<p> Industries have been discovering significant improvements in quality, productivity, and cost by implementing Agile principles during the software development life cycle. However, the Aerospace industry has been slow to adopt Agile to develop safety critical software, primarily because DO-178C has been interpreted as prescribing Waterfall development(VanderLeest &amp; Buter, 2009). This work introduces the advantages of Agile and posits that Agile can meet DO-178C considerations. A literature review conducted, herein, makes the case that Agile is a significantly better approach than Waterfall for software development. Further, the review outlines some of the challenges of Agile in large software development programs but indicates how these challenges can be addressed. This work provides an Agile framework and demonstrates how the framework meets the objectives of DO-178C for safety critical software development. The framework provides alternate approaches to some DO-178C development activities, such as Stages of Involvement. This analysis clearly demonstrates that DO-178C does not require a Waterfall approach and that safety critical software can and should be developed using more modern development approaches such as Agile.</p><p>

The purpose of this research study was to gather and examine data on the relationships among individuals' demographic and use environment characteristics; information seeking behavior; valuation of information; and impact and usage of information. The research design methodology employed to accomplish this purpose included two techniques of descriptive research, the questionnaire and in-depth interview. The collected data were used to test the specified five study hypotheses in an effort to specify the nature of these relationships. / The following null hypotheses were tested: (1) Perceptual valuation of selection attributes of received information by recipients/users is independent of their information seeking behavior (requesting/not requesting/receiving without opportunity to request information). (2) Information impact and usage is independent of recipient's/user's information seeking behavior. (3) Recipient's/user's perceptual valuation of information attributes associated with the quality of information content and/or the information channel is independent of their usage of the received information. (4) Perceptual valuation of information attributes associated with the quality of information content and the information channel is independent of selected demographic and personal characteristics for recipients/users. (5) Usage of received information is independent of selected demographic and personal characteristics for recipients/users. / The hypothesized model of the reflected factors of information usage with the associated variables includes the following components: Information Seeking Behavior: Requestors, Non-Requestors, and Recipients Only. Information Channel Attributes: Ease of Use, Readability, Availability, Accessibility, Response Time, Procedures to Receive Information, and Instructions for Information Use. Information Content Attributes: Completeness, Accuracy, Relevancy, Timeliness, Volume, Currency, and Value of Information. Information Impacts: Increases in Productivity, Saves Time, Necessary Part of Work Activity, Confirms Existing Knowledge, Stimulus for Action, etc. Information Usages: Discarded, Considered and Rejected, Redirected, Communicated, Filed, Read then Filed, Stimulus for Action, etc., Transformed into Another Information Product, Analyzed and Combined with Other Information, and Other Usages. Demographic and Use Environment Characteristics: Type of Work Environment--Public or Private. Management Level--Manager or Non-Manager. Gender--Male or Female. Education Levels--High School through Graduate School Degree. / Findings and conclusions are based on analysis and interpretation of the critical functions and relationships among the identified variables of the information transfer and utilization processes, and in the valuation activities accomplished by recipients/users. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-03, Section: A, page: 0652. / Major Professor: Ronald Blazek. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

The purpose of this study is to describe the interdisciplinarity of information science on the basis of the reference patterns in the Journal of the American Society for Information Science (JASIS) from the first issue that carried the current title (January, 1970) through the issue of December, 1985, and to identify the changes in the sources of the references in the articles of JASIS during the study period. It is assumed that the literature of JASIS represents the literature of information science, on the basis of experts' opinions, the coverage of the journal, and the fact that JASIS is the official journal of the American Society for Information Science. / The study is designed to answer three research questions: (1) What are the disciplines that contributed to information science between 1970 and 1985? (2) How did the contributions of different disciplines to information science change between 1970 through 1985? (3) Which disciplines are the major contributors to information science literature in the periods 1970-1974, 1975-1979, and 1980-1985? / Ten percent of JASIS references are randomly selected and examined. / Citation Analysis used to collect data for the study. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data and to present the results and findings. / Some of the major findings of the study are: (1) Thirty-two different disciplines are identified as the contributors to information science during the study period. (2) The contribution of information science to its own literature is the highest, followed by computer science, library science, and science-general (DDC 500-509.999). (3) The contribution of computer science to information science tripled between 1970 and 1985. (4) The contribution of library science to information science decreased from 14.28% of total citations during the first period of the study (January, 1970 through December, 1974) to 9.6% of total citations during the third period of the study (January, 1980 through December, 1985). (5) During the sixteen years of the study, it is found that the relationship between information science and library science is weakening. On the other hand, the relationship between information science and computer science becomes stronger. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.) / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-05, Section: A, page: 1043. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1987.

The purpose of this empirical investigation was to ascertain, analyze, and compare the actual and potential application of selected management techniques to personnel evaluation and personnel development programs in public libraries. The study was exploratory and descriptive. / The objectives of this research were to (1) document the actual and potential applications of specific management techniques in public libraries, (2) determine the application of formal personnel development and personnel evaluation programs in the surveyed libraries, and (3) examine reasons why these libraries are not using or do not anticipate using specific personnel evaluation and personnel development management techniques. / Data collected by a direct mail questionnaire was designed to elicit information about the actual and potential use of the management techniques and the existence of formal personnel evaluation and personnel development programs. / Ten multi-part hypotheses were tested by means of statistical procedures frequently used for nominal data. Chi-square tests were undertaken where appropriate to determine whether identified variables are independent or associated. For variables which are associated at the significance level of 0.05 or less, measures of strength of association, phi or Cramer's V, are reported along with chi-square. Important findings are emphasized and possible interpretations and implications for public libraries are discussed. / General research findings, based on reports by responding libraries, suggest overall receptiveness to the programs and techniques examined. This is evident in the number of affirmative responses to both present and potential utilization of these programs. A larger number of libraries reported the use of formal personnel development programs than would have been anticipated based on references in the literature. Even larger proportions employed selected techniques which may serve as component parts of formal programs. In fact, the prospects for potential utilization of these programs among respondents not presently using them appear to be very good. Personnel evaluation programs were found to be universal in the public libraries surveyed and fifty-one of the libraries reported having a formal personnel development program. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-03, Section: A, page: 0368. / Major Professor: F. William Summers. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

This study proposed a model for measuring information system security self-efficacy and examined the relationship between the educational preparation of systems librarians and the effectiveness of their information system security implementation. It differentiated education based on whether or not the participant had received other, formal information technology training. It examined the relationship between information technology training and information system security effectiveness through the intervening variables of information system security experience, information system security self-efficacy, information system security task initiation, and information system security task persistence. Gender, age, and systems librarian experience were included as possible mediating factors. The participants in this study were systems librarians employed in Florida academic and public libraries. 56 usable responses were obtained. The study found that systems librarians with prior information technology training were more effective at implementing information system security than those without. Although the study failed to offer support for the model as a whole, significant relationships were found between prior information technology training, information system security self-efficacy, and information system security implementation effectiveness. Age showed no significant correlation between either self-efficacy or effectiveness. Gender demonstrated a weak correlation between both, but regression analysis showed no predictive power. Job experience, however, was found to be a better predictor of effectiveness than was IT training, but not as strong as self-efficacy. In combination, self-efficacy and job experience predicted a significant amount of the variance in effectiveness. / A Dissertation submitted to the College of Information in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2005. / Date of Defense: December 8, 2004. / Computer Security, Information Assurance, Management / Includes bibliographical references. / John N. Gathegi, Professor Directing Dissertation; Ken Shaw, Outside Committee Member; Misook Heo, Committee Member; Mike Workman, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that impacted the level of self-perceived transformational leadership potential in pre-service school library media specialists who participated in a master's degree program in library and information studies focusing on leadership development. The participants of the study were a cohort of 30 teacher-leaders from 6 counties within the state of Florida. A mixed-methods concurrent triangulation research design was implemented by using pre-existing data, the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), and a survey designed by the researcher. The qualitative data were coded into themes, while the quantitative data were analyzed using four statistical methods: Chi-square test, T-test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. The findings indicated that the participants' leadership training did facilitate the development of their self-perceived transformational leadership behaviors to a significantly higher level than the established national norms for the LPI in two areas - Modeling the Way and Enabling Others to Act. In addition, the assessment of leadership potential given during the program selection process had a positive correlation with the LPI subscale for Enabling Others to Act. Moreover, the social context of each participant's circumstances had an impact on their self- perceived transformational leadership potential when considering the participants' satisfaction with the support they received from their mentors, the amount of time they spent with their mentors, whether they selected or were assigned a mentor, their Graduate Record Exam scores, and the poverty level within their schools. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Library and Information Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Award: Fall Semester, 2009. / Date of Defense: October 20, 2009. / Transformational Leadership, Leadership Practices Inventory, School Librarians, Teacher Education, School Library Media Specialists, Leadership Education / Includes bibliographical references. / Nancy Everhart, Professor Directing Dissertation; Dale Lick, University Representative; Don Latham, Committee Member; Lisa Tripp, Committee Member.

This project proposes one possible solution to the information sharing and information processing problems within the intelligence community: include information professionals in each analytic division. By first creating a rough model of information and information sharing in the intelligence community and then comparing that model to one taken from information sharing practices in the corporate world, a new paradigm can be revealed which the intelligence community can use for further study. It is also of note that many of the successful corporations which utilize information effectively employ ideas first created by government policy, such as mandates within the Paperwork Reduction Act and various Executive Orders. These policies will also be reviewed for their impact on information in the corporate world and also for their reapplication in the world of intelligence. / A Thesis submitted to the College of Information in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2006. / Date of Defense: October 6, 2006. / Government information policy, Intelligence community, Corporate information sharing / Includes bibliographical references. / Michelle M. Kazmer, Professor Directing Thesis; John C. Bertot, Committee Member; John Gathegi, Committee Member.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate NBINET, the national bibliographic utility in Taiwan, in three fields--organization, performance and librarians' attitudes--in order to identify its achievements and problems. It is hoped that the results will provide the fundamental data and references for future development of library networking in Taiwan. It is also hoped that the findings will provide information useful in assisting decision-makers in creating new networks or improving the existing networks to be more responsive to the needs of network members. / This study adopted the model proposed by Turock (1981) as a framework to conduct the research. The variables included: (1) organization: planning, governance, funding, communication, administration, evaluation, and training; (2) performance: hit rate, completeness, currency, friendliness, uploading and downloading functions; (3) attitude: barriers, advantages, disadvantages, expectations, demographic information, and knowledge background. The techniques used to collect data were a review of documents, eight on-site tests in libraries, and two mailed questionnaires. / The results of this study revealed that: (1) the overall attitudes of network staff and librarians toward the NBINET's organization are not quite positive; (2) the hit rates in NBINET were not high, especially for books published in Mainland China, serials, and non-print materials; (3) slow response of the system was the most common problem to the libraries; (4) online help facility was seldom used by libraries when problems occurred; (5) the major factors in librarians' negative attitudes are: inability of the governing body to carry out its policies, added workload, slow response, limited number of skilled technicians, lack of motivation, dissatisfaction with the hit rate and quality control of the database, the system is not user-friendly, and the elusiveness of online help; (6) the most urgent needs for improvement of the system include: improve search functions, enhance quality control of the database, provide more educational training, and improve response speed; (7) some problems, such as MARC conversion and CCCII problems, are related to standards, and will need time and the efforts of all concerned to solve. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-07, Section: A, page: 2462. / Major Professor: F. William Summers. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

A qualitative case study was undertaken in order to investigate the factors which affect the operation of a combined middle school/public library in densely populated Pinellas County on the Gulf coast of Florida. The researcher assumed that the key to understanding what makes an organization more or less effective is in understanding how it does things. The researcher also assumed that the best way to study process is to observe it directly by using the methods of naturalistic inquiry which included observations, interviews, group meetings, and examination of library documents. / Presenting "slice of life" episodes, the researcher focused on the human processes common to all organizations including communication, decision making, cooperation and conflict, leadership and power. Using an illumination model, the researcher sought to describe and interpret rather than measure the effectiveness of the combined program. / In the spirit of naturalistic inquiry, the researcher sought to avoid placing constraints on outputs insofar as possible. Whatever data were collected were analyzed, categorized, and interpreted. A set of categories was derived within which the data could be classified, then the categories were fleshed out with additional information. / The findings of the six month field study conducted in 1994 were organized into five major categories, identified as factors affecting the operation of the combined library. Findings within these categories were further divided into themes identified as indicators of these factors. The factors and their related themes were: (1) Planning, indicated by community readiness, formal agreement, and governance; (2) Leadership, indicated by influence and power, leadership style, and program excellence; (3) Cooperation, indicated by networking, sharing, and reaching out; (4) Community Fit, indicated by the facility, customer satisfaction, and interagency articulation; (5) Personnel, indicated by school board status, adaptability and work roles. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-07, Section: A, page: 2459. / Major Professor: Ronald D. Blazek. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.