The interorganizational virtual organization: Defining a Weberian ideal

The concept of the virtual organization (VO) has engendered great interest in the literature, yet there is still little common understanding of the concept, as evidenced by the multitude of labels applied to VOs. In this article, we focus on a “Weberian-ideal-type” definition of the interorganizational VO, posited in our earlier work (Kasper-Fuehrer and Ashkanasy 2001). We argue, however, that this definition left unanswered critical questions relating to the nature and effects of interorganizational VOs. We answer these questions here by explicating the terms in the definition and deriving ten corollaries, or “natural consequences” of our definition. The corollaries posit that interorganizational VOs are temporary in nature, are network organizations, are independent, and are based on swift trust. We suggest further that interorganizational VOs enable small to medium enterprises to exploit market opportunities, and enable VO member organizations to create a value-adding partnership. We also identify information and communication technology (ICT) as the essential enabler of VOs. Finally, we argue that interorganizational VOs act as a single organizational unit and that they therefore constitute a uniquely distinguishable organizational form. We conclude with suggestions for further research, including trust, organizational behavior, transaction economics, virtual HRM, and business strategy.

Existence of Multiple Solutions for Second Order Boundary Value Problems

We give conditions on f involving pairs of lower and upper solutions which lead to the existence of at least three solutions of the two point boundary value problem y" + f(x, y, y') = 0, x epsilon [0, 1], y(0) = 0 = y(1). In the special case f(x, y, y') = f(y) greater than or equal to 0 we give growth conditions on f and apply our general result to show the existence of three positive solutions. We give an example showing this latter result is sharp. Our results extend those of Avery and of Lakshmikantham et al.

Nodal solutions for nonlinear eigenvalue problems

We are concerned with determining values of, for which there exist nodal solutions of the boundary value problems u" + ra(t) f(u) = 0, 0 < t < 1, u(O) = u(1) = 0. The proof of our main result is based upon bifurcation techniques.

Exact solution of the A(n-1)((1)) trigonometric vertex model with non-diagonal open boundaries

The A(n-1)((1)) trigonometric vertex model with generic non-diagonal boundaries is studied. The double-row transfer matrix of the model is diagonalized by algebraic Bethe ansatz method in terms of the intertwiner and the corresponding face-vertex relation. The eigenvalues and the corresponding Bethe ansatz equations are obtained.

Useful representations of series solutions for transport problems

Simple techniques are presented for rearrangement of an infinite series in a systematic way such that the convergence of the resulting expression is accelerated. These procedures also allow calculation of required boundary derivatives. Several examples of conduction and diffusion-reaction problems illustrate the methods.

An improved novel method for solving nonlinear boundary value problems

A modified formula for the integral transform of a nonlinear function is proposed for a class of nonlinear boundary value problems. The technique presented in this paper results in analytical solutions. Iterations and initial guess, which are needed in other techniques, are not required in this novel technique. The analytical solutions are found to agree surprisingly well with the numerically exact solutions for two examples of power law reaction and Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction in a catalyst pellet.

Non-Equilibrium Reaction Rates in the Macroscopic Chemistry Method for DSMC Calculations

The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is used to simulate the flow of rarefied gases. In the Macroscopic Chemistry Method (MCM) for DSMC, chemical reaction rates calculated from local macroscopic flow properties are enforced in each cell. Unlike the standard total collision energy (TCE) chemistry model for DSMC, the new method is not restricted to an Arrhenius form of the reaction rate coefficient, nor is it restricted to a collision cross-section which yields a simple power-law viscosity. For reaction rates of interest in aerospace applications, chemically reacting collisions are generally infrequent events and, as such, local equilibrium conditions are established before a significant number of chemical reactions occur. Hence, the reaction rates which have been used in MCM have been calculated from the reaction rate data which are expected to be correct only for conditions of thermal equilibrium. Here we consider artificially high reaction rates so that the fraction of reacting collisions is not small and propose a simple method of estimating the rates of chemical reactions which can be used in the Macroscopic Chemistry Method in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. Two tests are presented: (1) The dissociation rates under conditions of thermal non-equilibrium are determined from a zero-dimensional Monte-Carlo sampling procedure which simulates ‘intra-modal’ non-equilibrium; that is, equilibrium distributions in each of the translational, rotational and vibrational modes but with different temperatures for each mode; (2) The 2-D hypersonic flow of molecular oxygen over a vertical plate at Mach 30 is calculated. In both cases the new method produces results in close agreement with those given by the standard TCE model in the same highly nonequilibrium conditions. We conclude that the general method of estimating the non-equilibrium reaction rate is a simple means by which information contained within non-equilibrium distribution functions predicted by the DSMC method can be included in the Macroscopic Chemistry Method.

Prevention of child behavior problems through universal implementation of a group behavioral family intervention.

The aim of this mental health promotion initiative was to evaluate the effectiveness of a universally delivered group behavioral family intervention (BFI) in preventing behavior problems in children. This study investigates the transferability of an efficacious clinical program to a universal prevention intervention delivered through child and community health services targeting parents of preschoolers within a metropolitan health region. A quasiexperimental two-group (BFI, n=804 vs. Comparison group, n=806) longitudinal design followed preschool aged children and their parents over a 2-year period. BFI was associated with significant reductions in parent-reported levels of dysfunctional parenting and parent-reported levels of child behavior problems. Effect sizes on child behavior problems ranged from large (.83) to moderate (.47). Positive and significant effects were also observed in parent mental health, marital adjustment, and levels of child rearing conflict. Findings are discussed with respect to their implication for significant population reductions in child behavior problems as well as the pragmatic challenges for prevention science in encouraging both the evaluation and uptake of preventive initiatives in real world settings.

A review of the use of the basic cation saturation ratio and the "ideal" soil

The use of 'balanced' Ca, Mg, and K ratios, as prescribed by the basic cation saturation ratio (BCSR) concept, is still used by some private soil-testing laboratories for the interpretation of soil analytical data. This review aims to examine the suitability of the BCSR concept as a method for the interpretation of soil analytical data. According to the BCSR concept, maximum plant growth will be achieved only when the soil’s exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K concentrations are approximately 65 % Ca, 10 % Mg, and 5 % K (termed the ‘ideal soil’). This ‘ideal soil’ was originally proposed by Firman Bear and co-workers in New Jersey (USA) during the 1940s as a method of reducing luxury K uptake by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). At about the same time, William Albrecht, working in Missouri (USA), concluded through his own investigations that plants require a soil with a high Ca saturation for optimal growth. Whilst it now appears that several of Albrecht’s experiments were fundamentally flawed, the BCSR (‘balanced soil’) concept has been widely promoted, suggesting that the prescribed cationic ratios provide optimum chemical, physical, and biological soil properties. Our examination of data from numerous studies (particularly those of Albrecht and Bear, themselves) would suggest that, within the ranges commonly found in soils, the chemical, physical, and biological fertility of a soil is generally not influenced by the ratios of Ca, Mg, and K. The data do not support the claims of the BCSR, and continued promotion of the BCSR will result in the inefficient use of resources in agriculture and horticulture.

Compliance aware business process design

Historically, business process design has been driven by business objectives, specifically process improvement. However this cannot come at the price of control objectives which stem from various legislative, standard and business partnership sources. Ensuring the compliance to regulations and industrial standards is an increasingly important issue in the design of business processes. In this paper, we advocate that control objectives should be addressed at an early stage, i.e., design time, so as to minimize the problems of runtime compliance checking and consequent violations and penalties. To this aim, we propose supporting mechanisms for business process designers. This paper specifically presents a support method which allows the process designer to quantitatively measure the compliance degree of a given process model against a set of control objectives. This will allow process designers to comparatively assess the compliance degree of their design as well as be better informed on the cost of non-compliance.

How to unravel and solve soil fertility problems

This book provides a way for farmers in developing countries to benefit from scientific knowledge on plant nutrition and soil fertility. Specifically, it will help farmers recognise and deal with shortages or excesses of chemical elements.

Theory manual to OctVCE – a cartesian cell CFD code with special application to blast wave problems, Department of Mechanical Engineering Report 2007/12

OctVCE is a cartesian cell CFD code produced especially for numerical simulations of shock and blast wave interactions with complex geometries, in particular, from explosions. Virtual Cell Embedding (VCE) was chosen as its cartesian cell kernel for its simplicity and sufficiency for practical engineering design problems. The code uses a finite-volume formulation of the unsteady Euler equations with a second order explicit Runge-Kutta Godonov (MUSCL) scheme. Gradients are calculated using a least-squares method with a minmod limiter. Flux solvers used are AUSM, AUSMDV and EFM. No fluid-structure coupling or chemical reactions are allowed, but gas models can be perfect gas and JWL or JWLB for the explosive products. This report also describes the code’s ‘octree’ mesh adaptive capability and point-inclusion query procedures for the VCE geometry engine. Finally, some space will also be devoted to describing code parallelization using the shared-memory OpenMP paradigm. The user manual to the code is to be found in the companion report 2007/13.