Motivation,commitment and the use of incentives in partnerships and alliances

The use of incentives in partnering and alliancing has been seen as an important way of reinforcing collaboration in the short term and helping to build trust between clients and contractors in the long term. Yet only rarely has the impact of incentives on such relationships been discussed, let alone subjected to systematic investigation. This is despite a wealth of theory and research which brings into question the use of incentives and reinforcers as ways of generating motivation and commitment. Drawing upon this theoretical knowledge base and using evidence from a number of case studies of partnerships and alliances, this paper demonstrates how a number of important cognitive and social dimensions affect the use and impact of incentives, sometimes in ways contrary to those intended. The conclusion drawn is that there are important limitations to the use of incentives as means of reinforcing collaboration and developing commitment and trust, and that this raises questions more generally about the assumptions that underlie many of the practical ‘tools and techniques’ commonly associated with partnering and alliancing.     

Tunnel vision? Brunel's Thames Tunnel and project narratives

Looking at historical projects has much to offer our understanding of project management, for both research and practice. However, there are important challenges in how alternative narratives about such projects are reconstructed and related to each other. To explore these challenges, this paper uses the example of the Thames Tunnel project, completed under the direction of Marc Brunel in 1843, and reputed to be the first tunnel to be built under a major river. In telling the story of the project, we focus on five alternative discourses: technico-rational; practice; networks of people, things, and ideas; politics; and society. The common response to such variety is either to attempt to construct an overarching meta-narrative, or to explore the differences as a way of highlighting the localized and contingent nature of knowledge about projects, or adopt some intermediate position somewhere on the spectrum between these two extremes. Instead we seek a different route grounded in a sociology of knowledge that acknowledges simultaneous, provisional, and contested processes of division and stabilization in the ways that epistemic communities constitute knowledge through their own narratives and practices. These have implications for the stories that are told about project management and, crucially, the activities and interests that both shape and are shaped by such narratives.     

Effects of Preform Shear on Tensile Properties of a Woven C/SiC Composite

This article addresses effects of weave defects in an angle‐interlock C‐fiber preform on the tensile properties of the resulting fully processed C‐fiber/SiC‐matrix composite. For this purpose, a preform was intentionally sheared in a controlled manner after weaving. The resulting distortions were quantified by analyzing high‐resolution images of the preform surface after the first step of matrix processing, while the tows were still clearly visible. Comparisons are made of tensile test results on specimens cut from this composite panel and from a pristine panel in select loading orientations. Strain maps obtained by digital image correlation are used to identify local strain variations that are attributable to weave defects. The results are discussed in terms of: (i) the shear‐normal coupling that arises in loading orientations of present interest, and (ii) the geometric effects of tow misalignment on tow continuity along the specimen gauge length. The composite is found to perform in a robust manner, in the sense that the tensile properties are not sensitive to the presence of the defects.     

R-CODE software for the support of calculations required by the R5 and R6 procedures

The R6 Procedure and the ‘Assessment procedure for the high temperature response of structures’, R5, are well known and continue to be developed by Nuclear Electric Ltd in the UK. This paper looks at the software that has been developed to help undertake the calculations required by these assessment procedures. R-CODE version 3.00 computerises creep crack growth and incorporates simplified creep-fatigue crack growth calculations. The program may also be used to perform assessments according to PD6539 and PD6493 or BS7910. Full allowance can be made for incubation and redistribution periods. Continuum damage may be evaluated in terms of life fraction or ductility exhaustion methods. The program covers all the Categories, Options and Failure Assessment Diagrams of R6, for defining stability under short-term loadings when used for low temperature assessments.     

Simulating Coxian phase-type distributions for patient survival

Coxian phase-type distributions are a special type of Markov model that can be used to represent survival times in terms of phases through which an individual may progress until they eventually leave the system completely. Previous research has considered the Coxian phase-type distribution to be ideal in representing patient survival in hospital. However, problems exist in fitting the distributions. This paper investigates the problems that arise with the fitting process by simulating various Coxian phase-type models for the representation of patient survival and examining the estimated parameter values and eigenvalues obtained. The results indicate that numerical methods previously used for fitting the model parameters do not always converge. An alternative technique is therefore considered. All methods are influenced by the choice of initial parameter values. The investigation uses a data set of 1439 elderly patients and models their survival time, the length of time they spend in a UK hospital.     

Laminar burning velocity measurements of liquid fuels at elevated pressures and temperatures with combustion residuals

The laminar burning velocity is a fundamental property of a fuel that affects many aspects of its combustion behaviour. Experimental values are required to validate kinetic simulations, and also to provide input for models of flashback, minimum ignition energy and turbulent combustion.A constant volume vessel (rated at 3.4 MPa) in conjunction with a multi-zone model was used to calculate burning velocity from pressure and schlieren data, allowing the user to select data uncorrupted by heat transfer or cellularity. Using the pressure rise data allows measurements to be derived for much higher pressures and temperatures than when the constant pressure data are used. A 12 term correlation for burning velocity was fitted to the data.n-Heptane, iso-octane, toluene, ethylbenzene and ethanol were tested over a wide range of initial pressures (50, 100, 200 and 400 kPa), temperatures (310, 380 and 450 K) and equivalence ratios (0.7–1.4), along with tests using combustion residuals at mole fractions of up to 0.3. The results compared favourably with the limited data already published, especially at high pressures. Conditions at the onset of cellularity are given for iso-octane.     

High purity pion beam at TRIUMF

An extension of the TRIUMF M13 low-energy pion channel designed to suppress positrons based on an energy-loss technique is described. A source of beam channel momentum calibration from the decay π⁺→e⁺ν is also described.     

A landmark‐bounded method for large‐scale underground mine mapping

A practical localization technology for underground drift networks—such as those excavated in the practice of underground mining—has yet to become commercially available. This paper focuses on the problem of mapping GPS‐deprived underground environments with the eventual goal of using these maps for navigation. Recent industry‐directed work in the creation of a landmark‐bounded occupancy grid mapping tool that combines odometry, scanning laser data, and sporadically placed passive RFID tags is described. Unlike other work, the suggested approach holds the philosophy that precise localization of the actual landmark locations is not necessary; rather, landmarks serve as a global means for partitioning the map. Successful field experiments were conducted in two underground environments, with the results used to conduct a basic analysis of the described method. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Using strategic management practices to promote participatory democracy in Australian local government

Abstract

Strategic management was introduced as a critical component of Australian local government reform during the 1990s. In addition to encouraging efficiency and effectiveness of operation, it was also intended to promote participatory democracy within local authorities. The paper explores the extent to which this objective has been achieved through an analysis of twenty‐five New South Wales municipalities. Discussion concludes that while strategic management has enhanced community involvement in local governance, it cannot be a substitute for traditional democratic processes.