Showing papers in "Kybernetes in 2008"

Understanding project complexity: implications on project management

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to better identify, define and model complexity within the field of project management in order to manage better under conditions of complexity (and manage better complexity‐induced risks).Design/methodology/approach – An extensive literature review enlightens the lack of consensus on project complexity and thus provides a broad view and a critical analysis of the underlying concepts. A project complexity framework and definition are then proposed. After underlining the stakes of project complexity in accordance with these proposals, a project complexity model is then built notably due to systems analysis.Findings – Proposal of standard project complexity framework and definition. Proposal of a synthesis of the relationships between the concepts of project uncertainty and project complexity. Proposal of a project complexity model (and validation due to industrial application).Research limitations/implications – The literature review and project complexity framework t...

A new definition of the Adomian polynomials

Abstract: Purpose – To provide a new proof of convergence of the Adomian decomposition series for solving nonlinear ordinary and partial differential equations based upon a thorough examination of the historical milieu preceding the Adomian decomposition methodDesign/methodology/approach – Develops a theoretical background of the Adomian decomposition method under the auspices of the Cauchy‐Kovalevskaya theorem of existence and uniqueness for solution of differential equations Beginning from the concepts of a parametrized Taylor expansion series as previously introduced in the Murray‐Miller theorem based on analytic parameters, and the Banach‐space analog of the Taylor expansion series about a function instead of a constant as briefly discussed by Cherruault et al, the Adomian decompositions series and the series of Adomian polynomials are found to be a uniformly convergent series of analytic functions for the solution u and the nonlinear composite function f(u) To derive the unifying formula for the family of

On neutrosophic topology

Abstract: Purpose – Recently, Smarandache generalized the Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and other kinds of sets to neutrosophic sets (NSs). Also, this author defined the notion of neutrosophic topology on the non‐standard interval. One can expect some relation between the intuitionistic fuzzy topology (IFT) on an IFS and the neutrosophic topology. This paper aims to show that this is false.Design/methodology/approach – The possible relation between the IFT and the neutrosophic topology is studied.Findings – Relations on neutrosophic topology and IFT are found.Research limitations/implications – Clearly, this paper is confined to IFSs and NSs.Practical implications – The main applications are in the mathematical field.Originality/value – The paper shows original results on fuzzy sets and topology.

Towards the development of knee prostheses: review of current researches

Abstract: Purpose – The aim is to set a state‐of‐the‐art in scientific research towards the development of knee prostheses for transfemoral amputees, by reviewing the literature in the field and by identifying different scientific research lines that have brought out through the years. Also, to provide the information about possible outcomes in the near future, and their links to cybernetics, given the present trends in the field.Design/methodology/approach – Literature related to scientific research carried out up‐to‐date in the field of knee prostheses, is reviewed in scientific articles, books and electronic sources. Then, different research lines are identified from the obtained information, and finally classified as presented in this work.Findings – Three scientific research lines regarding the development of knee prostheses were found, each one dealing with: the design of knee prostheses; the performance assessment of these prostheses; and the creation of control strategies for these prostheses which use elec...

Advances in Biometrics: Sensors, Algorithms and Systems

Abstract: Book file PDF easily for everyone and every device. You can download and read online Advances in Biometrics: Sensors, Algorithms and Systems file PDF Book only if you are registered here. And also you can download or read online all Book PDF file that related with Advances in Biometrics: Sensors, Algorithms and Systems book. Happy reading Advances in Biometrics: Sensors, Algorithms and Systems Bookeveryone. Download file Free Book PDF Advances in Biometrics: Sensors, Algorithms and Systems at Complete PDF Library. This Book have some digital formats such us :paperbook, ebook, kindle, epub, fb2 and another formats. Here is The Complete PDF Book Library. It's free to register here to get Book file PDF Advances in Biometrics: Sensors, Algorithms and Systems.

Growing spanning trees in plasmodium machines

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the novel issues of executing graph optimization tasks on distributed simple growing biological systems.Design/methodology/approach – The author utilizes biological and physical processes to implement non‐classical, and in principle more powerful, computing devices. The author experimentally verifies his previously discovered techniques on approximating spanning trees during single cell ontogeny. Plasmodium, a vegetative stage of slime mold Physarum polycephalum, is used as experimental computing substrate to approximate spanning trees. Points of given data set are represented by positions of nutrient sources, then a plasmodium is placed on one of the data points. Plasmodium develops and span all sources of nutrients, connecting them by protoplasmic strands. The protoplasmic strands represent edges of the computed spanning tree.Findings – Offers experimental implementation of plasmodium devices for approximation of spanning tree.Practical implications – Th...

Planning successful partnership in the process of outsourcing

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to deal with the dynamic aspect of outsourcing – in the world of business, change is the only constant, nothing is permanent, which also holds true for the relationships in outsourcing. Thus, we should think about the consequences of the termination of such a relationship, which could be effected by both sides. This research is aimed at finding an answer to the question of what outsourcing can bring in the long run.Design/methodology/approach – The research for this paper is based on the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.Findings – The research results show that companies are ill‐prepared for the time when the cooperation between the outsourcing and insourcing company ends.Originality/value – The initial research has proved that outsourcing can bring about increased short‐term, especially financial, gains. But at the same time, the cause of poor quality and difficulties can also be concealed, and the reputation and success of the company can be ruined. ...

A B‐spline algorithm for the numerical solution of Fisher's equation

Abstract: Purpose – This paper seeks to develop an efficient B‐spline Galerkin scheme for solving the Fisher's equation, which is a nonlinear reaction diffusion equation describing the relation between the diffusion and nonlinear multiplication of a species.Design/methodology/approach – The solution domain is partitioned into uniform mesh and, using the quartic B‐spline functions, the Galerkin method is applied to the Fisher's equation.Findings – The method yields stable accurate solutions. Obtained results are acceptable and in unison with some earlier studies.Originality/value – Using the uniform mesh, quartic B‐spline Galerkin method is employed for finding the numerical solutions of Fisher's equation.

A requisitely holistic approach to marketing in terms of social well‐being

Abstract: Purpose – The paper aims to answer the following questions. Is marketing requisitely holistic? Marketing serves managers, governors, owners and employees as well as customers, suppliers and other stakeholders with its activities in order to help company increase well‐being of stakeholders. What about the broader society's well‐being and future? What will follow, once the innovative‐society phase of socio‐economic development creates affluence, which diminishes human ambition to work in order to have? Social responsibility might be the next step in achieving success.Design/methodology/approach – There are new forms of marketing (e.g. societal marketing; relationship marketing; cause‐related marketing; and green marketing) that could help humans accomplishing this task, to some extent. Marketing will have to detect, elaborate and disseminate new data, along with using them for its action; the paper does not tackle the latter, but marketing taking into account the social responsibility of the company in orde...

A mixed 0‐1 integer programming for inventory model: A case study of TFT‐LCD manufacturing company in Taiwan

Abstract: Purpose – This paper seeks to construct a model for inventory management for multiple periods. The model considers not only the usual parameters, but also price quantity discount, storage and batch size constraints.Design/methodology/approach – Mixed 0‐1 integer programming is applied to solve the multi‐period inventory problem and to determine an appropriate inventory level for each period. The total cost of materials in the system is minimized and the optimal purchase amount in each period is determined.Findings – The proposed model is applied in colour filter inventory management in thin film transistor‐liquid crystal display (TFT‐LCD) manufacturing because colour filter replenishment has the characteristics of price quantity discount, large product size, batch‐sized purchase and forbidden shortage in the plant. Sensitivity analysis of major parameters of the model is also performed to depict the effects of these parameters on the solutions.Practical implications – The proposed model can be tailored an...

Emerging order in CAS theory: mapping some perspectives

Abstract: – The aim is to investigate the state of complex adaptive system (CAS) theory in the organizational theory literature and to provide a map for future studies of CAS theory., – Abstracts were searched via electronic database and a range of recently published (1996‐2004) books and articles were identified that contained a relatively concise description of CAS. Content analysis is used to deconstruct the CAS descriptions into “component concepts.” Those concepts are analyzed from multiple viewpoints., – There is no single, shared, sense of CAS theory. Differing understandings of CAS theory are identified based on “expert version” and “most popularly identified concepts.” Also, differences and similarities are identified between an “academic” version of CAS and a version developed by those who are influenced by both academic learning and practical experience., – Study is limited to concise definitions of CAS, so could be improved by including more lengthy conversations. Additionally, study is limited to organizational theory, so may be less applicable in other disciplines., – When working within a CAS framework, academics should specify their CAS perspective to improve clarity of their work. When using a CAS framework to study organizations, researchers should include a comprehensive suite of concepts. Though not described in depth, no effective application of CAS for organizational change were found., – For those who study CAS theory and theory of theory, this paper provides an important benchmark by identifying a bifurcation in the evolution of CAS theory.

A service design framework for value co‐production: insight from mutualism perspective

Abstract: Purpose – This study proposes to discuss an up‐to‐date framework for service design as a means‐end tool for modeling, designing, and developing the service systems (e‐service) which can fulfil (semi‐)automated value co‐production between the service providers and the customers in a service. In order to achieve the goal of service innovation, this study raises concerns regarding how an innovative e‐service can be a systematic service process according to the proposed service design framework. However, the framework takes into account a novel service classification and individual criteria.Design/methodology/approach – This study addresses an intelligent service design using design science. According to the proposed framework, the service systems (e‐services) are implemented by simulation. In this study, either service classification or the counterparts of service performance measures emerged from the ecological symbiosis perspective through analytic and synthetic methods. The proposed service design framewo...

Systemic yoyo structure in human thoughts and the fourth crisis in mathematics

Abstract: Purpose – The paper aims to show the existence of the systemic yoyo structure in human thoughts so that the human way of thinking is proven to have the same structure as that of the material world.Design/methodology/approach – Parallel comparison is used to reveal the underlying structure existing in human thoughts.Findings – After highlighting all the relevant ideas and concepts, which are behind each and every crisis in the foundations of mathematics, it becomes clear that some difficulties in the authors' understanding of nature are originated from confusing actual infinities with potential infinities, and vice versa. By pointing out the similarities and differences between these two kinds of infinities, then some hidden contradictions existing in the system of modern mathematics are handily picked out. Then, theoretically, using the authors' yoyo model, it is predicted that the fourth crisis in the foundations of mathematics has appeared. And, a plan of resolution of this new crisis is provided.Origin...

Knowledge management via ontology development in accounting

Abstract: Purpose – This paper seeks to develop an ontological approach, in order to make it possible to share a common understanding of accounting theory, in this case, the specific structure of the profit and loss account among people or software agents.Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents an ontology methodology (the Net technique) which represents a semi‐structured element in the domain knowledge of accounting. More specifically, ontology will be used to explain the profit and loss account as a representation of the potential use of this methodology.Findings – To support ontology effectively, a strong accounting information support system in the organization is necessary. The ontology may be used by employees to navigate the information repository of an organization for the effective coordination. In addition, it might be possible for the WWW to be used to generate data, information and knowledge in the accounting domain.Practical implications – Software agents could extract and aggregate accountin...

Solutions to the problem of prey and predator and the epidemic model via differential transform method

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to solve both the prey and predator problem and the problem of the spread of a non‐fatal disease in a population which is assumed to have constant size over the period of the epidemic.Design/methodology/approach – The differential transform method (DTM) is employed to compute an approximation to the solutions of the systems of nonlinear ordinary differential equations of these problems.Findings – Results obtained using the scheme presented here agree well with the results obtained by the Adomian decomposition and power series methods. Some plots are presented to show the reliability and simplicity of the method.Originality/value – This paper is believed to represent a new application for DTM on solving systems of nonlinear ordinary differential equations.

Elements of a cybernetic epistemology: Decisions, control and principles of societal organization

Abstract: Purpose – The paper seeks to put together cybernetics principles determining the possibilities of interaction between two or more goal‐oriented systems to show that they are determining the patterns of societal organization, too. Design/methodology/approach – Goal‐orientation and decision‐rules, as found in simple feedback systems, and Ashby's Law of requisite variety are repeatedly applied to investigate the cybernetic possibilities for the interaction and organization of goal‐oriented systems. Findings – The interaction of goal‐oriented systems can lead directly to conflict, cooperation or hierarchy. Out of conflict and cooperation there is a further tendency to develop hierarchies. And in a diversifying environment a hierarchical higher system can grow, get suppressive or perish. It is shown how all this abstract cybernetic reasoning applies to societal organization, too: laws follow the form of decision‐rules of feedback systems. Institutions making laws have to define the elements of such decision‐rules. And societal organization processes for solving conflicts face exactly the options derived from the interaction of goal‐oriented systems. Practical implications – The goals and the goal‐oriented decisions pursued by a “system” like a person or an institution, are identified as the most important cybernetic determinants to explain seemingly complex phenomena like societal organization. Originality/value – The paper shows that just a few cybernetics principles determining the possibilities of interaction between two or more goal‐oriented systems suffice to analyze and explain processes of societal differentiation and organization.

QoS rate allocation in computer networks under uncertainty

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the problem of rate allocation (RA) in computer networks in cases when some parameters are unknown or their values are imprecise.Design/methodology/approach – The application of uncertain variables for the RA problems in computer networks in the presence of uncertainty is proposed.Findings – Decision‐making problem formulations for RA in computer networks with unknown parameters of the utility functions and bandwidths based on the network utility maximization concept are given. Solution algorithms for all these problems are proposed.Research limitations/implications – It is assumed that an expert can describe possible values of unknown network parameters in the form of a certainty distribution. Then, the formalism of uncertain variables is applied and the knowledge of an expert is modelled with certainty distributions.Practical implications – The RA algorithms obtained can be useful for designing and planning computer networks.Originality/value – The new a...

Toward a formal theory of socioculture: A yin‐yang information‐based theory of social change

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to initiate a new, formal theory of sociocultural physics.Design/methodology/approach – Its intended scope is limited to predicting either long‐term, large‐scale or short‐term, small‐scale sociocultural events. The theory that the authors develop, called sociohistory, links three independent but relatable approaches: part of Sorokin's epistemological theory of sociocultural dynamics, Frieden's epistemological theory of extreme physical information (EPI), and Yolles's social viable systems (SVS) theory.Findings – Although not all of Sorokin's ideas are universally accepted, a subset of them is found to be extremely useful for describing the conceptual context of complex systems. This includes how sociocultural processes link closely into political processes.Research limitations/implications – The theory that develops helps explain how opposing, cultural enantiomers or yin‐yang forces (represented, for instance, by the polar mindsets represented in Islamic fundamentalism and global...

Descriptive definitions of potential and actual infinities

Abstract: Purpose – The paper's purpose is to analyze the concepts of potential and actual infinities.Design/methodology/approach – The exploration and research on potential and actual infinities generally touch on many disciplines, such as philosophy, logic, computer science, mathematics, etc. From the angle of a brief history, recall and development, the authors analyze the concepts of potential and actual infinities on one starting point and two locations to cut in.Findings – Clarify the difference and connection of these two infinities on the level of mathematics and introduce the symbolized, descriptive definitions for potential and actual infinities.Originality/value – It is the first time that the difference between the concepts of potential and actual infinities are clarified, which leads to the discovery of the fourth crisis in the foundations of mathematics.

Dialectal system approach supporting environmental innovation for sustainable development

Abstract: Purpose – Research deals with aspects of systemic thinking that explain environmental innovation in organizations, especially in the construction sector. The paper aims to address the issues.Design/methodology/approach – The research for this paper is based on the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, dialectal systems theory (DST), environmental management systems (EMS), life cycle analysis (LCA) and recycling.Findings – The research results show that systemic thinking (and environmental innovations) are still a novelty; it can be regarded as an engine for novel changes in social, economic and political arrangements in companies and other organizations as well as for society as a whole. Research is aimed at finding an answer to the question: what dialectal system approach can bring in the long‐run sustainable development?Research limitations/implications – Research was limited to management of construction.Practical implications – Environmental innovation efficiency and processes ...

On the market economy development parametrical regulation theory

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer the theory of a parametrical regulation of market economy development, and the results of the theory development and usage.Design/methodology/approach – Theoretical results of the abstract have been obtained by way of applying the theory of ordinary differential equations, geometrical methods in variation tasks and the theory of dynamic systems. These results have been used for solving a number of practical tasks.Findings – The market economy development parametrical regulation theory structure has been offered. The approach to parametrical regulation of a nonlinear dynamic system's development has been suggested. An assumption about the existence of solution to the task of calculus of variations on the choice of the optimum laws of parametrical regulation within the given finite set of algorithms has been set forward. An assumption about the conditions sufficient for the existence of an extremal's bifurcation point of the task of calculus of variations on t...