Planning for Floods at the University of Iowa

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-73
Author(s):  
Charles Connerly ◽  
Lucie Laurian ◽  
James Throgmorton

Why does a large institution build in a flood-prone area and how does it respond when flooding causes great damage? This is a case study of a major flood event—the 2008 Iowa–Cedar River flood—and the University of Iowa, whose recovery is expected to cost about US$750 million. The case explores the factors that led a major institution to invest so much of its infrastructure into a flood-prone river shed and then describes and evaluates the decision-making process the University has undertaken with the goal of becoming a more sustainable and resilient campus.

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamariah Ismail ◽  
Wan Zaidi Wan Omar ◽  
Izaidin Abdul Majid

Fungsi universiti dalam mengkomersilisasikan patent telah banyak dikaji oleh penulis. Setengah universiti telah berjaya mengkomersilisasikan paten mereka terutamanya dengan melesenkan kepada syarikat gergasi atau pun dengan menubuhkan kompeni spin–off. Walau bagaimanapun masih terdapat sebahagian paten universiti yang tidak dieksploitasikan. Kajian ini membincangkan apakah karekteristik paten yang tidak dikomersilisasikan. Sebuah universiti di Scotland telah digunakan sebagai kajian kes. Sepuluh jenis patent yang tidak diekploitasikan oleh universiti berkenaan telah dipilih untuk kajian. Penyelidik daripada paten tersebut telah ditemuduga dengan mendalam menggunakan soalan semi berstruktur. Temuduga telah direkod, ditranskrib, dan data telah dianalisis berdasarkan kepada setiap kes dan silang kes berbantukan Nvivo software. Dapatan menunjukkan sebab yang paling penting kenapa paten tidak dieksploitasikan adalah berkait rapat dengan teknologi itu sendiri. Teknologi didapati berada pada tahap pembangunan yang terlalu awal. Ini menyebabkan syarikat yang telah kukuh lebih berhati–hati untuk membangun dan memasarkan teknologi tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun terdapat teknologi yang mempunyai potensi untuk dieksploitasikan jika peruntukan disediakan untuk penyelidikan lanjut. Dalam kes yang lain pula setengah teknologi telah dipintas oleh teknologi yang lebih ke hadapan dan teknologi tersebut telah mendahului pasaran. Kurangnya motivasi di kalangan penyelidik–penyelidik untuk melihat inovasi mereka ke pasaran, kurangnya jaringan dan pemasaran produk oleh penyelidik dan pihak TTO, adalah juga menyebabkan ia tidak diekploitasikan. Mengkaji kenapa universiti paten tidak dieksploitasikan akan meningkatkan pemahaman tentang proses pengkomersilan bagi paten di universiti. Hasil kajian dapat membantu dalam proses membuat keputusan untuk mengkomersilisasikan hasil penyelidikan universiti. Pemahamam mengenai karekteristik atau ciri universiti paten yang mempunyai potensi nilai ekonomi yang tinggi hanya patut dipatenkan, dan ini akan mengurangi bilangan paten yang tidak dieksploitasikan. Kata kunci: Paten yang tidak diekploitasikan, pengkomersilisasi; universiti paten The role of universities in commercialising their patents has been studied extensively. Some universities have succeeded in commercialising their patents especially through the route of licensing to established companies or forming new spin–off companies. However, there are some university patents remained unexploited, which represent wastage to the universities. This paper discusses what are the features of some patented technologies that are not commercialised. A case study of a university in Scotland was used in this study. Ten patents which are not being exploited by the University were selected. The inventors of these technologies were interviewed in depth, using semistructured questionnaires. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and the data was analysed based on a case and cross case aided by Nvivo software. The findings show that the most significant reason why patents are not exploited is associated with the technologies themselves. The technologies were found to be at very early stage of development, thus established companies were wary of taking them to market. Lack of motivation among the inventors to see their inventions being exploited, lack of industry networking and marketing of the TTO and inventor are another important reason that led to the inventions unexploited. Studying why some university patents were not exploited will enhance the understanding of the process of commercialisation of university patents, which would help refine the decision making process of patenting. Understanding the characteristics of the university inventions that have high economic potential thus should seek patent protections would reduce the number of unexploited patents. Key words: Unexploited patents; commercialisation and university patent


Author(s):  
Kasey Barr ◽  
Alex Mintz

This chapter examines the effect of group dynamics on the 2016 decision within the administration of President Barack Obama to lead the international coalition in a mission to liberate Raqqa, Syria, from the Islamic State. The authors show that whereas the groupthink syndrome characterized the decision-making process of the US-led coalition’s decision to attack Raqqa, it was polythink that characterized the decision-making dynamics both in the US-led coalition and within the inner circle of Obama’s own foreign policy advisors. Through case-study analysis, the authors illustrate that groupthink is more likely in strategic decisions, whereas polythink is more likely in tactical decisions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinh Luu ◽  
Quynh Duy Bui ◽  
Romulus Costache ◽  
Luan Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Thu Thuy Nguyen ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-103
Author(s):  
Wasia Hamid ◽  
Tanveer Ahmad Khan ◽  
Mohmad Saleem Jahangir

The present study investigates the level of empowerment among tribal women in terms of their participation in the decision-making process and to identify the factors that affect their level of participation. Fifty women from the Gujjar community of Kashmir Valley were selected through a purposive sampling technique. The interview and case study methods were employed for collecting data from the potential participants. The study revealed that tribal women’s right to make decisions was confined to minor household issues only. A significant positive correlation was also noted between family size, type of family, age, level of education, employment status and participation of the tribal women in decision-making.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Wasef Abuezhayeh ◽  
Les Ruddock ◽  
Issa Shehabat

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate and explain how organizations in the construction sector can enhance their decision-making process (DMP) by practising knowledge management (KM) and business process management (BPM) activities. A conceptual framework is developed that recognises the elements that impact DMP in terms of KM and BPM. The development of this framework goes beyond current empirical work on KM in addition to BPM as it investigates a wider variety of variables that impact DMP. Design/methodology/approach A case study is undertaken in the context of the construction industry in Jordan. A theoretical framework is developed and assessment of the proposed framework was undertaken through a questionnaire survey of decision-makers in the construction sector and expert interviews. Findings The outcomes of this research provide several contributions to aid decision-makers in construction organizations. Growth in the usage of KM and BPM, in addition to the integration between them, can provide employees with task-related knowledge in the organization’s operative business processes, improve process performance, promote core competence and maximise and optimise business performance. Originality/value Through the production of a framework, this study provides a tool to enable improved decision-making. The framework generates a strong operational as well as theoretical approach to the organizational utilization of knowledge and business processes.


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