1,990 research outputs found
Brenton C. Powell and Barry Bates in a Joint Senior Recital
No full textThis is the program of the joint senior voice recital of tenor Brenton C. Powell and baritone Barry Bates. Aaron Wilson accompanied Powell on piano; Twyla Roach accompanied Bates on piano. The recital took place on November 3, 1981, in the Mabee Fine Arts Recital Hall
Inquiry into the interlocution of students engaged with mathematics: appreciating links between research and practice
No full textFor either to be useful, links between research and practice are critical. Just as important are connections between the practice of students engaged in mathematical activity and research that seeks to understand that practice. This research report explores lessons that researchers and practitioners can learn from an inquiry into the interlocution of students working collaboratively in small groups when engaged in talking and listening to each other. We use the term interlocution to denote discursive practices of learners in conversational exchanges. Questions that motivate this research included the following. What discursive practices do interlocutors employ as they work collaboratively to understand and resolve mathematical tasks? How do these practices influence the growth of their mathematical ideas? In what ways do their discursive practices help them move from a contextualized, situated task to generalize the task or their solution? Do students' discursive practices assist them to connect and generalize ideas from a new problem to others on which they have worked?Powell, A. B., & Maher, C. A. (2002). Inquiry into the interlocution of students engaged with mathematics: Appreciating links between research and practice. In D.S. Mewborn, P. Sztajn, D.Y. White, H.G. Wiegel, R.L. Bryant & K. Nooney (Eds.), Proceedings of the twenty-fourth annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (Athens, Georgia) (Vol. 1, pp. 317-329). Columbus, OH: ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics, and Environmental Education
Identification of genes differentially expressed by prematurely fused human sutures using a novel in vivo-in vitro approach
No full textThe definitive version may be found at www.wiley.comCraniosynostosis is the premature fusion of calvarial sutures. It results from abnormal differentiation or proliferation of cells within the osteogenic fronts of growing calvarial bones. To date, research has focused on animal models and in vitro organ and tissue culture to determine the molecular mechanisms controlling calvarial suture morphogenesis. Here, we test a new, in vivo-in vitro approach based on the hypothesis that calvarial suture cells passaged in minimal medium exhibit a stable gene expression profile similar to undifferentiated osteoblastic cells that can provide a benchmark for comparison with in vivo expression of differentiated tissue. We show that tissue-specific expression is lost after the first passage and, using cDNA microarrays, compare expression between fused suture tissue from craniosynostosis patients and in vitro de-differentiated explant cells. A large number of differentially expressed genes were identified, including novel genes WIF1, LEF1, SATB2, RARRES1, DEFA1, DMP1, PTPRZ1, and PTPRC, as well as those commonly associated with human suture morphogenesis, e.g., FGF2, MSX2, and BMP2. Two differentially expressed genes, WIF1 and FGF2, were further examined in an in vivo-in vivo comparison between unfused and prematurely fused tissue. The same pattern of differential expression was observed in each case, further validating the ability of our in vivo-in vitro approach to identify genes involved in in vivo human calvarial tissue differentiation.Anna K. Coussens, Ian P. Hughes, Christopher R. Wilkinson, C. Phillip Morris, Peter J. Anderson, Barry C. Powell and Angela van Daa
CEDRIC J. POWELL
No full textCEDRIC J. POWELL
Inducted: 2010
Citation:
For exceptional scientific and organizational work in establishing the physical basis (and infrastructure) for electron spectroscopies of solids, especially as applied to quantitative surface analysis and surface standards
Tenure: 1962-2006
Birth: 1935; Perth, Australia
Education:
University of Western Australia, BS (Physics), 1956
University of Western Australia, PhD (Physics), 1962
Positions held:
Physicist, Atomic Physics and Optical Physics Divisions, Institute for Basic Standards, 1962-1978
Chief, Surface Science Division, Center for Chemical Physics, 1978-1991
Leader, Surface Spectroscopies and Thin Films Group, Surface and Microanalysis Science Division, 1991-1994
NIST Fellow, Surface and Microanalysis Science Division, 1994-2006
NIST Scientist Emeritus, Surface and Microanalysis Science Division, 2007-Present
Honors:
US Department of Commerce Silver Medal (1983) and Gold Medal (1986)Award of Merit, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) (1988)
Riviere Prize, UK ESCA Users Group (1992)
Creation of Cedric Powell Award by ASTM Committee E-42 on Surface Analysis (1993)
Creation of Powell Prize by the Surface Analysis Society of Japan (1995)
Albert Nerken Award, American Vacuum Society (2001)
Technology Prize, International Union of Vacuum Science, Technique, and Applications (2007)
Memberships:
American Physical Society, American Vacuum Society, American Assn. for the Advancement of Science
ASTM Committee E-42 on Surface Analysis, chairman (1980-85)
Board of Trustees, Gordon Research Conferences (1982-88), chairman (1985-86)
Board of Directors, American Vacuum Society (1988-89)
ISO Technical Committee 201 on Surface Chemical Analysis, chairman (1992-98)
Publications:
Co-editor of 3 books, co-author of 5 NIST databases, and an author of more than 240 publications including:
Powell, C. J., “Contrasting Valence-Band Auger-Electron Spectra for Silver and Aluminum”, Phys. Rev. Letters 30, 1179 (1973)
Powell, C. J., “Attenuation Lengths of Low-energy Electrons in Solids”, Surface Science 44, 29 (1974)
Powell, C. J., “Cross Sections for Ionization of Inner-shell Electrons by Electrons”, Rev. Mod. Phys. 48, 33 (1976)
Powell, C. J. and Seah, M. P., “Precision, Accuracy, and Uncertainty in Quantitative Surface Analyses by Auger-Electron Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy”, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 8, 735 (1990)
Tanuma, S., Powell, C. J., and Penn, D. R., ""Calculations of Electron Inelastic Mean Free Paths. II. Data for 27 Elements over the 50-2000 eV Range,"" Surface and Interface Analysis 17, 911 (1991)
Powell, C. J. and Jablonski, A., “Evaluation of Measured and Calculated Electron Inelastic Mean Free Paths Near Solid Surfaces,” J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 28, 19 (1999
Delta6 desaturase mRNA abundance in HepG2 cells is suppressed by unsaturated fatty acids
No full textThe effect of unsaturated fatty acids on the abundance of Delta6 desaturase (D6D) mRNA and the fatty acid composition of HepG2 cell membranes was examined. Supplementation of HepG2 cells with oleic acid (18:1n-9, OA), linoleic acid (18:2n-6, LA), alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3, ALA), arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, AA) or eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) reduced D6D mRNA abundance by 39 +/- 6.6, 40 +/- 2.2, 31 +/- 5.2, 55 +/- 4.8, and 52 +/- 5.0%, respectively, compared with control cells. Despite the reduction in D6D mRNA abundance, the level of D6D conversion products (20:3n-9, EPA and AA) in OA, ALA and LA supplemented cells, respectively, was elevated above that in control cells. Our results suggest that although unsaturated fatty acids decrease the abundance of D6D mRNA by as much as 50%, the conversion of polyunsaturated fatty acids and accumulation of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) in HepG2 cell phospholipids continues to occur.Roxanne Portolesi, Barry C. Powell, Robert A. Gibso
Carpophilus taylori Powell 2020, new species
No full textCarpophilus taylori Powell, new species Zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A4371AC8-7941-4EC8-A0E7-217D89D57FD4 (Figs. 1C, 2C) Type Material. Holotype male labeled “ARI- ZONA: Cochise Co. | Chiricahua Mts. SW Res. Stn. | 31°53’N 109°12’W | 15–22 July 2001 | A. Tishechkin: FIT #2 || HOLOTYPE: | Carpophilus | taylori | Des. Powell 2019 ” (deposited in CSCA). Paratypes (4): Same data as holotype (1, GSPC; 1, BYU); “ USA: AZ: Cochise Co. | Huachuca Mts.; 0.8rd. | mi. SW Reef; 31.4238° | -110.299°; July 10–15, | 2018; VFlight intercept | trap; W. B. Warner ” (1, ASU). “ USA: AZ: Cochise Co. | Huachuca Mts.; 0.8rd. | mi. SW Reef; 31.4238° | -110.299°; viii.31 -ix, | 28.2018; VFlight intercept | trap; W. B. Warner ” (1, ASU). Diagnosis. Carpophilus taylori resembles C. brachypterus but differs in its overall coarser punctation, genitalia differences, and disjunct distribution (C. brachypterus is an eastern species, whereas C. taylori is currently only known from Arizona). Description. Body weakly ovate, moderately dorso-ventrally flattened. Length 2.02 mm (1.96–2.14) (n = 4), width 0.88 mm (0.79–0.94) (n = 4). Color dark brown to black, pronotal margins and elytral humeri paler (Fig. 1C). Ventral surface dark brown. Dorsal sculpturing moderately shiny; dorsum with fine, golden pubescence. Head: Narrower than pronotum, finely punctured. Punctures uniform in size, becoming sparser at midline. Frontoclypeal region truncate, labrum emarginate, mandibles toothed, dark brown. Palpi fusiform, reaching about 2/3 length of mandibles. Eyes small, finely faceted, interocular distance 0.38 mm (n = 2). Antenna 1.5× longer than head; antennomere 1 robust and curved, antennomere 2 almost as long as basal antennomere, antennomere 3 smaller but longer than remaining antennomeres, antennomeres 2–8 expanding apically, antennomeres 3–8 each about half length of antennomere 2, antennomeres 9–11 forming strong, compact club that is slightly longer than wide. Pronotum: 1.67 times as wide as long, sides weakly rounded, anterior angles seemingly obtuse, posterior angles clearly broadly obtuse. Posterior margin with well-developed marginal line, particularly at middle, weakly sinuate. Disc flattened, moderately shiny, evenly and coarsely punctured. Scutellar shield: Feebly pentagonal, sides almost sinuate, reaching acute point posteriorly. Anteriorly finely granulated, gradually becoming glabrous. Elytra: Slightly wider than pronotum, width subequal to length. Humeri weakly pronounced. Anterior angles almost at right angles, sides mildly arcuate, posterior angles slightly acute, elytral apices gradually receding anteriorly towards midline. Abdomen: Two tergites dorsally visible, with fine, golden brown setae. Pygidium rounded with distinct, evenly spaced punctures. Venter: Overall paler, submentum narrow and transverse, antennal grooves well-developed. Prosternum coarsely punctate, punctures with a fine, golden seta, process slightly convex in lateral profile, apically rounded. Mesothoracic ventrite finely punctured. Metathoracic ventrite setose, finely punctate throughout. Abdominal ventrite 1 almost as long as metathoracic ventrite, abdominal ventrites 2–3 small, about 1/3 length of abdominal ventrite 1, finely, sparsely punctate, ventrites 4 and 5 large, granulated, more densely pubescent. Legs: Somewhat short, femora robust, covered with fine, golden pubescence.Tibiae expanded apically, with 5–7 apical spines. Male genitalia: Well-sclerotized; lateral lobes curved in dorsal view, forming narrow opening; in lateral view, lobes mildly curved to point (Fig. 2C), long sparse setae at apex. Ventrite 8 with acute anterior angles of outer margins that protrude past median lobe of ventrite. Variation. Some variation occurs in overall coloration that can be slightly lighter, especially ventrally. Geographic Distribution. The type series is known from the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona, USA. Biology. All specimens studied were captured using a flight intercept trap. Etymology. The specific epithet honors the author’ s late grandfather, Roy Taylor. Not only was he a loving granddad, he also helped inspire the author’ s early love of the outdoors with his infamous “walks across the fields” in South Derbyshire, England.Published as part of Powell, Gareth S., 2020, Four New Species Of Carpophilus (Ecnomorphus) Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae: Carpophilinae) From The New World, pp. 175-180 in The Coleopterists Bulletin 74 (1) on page 179, DOI: 10.1649/0010-065X-74.1.175, http://zenodo.org/record/374690
The case of Adam Clayton Powell, 1971
No full textThe purpose of this study is to examine the facts surrounding the exclusion of Adam C, Powell Jr. from the 90th Congress and to determine why the House of Representatives adopted that particular course of action. Before he was excluded by the House of Representatives, Powell occupied a very important post in the Congress. He was able to exert influence on much of the social legislation considered by that body. In examining the case of Powell (l) Powell's personality is examined, (2) the charges against Powell are examined (3) a comparison of Powell's conduct and that of his contemporaries is made (ij.) the possibility that Powell was a victim of discrimination is examined and the legality of Powell's punishment is examined. Information about Powell's conduct can be found in the reports of the committees that investigated him. With the exception of Dodd it is difficult to secure official information concerning the misconduct of Powell's contemporaries consequently most of the information relating to their activities must be drawn from newsnaner articles and the book written by newsmen Drew Pearson and Jack Anderson. The study concludes that Powell was a victim of discrimination. His race was the largest factor in the House action against him. Other factors were an unfavorable press, his party affiliation, is unpopularity with white liberals and some black leaders and his personal habits
Flightless I Regulates Hemidesmosome Formation and Integrin-Mediated Cellular Adhesion and Migration during Wound Repair
No full textFlightless I (Flii), a highly conserved member of the gelsolin family of actin-remodelling proteins associates with actin structures and is involved in cellular motility and adhesion. Our previous studies have shown that Flii is an important negative regulator of wound repair. Here, we show that Flii affects hemidesmosome formation and integrin-mediated keratinocyte adhesion and migration. Impaired hemidesmosome formation and sparse arrangements of keratin cytoskeleton tonofilaments and actin cytoskeleton anchoring fibrils were observed in FliiTg/+ and FliiTg/Tg mice with their skin being significantly more fragile than Flii+/− and WT mice. Flii+/− primary keratinocytes showed increased adhesion on laminin and collagen I than WT and FliiTg/Tg primary keratinocytes. Decreased expression of CD151 and laminin-binding integrins α3, β1, α6 and β4 were observed in Flii overexpressing wounds, which could contribute to the impaired wound re-epithelialization observed in these mice. Flii interacts with proteins directly linked to the cytoplasmic domain of integrin receptors suggesting that it may be a mechanical link between ligand-bound integrin receptors and the actin cytoskeleton driving adhesion-signaling pathways. Therefore Flii may regulate wound repair through its effect on hemidesmosome formation and integrin-mediated cellular adhesion and migration.Zlatko Kopecki, Ruth Arkell, Barry C. Powell and Allison J. Cowi
Reconciling the disconnect between information technology and information systems using an organizational epistemology: A framework to improve success with technology
No full textAbstract
There is a disconnect between information technology (IT) and information systems (IS)
that lies at the foundation of frequent failure in cost, schedule, and/or performance of IT/IS. This
disconnect can perhaps be reconciled through a focus on the socially constructed and emergent
nature of IT as it enters and is used by an organization. The argument is that IT investment is not
working with the right knowledge for evaluation and justification and does not reflect human
nature in decision-making. The hypothesis is that a structured dialog technique, by focusing on
properly perceiving human felt needs rather than exclusively technological aims, improves the
process of IT project evaluation and justification. This breaks the requirements development
process into multiple, time-efficient steps in order to properly acquire and convert tacit
knowledge into explicit and then embedded knowledge. The research questions include: What
are the foundations of IT/IS failure, and how do they relate to the absence or presence of
structured dialog? What are the dimensions of structured dialog that help fulfill the gap between
users’ felt needs and IT specifications? Finally, what are the aspects of tools and methods
applied in early investment lifecycle activities that can, or seem to, fulfill these dimensions?
This study posits a conceptual decision framework using structured dialog to perhaps prevent IT
failure. The research starts with an analysis of IT/IS failure factors using a metaevaluation
approach tailored for qualitative, interpretive analysis as a metainterpretation with respect to IT
case studies and a synthesis of those factors. Then, a pilot of a survey approach is performed to
profile and test elements of structured dialog and associated early lifecycle tools with the
Dissertation - POWELL ii
business/mission process community and technologists. This is then made practical by creating a
conceptual decision framework for management to use in framing complex investment decisions
such as IT investment. The framework includes obtaining early clarification of the purpose of
the new IT/IS system, improving team dynamics to enable better collaboration, making a
specific, shared decision as the basis of collaboration, and focusing on structured dialog. The
elements of structured dialog found to underlie this decision framework are the production and
use of shared meaning, creation and use of common language, repetition and continuation of
dialog, and facilitation of shared experience. These elements achieve an organizational
epistemology, or knowledge framework, that can potentially facilitate more accurate acquisition
and development of IT (that is, the system-as-created), and perhaps lay the foundation for
subsequent transition into IS (that is, the system-as-used) that an organization should use in the
manner needed and intended. In addition, this epistemology underlies the process, and products,
of successful IT/IS architecture.Dissertation POWELL i
Title: Reconciling the Disconnect between Information Technology and Information Systems
using an Organizational Epistemology: A Framework to Improve Success with Technology
Author: Chris R. Powell
Abstract
There is a disconnect between information technology (IT) and information systems (IS)
that lies at the foundation of frequent failure in cost, schedule, and/or performance of IT/IS. This
disconnect can perhaps be reconciled through a focus on the socially constructed and emergent
nature of IT as it enters and is used by an organization. The argument is that IT investment is not
working with the right knowledge for evaluation and justification and does not reflect human
nature in decision-making. The hypothesis is that a structured dialog technique, by focusing on
properly perceiving human felt needs rather than exclusively technological aims, improves the
process of IT project evaluation and justification. This breaks the requirements development
process into multiple, time-efficient steps in order to properly acquire and convert tacit
knowledge into explicit and then embedded knowledge. The research questions include: What
are the foundations of IT/IS failure, and how do they relate to the absence or presence of
structured dialog? What are the dimensions of structured dialog that help fulfill the gap between
users’ felt needs and IT specifications? Finally, what are the aspects of tools and methods
applied in early investment lifecycle activities that can, or seem to, fulfill these dimensions?
This study posits a conceptual decision framework using structured dialog to perhaps prevent IT
failure. The research starts with an analysis of IT/IS failure factors using a metaevaluation
approach tailored for qualitative, interpretive analysis as a metainterpretation with respect to IT
case studies and a synthesis of those factors. Then, a pilot of a survey approach is performed to
profile and test elements of structured dialog and associated early lifecycle tools with the
Dissertation - POWELL ii
business/mission process community and technologists. This is then made practical by creating a
conceptual decision framework for management to use in framing complex investment decisions
such as IT investment. The framework includes obtaining early clarification of the purpose of
the new IT/IS system, improving team dynamics to enable better collaboration, making a
specific, shared decision as the basis of collaboration, and focusing on structured dialog. The
elements of structured dialog found to underlie this decision framework are the production and
use of shared meaning, creation and use of common language, repetition and continuation of
dialog, and facilitation of shared experience. These elements achieve an organizational
epistemology, or knowledge framework, that can potentially facilitate more accurate acquisition
and development of IT (that is, the system-as-created), and perhaps lay the foundation for
subsequent transition into IS (that is, the system-as-used) that an organization should use in the
manner needed and intended. In addition, this epistemology underlies the process, and products,
of successful IT/IS architecture.
Dissertation - POWELL iii
Reconciling the Disconnect between Information Technology and Information Systems using an
Organizational Epistemology: A Framework to Improve Success with Technology
Doctor of Management Dissertation
Christopher R. Powell
UMUC
November 15, 2009
Committee
Dr. Hasan Sayani, Chair
Dr. Husein Abdul-Hamid, Member
Dr. Claudine SchWeber, Member
Dissertation - POWELL iv
Dissertation - POWELL v
Dedication and Acknowledgements
This is dedicated to my wife, Bonnie Jean, and my daughter, Emilie Alyson Grace, who provided
ongoing support and encouragement throughout my pursuit of a Doctorate while working full
time. Without their love and strength, this effort would not have been possible.
I acknowledge the following people, who provided key support throughout this endeavor:
Tim Keenan – President & CEO, High Performance Technologies, Inc.
Kristen Baldwin – Deputy Director, OUSD(AT&L) DDRE/SE/System Analysis
Dissertation POWELL vi
Dissertation - POWELL vii
Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... i!
Dedication and Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... v!
List of Tables & Figures ................................................................................................................ ix!
List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... xi!
CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND, PURPOSE, RESEARCH QUESTIONS, SIGNIFICANCE ...... 1!
Introduction and Relevance ..................................................................................................... 1!
Purpose and Research Questions ............................................................................................ 6!
Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 6!
Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 10!
Theoretical Background ......................................................................................................... 11!
Thesis, Focus, and Argument ............................................................................................. 17!
Significance .......................................................................................................................... 22!
Limitations and Constraints .............................................................................................. 23!
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 29!
Concept Map ........................................................................................................................... 29!
Literature Review and Analysis ............................................................................................ 32!
IT Research – A Review ......................................................................................................... 63!
Knowledge Framework – A Foundation ............................................................................... 67!
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 71!
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH APPROACH AND METHOD ........................................................ 74!
Research Approach ................................................................................................................. 76!
Phase I: Case Study Metaevaluation ................................................................................. 78!
Phase II: Reviewing Customer Experiences Using a Survey .......................................... 84!
Scope .................................................................................................................................. 95!
Validity ................................................................................................................................ 96!
Data sources ....................................................................................................................... 101!
Detailed Research Plan ..................................................................................................... 102!
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 115!
CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH DATA AND DISCUSSION .......................................................... 118!
Phase I – Data from the Case Study Metaevaluation ........................................................ 119!
Phase I Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 139!
Phase II – Data from the Survey Pilots ............................................................................... 140!
Step 1: Survey Development and Pre-Pilot (Eight BPA Professionals) ........................... 140!
Step 2: Survey Pilot (24 BPA Users) ................................................................................... 140!
Phase II Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 145!
CHAPTER 5: ANALYSIS, FUTURE APPLICATIONS, AND EXTENSIONS ...................... 148!
Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 148!
Research Activity Summary ............................................................................................ 154!
Summary of Phase I - Metaevaluation ............................................................................ 155!
Summary of Phase II – Survey ........................................................................................ 157!
Definition of Decision Framework .................................................................................. 160!
Future Applications .............................................................................................................. 172!
Potential Future Research ................................................................................................ 178!
Extensions .............................................................................................................................. 179!
Dissertation - POWELL viii
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 183!
Glossary ..................................................................................................................................... 188!
References .................................................................................................................................. 190!
Appendix A. Institutional Review Board Form .......................................................................... 212!
Appendix B. Survey Instrument ................................................................................................ 218!
Appendix C. Case Study Metaevaluation Data – Research Question 1 .................................... 240!
Appendix D. Linkage of Case Study Metaevaluation to the Survey Instrument and Research
Questions .................................................................................................................................... 256!
Appendix E. Survey Data – Research Question 2 ..................................................................... 258!
Appendix F. Survey Data – Research Question 3 ...................................................................... 282!
Index .......................................................................................................................................... 292!
Dissertation - POWELL ix
List of Tables & Figures
Figure 1 - Concept Map ................................................................................................................ 30!
Figure 2 - Summary of appraisal techniques, approaches, and references (Irani, et al., 1997) .... 42!
Figure 3 - The matrix of benefits and their impact (Farbey et al., 1993) ...................................... 47!
Figure 4 - Synthesizing Requirements Development ................................................................... 61!
Figure 5 - Process of Metainterpretation (Weed, 2005) ............................................................... 80!
Table 1 - IT Failure Factors from Jones (1996) .......................................................................... 120!
Table 2 - Root Causes for Failure Factors from Jones (1996) .................................................... 124!
Table 3 - IT Failure and Risk Factors from Ewusi-Mensah (2003, p.43) ................................... 132!
Figure 6 - Crosstab of Survey Questions .................................................................................... 142!
Figure 7 - Hierarchy of IT Failure Factors .................................................................................. 175!
Figure 8 - Concept Map of IT Success Factors ........................................................................... 181!
Dissertation - POWELL x
Dissertation - POWELL xi
List of Abbreviations
AHP Analytic Hierarchy Process
CBA Cost-Benefit Analysis
CEO Chief Executive Officer
CLIN Contract Line Item
CST Critical Social Theory
DCF Discounted Cash Flow
DoD U.S. Department of Defense
DoDAF Department of Defense Architecture Framework
FAP Financial Appraisal Profile
FMS Flexible Manufacturing System(s)
GAO General Accountability Office
GB Gigabyte (1 billion bytes)
HPC High Performance Computing
ICT Information and Communication Technologies
ID Identification
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
IPT Integrated Program Team
IRB Institutional Review Board
IRR Internal Rate of Return
ISO not an acronym, but commonly used for International Organization for
Standardization
IS Information System
IT Information Technology
Km Kilometer (1000 meters)
KM Knowledge Management
MB Megabyte (1 million bytes)
MIS Management Information System(s)
NPV Net Present Value
OE Organizational Epistemology
OUSD Office of the Undersecretary of Defense
PADR Prospector-Analyzer-Defender-Reactor
PB Petabyte (1 quadrillion bytes)
PC Personal Computer
PMO Program Management Office
PPBS Programming-Planning-Budgeting System
R&D Research & Development
ROI Return on Investment
SOS System of Systems
TB Terabyte (1 trillion bytes)
U.S. United States
Dissertation POWELL 1
CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND, PURPOSE, RESEARCH QUESTIONS, SIGNIFICANCE
Introduction and Relevance
Evaluation and justification of IT are both complex and difficult (Serafeimidis, 2001, p. 99;
Wang, 2007; Mondragon et al., 2001), particularly given the high rate of failure in IT projects
(upwards of 40-95%, depending on methodology and definition of failure [Dalcher & Drevin,
2003; Charette, 2005; Reel, 1999; Verner et al., 2007; Whiting, 1998; Ewusi-Mensah, 2003;
Flowers, 1996; Jones, 1996]). The financial measures typically used by firms to evaluate any
project (such as ROI [Return on Investment], NPV [Net Present Value], IRR [Internal Rate of
Return, etc.]), when applied to technology projects, attempt to be quantitative, precise, and
certain. However, as an innovation project applied to a social group (organization), an IT project
has benefits that are frequently intangible and uncertain (Lefley, 1996). This clash between the
need for discrete performance measurement and the intangibility of innovation in social groups
caused a long period of research (from about 1976 through 2001; see Ch. 2) that attempted to
bring these financial and intangible poles together. Many techniques were brought to the table,
but few could be empirically tested because of many factors including political, cultural, and
accounting tradition. The need for insightful evaluation has, if anything, become greater as IT
becomes more complex and touches more parts of an organization’s value proposition,
foundation, and partners, particularly leading to the “death of geography”; as the enterprise
model becomes extended, strategic alliances become more important, and the organization
begins its shift to more of a “virtual” model (Irani et al., 1997). So, there is a need for a new
look and new tools to be applied to this area, to arrive at something practical for management to
apply and for technologists to support. A key part of this problem is defined as a lack of balance
Dissertation - POWELL 2
between episteme (knowledge or science, of the organization and of IT) and techne (craft or art,
of implementing IT and other business/mission systems) in the organization—based on a lack of
shared meaning and a lack of a basis for that shared meaning—which reinforces the existence of
only tangential touch points between these frequently opposing forces and which concomitantly
and continually reduces IT project success. An enterprise-wide approach that enables IT to take
a strategic view of the organization is required (Irani et al., 1997, p. 697).
We know from management literature (particularly Simon, 1997, and related, such as
Horkheimer, 1954; Farbey, Land, & Targett, 1992; and Dörner, 1996) that we humans, making
microeconomic and many other decisions, are subject to our own bounded rationality. As a
result, we satisfice decisions, using information we believe is salient to the decision, almost
regardless of whether that information is the most microeconomically optimal. This is
particularly applicable in executive decision-making and in decision-making related to IT, which
Farbey et al. (1992) found is subject to four main heuristics: act of faith, obeying orders, step-by-step,
and got-to-do all more deeply explained in Chapter 2). This research will show that many
IT evaluation and justification methods attempt to get around human satisficing through many
objective and subjective decision methods, including financial (objective) and heuristic
(subjective) methods, among others. In executive teams, financial metrics have particular
weight, and so we may expect to find that the heuristic methods at that level may favor financial
metrics. In fact, Farbey et al. (1992) found that while executives seem to favor such metrics, that
does not mean that they are truly making their decisions based on the objective financial analysis
at hand.
This leaves us with a question about whether management information used in satisficing
decisions can be “set” to some degree, submerging less relevant information and maximizing the
Dissertation - POWELL 3
prominence of information with the most utility to the decision at hand. It could be said that
many aids to management decision-making attempt to do just that, as they “load the deck” with
report after report that contain much interesting and relevant information. Yet, we know that
many decisions fail to attain their objectives, particularly in IT, where project failure can occur
as high as 40-95% (Dalcher & Drevin, 2003), depending on the definition of failure. The types
of dysfunctional executive behavior that drive this failure include acting without prior analysis of
the situation and failing to anticipate side effects and long-term repercussions, among others
(Dörner, 1996). So, the present “deck-loading” does
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