Engineering real success using digital technologies

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 586
Author(s):  
Craig Phasey ◽  
Steve Ashfield

The business press is full of articles extolling the benefits of digital transformation. Although no one wants to be left behind, getting caught up in a craze is not attractive either. But oil and gas companies have used digital technologies, such as computers and control systems for years; how is digitalisation different? The key difference between a company with digital systems and a ‘digital company’ is connection. The former is characterised by disparate, unconnected digital systems, whereas the ‘digital company’ integrates the company’s systems, improving the precision of each. This enables integrated solutions, reducing the potential for counterproductive individual initiatives. Integration enables Big Data and Machine Learning, delivering additional insights. However, integration is not a universal good; as knowledge acquisition has accelerated, so has misinformation. There are better and worse ways to digitalise. Acknowledgement that digitalisation is the way of the future will not induce change or ensure success. Digitalisation is an alternative method to achieve business goals; it is not the goal. To achieve real success using digital technologies, first a significant need must be identified. The root cause of the major business problems must be discovered before appropriate digital technologies to address those problems are selected. The challenge must be led and supported at the C-suite and the solutions must have enterprise-wide impact. Systems engineering digitalisation creates value through a set of initiatives rather than single-point optimisation. Selection of a suitable scalable digital backbone is a key element of successful implementation.

Author(s):  
Jama Shelton ◽  
Kel Kroehle ◽  
Emilie K. Clark ◽  
Kristie Seelman ◽  
SJ Dodd

The enforcement of the gender binary is a root cause of gender-based violence (GBV) for trans people. Disrupting GBV requires that we ensure that ‘gender’ is not presumed synonymous with White cisgender womanhood. Transfeminists suggest that attaining gender equity requires confronting all forms of oppression that police people and their bodies, including White supremacy, colonialism and capitalism (Silva and Ornat, 2016; Simpkins, 2016). Part of this project, we argue, includes confronting the structures of GBV embedded within digital technologies that are increasingly part of our everyday lives. Informed by transfeminist theory (Koyama, 2003; Stryker and Bettcher, 2016; Simpkins, 2016; Weerawardhana, 2018), we interrogate the ways in which digital technologies naturalise and reinforce GBV against bodies marked as divergent. We examine the subtler ways that digital technology can fortify binary gender as a mechanism of power and control. We highlight how gendered forms of data violence cannot be disentangled from digital technologies that surveil, police or punish on the basis of race, nationhood and citizenship, particularly in relation to predictive policing practices. We conclude with recommendations to guide technological development to reduce the violence enacted upon trans people and those whose gender presentations transgress society’s normative criteria for what constitutes a compliant (read: appropriately gendered) citizen.<br /><br />Key messages<br /><ul><li>Violence against trans people is inherently gender-based.</li><br /><li>A root cause of gender-based violence against trans people is the strict reinforcement of the gender binary.</li><br /><li>Digital technology and predictive policing can fortify binary gender as a mechanism of power and control.</li><br /><li>Designers of digital technologies and the policymakers regulating surveillance capitalism must interrogate the ways in which their work upholds the gender binary and gender-based violence against trans people.</li></ul>


2020 ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
V.V. Myrgorod-Karpova ◽  
Y.A. Shevtsov

Over the past 10 years, Ukraine has been undergoing very active reform processes. Changes are taking place in all areas that are under state control, and the methods and means of reform are very diverse. The basis for such processes is the need to solve a large number of social, political and economic problems, including within the framework of the state direction in European integration. In addition, this is a particularly relevant issue recently, given the obvious problems in various industries and the availability of certain opportunities to solve them. The main areas of reform today concern the sphere of public administration, as one of the most important, directly related to other areas and containing a large number of problems of organization and functioning. One of the main methods that meets modern requirements is the digitalization of public administration – the introduction of digital technologies in the processes of public administration, public obedience and control. Thus, in Ukraine there was a direction of public administration, which is called “Electronic government” or “E-government”. This “innovation” is quite ambiguous, because it covers a very wide range of public relations, provides for a large number of changes, but it does not have a systematic and clear measures, according to which, the effectiveness of changes is lower than expected. In addition, new problems arose in the reform process due to the wrong approach to its implementation. At the same time, the world practice of E-uryaduvannya has a significant number of examples of successful implementation of digital technologies in the sphere of public administration. It can be argued that the correct solution would be to use the successful solutions of other States that have already completed the transition to the E-government system. So, there is a real problem that needs to be solved as quickly as possible. Keywords: E-government, Electronic governance, reform, digitalization, public administration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Kazanin

The modern oil and gas industry is heavily dependent on the processes and trends driven by the accelerating digitalization of the economy. Thus, the digitalization of the oil and gas sector has become Russia’s top priority, which involves a technological and structural transformation of all production processes and stages.Aim. The presented study aims to identify the major trends and prospects of development of the Russian oil and gas sector in the context of its digitalization and formation of the digital economy.Tasks. The authors analyze the major trends in the development of the oil and gas industry at a global scale and in Russia with allowance for the prospects of accelerated exploration of the Arctic; determine the best practices of implementation of digital technologies by oil and gas companies as well as the prospects and obstacles for the subsequent transfer of digital technologies to the Russian oil and gas industry.Methods. This study uses general scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, and scientific generalization.Results. Arctic hydrocarbons will become increasingly important to Russia in the long term, and their exploration and production will require the implementation of innovative technologies. Priority directions for the development of many oil and gas producers will include active application of digital technologies as a whole (different types of robots that could replace people in performing complex procedures), processing and analysis of big data using artificial intelligence to optimize processes, particularly in the field of exploration and production, processing and transportation. Digitalization of the oil and gas sector is a powerful factor in the improvement of the efficiency of the Russian economy. However, Russian companies are notably lagging behind in this field of innovative development and there are problems and high risks that need to be overcome to realize its potential for business and society.Conclusions. Given the strategic importance of the oil and gas industry for Russia, its sustainable development and national security, it is recommendable to focus on the development and implementation of digital technologies. This is crucial for the digitalization of long-term projection and strategic planning, assessment of the role and place of Russia and its largest energy companies in the global market with allowance for a maximum number of different internal and external factors.


Author(s):  
Markus M Bugge ◽  
Fazilat Siddiq

Abstract In the literature on mission-oriented innovation supply side and tech-oriented approaches have been complemented by broader and more inclusive societal approaches. Here, it is highlighted that both directionality and broad anchoring of diverse stakeholders across private, public, and civic domains are key to successful implementation. Still, it is unclear how these dimensions relate and unfold in practice. Using digital literacy in education as an example of mission-oriented innovation, this paper investigates what prerequisites and capabilities are needed to envision and govern such processes. Based upon a case study of innovative teaching practices in twenty-five classes at ten primary schools in Norway, the paper finds that the motivation, dedication, and engagement of the teachers is not primarily related to the digital technologies themselves, but to the professional and pedagogical anchoring of the digital teaching tools. The mobilization of the professionalism of the teachers is enabled by a process of balanced empowerment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7278
Author(s):  
Tamoor Azam ◽  
Songjiang Wang ◽  
Muhammad Mohsin ◽  
Muhammad Nazam ◽  
Muhammad Hashim ◽  
...  

Over the past few years, sustainable supply chain initiatives (SSCIs) have grabbed attention in the domestic, as well as global, marketplace of the food sector. Nowadays, the success of the entire food supply chain depends on the prosperity of farms, local communities, trader processors, and agro-based industries. Despite its importance, food processing industries (FPIs) are encountering various hurdles in achieving sustainable business goals due to the sheer number of potential barriers. Due to this reason, stakeholders are continuously pressuring the management of FPIs to embrace sustainable food processing activities. In light of this, the present study aims to apply a hybrid fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (F-AHP) framework, based on fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (F-TOPSIS), for analyzing the barriers and prioritizing the possible pathways in adopting the SSCIs for the development of FPIs. Based on the extensive review of literature and panel consultation with experienced experts, a total of seven main barriers, forty-two sub barriers, and five possible pathways as strategic tools were finalized and ranked. An empirical case investigation of a Pakistani-based food processing company has been taken to check the practical application of the proposed framework along with sensitivity analysis. The findings of this study reveal that the lack of sustainable outsourcing factors were found as the top-ranked barrier in implementing SSCIs, and the possible pathway to overcome this barrier is the appropriate management of the procurement cycle. The major contribution of this study is to establish a barriers prioritization framework and suggest possible pathways to overcome these barriers for the successful implementation of SSCIs. Finally, the theoretical, managerial, and policy implications are provided as a way forward for the concerned stakeholders and policymakers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saiendhra Vasudevan Moodley ◽  
Muzimkhulu Zungu ◽  
Molebogeng Malotle ◽  
Kuku Voyi ◽  
Nico Claassen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Health workers are crucial to the successful implementation of infection prevention and control strategies to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at healthcare facilities. The aim of our study was to determine SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control knowledge and attitudes of frontline health workers in four provinces of South Africa as well as explore some elements of health worker and health facility infection prevention and control practices. Methods A cross-sectional study design was utilised. The study population comprised both clinical and non-clinical staff working in casualty departments, outpatient departments, and entrance points of health facilities. A structured self-administered questionnaire was developed using the World Health Organization guidance as the basis for the knowledge questions. COVID-19 protocols were observed during data collection. Results A total of 286 health workers from 47 health facilities at different levels of care participated in the survey. The mean score on the 10 knowledge items was 6.3 (SD = 1.6). Approximately two-thirds of participants (67.4%) answered six or more questions correctly while less than a quarter of all participants (24.1%) managed to score eight or more. A knowledge score of 8 or more was significantly associated with occupational category (being either a medical doctor or nurse), age (< 40 years) and level of hospital (tertiary level). Only half of participants (50.7%) felt adequately prepared to deal with patients with COVD-19 at the time of the survey. The health workers displaying attitudes that would put themselves or others at risk were in the minority. Only 55.6% of participants had received infection prevention and control training. Some participants indicated they did not have access to medical masks (11.8%) and gloves (9.9%) in their departments. Conclusions The attitudes of participants reflected a willingness to engage in appropriate SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention and control practices as well as a commitment to be involved in COVID-19 patient care. Ensuring adequate infection prevention and control training for all staff and universal access to appropriate PPE were identified as key areas that needed to be addressed. Interim and final reports which identified key shortcomings that needed to be addressed were provided to the relevant provincial departments of health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 755-755
Author(s):  
Gloria Gutman ◽  
Avantika Vashisht ◽  
Taranjot Kaur ◽  
Ryan Churchill ◽  
Amir Moztarzadeh ◽  
...  

Abstract MindfulGarden (MG) is a digital device resembling a flat screen TV, with touchless sensors that react to voice and motion. In this study 13 long-term care home residents aged 74-100 exhibiting Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) were randomized to treatment and control groups. On days 1-3 the treatment group received usual care plus exposure to MG during morning and evening care - events well documented to be problematic for residents and care staff; controls received usual care only. On day 4 both groups were exposed to MG with verbal cueing. A 26-item checklist was used to record frequency and types of disruptive BPSD exhibited; care duration was recorded in minutes. There was a trend toward reduction of BPSD and duration of care during morning care. Findings suggest that verbal cueing may be important for successful implementation of MG in calming residents with dementia during routine care.


Machines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abe Zeid ◽  
Sarvesh Sundaram ◽  
Mohsen Moghaddam ◽  
Sagar Kamarthi ◽  
Tucker Marion

Recent advances in manufacturing technology, such as cyber–physical systems, industrial Internet, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and machine learning have driven the evolution of manufacturing architectures into integrated networks of automation devices, services, and enterprises. One of the resulting challenges of this evolution is the increased need for interoperability at different levels of the manufacturing ecosystem. The scope ranges from shop–floor software, devices, and control systems to Internet-based cloud-platforms, providing various services on-demand. Successful implementation of interoperability in smart manufacturing would, thus, result in effective communication and error-prone data-exchange between machines, sensors, actuators, users, systems, and platforms. A significant challenge to this is the architecture and the platforms that are used by machines and software packages. A better understanding of the subject can be achieved by studying industry-specific communication protocols and their respective logical semantics. A review of research conducted in this area is provided in this article to gain perspective on the various dimensions and types of interoperability. This article provides a multi-faceted approach to the research area of interoperability by reviewing key concepts and existing research efforts in the domain, as well as by discussing challenges and solutions.


Transport ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vytautas Paulauskas

Single point mooring (SPM) is used when typical port facilities cannot be applied. Offshore platforms and terminals producing oil and gas are the places where SPM can be employed. Accidents with SPM equipment and ships occurring during loading or unloading operations are very dangerous and may cause serious losses due to the high prices of tankers and facilities and because of polluting the environment with poisonous materials. Any possibilities of decreasing risk and increasing safety are very important. This paper presents the analysis of dangerous situations with tankers and SPM, discusses theoretical basis for study and makes practical calculations and recommendations on decreasing accidence probability during loading operations.


Author(s):  
Ruirui Chen ◽  
Yusheng Liu ◽  
Yue Cao ◽  
Jing Xu

Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is the mainstream methodology for the design of complex mechatronic systems. It emphasizes the application of the system architecture, which highly depends on a formalized modeling language. However, such modeling language is less researched in previous studies. This paper proposes a general modeling language for representing the system architecture, aiming for representing function, physical effect, geometric information and control behavior which the system should satisfy. It facilitates the communication of designers from different technological domains and supports a series of applications such as automatic reasoning, system simulation, etc. The language is illustrated and verified with a practical mechatronic device finally.


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