Beyond the customer: Opening the agile systems development process

Context

A particular strength of agile systems development approaches is that they encourage a move away from ‘introverted’ development, involving the customer in all areas of development, leading to more innovative and hence more valuable information system. However, a move toward open innovation requires a focus that goes beyond a single customer representative, involving a broader range of stakeholders, both inside and outside the organisation in a continuous, systematic way.

Objective

This paper provides an in-depth discussion of the applicability and implications of open innovation in an agile environment.

Method

We draw on two illustrative cases from industry.

Results

We highlight some distinct problems that arose when two project teams tried to combine agile and open innovation principles. For example, openness is often compromised by a perceived competitive element and lack of transparency between business units. In addition, minimal documentation often reduce effective knowledge transfer while the use of short iterations, stand-up meetings and presence of on-site customer reduce the amount of time for sharing ideas outside the team.

Conclusion

A clear understanding of the inter- and intra-organisational applicability and implications of open innovation in agile systems development is required to address key challenges for research and practice.     

Caracteristiques des explications orales en classe de mathematiques : Construction d'un cadre d'analyse pour rendre compte de la pratique des futurs enseignants et futures enseignantes de mathematiques du secondaire 1

Résumé:

De nombreuses études font ressortir l'importance des explications orales des enseignants et enseignantes de mathématiques pour l'apprentissage des élèves. Cette compétence à expliquer les mathématiques en classe apparaît donc centrale à la formation des enseignants et enseignantes. Afin de mieux rendre compte de la construction de cette compétence chez les futurs enseignants et futures enseignantes de mathématiques du secondaire, nous avons élaboré un cadre d'analyse permettant de situer différentes caractéristiques des explications orales. Ce cadre d'analyse a été mis à l'essai, à titre d'exemple illustratif, lors de l'analyse des pratiques de deux futurs enseignants. L'analyse permet de tracer un portrait caractéristique des explications orales pour ces deux futurs enseignants et montre l'intérêt que présente ce cadre d'analyse pour la compréhension des pratiques d'enseignement — tout en suscitant et orientant certaines réflexions pour la formation des enseignants et enseignantes de mathématiques. La façon qu'ont les futurs enseignants et futures enseignantes de ?parler? les mathématiques en classe nous en dit long, en effet, sur leur enseignement et leur compréhension de ce que représente pour eux l'enseignement et l'apprentissage des mathématiques.     

A numerical study on the effective thermal conductivity of biological fluids containing single-walled carbon nanotubes

Thermal death of cancerous cells may be induced by radiating single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) selectively attached via functionalization to the targeted cells. A distribution of SWNTs inside cancerous cells, on their surface, or in the inter-cellular fluid may occur during this treatment process. This work applies a random walk algorithm to calculate the effective thermal conductivity of an idealized biological fluid containing SWNTs. The thermal resistance at the interface between the SWNTs and their surroundings is incorporated to make predictions that are required for developing an overall approach to cancerous cell targeting.     

SURFACE TENSIONS OF SOME OPTICAL GLASSES*

The surface tension of a number of optical glasses made at the National Bureau of Standards was measured by a modification of the anchor ring method. The values for the flint glasses at 1300 °6, were in the range 210 to 230 dynes per cm., the barium crowns ranged from 260 to 310, while the other types of glasses had intermediate values. Most of the glasses had positive temperature coefficients of surface tension. The surface-tension values increased with the increasing periods of time at which the glasses were maintained at high temperatures immediately prior to measurement. Positive rank correlation coefficients of statistical significance were found between seed quality of optical glasses and such factors as surface tension, pot attack, and amount of gas liberated during the melting process.     

Toughening effects of interleaved nylon veils on glass fabric/low‐styrene‐emission unsaturated polyester resin composites

The effectiveness of using interleaved nylon veils to increase the interlaminar toughness of glass fiber reinforced, low‐styrene emission unsaturated polyester resin composites has been investigated. Samples were manufactured by a hand lay‐up technique followed by compression moulding. Nylon 66 veils were used, with the veil content varying from 0% to 4% by weight. Double cantilever beam, short beam shear, and three point bend tests were performed. The increasing levels of nylon veil content improved the interlaminar toughness of the composites, which was characterized by critical strain energy release rate (G_IC). The maximum G_IC for crack propagation of a nylon interleaved composite increased by almost 170% over the baseline glass fiber reinforced composite. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis revealed an increase in the damping parameter of up to 117%. Image analysis via Digital Image Correlation and Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed increased fiber bridging between adjacent plies as a key reason for these improvements. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41462.     

Method for production of polymer and carbon nanofibers from water-soluble polymers

Nanometer scale carbon fibers (carbon nanofibers) are of great interest to scientists and engineers in fields such as materials science, composite production, and energy storage due to their unique chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. Precursors currently used for production of carbon nanofibers are primarily from nonrenewable resources. Lignin is a renewable natural polymer existing in all high-level plants that is a byproduct of the papermaking process and a potential feedstock for carbon nanofiber production. The work presented here demonstrates a process involving the rapid freezing of an aqueous lignin solution, followed by sublimation of the resultant ice, to form a uniform network comprised of individual interconnected lignin nanofibers. Carbonization of the lignin nanofibers yields a similarly structured carbon nanofiber network. The methodology is not specific to lignin; nanofibers of other water-soluble polymers have been successfully produced. This nanoscale fibrous morphology has not been observed in traditional cryogel processes, due to the relatively slower freezing rates employed compared to those achieved in this study.     

Mysterious outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness associated with burritos supplied through school lunch programs

From October 1997 through March 1998, three outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness among school children were linked to company A burritos. In September 1998, a similar outbreak occurred in three North Dakota schools following lunches that included company B burritos. We conducted an investigation to determine the source of the North Dakota outbreak, identify other similar outbreaks, characterize the illness, and gather evidence about the cause. The investigation included epidemiologic analyses, environmental investigation, and laboratory analyses. In North Dakota, a case was defined as nausea, headache, abdominal cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea after lunch on 16 September 1998. Case definitions varied in the other states. In North Dakota, 504 students and staff met the case definition; predominant symptoms were nausea (72%), headache (68%), abdominal cramps (54%), vomiting (24%), and diarrhea (16%). The median incubation period was 35 min and median duration of illness was 6 h. Eating burritos was significantly associated with illness (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 4.2). We identified 16 outbreaks that occurred in seven states from October 1997 through October 1998, affecting more than 1,900 people who ate burritos from two unrelated companies. All tortillas were made with wheat flour, but the fillings differed, suggesting that tortillas contained the etiologic agent. Results of plant inspections, tracebacks, and laboratory investigations were unrevealing. More than two million pounds of burritos were recalled or held from distribution. The short incubation period, symptoms, and laboratory data suggest that these outbreaks were caused by an undetected toxin or an agent not previously associated with this clinical syndrome. Mass psychogenic illness is an unlikely explanation because of the large number of sites where outbreaks occurred over a short period, the similarity of symptoms, the common food item, the lack of publicity, and the link to only two companies. A network of laboratories that can rapidly identify known and screen for unknown agents in food is a critical part of protecting the food supply against natural and intentional contamination.