An approach to analyzing and planning post-merger IS integration: Insights from two field studies

Information systems (IS) integration is among the most challenging tasks in corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&As). In this paper we propose and illustrate the use of an approach to analyzing and planning post-merger IS integration that extends general theory for IS planning, considering the specific characteristics of the M&A context. We highlight that planning effectiveness is possible to achieve in fundamentally different ways, dependent on the characteristics of the merger or acquisition at hand.

Recording and interpretation/analysis of tilt signals with five ASKANIA borehole tiltmeters at the KTB

In June 2003, a large scale injection experiment started at the Continental Deep Drilling site (KTB) in Germany. A tiltmeter array was installed which consisted of five high resolution borehole tiltmeters of the ASKANIA type, also equipped with three dimensional seismometers. For the next 11 months, 86 000 m(3) were injected into the KTB pilot borehole 4000 m deep. The average injection rate was approximately 200 l/min. The research objective was to observe and to analyze deformation caused by the injection into the upper crust at the kilometer range. A new data acquisition system was developed by Geo-Research Center Potsdam (GFZ) to master the expected huge amount of seismic and tilt data. Furthermore, it was necessary to develop a new preprocessing software called PREANALYSE for long-period time series. This software includes different useful functions, such as step and spike correction, interpolation, filtering, and spectral analysis. This worldwide unique installation offers the excellent opportunity of the separation of signals due to injection and due to environment by correlation of the data of the five stations with the ground water table and meteorological data.     

Ab initio determination of heavy oxide perovskite related structures from precession electron diffraction data

Two complex perovskite-related structures were solved by ab initio from precession electron diffraction intensities. Structure models were firstly derived from HREM images and than have been confirmed independently using two and three-dimensional sets of precession intensities. Patterson techniques prove to be effective for ab initio structure resolution, specially in case of projections with no overlapping atoms. Quality of precession intensity data may be suitable enough to resolve unknown heavy oxide structures.     

Optimizing multiple dimensional queries simultaneously in multidimensional databases

Some significant progress related to multidimensional data analysis has been achieved in the past few years, including the design of fast algorithms for computing datacubes, selecting some precomputed group-bys to materialize, and designing efficient storage structures for multidimensional data. However, little work has been carried out on multidimensional query optimization issues. Particularly the response time (or evaluation cost) for answering several related dimensional queries simultaneously is crucial to the OLAP applications. Recently, Zhao et al. first exploited this problem by presenting three heuristic algorithms. In this paper we first consider in detail two cases of the problem in which all the queries are either hash-based star joins or index-based star joins only. In the case of the hash-based star join, we devise a polynomial approximation algorithm which delivers a plan whose evaluation cost is $ O(n^{\epsilon }$) times the optimal, where n is the number of queries and is a fixed constant with . We also present an exponential algorithm which delivers a plan with the optimal evaluation cost. In the case of the index-based star join, we present a heuristic algorithm which delivers a plan whose evaluation cost is n times the optimal, and an exponential algorithm which delivers a plan with the optimal evaluation cost. We then consider a general case in which both hash-based star-join and index-based star-join queries are included. For this case, we give a possible improvement on the work of Zhao et al., based on an analysis of their solutions. We also develop another heuristic and an exact algorithm for the problem. We finally conduct a performance study by implementing our algorithms. The experimental results demonstrate that the solutions delivered for the restricted cases are always within two times of the optimal, which confirms our theoretical upper bounds. Actually these experiments produce much better results than our theoretical estimates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only development of polynomial algorithms for the first two cases which are able to deliver plans with deterministic performance guarantees in terms of the qualities of the plans generated. The previous approaches including that of [ZDNS98] may generate a feasible plan for the problem in these two cases, but they do not provide any performance guarantee, i.e., the plans generated by their algorithms can be arbitrarily far from the optimal one. Received: July 21, 1998 / Accepted: August 26, 1999     

The road to intelligence

It is argued that robotic platforms are the way forward towards building intelligent systems, where multiple sensors and manipulation are used for cognitive processes. It is also argued that the cue for developing the right architecture for such a system is human language.     

QoS and energy management with Petri nets: A self-adaptive framework

Energy use is becoming a key design consideration in computing infrastructures and services. In this paper we focus on service-based applications and we propose an adaptation framework that can be used to reduce power consumption according to the observed workload. The adaptation guarantees a trade-off between energy consumption and system performance. The approach is based on the principle of proportional energy consumption obtained by scaling down energy for unused resources, considering both the number of servers switched on and their operating frequencies. Stochastic Petri nets are proposed for the modeling of the framework concerns, their analyses give results about the trade-offs. The application of the approach to a simple case study shows its usefulness and practical applicability. Finally, different types of workloads are analyzed with validation purposes.     

Estimation of spatial-temporal gait parameters in level walking based on a single accelerometer: Validation on normal subjects by standard gait analysis

This paper investigates the ability of a single wireless inertial sensing device stuck on the lower trunk to provide spatial-temporal parameters during level walking. The 3-axial acceleration signals were filtered and the timing of the main gait events identified. Twenty-two healthy subjects were analyzed with this system for validation, and the estimated parameters were compared with those obtained with state-of-the-art gait analysis, i.e. stereophotogrammetry and dynamometry. For each side, from four to six gait cycles were measured with the device, of which two were validated by gait analysis. The new acquisition system is easy to use and does not interfere with regular walking. No statistically significant differences were found between the acceleration-based measurements and the corresponding ones from gait analysis for most of the spatial-temporal parameters, i.e. stride length, stride duration, cadence and speed, etc.; significant differences were found for the gait cycle phases, i.e. single and double support duration, etc. The system therefore shows promise also for a future routine clinical use.     

Methodological design and comparative evaluation of a MAS providing AmI

Researches on Ambient Intelligent and Ubiquitous Computing using wireless technologies have increased in the last years. In this work, we review several scenarios to define a multi-agent architecture that support the information needs of these new technologies, for heterogeneous domain. Our contribution consists of designing in a methodological way a Context Aware System (involving location services) using agents that can be used in very different domains. We describe all the steps followed in the design of the agent system. We apply a hybridizing methodology between GAIA and AUML. Additionally we propose a way to compare different agent architectures for Context Aware System using agent interactions. So, in this paper, we describe the assignment of weight values to agents interaction in two different MAS architectures for Context Aware problems solving different scenarios inspired in FIPA standard negotiation protocols.     

Linking Organizational Resources and Work Engagement to Employee Performance and Customer Loyalty: The Mediation of Service Climate.

This study examined the mediating role of service climate in the prediction of employee performance and customer loyalty. Contact employees (N=342) from 114 service units (58 hotel front desks and 56 restaurants) provided information about organizational resources, engagement, and service climate. Furthermore, customers (N=1,140) from these units provided information on employee performance and customer loyalty. Structural equation modeling analyses were consistent with a full mediation model in which organizational resources and work engagement predict service climate, which in turn predicts employee performance and then customer loyalty. Further analyses revealed a potential reciprocal effect between service climate and customer loyalty. Implications of the study are discussed, together with limitations and suggestions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)