Euro-Philiacs,Euro-Sceptics and Europhobics: Higher Education Policy,Values and Institutional Research

The European higher education landscape is inhabited by three clans: the Euro-philiac, his wicked twin, the Euro-phobic and most interesting of all, the Euro-sceptic. This unholy trinity has long been with us. Though the recent Euro electoral fiasco has in all probability served to bolster the ranks of the second and third tribes1     

Where Computer Security Meets National Security<Superscript>1</Superscript>

This paper identifies two conceptions of security in contemporary concerns over the vulnerability of computers and networks to hostile attack. One is derived from individual-focused conceptions of computer security developed in computer science and engineering. The other is informed by the concerns of national security agencies of government as well as those of corporate intellectual property owners. A comparative evaluation of these two conceptions utilizes the theoretical construct of “securitization,”developed by the Copenhagen School of International Relations. This article has been on the drawing boards for longer than I dare to admit. Along the way, many have helped its development by generously sharing their wisdom: James Der Derian, Niva Elkin-Koren, Ed Felten, Batya Friedman, Lene Hansen, audiences at CEPE, TPRC, the Yale Cybercrime and Digital Law Enforcement Conference, and Watson Institute’s Symposium in Dis/Simulations of War and Peace,” and University of Newcastle, Computer Science Department. Thanks, also, to Sam Howard-Spink for excellent editorial assistance.     

On IT systems and knowledge sharing in MNCs: a lesson from Siemens AG

This explorative case study aims at shedding light on the utilization of a specific Intranet-based knowledge-sharing platform, the ShareNet. This system is part of a €1bn investment campaign to transform Siemens into an e-driven company, and it is an important example of system enabling knowledge sharing between local subsidiaries within large multinationals. By investigating how such company-wide system is structured and employed a theoretical model and three propositions about IT contribution to intra-firm knowledge sharing are formulated. Findings lead to the conclusion that, on one hand, IT systems represent an efficient mechanism for knowledge duplication through imitation between units with similar capabilities and, on the other, as a trigger for direct interaction resulting in knowledge development through joint problem solving between units having complementary capabilities.     

Expert Judgment Versus Public Opinion – Evidence from the Eurovision Song Contest

For centuries, there have been discussions as to whether only experts can judge the quality of cultural output, or whether the taste of the public also has merit. This paper tries to answer that question empirically, using national finals of the Eurovision Song Contest. We show that experts are better judges of quality in the sense that the outcome of finals judged by experts is less sensitive to factors unrelated to quality than the outcome of finals judged by public opinion. Yet, experts are not perfect; their judgment does still depend on such factors. This is also the case in the European finals of the contest.     

Inter-organizational knowledge integration in Collaborative NPD projects: evidence from the aerospace industry

This paper aims to analyse the practice of knowledge integration (KI) in Collaborative New Product Development (Co-NPD) projects involving multiple partners in an aerospace network. On the basis of a pragmatic approach, a multiple-case study is developed focusing on two Italian aerospace companies involved in a research project aimed to define methodologies and technologies for knowledge collaboration in NPD. Data are gathered with a triangulation technique merging official documents and open-ended and closed-ended interviews administered in the companies’ sites and involving managers, engineers and employees. The paper proposes a systematic treatment of the KI practice describing the types of knowledge, strategies, barriers and intellectual property policies for KI at inter-organizational level. The findings provide insights to address NPD models for aerospace networks where the complexity and value of codified knowledge coming from external sources requires adequate treatments and security standards.     

浅论大学班级组织结构和发展状态

大学班级发展状态的差异最重要归因于班级组织结构的不同,该结构不仅影响班级的日常运转,更影响班级的发展状态和学生的发展前途。因此,从微观视角探析构建合理的班级组织机构,对于班级组织建设、促进班级发展和人才培养意义重大。     

废水处理实验教学和应用能力的培养

实验教学对学生应用能力的培养具有重要意义。作为环境工程专业的必修课,废水处理实验的教学应注重内容的系统性,加深学生对前置理论课程的理解,并开设综合性和设计性实验,使学生在学习基本实验技术的同时,又能了解和掌握国内外发展的新技术和新工艺,学生思考问题、分析问题和解决问题的能力在实践中得到培养。此外,优化实验教学资源并向学生开放使用,不仅有利于提高实验教学水平,而且为学生发挥创新能力提供了平台。