Proceedings of the 51st Annual Meeting of the ISSS - 2007, Tokyo, Japan

Does an internal web-log or internal SNS become an agent of the organizational learning?

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Today, some new digital communication tool, for example web-log and SNS (Social Network service) becomes poplar in the world. Japan is not also the exception. Web-log has become popular in 2005 and SNS has become popular in 2006. The top SNS service company, mixi, Inc., has listed in the mothers market and the numbers of mixi member is over 8 million at Jan. 28. 2007. Various kinds of people in Japan are just using these services and they can become friendly with these operations in short time. Furthermore, in recent years, web-log and SNS are also used for the business purposes internally in various companies, i.e. Oracle Japan, NTT Data, UNIQLO etc. Since there is not enough know-how to succeed in utilization of these new digital communication tools, most these companies are in the process of trial and error. The approach for the introduction seems so similar as the one of groupware. We have a lot of fear that many companies will fail to operate new communication tool without suitable approach. Tsuchiya, et al. (2006) indicates a possibility of an internal web-log or internal SNS for promoting people’s emergent process, but they did not show enough know-how to manage the process. Itami (1999) proposed a concept of management of “BA” and said a possibility of IT tools for knowledge management in a company or an organization. Unfortunately, there were not any suitable IT tools at that time, e.g. groupware did not meet people's expectations. Currently we can use some new tools, internal web-log and SNS, and we believe that we can create better conditions for people’s emergent process in a company or an organization. Everybody understands that it is hard to control people’s emergent process completely. However, we certainly need to manage the process as well as introducing a new tool in an organization. But the know-how of management the emergent process is not clear. Furthermore, nobody has proposed the suitable effectiveness measurement of the new tools. Nobody mentions about the agent function of the new tools for organization learning. The purpose of this thesis is to propose and discuss some ideas of agent function of internal web-log or SNS in Japanese company or organization. We refer some case studies in Japan and try to extract principles of successful utilizing these new tools. We also discuss the facilitation approach to facilitate people’s emergent process for their learning.

Improving the Effectiveness of Management Education through the Inter-organizational Network

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In recent years, it has become clear that management education needs to be more effective and relevant for management practice. In order to improve the effectiveness of management education, alternative teaching methods are designed such as case studies and action learning. However, these methods have so far only proved to be useful in an educational setting. Moreover, they can not deal with knowledge that learner can acquire only through a practice in a company. As a result, there is still a gap between management education and management practice. The gap is especially significant when focusing only on the main purpose of educational organizations and companies, i.e., education and profitable business respectively. It is important to consider secondary functions to close that gap: both organizations have a common function to develop human resource. Recent research on human resource development in companies reported that it is essential to have several stakeholders not only inside a company (e.g. bosses, colleagues and subordinates), but also from other organizations (e.g. personal advisor, family and friends). In management education, educational organizations and companies can be viewed as stakeholders in developing managers. Therefore, it makes sense to link educational organizations and companies from a career development perspective. In this paper, a novel approach, based on social network theory, is proposed to improve the effectiveness of management education. It incorporates educational organizations and companies into one network. The network allows clarifying the role of educational organizations and companies in the learning process. The advantage of the inter-organizational network is that educational organizations and companies can keep their function in education and business respectively while cooperatively supporting the learner. Therefore, the network enables the learner to simultaneously obtain training in the educational setting and in the managerial environment. In other words, inter-organizational networks can foster relevant and practical managerial knowledge. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach, two concrete management education programs are investigated. One is a management of technology program lead by an academic research institute. The other is a management training program lead by a private educational organization. Both programs are designed by educational organizations, not by companies. In both programs, learners are asked to find solutions for managerial problems in companies that dispatched the learner. Through those investigations, it was observed that learners who made full use of the program experienced two types of learning: (A) independent learning, directed and conducted by the learner; (B) interactive learning through interactions between learner, educators and people in a company. In independent learning, learners consider solutions for their managerial problem, apply those solutions, and reflect on the obtained results for further improvement. In addition to this trial-and-error process, learners often require appropriate advice and feedback; they acquire the latter by interactive learning, i.e., by discussions with the other partners in the network. Most importantly, the involved educational organizations and companies were fully aware of the necessity of both types of learning and therefore, they supported the learning process each from their own position in the network. The inter-organizational network supports and enhances both types of learning. Concretely, educational organizations provide educational contents, such as management theory and tools, whereas companies provide opportunities to apply the educational contents in a realistic management environment. The learners benefits from feedback from both organizations. While feedback from educational organization is usually more generalized and abstract, feedback from company is often focused on effectiveness in business. As a consequence, the learner can conveniently customize the educational contents to practical managerial knowledge by learning in inter-organizational network.

A Systematic Approach to 4D Radiation Therapy – Integration of 4D Medical Imaging into 4D Radiation Therapy

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Historically, the evolution of radiation oncology has been closely linked to the advances in medical imaging. Recent breakthroughs in imaging technology, particularly 4D medical imaging, have injected new momentum into radiation oncology, shedding new light on revitalizing this century old treatment modality. This eventually led to the creation of a primitive form of 4D radiation therapy (4DRT). 4DRT can be defined as a combination of using 4D imaging to guide radiation treatment planning, correcting for daily set-up errors through either patient repositioning or plan adaptation, and controlling radiation delivery based on internal or external fiducials that can be continuously tracked. 4DRT introduces the time dimension into the 3DRT in order to compensate for patient motion/changes occurring either during a single fraction (intra-fractional) or between successive fractions (inter-fractional). The major advantages of 4DRT are high-precision dose conformity, minimized normal tissue complication probability, and possible further dose escalation to the target. To maximize the potential benefits of 4D medical imaging and promising improvements in patient survival and quality of life, an integrative and systemic approach to 4DRT is essential. Without such an integrated multi-disciplinary strategy, 4DRT would only remain as an ideal concept. Here, we propose a comprehensive approach that integrates 4D medical imaging into each of the key steps in 4DRT, including 4D simulation, 4D treatment planning, and 4D treatment delivery. 4D Simulation The 4D imaging modalities, including 4DCT, 4DMRI, 4DPET, and 4DSPECT, should be used to provide needed clinical information. To provide a time-stamped indication of the motion stage (amplitude or phase), external or internal fiducial markers should be used for monitoring patient motion in 4DCT imaging. With this tracking information, image acquisition can be prospectively gated and the acquired images can be retrospectively sorted into image bins reflecting the different respiratory phases. One of the three respiratory tracking techniques should be considered: (1) optical tracking methods using an infrared laser with reflectors placed on thorax or abdomen, (2) use of a spirometer to measure tidal ventilation volume, (3) use of Bellows pressure sensor below diaphragm for monitoring anatomical volume change. 4D Treatment Planning An internal target volume (ITV) with more precise margin covering the moving clinical target volume (CTV) should be delineated on either 4DCT or 4DMRI. In addition, PET or SPECT 3D images should also be employed to accurately determine the true extent of the CTV. A full 4DCT image (multiple 3DCT images) acquired at each of the respiratory phases (at least eight) should be used to create an independent treatment plan for each phase. The physician contoured target and organs at risk (OAR) should be preserved through deformable image registration. Plans should be computed using adaptive dose calculation technique. 4D Treatment Delivery On-site Imaging for Patient Setup: The 2D/3D/4D imaging of the patient in the treatment position should be used to improve setup accuracy. These include multiple 2D x-ray imaging, optical 3D superficial imaging, kV cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging, helical MVCT imaging, and 4DCT imaging. Real-time Target Tracking: Superficial motion tracking and external surrogates are useful in determining the extent of respiratory motion, but are not sufficient for tracking tumor motion and change in volume and shape. Therefore, internal fiducial markers should be implanted into or around the target to minimize ionization radiation to the patient. Real-time Dose Delivery: Real-time treatment delivery should be guided by a target tracking feedback system. Currently, this has not been feasible in most of the clinics. The key is the combination of the individual 4DRT components to form a clinically feasible approach.

Eigenform

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

EigenForm is the speaker's term for the generalized eigenvalues that Heinz von Foerster introduced into cybernetic discourse in theinception of second-order cybernetics. An eigenformis a fixed point of an operator, seen as the emergence of an "object" or distinction in the course of a recursion. This is in accord with von-Foerster's paper title "Objects as tokens for eigen-behaviours". It is enlightening and frustrating that at the abstract level every recursion has a fixed point (by infinite iteration or by the Church - Curry method of lambda calculus). At this level, the existence of fixed points sheds light on paradox, time, Godelian incompleteness and the nature of systems that can observe themselves. At this level the existence of the fixed point indicates a leap to a new level and a shift to a larger language of discourse. Within a given system, the fact that the fixed point may well be beyond that system leads to the exquisite frustration of finding a wider context for already-agreed-upon modes of working. We will discuss the context of Eigenforms in relation to systems and models.

Induced Coupling: An Approach to Modeling and Managing Complex Human-Landscape Interactions

2011-09-24T08:52:10-07:00

Nicholas R. Magliocca Master’s of Environmental Management Candidate, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, nrm@duke.edu Abstract Population growth and overdevelopment are driving complicated interactions between human and natural systems. A preliminary investigation of human and natural systems as hierarchical, complex systems suggests that problematic, emergent behaviors are the result of ‘induced coupling’ between the two systems. Human manipulations aimed at mitigating natural disasters often change how human and natural systems interact in space and time. The dynamics of each separate system are fundamentally altered when they become coupled. This coupling drives unexpected, emergent behaviors through the introduction of strong, non-linear feedbacks. Human-landscape interactions present a unique challenge because of the mismatch in scales between coupled processes. Induced coupling describes problematic system behaviors (i.e. natural disasters intensified by human actions) as the product of coupling short-term human activities to long-term natural processes. As a descriptive model, induced coupling draws upon the conceptualization of human and natural systems as hierarchical, complex systems, and it utilizes the systems dynamics approach to identify delays introduced by human manipulations. Induced coupling aides in the description and analysis of coupled human-landscape interactions, and provides a focus for numerical modeling and identification of leverage points for management actions.

Integrating Susteinability Practices Using the Viable System Model

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This paper represents an effort to ecplore the use of Stafford Beer's Viable System Model to design human communities that foster adaptation to criteria of sustainability in our natural and social environments. With the projected rise in sea level and other changes that may accompany warming temperatures, it seems probable that many communities, even some large cities, will have to be abandoned and their populations relocated. This difficult circumstance could create tens of millions of climate change refugees and be met with the failure and incompetence that characterized the response to Hurricaine Katrina or it could provide an opportunity to rebuild in a manner that combines a high quality of life with a low impact on the environment. Using the framework of the VSM, three levels of recursion will be explored: the household, the neighborhood and the city. It will be possible to draw on lessons learned about building and maintaining cities in different climates and under different conditions over the centuries and from the construction of 'new towns' in the past fifty years. It has been characteristic of communities that regularily endured environmental challenges to have fostered means of collaboration and cooperation to address them and to constrain competition within bounds that did not threaten their common survival. There is no shortage of ideas and designs that could be applied but there is not yet the political and social infrsastructure or the political will to implement them. Steps taken in this direction might help coalesce the necessary political will to begin planning or to act to attenuate its impact. The following are proposed as guidelines under the VSM. The community and the city's external relationships with the surrounding natural, social and economic environments should be such that they can support themselves while avoiding endangering their own survival or that of their surrounding environments. Their internal operations should be such that an adequate quality of life is available to everone from the most dependent members of its socity to the most productive. They should pursue these ends with a view to maintaining a balance between collaboration/symbiosis and competition with the fewest restrictions on the autonomy of members consistent with the other guidelines. The Viable System Model cam be both a teplate for design and a framework for discussion of what usutainable communities in a time of climate change might look like. Such discussions would be facilitated by group processes such as Beer's Team Syntegrity process that he invented as a companion to the VSM. The process provides a whole system, high variety structure that gives equivalent status to each participant and viewpoint. This high level of communication will help to provide the cohesiveness that is needed when sacrifices must be made and hardship shared in order to achieve a new equilibrium with the environment.

Integrated system dynamics: Analysis of policy options for tobacco control in New Zealand

2007-08-01T21:28:17-07:00

This paper addresses the conference theme of "Integrated Systems Sciences: Systems Thinking, Modeling and Practice" by providing a case study using Integrated System Dynamics. The paper uses the five phase integrated system dynamics approach outlined by Maani and Cavana involving: problem structuring, causal loop modelling [systems thinking]; dynamic modelling, scenario planning & modelling [systems modeling]; and implementation & organisational learning [systems practice]. The paper provides an overview of the system dynamics model that has been developed to assist the Ministry of Health to evaluate the dynamic consequences of tobacco control policies in New Zealand. The model consists of 4 sectors: population; smoking prevalences; second hand smoke; and tobacco attributable deaths. The model is simulated for 20-30 years into the future. The simulation package used is 'iThink', and a user interface is presented for policy analysis. A range of illustrative scenarios are provided, including: business as usual; fiscal strategies involving less affordable cigarettes; harm minimisation strategies involving either less addictive cigarettes or less toxic cigarettes; and combinations of the above policies. The main output variables (performance measures) include current smoking prevalence, tobacco consumption, and tobacco attibutable mortality. Finally areas for future model enhancement are identified.

A study of cognitive management issues at the business ventures targeting the business in the new field, using a causal loop diagram

2007-08-01T21:36:11-07:00

Business ventures have the characteristics of conducting business focusing on a specific growth market. In the growth process, several issues emerge that are inherent to business ventures in the new field, namely, new product development and / or new service introduction. For the business ventures, developing business in the new field impacts the sustainability of the enterprise. The business ventures need specific characteristics to achieve this sustainability. Those characteristics vary according to the competitive condition of the market. However, there have been only few empirical comparisons on this subject in the past. This paper identifies business characteristics that business ventures targeting the business in the new field based on the transformation of finance and cognitive management issues. A causal loop diagram analysis, which is one of the System Dynamics tools, is used to identify the underlying major factors which influence the sustainability of the business. The analysis shows the problems of cognitive management issues and the associated countermeasures.

International Relations & Complex Systems Theory

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

ABSTRACTS Youn-Soo Sim College of Humanities and Social Sciences Honam University 59-1, Seobong-dong, Kwangsan-gu, Kwangju, 506-090, Korea In this paper, we would like to raise the importance of complex systems theory in analyzing the phenomena of international politics while considering the characteristics of the international system that is getting more complex day by day. First, let us examine the meaning that the complex systems theory is held as a new recognition method of a social phenomenon while reviewing the characteristics of complex systems theory and the complex systematic characteristics held by today’s new international system. Next, we explain about the meaning of the nonlinear non-equilibrium thermo-dynamics used in the static analysis of complex system and the major construction concepts and then, we briefly apply this complex systems theory to the actual phenomenon of international politics. Key words: international politics,complex systems, international system, political phenomena, international relations

REGULATION AND PRIVATIZATION

2014-06-01T07:00:18-07:00

Abstract Privatization is the process to transfer a property or responsibility from the public sector to the private sector . The term can refer to partial or complete transfer of any property or responsibility held by government. Through privatization, governments seek to become more efficient in running enterprises, both in terms of cost and quality of services. There are two basic sets of economic arguments for pro-privatization and anti-privatization. The first of them is that governments have few incentives to ensure that the enterprises they own have a good performance and the second one is that governments do have an incentive to maximize efficiency in nationalized companies, due to the pressure of future elections. Socialist, liberal, conservative have different positions about the role of government. They propose greater or minimal state involvement and proper matters for public or private sectors. System approach helps politicians to make better decisions in possible privatizations. Regulation and regulatory functions are related to the definition of concepts, bases and techniques for a possible privatization process in a given sector.- A subset of regulatory functions is assigned to manage the privatization of that specific sector. In this way it is possible the regulation of monopolies, entry, network pricing, access conditions, rules for operation and quality and performance standards. This paper is designed to give the widest possible overview of the system sciences applied to regulation and privatization issues. System approach is applied in order to have an interdisciplinary appreciation of this phenomena. The relation between privatization and regulation is analyzed to achieve the best outcomes in privatization after the study of experiences, designs and implementation of many cases in several countries. It has been shown that the greatest gains from privatization are achieved in the pre-privatization period as reforms are made to prepare for the transfer to private hands. As changes may include reforms such as greater transparency and accountability of management, improved internal controls, information systems and better financing, those actions improve performance rather than privatization itself.

Evaluating Effects of RFID Introduction Based on CO2 Reduction

2007-08-01T17:48:41-07:00

In this paper, the effects of RFID introduction will be discussed with respect to the Carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction effect based on a case of Wal-Mart Stores. Companies eagerly introduce RFID technologies to improve supply chain management (SCM). Information and communication technology (ICT) is believed to improve environmental problems, such as creating sustainable society. The Kyoto Protocol requests the countries ratified to archive each CO2 emission target, and companies are aware of the target. However, it is not proposed the method to evaluate the reduction of CO2 emission by employing RFID technologies. The method to calculate the reduction effect of CO2 emission will be developed, and estimated the effect in a case of Wal-Mart Stores, and also evaluated its economic effect in SCM. In conclusion, the methods based on CO2 emissions reduction effect can be successfully developed to evaluate the effect of RFID introduction.

A Complex-systems Approach to Remove the North-Korean Nuclear Weapons

2011-09-24T08:46:49-07:00

A Complex-systems Approach to Remove the North-Korean Nuclear Weapons Hyuk Kihl Kwon Dept of National Ethics Studies, Chungbuk National Univ. Gaesin-dong 48, Chongju, Chungbuk. Korea. 361-743 E-mail: khyukihl@yahoo.com Abstract Last October (2006. Oct. 9) is a terrible day to South Korean people. North Korean Kim Jong-il tested the nuclear weapons at October.9. And, South Korean felt the fear and anger to North Korean Kim Jong-il regime. It’s because that South Korean didn’t want to exist nuclear weapons in Korean peninsular. Also, U.S, Japan and China didn’t want to accept to have nuclear weapons of North Korea. Korean Rho Moo-hyun government tried to ‘Sunshine Policy’ to North Korea. It’s pouring of material assistance to North Korea because of humanity. And, South Korean government tried to make package tours to Mt. Kumgang and the Kaesong Industrial Complex. It means that South Korean government tried to help North Korean economic difficulty. Nonetheless, North Korean Kim Jong-il regime tested the nuclear weapons last October.9. In a word, North Korean act was the betrayal to South Korean people. U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney had put pressure on China to become more active in resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis, warning if the North has nuclear weapons, Japan may start developing its own, Newsweek reported. Japan, meanwhile, is taking advantage of the North’s nuclear test to rearm. Actually, Japan worry about the North Korean nuclear weapon. It means that North-East Asian weapon balance is broken. Also, it will begin to race having nuclear weapon through North Asian countries. To remove North Korean nuclear weapons is an inevitable proposition. I’d like to research to a Complex-systems Approach to Remove the nuclear weapons from North Korea. To remove the nuclear weapons from North Korea is not simple problem. I think it’s a seriously complex problem. We’ll need to consider various factors to remove the North Korean nuclear weapon. It will be a Complex-systems approach. Key-words; complex-systems, nuclear weapon, sunshine policy, nuclear armament, weapon balance. to remove

Agent Based Epidemiological Simulation for Pandemic Protection of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Purpose Next pandemic caused by mutated H5N1 bird flu or bioterrorism is serious for the safety of our society. In this paper we focus on a modular type of agent based simulation model for pandemic protection. We use SOARS as an agent based simulation framework that is developed by Deguchi Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology. We have developed the basic models of agent based social simulation for protecting pandemic caused by human to human outbreak of mutated H5N1 bird influenza or smallpox by bioterrorism. Methodology The agent based simulation is sometime called the individual approach. The epidemic model of agent based modeling was developed by K. Carley, at C.M.U and Epstein at Brooking Institution [Carley, 2003; Epstain, 2004]. The former treats the infection by "Anthrax" depending on her agent based simulation with a social network of agents. The later treats the infection by smallpox on the cell based model of agent simulation. The protection policies investigated on these types of agent based approaches include vaccination, isolation and blockade. These types of policies are connected to agent activities in the societies. The cell type model is basic and intuitive. Then it is widely used. In the simulation model of emerging influenza pandemic in Southeast Asia they use the cell type model for analyzing the effectiveness of "Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)" [Ferguson, 2005]. We have introduced another type of model for agent based approach. We introduce the concept of spot that is a place on which agents interact. Agents also move among spots depending on their social roles. Spots stand for home, office, school, hospital, train and other social places depending on the model scope and subdivision of the model. For the purpose have developed the agent based simulation framework called SOARS . Model The simulation model is divided into three basic modules. The one is a state transition module of disease under the physical condition and medical treatment(fig. 1). The next is a contamination and infection module that contains six types of protection policies of contamination and infection. The third is a human activity module on a virtual city that contains several types of social activities of agents(fig.2). We combined these modules and introduced the social and medical protection policies. We evaluated the protection policies on the combined model. Result We have simulated 23 scenarios of pandemic and its protection policies such as the limit of the stock of vaccine, delay of starting vaccination, speed of vaccination and school closing(fig. 3). As a result we have shown that enough stock of vaccination and quick vaccination are effective to decrease the damage. Consideration Agent based epidemiological simulation is an effective way of making model with the collaboration of domain experts. It is important that various types of specialists such as systems analysts, public health specialists, medical doctors and urban planners can collaborate on the modeling of simulation for protecting emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases including the smallpox. We have developed the group programming methodology with SOARS where the system analysts and domain experts cooperate with each other for quick development of the mode. Reference [Carley, 2003] K. M. Carley, et al., "BioWar: Scalable Multi-Agent Social and Epidemiological Simulation of Bioterrorism Events". NAACSOS conference proceedings, Pittsburgh, PA, 2003. [Deguchi, 2006] Hiroshi Deguchi, et al. "Social Simulation Design for Pandemic Protection", The First World Congress on Social Simulation. Proceeding, Vol.1, pp.21-28, 2006 [Epstein, 2004] , Joshua M. Epstein(e.d.),Toward a Containment Strategy for Smallpox Bioterror: An Individual-Based Computational Approach , Brookings Inst Pr, 2004 [Ferguson,2005] Neil M. Ferguson, et al., Strategies for containing an emerging influenza pandemic in Southeast Asia , Nature, 2005

A multi-agent model approach to international climate change politics

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The essence of the global climate change politics is the public goods provision problem. In the present paper, we discuss what kind of process is necessary to form an effective international regime for the global climate change problem, by utilizing multi-agent simulation model. We formulated a multi-agent model for the climate change politics in which the actors (agents) are governments, NGOs and the industries. The simulation results indicate that the NGO’s roll of propagating the international norm to governments and the adequate relationship between governments and industries are substantial to form an effective international climate change regime.

MULTI AGENT BASED SIMULATION FOR TYPHOID FEVER WITH COMPLICATIONS: AN EPIDEMIC ANALYSIS

2007-08-01T15:22:58-07:00

The purpose of this paper is to describe an epidemic modeling and simulation of the spreading Typhoid disease and the possibility to become complications, and assess its in one population. Typhoid disease was implemented inside the NetLogo modeling epidemic. The aim of design is to present a percentage of Typhoid disease outbreak and likelihood complications. The concept of phenomena—that is, how patterns in spreading Typhoid infection result from the interactions of many people in one population. The Typhoid epidemic modeling provides the epidemiologist with the opportunity to observe and explore these interactions in simulated epidemic that enable them to analyze the outbreak of this disease. As known that Typhoid Fever is an infection disease that can spread from human to human through the social interactions in the bad of hygiene and sanitation circumstances. Typhoid Fever is caused by Salmonella typhi and occurs sporadically in every year in Indonesia. The NetLogo programming epidemic allows epidemiologists to build computer models of infected human to healthy human interactions in one population and visualize agent (person) of healthy, typhoid infected, typhoid complications in the populations. These models are able to illustrate how if there are 10 Typhoid infectious persons in one population can spread to the healthy persons and then the Typhoid patients may become complicated. The results of this simulation can be viewed in monitor and graph plots.

Analyzing the Role of Mutual Communications in Project Management through Agent-based Simulation

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Papernumber: 001 (Assigned by Journal editor) Title of Paper : Analyzing the Role of Mutual Communications in Project Management through Agent-Based Simulation Name of Author(s) : Masao Watabe, Takao Terano Address, Email : 8-6, Kasuya-3, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 157-0063 : mrwatabe@ruby.plala.or.jp Text of abstract This paper proposes an agent-based simulation model to analyze the roles of mutual communications among members of project teams. The objective of the research is to uncover the characteristics communication efficiency in large scale and shorter delivery projects. They have reported that making the delivery period of a project shorter often causes cost-over-run and/or schedule-delay. However, few results have been quantitatively investigated. In order to explore the better communication ways in project management, we have employed agent-based simulation models, in which we implement a manager-leaders group as communication agents based on Axelrod’s tag model. From intensive experiments, we have following major conclusions: 1) The project productivity is proportional with the efficiency of mutual communications among team members. 2) The larger the scale of a project becomes, the less efficient the communication becomes. 3) Making a delivery period of larger projects shorter is difficult comparing with the one of smaller projects. 4) To make the better communication, it will be effective to inform many issues at once. Such tactics is more effective in a large scale and short term project than in a small scale and/or long term project. 5) In any size of projects, it is effective to take enough time for communication. Once a meeting is held in a project, participants should exchange information each other until the end of discussion for all issues they have.

Policy Making in Case of Iodine deficiency disorder Based on Agent Interaction in West Java Province

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) is a syndrome emerges as result of a continuously low Iodine content in human body during a period of time. The year 1998's National Mapping IDD Survey throughout areas of Indonesia shows that 33% of sub district in the country are classified as endemic, 21% as low endemic, 5% as medium endemic and 7% as severe endemic areas. IDD has become a serous issue because its impacts, directly and indirectly, to the human being and to the quality of human resources. Due to serious impacts of IDD, the government of Indonesia has tried to prevent IDD problems by focusing on distribution of iodized oil capsule for productive women (15 - 49 years old) in severe and medium endemic areas (as the short term effort), and salt iodination or iodized salt consumption (as the long-term effort). But the program is not yet optimal, because some producers are still producing non-iodized salt or producing iodized salt with less than 30 ppm iodine content, some distributors are still distributing non-iodized salt or distributing iodized salt with less than 30 ppm iodine content and majority of consumers is not critical and less concerned toward the consumption salt product. To overcome the problem, then, it needs Social Enforcement as a policy for pressuring and supporting through the regulator function. In the previous research, it doesn’t involve agent’s activities process. In our research, it will describe people activities process in order to consume iodized salt especially in endemic areas in West Java and including the previous policy by government to take care this problem using social simulation SOARS. The objective of our research is to get new policies which could reduce Iodine Deficiency Disorder problem.

Searching Effective Policies to Prevent Bird flu Pandemic in Bandung City Using Agent Based Simulation

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Bandung is surrounded by mountain range gives the city a cool climate throughout the year, so have temperature and humidity low. Everything moves in slower pace here compare to metropolitan life in Jakarta. With population of over two million, the lifestyle in Bandung family is related with keep a fowl like chicken or bird. As bird flu has now been found in Bandung, West Java, an Indonesian scientist says that the virus is spread in a variety of infection models. New type of bird flu is now spreading. There are assumptions that the pandemic probably spread among the poultry farmers or workers, but so far we can not make such a conclusion. Government had give some recommendations through National Strategic Planning to control bird flu pandemic, but it’s a complex problem, vaccination and anti virus drugs are not the unique answer for the program. To prevent the pandemic we must take steps not only from medical policies point of view but also from social and culture policies point of view. To give the answer, we want to develop a basic model of simulation and propose some policies by using agent based modeling to look dynamic interaction between human activity especially in Bandung City that contains several types of social activities of agent. We develope an infection process model for pandemic depending on social and culture simulation as in the previous research [deguchi, et.al] using SOARS to know the effectiveness of several strategies or policies based on the understanding of interaction.

Agent Based Simulation of Negotiation Process Using Drama Theory

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The collective behavior of autonomous individuals frequently displays characteristics that are both systemic and unexpected. Agent-based modeling has recently developed as an important approach to understanding the collective behavior of individuals interacting, especially in organized and disorganized groups such as organizations, markets or crowds. This paper develops an agent based model of dynamic negotiation among agents using drama theory and applies it in Citarum river basin problem. There are some factors which cause the problem, i.e.; illegal lodging and the population exploding in upper stream, pollution from industries in down stream, etc. The model involves local governments and people in up and down streams and an environmental NGO that concerns about the problem as agents. Based on the model, this research simulates and analyzes the interaction among the agents, and tries to describe how the conflict can change, to reduce a dilemma of each agent.

Entropy and emergence in organizational systems under a turbulent environment

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

System science, studies important systems processes, among of them are elements in the life cycle of organizational systems: entropy and emergence. Entropy, a thermodynamics concept, has become a part of the systems language. It indicates the degree of system disorganization. Entropy can be conceptualized as the progressive loss of the relationships that integrate a system. Collapse is violent and sudden, disgregation of systems structures and processes that occur under turbulent conditions. This process can be modeled with the life cycle metaphor of organizations, which include four stages: birth (design), growth (improvement), maturation (maintenance), and death (obsolescence). The gradual stages of improvement and maintenance occur under stable conditions and the sudden stages of design and obsolescence, occur under turbulent environmental conditions. When organizations systems operate near state of equilibrium stability prevails through an homeostatic process of change. Organizations under turbulent conditions suffer an entropic process, loose their heterogeneity and suffer collapse of their structures and processes. When organizational systems are far from an equilibrium state, they can collapse, or new complex systems may develop.

The Application of Soft System Methodology for Agro business Micro financing Policy

2007-08-01T18:46:24-07:00

Policy analysis and design was conducted to develop conceptual model for agro business micro financing particularly in the organic farming. This interdisciplinary research used soft system methodology (Checkland, 1972) to identify key policy variables and create knowledge-based decision support system. Dealing with micro financing complexity, this study applied Total System Intervention (TSI) approach (Jackson, 2000). Complementarism was introduced to combine several system techniques with expert knowledge acquisition as well as extensive field observation. Strategic Assumptions Surfacing and Testing (SAST) produced strategic assumptions to implement public policy for organic farming intensification. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to set up priority of feasible microfinance practices and institution related to agriculture constraints. Focus group discussion was conducted both in local and national level to formulate policy alternatives. Results of this study showed that organic farming could generate better income for the paddy farmers and simultaneously increase environmental sustainability. However, lack of working capital and market infrastructures make slow growth. Hence, government support through micro credit and reliable trading-house is needed. Conceptual model was established with main assumption is rural financing availability with various sources of fund including trust fund in accordance with poverty alleviation efforts. This research found that most preferable Micro Finance Institution (MFI) to manage those micro credits is the Saving and Loans Cooperative Agency. The regional policy should cover local MFI capacity building, organic fertilizer production and trade management support. Through public policy analysis, this study recommends coordination body of MFI in national level to increase agro business productivity. Expert judgment was found meaningful in the validation and verification processes of the conceptual model. Financial analysis for MFI and agro business is recommended.

It was agile and flew

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

Scientific methods have been applied not only to the development of science but also to technological developments. Moreover, science and technology often progress hand in hand. In both cases adequate strategies are required to ratify the knowledge sought after. These strategies include the aspects related to the methodologies employed for organizing the whole project, intending to attain the proposed goal effectively and efficiently. In spite of the scientists’ alleged lack of interest in material benefits and their characterization of their research efforts as a search for knowledge beyond reward and time limits, it is not uncommon to see a competitive attitude in them and the urgency to be (either individually or as a team) the first to achieve success. This has been particularly seen in the computing technology field where an arduous discussion has taken place with regard to suitable methods for producing new quality systems in reasonable time periods. During the last few years of the twentieth century a group of methodologies sprang up in the software area which were initially identified, not quite accurately, as “light”. In the year 2001 the promoters of such methodologies met and changed the word “light” for “agile”, thereby constituting the “Agile Alliance”, for the purpose of disseminating the principles and the methodology. A few years sufficed to prove that the new approach obtained significant results in various technological spheres. Curiously enough, the best example of such methodologies is found in 1899, when Orville and Wilbur Wright started to develop the project that ended up, four years later, in the first mechanically propelled manned flight. We narrate this fascinating adventure of knowledge and human inventiveness comparing the different phases they went through to the agile scientific methodologies of today.

THE E-CO MODEL – CITIZENS’ DRIVING E-SERVICE QUALITY

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

Many models for characterizing and evaluating e-services emphasise different levels of complexity and maturity of e-services. These frameworks takes as their starting point an organisational point of view on e-services where it seems that integration between different public authorities is the ultimate goal. An unresolved quest is however to judge and design e-services desired by the citizen. For this scope it is essential to identify recipients of the e-service and for what purpose these recipients ought to use the e-service. One group of recipients of public e-services is the citizens. In this paper shortcomings of existing frameworks are identified founded in a citizen-centric value base. These shortcomings are then used as a driver for putting forward an alternative model for evaluation and design of e-services.

Creating and Sustaining Successful Knowledge Management in Purposeful Communities

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

Based on research organized as a number of workshops, case studies and interviews with experienced practitioners as well as academics, we present in this report the most important findings on how to create and sustain successful knowledge management in a community environment. The cases, workshops and interviews deal specifically with the Microsoft Solutions Sharing Network program (SSN), but the findings, conclusions and preliminary recommendations can be applied more generally to the development of any knowledge management community. A key conclusion is that the bulk of efforts toward creating successful knowledge management communities focus on less technical, or softer aspects like leadership, culture, social settings and value of participation. However, these are essential, but not sufficient, ingredients for success. Technical issues, issues regarding development and customization of the tools used to facilitate knowledge management (for example, the SSN web portal), and emerging legal issues surrounding the sharing of intellectual property may be perceived as somewhat less important to the participants, but are nevertheless key factors in the long term success of these communities. It is also concluded that the foundation for successful collaboration is primarily laid in the initial phases of community development. A community must make a positive impression on its participants from the very beginning because most people won’t give it a second chance. In this report we have highlighted three important areas to consider when establishing portals for knowledge management: Leadership, Purpose and Process/Infrastructure. A leadership with high credibility in the subject is needed to lead the participants in the right direction, manage the cultural processes and to make sure that relevant content can be found. Initially it is the content that brings people to a specific community. Thus, there has to be some common purpose that not only needs to be in congruence with the professional role of the participants, but also be inspiring for them as well. Additionally, the community should have some sort of process that the participants can understand and suits the way they would like to interact. Face-to-face meetings and networking activities create trust which is important to get the process started. Language, IT platform, support and rules governing the contribution, creation and sharing of “knowledge” for the community are other concerns that need to be considered within the process.

Process Simulation of Nuclear Power Plant Using Latest Techniques

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

One of the most significant development in Nuclear Power Plant training methodology is the adoption of Full Scope Replica Simulators in the training programme. Full Scope Replica Simulator is a major step towards enhancing the operator capability and significantly improving the safety of the plant. Nuclear Power Plant Simulator is proved to be an effective and efficient training tool for imparting plant knowledge. Advances in Computer Science and Digital technology have paved a way for implementing new trends in simulation techniques like Full Scope Replica Simulators, Virtual Reality, 3-D Visualization etc. and promise to incorporate additional capabilities and bring about considerable change in training methodologies. The computer based programs representing mathematical models, simulate variety of plant conditions giving control room operator an opportunity to practice by responding to normal and routine conditions as well as emergency and abnormal conditions of the plant. Modelling, simulation combined with visualization techniques can solve many of the challenges brought forth by the emergency conditions in the plant. Presently, there is a strong trend for Full Scope Simulators to pierce into the world of Nuclear Power Plant Operations where they can be used to provide newer insights for operational decision making. This paper discusses the Process Simulation of Condensate and Feed Water System of a Nuclear Power Plant. Both the systems put together make up the regenerative feed water heating system in order to improve the steam cycle efficiency. The main function is to draw the condensate from the condenser, heat and feed it to once through type of Steam Generators. Feed heating is done at six stages consisting of three low pressure heaters, deaerator and two high pressure heaters using bled from Low Pressure / Intermediate Pressure / High Pressure turbine steam extracts. The real time process simulation includes process modeling of all the components associated with the system, incidents and malfunctions and its significance for which the operators need to be trained. It also covers the connected process logics, controls, display of alarms and indications, interconnection with other sub systems of Steam Water System etc.

GENETIC ALGORITHM ACTIVE VIBRATION CONTROL OF A FLEXIBLE PLATE STRUCTURES

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

This paper presents the development of an active vibration control (AVC) mechanism for a flexible plate structure using a Genetic Algorithm (GAs) strategy. The global optimisation technique of GAs is utilised to obtain a dynamic model of a flexible plate structure and verified within the AVC system. The GA based AVC algorithm thus developed is implemented within a flexible plate simulation environment and its performance in the reduction of vibration of the plate is assessed. The validation of the algorithm is presented in both the time and frequency domains. An assessment of the results thus obtained is given in comparison to the AVC system using conventional recursive least squares (RLS) method. Investigations reveal that the developed GA based AVC system performs better in the suppression of vibration of a flexible plate structure compared to an RLS based AVC system.

Rediscovery of Pattern Language from an Information Systems Viewpoint

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

Software engineering yielded the big fruits of the Design Patterns and POSA and so forth by using the Pattern Language of architectonics, but they only focused on the side of the format of the pattern as know-how description. Focusing on another side of the Pattern Language—"timeless way" as continuous activities—we can see that the Pattern Language is an ideal mechanism to incorporate the requirements and the design constraints of information systems into itself as organization learning. In this paper, "The Information Systems Cycle" is provided for the building process of the enterprise information systems from such a viewpoint, and the meaning and the problem of incorporating the Pattern Language into the cycle are discussed.

Improving Project Management of Software Development: Actual Work Loads and Estimated Work Loads

2007-08-01T19:26:28-07:00

To improve work loads among participants in projects, properties of software development projects will be discussed focusing on work loads. Project management of software development seems to be getting difficult for software development companies with respect to managing costs and work loads. Gaps between actual and estimated work loads may suffer managers, and result in project failure. Also leave of absence and resignation of employee are sometimes observed. Four software development projects are selected: i.e. three for unsuccessful projects, one for successful project. Their reviews and interviews illustrate the gaps between actual and estimated work loads. Among findings, in unsuccessful projects, (1) multiple peaks of work loads are observed, and (2) considerable gaps between actual and estimated work loads are observed. In conclusion, an early warning system to detect the gaps between actual and estimated work loads may contribute to improve the management of software development project.

What is the SNS network member attitude?

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

Will not the social networking services “SNS” be different in a certain kind of network characteristic in comparison with the internet community and the real community as a conventional real social relations? As the reasonswe assume that it has three unique characteristics of SNS network as follows; 1. SNS basically consists of “strong interest for a person” and “relationships of mutual trust”. 2. In SNS, real human relations and virtual human relations coexist. 3. In SNS, there is a unique and variety about the connection with other people. In addition, it is thought that an activity of SNS members will vary with psychologically and intention of members from a property by ethics and a function in the unique world. Therefore, how will SNS affect it for the interactivity and the spread of information and the word-of-mouth communication in inside if an activity of members changes variously? In this study, how will a property of a virtual network based on real relations of SNS affect for "activity of relation to information" "activity of reliability" and "consumption activity"? We carried out quantitative investigation for an actual mixi members ―though mixi has members of the biggest scale in Japanese SNS―after having shown a hypothesis and we processed the data which we acquired and statistically analyzed to see correlation of a variable of “a characteristic to be based on real relations" "a characteristic to be based on virtual relations" and "an activity variable in a hypothesis", Keywords: SNS, a real characteristic, a virtual characteristic, information spread, word-of-mouth communications, reliability

Software like a courteous butler – Issues of Localization under Cultural Diversity

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The pervasiveness of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) result in a tremendous amount of embedded software. Together with the global markets and economic necessities this requires software products to be used in many different countries, bringing many more people into direct (often unexpected) contact with computerized interfaces. These people expect that the software product not only ’speaks their language’ but that it also shows a behaviour which is compatible with their cultural expectations and preconditions. They expect reactions from the software like an "intuitive, courteous butler". This involves much more that a pure language translation: it implies the transfer of the software product into another culture taking into account all aspects of cultural discrepancies. We speak of localization [Ishida-05]. With respect to the necessary adaptations [Collins-02] [Chroust-00g] [Miller-04] we identify seven layers of localization of increasing cultural dependency and sensitivity ranging from ’Technological Infrastructure’, e.g. providing for the coding of special national characters, to the ’Cultural Layer’ catering for highly complex cultural traditions and expectations like taboos and social ranking. We will only discuss the topmost three so-called socio-cultural levels (Business Conventions and Practices, Transactions, and Culture) describing essential software related instances of localization. We give examples of necessary adaptations of software on the different levels and explain them with the help of Hampden&Trompenaars’s six Cultural Dimensions [Hampden-00] and/or Hofstede&Hofstede’s five Cultural Dispositions [Hofstede-05]. We follow with a classification of the various levels of cultural (in)sensibility a designer of such computer system can exhibit. Some amusing, disappointing or catastrophic consequences of cultural mismatch and some ideas on future remedies close the paper. References [Chroust-00g] CHROUST, G. Internationalization is more than Language Translation! in: Hofer, S., Beneder, M. (eds.): IDIMT-2000, 8th Interdisciplinary Information Management Talks, Trauner, Linz, pp. 431–440. [Collins-02] COLLINS, R. W. Software Localization for Internet Software: Issues and Methods IEEE Software March/April 2002 (Vol. 19, No. 2), pp. 74–80. [Hampden-00] HAMPDEN-TURNER, C. , F. TROMPENAARS Building Cross-Cultural Competence - How to Create Wealth from Conflicting Values Yale Univ. Press 2000. [Hofstede-05] HOFSTEDE, G. , G. J. HOFSTEDE Cultures and Organsizations - Software of the Mind McGraw-Hill, NY 2005. [Ishida-05] ISHIDA, R. , S. MILLER Localization vs. Internationalization http://www.w3.org/International/questions/qa-i18n; [Jan 2005]. [Miller-04] MILLER, C.A, (ed.) Human-Computer Etiquette: Managing Expectations with Intentional Agents Comm. ACM vol. 47, No. 4.

Temporary Commercial Network Programming for Beijing Olympic Games Based on Data Mining and Genetic Algorithms

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This paper is committed to the optimization of the temporary commercial network programming for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It begins with the information extraction from the Assess database of questionnaire investigations based on data mining techniques including cluster analysis and mining of association rules. Based on the discovered knowledge, we calculate customer traffics and shopping demands of the twenty commercial sites and determine the reasonable construction scales of the 20 commercial sites. In order to reach the three objectives of the programming work—meeting shopping demand, balanced distribution, and making profits—we design an optimization model based on genetic algorithms to optimize the construction scale of each site. Finally, a linear programming model is proposed for choosing the appropriate type and corresponding number of supermarket for each of the 20 sites. All the methods in this paper are innovative tools for the quantitative analysis tasks of the decision-making jobs related to the temporary commercial network of the Beijing Olympic Games.

E-Tribalized Market Research: The Information Propagation among Virtual Communities

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

There is not the slightest doubt that, in the web space the electronic tribes, organized and differentiated by individual interests, are shown more active and discerning in consumption. Even though virtual communities have been paid much attention on the research of the decentralized marketing behaviors in this decade, there is still a long way to go in realizing virtual communities and their behaviors. This paper presents a new approach of verifying the types of virtual community members, in terms of opinion leaders and its followers. The module reveals the enclosure of virtual communities by the propagation and evolvement of the real live information, which is designed for the future research of database-driven relationship marketing and the enlargement of market shares.

Conjunctive Use of Conceptual Form Model and Actual Form Generator

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In view of the characteristics of contemporary data modeling and the limitations of the conventional form design method, Nakanishi proposed a Conceptual Form model as a new model for the basis of the form design theory in 1998. This model is a conceptual abstraction of external schema. Conceptual Form Formula, which comprises the model, is an algebraic representation of the Conceptual Form and is determined by the logical data structure of the target data source and its selected entity access path. This formula enables us to grasp the whole form patterns derivable from given data source. In contrast, many of actual form generators seem to lack of this kind of pattern analysis. This paper proposes an idea of conjunctive use of the Conceptual Form model and actual form generator for obtaining a good productivity with reliability, and explains the experimental result of a concrete application case.

Collaboration in Virtual Networks: Reasons and Benefits

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Papernumber: Collaboration in Virtual Networks: Reasons and Benefits Ann Lind University College Borås, Sweden ann.lind@hb.se The changes of the conditions in the society that we have experienced during the end of the 20th century are extensive. The transition is characterized by the conversion of a materialistic culture into a new technical paradigm dominated by information technology. Many companies and institutions cooperate today in virtual networks. This is something that becomes increasingly common in order to meet competition and increased demands on technological development. My focus in this paper is on Solution Sharing Networks. In such networks organizations share knowledge and resources around a solution to a specific problem in their environment. In this case the problem is related to the development of software applications (co-design). In a solution sharing network, people thus come together in order to cooperate for a more efficient development of new solutions. Some networks are very successful in their cooperation whereas others have difficulties to get the cooperation work smoothly. It is therefore of interest to further investigate the transformation processes within the networks. The aim of this paper is to identify and discuss possible reasons and benefits of collaboration and co-design in virtual networks as well as to look further into the characteristic of the co-design process in such networks. Analysis will be performed using the social constructivist perspective enhanced by activity theory and the virtual network will be seen as a human activity system according to Checkland. Reasons for collaboration can roughly be devided into different cathegories and subcathegories. There can be internal reasons, that is reasons that depends on circumstances within the organization, or external reasons that emanate outside the organization. Internal reasons may be economy, efficiency problems, competence problems or time problems. External reasons may be preassures from authorities, from customers or from competitors. Many different benefits from collaborating in virtual networks may be identified. By combining different skills, the network may perform tasks that individual members might find impossible on their own. If solutions are shared, individual members can refrain from developing individual solutions and thus not reinventing the wheel over and over again. Software solutions that are used by several different organizations are also tested to a greater extent than individual solutions and should therefore be expected to create a safer environment than solutions that are individually developed. Sharing applications that one organization already is using is also time efficient. Sometimes central authorities may put demands on organizations that may require software applications. In such cases all authorities will require the same or similar solutions. Collaboration to create the necessary applications will then be highly efficient, reduce costs and development time, enable more ideas to influence the application and result in a safer software than if every organization had developed its own software. Sometimes demands may also come from customers instead of a central government, and if these demands are similar for different organizations, they may also in this case gain the same benefit from collaboration as in the previous example. In the paper a few models to illustrate the collaboration are presented. Keywords: Virtual network, virtual society, social constructivism, collaboration, co-design, activity theory

Changes and Societal Development through Co-Design in the Information Society

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Papernumber: Changes and Societal Development through Co-Design in the Information Society Bertil Lind University College Borås, Sweden bertil.lind@hb.se Information and knowledge are available all around us as never before. At the same time we experience changes – changes that have a great impact on the whole society, companies and institutions as well as on individual human beings. But changes is nothing new. Already Herakleitos told us panta rei – everthing is floating. The changes today is occur however more rapidly than before. Looking at changes from the perspective of an individual human being it is possible to identify two different kinds of changes: internal changes that affects the internal human being and external changes that has an impact on the surrounding world. Internal changes occur when an individual somehow gain new knowledge (learning) and depending on the perspective on knowledge learning occurs in different ways. From a cognitive perspective the person constructs knowledge on his or her own from impressions from the environment. The social constructivist perspective instead views learning as a result from interaction between people. A person learns by taking part in a social action together with other people and by doing so he can perform tasks that he would not be able to do on his own. Apart from internal change there is also external change and such changes occurs through actions performed by people. But what causes actions? Can internal changes cause actions that will also influence the world? This question is discussed further in the paper. But interaction between people has a further dimension than individual learning. According to Churchman, interaction between people means that different perspectives meet and the more perspectives that we can identify, the better understanding we will get. This idea leads into co-design, where one perspective is that people meet to create something together. Co-design thus take advantage of the fact that several perspectives are present at the same time. The social constructivist perspective does not fully consider the power of co-design. Though the main focus is the social action, the theory still has an individual perspective. Yrjö Engeström has however enhanced Vygotsky’s ideas in his activity theory where he sees production as the ultimate goal of human activity. He also stresses that though individual learning through social interaction will mean much for the development of the individual learner, it will not contribute to the development of the society. The knowledge that the person gains is already available in the society. Therefor societal development requires new activities created through co-design. This paper aims at clarifying the relationship between knowledge, internal change, action, activity and societal development. Some models of cybernetic loops illustrating these relationships are presented. Keywords: knowledge, social constructivism, co-design, learning, action, activity

LIVING SYSTEMS THEORY AND ENTITY-SYSTEMS THEORY

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Living Systems Theory (LST) (Miller, 1978) provides a much more robust explanation of the process-structure of living systems than the earlier sense-response, action-reaction approach. By adopting an input-throughput-output approach, LST opens up the interior of a system to analysis and synthesis. Such robustness is characteristic of LST. Three elements of LST, however, cannot be characterized as robust. They are: (1) the concept of dispersed critical subsystems, (2) the neglect of the pervasive influence of conceptual systems on the information subsystems of living systems, and (3) the neglect of processes by which individual social systems (groups through supranational systems) emerge. Those weaknesses of LST may be mitigated significantly by the introduction of that which I term entity-systems theory (e-s theory). By that theory, we acknowledge that there exists, in the empirical reality we examine, entities that together form a subclass of the class of all elements standing in interaction. These entities are systems that take on characteristics such as emergence, self-organization, autonomy, and reproduction. Furthermore, we acknowledge that the class of all entities contains at least two subclasses, namely, biological entities and social entities. The two types of entities are distinctly different although both types require the same or similar critical subsystems. Fundamentally, a living system defined by LST is an autonomous entity that has many internal components and subsystems and often has many cross-boundary subsystems as well. The cross-boundary ones are termed outwardly dispersed subsystems. Some of the outward dispersion is well defined by a concept of boundary that allows inputs and outputs of matter-energy and information. Some other, however, is better defined by an attractor concept. According to e-s theory, a social entity very well may have subsystems of varying characteristics that reach into its environment under varying degrees of entity control. E-s theory acknowledges that social entities are not usually reproduced in a manner directly analogous to that of biological entities. Instead, processes of emergence occur whereby social systems of varying characteristics take on the critical subsystems identified by LST and at some stage of development become autonomous. E-s theory expands our attention to include the influence of conceptual systems at the level of detail characteristic of LST. By e-s theory, living systems are identified as entities that have the matter-energy and information process-structure postulated by LST but that also include a significant proliferation of conceptual systems. Those conceptual systems determine in some degree the kinds of information that living entities process. Miller purposefully constructed a scientific theory that concerned the material processes of life. E-s theory retains that approach but seeks to better capture the influence of conceptual systems on those processes.

The theory of “Life’s complex systemicity”, is shown as the life’s meta-dynamic of its sustainability: a “Bioethism transdisciplinary approach” result

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

An extensive research by the author, J-J. Blanc, on "Systems science" (since 1996) induced to his creating a new systemic paradigm for a transdisciplinary approach of living systems. Named “The Bioethism”, it was developed towards a large understanding of living systems origin, their natural structures, behaviors, bonds and evolution while permanently interacting with environmental events both within their body and their ecosystemic and sociosystemic environments, together with their status and evolution direction. Beyond the sense given to the noun and the adjective “systemic” as linked to the notion of very many systems in general, the notion of “systemicity”, is, in this new theory, far more suggestive of the global dynamics, as “meta-drivers”, that made Life to exist and sustain. To illustrate the dynamical sense of it, it is only to refer to another notion that has a dynamic sense: the “velocity ”. The survey of the different disciplines concerned with living systems' survival, an analytical methodology and analysis of the above processes, led to the emergence of a new theory the author called “The Life’s complex systemicity” that is relying on the entire body of dynamics that made and make life to exist and sustain, thus adapting to the dynamics of changes. A "meta-systemicity" participates in such move in terms of the retroactive physical and cosmic dynamics world. At the Asilomar ISSS 48th conference (2004), the author, introducing the notion of "systemicity" and its theory, first described “survival”: a circular and regulating set of dynamic moves permanently fed along with a psychophysiological body streaming biochemical matters and information feedback. Those moves are fed from necessary survival interactions and retroaction as they result from the endogenous or exogenous milieu changes. The body of these retroactive phenomena that are fundamental to living system's survival, suggested another and complementary approach in the form of a new paradigm. As central to Life’s dynamic, these systemic circular phenomena as the product of interactions with the environment of life's ecosystems and creatures' bodily structures were then named by the author: the “environmental-psycho-somatopsychism”, (a neologism and its abbreviation: "e-psop”). A overview upon the entire body of interdependent bio-physicochemical mechanisms, processes and streams, interwoven within "3D networks" shows that systemic survival abilities and performances are epigenetically provided from the convergence of cosmic forces (magnetic, gravitational…) and planetary conditions (geologic, geochemical, geophysical, geo-climatic…) that retroactively sustains individual creatures to exist and survive within a world of inevitable interdependency. The efficiency of the streams of circular information, stimuli and survival activities require adaptation to the dynamics of these "physicochemical games" and other environmental changes. The energy that is required is provided for by environments and transformed into metabolic results that "fuel" the vitality of life's biological processes. Then, epigenetic and emergent results induced to from the cosmic physicochemical world, together with evolution changes, promote biochemical and physiological processes, that structure, assimilate and form body components, psychic structures and differential metabolic outputs for creatures to survive. The “entirety” of these universal, cosmic forces, planetary mechanisms and processes, as individually and globally dynamic, sustains the notion that such "Systemicity" is the meta-dynamic that was and is Life to be. As the description of "The Theory of Systemicity" will requires several communications, it is here decided to brush up some of the scientific principles that support the whole complexity of "Systemicity". We will nevertheless partly develop the historical and timely aspect of "Systemicity" as part of the meta-systemic dynamics that sustain our Planet as "Gaïa" and Life as the convergence of emergent results.

BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE IN LIVING SYSTEMS THEORY AND SOCIAL ENTROPY THEORY

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Past analyses of social systems have too often relied upon obsolete dualities such as open system/closed system. The purpose of this paper is to provide a more comprehensive analysis of the full range of boundary-maintenance operations that are at work in the modern complex social system. I first analyze the role of the boundary in Living Systems Theory, and then turn to the analysis and comparison of boundary maintenance in Social Entropy Theory. Among the topics discussed are boundary control for matter-energy flows, boundary control for information flows, types of information inflows across social-system boundaries, types of information outflows across social-systems boundaries, and types of matter-energy inflows and matter-energy outflows across social systems boundaries. Among the types of information inflows discussed are neutral, fatal, catalytic, and canceling. Among the types of information outflows discussed are obligatory, routine, and formatted. And finally, some of the matter-energy inflows and outflows discussed are obligatory, optional, and routine.

The Idea that Changed the World: Accretion, the “Way”, the Universe and Know How

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This paper deals with socio-economic evolution. It considers the main drivers of change and stability in the three main stages of socio-economic evolution of mankind the hunter gatherer, agricultural and capitalist. It sees the energy driving change these ages as coming from the access mankind chose to make in each to different sources of stored value, respectively, direct by being embedded in nature, direct by cultivating and indirectly by exploiting nature's stored value.. This is done against the backdrop of the stage we are just entering where man is working to use his capacity to learn and understand to put mankind in a sense outside time by being exploiting the energy embedded in the fundamental eternal forces of the universe, The fundamental position taken is that to understand the process of socio-economic evolution one needs to focus on on process not form. It is what changes on what time scales by what means that matters not what anything look like during its inevitably short existence in a stable form. This is not so much in terms of its underlying reality but in the way we are slowly beginning to see such things from a moral, emotional and physical perspective.

The sociopathology of social collectives

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Social collectives are today increasingly more complex. As a result their coherence suffers and their pathologies become more apparent. A theory that can create generic models of pathologies be will be explored in terms of the knowledge cybernetics schema. One of the outlying consequences of such a model is the realisation that many social collectives are spociopathic, working for their own perceived benefit (and sometimes duplicitously so) against the viable interests of the society in which they exist. This is not just a problem of ethics and many might suggest, but extends to ideology that ethics serve.

Problem Structuring Diagram－A System Technology in aid of Collaborative Creation－

2007-08-01T21:46:32-07:00

Collaborative creation process for concept-making by autonomous constituents needs structural approach, since it is such a complex process as many-sided, collaborative, multi-layered, plural, integrative, as well as time-inversive. In the book "the illusion of the postmodernism", Terry Eagleton, while appreciating the ideas such as multiplicity、non-identity、transgression, anti-foundationalism、cultural relativism, criticizes the thought of structuralism and postmodernism by writing “It is as though by pressing a sort of technological determinism all the way through to the mind itself, treating individuals as the mere empty locus of impersonal codes, it imitated the way modern society actually treats them but pretends it does not, thus endorsing its logic while unmasking its ideals.” It is critical to the structural concept-making process, too. This paper proposes a process by integrating three different ways of thinking, Harold Lasswell’s way in the social policy process, both ways of individual’s creation process of Mo-Ho Chih-Kuan (Wonder of Calm and Contemplation) by The Great Teacher of T’ien T’ai, Chi-I and of Charles S. Peirce’s, and the structural phenomenological way that observes social process in "relations", into a systemic process, that uses a structural expression of the problematique, named as “PROBLEM STRUCTURING DIAGRAM” for collaborative policy development of emergent technologies. As the main constituent is not beforehand specified, but the growth (enlightenment) and the establishment (self-judgment to participate) of the main constituents is left to the participant’s free judgment, the proposed process is responsible both for technological -innovation-ism (or global capitalism) and for liberal humanism (or democracy). This paper, in the first, aims at that those three processes of the Peirce’s, Chi-I’s and Lasswell’s has the same three phases of observation, discovery of the alternatives, and judgment. Secondly, it appreciates Chi-I‘s “Calm and Contemplation” model because of two reasons. One is that it is based upon structural relations among four truths of Suffering (effects), Origination(cause), The path to this Liberation, and its principle to Extinct. The second is that a creation process “relief” that consists of enlightenment and liberation is explained as a mutual influencing process between problems(sufferings)-findings and value-shaping, where the worldly desire, that is ignorance, sensory desire (for gratification), craving for (self) existence, and attachment to views (opinions), and the willpower to overcome those desires influences each others and also the influences are affected by such behavioural/environmental factors as physical conditions, historical backgrounds, and contingencies. Moreover, the idea requires conformity between the grasped problematique, which are based on structural understanding of four truths, and the practicality of the constituents concerned, which is the behavioural property of mental capability of problem grasping and value shaping. This mutual influencing process, from a sociological point of view, is a social process that consists of "the appearance of the main constituent" and "his/her establishment.". The understandings of policy-making process as mentioned above gives a way of reinforcing the lack of the idea and the way of integrating the complex system (many-sided, collaborative, multi-layered, plural, integrative), which are the defect of the structural approach. Since the process more precisely clarifies the roles of behavioral factors in individual’s creation process, the counterparts in organizational creation process, that is, the qualities of the organization’s context can be clarified. As the result, Lasswell’s policy process which projects a social process into a decision process based on the value-shaping process with an experience-based social/organizational context merges with structural approach and becomes appropriate for the process with autonomous constituents. “PROBLEM STRUCTURING DIAGRAM” is a visualization tool to support conformity analysis of structural problematique-grasping with practicality of the constituents in organizational creation process with three-phased activities of observation, discovery and judgment.

Un Axiological Concept Of Organizational Efficiency: A Measure

2007-08-01T21:47:22-07:00

Projected paper: UN AXIOLOGICAL CONCEPT OF ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY: A MEASURE By Francisco Parra-Luna Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) Parraluna@cps.ucm.es ABSTRACT The concept of “efficiency” presented in this special issue should, therefore, entail a series of theoretical dimensions of overall importance, whose operational definition should be highly demanding in terms of competence-related content. What this means is that companies labelled as “efficient” under this approach (i.e., those with an overall index greater than one, as discussed below) will be able to ascertain that they in fact are presently and will continue to be efficient in the future, and that such efficiency is measured with respect to relevant competitors. In the end, then, given the predominant role of private enterprise in modern society, the concept of Social Welfare is gong to hinge almost exclusively on Business Efficiency, the backbone of any national economy. On these assumptions, the relevant question is: when can a company be said to be efficient? Providing an appropriate or scientifically valid answer to this question involves solving certain basic theoretical problems. The first necessitates practically denying a more or less accepted hypothesis according to which the concept cannot be measured. Such a hypothesis, as formulated below, can be found throughout the scientific literature on organizations: “Efficiency in organizations cannot be measured or calibrated for want of a general comparative model.” And it has been sustained by most scholars addressing the subject (Edwards et al., 1986). Nonetheless, many authors have attempted to measure organizational efficiency empirically. Miles (1980), for instance, used 29 measurements; Campbell (1977) 30 criteria; Mahoney (1977) 114 variables; and Seashore & Yutchman (1967) 76 different indicators. Some authors (Dalton and Kesner, 1985) even claim that the number of possible measurements is nearly infinite, while all stress the difficulty involved in standardizing measures for comparison. Generally speaking, positions range from those (such as Goodman, Atkin and Schoormann, 1983) who propose a moratorium in the analysis of organizational efficiency until better inter-subjective conditions are in place, to those who propose definitively abandoning the idea in light of the utter impossibility of every reaching agreement (such as Hannan & Freemann, 1977). There are, naturally, authors (such as Morgan, 1980) who believe that such an agreement is not impossible or who argue that the decisive importance of the concept precludes abandonment if the aim pursued is to understand and improve business organizations (such as Peters & Waterman, 1982; Handy 1993 and in general the Total Quality Control movement. More recent but likewise theoretically disoriented approaches can be found in Mullins, 1996). In short, from the earliest attempts quoted above to the most recent papers of which this author is aware such as Puig-Junoy (2000), Surruca (2003) or Vergés (2004), which have signified important advances in the definition of the concept, the hypothetical impossibility of the endeavour may still be said to be accepted. The explicit rationale for this hypothesis is based on the lack of a general comparative model able to generate the necessary agreement among experts. The present issue has, however, attempted to show that such a model exists, subject only to deployment of the respective effort to attain theoretical integration, thereby eroding the scientific grounds for the above hypothesis (see item 1.3 on the Reference Pattern of Values). Taking these conceptual grounds as a point of departure, the initial question would have to be re-formulated in a more general and concrete manner: When is a company efficient? Initially, as argued above, when it is simultaneously “Ecological”, “Efficacious”, “Effective” and “Incremental”. And it must be all these things with respect to relevant competitors, for nothing can be said to be good/bad, tall/short, ugly/beautiful and so on unless in comparison to some reference. A company may be highly ecological, efficacious, effective and incremental, but the least ecological, efficacious, effective and incremental of all companies in the same industry and of comparable size. The definition of the new concept calls, then, for the introduction of at least one more dimension: INTERNAL/EXTERNAL that compares company results to those of its (relevant) competitors. Although this information cannot always be readily gathered, it is becoming increasingly more accessible on the Internet where many or most of the data needed for such assessments can be obtained. The conceptual model for Business Efficiency (BE) would, therefore, be defined by the six following propositions: 1. A company is efficient if and only if it is ECOLOGICAL (attains a desirable Input/Output ratio). 2. A company is efficient if and only if it is EFFICACIOUS (obtains what it plans to obtain). 3. A company is efficient if and only if it is EFFECTIVE (its results are accepted by its stakeholders). 4. A company is efficient if and only if it is INCREMENTAL (its results are an improvement over the preceding period, i.e., the positive factors grow and the negative factors decline). 5. A company is efficient if and only if it is PROFITABLE (earns suitable financial profits). 6. A company is efficient if and only if it is ADAPTED (it is at least as ecological in its basic ratio between “Outputs” and “Inputs” as its relevant competitors, on average). All of the foregoing is based on the assumption that the set of indicators used validly operationalizes the theoretical Reference Pattern of Values and Company Stakeholder models. Otherwise, the utility of the approach would have to be challenged or the approach redefined.

A study with multi-word feature with text classification

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

We carried out a series of experiments on text classification using multi-word features. A hand-crafted method was proposed to extract the multi-words from text data set and two different strategies were developed to normalize the multi-words into two different versions of multi-word features. After the texts were represented respectively using these two different multi-word features, text classification was conducted in contrast to examine the effectiveness of these two strategies. Also the linear and nonlinear polynomial kernel of support vector machine (SVM) was compared on the performance of text classification task.

A scientific discussion test on some social harmony problems

2011-09-24T08:42:44-07:00

Recently in China the government pays much attention on the social harmony problems, the project team for study on social sustainability attached in Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) run a special project on the subject of studying social harmony and social stability from 2004. We have joined this project team. In the summer of 2006 Gu had chance to teach a MBA course attached to Graduate School, CAS on the subject of knowledge management, as a part of course we ran a scientific discussion test within a MBA course. Although the formal test discussion only took a half day, but the total test process including the preparation, analysis and summary lasted 18 days ( from July 27-June 14, 2006). This test got support from the other members in project. The purpose of running this test is to teach MBA graduate students how the advanced discussion methods and tools may help people to learn the knowledge related to the social harmony and stability existed already and developed by students themselves by running an efficient and effective meeting. The whole test was divided into six subtests by six groups (corruption, housing, medicine reform, unemployment, emergent events and peasant workers) and guided by seven facilitators from project team. Before the formal discussion test the facilitators made scientific design for each subtest in the meeting process. After meeting they made various analysis for the discussion results. During the discussion we emphasized the concept of Ba proposed by Nonaka, this is both the hard and soft environment for the discussion meeting, for example we provided the good accommodated discussion rooms for their discussion, during the discussion we required the spirit of freedom, equality, independency and coordination and respect to each with other. We also emphasized the interdisciplinary study, so from one side we required the participants with different knowledge background and from other side we hope them discuss from different aspects. Finally we intended to use the advanced discussion tools and methods, such as Group Argumentation Environment, PathMaker, UciNet, GIS, psychological survey and game theory etc. with the help of computers. We stand for the combination of human and computer, but emphasizing the human. Most of graduate students had satisfied this discussion test and learnt a lot from this test. This report is just a part of summary for running the whole scientific discussion test.

Creating Scenario for New Product Design with Human-Interactive Annealing and Data Crystallization

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In this study, we propose new approach to create new scenario for new product design with data crystallization, where dummy items, corresponding to potential existence of unobservable events, are inserted to the given data. These dummy items and their relations with observable events are visualized by applying KeyGraph to the data with dummy items like the crystallization of snow where dusts are involved in the formation of crystallization of water molecules. For tuning the granularity level of crystallization structure to be visualized, the tool of data crystallization is integrated with human-interactive annealing where human’s process of understanding significant scenarios and crystallization process by computer are combined. We applied this method for 106 technology patents about defects inspection systems and marking systems, and resulted in visualizing latent structures of technology in 106 patents with dummy nodes clearly in scenario maps by KeyGraph. For further assistance of human’s process to understand the relation of dummy nodes with latent structures of technology, pictograms which contain drawings and short text file are applied and inserted into the scenario map. These pictograms narrowed an ambiguity of the relation among dummy nodes and latent structures of technology and aided the examinees creating effective scenarios for new product design in real business.

Research on Clusters of Industrial Towns of the Delta of Pearl River Based on Product-Competition Network

2007-08-01T17:57:26-07:00

This paper presents a modeling theory of product-competition network. In the light of theoretical analysis and deduction, we provide some explanations for dynamic mechanism about the clusters of industrial towns of the delta of Pearl River in China. In the light of the analysis of real demonstrations in the delta of Pearl River, this theory of product-competition network and its practical consequences sound reasonable and suggestive.

A theoretical review of network effects on platform products

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Network effects are known as one of key mechanisms of being successful on platform product business in the current economic world. For examples, these accomplishments, such as VHS video, Microsoft windows OS and NTT Docomo i-mode exhibited network effects. The purpose of study is to present the different two concepts of network effects and four categories in platform products with layered structure i.e. platform leaders, complementary products and users. Firstly, there have been many studies about network effects; however, almost all studies argued the influence to end-users, based on the network scale (the number of subscribers). This study alluded the necessity of network effects with the significance of linkages between members i.e. access frequency and weight, as well as the number of linkages between members. Secondary, this study classified four categories between couples of layers among platform products, complementary products and users. Four categories are as follows, 1. Network effects between users：The increase of platform products’ users causes network effects between users 2. Network effects between complementary products (complementors) ：The increase of platform products’ users causes network effects between complementary products (complementors). 3. Network effects between a user and complementary products (complementors)：The increase of complementary products and complementors caused by the increase of platform products’ users generates network effects to users. 4. Network effects between a complementary product (complementor) and users ：The spread of users caused by the increase of platform products generates network effects to complementors. Consequently, this study offered two suggestions. Firstly, two different concepts regarding network effects i.e. the significance of linkages between members and the number of linkages between members were presented. Secondly, four categories between couples of layers among platform products, complementary products and users were classified, compared with 2 categories between products and users mainly by Katz&Shapiro. In addition, there was each actual case proved, which exhibited the difference concerning network effects in theory between this study and that of Katz&Shapiro.

Systems Methodologies for Effective Strategic Decision-Making

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Dyadic Analysis in Inter-Corporate Alliance: Merits and Risks

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The objects of this paper have three points. First, Inter-corporate alliance can be classified into four patterns by its alliance-form. About four patterns in Inter-corporate alliance, the focused corporate is supposed to consists of two business-layers; application and infrastructure. Application is direct product activity for goods and services or systems. Infrastructure is an activity or system to promote activities of applications. The four patterns of inter-alliance are horizontal alliance, cross-industry alliance, vertical alliance, and infrastructure-application alliance. Horizontal alliance means the interactions of applications underlying the same infrastructures. Cross-industry alliance means the interactions of applications underlying the difference infrastructures. Vertical alliance means supply-chain activity. Infrastructure-application alliance means hierarchical activity between application-player and infrastructure-player. Second, from the view points of Inter-corporate alliance, the concepts of economies are redefined. There are traditionally two concepts of economies: economies of scale and economies of scope. Economies of scale have defined factors that cause the average cost of producing a commodity to fall as output of the commodity rise. The new definition of economies of scale is internal and external effects ( merits and risks) that increases activity -scale by alliance. While economies of scope have defined factors that make it cheaper to produce a range of related products than to produce each of the individual products on their own. The new definition of economies of scope is internal and external effects ( merits and risks) that cause combinations or connections of the different products, business and activities by dyadic corporate-alliance. Here internal effects mean influence and effect between one player and the other player that constitute alliance. External effects mean influence and effect between a customer and a player. Third, the paper analyzed those four inter-corporate alliances (four case studies), each of which we assume has its own merits and risks. The merits and the risks are divided into internal and external effects, and four concepts of economies are proposed corresponding to four alliance-forms. Horizontal alliance is influenced by economies of scale, and the other three types of alliances are influenced by economies of scope but in different ways. The internal merits of horizontal alliance cause the average cost of producing a commodity to fall per unit and critical-mass. Its external merits make easy access to purchase and use. Its internal risk makes flexibility the rate of operation low. Its external risk makes a choice range reduce. The internal merits of cross－industry alliance cause complementation and assimilation. Its external merit makes increase of one stop shopping. Its internal risk makes complexity of coordinations and judgments with activities. Its external risk makes brand image confuse. The internal merits of vertical alliance cause the constant supply and improvements across the supply chains and differentiation. Its external merit makes easy proposal across the supply chains. Its internal risk makes difficulty of changing membership. Its external risk makes brand image limited by the alliance partner. The internal merits of infrastructure-application alliance cause whole business formation and the limit of business domain. Its external merit makes users’ convenience promote. Its internal risk makes developing constrains underlying partner’s standard. Its external risk makes minority opposition without uses of government and infrastructure. The paper proposes each corporate must adopt the alliance strategy considering the merits and risks.

A development of the strategic group theory - A proposal on the three strategic group categories and introducing the concept of distance into the analysis-

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In this paper, it proposes three strategic group categories that are "resource group", "execution group" and "market group", and proposes the concept of distance for the analysis. It is a critical development of the strategic group theory by M.E.Porter(1980). He used the term “Strategic Group” as the group of firms in an industry following the same or a similar strategy along the strategic dimensions. He tries to explain why some firms are persistently more profitable than others and how this relates to their strategic postures mainly through the concept of mobility barriers. In order to see how industry changes or how trends might affect it, he proposed the strategic group map as an analytical tool to display competition in an industry. It can be said that it is useful when a firm decide whether it goes into a certain industry or not, but it needs its competitive strategy not only when determining entry but also to cope with the competitors after the entry. To build up the latter strategy, it should take into account the rivals' strategies and the customer’s selection viewpoints. In other words, the result of the competition is concluded consequently by the market’s choice. Therefore it is important for a firm to know how the market considers the firms as a same group. This group membership might not be the same as the firm considers. Thus, it is not good enough to identify strategic group only by the mobility barrier for a firm to draw up an effective competitive strategy, though it seems natural way. Once the competition within the industry begins, these three categories affect their state of affairs each other. Hence, to categorize firms within the industry into three strategic groups described above is effective for the strategy analysis. The concept of distance can be also useful to express the changing relation among the firms in the changing situation. As the competition is intensified, the relative relation between them changes swiftly. In this situation, firms need to decide their own strategies that go along with them and to execute effective initiatives one after another in accordance with their recognition. Therefore, under the dynamic competitive circumstance, it is effective introducing the concept of distance.Rivalry among the firms is continuous interaction between fully exploit of their own resources, strategic initiative execution and customer’s selection. Under the fierce rivalry circumstance, firms are required ceaseless repositioning toward the changing situation. To analyze this changing state of affaires, the concept of distance can be rather useful because it can display the change as a metric variable, while the strategic group map only shows the situation if a firm belongs to a certain group statically. In this paper, it takes up Japan’s Internet Service Provider industry (ISP) as a case of study.

Exploring Alternatives -- Rethinking on Alternative Focused Thinking

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

A Time-series Descriptive Model of Competitive Advantage Trajectory-Building intermittent competitive advantage in hypermoving market

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

When the external context (market environment) changes at hyper speed, the advantage of resources as the conditions for gaining competitive advantage has to be changed reactively. The purpose of this paper is to present a time-series descriptive model of competitive advantage trajectory in such industry, where it is difficult for a set of identical resources to sustain such an advantage. In the paper, further development of resource based view is proposed from the point of views of ‘Isolation of resources’ and ‘Value of resources.’ A case study adopting the time-series descriptive model, describing the trajectory of competitive advantage is done in online securities market. The study reveals that the trajectory of Matsui Securities, having sustainably superior performance, shows a similar pattern of building short term competitive advantages intermittently which is regarded in the paper to be the ideal image in hypermoving market.

A Correlation Analysis Concerning Customer Satisfaction and Business System

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This research attempts to identify a specific feature of the company with a strong competitive advantage by analyzing the cause of escalation rate at the call center. As the premise on this research, it would be assumed that the level of business system is determined by that of business structure and that of business operation. In addition to this, we believe that customer satisfaction plays an important role to sustain strong competitive advantage. With the above premise, we chose the call center as a research object and analyzed some factors to lead variance of escalation rate that is a substitute parameter of customer satisfaction among call centers in terms of the concept of Business System. Along with this idea, we conducted quantitative analysis at the call center as an object for this research to examine the next three themes below. ① Identify some possible factors that lead difference of the escalation rate among call centers in terms of the concept of Business System. ② Identify what would most affect the escalation rate at the call center? What kind of business activity has a strong relation with the call center activity? ③ Suggest some propositions about features of companies with a strong competitive advantage throughout the result of ②＆③． Finally, this research suggests some argument that customer satisfaction might be interrelated with the level of business system.

Firm’s Partnership and Competitive Advantage

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This study examines the effectiveness of the theory of structural embeddedness adopted to partnership networks analysis for studying how a firm’s partner relationships contribute to the competitive advantage. Three major ERP(Enterprise resource Planning) package vendors in Japan, which have significant partner relationships as one of their characteristics, are analyzed as a comparative case study. First, their partnership networks are analyzed based on the resource based view theory, then an analysis is added based on the structural embeddedness theory which can complement shortfalls of the resource based view theory. The conclusion of this study is as follows: 1) From the perspective of resource based view theory, an ERP package vendor that has open relationships structure with its partners does not have the differentiation advantage compared to an ERP package vendor that has close relationships structure with its partners 2) Otherwise, from the perspective of structural embeddedness theory, the former type ERP package vendor has ‘Opportunity Advantage’ compared to the latter type ERP package vendor. That ‘Opportunity Advantage’, a capability to get more business opportunities, has been not clearly examined in the traditional resource based view theory. However, by analyzing partnership networks of the ERP package vendors in Japan based on the structural embeddedness theory, this study makes the difference clear among the ERP package vendors concerning ‘Opportunity Advantage’ capabilities.

A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Strategic management involves decision-making about an organization's objectives together with the formulation and implementation of plans, particularly regarding the allocation of resources, to support their achievement. As such, strategic management is a dynamic and complex process involving consideration of internal and external factors, and the short and long term. The effectiveness of an organization’s strategic management can critically impact upon its viability and there are many reasons why the stategic management process may fail. Such reasons include failure to: ß think creatively about the likely affects of plans ß obtain external/internal participation and commitment ß co-ordinate and control resources. In this paper it is argued that many of the reasons for failure may be attributed to the successive dominance of different reductionist approaches to strategic management. From a systems perspective it may be argued that such approaches represent partial approaches to strategic management that neglect the complex, embedded and dynamic nature of modern organizations. Accordingly, the reasons why strategic plans fail are taken to provide a framework for the evaluation of the potential contribution of a range of systems methodologies to the strategic management process. The systems methodologies considered in this paper include: Viable System Methodology, Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing, Soft Systems Methodology, and Critical Systems Heuristics. In light of this, a systems approach to strategic management is proposed that sees value not only in using the approaches in isolation but also in using them in a complementary and flexible way. In summary, the argument is articulated in this paper that there are two main contributions that the systems discipline might make to strategic management: - To impart guidance on which strategic planning approaches to use when and also on how to view them as a complementary set that is capable of being used in a flexible way to address all aspects of the strategic managerial task. - To provide a range of methodologies that can be put in service of the strategic planning process.

A MINIMALIST APPROACH TO IMPROVING PERFORMANCE IN MODERN AMERICAN SCHOOLS

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This paper outlines three potentially useful approaches to improving the performance of organizations, and then uses these approaches together comprehensively to design a modern urban American high school. The first approach is an adaptation of the iterative (and gradualist) approach used in engineering systems. The second is a negative reinforcement strategy that minimizes the need for negative reinforcement. The third is the TPO model-things, places and outcomes- used in conjunction with the other two approaches. All three of these methods are interpreted along the lines of the minimalist design philosophy expressed by the author. Minimalism is defined here as a philosophy of looking for simplicity in a very complex system by focusing on the most relevant relationships to the design system. Once a very relevant relationship between factors and results is theorized using the TPO model or negative reinforcement model, iterative gradualist design methods are used to further theorize and implement the design or design change. The interpretation of the TPO model used here focuses on the manipulation of nonhuman objects, such as books and organizational structures and relies on the relationships between these objects and the desired outputs of the individuals, in order to achieve the results desired for the organization. In this approach, the needs or wants of the individual are given first priority over those of the organization. To this end organization structures, and objects within the organization are manipulated so that the organization’s needs conform to the individual’s self-perceived goals. Reevaluation of organizational needs is also part of this process. Negative reinforcement, which is more limited in application, is used only when necessary. Iteration is the changing of one variable at a time to measure in the result the necessity for more change of that variable, or the need to switch to changing another variable. In human systems it is also necessary to do this in a gradual manner, by using a minimalist approach to again avoid unintended consequences. These concepts will be explained further and exemplified with a theoretical application to the Los Angeles South Central High School setting, and a relevant detailed discussion.

The impact of axiological system on the performance of a High Education Institution. Case: Mexico's IPN

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The actual performance of public education institution is not answering the most critical demands of society. The society's perception indicates that the processes inside the educational institutions are not completely correct and transparent, thus it is conjectured there are some influences in the appropriate educational performance. This is the objective of the present research: to find if a strong association exists among the educational performance of a public institution of higher education and the ethical behavior of its members. The research had been done according to the Checkland's methodology and the survey method. It had been found a strong statistical relationship among the two considered variables; the educational performance as dependent variable and the ethical values (Axiological System) as independent variable.

Bertalanffy Revisited: Operationalizing A General Systems Theory Based Business Model Through General Systems Thinking, Modeling, And Practice

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

Fuzzy Neural Network Based Intelligent Robust Control Systems

2011-06-25T16:15:42-07:00

The intelligent robust controls such as a neural network based control for mechatoronic positioning servo systems have been researched actively in recent years because the mechanism design could not cope with the advanced requirements. This paper proposes a novel fuzzy-neural network based intelligent robust control for the mechatoronic positioning servo systems that have nonlinear characteristics such as friction, backlash, variations of load and system parameters, and unknown disturbances. Computational simulation results and experimental results for one degree-of-freedom positioning system are shown to confirm the validity of the proposed controller.

Security, Safety and High Reliability: Organizations in Complex Socio-Technical Systems

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Authors: TAKAGI, Toshio (Meiji University) and NAKANISHI, Aki (Meiji University) Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to show the theoretical effectiveness of a High Reliability Organization (HRO) that attracts attention in organization studies. In recent years, in the concepts of dynamic capability and operational capability in the Management of Technology (MOT) or Management Strategy, there has been one tacit understanding. In these discussions, it is to be assumed that the firms’ infrastructure already exists. In other words, the firms, as the subject of this research, have been limited to the activity of the technical system infrastructure (e.g., manufacturing, energy, and distribution) which has already been constructed. However, a new doubt arises. How can the firms’ capability within such an infrastructure be explained? That is, how is the infrastructure caused? And how does organizational change occur? We think that, from this aspect, our research is useful in organizational studies. As the recent organizational research illustrates, especially Actor-Network Theory (Callon and Law, 1997; Latour, 1999) and Practice Based Approach (Nicolini, et al., 2003), any organization is embedded in a socially constructed network, and the network cannot be separated from the organization (Latour, 1987; Ueno, 1999). It is important to research how the technical system is used by understanding organizational operations and organizational change. Therefore, in this thesis, a HRO concept is presented as one means to understand an organization’s technical system. Such an organization is highly safe and reliable, though this organization’s environment is dangerous, meaning that a defect or mistake, and the ensuing trouble, is significant (Weick and Sutcliffe, 2001). That is, the situation is perceived to be sensitive, and the organization that installs the safety mechanism beforehand does so under circumstances in which the problem is very easily caused. The starting point of the HRO research is, “Why does the accident’s seriousness and frequency, and the type of accident occur differently among organizations?” The research also considers the point, “Awareness of the issues that allow the discovery of various influential factor groups, based on prior experience research” (Nishimoto, 2004). This is different from the existing research of on organization that considers a technical system that has already been constructed. Furthermore, since the technical system and the organization are closely related, an organization should be concerned because of this relationship, and decide whether a problem occurs within an operation. The thesis develops from this as follows. First of all, it explains from what aspect the error study of an existing organization has advanced research. Next, it takes a general view of HRO and studies it from a point differing from existing research. Finally, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, especially Internet Service Provider (xSP), is presented as a HRO case. Because ICT is a complex Socio-Technical system, there is a high possibility of connecting with the crisis with big and small mistakes, and the ensuring trouble. Therefore, the concept of HRO is easily suited. Moreover, these firms operate with the most advanced technology, as well as with various networks (e.g., government, firms, and consumers). In addition, the attitude of ICT operations is becoming more and more tough, bordering on the belief that, "Mistakes are not permitted." This is due to the enforcement of the Act for Protection of Computer Processed Personal Data Held by Administrative Organs, the introduction of Information Security Management System (ISMS), and the setting of Service Level Agreement (SLA). Therefore, showing the effectiveness of HRO in actual firms becomes possible by analyzing the ICT industry.

Disasters: A Simplified Systemic Scale (SSS) for Classifying Magnitudes of Hurricanes and Earthquakes

2011-09-24T08:37:49-07:00

Disasters are themes of growing concern. The number and magnitude of disasters is increasing with time and there are different ways for quantifying the magnitude of the natural phenomena that detonate them. In this paper it is proposed a method for classifying the magnitude of these phenomena in a simpler, systemic and systematic way, which may help to classify the type and speed of the answer to face the menace of a disaster. The actual methods for classifying the magnitude of hurricanes and earthquakes are analyzed and a new Simplified Systemic Scale of only three levels is proposed. It is concluded that the same simplified systemic scale may be used for other natural phenomena that produce disasters.

Mixed Extension of Hypergames and Its Applications to Inspection Games

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In the present paper, we extend hypergame models by introducing mixed strategies and show that the mixed extension enables us to deal with hypergames with cardinal utilities, while the literature has dealt only with hypergames with ordinal utilities. We then illustrate some unique features of mixed-strategy equilibria of hypergames (hyper Nash equilibrium [4]), particularly our three theorems, and conduct comparative static analysis of equilibria due to change in misperceptions about cardinal utilities. Finally, we examine these findings in the framework of inspection games [1]. Hypergame theory [2] is a framework that deals with agents with misperceptions about the situations in which they are involved. Although this framework has been extended in several ways with various solution concepts [2, 3], we begin our research with the most basic model – simple hypergames and hyper Nash equilibria as its solution concept. In a simple hypergame, it is assumed that each agent perceives the situation subjectively in a form of a complete information game to construct a subjective game. The whole game, hypergame, is the list of the subjective games of all agents. A hyper Nash equilibrium is defined as a profile of each agent’s Nash strategy in his/her subjective game [4]. There only have existed hypergame models with pure strategies in the literature so far, so that we introduce mixed strategies to hypergame framework, to be exact, we consider mixed extension of every subjective game, and analyze the features of mixed-strategy hyper Nash equilibria. Our first result is an existence theorem. That is, every finite hypergame with mixed strategies has at least one mixed-strategy hyper Nash equilibrium. This is a natural generalization of Nash's theorem [5] about noncooperative games. Subsequent analysis focuses only on cases where agents misperceive the other’s utilities but perceive the other components of the situation correctly (perturbed hypergame situation), because analysis of this situation is our motivation to introduce this model. Then, we illustrate derivation procedure of mixed-strategy hyper Nash equilibria and our second result, a derivation theorem. This theorem says that in two-agent hypergames, when there exists a unique mixed-strategy hyper Nash equilibrium, the equilibrium coincides with the Nash equilibrium in a game in which each agent’s utilities are his/her utilities in the opponent’s subjective game. It enables us to simplify calculation of the hyper Nash equilibrium. The last part of the analysis is devoted to comparative statics. A hyper Nash equilibrium may change with change of misperceptions about the other’s utilities. In the literature, comparative statics is only carried out with respect to drastic change in misperceptions in terms of ordinal utilities. In this paper, we discuss effects of small change in misperceptions about cardinal utilities. We point out that mixed-strategy hyper Nash equilibria move continuously with the change in misperception, the small change in cardinal utilities that does not affect ordinal utilities. Finally, we apply the concepts to inspection games [1] as an example. An inspection game is a two-agent game in which there exists only one mixed-strategy Nash equilibrium. We analyze the modified hypergame in the class of perturbed hypergame situation and illustrate the intuitive implications regarding our analysis. We also refer to the possibility of ex-ante analysis to manipulate the opponent’s misperception and obtain the better future based on this model. References [1] Avenhaus, R., M. Canty, D.M. Kilgour, B. von Stengel and S. Zamir, Inspection Games in Arms Control, European Journal of Operations Research, 90 (1996), 383-394. [2] P.G.Bennett, M.R.Dando, Complex strategic analysis: a hypregame study of the fall of France, Journal of the Operational Research Society 30(1) (1979), 23-32. [3] T. Inohara, Interperceptional Equilibrium as a Generalization of Nash Equilibrium in Games with Interperception, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics 30(6)(2000), 625-638. [4] K. Kijima, An Intelligent Poly-agent Learning Model and Its Application, Information and Systems Engineering 2 (1996), 47-61. [5] Nash, J.F., Equilibrium points in N person games, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 36 (1950), 48-49.

Interpretation of Indonesian political movement with drama theory

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Holistic Formal Analysis of Dilemmas of Negotiation

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In this paper, by assuming two-party negotiation as interaction system between two negotiators, we try to conduct formal analysis from a holistic point of view of dilemmas emerging in such negotiation. This paper firstly classifies negotiation processes empirically into two styles, i.e. assertive negotiation and positions-and-threats negotiation (Kijima, 2006), and then focuses on the latter to analyze it intensively. Assertive negotiation is negotiation carried out in the spirit of compromise. Each negotiator knows that he/she will get some, but not all of what he/she wants when the negotiation begins. The hope in negotiating assertively is that each negotiator fells that he/she wins. Rather than trying to win and gain power, assertive negotiator tries to achieve balance so that each gets some of what he/she wants. Assertive negotiation is often found in eastern culture like Japan. On the contrary, positions-and-threats negotiation seems especially typical in western culture. Each negotiator aims at achieving his/her desire by claiming positions and threats reciprocally in a straightforward way. It is dramatic model of negotiation that has been argued positions-and-threats negotiation intensively and focused on dilemmas that arise during the process. Howard (1996) proposed that to understand the negotiation process we should abandon the game metaphor but incorporate it into a wider framework using the metaphor of ‘drama’. Metaphors are very helpful to provide us with new viewpoints of our current framework and spark our creative thinking. This is because metaphors force us to understand something in a new terms or descriptions and reveal the alternative perspectives. The model assumes that in negotiation process we may decide what we want and guess what others will want, then do the best for ourselves, given what we think they will do. In the process, however, we are inevitably guaranteed to face dilemmas. The model analyzes the dilemmas of rationality and how they affect people. It recognizes that in face of these dilemmas people feel and express emotion, positive or negative, depending on the dilemma they face. This motivates them to redefine the situation they all face by re-examining their beliefs and values. Both Howard (1998) and Bryant (2003) propose six dilemmas, though they have not formalized them rigorously. They are rather ad hoc and it is not clear whether they are all and only dilemmas that emerge in negotiation process. In this paper we will argue this problem. First, we try to identify structural and process analysis of two-party negotiation. Structural features of two-party negotiation are described in terms of relationship between the parties such as symmetry/asymmetry of available information, power and/or authority, so that they are particularly crucial when we discuss negotiation mechanism. On the other hand, process models of two-party negotiation are concerned with description of its dynamics behaviour. Negotiation may be intuitively expressed as a reciprocal exchange of claims by the negotiators. It inevitably faces dilemmas caused by inconsistency between the claims so that it also has to try to resolve them. Inconsistency between the elements in negotiation might lead them to face dilemmas to be resolved in order to achieve agreement. Next, we formally define types of dilemmas that might arise in such negotiation in terms of dramatic model and identify elements for each negotiator that may generate dilemmas due to incredibility about his/her declaration. Then, after proposing some theoretical frameworks, we will apply the concepts of dramatic model using an example. Finally, we will discuss its findings and ideas for further researches.

Decision analysis of information completeness problem

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The Analysis of Effect of a “White Collar” Exemption System on Working Hours and Wages.

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

A “white-collar” exemption system is the system that exempts workers who are regarded as “white-collar” from overtime payments protection. This system has been employed in US since 19--. Recently, the introduction of this system becomes a controversial issue in Japan. Employers groups which intend to introduce this system insist that “in line with a performance-based payment system, creating a “white collar” exemption for certain employees would facilitate a shift towards compensating employees for the actual work that they do, not for the number of hours they spend at the work place”. However, workers groups who oppose the proposal, insist that the system increases the incidences of “karoshi”, a sudden death caused by excessive overtime working, because the system gives workers an incentive to work longer in order to get better wages. On this point, employers groups argue that the system would motivate “white-collar” workers to work more efficiently and productively. Unfortunately, there is no formal analysis of the effect of “white-collar” exemption system on working hours and workers’ productivity. This present paper aims to fulfil this gap. In order to analyse an incentive system which can motivate workers to conduct more efficient work, the principal-agent model is widely used. The principal-agent model consists of objective functions of the principal and the agent. Let O(p,e) denote an expected output, where p is a productivity constant, e is a level of effort of the agent. Let I(m,e) denote internal utility function, where m is a constant of motivation toward the task. Let -C(e) denotes a cost function, f denotes fixed wages, and R(s, ) denotes a risk function, where is a standard deviation of external effects on the productivity constant s. The objective function of the agent under the performance-based wage system can be expressed as: V = sO(p,e)+f+I(m,e)-C(e)-R(s, ). The objective function of the agent under the work-hour system can be expressed as: V = T(e)+b+I(m,e)-C(e)-R(s, ), where T(e)is an overtime payment, b is a basic salary. The utility function of the principal under each system can be expressed as: U = (1-s)O(p,e) –f and U = O(p,e) – b - T(e), respectively. Moreover, under the current draft of the law, a labour-management agreement is required to introduce the “white-collar” exemption system. Therefore, the present paper employs the principal-agent model in conjunction with a non-cooperative game theory in extensive form. The players of the game are the principal and the agent. The principle has alternatives such as “propose the system” and “not propose the system”. If the principal selects “not propose”, the game reaches to a terminal end, which has the utility function of the principal and the agent under the work-hour system. If the principal selects “propose”, then the game moves to the agent. The agent has alternatives such as “accept the proposal” and “reject the proposal”. If the agent selects “accept”, the game reaches a terminal end which has the utility functions under the “white-collar” exemption system. If the agent selects “reject”, the game reaches to a terminal end which has the utility functions under the work-hour system. The present paper tries to find out the condition of e (effort level) and p (productivity constant) under which the strategy such that the principle selects “propose” and the agent selects “accept” constitute the sub-game perfect equilibrium of the game. In doing so, working hours and productivity of the agent under the exemption system can be obtained.

Strategic Supply Chain Management in a Large Bakery

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Electronic Commerce has ignited a range of risks and opportunities in the field of Supply Chain Management (SCM). To minimise these risks and maximise potential payoff, carefully thought out research into the area is needed. This paper investigates the use of electronic commerce in SCM, using a case study of a large Australian bakery. This study examined how the firm uses E-Commerce to enhance SCM, looking at their past, present and future implementations of E-Commerce in the Supply Chain. Amid increasing importance of electronic commerce to the bakery, preliminary analysis indicates five key areas where electronic commerce has positively affected the supply chain. In addition, a number of costs were observed, some previously unforeseen. Areas for future research are also discussed.

Improving the triple bottom line returns from smallholder tree farms in the Philippines – A systems approach

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This paper outlines the application of systems thinking in investigating ways to improve triple bottom line returns to smallholder tree farmers in the Philippines. The current financial returns to smallholder tree farmers are low. In addition, the potential social and environmental benefits of tree farms appear not to be fully realised. The environment that smallholder tree farmers are operating within is complex – from a social, environmental, economic and political context. As such, there is no one ‘magic bullet’ that can improve financial or other returns from tree farms. In order to improve one or more of these triple bottom line returns, it is necessary to look at the smallholder tree farms in a broader context – there are many interacting factors that affect returns to smallholders growing trees. A ‘systems’ framework approach has been applied in designing and implementing a project addressing the current poor returns from smallholder forestry in Leyte. The paper first describes how a systems framework was used in the conceptualisation of the project. Examples are then given illustrating how project activities have been integrated within a systems framework. In the first example, a systems diagram is developed illustrating the direct and indirect linkages between biophysical data on tree farms and various activities designed to improved returns such as policy reform, improved management practices and extension activities. The second example illustrates how the suggested approach for improving the flow of information concerning tree registration, harvest and transportation regulations and approval mechanisms links with various project activities and a series of action research workshops.

A SYSTEMIC MODEL FOR THE WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE VALLEY OF MEXICO.

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The Mexico City metropolitan area is one of the bigger urban zones of the world, not only in territorial extension but also in population. It has experienced severe water supply problems along all its history. Such problems have been lately aggravated since its population has grown without specific plans. After brief introduction to the problem situation, four relevant subsystems are described, such subsystems are: pluvial precipitation, aquifer exploitation, water treatment and service management. Some critical aspects are pointed out so that they can be addressed in searching for alternatives of solution. A special emphasis is made about the little importance granted to the enormous potential of the two big own water resources of the valley, i.e. the annual precipitation (rain water) and the residual water (served water).

Rigor and Relevance in Systems Work

2011-09-24T08:53:16-07:00

There has long been a tension, if not an actual divide, between academia and industry, or research and practice, when in fact these are mutually dependent arenas. There is little value in knowledge that does not make some difference to people, and there is little value in practice that does not have a thoughtful basis for action. In reality, this tension runs much deeper than a separation in professional perspectives. It is, at a different level, the division between knowledge and action, and can be thought about with respect to two oft-used phrases from Gregory Bateson: “a difference that makes a difference,” and “the pattern that connects.” It is also the relation between Robert Rosen’s formal systems and natural systems, amongst others. In a fundamental way for systems work, this divide is the issue of boundaries; how we define our “systems of interest,” and how we understand the environment that encompasses them. This presentation will explore the implications of these ideas for the ISSS and its relation to the larger world which it seeks to affect.

TOWARDS A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING SYSTEMIC AND PARTICIPATIVE METHODS

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Systems practitioners often make significant claims for the value of their methodologies and methods. However, when evidence is presented to support these claims, it is usually based solely on the practitioner’s own reflections on single case studies. Less often, practitioners set up post-intervention debriefings with project participants using questionnaires. While the latter is an improvement on researcher reflections alone, there have been few attempts at systematically evaluating across methods and across case studies undertaken by different practitioners. This is understandable because, in any given local intervention, contextual factors, the skills of the practitioner and the purposes being pursued by stakeholders are inevitably going to affect the perceived success or failure of a method. The use of standard metrics and even qualitative criteria for comparison can therefore be made problematic by the need to consider what is unique in each intervention. So is it possible to develop a single evaluation approach that can support both locally meaningful evaluations and longer-term comparisons between methods? This paper offers a framework for the evaluation of methods that seeks to do just this. Research on the framework and associated tools is in its infancy, but pilot studies suggest that it is promising. Comparing across methods will ultimately require the development of a longer-term international research program, and this paper serves as a first call for participants in this.

Resisting Dynamic Structures in Shifting toward “Systems Thinking”

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

There is a unanimous agreement that “systems thinking” helps both individuals and organizations make more intelligent and more effective decisions. On the other hand, the unsatisfactory rate of systems thinking evolvement among managers, collegians, students and other stratums raises this question that, why such a useful, discriminating and tasteful concept in theory, does not spread with the desirable pace in practice. Where exactly does the problem originate from? The tragedy is more sensible when noting the fact that even those who know the concept methodically do not apply it in action and in their decisions. This paper carefully seeks to identify major dynamic structures against the transition from “non-systems thinking” toward holistic “systems thinking” in individuals, moreover, the resisting structures and barriers in applying it. These barriers can be either internal or external. For example, being accustomed to a specific thinking style or the convenience of using an established mental model can be an internal source of resistance. External barriers in turn, can also be classified into different categories such as group level, organizational level and societal level barriers. Time limitations, group expectations, organization culture and society norms are a few sources of such resistances. Having identified these resisting dynamic structures, one can better realize the roots of this poor growth rate, and give more insightful and effective solutions to overcome the barriers and limitations. Unfortunately, despite relatively numerous literatures on changing beliefs, values and behaviors of individuals, there are comparatively few works regarding dynamics of change in thinking styles and thinking methods. Moreover, there are often different terms used for addressing the thinking process in human individuals such as “thinking style”, “thinking process”, “thinking strategy” and “cognitive style”. In this paper, an agreed upon definition for the “systems thinking” is extracted and its constituting components from different fields such as systems science, system dynamics and operation research are distinguished. Finally some major dynamic structures resisting the shift toward learning and practicing “systems thinking” are introduced.

Systemic Wellbeing based on User Centric Design and Experiential Learning

2013-04-22T00:17:30-07:00

ABSTRACT The paper is drawn from work in progress research funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage project. The collaboration spans the South Australian Department of Health, Flinders University, University of South Australia and Neporendi Forum Inc, an Aboriginal NGO and in partnership with Anglicare. The multidisciplinary research ensures that the service users together with the providers design what works, why and how on the basis of their perceptions of successful outcomes that have achieved wellbeing. We strive to use participatory action research to design and create a computer system that will enable people who are facing challenges such as homelessness, unemployment and domestic violence to build the capacity of the service providers by drawing on their own experiences. The findings to date : a) demonstrate the importance of network governance for linking service users and providers and the role that ongoing communication can play in shaping policy. As Aristotle argued, being involved in dialogue on policy matters and applying the dialectical process in one’s community is one of the ways to ensure a fulfilling life (which he called eudaimonia , on this see Nicomachean Ethics) , provided cultural inclusion is supported by democratic structures and processes (see Elias and Lichterman 2003). b) support the idea that wellbeing is what is valued and necessarily includes basic needs. But these are insufficient to achieve wellbeing for self determination, unless it is supported by political and economic opportunities that result in becoming citizens with rights who are respected within the wider community. Empowering Indigenous organisations to achieve wellbeing for Indigenous people is a step in this direction (Rowse 2003).

Pluralism: Critical reflections emerging from an Organisation-based Action Research Project

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Critical Systems Thinking (CST) is calling for managers to use its ideas in the flux of ongoing problem situations to cope with increasing complexity, change and diversity. This paper presents a series of reflections from an organisation-based action research project, where the researcher entered into a real-world situation and aimed and aimed both at improving it and acquiring knowledge about the experience whilst contributing to the operationalisation of critical CST, that is, Critical Systems Practice (CSP). The research yielded defensible generalisations from a series of research themes explored relevant to CSP. This paper recapitulates on the contributions that this research endeavour had on the research theme of pluralism; the combined use of different paradigms, methodologies, methods and tools within the same intervention. In general, this research theme focuses on whether it is possible to carry out an intervention in an informed way preventing a relapse from pluralism to pragmatism or imperialism. This involves three issues which were explored further and to which this paper aims to contribute. These issues constitute three requirements for pluralism, namely, (a) flexibility in the use of the widest variety of methods, models, tools and techniques possible in any intervention; (b) employment of methodologies owing alliance to different paradigms in the same intervention; and (c) managing a degree of paradigm incommensurability.

The Atomistic Structure of Relationship: Robert Rosen’s Implicate Order

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

A careful synthesis of Robert Rosen’s theories about relational entities resulted in discovery of an entailment pattern between ontology and epistemology. We have called this “the relational atom” to emphasize its foundational status within a relationally analytical framework. This framework constitutes a natural philosophy and underlies material descriptions of reality, including current mechanistic theory. We believe this model represents, in essence, the natural structure of relationship, from which both traditionally objective and traditionally subjective entities arise. The essence of this understanding, however, is to objectify the entire model. The model and some of its possible applications are discussed.

Levers for Intervention in Organizational Decision-Making

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

LEVERS FOR INTERVENTION IN ORGANIZATIONAL DECISION-MAKING: Local Government Red Tape and Fudging-‘Bureau-CATS’ Unmasked by TRANSPARENCY Carl Slawski (Emeritus Professor of Sociology, CSULB) 555 S. Ventu Park Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 – USA A juicy case study of dead-end whistle-blowing inquiries over a steep and narrow if not precarious hillside home construction site in Open Space zoning in southern California is described and examined in light of a systemic theory for reprogramming “Bureau-CATS.” Coping with this breed, from land grading to fire road standard enforcers, from Planning to Building to Fire road Inspectors, is described in terms of Dramaturgical (Goffmanesque “discrepant role”) and Labeling Theory (Sykes & Matza’s “neutralization techniques,” 1957) as well as “splintered” formal organization-theory (revised from Slawski’s 4-box flow diagrams on BUREAU-cratitis (Shanghai, 2002), and now on “how to navigate through its maze”), finally ending in a new and widely applicable GST type of feedback and feed-forward model of how to reprogram the system of permissions and superficial inspections, fraught as it is with vicious cycles (a la Alvin Gouldner on rules), plus the red-tape ball fudged by both the contractor, and the choir of county ‘B-CATS,’ all to the detriment of the formerly open environment, the danger of foundation or wall failure (perhaps because of a nearby earthquake fault), undermining the narrow, winding pot-holed fire road, or a possible landslide of the house down the hill into the creek-bed below. Who cares? Who gets paid off, at least by in-bred ‘idiosyncracy credits’ through the virtual “old-boy network” established between inspectors and SPEC house builders? Neighbors’ property rights and peace of mind be damned! How does this kind of ecologically corrupt, vicious cycle (of greedy developers over norms of sustainability across generations) get started? Why doesn’t someone do something about it? Has anyone tried TRANSPARENCY? Read on and see for yourself. Key Words: ‘BUREAU-cratitis’/ vicious cycles / ecological corruption / land development / greed. . [12/06+ 1/21/07 --- LiodmAb.doc]

Study on Longitudinal Knowledge Creation in Supply Chain

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Knowledge, emphasized by people progressively, had been treated as the most important resource in firms while surrounding within turbulent business environment. In recent years, researchers have paid increasing attention to the effects of knowledge creation to a firm's competitive advantage. New knowledge, as pivotal intangible resource, has been playing more and more important roles in firms. In supply chain context, tasks are partitioned and interdependent between the upstream and the downstream members. Special knowledge is linked with the special task, and a certain task needs the certain specialized knowledge, but whether there is interdependence, like the relations between supply chain members’ tasks, in their knowledge creation activities? This paper focused on a longitudinal view and tested the cointegrative relation in knowledge creation activities between the upstream and the downstream members in supply chains. Moreover, we tested causalities of knowledge creation activities between auto makers and their suppliers, aimed not only at the causal relations, but also at insightful exploration for the forming of the long run cointegration. The main results reveal there is significant longitudinal cointegration between the upstream and the downstream supply chain members’ knowledge creation activities, which means there was certain equilibrium between them during long run developments. And, a distinct long-run causality from suppliers to auto makers has been discovered. These results revealed being and forming of the cointegration in supply chain members’ knowledge creation activities

Managing Innovation for Service through Systems Concepts

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

This paper focuses on innovation management for service. After examining and classifying service industries and service activities in firms, possible incorporation of other systems concepts into Innovation Architecture methodology will be considered. Then the methodology will be applied to commercial e-marketplaces for steel sheet and for food supplies, and to the services of a railroad company and related regional development, both of which are regulated by local governments in Japan.

The Development of the Philosophy of Marketing Science

2007-08-01T21:33:08-07:00

Marketing study to develop so far being thought the greatest careless mistake is to lack the assessment to philosophy of marketing science. The studies the theory to accept to existing marketing totally, but has not thought carefully that prove marketing is studied in the theory content of other disciplines. So that unable to grasp the train of thought of development of the marketing philosophy thought and content existing actually, it is more unable to distinguish quality with essential thought of each school and development potentiality. The research of philosophy of marketing science needs to revise the disappearance stated above urgently. The ones that study the theory content in building and constructing marketing with using doing carefully grind and analyses and narrated, in order to offer the research of philosophy of marketing science. The assessment of the ones that enable each studying the science can satisfy syntax, semantics, and the pragmatics one is structural with the storing demand in fact. Entrust to marketing and study more clear research theme and more precise and tinier philosophy meaning. Emphasize humanitarianism value and develop advanced practice technology, use the systemic argument of the macroscopic and causality model.

Rough set theory using similarity of objects described by ontology

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Rough set theory was proposed by Pawlak Z. and is well used in the area of data mining. The main role of rough set theory is to extract important sets of attributes and decision rules based on the knowledge about objects. Rough set theory is defined by information system, whose role is knowledge representation. But recently the concept of ontology is used in knowledge engineering, Semantic Web, etc. Since ontology can flexibly represent knowledge, rough set theory using the concept of ontology enables us to use flexible information system in ontological description. One of our main aims of this paper is to propose rough set theory applied the concept of ontology to. For flexibility, ontology often consists of complex objects. We formulate a concept of similarity which measures a degree of relationship among complex objects. The concept of similarity is useful for extracting important sets of attributes defined by flexibly represented knowledge. We present steps for finding a set of decision rule based on the proposed concepts. We demonstrate the concepts and steps by using a simple example.

Decision making in the real world

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Decisions are derived from assumptions. It is imperative to surface assumptions for making sensible and effective decisions in the real world. Assumptions and associated decision models are plenty and diverse, even conflicting. Pragmatism, as an inherent sensibility in Chinese traditions, in indigenous American thought and in the Aristotelian ‘phronesis’ of practical wisdom, is helpful for accommodating and acting upon diverse assumptions and models. Adopting pragmatism, good practice, good research and good science rely on open and engaging conversations.

Self-affine patterns of boride layers

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

In this study, the evaluation of interfaces on iron boride Fe2B growth obtained by paste boriding process was carried out. Fractal geometry is used like a powerful tool for the roughness analysis present during iron boride growth. Experiments were performed in AISI 1045 steel at temperatures of 1193K for exposure times of 2, 4 and 6 h, and 1223K for treatment times of 2, 4, 5 and 6 h, varying the boron paste thicknesses in the range of 1 – 5 mm for each temperature and time. The fronts of the interfaces in iron boride coatings were characterized and digitized with mean of an optic microscope and Scion Image software. Self-affine methods were applied to the interface growths for validate the fractality of the system. It was established that the interface width, , scales to  , where H represents the roughness exponent of the boride layers.

An Integration of Genetic Algorithm and Fuzzy Logic for Optimization of Agroindustrial Supply Chain Design

2007-08-01T19:40:39-07:00

Portfolio selection under multiple risk measures

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The present paper considers portfolio selection problems when the investor's risk preferences are expressed with more than one risk measure, and proposes a method for solving optimization models for portfolio selection with multiple risk measures. Portfolio selection experiments are conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed model and solution method.

A soft approach for solving mixed optimization models

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The primary purpose of the present paper is to introduce a soft approach for solving mixed optimizations models wherein discrete and continuous variables are included. We advocate in recent years a soft approach for solving complicated optimization models, this paper follows this approach to suggest a method for solving general mixed optimization models.

A Case Based Reasoning System for Customer Credit Scoring: Comparative Study of Similarity Measure

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

To deal with the customers’ credit assessment problem in a small company, we have developed a case-based reasoning system. The system assesses the credit score of a target customer only based on the features data which can be easily retrieved from daily transaction data stored in the database of the management information system. Since the credit score of a target customer is to be reasoned on the basis of similarity to past cases, it is very important how to evaluate properly the degree of similarity between a target customer and cases. In our previous study, the Euclidean distance was used as a similarity metric between a target customer and past cases. This paper aims at investigating the effect of similarity metrics on the performance of the proposed system. We consider six distances which are used as similarity metrics for case retrieval and case adaptation. These distances are based on weighted Manhattan distance and Euclidean distance, and the weights are calculated by using linear regression and multivariate discriminant analysis. We evaluate the distances by applying the system to solve the real credit assessment problems of the company and examining how the performance of the system depends on the choice of distances.

Product Architecture Design for Global Performance

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In this paper, I characterize the impact of product global performance on the choice of product architecture during the product development process. I classify product architectures into three categories: modular, hybrid, and integral. Existing researches show that the choice of product architecture during the new product development is a crucially strategic decision for a manufacturing firm. However no single architecture is optimal in all cases, thus analytic models are required to identify and discuss specific trade-offs associated with the choice of the optimal architecture under different circumstance. This paper develops analytic models whose objectives are obtaining global performance of product through a modular/hybrid/integral architecture. Tradeoffs between costs and expected benefits from different product architectures are analyzed and compared. Multifunction products and small size are used as examples to formalize the models and show the impact of the global performance characteristics. I also investigate how optimal architecture changes in response to the exogenous costs of system integrators. Some empirical implications obtained from this study show that if one considers global performance, modular architecture is an absolutely sub-optimal decision and integral architecture is an all-the-time candidate for optimal architecture.

MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

In this paper we try to determine the “Optimal Premium” that should be charged to the policyholder in order to maximize the company’s profits on a specific type of policy in order to meet all the contractual obligations of the company due to the minimum guarantee rate and participation rate. In the past, many papers have analyzed the pricing of insurance policies in order to make a “fair” valuation of it; however, we consider that the fair value doesn’t represent the real world; therefore will take a more realistic approach from the management point of view. Typically modern insurance products embed several types of financial options, features that increase their complexity. As a result their accurate valuation is an issue of great concern for life insurance companies, not just because of solvency problems that might arise but also because of competitive pressures. This paper contemplates a life insurance policy, in particular of the endowment type in which a minimum return is guaranteed to the policyholder and according to the performance of a particular investment portfolio during the year, an additional amount may be credited.

Intelligent System for Pasteurized Milk Quality Assessment and Prediction

2007-08-01T19:07:56-07:00

Pasteurized milk is one of better-processed milk products, which has nutrition composition and taste like fresh milk. The composition of milk nutrition contains essential factors needed for the human health, such as fat, protein, carbohydrate and mineral. Pasteurized milk quality needs to be assessed and controlled to ensure the factors at optimum level. Better quality assessment and control system will fulfill needs of costumer and increase the customer satisfaction and trust. This research has developed an intelligent system for pasteurized milk quality assessment and prediction. The system utilized two type of analysis: fundamental and technical analysis. These analyses were done with Expert System and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Fundamental analysis covered raw material, working in process and end products quality factors. The technical analysis covered time and deviation of process temperature quality factors. The fundamental and technical analyses can be used to assess and predict the decrease and increase pattern in pasteurized milk quality when the related factors are change. The intelligent system for pasteurized milk quality assessment and prediction could help the quality decision maker in assessment and prediction of pasteurized milk quality from the raw material, production process until the final product packaging and storing. Information on speed and accuracy, produced by the system, increase efficiency and effectiveness in quality control and faster the product quality decision making process. Attributes used to assess raw material quality were density, temperature, composition, freshness and the microbiology of the fresh milk. Whereas, process quality attributes considered were process critical point, sanitation and characteristic of pasteurized milk quality. Some attributes for storage and packaging quality assessment were also developed. Pasteurized milk quality data was processed with entropy method. The reasoning strategy used was “Forward Chaining” and the tracing method used was “Best First Search”. Certainty Factor (CF) was used for handling uncertainty. Data Based Management System (DBMS) managed the related data. Model Based Management System (MBMS) managed the models used. The MBMS consists of five models: quality of fresh milk model, quality of production process model, quality packaging and storage model, statistical process control model and prediction model. The integrated system is implemented into computer software. Multi-layer neural network architecture was used. It consisted of one input layer, one hidden layer and one output layer. The suited activation function was Sigmoid Bipolar. Decision for fresh and pasteurized milk quality acceptance was taken based on the acceptance grade, which was practically easier and accurate. Based on the grade acceptance the management could take follow-up action and decision. This acceptance grade information, whether in grade A or B, is very important as a company bargaining position with the other processed milk industry. This system was designed, developed and implemented by using Mat lab 6.5. The system output consisted of quantitative and qualitative information and can be shown in graphic. The system was verified and validated by using real data collected from pasteurized milk and milk Products Company at West Java, Indonesia. In this company, the quality of fresh milk was at grade B, the quality of process was at grade B and the quality of packaging and storage was at grade B. This system gave suggestion for user to always improve the quality of pasteurized milk, since the current grade was still at grade B. The intelligent system was also compared with the manual system. The developed system gave more accurate result and faster time of analysis.

Worlds Apart: A Focus on the "Great Divide" within the HRM Scholar-Practitioner Community

2007-08-01T14:08:24-07:00

There is a “knowledge gap” between academic researchers and practitioners. Managers frequently experience the delivery of academic research as relatively incomprehensible and trailing practice, rather than leading it. Conversely, academic researchers are disinclined to seek inspiration for new research ideas from the real-world problems experienced by practitioners. The problem may not be what research is actually conducted by academics, but rather how little the research is actually used by practitioners. This gap can partially be explained by the very different cultures and systems within which each group operates; however, when research that is useful does not make its way into mainstream practice in a timely fashion, everyone loses. This paper explores possible ways to improve knowledge transfer and bridge the current gap that currently exists between individuals who live and work within these two distinct cultural and reward systems.

Intervening in Counterproductive Self-Organized Dynamics in the Workplace

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

Self-organization can generate unintended systemic patterns of behaviour in corporate settings. Such patterns can be difficult to detect for several reasons. Among them is the tendency for self-organization to emerge spontaneously, without planning or intentional design (a tendency running contrary to the expectations of intentionality and control prevalent in workplaces). Self-organization also unfolds dynamically, involving repetitive behaviours that are, paradoxically, unpredictable. Self-organization also entrains people’s behaviour in patterns, making it difficult for those people to recognize the patterns to which they themselves are contributing. These factors and others make self-organization difficult to recognize. However, because self-organized patterns can confound the best-laid plans of business leaders, allowing self-organized patterns to unfold unimpeded may not be acceptable to organizational leaders. Drawing from an international grounded theory study of workplace pattern identification, this article examines the intervention options used by people working in organizations once they have identified a counterproductive self-organized dynamic. We also discuss obstacles to intervention and the ethical considerations raised by those wishing to intervene in self-organized workplace dynamics. The discovery of self-organized patterns could be a tremendous contribution to those charged with the responsibility of leading and working in organizations. Realizing this contribution depends on the coupling of pattern detection with appropriate and sound intervention strategies. This paper begins a series of articles that will explore intervention strategies from empirical and theoretical perspectives. This first article allows us to start an examination and development of epistemologically and psychologically appropriate interventions from a phenomenologically sound position.

Technological Diffusion of Residential Photovoltaic (PV) Systems in Japan

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

1. Background and Purpose In recent years, environmental pollution and global warming have surfaced as issues. However, many of the renewable energy, supposedly effective in protecting against such issues, have low energy densities, meaning their use poses problems to be resolved in terms of scale up technologies and economic efficiency. A lot of research has been carried out on PV (Photovoltaic) technologies in the last 35 years but few researches have focused on the business activity. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the diffusion of Japanese residential PV systems by focusing on the value chain, technological trajectory and the interaction between technology and markets and to contribute to technology and energy policy recommendations 2. Framework and Methodology The business system approach, integrating the structural and process theoretical dimensions, is used for analyzing the residential PV business with particular focus on (1) Efficiency: How are choices made to convert inputs to outputs most effectively. (2) Effectiveness: How is value created for the customers in conjunction with WTP (willingness to pay) and the equilibrium induced among the stakeholders. As a methodology, the technological trajectory of PV was analyzed by a literature survey and qualitative analysis. A case study to analyze the running costs was carried out. Analysis of demand related factors of the residential PV customers was conducted based on the data obtained by a questionnaire (carried out by NEF: New Energy Foundation in Japan in 2004). 3. Findings (1) Technological imbalances in regard to the material of PV module were solved by technological innovation and hence enabled the improvement in the performance and the cost. The innovations in PV were used in the grid connected installations on house’s roofs so that it was possible to obtain scale economies. (2) In the case of PV installation for private use, there are motive factors other than an economical efficiency factor. 4. Significance and Implication The diffusion of residential PV has reached in the take off phase. It becomes important for us to encourage strengthening satisfactory factors and to prevent aggravation of dissatisfied factors for shifting from the early adopters to early majority stage. Public relations activities that stimulate individual environmental awareness and establishing an institutional electric power buyback program are necessary.

Internet Consumer’s Behavior under the cyber ‘lemon’:The Case from the Internet Markets in China

2007-08-01T14:36:57-07:00

The ‘lemon’ problem means the informational asymmetries resulted from the products quality uncertainty. It was suggested by the American economist George Akerlof (1970), who is one of Nobel Economics Prize laureates in 2001. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Internet consumer’s behaviour under the cyber ‘lemon’. With the view from CAS (complex adaptive system) theory, the paper builds up e-consumer’s behaviors model that based on Akerlof’s ‘lemon’ model and analyzes the issue stemming from the Internet markets in China. The thesis considers that the cyber ‘lemons’ in China is more serious than other developed countries, because there are many special influencing factors. This paper put forward the ideas eliminating or avoid the cyber market. Compared to the physical market, we need some particular approaches to eliminate the cyber ‘lemons’ such as renting reputation, uniting brand and quality-intermediates. Some non-economic approaches such as law, ethics and trust in Internet market are need also.

Systems of system failures: Meta system methodology to prevent system failures

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

We propose a new meta methodology, called SOSF (Systems of system failures), to prevent system failures. SOSF is based on SOSM (Jackson,M. (2003) “System thinking”) and Taxonomy of failures (Gigch,J.P.Van.(1986) “System Design Modeling and Metamodeling”). SOSF is created from mapping the elements of mata system failure model into SOSM flame. Since SOSF enables us to identify a paradigm of where system failures resides, with its help we can adopt an appropriate methodology to a target problem. Every organization has hierarchical structure of their processes. It is very important to identify what function of the organization has to be rectified learning from system failures. In order to achieve this, we must have some common language to understand fully what have happened, what should be a root cause and what should be a counter measure. We also use VSM model (Beer,S (1981) “Brain of the firm”) to identify root cause of an organizational malfunction. SOSF is, among others, practically useful to achieve following tasks. i) To Promote common understanding between various stakeholders by uplifting specific system failure and a specific organizational malfunction into conceptual world through modeling using common (meta) language. ii) To understand system failure holistically through modeling a system failure and its root cause. iii) To identify what function of an organization should be rectified in hierarchy of the organization. iv) To confirm MECE (Mutually exclusive totally exhaustive) of counter measures This paper is unique in the sense of providing various practical application tools, that is, SO-space Map, IO Matrix, OP Matrix and Failure diagnostic flow. We structuralize the two extremes positions (i.e. ideal status and system failures) into several relations between ideal status, goal (objective), responsibility, causes and system failures. If we can detect disjunctions between elements proactively, there should be a good chance to prevent further occurrence of system failures by minimizing recognized disjunction between stakeholders. In SOSF we provide SO-space Map which elaborates soft paradigm where disjunction of plural participants’ worldview playing significant role of system failures. SO-Space MAP is spanned two dimensions, namely subjective and objective view point from responsibilities and failures causes enabling to focus disjunction between stakeholders. IO Matrix is adopted as a tool to detect disjunction between ideal status and meeting goals. OP Matrix is a tool to detect disjunction between meeting goals and problems. IO and OP Matrix promote reflective self check that current goal setting is well encompassing current problems. Finally, failure diagnostic flow is employed as a tool to promote double loop learning to rectify existing process from meta systemic view point. Traditionally various trouble shooting techniques mainly have focused on so called hard approaches where reductionistic world view playing dominant role. This paper provide actual application example of so called “soft system thinking” (Checkland,P (1999) “Systems thinking, systems practice”) into engineering arena. IT systems are main target of the application of the proposed meta methodology and we will confirm the result of promoting preventative measures that are not learned otherwise. Keywords: Systems thinking, Meta system approach, VSM, SSM, double loop learning

Exploring ethical management from systemic perspectives

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

We have witnesses 'ethical management', which has increasingly much attention to Korean business managers (Yu and Moon, 2004). Ethical management regards as a fatal way of sustainable development, not dealing only with real and practical issues of business firms, but also with complex and problematic issues of business networks in societies. In other words, for business managers, ethical management became a strategic choice that fosters ethical and rational decesion-making that aims to achieve ethical objectives in an effective and efficient manner (Ferrell, et al., 2005). In order to study practical issues of ethical management from systemic perspectives, this paper seeks to appreciate the ethical management, which can be made through the reflexive research on Korean business contexts. Systems approaches are introduced and demonstrated to study ethical management in business practice.

Japan's Eco-towns - Industrial clusters or Local Innovation Systems?

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

As part of policies to move towards a more sustainable model of regional industrial development, Japan introduced Eco-towns in 1997. Now some ten years on, experience is accumulating on how these are applying a systems approach to reducing wastes and energy use and to recycle materials. In 2001, Japan also launched an Industrial Cluster Policy which followed the extensive international debate on Clusters and Local Systems of Innovation triggered by Michael Porter’s work in the 1990s. Although Eco-towns are not generally referred to as Clusters, they share the latter’s characteristics in requiring thinking in terms of systems and strong relationships and networks between the various parts and players in the system. This paper will thus look at Eco-towns as Industrial Clusters and consider what implications their experience has for the ongoing debate over the value of cluster theory. Since four of METI’s Industrial Clusters relate to environmental themes, we can also see to what extent these differ from Eco-towns in the way they apply the systems approach. Our conclusion is are that Eco-towns exhibit closer correspondence to cluster theory than do Industrial Clusters; but both are better characterized as Local Systems of Innovation.

A Model of Demand Chain Management with Virtual Interactions

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

In this paper, we discuss a new relation between customer and firm as DCM(Demand Chain Management). The firm applies customer needs information to product development and service enhancements. This enable firms to get long run customer. The DCM concept differs in product choice from a SCM concept. According to the DCM concept, a firm can get customer needs information from virtual community. We develop a model of the DCM with respect to virtual interactions among participants. As a result of simulation, we discuss the relation among product multiplicity, customer satisfaction, and customer segmentation.

A Process View of SWOT Analysis

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

The aim of this paper is to enrich the SWOT analysis by utilizing the five change stages of process development: birth, growth, harvesting, storage, and transformation. Each quadrant of the matrix of the SWOT model could be represented by one stage and the phases between stages correspond to transformation. The five-change processes originate from phases of the seasonal life cycle based on the Chinese Ying-yang and five elements theory. This study tries to establish a plausible bridge between Western two-dimensioned quadruple categories (2 x 2 frameworks) and Chinese five elements. In addition, integrating the concept of business life cycle with the SWOT analysis provides the policy maker with a dynamic approach to effective strategies. Finally, the managerial implications of each stage are discussed from the perspective of Chinese five elements.

System Approach and Managing Diversity in Complex Systems: Towards Dynamic Stability

2007-08-01T14:03:58-07:00

This paper aims to contribute to the search for an adequate concept of decision-making in the light of developments in system methodology and the demands of sustainability. These two issues call for a rethink of the rationality of decision-making simply as a matter of finding a formal representation of problems through technical procedures. With the development of system methodology and evolutionary theory, problems have arisen in management practice known as “the crisis of public decisions” [Bailly, 1999]. In part these problems are the result of methods used in the natural sciences which have been applied unchanged to the human sciences. Systems Theory (including Systems Science, Systems Technologies and Systems Philosophy [Bertalanfy, 1975]) has provided a conceptual basis for such known methodologies as Cybernetics and Research Operations, which are widely applied in Administrative Science. Recognition of the realities of post-modern science, such as emergence, complexity, or uncertainty, and the phenomena of self-adaptation and self-organisation, require reflection on the limitations of human intervention in (or regulation of) social systems, and a rethinking of system approach methods as applied to these new realities. The evolution of ideas concerning the relationship between Information, Systems Approach and Business Administration might be outlined thus: from the 1960s, where companies were viewed as cybernetic systems, to the 1990s, with the introduction of the model of the "Strategic Triangle" [Tardieu, Guthmann, 1991]. This affects to an evolution in the understanding of the role of social factors, of the possibilities and limitations of formalisation, and of the transition from unification to an acceptance of the diversity of many value-based systems. Indeed, the term “complex system” was first introduced for the formulation of management issues from a system point of view. Different social, economic, or political factors in management issues cannot be described in isolation from each other and then merely summarised, as an explanation of integrity. Also, analysis of causality alone is insufficient for problem solving, since new interrelations might be discovered after a “decision” has been made. The rethinking of system methodology, and Checkland’s “soft system methodology” [Checkland, 1981], stress that interrelations in a social system have a changeable intensity, i.e. an unstable and flexible character. Thus, the accent is moving towards the dynamics of the system (non-linear character of interrelations). Furthermore, the system approach should help to formulate the system goals, as well as achieving them. Strategy, therefore, becomes the task: how to provide dynamic stability and at the same time to allow a variety of changes in order to increase the adaptive capacity of any system? People’s diverse and often competitive aspirations, values and goals are to have a place in natural evolution as a basis for multiple possibilities, while the common goals of social development are achievable through co-ordination and consensus, rather than competition. We need an analytical view of the world which helps to shape the future, rather than adjusting to it, i.e. an alternative to formal rational reasoning. This means that strategising, and decision making processes increase our capacity to be “rational”, i.e. to think systematically “what for?” In this paper we look at appropriate tools for coping with a diversity of objectives between different stakeholders in complex system, arguing that integration throughout the decision-making process aims at recognising ‘differences’, and at raising the renewal and generalisation of existing interpretations to an integral level, where all voices (of knowledge drivers influencing system development) can be heard. Such visualisation of ‘differences’, and its transformation to an integral level, should result in proposals for new system/ process re-design, which in our view would offer opportunities for ‘adaptive learning’.

The Study of Institutions in the Understanding of Contemporary Social Processes

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

In the last few centuries institutions such as the school, the factory, and the hospital have become features central to human existence. They even seem to provide assistance and inspiration. However, they also make constant demands on individuals for them to adjust and comply with their internal procedures in the name of, for instance, efficiency and improved service. It is only in very remote and underdeveloped regions of the world where these institutions still remain exclusive and somehow separated from the ordinary lives of individuals and communities, or where the interaction is discontinued and/or sporadic. Institutions are constantly studied by those in government positions. Large financial and human resources are devoted to their ‘improvement’ by identifying and transferring certain discourses, relationships, and identities. In this sense, business concepts such as targets, the customer/client, and quality have been transferred from the factory to the school and the hospital. Some of these discourses, relationships, and identities are created within institutions; others are instead imported from other areas of human experience. This paper explores the importance of institutions in the study of the present following Foucault’s ideas. It is argued that this type of investigation is systemic in nature. It will also highlight the possible contribution of certain management systems ideas to the study of the present.

On the Physical Basis of Perceptual Information

2007-08-01T19:44:53-07:00

The study of psychophysics in the 19th century was founded on the principle that a single theoretical approach would permit a unified, scientific study of the senses. In the 21st century, this dream has largely remained unfulfilled. Most of current research in sensory processing lies with elucidating individual mechanisms in different sensory modalities. We describe here a different approach – one that seeks to tackle the problem at a physics-based level. The hypothesis is that the basic process underlying sensory processing lies with the exchange of information or entropy. That is, information or entropy forms the currency of perception. While our work is reminiscent of the classic work of information theory as applied to psychology in the 1950's and 60's, our approach is markedly different. Beginning with the idea that perception is a process of selecting a single alternative out of a number of possible choices, a number of important results can be derived theoretically. Some discussion is provided to link this approach to that of traditional physics.

Transception: The Dharma of Evolutionary Guidance Media

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

We have at the present moment, communication technology that can be as powerful, in a creative sense, as the Atomic bomb was in the destructive sense. And remarkably, our children are some of its most fluent and ardent manipulators. Unfortunately, the stories and games being created for them are encouraging many of the values that contribute to social inequality and environment destruction. It is our challenge, as their stewards, to design communication technologies that will enable them to play and learn, while offering them real-life lessons in compassion. Systems scholar, Joanna Macy, presented the similarities between the systems view of reality and core Buddhist teachings in her groundbreaking book Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General Systems Theory: The Dharma of Natural Systems – using the parallels Macy demonstrated as a catalyst, this paper introduces transception – cyberception infused with compassion – considered a key component in evolutionary guidance media. The development of evolutionary guidance media was one of the final areas of research supervised by the late pioneer of evolutionary guidance systems, Bela H. Banathy. Specific examples of transception are presented through introducing key components of Project Milky Way, an experiment currently underway that was encouraged by Banathy as a means to test the theory of evolutionary guidance media in action. The experiment is designed such that it will allow the most privileged children (generally those with computers) the opportunity to share their wealth with those less fortunate. And, as Negroponte’s One Laptop Per Child initiative takes off, these same children will be able to communicate with children in the developing countries. Through transception, the children will be able to play, learn, and compassionately work together to become part of the solution to social injustice and environmental degradation. The paper concludes by suggesting that a generation of children who have come-of-age with transception at their fingertips would be better able to face the challenges they have inherited and more capable of making decisions that include concern for all beings, rather than those based on a NIMBY (i.e., not-in-my-backyard) mentality.

The Contribution of Information Disclosure to Corporate Integrity

2007-08-01T14:03:59-07:00

In this study I will discuss the ethical values of information disclosure, relevant to integrity in a corporation. Information disclosure has a significant value in which a corporation demonstrates the consistency in its business behavior towards its commitment. Integrity, an ethical value different from “seijitsu” in terms of the nature with independency and ego, should be eventually fulfilled by the consistency between the publicly disclosed commitment and the behavior including verbal representation made by a corporation. Integrity is a known ethical value which presents moral consistency, honesty, commitment and courage to pursue one’s goal. To evidence the consistency between the commitment and the behavior, one can take advantage of information disclosure. The discrepancy between the fact and the presented data may unveil the dishonesty in a corporation and, the timing to disclose the facts or data relevant to the interests of a customer of corporation may tell the level of commitment to the corporate social responsibility for a corporation. In these senses, the quality of information disclosure by a corporation or, the decision if a corporation discloses negative information may be regarded as key component to prove itself a corporate entity with integrity. Recent surveys regarding the evaluation of a corporation have shown how they have depended on the disclosure to prove its appropriateness as a corporation and get closer to a model corporation which is most concerned with corporate social responsibilities. When consistency is regarded as an utmost ethical value in integrity, the disclosure of negative information may be worth publicly addressing as it is viewed the representation of integrity of a corporation.

Equifinality in the Value Added Tax System

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

Equifinality is the equality in final achievement in a system by different means. It has often been referred to as multicausality, which means that there may be a multiple number of initial causes but at the end, the final accomplishment will be the same for any of these causes. In this chapter, it will be examined how in the Value Added Tax (VAT) system there exist the systemic feature of equifinality. Equifinality can be used as a significant tool to analyze the VAT system from the viewpoints of various system inputs and thereby the system can be made flexible to any pressure group’s interest as well as the economic policy of a new political government. With proper understanding and application of the systemic feature of equifinality in the VAT system, we can maximize revenue output with minimum cost. To achieve a desired certain percentage of revenue growth, costs of several inputs can be assessed and their possible outcomes can be evaluated. A comparatively better policy measure (input) can be adopted towards achieving the desired level of revenue growth (output). For instance, three separate inputs to achieve 30 percent growth in the collection of VAT can be individually ascertained. Those are 10 percent increase in the administrative manpower in the VAT system or 15 percent increase in logistics support (transportation, radio-communication, use of defensive firearms, sophisticated technological office equipments etc.) to the existing manpower or motivation of the VAT concerned people (both VAT-payers and VAT-collectors) at the cost of 3 percent VAT revenue earned. Any of these three inputs supposedly may lead to 30 percent growth of VAT collection (final output). There may exist more alternatives hidden inside the VAT system to achieve the objective of equal percentage of revenue growth. Study regarding the feasibility of these types of alternatives merits attention for understanding the VAT system and producing significantly more revenue out of the system. This article is organized into three sections examining three different mechanisms (each with an alternative) through which the VAT system maintains equifinality. The article is concluded with an assertion that with more efforts on the part of researchers and practitioners with regard to the systemic characteristic of equifinality embedded in the VAT system – the system can be made a more effective revenue generating machine.

Bankruptcy Dynamics in Japan: A System Estimation Approach

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

The number of bankruptcies in Japan fluctuates over time, and the characteristics of these fluctuations have not been sufficiently investigated. This paper intends to examine the trends in bankruptcies in Japan, with a particular focus on identifying the dynamic features of this series. Using quarterly data from 1975 to 2005, we first classify bankruptcies into three industrial sectors and two levels of firm size. Then, for each of these six (three by two) categories, we estimate a vector autoregression (VAR) system comprised of four economic variables (the Tokyo Stock Price Index (TOPIX) by industry, the break-even point ratio, the debt-equity ratio and the quick assets ratio) and the bankruptcy rate. The VAR is a simple but widely used approach for identifying the path and depth of interrelationships among economic time-series variables. We also construct impulse response functions, which enable us to assess the dynamic features of the system. In particular, considerable differences exist in both the strength and lag-structure of dynamic responses to shocks across different industrial sectors and firm sizes. It indicates that the total number and movement of bankruptcies reflect the accumulated impact of various shocks that have distinct response structures in each sector and firm size.

A Study of Market volatility and SMEs growth evaluation——Empirical Research of SMEs board

2007-08-01T14:04:00-07:00

SMEs board of Shenzhen Stock Exchange has been cared by market since May in 2004. Enterprises in SMEs board are influenced by market because their scales are small. This article evaluates the growth of the enterprises in the SMEs board by adding market volatility factor. On the basis of validity testing and comparatively analyzing for the two ranks, one of which consider factor of market volatility ,the other one of which does not consider factor of market volatility, we can conclude that the rank with the consider of market volatility is more effective. Making regression analysis of growth rank and market volatility, we find that growth rank and market volatility are obviously negative correlativity.