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1982 Annual Technical Report
86
Decision support systems reports and theses: Abstracts
P. Hansen, J.-F. Thisse and R.E. Wendell, Weber, Condorcet, and plurality solutions to network location problems, WP-459, Graduate School of Busi-
ness, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA (1981). This paper compares solution concepts associated with three locational decision processes on a network: (i) a single-facility transport-cost minimization (Weber); (ii) a two-facility spatial competition process (Hotelling); and (iii) a single-facility voting procedure (Plott). It is shown that the three processes lead to the same global solutions when the network is a tree. For more general networks, the identity ceases to be true but still holds for the local solutions. Finally, polynomial algorithms are provided for finding these different solutions. Author's Abstract
Richard Hauser, Mindestleistungen im System der sozialen Sicherungen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland ausserhalb der Sozialhilfe, AP Nr. 107, Sonderforschungsbereich 3, J.W. Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt und Universitaet Mannheim, FRG (1983). This paper describes minimum benefits that are provided by the German social security system other than social assistance. This study (based on the institutional regulations as of January 1, 1982) presents a rather differentiated picture of the available minimum benefits, fhese have to be characterized as a very unsystematic and uncoordinated conglomerate as judged by the criteria of consistency, transparancy and the finality principle. Wide gaps in benefits for large groups and some social risks exist, especially it the risks originate outside the world of work. The contemporary German social security system acts like a filter, which in the case of certain social risks guarantees some groups their usual standard of living and other groups at least a minimum standard above the social assistance level. Meanwhile other groups have to fall back on social assistance as the only safety net. Well founded criteria for this differential treatment of certain groups are only partly visible. This means that in analysing the causes of the need for social assistance one has always to consider the minimum regulations of the other subsystems of social security besides the
more general causes that manifest themselves in the social risks that are traditionally distinguished. Furthermore the question is raised whether there ought to be a process of harmonization of the minimum regulations within the other .subsystems on the basis of a common set of criteria. Author's Abstract
Robert Helm, Die Portfoliotheorie als Erklaerungsansatz fuer das A nlageverhalten yon Personen und Haushalten, AP Nr. 98, Sonderforschungsbereich 3, J.W. Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt und Universitaet Mannheim, FRG (1983). In this working paper a portfolio theoretical strategy, which is based upon the concept of mean-variance and the expected utility, is introduced in its main features. In this manner the assumptions of portfolio theory are critically examined in particular. Then variants of the model, which should alleviate particular weaknesses of the general model, are considered. Thoughts concerning the appropriateness of portfolio theory for explaining the investment behavior of persons and households make up another principal theme of this working paper. Operationalization problems stemming from the implications of portfolio theory are stressed. Possible solutions are indicated. Author's Abstract
Information Sciences Institute, University Southern California, 1982 Annual Technical port, ISI/SR.83.23, Information Sciences stitute, University of Southern California, 90291-6695, USA (1982).
of Re-
InCA
This report summarizes the research performed by USC/Information Sciences Institute from July 1, 1981, to June 30, 1982, for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The research applies computer science and technology to areas of high DoD/military impact. The ISI program consists of thirteen research areas: Cooperative Interactive Systems - construction of a system to provide natural input/output and help facilities for users of interactive services; Mapping Designs Between Language Levels - develop transformations for converting high-level specifications of programs
Decision support systems reports and theses: Abstracts
into implementations in software of VLSI; Specification A c q u i s i t i o n F r o m E x p e r t s - study of acquiring and using program knowledge for making informal program specifications more precise; V L S I - S e r v i c e s a n d R e s e a r c h - development of a low-cost, fast turnaround LSI/VLSI device fabrication service to support VLSI research, and research on the VLSI design problem; I n t e r n e t w o r k C o n c e p t s - exploring aspects of protocols for the interconnection of computer communication networks, specifically the design and prototype implementation of an intemetwork computer message system and the design of internetwork host and gateway protocols; C o m m a n d G r a p h i c s - development of a device-independent graphics system and graphics-oriented command and control applications programs; W i d e b a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n - development of protocols and real-time systems to transmit digitized voice over the ARPANET and development of technology required for the future support of thousands of simultaneous conversations being transmitted over a wideband satellite channel in the internetwork environment; F o r m a l S e m a n t i c s - development of tools and methodologies to support the formulation of precise, readable, and accurate formal semantic definitions; QPRIM - production of an online interactive emulation facility housed in an existing mature operating system; l n t e r l i s p - development and maintenance of a portable, large address-space interlisp implementation; S u p p o r t o f a S t r a t e g i c C 3 S y s t e m E x p e r i m e n t - development of a detailed technical plan for the creation of a survivable message system and data bases through multiple copies of the critical components and data across the ARPANET and provision of the core facilities necessary to implement the plan; N e w C o m p u t i n g E n v i r o n m e n t - investigation and adaptation of developing computer technologies to serve the research and military user communities; and C o m p u t e r R e s e a r c h S u p p o r t - operation of TENEX and TOPS-20 service and continuing development of advanced support equipment.
S. Lee Jerrell, Political contexts and strategic executive skills, WP-393, Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA (1980). In addition to internal organizational power and political process considerations in strategy making,
87
there exists a range of external contextual characteristics which favor a political perspective in the development of strategic alternatives and call for political skills in the implementation of preferred courses of organizational action. Legislative arena dynamics and regulatory elements in the environment frequently operate under norms of 'hardball' politics. Dealing with 'wicked' complex problems frustrates rational analytic approaches. Operating in areas of symbolic social issues under critical scrutiny by news media and special interest groups creates threats to legitimacy and requires political acumen and facility in the use of political language and tactics by executives representing the organization in such environmental contexts. Author's Abstract
Kate M. Kaiser and William R. King, The manager-analyst interface in systems decelopment, WP-435, Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA (1981). Development of information systems for organizations necessitates that users and systems analysts work together in a group that is termed 'the solving center'. An imermediary position of Information Analyst (IA) has been suggested to bridge the communication gap between technical systems personnel and organization-oriented users from functional areas of the firm. The research investigates characteristics of the IA, classifies different types of IA's according to demographics and organizational structure criteria, and relates these types to attitudes of other members of the solving center. The four classifications of IA's defined according to a set of operational criteria are: (1) formal IA's who are designated as liaisons between users and systems staff; (2) systems reps who are situated in a systems department and service one or several users as specialists for their functional area(s); (3) user co-ordinators who report to a user department and have some systems expertise; and (4) members of a projhct team made up of a systems rep and a user co-ordinator working together on a project (dual co-ordinators). Data were gathered from 38 large private firms concerning data processing department characteristics through interviews with systems managers. A systems project was identified from each firm and individuals
Decision support systems reports and theses: Abstracts
P. Hansen, J.-F. Thisse and R.E. Wendell, Weber, Condorcet, and plurality solutions to network location problems, WP-459, Graduate School of Busi-
ness, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA (1981). This paper compares solution concepts associated with three locational decision processes on a network: (i) a single-facility transport-cost minimization (Weber); (ii) a two-facility spatial competition process (Hotelling); and (iii) a single-facility voting procedure (Plott). It is shown that the three processes lead to the same global solutions when the network is a tree. For more general networks, the identity ceases to be true but still holds for the local solutions. Finally, polynomial algorithms are provided for finding these different solutions. Author's Abstract
Richard Hauser, Mindestleistungen im System der sozialen Sicherungen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland ausserhalb der Sozialhilfe, AP Nr. 107, Sonderforschungsbereich 3, J.W. Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt und Universitaet Mannheim, FRG (1983). This paper describes minimum benefits that are provided by the German social security system other than social assistance. This study (based on the institutional regulations as of January 1, 1982) presents a rather differentiated picture of the available minimum benefits, fhese have to be characterized as a very unsystematic and uncoordinated conglomerate as judged by the criteria of consistency, transparancy and the finality principle. Wide gaps in benefits for large groups and some social risks exist, especially it the risks originate outside the world of work. The contemporary German social security system acts like a filter, which in the case of certain social risks guarantees some groups their usual standard of living and other groups at least a minimum standard above the social assistance level. Meanwhile other groups have to fall back on social assistance as the only safety net. Well founded criteria for this differential treatment of certain groups are only partly visible. This means that in analysing the causes of the need for social assistance one has always to consider the minimum regulations of the other subsystems of social security besides the
more general causes that manifest themselves in the social risks that are traditionally distinguished. Furthermore the question is raised whether there ought to be a process of harmonization of the minimum regulations within the other .subsystems on the basis of a common set of criteria. Author's Abstract
Robert Helm, Die Portfoliotheorie als Erklaerungsansatz fuer das A nlageverhalten yon Personen und Haushalten, AP Nr. 98, Sonderforschungsbereich 3, J.W. Goethe-Universitaet Frankfurt und Universitaet Mannheim, FRG (1983). In this working paper a portfolio theoretical strategy, which is based upon the concept of mean-variance and the expected utility, is introduced in its main features. In this manner the assumptions of portfolio theory are critically examined in particular. Then variants of the model, which should alleviate particular weaknesses of the general model, are considered. Thoughts concerning the appropriateness of portfolio theory for explaining the investment behavior of persons and households make up another principal theme of this working paper. Operationalization problems stemming from the implications of portfolio theory are stressed. Possible solutions are indicated. Author's Abstract
Information Sciences Institute, University Southern California, 1982 Annual Technical port, ISI/SR.83.23, Information Sciences stitute, University of Southern California, 90291-6695, USA (1982).
of Re-
InCA
This report summarizes the research performed by USC/Information Sciences Institute from July 1, 1981, to June 30, 1982, for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The research applies computer science and technology to areas of high DoD/military impact. The ISI program consists of thirteen research areas: Cooperative Interactive Systems - construction of a system to provide natural input/output and help facilities for users of interactive services; Mapping Designs Between Language Levels - develop transformations for converting high-level specifications of programs
Decision support systems reports and theses: Abstracts
into implementations in software of VLSI; Specification A c q u i s i t i o n F r o m E x p e r t s - study of acquiring and using program knowledge for making informal program specifications more precise; V L S I - S e r v i c e s a n d R e s e a r c h - development of a low-cost, fast turnaround LSI/VLSI device fabrication service to support VLSI research, and research on the VLSI design problem; I n t e r n e t w o r k C o n c e p t s - exploring aspects of protocols for the interconnection of computer communication networks, specifically the design and prototype implementation of an intemetwork computer message system and the design of internetwork host and gateway protocols; C o m m a n d G r a p h i c s - development of a device-independent graphics system and graphics-oriented command and control applications programs; W i d e b a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n - development of protocols and real-time systems to transmit digitized voice over the ARPANET and development of technology required for the future support of thousands of simultaneous conversations being transmitted over a wideband satellite channel in the internetwork environment; F o r m a l S e m a n t i c s - development of tools and methodologies to support the formulation of precise, readable, and accurate formal semantic definitions; QPRIM - production of an online interactive emulation facility housed in an existing mature operating system; l n t e r l i s p - development and maintenance of a portable, large address-space interlisp implementation; S u p p o r t o f a S t r a t e g i c C 3 S y s t e m E x p e r i m e n t - development of a detailed technical plan for the creation of a survivable message system and data bases through multiple copies of the critical components and data across the ARPANET and provision of the core facilities necessary to implement the plan; N e w C o m p u t i n g E n v i r o n m e n t - investigation and adaptation of developing computer technologies to serve the research and military user communities; and C o m p u t e r R e s e a r c h S u p p o r t - operation of TENEX and TOPS-20 service and continuing development of advanced support equipment.
S. Lee Jerrell, Political contexts and strategic executive skills, WP-393, Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA (1980). In addition to internal organizational power and political process considerations in strategy making,
87
there exists a range of external contextual characteristics which favor a political perspective in the development of strategic alternatives and call for political skills in the implementation of preferred courses of organizational action. Legislative arena dynamics and regulatory elements in the environment frequently operate under norms of 'hardball' politics. Dealing with 'wicked' complex problems frustrates rational analytic approaches. Operating in areas of symbolic social issues under critical scrutiny by news media and special interest groups creates threats to legitimacy and requires political acumen and facility in the use of political language and tactics by executives representing the organization in such environmental contexts. Author's Abstract
Kate M. Kaiser and William R. King, The manager-analyst interface in systems decelopment, WP-435, Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA (1981). Development of information systems for organizations necessitates that users and systems analysts work together in a group that is termed 'the solving center'. An imermediary position of Information Analyst (IA) has been suggested to bridge the communication gap between technical systems personnel and organization-oriented users from functional areas of the firm. The research investigates characteristics of the IA, classifies different types of IA's according to demographics and organizational structure criteria, and relates these types to attitudes of other members of the solving center. The four classifications of IA's defined according to a set of operational criteria are: (1) formal IA's who are designated as liaisons between users and systems staff; (2) systems reps who are situated in a systems department and service one or several users as specialists for their functional area(s); (3) user co-ordinators who report to a user department and have some systems expertise; and (4) members of a projhct team made up of a systems rep and a user co-ordinator working together on a project (dual co-ordinators). Data were gathered from 38 large private firms concerning data processing department characteristics through interviews with systems managers. A systems project was identified from each firm and individuals