The thesis explores the potential of one way of facilitating and stimulating collaboration in Library and Information Science (LIS), through a specific scientific collaboration activity: creating, sharing and reusing data collection instruments, such as interview guides, questionnaires, and observation protocols. The four studies reported in the thesis can be read as a linear narrative, each study building on the previous and contributing to the following ones. Together the four studies describe the process exploring social and contextual aspects of LIS; developing requirements and designing a working prototype collaboratory; and evaluating how the prototype collaboratory was perceived by LIS professionals. Overall, the results show that whereas the benefits of an LIS collaboratory reported by the study participants focused on the greater good for LIS, the challenges reported focused on the individuals’ perspectives. Hence, a tension exists between supporting the greater good, and challenges for individuals concerning sharing and reusing data collection instruments in an LIS collaboratory. The thesis emphasizes the implications for the LIS discipline when new ways of working with data collection instruments would be introduced; the implications of addressing needs of a diverse target audience; and the implications for further design iterations of an LIS collaboratory, including rewarding contributions, and ensuring quality content in a collaboratory. / <p>Academic dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Gothenburg and the University of Borås to be publicly defended on Wednesday 11 June 2014 at 13.15 in lecture room E310, University of Borås, Allégatan 1, Borås</p>

Supply chain management has attracted much attention in the last decade. There has been a noticeable shift from a traditional individual organisation-based management to an integrated management across the supply chain network since the end of the last century. The shift contributes to better decision making in the supply chain context, as it is necessary for a company to cooperate with other supply chain members by utilising relevant information such as inventory, demand and resource capacity. In other words, information sharing and coordinated management are essential mechanisms to improve supply chain performance. Supply chains may differ significantly in terms of industry sectors, geographic locations, and firm sizes. This study was based on case studies from small and medium sized manufacturing supply chains in People Republic of China. The study was motivated by the following facts. Firstly, small and medium enterprises have made a big contribution to China’s economic growth. Several studies revealed that most of the Chinese manufacturing enterprises became aware of the importance of supply chain management, but compared to western firms, the supply chain management level of Chinese firms had been lagging behind. Research on supply chain management and performance optimisation in Chinese small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) was very scarce. Secondly, there had been plenty of studies in the literature that focused on two or three level supply chains whilst considering a number of uncertain factors (e.g. customer demand) or a single supply chain performance indicator (e.g. cost). However, the research on multiple stage supply chain systems with multiple uncertainties and multiple objectives based on real industrial cases had been spared and deserved more attention. One reason was due to the lack of reliable industrial data that required an enormous effort to collect the primary data and there was a serious concern about data confidentiality from the industry aspect. This study employed two SME manufacturing companies as case studies. The first one was in the Aluminium industry and another was in the Chemical industry. The aim was to better understand the characteristics of the supply chains in Chinese SMEs through performing in-depth case studies, and built models and tools to evaluate different strategies for improving their supply chain performance. The main contributions of this study included the following aspects. Firstly, this study generalised a supply chain model including a domestic supply chain part and an international supply chain part based on deep case studies with the emphasis on identifying key characteristics in the case supply chains, such as uncertainties, constraints and cost elements in association with flows and activities in the domestic supply chain and the international supply chain. Secondly, two important SCM issues, i.e. the integrated raw material procurement and finished goods production planning, and the international sales planning, were identified. Thirdly, mathematical models were formulated to represent the supply chain model taking into account multiple uncertainties. Fourthly, several operational strategies utilising the concepts of just-in-time, safety-stock/capacity, Kanban, and vendor managed inventory, were evaluated and compared with the case company's original strategy in various scenarios through simulation methods, which enabled quantification of the impact of information sharing on supply chain performance. Fifthly, a single objective genetic algorithm was developed to optimise the integrated raw material ordering and finished goods production decisions under (s, S) policy (a dynamic inventory control policy), which enabled the impact of coordinated management on supply chain performance to be quantified. Finally, a multiple objectives genetic algorithm considering both total supply chain cost and customer service level was developed to optimise the integrated raw material ordering and finished goods production with the international sales plan decisions under (s, S) policy in various scenarios. This also enabled the quantification of the impact of coordinated management on supply chain performances.

供應鏈的運作過程包含一系列的價值創造活動，這些活動乃是由許多不同的組織所負責執行，且每個活動之間存在相互影響的關係。在這一牽涉跨組織合作的價值網絡中，所遭遇的困難主要是來自跨組織互動過程中所隱藏的不確定問題，而這些問題的產生主要導因於供應鏈夥伴間的活動缺乏調和。針對供應鏈分散管控結構所衍生出的問題，近年來以資訊科技為基礎的跨組織系統 (inter-organizational system, IOS)提供了有效的解決方案。此IOS的形成，主要是認為透過IOS的應用，供應鏈組織可藉由跨組織資訊分享的力量來改善夥伴間的協調以及資源整合。而此意謂IOS的效益產生端賴系統內建的資訊分享機制能相容於供應鏈結構特徵，並能有效協助組織來因應所面臨的不確定問題。是以，建立一個相容於環境的資訊分享機制是配置IOS解決方案過程的重要關鍵，且對於供應鏈不確定的診斷在資訊分享機制規劃過程有其重要性存在。 對於供應鏈不確定問題的診斷是一極為複雜且具挑戰的任務，其須要透過一結構化的框架來協助分析夥伴間錯綜複雜的互動行為過程所隱藏的不確定因素。因此，本研究乃採用結構化的方法來製作一符合統計效度的不確定因素衡量量表，並以此量表為工具透過個案研究的方法來探索收斂組裝型供應鏈，這一特定型態供應鏈所面臨的不確定問題。在了解供應鏈所面臨的不確定問題之後，本研究試圖針對此供應鏈型態提出一資訊分享機制規劃的參考架構，藉此架構引領供應鏈運作環境中的資訊科技規劃，並依此提升供應鏈整合。 在針對個案探討之後，本研究發現缺乏妥善規劃資訊分享機制是導致個案公司目前仍難以有效因應所面臨的不確定問題之主要原因。所施行的資訊分享實務與供應鏈環境間的不相容使得其目前仍難以有效因應需求的變異以及物料供給的管控。此外，本研究發現資訊分享模式會受到所面臨的不確定問題之屬性以及嚴重性程度的影響。在收斂組裝型供應鏈的案例中，受到供應鏈結構特徵的影響，資訊分享應著重於物料供給方面的議題。因為在該型態供應鏈運作環境中，供應端的夥伴結合相對於需求端而言較為複雜，且與領導廠商間的關係又非似需求端夥伴間來的密切。是以，在收斂組裝型供應鏈中，有必要投注較多的心力於建制與供應夥伴間的資訊分享。 / Supply chain management is a complicated task because of uncertainties involved. The uncertainty that occurs in the processes of inter-organizational coordination is due to a lack of harmony in supply chain participant activities. Recent developments in Inter-organizational Systems (IOS) have contributed to the provision of IT-based solutions for harmonizing supply chain participant activities. Applying IOS to the supply chain often attempts to improve the efficiency of coordination and resource integration among participants via inter-organizational information sharing. This intention implies that the effectiveness of IOS depends on whether information sharing mechanism built into the system can fit for supply chain characteristics and can help the supply chain cope with uncertainties that disrupt the integration of the supply chain. Hence, establishing an environment-suited information sharing mechanism is critical in deploying IOS solutions, and diagnosing supply chain uncertainties is important in planning information sharing mechanism. Diagnosing supply chain uncertainties is a complex and challenging task, it needs a structural framework to support in analyzing the intricacy of interactions among supply chain members, resulting in the construction of an instrument to assist in the understanding of uncertainty-related behaviors of supply chain participants. Therefore, this study takes a structural approach to produce a validated uncertainty scale, and applies a case study approach with this instrument to investigate the uncertainty problems in a specific supply chain type, convergent assembly supply chain. After understanding the uncertainty problems, this study proposed a reference model to assist this supply chain type in planning an information sharing mechanism, leading to a well-suited IT framework to improve supply chain integration. Falling short of a sounding information sharing mechanism is central to the problems in convergent assembly supply chain based upon the findings of case studies. The incompatibility between supply chain environment and existing information sharing practices has led to the problems in demand variation and material supply. Based on the characteristics of supply chain environment, planning inter-organizational coordination and information sharing simultaneously can effectively resolve the supply chain problems. Moreover, the research results suggested that the pattern of information sharing is influenced by the scale and severity of the uncertainty embedded in supply chain. In the case of convergent assembly supply chain, information sharing is focused on issues related to material supply owing to the structural characteristics of supply chain. The combination of participants in supply side is more complex and is not familiar with the leading company as demand side’s participants. Therefore, it needs to pay more attention for establishing information sharing among supply side’s participants.

Dans des chaînes logistiques décentralisées, chaque entité prend ses décisions sur la base de ses seuls intérêts. Les conflits d’intérêt entre entités conduisent dès lors à des décisions sous-optimales et à une performance dégradée de la chaîne logistique considérée dans sa globalité. Ceci nuit également gravement à la crédibilité des échanges d'informations entre entités. Ce mémoire traite de l’étude de la coordination des décisions dans des chaînes logistiques dans un contexte de problème de capacité d'approvisionnement (Capacity Procurement problem), dans différentes situations et en s’appuyant sur 3 modèles. Le premier modèle considère une chaîne logistique dyadique confrontée à une demande stochastique et étudie l’impact des prix sur la performance. Des contrats PARD (PARtially Deductible, reservation contract) et RCRS (Revenue Sharing Reservation contract with Penalty) sont conçus et proposés pour une coordination des décisions dans un contexte d’information partielle ou totale. Il est mathématiquement démontré que la coordination est réalisée par la mise en œuvre de ces contrats dans ces deux situations. Dans le second modèle, l’hypothèse de prix endogène est posée. La demande est alors modélisée comme la somme d’une fonction linéaire décroissante du prix et d’un paramètre stochastique. Le modèle s’intéresse en premier lieu à une structure dyadique, et un contrat RSRP (Revenue Sharing Reservation contract with Penalty) est proposé pour une coordination par les prix, délais et taux de production. Il est démontré que la coordination est assurée par un contrat RSRP dans une structure dyadique. L’application d’un contrat RSRP est ensuite étendue pour application dans une chaîne logistique divergente avec de multiples détaillants. Il est démontré que la performance de la chaîne logistique est considérablement améliorée au regard de la performance résultant de la mise en place d’un seul contrat de vente. Dans le troisième modèle, une chaîne logistique divergente comprenant un fournisseur et de multiples détaillants est étudiée lorsque ces derniers font face à une demande stochastique et dépendante des prix. Un des facteurs non financiers cause de déviations dans les décisions humaines est la Confiance. Dans ce modèle, les détaillants ont des prévisions plus fiables de la demande en raison de leur proximité au marché. Afin de sécuriser la disponibilité des produits lors des périodes de vente, les détaillants sont incités à transmettre des prévisions de vente majorées. Un mécanisme de coordination de la chaîne logistique est proposé, reposant sur un modèle d’optimisation, un système de notation et un système de récompense-punition. S’appuyant sur une approche de simulation, la performance de ce mécanisme est alors comparée à deux autres mécanismes, un mécanisme sans confiance et un mécanisme asymétrique. / In decentralized Supply Chains, each member decides based on his own interests. Conflict of interests results in suboptimal decisions and poor performance for entire supply chains, as well seriously harms credibly information sharing across them. In this thesis, coordination of decisions in supply chains in the context of Capacity Procurement problem are studied in different situations in form of three models. In first model, a dyadic supply chain with stochastic demand and exogenous price is investigated by taking various costs into account. PARD and RCRS contracts are designed and proposed in order for coordination of decisions respectively in full and partial information updating situations. It is mathematically shown that coordination is achieved by using each contract in its corresponding situation. In second model, endogenous price is assumed. That is, demand is modeled as sum of a decreasing linear function of price and a stochastic parameter. The model is first examined in a dyadic structure, and RSRP contract is proposed for coordinating of price, production time and production rate decisions. It is proved that coordination is achieved by RSRP contract in the dyadic structure. The application of RSRP contract is then extended to be employed in a divergent supply chain with multiple retailers, and shown that the supply chain performs considerably better than the same supply chain with a wholesale contract. In third model, a divergent supply chain comprising a supplier and multiple retailers is studied where retailers face stochastic and price-dependent demand. Since main decision makers in supply chain interactions are human, paying attention to human decision making process and their biases from theoretical predictions are important in designing coordination mechanisms. One of the non-pecuniary factors which cause deviations in human-decisions is Trust. In this model, the retailers have more accurate demand forecast information due to their proximity to market. In order to secure availability of products during the selling season, the retailers have incentives to inflate their private forecast information. A coordination mechanism is proposed, which consists of an optimization model, a scoring system and a rewarding-punishing system, in order to coordinate the supply chain. Using simulation approach, performance of the mechanism is then compared to those of two other mechanisms, namely Without Trust an Asymmetric mechanism. According to the results, employing the mechanism in situations with any demand variability is advised. More accurately, in situations with high demand variability, the mechanism achieves a proper profit improvement and moderate capability for identifying deceptive agents, while in situations with low demand variability, the mechanism shows insignificant profit improvement and considerable ability in identifying deceptive agents.

No presente trabalho é proposto um modelo de simulação de uma cadeia de suprimentos integrada com adoção da estratégia de VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) entre uma empresa do setor de minério de ferro e alguns de seus fornecedores estratégicos. O modelo baseia-se em uma estrutura de avaliação de sistemas VMI adaptada de Sarpola et al. (2007) em conjunto com as configurações de cadeias de suprimentos propostas por Holmström et al (2003), o que permite medir o desempenho da cadeia de suprimentos segundo 3 níveis de integração. É feita uma revisão bibliográfica dos conceitos da estratégia de VMI, políticas de estoque em sistemas integrados, compartilhamento e grau de visibilidade de informações ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos. Os resultados obtidos possibilitam realizar uma análise quantitativa dos benefícios do VMI, onde são considerados demanda estocástica, lead time aleatório, produtos com características diferentes, compartilhamento de informações, visibilidade parcial da cadeia de suprimentos, lotes variáveis, cálculo dos estoques de segurança considerando informações dos pedidos, demanda real do cliente e erros de previsão. / In this paper we proposed a simulation model of an integrated supply chain with the adoption of VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) strategy between a company of the iron ore and some of its strategic suppliers. The model is based on a framework for evaluating VMI systems adapted from Sarpola et al. (2007) together with the configurations of supply chains proposed by Holmström et al (2003), which measures the performance of the supply chain using 3 levels of integration. It is a literature review of the concepts of the strategy of VMI, inventory policies in integrated systems, sharing and degree of visibility of information throughout the supply chain. The results allowed to perform a quantitative analysis of the benefits of VMI, which are considered as stochastic demand, random lead time, products with different characteristics, information sharing, partial visibility of the supply chain, lots of variables, calculation of safety stocks based on information from client orders, actual customer demand and forecasting errors.

[pt] A gestão da cadeia de suprimentos (SCM, Supply Chain Management) está criando oportunidades e desafios para a competição no mundo dos negócios. Apesar disto, ainda existem poucos modelos que oferecem uma análise efetiva de SCM. Dentro deste contexto, esta dissertação tem o intuito de propor um modelo para analisar cadeias de suprimentos baseado em dimensões- chave necessárias para uma bem sucedida SCM. Nessa dissertação, as dimensões consideradas são: integração de processos de negócios, identificação dos membros-chave da cadeia, compartilhamento de informação e medidas de desempenho apropriadas para cadeia de suprimento. Com o objetivo de validar o modelo e avaliar a sua aplicação, foi conduzido um estudo de caso em diferentes cadeias de suprimento de um grande fabricante nacional de cilindros de armazenamento de Gás Natural Veicular (GNV). Para efeitos da análise de SCM, este fabricante é considerado nesta aplicação como a empresa focal da cadeia. A partir da aplicação do modelo nessas diferentes cadeias pôde-se constatar um maior compartilhamento de informação e adoção de medidas de desempenho no processo de negócio SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) do que no processo de negócio CRM (Customer Relationship Management). No CRM, também foi constatado que as cadeias são mais integradas com o fabricante de cilindros de GNV, quando esse cilindro é o seu produto principal, e menos integrada, quando o produto principal das cadeias é outro, como por exemplo, o automóvel zero quilômetro. / [en] The Supply Chain Management (SCM) is creating many opportunities and challenges for world business competition. In spite of this, there are still just a few models that offer an effective SCM analysis. Within this context, this dissertation attempts to propose a model for a supply chain analysis based on key dimensions that are necessary for a successful SCM. The key dimensions considered in this dissertation are: business processes integration, key supply chain members identification, information sharing, and appropriate supply chain performance measures. In order to validate the model and to evaluate its application, a case study was conducted in different supply chains of a big national manufacturer of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) cylinders for vehicles. Towards the SCM analysis, this manufacturer is considered in this application as the supply chain`s focal company. With the model`s application in these different supply chains, it was possible to figure out a more intense information share and use of performance measures in the SRM (Supplier Relationship Management) business process than in the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) business process. In CRM, it was also found that the supply chains are more integrated with the focal company when the cylinder is the chain`s main product and less integrated when the chain`s main product is another, for instance, a brand new car.

<div>In 2019, cyber security is considered one of the most significant threats to the global economy and national security. Top U.S. agencies have acknowledged this fact, and provided direction regarding strategic priorities and future initiatives within the domain. However, there is still a lack of basic understanding of factors that impact complexity, scope, and effectiveness of cyber defense efforts. Computer security incident response is the short-term process of detecting, identifying, mitigating, and resolving a potential security threat to a network. These activities are typically conducted in computer security incident response teams (CSIRTs) comprised of human analysts that are organized into hierarchical tiers and work closely with many different computational tools and programs. Despite the fact that CSIRTs often provide the first line of defense to a network, there is currently a substantial global skills shortage of analysts to fill open positions. Research and development efforts from educational and technological perspectives have been independently ineffective at addressing this shortage due to time lags in meeting demand and associated costs. This dissertation explored how to combine the two approaches by considering how human-centered research can inform development of computational solutions toward augmenting human analyst capabilities. The larger goal of combining these approaches is to effectively complement human expertise with technological capability to alleviate pressures from the skills shortage.</div><div><br></div><div>Insights and design recommendations for hybrid systems to advance the current state of security automation were developed through three studies. The first study was an ethnographic field study which focused on collecting and analyzing contextual data from three diverse CSIRTs from different sectors; the scope extended beyond individual incident response tasks to include aspects of organization and information sharing within teams. Analysis revealed larger design implications regarding collaboration and coordination in different team environments, as well as considerations about usefulness and adoption of automation. The second study was a cognitive task analysis with CSIR experts with diverse backgrounds; the interviews focused on expertise requirements for information sharing tasks in CSIRTs. Outputs utilized a dimensional expertise construct to identify and prioritize potential expertise areas for augmentation with automated tools and features. Study 3 included a market analysis of current automation platforms based on the expertise areas identified in Study 2, and used Systems Engineering methodologies to develop concepts and functional architectures for future system (and feature) development.</div><div><br></div><div>Findings of all three studies support future directions for hybrid automation development in CSIR by identifying social and organizational factors beyond traditional tool design in security that supports human-systems integration. Additionally, this dissertation delivered functional considerations for automated technology that can augment human capabilities in incident response; these functions support better information sharing between humans and between humans and technological systems. By pursuing human-systems integration in CSIR, research can help alleviate the skills shortage by identifying where automation can dynamically assist with information sharing and expertise development. Future research can expand upon the expertise framework developed for CSIR and extend the application of proposed augmenting functions in other domains.</div>

<p>Computer errors are a constant problem for software providers. To completely avoid bugs has proven very difficult even though computer software goes through rigorous testing before released. One of the challenges for developers is recreating errors that end-users experience. User-submitted error reports can often be of help for developers to localize and fix bugs. However, the reports often vary in quality depending on the user's experience and the effort they put into writing the report. Instead of relying on manual error reports, some software providers have equipped their software with automated error reporting functionality. These programs are set to collect important information about the computer and the software in the event of a crash. There are pros and cons with both automated and manual error reporting.</p><p>The research that has previously been done in the field of error reporting has mostly focused on the situation where private persons are senders and corporations are receivers. This report addresses the setting where both parties are corporations, which brings several new aspects to the problem. The five main topics this report focuses on are: customer attitude, which data to send, privacy, user interaction and feedback. A study has been conducted at the ERP system provider IFS in Sweden where interviews with employees and customers have been performed. Interviewees in the customer companies have been primarily ERP and application managers. The results of the study show that companies are less concerned than what the literature suggests even though the attitudes differ some depending on line of business. Conclusions are that a high degree of configurability of what is sent in the error reports and the level of user interaction is needed for companies to accept automated error reporting.</p> / <p>Buggar är ett ständigt problem för mjukvarutillverkare. Att helt undvika dessa har visat sig vara mycket svårt trots rigorösa tester innan ny mjukvara släpps. En av utmaningarna för utvecklare är att återskapa felen som uppstår hos användarna. Felrapporter inskickade av användare kan ofta vara till hjälp för utvecklare när de ska lokalisera och åtgärda fel. Men rapporterna kan variera i kvalitet beroende på användarnas erfarenhet och tiden de lägger på att skriva rapporten. Istället för att förlita sig på manuella felrapporter har vissa mjukvarutillverkare utrustat sin programvara med funktionalitet för automatiska felrapporter. Dessa program ska samla in viktig information om datorn och programvaran i händelse av att en krasch uppstår.</p><p>Viss forskning har skett inom området automatiserad felrapportering men fokus har då legat på situationen då privatpersoner är avsändare och företag är mottagare. Denna rapport behandlar läget då båda parter är företag, vilket tillför flera nya aspekter till problemet. De fem huvudfrågorna som den här rapporten fokuserar på är: kunders attityd, vilken data ska skickas, integritet, användarinteraktion och feedback. En studie har utförts hos affärssystemleverantören IFS i Sverige, där intervjuer med anställda och kunder har genomförts. De intervjuade hos kundföretagen har huvudsakligen varit ERP- och applikationsansvariga. Resultaten av studien visar att företagen är mindre oroade än vad litteraturen indikerar även om attityderna skiljer sig något i olika branscher. Slutsatserna är att en hög grad av konfigurerbarhet behövs när det gäller vad som skickas i felrapporter samt vilken grad av interaktion med användaren som behövs. Detta för att kundföretagen ska acceptera automatisk felrapportering.</p>

<p>This dissertation explores the potential contributions of the mechanisms for early warning and intelligence sharing to regional security in Africa. The Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and the Committee on Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) are centrally concerned with the dissemination of information to enable decision-making on continental security. The main focus of the dissertation is on the manner in which the information generated by the CEWS and CISSA can contribute to regional security. In order to analyse the potential contribution of the CEWS and CISSA to regional security, a sound theoretical framework is proposed so as to explore how and why states choose to cooperate, as well as addressing multifaceted cooperation and integration at inter-state, government department and nonstate levels. Constructivist interpretations of international cooperation are utilised to explore the role of ideas, meanings and understandings in shaping behaviour. The focus is placed on the manner in which interaction as provided for by the CEWS and CISSA can shape understandings of reality and potentially impact on the definition of actors&rsquo / interests. This is based on the assumption drawn from security community and epistemic community theory that, enabling the creation of shared meanings and shared knowledge there is the potential for both the CEWS and CISSA to have a positive influence on the choices that stakeholders take in favour of peaceful change.</p>

The civil rights and other social justice movements, such as the fight against child sex trafficking are examples of an informal context where information and communications technologies (ICTs) have been actively applied in hopes of furthering social justice causes. But while we see that informally organized, grassroots groups have shown considerable interest in ICTs, the actual effectiveness of ICTs for these groups remains largely unknown. This is particularly so when combining both the complexity of the technology landscape and large grassroots interorganizational networks. Given the enormous challenge of social justice issues, there are pressing needs that go beyond connecting more just individuals to help nonprofits. A central need of nonprofit social justice organizations is the connection and coordination of many different groups into interorganizational networks (or groups of groups). In my research, I conducted an in-depth qualitative study of such a network engaged in fighting child sex trafficking. In doing so, I have identified some of the challenges of information sharing and coordination in this context. I gained insight into their information sharing needs and practices for connecting within an interorganizational network. I also conducted a design exploration by building a technology intervention to understand how ICTs can better accommodate the interorganizational needs of information sharing for connecting. My research findings point towards an initial framework in understanding information sharing technologies for informal interorganizational networks.