International outsourcing of information technology services : review and future directions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the development of the empirical literature on international outsourcing of information technology services (ITS) over the 1992-2007 period and to identify future research areas.

Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 78 empirical academic publications on international outsourcing of ITS conducted between 1992 and 2007 across 46 scholarly journals constitutes the main data for analytical purposes. The sample is compiled following extensive electronic searches of the main academic databases. After clustering the studies in the sample according to their main research areas, a narrative approach is used to review developments in each cluster and to identify emerging research areas.

Findings – Four main areas of research are identified, namely outsourcing decision, outsourcing management (OSM), outsourcing outcome and the role of offshore service providers (OSPs). The review suggests that research efforts to date have been predominantly on outsourcing decision and OSM, mostly from the perspective of clients. Future research opportunities exist in the areas of outsourcing strategy and performance, the behaviour and performance of OSPs particularly within the context of firms from less-developed countries competing globally, and the nature of competition among OSPs both within and among countries.

Originality/value – This is the first review which focuses on empirical studies of outsourcing for ITS. This paper identifies several gaps in the literature and points to the need for more research on outsourcing from the perspective of OSPs.

Plasma research at Deakin University : diverse applications and team spirit

A new plasma laboratory has been established in the Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) at Deakin University, Geelong. The two major research themes are (1) tailoring of surfaces/interfaces with new functionality, and (2) fabrication/doping of nanomaterials. The aim is to meet the challenge of better performing materials in applications ranging from energy, biomedicine and nanotechnology to composites, transport and textiles. Plasma technology offers an alternative to conventional approaches and its success depends on an improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms. We promote a team spirit in which different experts harmoniously work together. More than thirty PhD studies and collaborative projects have been undertaken and proposed since 2009 - within IFM, across the University and with outside research organisations nationally and internationally.

Occupational light vehicle-use: a research driven strategy to improve surveillance and inform policy

Background: Occupational light vehicles (OLV) are light passenger and loadshaped vehicles used for work. The OLV-associated injury burden is as great as that of heavy vehicle users, but has been largely ignored by occupational health and safety (OHS) regulators. Contingent employment growth has accentuated existing gaps in the policy framework between OHS and road-safety. Frequent burden shifting from OHS to road-related health systems undermines the evidence base necessary to inform policy development. Aims: To provide evidence-based recommendations for the collection of OLVuser surveillance data and to underpin OHS procedures and policies for OLVusers. Method: The literature was systematically analyzed to identify OLV-user OHS policy and practice gaps. Strategies to improve and co-ordinate surveillance systems were developed to address the identified limitations. Results: Gaps were identified in OLV-user legislation, data collection, and riskmanagement. These require strategies to improve identification of all OLV-users and to co-ordinate surveillance and OHS practice. Discussion: Contemporary reform of road and OHS, policy, provides a timely opportunity for the implementation of strategic responses to this serious road safety and occupational, public health problem.

Research of a new type rectifier and voltage-multiplier piezoelectric energy harvester circuit

Traditional rectifier circuit can convert AC to DC, but some disadvantages can't be avoided, such as small output current, high power consumption, low conversion efficiency. This paper designs a new type of rectifier voltage-multiplier circuit named MR MOS circuit. It uses a low let-through resistance MOS tube to replace the conventional rectifier diode, and adds the voltage-multiplying factor to the synchronous input port. Therefore, it can improve the rectifier effect and increase the output voltage. By the simulation result of Synopsys Saber Platform, it shows that the new type circuit can implement the rectification and voltage-multiplying by the simulating output pulse voltage of nano fiber made in Deakin University as the source of excitation. It can provide the basic theoretical of the piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) development, and has certain reference significance to the development of piezoelectricity technology. © (2014) Trans Tech Publications.

Digitech, remix and design research for course /program-wide thinking and enhancement

This paper describes the initial stage of an exploratory investigation in which the authors aim to build course/program-wide thinking into a process aimed at supporting, documenting and sharing technology-rich practices, innovative teaching and active student learning. The investigation uses a remix lens, in an attempt to creatively consider the manipulation of resources and approaches for reuse, while supporting consistency across subjects/units within a course. The authors are working within Deakin University’s Course Enhancement Process, which is a major university-wide initiative that includes a framework of collaborative teams comprising academic and resourcing specialists working with faculty academic leaders. The Course Enhancement Process is flexible in its implementation and the authors aim to use the process to build a sustainable course-wide sharing and thinking approach within the Business and Law faculty at Deakin University, Australia.

Mexican cement industry (technology, market structure and growth)

Includes bibliography

Argentine cement industry (technology, market structure and growth)

Includes bibliography

What is Practice Research in Social Work - Definitions, Barriers and Possibilities

Practice is subject to increasing pressure to demonstrate its ability to achieve outcomes required by public policy makers. As part of this process social work practice has to engage with issues around advancing knowledge-based learning processes in a close collaboration with education and research based perspectives. This has given rise to approaches seeking to combine research methodology, field research and practical experience. Practice research is connected to both “the science of the concrete” – a field of research oriented towards subjects more than objects and “mode 2 knowledge production” – an application-oriented research where frameworks and findings are discussed by a number of partners. Practice research is defined into two approaches: practice research – collaboration between practice and research – and practitioner research – processes controlled and accomplished by practitioners. The basic stakeholders in practice research are social workers, service users, administrators, management, organisations, politicians and researchers. Accordingly, practice research is necessarily collaborative, involving a meeting point for different views, interests and needs, where complexity and dilemmas are inherent. Instead of attempting to balance or reconcile these differences, it is important to respect the differences if collaboration is to be established. The strength of both practice and research in practice research is to address these difficult challenges. The danger for both fields is to avoid and reject them.

Clusters and Innovation: Beijing's Hi-technology Industry Cluster and Guangzhou's Automobile Industry Cluster

This paper proposes a flowchart approach to the automobile industry cluster policy and the hi-technology industry cluster policy to prioritize policy measures. First, in the automobile industry cluster, suppliers of parts and components to anchor firms such as Honda, Nissan and Toyota of Japanese assembly makers in Guangzhou, China, can innovate partly because the suppliers have become independent of their anchor firms in the Japanese Keiretsu system. Second, concerning the hi-technology industry clustering in Beijing, we show that the existence of universities is a precondition for the industrial cluster policy and that the leadership of the Zhongguancun Science Park Management Committee of Beijing Municipality is crucial to the success of the industrial cluster policy. The flowchart for the hi-technology industry is different from the one for the automobile industry cluster.

Review of Research on Speech Technology: Main Contributions From Spanish Research Groups

In the last two decades, there has been an important increase in research on speech technology in Spain, mainly due to a higher level of funding from European, Spanish and local institutions and also due to a growing interest in these technologies for developing new services and applications. This paper provides a review of the main areas of speech technology addressed by research groups in Spain, their main contributions in the recent years and the main focus of interest these days. This description is classified in five main areas: audio processing including speech, speaker characterization, speech and language processing, text to speech conversion and spoken language applications. This paper also introduces the Spanish Network of Speech Technologies (RTTH. Red Temática en Tecnologías del Habla) as the research network that includes almost all the researchers working in this area, presenting some figures, its objectives and its main activities developed in the last years.

A perspective on early commercial applications of voice-processing technology for telecommunications and aids for the handicapped.

The Colloquium on Human-Machine Communication by Voice highlighted the global technical community's focus on the problems and promise of voice-processing technology, particularly, speech recognition and speech synthesis. Clearly, there are many areas in both the research and development of these technologies that can be advanced significantly. However, it is also true that there are many applications of these technologies that are capable of commercialization now. Early successful commercialization of new technology is vital to ensure continuing interest in its development. This paper addresses efforts to commercialize speech technologies in two markets: telecommunications and aids for the handicapped.

Research on competition in the financing and delivery of health services : future research needs : proceedings of a conference held at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Washington, D.C., on March 4, 1982 /

"October 1982."

University research: effect of indirect cost revisions and options for future changes.

Mode of access: Internet.

Guide to the subject scope of the Engineering Materials Program /

"October 1967."

An assessment of the potential impact of combustion research on internal combustion engine emissions and fuel consumption. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.