Refinery constructors incorporated: A case study in adaptation to advanced telecommunications technology

This paper illustrates the application of a broadly based approach to the implementation of an advanced communications system in an international setting. The failure of an initial implementation is discussed. The subsequent removal of the failed system and redesign of the second implementation process with overt consideration of sociotechnical factors are discussed. This article challenges a conventional view that focusing on technology, e.g., hardware and software, is the major determinant of success in implementation. The intrusion of computer-based technology into the office environment mandates considering the sociotechnical aspects of implementation such as work-group impacts, job design issues, and organizational adaptation. This study, in a field setting, describes the results of socialand technical considerations in systems implementation and illustrates the bottom-line impact of a specific investment in information technology in a large multinational corporation.     

Dealing with a Differentiated Whole: The Philosophy of the WSR Approach

This paper seeks to explore a philosophical ground for the formulation and practice of an Oriental systems methodology, the wuli–shili–renli approach (WSR). Drawing insights from ancient Chinese thought, WSR contends that, in sociotechnical systems design/management, we should investigate and follow wuli, shili, and renli, which constitute a differentiable, dynamic whole. Wuli, shili, and renli condition and determine the fate of our projects, meaning different methods are needed to deal with each differentiable aspect. It also points out that, to deal with wuli, shili, and renli properly, we need to engage in encounters with the "dark side" of Confucianism and with the contemporary tendency of scientism.     

Design of a System Dynamics Model to Analyze the Styrene Demand in the Brazilian Market

The growth of the petrochemical industry is based on end-user applications such as the automotive and construction sectors, which are the main drivers of the styrene market. However, the use of substitutes for petrochemicals is a reality and creates a competition in the applications of petroleum products. In this sense, this research aimed to design a system dynamics model to evaluate different scenarios, observing the behavior of the styrene demand over time. In the first phase of the project, a greater understanding of the issue was created and a closed loops diagram was elaborated. It was used during the second phase to design an explanatory regression validation model for the styrene demand. In phase three, a visualizing model and scenarios were designed. The scenarios themselves and the results of each scenario were evaluated. The designed and simulated scenarios aimed to evaluate the impact that the use of substitute materials and the variations in gross domestic product cause to the styrene market. The use of system dynamics together with scenario planning was efficient as different strategies for the market could be evaluated based on the simulated scenarios. A critical analysis of the model’s contribution to the decision-making within organizations concludes the study.     

Is Action Design Research Indeed Necessary? Analysis and Synergies Between Action Research and Design Science Research

Action research is one of the research methods that seeks to develop scientific knowledge while simultaneously acting to solve real problems. Design science and design science research are approaches that address problem-solving oriented researches, converging in this aspect with the objectives of action research. A significant part of the literature discusses action research and design science research separately. However, there are some early discussions regarding the similarities and the differences between these research methods. The objective of this study is to deepen an analysis that distinguishes action research, design science and design science research as research methods considering their convergences and divergences. This leads to the discussion of the need for a third method: action design research. This study was conducted based on a configurative systematic literature review. The analysis and the synthesis of literature took into account themes and content analyses. Some results could be observed. First, there is a significant number of similarities among these research methods; second, there are complementary and positive synergies in their use; and third, the concepts of artifact and classes of problems seem to contribute both to the proposition and to the evaluation of the results obtained by action research. Finally, it was possible to establish a set of possibilities for the use of action research and design science research in a combined manner. The limitations of this study have a theoretical nature. There is a need for a comparative analysis of the use of action research and design science research and the use of action research under the paradigm of design science.     

赛汝生产有效运行机制:基于华录松下的案例研究

系统性探索赛汝生产有效运行的使能因素及其作用机理对制造企业实施赛汝生产具有重要意义.借鉴快速均衡流理论,构建赛汝生产有效运行使能因素框架模型;在此基础上,以华录松下赛汝生产实践为背景进行案例研究,探索赛汝生产有效运行的使能因素及其作用机理,验证并修正框架模型.研究结果表明:快速均衡的作业流程有助于提升赛汝生产率;减少可变性是快速均衡流程的主导,集中生产是流程运行基础,工人胜任力作为关键因素,保障科学方法、质量管理及消除瓶颈相互协同,并与其他因素共同赋能企业实现快速均衡的生产流程.     

Collaborative Capability Design: Redundancy of Potentialities

In this study we extend the socio-ecological concept of two contrasting design principles applicable to all work systems. Reframing those design principles as strategic as well as operational choices leads us to propose a third design principle, Design Principle 3 (DP3), which has remained undeveloped in social ecology. We call this design principle Redundancy of Potentialities and demonstrate its application in transorganizational work systems. We argue that DP3 is at the core of socio-ecological practice and is therefore appropriate for coping with the highly turbulent environments now experienced in many industries and fields. We offer several illustrations of DP3 in practice and draw implications for enhancing capabilities for creative collaboration in inter-organizational fields through deliberate attention to design.     

Bridging the Systematic Thinking Gap Between East and West: An Insight into the Yin-Yang-Based System Theory

Paralleling with the contribution of Western systems thinking to the development of modern Chinese system theory, the authors notice that the concept of yin-yang is scattered in many social science researches in the West. However, those researches were still not rich enough to yield insights into the core value of yin-yang and, in turn, there is seemly no one unified guiding law or principle which governs both its theoretical and empirical applications. In this study, axiom system of the Yin-Yang-based system has been proposed and elaborated through the comparisons of systematic thinking between East and West. After incorporating the concept of causal chains, it can also be used to work as quantitative tool for business decision analysis in management practices. The aim of this study is to bridge the contemporary systematic thinking gap between East and West and to provide a complement to aid in further development of system theory.     

雷达自适应极化系统反干扰原理及效能分析

结合所设计的自适应极化捷变雷达系统原理框图 ,根据实验分析了自适应极化系统抗极化干扰的工作原理 ,评估了该系统抗极化干扰的得益。所得结论与实验结果吻合。给出的自适应极化捷变系统的工作原理简洁 ,简化了技术措施 ,对于单干扰和多干扰均有 30dB得益 ,这一重要战术指标远优于其它抗干扰措施 ,表明了发展极化雷达的重要意义。     

Enhancing Validity and Reliability Through Feedback-Driven Exploration: A Study in the Context of Conjoint Analysis

This study proposes a research design for the enhancement of validity and reliability in conjoint analysis research. For this purpose, we are applying the concept of feedback-driven exploration to conjoint analysis and assess the proposed research design concerning its benefits and limitations in respect of validity and reliability of results. The article is of interest for the field of preference elicitation through stated preference methods, and for model validation in transdisciplinary research. By applying the principle of feedback-driven exploration, we allow for feedback loops between researchers, industry experts and survey participants in order to strengthen both validity and reliability. A multi-case study of the agricultural markets in Switzerland illustrates the functioning of the proposed research design. We find that feedback-driven exploration significantly increases validity and reliability by enhancing methodological rigor and implementing an error-correcting mechanism. Additionally, a better understanding of the underlying decision processes is supported by the design due to increased interaction between researchers, industry experts and market participants.     

From Practitioner to Researcher: Designing the Dissertation Process for Part Time Coursework Masters Students

Coursework Masters degrees that are offered as block release programmes provide opportunities for access to postgraduate education for adult students while in full time employ. These students attend structured contact modules after which they return to home and work and a distance format of study. However, these courses are generally characterised by low completion rates and lengthy time to completion, particularly of the research dissertation. While various explanations for this problem have been offered, for example, students’ non-academic commitments and supervisor–student-relations, our particular concern in this paper is students’ reading and writing practices in the transition from professional work practice and Masters coursework to the research dissertation. This paper proposes a systemic design to improve student reading and writing in this transition, and the proposal is illustrated using a block release coursework Masters programme in Management at a South African university. The design draws on interpretive systems ideas to think about the different levels of institutional and disciplinary context that impact on the research dissertation. We also use an academic literacies perspective—the concepts of literacy practice, language identity and power in particular—to think about reading and writing. This design incorporates components that include system elements, relationships, purpose and feedback that facilitate interaction between the conventions of the research practice, what the student brings to the practice, and the agency of the student.     

The Mind Could Accommodate Inconsistencies

The mathematical language of function is an important part of natural science since its inception. Its influence leaves visible traces in social science, in the theory of cognitive dissonance and prevailing systems approaches. They postulate that mental activities are analogous to mechanical principle, complying with the language of function. Yet, an inward introspection reveals that the mind is not thoroughly bounded by mathematical principles. An individual could experience an inconsistent mental status at a given time, which detaches itself from the prison of function. A preliminary survey demonstrates that the existence of inconsistent mental state at a given time is possible. The mechanists compel people to abide by mechanistic design. This approach is likely to make some innate characters, not amenable to mechanistic explanations, vanished. It also involves pointless applications of abstract mathematical operations on mental activities.     

复杂产品虚拟样机概念设计技术研究

建立协同的、智能化的复杂产品概念设计支撑系统是当前虚拟样机工程必须解决的问题之一。从复杂产品概念设计的需求和解决分布式环境下概念设计系统实现的技术难点出发，在分析了Agent技术和WEB服务技术的基础上，对虚拟样机分布式协同仿真系统中的复杂产品概念设计进行了研究，提出将WEB服务技术和Agent技术相结合，建立基于Agent的虚拟样机产品概念设计系统，阐明了系统的结构，工作原理和工作流程，并讨论了系统实现的关键技术。     

Learning with participatory monitoring and evaluation in Dir district,northwest frontier province,Pakistan

This paper is concerned with the development of a monitoring and evaluation system for the second phase of a United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in Pakistan and the manner in which participatory structures are developed and built on in a complex development context. Initially the paper introduces the context. The project is concerned with rural development issues as part of a structured programme to substitute opium poppy growing with a range of agricultural and social innovations. During the first phase of the project (up to 1993) the main focus of attention for the project was measured in terms of physical progress with road building, electricity supply, irrigation works and concentration on improved agricultural practices. Phase II has set out to build on this, most specifically in terms of gaining the greater participation of local people in the project activity. The paper describes the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) structure for the project and notes that it is intended that M&E further encourage participation and beneficiary analysis (analysis of project benefits by those who are intended to derive most from the project outputs). One of the primary means set out for achieving this was by inducing the professional staff working in the project to adopt new mind sets, adjusting their focus from being technical experts supplying undoubted technical improvements to being co-operative partners, bringing ideas to the area but equally being willing to work through these ideas and their implications and learn from the communities. The process for the development of the monitoring system is described, and the methodology ‘TeamUp’ discussed. Links are made to related areas of study—most specifically the literature of Rapid and Participatory Rural Development (RRA and PRA). Finally, the paper discusses the results of the research to date and the likely extension of the ideas to other projects.     

全球导航卫星系统的星座可见性研究

在GPS和GLONASS(GlobalNavigationSatelliteSystem)的应用研究中 ,为保证系统正常工作 ,导航星座应满足一定的可见性要求。因此 ,首先对提出的最小可见性要求进行了原理性阐述 ;之后 ,基于卫星对地面的覆盖特性 ,给出了导航卫星的可见性定义 ,并推导了一种可见性判据 ;最后 ,针对一种通用的全球导航卫星系统星座 ,用仿真的方法给出了地面和某一海拔高度对该星座的可见性结果 ,确定了海拔高度同星座中可见卫星数目之间的关系 ,从而为全球导航卫星系统在外层空间的应用设计提供了依据。     

Action Research as a Bridge Between Two Worlds: Helping The NGOs and Humanitarian Agencies Adapt Technology to Their Needs

This paper reflects upon the process of introducing social media systems into supported employment programs for peoples with severe mental illness in Taipei. Such intervention represents the encounter of two different worlds that are often-unknown to each other, i.e. IT student engineers and job coaches in NGOs. With the participatory and cyclic feature of action research approach, the process can be divided into three stages: technology-led stage, mutual infusion stage, and service-led stage. The focus of this research is to illustrate how action research provides a site for the infusion of two different horizons, that is technology experts in academia and social service providers in NGOs. The existing problems in the use of IT within NGOs were studied and changes through co-inquiry and interventions were implemented towards better utilization of IT and higher levels of service qualities. The researchers utilized an action research approach to investigate the problems, plan the actions, intervene, assess the effectiveness resulting from the actions, and specify learning outcomes.     

Living Life as Inquiry

In this paper I explain what I mean by living life as inquiry, showing how I apply notions of inquiry as method to many areas of my professional and personal activities and how research ideas are generated and tested throughout my life space. The paper has twin tracks which reflect the interwoven processes I am describing and advocating. One is more practice based; in it I outline some of my inquiry practices and dilemmas, and give two examples from my work situation. The second track is more focused on theory, highlighting ideas about systemic analysis, influencing change, relational work, and gender. Writing the paper became an example of my topic. I therefore note features of the text which illustrate processes and practices of inquiry.     

Computer Support for Concept Engineering Design：Enabling Interaction with Design Knowledge

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Building in Dialogue Between Consumers and Staff in Acute Mental Health Services

This paper describes some aspects of the methodology, material, and findings from a lengthy participatory action research engagement by a consumer organization in Australia, which was undertaken in collaboration with staff at a major public psychiatric hospital and then went on to involve players throughout the local and national mental health services system. A small first phase established a dialogic methodology for the exchange of experiences and thinking between staff and consumers. The purpose of the second phase of the research was to explore how consumers' voices might be heard, and how staff–consumer communication about that feedback, might be built in to ongoing organizational structure and culture. Systems thinking about defensive routines, silences, and voice-as-discourse is reported as offering a possible way of cracking the puzzle of the closed-loop cycle of claim/ blame-defense-and-counter-claim/blame-defense that has been characteristic to date.     

全轨道实时星模拟器

本文就全轨道实时星模拟器的设计及实现方法进行了深入的研究，提出了能满足卫星控制系统半物理仿真用的星模拟器设计方案；讨论了星图生成器选择依据；模拟器光学系统设计原则；系统精度的实现及误差修正方法等问题。     

Which authorities are alike?

This article describes the first results from the recent revision to The ONS classification of local and health authorities of Great Britain to allow for boundary changes. For each local and health authority of Great Britain as at April 1999 it presents 'most similar' authorities as measured by a selection of 37 socioeconomic and demographic variables from the 1991 Census. These results will assist local and health authorities in identifying other appropriate authorities for comparative studies. A second article, to be published in Population Trends 99, will present the results of the analysis to identify groups of authorities in a hierarchy of new Clusters, Groups and Families for the revised classification.