Student Engineers as Agents of Change: Combining Social Inclusion in the Professional Development of Electrical and Computer Engineering Students

Community-based action research helps students link subject matter to everyday life and developing sense of responsibility to their community. While combining research and a development into teaching engineering software which has been vastly conducted in engineering disciplines such as Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Computer Science (CS), including inclusive participatory research is yet to be fully developed. We participated in the NGO by providing information technology (IT) and/or assistive technology (AT). This paper examines the practice of action research in service-learning projects that aim to introduce more socially responsible studies in the context of engineering education. It begins by exploring different forms of action research that may benefit engineering disciplines with a focus on action engagement to improve students’ involvement in marginalized communities. The article provides field-based reflections of the action research project and suggests ways in which practice of action research may increase socially responsive value in the professional development of student engineers.     

Project Management Supports (Requisitely) Holistic: Socially Responsible Action in Business Systems

This article emphasizes the role of projects and project management in assuring socially responsible acting of contemporary business systems, presenting some practical applications in the field of tourism. With arising number of projects in business systems and their growing strategic importance, the role of project management has radically been changing for the last two decades. Managing organizations, as a central topic among seven crucial topics in ISO 26000 on social responsibility, is strongly associated with managing projects. Projects have important influence on the established as well as on establishing ongoing operations and are important tools in assuring business systems’ strategic development, by exposing interdependences and supporting the requisitely holistic approach. This article tries to fill the gap we detected in literature on social responsibility where projects and project management seem not to have a proper role. Four different links and interdependencies between project management and systems theory (which ISO 26000 reinforces) are exposed: (1) systemic treatment of project management, (2) systematical treatment of projects as holistic works, (3) systemic treatment of projects as parts of BSs’ strategies, (4) systemic treatment of projects throughout their entire life cycle.     

A Systemic Framework to Develop Sustainable Engineering Solutions in Rural Communities in Colombia

In several rural areas in Colombia there is a serious lack of water quality supply. Thereby the problematic situation is understood as complex one that involves stakeholders with pluralistic interests, multiple variables and requires the development of sustainable and suitable solutions. In order to address this issue, this paper proposes an integration of engineering design framework (CDIO) with a systemic approach. Particularly the approach emphasizes on systemic elements such as autonomy, systems within systems, cooperation between stakeholders and cause effect relations; it also proposes a previous observing phase for engineering design framework. Thus the proposed systemic framework aims to generate projects that improve living conditions in rural communities and promote the production of knowledge between the stakeholders to ensure sustainability in the long term. To illustrate the proposal, this work contains a case study that discusses a project carried out by a research team—Ingenieros Sin Fronteras Colombia—in a rural district near to Colombia’s capital. The experience, which involved and benefited 16 families in the community, provided strong evidence to support the proposed framework. The paper concludes with a discussion about the replication of this proposal in other contexts.     

绩效评价体系研究

项目绩效评价是一项复杂的系统工程管理过程.以项目管理绩效考评为基线,从绩效考评的含义、内容、方式、方法、目的、原则、程序、种类到绩效考评的限制、心理效应等方面作了系统分析,旨在项目绩效评价体系研究、建立和实施等方面建立完整的体系和思想.     

Research on assessment system of accomplishment

1 .INTRODUCTIONIt is a thorny problemfor people to establish theobjective systems for the indiviolual ,the colony ,the leadership and organization, to build the as-sessment systemof accomplishment for theindivid-ual andthe colony ,andthe allotting systemfor theindividual and the colony , which are being fol-lowed with interest by the administrators and thepolicymakers all along in the course of the projectmanagement .A scientific and fair-minded assessment sys-temis the key to fulfilling t…     

Promoting Entrepreneurship through a Community Learning Model – Case Study: Green Businesses

This article presents a community learning model formulated by Engineers Without Borders Colombia with the aim of providing communities with tools to create sustainable productive solutions which have relevancy for members and for potential customers. The goal of this formulation is to promote learning processes that are guided by decisions made by community members to propose sustainable and replicable initiatives. The model applicability is evidenced through a case study devoted to strengthening community-led green businesses in the Guavio Province, Colombia by collecting lessons and conclusions. Ultimately, this collection will prove useful in replicating the learning model in other similar rural communities.

     

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.     

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.     

基于演化博弈的重大工程业主与勘察机构合作机制

为研究重大工程前期勘察阶段业主与勘察机构的合作问题,以业主和勘察机构有限理性为前提,基于演化视角建立双方决策行为交互的博弈模型,探讨了参数变化对于演化稳定策略的影响,并用仿真实验的方法研究参数的取值与初始策略选择对于演化结果的影响。研究结果表明：合理的超额分配系数对促进双方合作有积极意义,且存在一个最优的系数使得双方合作的可能性最大;双方的成本对于均衡结果的影响呈现差异化的结果;风险分担机制的设计可有效促进合作。     

科技项目模糊综合评价方法研究

在分析传统评价方法的基础上,综合主观评价与客观评价,提出一种主客观评价相结合、模糊技术与决策方法相结合的组合赋权模糊综合评价方法,该方法以对评价指标值进行模糊化、归一化和无量纲化预处理为前提,在融合经典方法的基础上,对项目实际完成情况进行定量分析,同时结合专家组的定性评价进行综合评判,既可避免人为的主观片面性,又能对专家意见给予足够的重视,并能对评价过程中遇到的信息的不完备性和不确定性做出相应的处理.该方法应用于国家863科技项目信息管理与评价实验系统(CSHWES),评价结果不仅体现了项目的实际完成情况,而且考虑了单个项目的完成情况在同类项目中所处的水平,使评价结果更加客观、公正、合理.     

政府补贴对风险投资项目的激励影响与福利分析研究

初创企业与风险投资之间会存在双向道德风险问题,考虑到创新的外溢效应,本文从可转换优先股的角度分析了政府补贴对初创企业以及风险投资的微观激励影响,并且进一步从产业层面对比讨论了不同的扶持政策对整体社会福利的冲击.研究发现事后补贴与公共服务配套都能够实现有效激励,让风险投资和初创企业都选择社会最优的投入水平.政府的投资兜底政策尽管可以在某些情况下实现福利增进,但是总体来看无法解决激励不足的问题,甚至还会导致激励扭曲.与此同时,从整体产业层面来看公共配套服务的成本优势使其福利效果优于事后补贴.而政府的投资兜底政策依然有很强的不确定性.     

铁路线路方案模糊优化模型及其应用研究

铁路线路方案优选的传统方法在各方案经济指标差异不大 ,而定性指标出现交叉、各有所长时 ,不易确定最优方案 .本文将方案优选视为多目标决策系统模糊优化问题 ,建立了系统模糊优化模型 ,并结合实例编制了相应的应用软件 .     

大型工程建设项目风险分析方法及应用

结合大型工程建设项目风险特点,对大型工程项目动态风险分析方法进行了系统研究。分析和评价了目前风险分析存在的问题与不足,提出了一种根据时间序列构造风险分析影响图模型的方法。并且对影响图中的超价值结点概念与价值函数可分解性进行了讨论,针对超价值结点特性,将影响图与动态经济评价相对合,提出了大型工程项目动态风险分析方法。最后,以某大型水利工程为案例进行了应用研究,证明了方法的有效性.     

Social Efficacy by Responsible Change Management

Social responsibility can be seen as a condition of efficient change management and even as a tool in crisis solving, mainly if associated with innovative social thinking and action. Change/Innovation management is the principal topic of the study, because it is seen as the main way to grow social effectiveness. New management fields are signaled; among them, crisis management and strategic management are accented and concisely presented. A system of effectiveness principles and its internal structure is described and explained. How to innovate is one of questions that our work tries to answer, because a well managed change offers the best formula, both fast and durable, of social problem solving. Can we, finally, design a science of socially responsible change, applied by change/innovation management? Crisis and lack or excess of effectiveness are strongly connected, as showed by our findings. Responsibility-ruled social effectiveness increasing is hence a central theme of the presented study. Economic and global effectiveness without abuse as aspects of social effectiveness are pointed out and a system of criteria for socially responsible social effectiveness evaluating and increasing is sketched.     

The Relevance of Systems Thinking in the Quest for Multifinal Social Enterprises

Human deprivation and suffering around the world are increasing despite the efforts of traditional aid-based approaches focused on alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life for marginalized communities. There is ample evidence that billions of dollars in aid money have been expended on development projects that are fundamentally unsustainable. On the other hand, social enterprises, which improve lives and livelihoods through practical market-based approaches, are growing in number. Systems Thinking can be especially helpful in navigating the complexity and chaos inherent in social ventures in developing communities. Lack of clarity in the roles, responsibilities, and returns for the various stakeholders epitomizes this chaos and is a major contributor to the failure of such projects. By employing Systems Thinking, entrepreneurs can establish accountability mechanisms, ensure equity for all stakeholders, and facilitate system sustainability. Though much research exists on both Systems Thinking and social enterprise, few sources discuss how Systems Thinking can be practically applied to conceptualize, build, and sustain social enterprises in an easy-to-understand manner. This paper synthesizes definitions of the tenets of Systems Thinking including interdependence, holism, multifinality, equifinality, differentiation, regulation, abstraction, and leverage points. The relevance of each of these tenets to social entrepreneurship is described, and further reinforced, with examples. A practical understanding of these tenets can empower entrepreneurs as they navigate chaotic environments in the quest for social enterprises that create win–win situations for all stakeholders.     

社会力量参与保障性安居工程演化博弈及政府规制

社会力量参与保障性安居工程是推进住房保障可持续发展、优化公共服务供给机制的重要途径.实证考察发现,当前我国社会力量参与比例很低,动力不足.基于演化博弈理论研究了政府与社会力量在保障性安居工程合作过程中行为策略的演化路径,分析了双方合作的动力机制和关键因素.结果表明:无外力作用情况下社会力量难以向主动参与方向自然演化,需要政府审时度势实施相应的规制.结合实证分析发现:政府激励约束机制不完善、制度环境建设滞后是造成当前规制效能不足的重要原因.基于我国现状并借鉴发达国家经验,提出加大激励力度、创新管理制度、加强监督考评、强化宣传引导等政策建议.研究结论对于推动我国住房保障的多元参与和市场化运营具有一定参考价值.     

Participative Methodology for Local Development: The Contribution of Engineers Without Borders from Italy and Colombia: Towards the Improvement of Water Quality in Vulnerable Communities

This paper presents a systemic methodology by which engineering is put to use in vulnerable communities through applied technological research and the main results of its application. The methodology presented corresponds to one implemented and designed by two groups of Engineers without Borders in Europe and Latin America, to integrate technical know-how with local context in communities with water problems in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main results of this methodology are related to the improvement of the living conditions of vulnerable groups thanks to the integration of the communities?? knowledge with engineering know-how, leading to autonomous communities and engineering professors and students learning from real life problems to enrich applied sciences.     

Competences for Citizen-Driven Innovation in Crisis Resolution

We argue that civic change processes must be based on a broad system understanding, strong values, and citizen participation. This article addresses how each citizen could become a responsible, self-reliant problem solver and troubleshooter by exploiting their own inherent innovation potential. We call for a society, which takes advantage of the collaborative capabilities and creativity of all its members as principal remediators of societal problems, instead of solely relying on governmental action, private sector management, and/or science, with all their oftentimes unwanted ancillary effects, including possibly even a curtailment of innovativeness. We use the C2P2S framework of problem solving competence as a model to describe five competence dimensions which we consider crucial for problem solvers, including citizens, in crisis resolution. Changes within governmental, political, and private sector management policies must accompany citizen participation in order to foster and support collaboration. Supportive measures should include educational tools to help citizen groups become proactive stakeholders and to develop the competence sets required to socially responsibly participate in innovation generation in order to meet society’s challenges.     

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.