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Today's requirements concerning successful learning support comprise a variety of application scenarios. Therefore, the development of supporting software preferably aims at modular design. This article discusses requirements regarding flexibility of e‐learning systems and presents important principles, which should be met by successful systems. The purpose of this paper is to achieve a highly flexible system as follows: first of all, the system itself should be capable of easily being integrated into other systems. Second, the approach should allow easy integration of new components, respectively, existing resources without the need to adapt the whole system.

Guided by the results of previous projects and by various experiences in online education the importance of modular structures of an effective architecture as well as for the system usage were discovered. Accordingly, existing e‐learning systems were examined and some deficiency regarding support of synchronous learning activities were found.

The architecture of the Meeting Room Platform (MRP) is introduced as an example implementation of synchronous communication and collaboration systems. In addition to fulfilling explained flexibility requirements, it is configurable in a way so that the user can choose a set of services he wants to provide in online meetings.

With aforementioned aspects of flexibility in mind, the concept of the MRP system differs from existing systems and constitutes a new approach in designing synchronous e‐learning environments. Finally, various use cases as described in this article show the benefit of this approach more detailed.

The purpose of this paper is to explore theoretical and practical challenges to achieve reconfigurable production system designs.

The empirical material of this paper includes a multiple-case study with an embedded design (Yin) including four cases, where each case represents a production system design project. The consideration of reconfigurability and its characteristics in the production system design projects was studied. To enhance validity, two real-time studies were combined with two retrospective studies (Leonard-Barton).

For more than a decade foresight reports have pointed out the need for responsiveness to change through reconfigurability in production system design. In order to achieve reconfigurable production systems, three challenges were identified: to use a structured design methodology, to gain knowledge in reconfigurability and its characteristics, and to include the reconfigurability knowledge in a structured design methodology. Still there is no comprehensive support available for reconfigurability in the production system design process.

Limitations are mostly related to the chosen methodology approach, and additional empirical studies to establish generic results are required.

By combining knowledge from the production system design field with the reconfigurable manufacturing system field a potential of meeting identified challenges is pointed out.

This paper adds to current knowledge by pointing out three main challenges to achieving reconfigurable production systems. The paper also contributes with ideas on how to respond to these challenges.

The purpose of this paper is to design the whole structure of high-speed automatic casing system (HSACS) for lithium-ion battery (LIB), and verify its rationality and reliability by kinematic simulation and casing test.

Based on the software of SolidWorks and ADAMS, the structure of working mechanisms for HSACS was designed, and virtual prototype models of HSACS and main turntable were established to realize the kinematic analysis. The HSACS casing test was also carried out and compared with simulation.

Simulation results for the designed HSACS were presented graphically and analyzed. The graphical results indicate that the coordination motions among the working mechanisms of HSACS are reasonable and no interference occurs. Casing test results show that the casing quality and production efficiency of HSACS equipment are satisfying.

In the present work, the developed virtual prototype models of HSACS provide reliable kinematic analysis results for the structural design of HSACS, and reasonable motion relations are realized in the designed structure of HSACS. Furthermore, not only the casing quality requirements can be met, but also the production efficiency of high-speed automatic casing machine for LIB is greatly improved via this kind of new HSACS structure.

A decision to don the chaos lens, adopt dialogue as its primary mode of communication, and to recognize the power of the organizational mind has fundamentally and irreversibly changed the way a Dutch capital‐equipment manufacturer operates in its rapidly complexifying global marketplace. Beginning in September 1999, the focus of an ever widening circle of its membership has been on transforming itself from the inside out, that is by changing profoundly the organizational mind – the “orgmind”. Two factors make this change process particularly noteworthy: first of all, it was designed on the fly. In other words, virtually every action, activity, meeting, workshop and so on was made up as they moved along their path to the future. Second, profound change was undertaken before it was time to do so. That is, the company was “sitting pretty” enjoying a major share of the market, solid profitability as well as strong morale and employee loyalty.

The purpose of this study is to explore an ontology of designer-user interaction with a knowledge management foundation. To address this research gap, the authors ask the following research question: what types of knowledge on designer-user interactions are associated with design function and approach in creating effective design outcomes in a collaborative design process?

Based on ontology of a knowledge management foundation and 99 design projects, the authors conceptualized the ontology of designer-user interaction, which considers design role, function, approach and outcome as a knowledge of designer-user interaction in the design process.

Based on this analysis, the authors theorize an ontology of designer-user interactions with five dimensions: participant, role, function, design approach and design outcome. Also, this study presents a case study of how this ontology could be applied into the actual projects.

In this study, the authors explore an ontology of designer-user interaction with a knowledge management foundation, because previous interdisciplinary design studies have not formalized the types of designer-user interaction. To address this research gap, the authors ask the following research question: What types of knowledge on designer-user interactions are associated with design function and approach in creating effective design outcomes in a collaborative design process?

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) flight controller parameters identification method, which is based on predator-prey Biogeography-Based Optimization (PPBBO) algorithm, with the objective of optimizing the whole UCAV system design process.

The hybrid model of predator-prey theory and biogeography-based optimization (BBO) algorithm is established for parameters identification of UCAV. This proposed method identifies controller parameters and reduces the computational complexity.

The basic BBO is improved by modifying the search strategy and adding some limits, so that it can be better applied to the parameters identification problem. Comparative experimental results demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method: it can guarantee finding the optimal controller parameters, with the rapid convergence.

The proposed PPBBO algorithm can be easily applied to practice and can help the design of the UCAV flight control system, which will considerably increase the autonomy of the UCAV.

A hybrid model of predator-prey theory and BBO algorithm is proposed for parameters identification of UCAV, and a PPBBO-based software platform for UCAV controller design is also developed.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes of and problems resulting from the exclusion of end‐users from the requirements capture phases of information systems (IS) development.

This research conducts an extensive literature review to allow for the creation of a taxonomy of project failure. This taxonomy is then used as the basis for the thematic analysis of a case study into the failure of a large‐scale governmental IS project, utilising, interview, observation and document capture as its primary sources of data.

The paper illustrates the critical nature of end‐user consultation in the development of IS, defining six key areas of concern when examining the issue of end‐user exclusion.

This paper provides a taxonomy to allow for the identification and mitigation of user exclusion at an early stage in IS development. In addition to this, the case study provides a unique insight into an active project, where most previous studies have been conducted post failure and into the unique political and organisational challenges presented by such an organisation.

The success of the forthcoming policy promoting health care outside hospitals will depend on achievement of fully integrated services, especially for individuals at risk of hospitalisation. Using as a case study the evaluation of a community response team, this paper argues that past attempts to achieve such service integration with frail elderly people have been short‐lived because of the impact of restructuring of the major commissioning organisations. While the effectiveness of integrated service developments can be demonstrated, the positive benefits have not been sustained, and valuable learning has been lost. By identifying key aspects of organisational memory, the paper proposes a more relationship‐focused approach to reform in which multi‐agency teams are given the time to establish personal services for vulnerable people.

The International Ergonomics Association (IEA)'s definition of HF/E includes the following:Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance … Organizational ergonomics is concerned with the optimization of sociotechnical systems, including their organizational structures, policies, and processes. (IEA Council, 2000)

The purpose of this paper is to lay a theoretical basis for discussion of the ways by which organized foresight can be employed in the service of pro‐poor objectives. This is in line with the fundamental mandate of the Rockefeller Foundation, dating from its establishment.

The objective was to capture concepts that the author has been developing and teaching under the heading of “Forward engagement”. Forward engagement is a particular approach to anticipatory governance, drawing upon complexity theory for assessment of issues requiring government policy; network theory for proposed reforms to legacy systems of governance to enable them to manage complexity under conditions of accelerating change; and cybernetic theory to propose feedback systems to allow ongoing measurement of the performance of policies against expectations. For more detail, visit www.forwardengagement.org.

The paper sketches out some core elements of a system for anticipatory governance.

In addition to the primary findings of forward engagement (see web site), this paper argues that foresight and anticipatory concepts can play a vital role, not only for governance in the United States, but for governance in developing countries: perhaps even more so, because such countries have narrower margins for response to significant changes of circumstance.