Strategies for Heading Off is Project Failure

Although investment in information technology and information systems continues to increase, projects continue to fail. As a result, IS projects, particularly software projects, are perceived as high risk. By categorizing types of risk, this article helps IS professionals and all project sponsors to identify classes of risk and choose the appropriate managerial behavior to mitigate each of them.     

Hydrogen as a remedy for the detrimental effect of aromatic and cyclic compounds on the HC-SCR over Ag/alumina

The effect of hydrogen on the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with n-octane, methylcyclohexane and toluene over a 2 wt.% Ag/Al₂O₃ was investigated. Diesel fuels contain, in addition to straight hydrocarbons, varying amounts of cyclic and aromatic compounds, which have a detrimental effect on the Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst activity. The results showed that the NO to N₂ conversion was significantly promoted, independent of the nature (straight, cyclic or aromatic) of the hydrocarbon, in the presence of 1 vol.% H₂. The role of hydrogen is connected to a faster oxidation of the hydrocarbons and to enhanced formation of amines, which react with activated NO to form N₂.     

HMGI-C, a member of the high mobility group family of proteins, is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells and in leukemic cells

The human HMGI-C gene encoding a member of the high mobility group protein family normally is expressed only during embryonic/fetal development but in none of the adult tissues tested so far. Recently, the HMGI-C gene has attracted a lot of interest since its rearrangements seem to underlie the development of frequent benign mesenchymal tumors. We have therefore checked CD34 positive hematopoietic stem cells and their normal and malignant descendants for HMGI-C expression. CD34 positive stem cells from healthy donors and the leukemia samples tested were positive while all peripheral blood samples from healthy volunteers were negative. We have concluded that the expression of the HMGI-C gene in leukemia seems to be a secondary effect due to abnormal stem cell proliferation and might be a sensitive tumor marker for particular types of leukemia.     

Naturally compatible: Starch acetate/cellulosic fiber composites. I. Processing and properties

Composite compounds based on hemp and flax fibers in triethyl citrate plasticized starch acetate were prepared by melt processing. For better properties and processability, compounds with plasticizer contents in the range 20–35 wt% were screened. Composites were prepared with fiber contents up to 50 wt%. The composite mechanical properties were measured from injection molded test specimens. A Young's modulus of 8.3 GPa and stress at maximum load of 51 MPa were obtained with 40 wt% flax fiber in a plasticized starch acetate with 20 wt% triethyl citrate. Decreasing the plasticizer and increasing the fiber content, the tensile properties were consistently improved. An almost linear relation between fiber content and the tensile properties was found. The increase of the fiber content first improved the impact strength, but at higher fiber contents resulted in a reduction of impact strength. The quality of the produced materials was found to be good; the variation in properties between duplicated compounds was acceptable low, the variation in density and fiber content along a single tensile specimen was low, and finally, the porosity content was low even at high fiber content. The latter result was verified with scanning electron microscope images of fracture surfaces of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Elevated temperature thermal conductivities of some as-cast and austempered cast irons

The aim of this study was to provide insight on thermal conductivity of three cast iron groups, namely lamellar, compacted and spheroidal graphite irons at elevated temperatures up to 673?K (400°C) in as-cast and austempered states. Austempering treatments increased mechanical properties of all the studied materials while decreasing thermal conductivity across the line. The effects of austempering on conductivity were lower for grey and compacted graphite iron than for spheroidal graphite irons. The results indicate that heat treating can be a viable option in increasing cast iron performance in thermally stressed applications. One ferritic low-silicon spheroidal graphite iron surpassed lamellar graphite iron in conductivity at elevated temperatures, while high-silicon spheroidal graphite irons exhibited low conductivities.     

Continuous Time Matching Constraints for Image Streams

Corresponding image points of a rigid object in a discrete sequence of images fulfil the so-called multilinear constraint. In this paper the continuous time analogue of this constraint, for a continuous stream of images, is introduced and studied. The constraint links the Taylor series expansion of the motion of the image points with the Taylor series expansion of the relative motion and orientation between the object and the camera. The analysis is done both for calibrated and uncalibrated cameras. Two simplifications are also presented for the uncalibrated camera case. One simplification is made using an affine reduction and the so-called kinetic depths. The second simplification is based upon a projective reduction with respect to the image of a planar configuration. The analysis shows that the constraint involving second-order derivatives are needed to determine camera motion. Experiments with real and simulated data are also presented.     

Innovation among different classes of software development organizations

Software development organizations (SDOs) innovate in diverse ways. In this paper, based on an extensive review of innovation typologies, we develop a theory‐driven typology of SDO innovator classes. We theorize about the driving forces behind these classes, with specific attention given to knowledge‐based dispositions that relate to the SDO's knowledge‐based competencies in technology appropriation, technology generation, and network intensity within ecological niches. Through a survey of 136 SDOs, which adopted Internet technologies during 1995‐2006, we empirically verify that these classes also determine different ways that SDOs innovate around software services they provide to their clients. Our findings suggest that the knowledge‐based dispositions of different SDO innovator classes impact how they innovate. Overall, the study involves theorizing around different types of innovation behaviours and associated knowledge‐based factors that influence the way SDOs innovate.     

Digital product innovation within four classes of innovation networks

The increased digitization of organizational processes and products poses new challenges for understanding product innovation. It also opens new horizons for information systems research. We analyse how ongoing pervasive digitization of product innovation reshapes knowledge creation and sharing in innovation networks. We argue that advances in digital technologies (1) increase innovation network connectivity by reducing communication costs and increasing its reach and scope and (2) increase the speed and scope of digital convergence, which increases network knowledge heterogeneity and need for integration. These developments, in turn, stretch existing innovation networks by redistributing control and increasing the demand for knowledge coordination across time and space presenting novel challenges for knowledge creation, assimilation and integration. Based on this foundation, we distinguish four types of emerging innovation networks supported by digitalization: (1) project innovation networks; (2) clan innovation networks; (3) federated innovation networks; and (4) anarchic innovation networks. Each network involves different cognitive and social translations – or ways of identifying, sharing and assimilating knowledge. We describe the role of five novel properties of digital infrastructures in supporting each type of innovation network: representational flexibility, semantic coherence, temporal and spatial traceability, knowledge brokering and linguistic calibration. We identify several implications for future innovation research. In particular, we focus on the emergence of anarchic network forms that follow full‐fledged digital convergence founded on richer innovation ontologies and epistemologies calling to critically re‐examine the nature and impact of modularization for innovation.     

Internet computing as a disruptive information technology innovation: the role of strong order effects1

A cross‐sector survey study was conducted between 2004 and 2005 among 121 software firms that adopted internet computing for the presence of strong order effects, which explain how, why and in which order radical innovations in information system (IS) are adopted. The following strong order effects were detected: (1) the amount of base innovations positively and directly influenced the amount of service innovation and the amount of process innovation, while the amount of service innovation partially mediates the impact of base innovation on process innovation; (2) the radicalness of base innovations directly and positively influences the radicalness of service innovation, while the impact of the radicalness of the base innovation on the radicalness of process innovations is fully mediated by the radicalness of service innovation; (3) the predominant sequence of initial adoption of radical information technology innovations is first in base innovations, followed by service innovations and finally by process innovations. Our study helps to better understand how and why radical innovations are adopted in ensembles by software firms. In consequence, software organizations should orchestrate flexible innovation strategies that recognize that radical innovations are interconnected and heterogeneous.