k_4}}}{4^{{k_5}}}{4^{{k_6}}}{2^{{k_7}}}{2^{{k_8}}}\) based on a distance-preserving Gray map from (?₄ + u?₄) ⁿ to ? ₄ ²ⁿ . Secondly, the authors use the similar approach to do works on two-Gray (projective) weight linear codes. Finally, some examples are given to illustrate the construction methods.     

Co-design Research and Business Development: Case of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)

This paper is presenting a case study of Scandinavian Airlines Systems (SAS) showing how improvements of service quality aspects with Avatars can be managed with a Co-design research approach. The Co-design practices are carried out in different fields of studies. Some of the key advocates of Co-design originate from business. In this study the four steps of Co-design approach is applied. From the first step of Co-design, through interviews, log analysis and a channel survey, findings show that the failed dialogues with Avatar Eva are mainly concerned with five factors: interactivity; dialogue capability; consistency; knowledge; and synonyms. In the second step, carrying out customer workshops, we suggested ten ideal scenarios for Avatar Eva to perform better. In the third step, SAS decision makers decided to implement the first three scenarios: Eva’s synonyms; knowledge and Eva’s consistency. In the fourth step, another channel survey was carried out as well as a new log analysis to know the impact of the redevelopment above three scenarios. An important result of the study was that the company adopted a continuous use of Co-design as an approach of continuous improvement of the service quality performed by the Avatar Eva. It also opens a new set of questions framing the relation and transformation between Co-design as a research approach for knowledge creation and Co-design as a method for innovation and service quality improvements. The study presents an Extended Co-design Model, which illustrates how the Co-design inspires staff to use it for other functions within and without the SAS.     

Through the Eye of a Fly: Action Research as a Support for the South African National Literacy Campaign

Globally and across the African continent, the past decade has seen an increase in the commitment to reducing adult illiteracy, inspired among other things by the Education for All (EFA) drive to halve the incidence of illiteracy among adults and youth by 2015. While literacy campaigns were less common during the 1990s, the last decade saw a new impetus for mass adult literacy campaigns as a way of improving national literacy levels. This paper examines the South African endeavour to meet its EFA target through the implementation of the South African Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign, which was launched by the South African government in 2008 with the aim of enliterating 4,7 million adults who had little or no education as a result of the apartheid legacy. The Campaign was deemed successful receiving a number of South African awards for best practice and its work in rural and impoverished communities including the international UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (UNESCO 2016). This article focuses on how the campaign utilised action-oriented processes, specifically the methods of participatory action research (PAR), to enhance the achievement of its goals. The methods of PAR were embedded in the campaign structure, comprising clusters of communities of practice (COPs) which provided fora for educators to voice and address challenges. Moreover, since the Campaign was implemented in post-apartheid South Africa, the article shows how the Campaign operations were guided by the ethos of ubuntu as necessary for redress and empowerment.     

An analogue of the ℤ<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Goethals code in non-primitive length

This paper constructs a cyclic ?₄-code with a parity-check matrix similar to that of Goethals code but in length 2^m + 1, for all m ≥ 4. This code is a subcode of the lifted Zetterberg code for m even. Its minimum Lee weight is shown to be at least 10, in general, and exactly 12 in lengths 33, 65. The authors give an algebraic decoding algorithm which corrects five errors in these lengths for m = 5, 6 and four errors for m > 6.     

Semi-algebraically connected components of minimum points of a polynomial function

In a recent article, the authors provided an effective algorithm for both computing the global infimum of f and deciding whether or not the infimum of f is attained, where f is a multivariate polynomial over the field R of real numbers. As a complement, the authors investigate the semi- algebraically connected components of minimum points of a polynomial function in this paper. For a given multivariate polynomial f over R, it is shown that the above-mentioned algorithm can find at least one point in each semi-algebraically connected component of minimum points of f whenever f has its global minimum.