IT-Business Alignment: A Two-Level Analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we identify processes associated with “Tactical IT-Business Alignment”, illustrate four types of alignment states resulting from “strategic” and “tactical” alignment levels, and propose alignment-related managerial actions appropriate for each type. Our results are based on about 45 hours of interviews with about 30 senior, middle and junior managers from IS and other functions, and from company records, in an investigation of four organizations.     

A Model for the Estimation of Viscosity of Pure Hydrocarbon Liquids

 

A simple model is developed for the estimation of viscosity of hydrocarbon liquids considering that drag on molecular motion due to thermal energy is balanced by intermolecular attractions. The model equation is validated with National Institute of Standards and Technology data on hydrocarbon liquids (C₃-C₁₀ and C₁₂) considering the effect of molecular shape on drag force. The molecular shape is correlated well with molecular weight of hydrocarbon liquids. The accuracy of the proposed model equation is compared with the correlation. The result showed that the proposed model is more accurate. The proposed model equation predicts the viscosity over a wide range of temperature for C₃-C₂₅ with overall absolute average deviation of 5.13%.     

Modelling of electrical energy recovery from urban solid waste system: The case of Dhaka city

This paper presents a system dynamics computer model to predict population growth, solid waste production, electricity generation from solid waste and percentage of total electricity demand supplied from the solid waste of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Simulated solid waste generation in Dhaka agrees well with values reported by the Dhaka City Corporation. Simulated results show that population, solid waste generation and electricity generation potential from solid waste all increase with time, but percentage of total electricity demand supplied from solid waste decreases with time. However, MSW could still supply a significant portion of the electricity demand of Dhaka. Adoption of policy for electricity recovery from urban solid waste should be dictated by the economic adoption of the technology for electricity generation from the waste and the environmental implications. The model can be used for analysing electrical energy recovery from urban solid waste management.     

Estimation of monthly average daily diffuse radiation for Brunei Darussalam

Solar irradiance data obtained from the Meteorological Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Communication, Brunei Darussalam for a period of 10 years was analysed to study the diffuse radiation over four districts, namely Brunei/Muara, Belait, Tutuong and Temburong. It was observed that including more than one measured variable improves the accuracy of the estimation of diffuse radiation.     

Nanoparticle probes and mid-infrared chemical imaging for DNA microarray detection

To date most mid-infrared spectroscopic studies have been limited, due to lack of sensitivity, to the structural characterization of a single oligonucleotide probe immobilized over the entire surface of a gold-coated slide or other infrared substrate. By contrast, widely used and commercially available glass slides and a microarray spotter that prints approximately 120-μm-diameter DNA spots were employed in the present work. To our knowledge, mid-infrared chemical imaging (IRCI) in the external reflection mode has been applied in the present study for the first time to the detection of nanostructure-based DNA microarrays spotted on glass slides. Alkyl amine-modified oligonucleotide probes were immobilized on glass slides that had been prefunctionalized with succinimidyl ester groups. This molecular fluorophore-free method entailed the binding of gold-nanoparticle-streptavidin conjugates to biotinylated DNA targets. Hybridization was visualized by the silver enhancement of gold nanoparticles. The adlayer of silver, selectively bound only to hybridized spots in a microarray, formed the external reflective infrared substrate that was necessary for the detection of DNA hybridization by IRCI in the present proof-of-concept study. IRCI made it possible to discriminate between diffuse and specular external reflection modes. The promising qualitative results are presented herein, and the implications for quantitative determination of DNA microarrays are discussed.     

A Model for the Estimation of Surface Tension of Pure Hydrocarbon Liquids

Surface tension is an important property and its accurate prediction is required in most chemical engineering calculations. An equation for the surface tension of liquid hydrocarbons as a function of temperature is developed considering intermolecular attractions in liquid phase are reflected by its enthalpy. The model equation is validated with National Institute of Standards and Technology data on liquid hydrocarbon alkanes (C₁ to C₁₀ and C₁₂) accounting for molecular shape through sphericity factor. The molecular sphericity factor correlated well with molecular weight of the hydrocarbons. The accuracy of the proposed model equation is compared with the two empirical equations, and results showed that the proposed model equation predicts the surface tension of pure hydrocarbon liquids more accurately.     

Organizing drug injectors against AIDS: Preliminary data on behavioral outcomes.

Describes a project based on organizing drug injectors to change their subculture in ways that promote lower risk behaviors. Initial and follow-up interviews were conducted with 368 Ss. Findings indicate a decline in high-risk behaviors such as renting or borrowing used syringes and an increase in risk-reducing behaviors such as using new syringes and condoms. Almost half the Ss entered drug abuse treatment during the follow-up period; 60% taught others to use bleach to decontaminate injecting equipment. Risk reduction was greater among Ss who attended group meetings. Thus, organizing drug injectors is a feasible intervention that should be adopted elsewhere. Drug injectors can take on responsibility in combating AIDS. All evaluations of interventions should measure Ss' efforts to spread the message to others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Energy and Velocity Based Tree Multicast Routing in Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - Nodes in ad hoc networks are mostly mobile, moving with arbitrary velocity and direction. Therefore, it is always beneficial if nodes are equipped with...     

Agile supply chain strategy and supply chain performance: complementary roles of supply chain practices and information systems capability for agility

The paper examines the mediating effect of supply chain (SC) practices on the relationship between agile supply chain (ASC) strategy and SC performance. It further examines the moderating effect of information systems (IS) capability for agility on this mediated relationship. Using the theoretical lenses of complementarity and the information processing view of the supply chain, we hypothesise that strategic supplier partnership, customer relationship, postponement and lean practices, mediate the relationship between ASC strategy and SC performance. We further hypothesise that IS capability for agility moderates each of these mediated relationships. We empirically test the hypotheses using survey data from members of senior and executive management in the logistics/supply chain functions of 205 firms. The paper contributes to the literature on ASCs by theoretically explaining and empirically demonstrating how SC practices and IS capability for agility act together to effect a positive relationship between ASC strategy and supply chain performance.