A unified framework for managing Web-based services

The emergence of Web technologies enables a variety of Web-based service applications, which can be examined from business process integration, supply chain management, and knowledge management perspectives. To categorize existing Web-based services while foreseeing potential new types, a unified view is needed to represent the structures and processes of Web-based services. This paper proposes a general framework to identify essential structures and operations of Web-based services, and then models these components. We articulate the framework with Web technologies, such as Web service and semantic Web, multi-agent and peer-to-peer, and Web information retrieval and mining. Two comprehensive examples in insurance and knowledge services are used to elaborate the use of Web-based service framework in fulfilling business processes. This study synthesizes essential structures and processes of Web-based services to build a framework for researchers and practitioners to develop Web-based services and techniques.     

Understanding the failure of internal knowledge markets: A framework for diagnosis and improvement

In writing this paper, our objective was to use the concept of internal market failure to explain why many knowledge management initiatives fall short of expectations. We re-examined the conventional view of knowledge as a pure public good and developed a typology of knowledge as a heterogeneous public good. This permitted us to identify the different sources of internal market failure that impeded knowledge creation and sharing within firms. We then analyzed generic managerial responses to internal market failure and showed how the effectiveness of each response was limited by the nature of knowledge as a tradable commodity. We concluded by presenting a preliminary framework for knowledge management based on the enforcement of dynamic internal property rights. The objective of a dynamic response to internal knowledge market failure was seen as an attempt to balance individual incentives with the need to create and share knowledge throughout the organizational.     

A framework for QoS-aware binding and re-binding of composite web services

QoS-aware dynamic binding of composite services provides the capability of binding each service invocation in a composition to a service chosen among a set of functionally equivalent ones to achieve a QoS goal, for example minimizing the response time while limiting the price under a maximum value.This paper proposes a QoS-aware binding approach based on Genetic Algorithms. The approach includes a feature for early run-time re-binding whenever the actual QoS deviates from initial estimates, or when a service is not available. The approach has been implemented in a framework and empirically assessed through two different service compositions.     

Knowledge representation framework for interactive capture and management of reflection process in product concepts development

A design process can be characterized by reflection-in-action; that is, the process consists of a series of problem solving activities and each is embodied with a problem and a solution. In this process, a designer represents a hypothetical concept on each design alternative, deploys and verifies the concept from multiple viewpoints considering other alternatives, and modifies it. An advanced integrated design environment should be based on a representation framework that embodies this process of reflection in concept development, which usually remains in the realm of the designer’s tacit knowledge. This paper proposes a knowledge representation framework for an integrated design environment, named DRIFT (Design Representation Integration Framework of Three layers), which interactively captures and manages reflection processes of generating and verifying design concepts. The core of DRIFT is a three-layered design process model of actions, operations, and argumentation. This model integrates various design tools and captures performed design activities. The action level captures the sequence of design operations. The model operation level captures the transition of design states, recording a design snapshot over design tools, which are integrated through ontology-based representation of design concepts. The argumentation level captures the process of defining problems and corresponding alternative solutions. Integration of three levels with a template of design operation extracted from Design-For-X approaches enables a proposed system to interactively and efficiently capture and manage the process of design concept development through operations over design tools. A design operation template works to limit the number of links between the three levels remaining easy to manage its semantics. This paper also demonstrates a prototype implementation of DRIFT and its application to conceptual design of a small mechatronic system with a system modeling method. The paper concludes with a discussion of some future issues.     

Capturing and reusing knowledge in engineering change management: A case of automobile development

The development of complex products, such as automobiles, involves engineering changes that frequently require redesigning or altering the products. Although it has been found that efficient management of knowledge and collaboration in engineering changes is crucial for the success of new product development, extant systems for engineering changes focus mainly on storing documents related to the engineering changes or simply automating the approval processes, while the knowledge that is generated from collaboration and decision-making processes may not be captured and managed easily. This consequently limits the use of the systems by the participants in engineering change processes. This paper describes a model for knowledge management and collaboration in engineering change processes, and based on the model, builds a prototype system that demonstrates the model’s strengths. We studied a major Korean automobile company to analyze the automobile industry’s unique requirements regarding engineering changes. We also developed domain ontologies from the case to facilitate knowledge sharing in the design process. For achieving efficient retrieval and reuse of past engineering changes, we used a case-based reasoning (CBR) with a concept-based similarity measure.

ICT-supported knowledge representation for development of routines in industry

Organizational Learning (OL) is important for a firm’s productivity growth. According to some literatures, information and communication technology do not support organizational learning and therefore not enhanced productivity. This research however has demonstrated that in the case of manufacturing companies some computer-based systems representing organizational knowledge—knowledge management systems (KMS) do support organizational learning. For OL to take place through KMS, our findings suggest that a deliberate organizational learning structure must be in place within the organization. This article demonstrates how knowledge management systems deliberately developed and implemented by management, can support the development of operating routines for manufacturing industries. KMS, if deliberately implemented for the purpose of empowering employee participation, may be a supporting mechanism for process and product improvement and innovation in manufacturing organizations. Such a structure may results, as our case demonstrates, in a dynamic and iterative employee—management knowledge development process resulting in productivity enhancement.     

A fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS framework for ranking the solutions of Knowledge Management adoption in Supply Chain to overcome its barriers

The aim of this study is to identify and prioritize the solutions of Knowledge Management (KM) adoption in Supply Chain (SC) to overcome its barriers. It helps organizations to concentrate on high rank solutions and develop strategies to implement them on priority. This paper proposes a framework based on fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to identify and rank the solutions of KM adoption in SC and overcome its barriers. The AHP is used to determine weights of the barriers as criteria, and fuzzy TOPSIS method is used to obtain final ranking of the solutions of KM adoption in SC. The empirical case study analysis of an Indian hydraulic valve manufacturing organization is conducted to illustrate the use of the proposed framework for ranking the solutions of KM adoption in SC to overcome its barriers. This proposed framework provides a more accurate, effective and systematic decision support tool for stepwise implementation of the solutions of KM adoption in SC to increase its success rate.     

A framework for optimising product performance through feedback and reuse of in-service experience

Optimising performance of complex engineering artefacts, which are typically designed to have a useful life of several decades, becomes very difficult during in-service if lessons learnt are not used properly. The authors argue that performance of long-lived complex artefacts can be improved if adequate product in-service data is fed back to the early stages of the product life cycle. This paper discusses an inclusive life cycle approach to optimising product performance by using knowledge and experience gained during in-service. The problem is presented alongside a review of literature of relevant subject areas. A framework for in-service knowledge management is then presented and operationalised through an industrial case study. The framework is developed from the point of view of an integrated product and service provider. The findings from the case study demonstrate how in-service knowledge can be captured, fed back and reused for the design and manufacture stages of the product lifecycle. This enables designers to learn from in-service product performance by informing subsequent designs with in-service knowledge, and consequently improving the through-life product performance.     

Relational database as a tool in industrial design. Experience from a human factors engineering analysis of a module for manned space-flight

A human factors engineering analysis was carried out to verify that the CUPOLA—a module developed by the European Space Agency for the International Space Station—complies with an extensive set of human factors requirements. Analysis was carried out in three steps: task analysis, computer simulation of tasks and empirical test of tasks in a physical mock up. In advance to each step the method of assessment and type of information to be obtained were determined in detail and the way of documentation was established as input forms to a relational database. Advantages and drawbacks of this early formalisation as seen by project members are discussed in the present paper.

Relevance to industry

The method of early formalisation by a relational database used throughout the project showed to be a suitable tool in this human factors analysis of a working place under design. Early formalisation of the results and documentation served as a quality system supporting a homogeneous high standard of data collection and documentation. In industry, the use of relational databases underlying Product Data Management systems increases. This makes it relevant to try and link human factors work to these methods of documentation in order to promote the integration of human factors work at an early stage of product and production development.     

Integrating scientific modeling and supporting dynamic hazard management with a GeoAgent-based representation of human–environment interactions: A drought example in Central Pennsylvania, USA

Recent natural disasters indicate that modern technologies for environmental monitoring, modeling, and forecasting are not well integrated with cross-level social responses in many hazard-management systems. This research addresses this problem through a Java-based multi-agent prototype system, GeoAgent-based Knowledge System (GeoAgentKS). This system allows: (1) computer representation of institutional regulations and behavioral rules used by multiple social institutions and individuals in cross-level human–environment interactions, (2) integration of this representation with scientific modeling of dynamic hazard development, and (3) application of automated reasoning that suggests to users the appropriate actions for supporting cooperative social responses. This paper demonstrates the software architecture of GeoAgentKS and presents such an integrated approach by modeling the drought management processes in Central Pennsylvania, USA. The results show that it is possible to use GeoAgentKS to represent multilevel human–environment interactions and to use those interactions as input to decision making in hazard management.