Reliability factors in business software: volatility, requirements and end-users

Many business-oriented software applications are subject to frequent changes in requirements. This paper shows that, ceteris paribus, increases in the volatility of system requirements decrease the reliability of software. Further, systems that exhibit high volatility during the development phase are likely to have lower reliability during their operational phase. In addition to the typically higher volatility of requirements, end-users who specify the requirements of business-oriented systems are usually less technically oriented than people who specify the requirements of compilers, radar tracking systems or medical equipment. Hence, the characteristics of software reliability problems for business-oriented systems are likely to differ significantly from those of more technically oriented systems.

A model of factors affecting an information system's change in state

Management are keen to maximize the life span of an information system because of the high cost, organizational disruption, and risk of failure associated with the re-development or replacement of an information system. This research investigates the effects that various factors have on an information system's life span by understanding how the factors affect an information system's stability. The research builds on a previously developed two-stage model of information system change whereby an information system is either in a stable state of evolution in which the information system's functionality is evolving, or in a state of revolution, in which the information system is being replaced because it is not providing the functionality expected by its users. A case study surveyed a number of systems within one organization. The aim was to test whether a relationship existed between the base value of the volatility index (a measure of the stability of an information system) and certain system characteristics. Data relating to some 3000 user change requests covering 40 systems over a 10-year period were obtained. The following factors were hypothesized to have significant associations with the base value of the volatility index: language level (generation of language of construction), system size, system age, and the timing of changes applied to a system. Significant associations were found in the hypothesized directions except that the timing of user changes was not associated with any change in the value of the volatility index. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

Determination of the hemispheric character (i.e. southern or northern latitudinal position) of equatorial ionosonde stations as deduced from long-term recordings of the minimum height of the F-region (h ' F)

The virtual (or minimum) height of the F-region (h'F), recorded over a number of solar cycles for I I equatorial and mid-latitude ionosonde stations, was used to deduce the hemispheric (i.e. southern or northern hemisphere) character of equatorial stations. The semi-annual median monthly height (h'F) variations consist of two components: major local summer maximum and winter sub-maximum (about 5 percent of the summer maximum). This hemispheric pattern was most consistently observed for equatorial stations (within 5degrees of the geomagnetic equator) in a period centred on the local midnight (21-03 LT) but was also present, to a lesser extent, at mid-latitude stations and at other time intervals. It is evident that the physical parameter h'F defines the hemispheric character of an equatorial station which has different (sometimes opposite) geographic and geomagnetic latitudes. There is a sharp transition in the latitudinal character of the stations on both sides of the equator leading to hypothesis that the equal maxima in h'F in December and June solstices are observed at a near-equator position labelled as ionosonde deduced equator (IDE). Such a signature was observed for an American equatorial (both geographic and geomagnetic) station Talara (Peru) which is an experimental support of the hypothesis. The IDE can be another useful parameter characterising the equatorial ionosphere. This finding reveals a new application of the standard ionosonde data in defining the geophysical character of equatorial stations, being an important contribution to space climatology. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Review of "Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reduction"

Review of Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reductionbby K. STRATTON, P. SHEATHE, R. WALLACE & S. BANDURANT Washington DC, National Academy Press, 2001, xix + 636 pp, US$49.95, ISBN 0309 07282 4 (hbk)

Infusing the use of seasonal climate forecasting into crop management practice in North East Australia using discussion support software

Seasonal climate forecasting offers potential for improving management of crop production risks in the cropping systems of NE Australia. But how is this capability best connected to management practice? Over the past decade, we have pursued participative systems approaches involving simulation-aided discussion with advisers and decision-makers. This has led to the development of discussion support software as a key vehicle for facilitating infusion of forecasting capability into practice. In this paper, we set out the basis of our approach, its implementation and preliminary evaluation. We outline the development of the discussion support software Whopper Cropper, which was designed for, and in close consultation with, public and private advisers. Whopper Cropper consists of a database of simulation output and a graphical user interface to generate analyses of risks associated with crop management options. The charts produced provide conversation pieces for advisers to use with their farmer clients in relation to the significant decisions they face. An example application, detail of the software development process and an initial survey of user needs are presented. We suggest that discussion support software is about moving beyond traditional notions of supply-driven decision support systems. Discussion support software is largely demand-driven and can compliment participatory action research programs by providing cost-effective general delivery of simulation-aided discussions about relevant management actions. The critical role of farm management advisers and dialogue among key players is highlighted. We argue that the discussion support concept, as exemplified by the software tool Whopper Cropper and the group processes surrounding it, provides an effective means to infuse innovations, like seasonal climate forecasting, into farming practice. Crown Copyright (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Radio frequency plasma-induced hydrogen bonding on kaolinite

The radio frequency (RF) plasma-modified surfaces of kaolinite were investigated by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT) and deuteration techniques to determine the nature of RF plasma-induced surface functional groups, the altered sites in the lattice, and interaction mechanism between RF plasma and the surface of the kaolinite. It has been concluded that the RF plasma-induced infrared (IR) vibration absorption bands at 2805, 3010, and 3100 cm(-1) are attributable to the stretching vibration of hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl groups, and the band at 1407 cm(-1) is attributable to the bending vibration of (HO-)Al-O or (HO-)Si-O groupings with hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl groups. Structural alteration occurred on both the surface and subsurface region of the kaolinite during RF plasma treatment. Further structural alteration or adjustment was also observed on well-modified and well-deuterated kaolinite. There are two types of OD bands visible in the DRIFT spectra of this kaolinite, one type which decreased rapidly as a function of time in moist air, and the other which remained unchanged during the measurement. Furthermore, the appearance of broad IR bands at 3500-3100 cm(-1) as a result of deuteration is evidence of structural disturbance by RF plasma treatment lattice deuteration. An RF plasma-induced hydrogen bonding model on the surface of the kaolinite is proposed.

Synthesis and characterization of mono- and bis-ligand zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of the di-2-pyridylketone Schiff base of S-benzyl dithiocarbazate (Hdpksbz) and the X-ray crystal structures of the [Zn(dpksbz)2] and [Cd(dpksbz)NCS]2 complexes

New mono- and bis-chelated zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of formula, [M(dpksbz)NCS] (dpksbz = anionic form of the di-2-pyridylketone Schiff base of S-benzyldithiocarbazate) and [M(dpksbz)(2)] (M = Zn-II, Cd-II) have been prepared and characterized. The structure of the bis-ligand complex, [Zn(dpksbZ)(2)] has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a distorted octahedral geometry in which the ligands are coordinated to the zinc(II) ion as uninegatively charged tridentate chelates via the thiolate sulfur atoms, the azomethine nitrogen atoms and the pyridine nitrogen atoms. The distortion from a regular octahedral geometry is attributed to the restricted bite angles of the Schiff base ligands. X-ray structural analysis shows that the [Cd(dpksbz)NCS](2) complex is a centrosymmetric dimer in which each of the cadmium(II) ions adopts a five-coordinate, approximately square-pyramidal configuration with the Schiff base acting as a tetradentate chelating agent coordinating a cadmium(II) ion via one of the pyridine nitrogen atoms, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulfur atom; the second pyridine nitrogen atom is coordinated to the other cadmium(II) ion of the dimer. The fifth coordination position around each cadmium(II) is occupied by an N-bonded thiocyanate ligand. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous observations of ionospheric quasiperiodic scintillations from short and long meridional baselines using VHF transmissions from transit satellites

For the first time it was possible to observe regular quasiperiodic scintillations (QPS) in VHF radio-satellite transmissions from orbiting satellites simultaneously at short (2.1 km) and long (121 km) meridional baselines in the vicinity of a typical mid-latitude station (Brisbane; 27.5degreesS and 152.9degreesE geog. and 35.6degrees invar.lat.), using three sites (St. Lucia-S, Taringa-T in Brisbane and Boreen Pt.-B, north of Brisbane). A few pronounced quasiperiodic (QP) events were recorded showing unambiguous regular structures at the sites which made it possible to deduce a time displacement of the regular fading minimum at S, T and B. The QP structure is highly dependent on the geometry of the ray-path from a satellite to the observer which is manifested as a change of a QP event from symmetrical to non-symmetrical for stations separated by 2.1 km, and to a radical change in the structure of the event over a distance of 121 km. It is suggested the short-duration intense QP events are due to a Fresnel diffraction (or a reflection mechanism) of radio-satellite signals by a single ionospheric irregularity in a form of an ellipsoid with a large ionization gradient along the major axis. The structure of a QP event depends on the angle of viewing of the irregular blob from a radio-satellite. In view of this it is suggested that the reported variety of the ionization formation, responsible for different types of QPS, is only apparent but not real. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Portal do software p??blico brasileiro

O Portal do Software P??blico Brasileiro consolida-se como uma iniciativa que conseguiu criar um ambiente comum para compartilhar solu????es de software no setor p??blico, racionalizar a gest??o dos recursos de inform??tica, reaproveitar as solu????es de software existentes para diminuir custos e atividades redundantes, estabelecer parcerias e a????es cooperadas, refor??ar a pol??tica p??blica de estimular o uso de software livre e definir uma forma de licenciamento de software que sustente o compartilhamento de solu????es entre os ??rg??os do setor p??blico de acordo com as prerrogativas legais brasileiras e a Constitui????o Federal. Esta iniciativa trouxe como inova????o o compartilhamento de ???software p??blico???, que oficializou um novo modelo de licenciamento e de gest??o das solu????es desenvolvidas na administra????o p??blica, estabelecendo parceria entre diversos ??rg??os, institui????es, empresas e cidad??os, e hoje conta com mais de 100 mil participantes

Programa de apoio ao desenvolvimento de novas empresas de base tecnol??gica agropecu??ria e ?? transfer??ncia de tecnologia (Proeta)

Em dezembro de 2001, o Proeta foi criado pela Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecu??ria (Embrapa) com apoio financeiro do Fundo Multilateral de Investimentos do Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (Fumin/BID), por meio de um acordo de coopera????o t??cnica n??o-reembols??vel. O programa tem o objetivo de contribuir para a transfer??ncia de tecnologias e conhecimentos gerados pela Embrapa para empreendimentos de base tecnol??gica, mediante a utiliza????o do processo de incuba????o de empresas. Para concretizar a iniciativa, foram estabelecidas experi??ncias-piloto em cinco unidades de pesquisa da Embrapa, estrategicamente situadas nas regi??es Nordeste, Centro-Oeste e Sudeste. Entre os resultados e avan??os obtidos merecem destaque 21 tecnologias disponibilizadas, 14 conv??nios firmados com incubadoras, 16 propostas de neg??cios apresentadas, 14 empresas pr??-selecionadas e incubadas, e uma empresa graduada. A consolida????o das alian??as e parcerias no processo de incuba????o resultou em um sistema de inova????o que auxilia o desenvolvimento sustent??vel da cadeia produtiva do agroneg??cio, gerando benef??cios para a sociedade em geral

Programa de Racionaliza????o de Processos com base na Aprendizagem Organizacional: PRPAO

O Programa de Racionaliza????o de Processos com base na Aprendizagem Organizacional (PRPAO), unindo os princ??pios da organiza????o racional e da organiza????o de aprendizagem, teve como objetivo levantar e aplicar os meios mais eficientes para a consecu????o das tarefas di??rias, incorporando conhecimentos e novas pr??ticas de gest??o ?? organiza????o. Por ocasi??o de sua implementa????o, primeiramente procurou-se identificar a forma como as atividades eram realizadas; em seguida, detectar as id??ias e os conhecimentos existentes para melhoria dessas atividades; e, por ??ltimo, por meio de prioriza????es, implementar as mudan??as sugeridas. O principal recurso utilizado nesse programa foi o humano, sobretudo voltado para capacidade de gerir id??ias, n??o havendo, no momento, necessidade de despesas extras com consultoria. Os resultados foram surpreendentes, pois medidas simples trouxeram uma redu????o no tempo gasto, de mais de 80%, em determinados processos e uma economia de recursos financeiros superior a 20%

Produtividade e sa??de financeira: a import??ncia da venda de servi??os pela Base Naval de Natal para clientes extra: Marinha

A Marinha, com sua vis??o para o futuro e preocupada com a dificuldade de mensura????o dos custos de suas organiza????es industriais e prestadoras de servi??os, instituiu, a partir de 1994, o sistema de Organiza????es Militares Prestadoras de Servi??os (OMPS). Nesse contexto, a base Naval de Natal (BNN) precisou encontrar propostas que a mantivesse superavit??ria. Para tal, tornou-se necess??rio o engajamento de todos os n??veis da OM para, dentro de uma vis??o sist??mica de mensura????o existente, atingir um desempenho global satisfat??rio. Ap??s a implanta????o da iniciativa, alcan??ou-se o aumento substancial do faturamento, com rela????o aos clientes extra-Marinha, a redu????o dos prazos de prontifica????o dos servi??os prestados, sem queda na qualidade e com a constante preocupa????o de se verificar o n??vel de satisfa????o do cliente; o incremento da terceiriza????o consciente; o surgimento de parcerias com a iniciativa privada que geraram a otimiza????o da capacidade instalada em algumas oficinas; maior agilidade no processo de obten????o, devido a uma melhor coordena????o entre as ??reas industrial e de log??stica; e a possibilidade de investimentos na ??rea industrial e nas condi????es de trabalho,em decorr??ncia do aumento da produtividade

Uma base para o desenvolvimento de estrat??gias de aprendizagem para a gest??o de riscos no servi??o p??blico

Este Caderno traz o relat??rio elaborado pela Mesa-Redonda de Pesquisa A????o sobre Gest??o de Riscos, do Centro Canadense para o Desenvolvimento da Gest??odo Canad??, que objetiva principalmente avaliar as v??rias iniciativas e estudos realizados, identificar princ??pios b??sicos e pr??ticas positivas e definir mecanismos para estimular a divulga????o de estudos te??ricos e medidas pr??ticas no campo da gest??o de riscos