Knowledge in software-maintenance outsourcing projects: beyond integration of business and technical knowledge

Knowledge processes are critical to outsourced software projects. According to outsourcing research, outsourced software projects succeed if they manage to integrate the client’s business knowledge and the vendor’s technical knowledge. In this paper, we submit that this view may not be wrong, but incomplete in a significant part of outsourced software work, which is software maintenance. Data from six software-maintenance outsourcing transitions indicate that more important than business or technical knowledge can be application knowledge, which vendor engineers acquire over time during practice. Application knowledge was the dominant knowledge during knowledge transfer activities and its acquisition enabled vendor staff to solve maintenance tasks. We discuss implications for widespread assumptions in outsourcing research.

Knowledge representation through graphs

Due to the increasing amount of data, knowledge aggregation, representation and reasoning are highly important for companies. In this paper, knowledge aggregation is presented as the first step. In the sequel, successful knowledge representation, for instance through graphs, enables knowledge-based reasoning. There exist various forms of knowledge representation through graphs; some of which allow to handle uncertainty and imprecision by invoking the technology of fuzzy sets. The paper provides an overview of different types of graphs stressing their relationships and their essential features.

Applying the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process in digital marketing

The fuzzy analytical network process (FANP) is introduced as a potential multi-criteria-decision-making (MCDM) method to improve digital marketing management endeavors. Today’s information overload makes digital marketing optimization, which is needed to continuously improve one’s business, increasingly difficult. The proposed FANP framework is a method for enhancing the interaction between customers and marketers (i.e., involved stakeholders) and thus for reducing the challenges of big data. The presented implementation takes realities’ fuzziness into account to manage the constant interaction and continuous development of communication between marketers and customers on the Web. Using this FANP framework, the marketers are able to increasingly meet the varying requirements of their customers. To improve the understanding of the implementation, advanced visualization methods (e.g., wireframes) are used.

Enhancing multidirectional communication for cognitive cities

This paper presents the technical background and functionality of a meta-application (meta-app) for cognitive cities. This app enhances communication and thereby facilitates e-governance. This paper focuses on a user-centered implementation of the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) by presenting its technical specifications in relation with cognitive cities. For didactical reasons, a use case from the user perspective is included. Finally the findings are summed up and future work is presented

Smart Cities – Ein Überblick!

Nach einer kurzen Begriffsfassung von Smart Cities gehen wir basierend auf den folgenden Beiträgen dieses Heftes auf verschiedene Eigenschaften einer solchen smarten Stadt ein. Dadurch versuchen wir den Ist-Zustand dieser Städte zu dokumentieren. Damit die jeweiligen Stakeholder (strategische) Entscheide treffen können, widmen wir danach ein Kapitel den Chancen und Risiken von Smart Cities. Anhand einer Studie des Europäischen Parlaments zeigen wir nachfolgend entsprechende Bestrebungen aus Europa auf. Anschliessend präsentieren wir eine Best-Practice-Roadmap für die Realisierung von Smart Cities. Zum Schluss zeichnen wir auf einer konnektivistischen Lern- und Kognitionstheorie aufbauend einen Weg zur Cognitive City der Zukunft. Dabei wird der Mensch nicht als isoliertes, sondern als vernetztes Individuum gesehen. Dies begünstigt die Weiterentwicklung von Smart Cities zu Städten, welche aktiv und selbstständig lernen und dadurch automatisch auf Veränderungen ihrer Umwelt reagieren können.

Pralines from a smaller gift box taste better

This study shows that taste ratings of repeatedly chosen pralines decrease more when the gift box is large compared to small. Within their first choices consumers select the most preferred praline less often from the large assortment. These results are discussed in the light of variety seeking and dysfunctional choice.