Search

This article proposes the development of agile programming languages intended for specific domains. The authors share their work on creating Tyl, a programming language for enterprise resource planning applications utilizing Scrum as the agile process and Neverlang as the language workbench. Topics include the detailed process of Scrum including sprints, completion of product backlog items, and addressing challenges encountered for development of a domain-specific programming language.

Margeaux Johnson, a Learning Tools Specialist at the University of Florida, discusses her career in educational technology and her current research project combining nursing and dentistry. She explains her nonlinear path to her current role and her responsibilities in helping faculty integrate emerging technologies into their teaching. Johnson also highlights the mentors and sponsors who have influenced her career and offers advice to her younger self. She emphasizes the importance of persistence and finding a balance in life through hobbies and travel. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This article explores how the social media usage affect team creative performance via transactive memory system, knowledge interaction and expertise coordination. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on the perspective of transaction memory system and expertise coordination theory. A research model was constructed and tested, involving 289 individuals from 67 distributed agile software development teams. Findings: The results indicate that social media usage is positively correlated with transactive memory system, and social media usage and transactive memory system have positive relations to knowledge interaction and expertise coordination. Moreover, this analysis shows that knowledge interaction has a positive relationship with expertise coordination, and expertise coordination positively affects team creative performance. However, knowledge interaction has no direct relationship on team creative performance, and its indirect impact on team creative performance was fully mediated by expertise coordination. This research shows that social media usage by distributed agile software development teams can support the development of transactive memory system and promote expertise coordination. In addition, knowledge interaction alone is not enough, and expertise coordination must be achieved to increase team creative performance. Originality/value: First, this paper explores the mechanism of transactive memory system in distributed Agile Software Development teams from the perspective of social media, which is different from the previous information processing theory framework that confined transactive memory system to the cognitive aspects of knowledge coding, storage and retrieval. Second, this research focuses on the knowledge interaction and expertise coordination formed by team members in the process of communication in the context of social media usage, which confirms the crucial roles of social media usage and transactive memory system in team knowledge management and team creative performance. Then, this research also shows that the development of transactive memory system in the team is indeed an important factor to promote knowledge interaction and professional expertise coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a comprehensive list of the top exhibit and event fabricators in North America for the year 2024. The fabricators mentioned in the article offer a wide range of services, including trade show exhibits, branded installations, and outdoor activation structures. The article highlights the unique capabilities and expertise of each fabricator, as well as their client portfolio. These fabricators cater to various industries, such as healthcare, automotive, technology, and retail. The article also provides brief profiles of each company, including information about their website, opening date, headquarters location, percentage of work dedicated to trade shows, facilities, rental options, and clients. These companies offer a diverse range of services, from design and fabrication to strategic planning and project management, to meet the specific needs of their clients in different industries. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the Single Appropriation Pilot for Software and Digital Technology Budget Activity (BA) 08, designed to modernize the Army's software acquisition process in response to evolving technological and adversarial demands. Topics include the inefficiencies of traditional funding approaches, the influence of recent studies on the pilot's development, and how consolidating funding into a single appropriation can streamline software development.

The article focuses on the U.S. Army's adoption of Agile methodologies to adapt to its diverse and evolving needs. Topics include the use of Agile frameworks for software development, the implementation of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) within the Army Training Information System (ATIS) product office, and the emphasis on iterative processes and continuous user feedback to enhance program outcomes.

The article focuses on the U.S. Army's prioritization of network and command and control systems to adapt to the complex future operating environment. Topics include the Army's emphasis on developing simple, intuitive, and low-signature communication systems, the "transforming in contact" approach for testing and refining these technologies, and the broad scope of this initiative across various regions and operational domains to address evolving battlefield threats.

The article focuses on the evolving challenges in Army acquisition as we progress through the 21 century. Topics include the integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial intelligence (AI) and drones, the emergence of new adversaries including state and non-state actors, and the need for rapid and scalable production capabilities to maintain military effectiveness and deterrence.

The article focuses on the historical and modern evolution of modular technology in Army equipment. Topics include the introduction of interchangeable parts in muskets by Eli Whitney, the development and adoption of the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) for flexible and reusable components, and the increasing importance of rapid software development to maintain technological superiority.

This article discusses the need for a new model of continuous transformation in today's rapidly changing business environment. The traditional model of transformation, which involves three stages (unfreeze, change, and refreeze), is no longer effective. The article presents three key drivers of continuous transformation: adopting an agile mindset, using aspirations to challenge and stretch the organization, and building transformation into the company's operating rhythm. The article provides examples of companies, such as State Farm, Ørsted, and Dell, that have successfully implemented these drivers and achieved significant benefits. The authors argue that continuous change is necessary for companies to realize their full potential in today's fast-paced world. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the importance of developers staying current with emerging programming languages, frameworks, and tools to enhance their coding skills and deliver quality software. It highlights key best practices such as writing optimized code, utilizing automated testing, and consistently seeking opportunities for learning and improvement to stay ahead in the field.

The article discusses how agile processes using minimum viable product (MVP) strategies can be applied to hardware development in order to deliver capabilities quickly. It highlights two programs, the High Mobility Decontamination System (HMDS) and the Negatively Pressurized Conex (NPC), which successfully used agile strategies typically used in software development to design, develop, test, and deliver hardware systems at a rapid pace. The article provides a template for program managers to use MVP and iterative prototyping in hardware acquisition, emphasizing the importance of direct user feedback and communication throughout the development process. It concludes that agile strategies have the potential to enable hardware programs in any acquisition pathway to develop high-performing capabilities at fast speeds. [Extracted from the article]

MilTech, a program under the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems, offers collaboration and information-sharing IT products and services to support the Army acquisition community. It bridges the gap between organizational and enterprise IT, providing solutions that enhance efficiency and operational performance. MilTech operates through a consortium model, allowing member organizations to co-invest in solutions and share resources. It offers a range of capabilities, including application development, cloud migration, and business intelligence. MilTech is also embracing AI and machine learning technologies to enhance processes and meet the evolving challenges of the Army acquisition community. [Extracted from the article]

The Army has acknowledged the importance of modern software development and acquisition practices in maintaining competitiveness. They have released Army Directive 2024-02, which includes 12 reform initiatives to enable modern software development and acquisition. These initiatives focus on various institutional processes and emphasize the need for talent and expertise in executing modern software development. The goal is to reform the Army's software development and acquisition processes to keep up with evolving technologies and changing user needs, allowing for faster and more efficient software development. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the newly published Army Regulation 70-1, which represents a significant update for Army acquisition policy. The regulation aims to accelerate the speed of acquisition and delivery of critical capabilities, encourage flexible and creative acquisition approaches, and support the Army's digital transformation. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring documentation requirements and acquisition approaches to enable flexibility and creativity. The regulation also introduces the Software Pathway, which supports the development of custom software solutions and promotes agile, iterative software development approaches. Overall, the regulation is a culmination of the Army's efforts to revamp its internal processes and meet the demands of digital transformation. [Extracted from the article]

The article outlines the evolution and impact of DevOps, describing how it merges development and operations into a unified process to improve efficiency and collaboration. It also discusses the history of DevOps, its benefits such as faster deployment and better collaboration, and its drawbacks including cultural transformation and complexity.

The article emphasizes the importance of high-quality audio in effective business communication. It highlights how investing in superior audio technology enhances communication and provides a competitive edge. The article discusses the negative consequences of poor audio quality, such as miscommunication, decreased productivity, and a lack of professionalism. It also mentions the significance of clear audio in digital interactions and its relevance in diverse industries, including education and government. The article concludes by emphasizing the necessity for businesses to invest in high-quality audio solutions to drive employee and customer satisfaction and ensure business growth. [Extracted from the article]

This article is the second part of a series on Semantic Kernel (SK), Microsoft's framework for working with LLMs. It provides code snippets and instructions for creating prompts and executing them against a GPT-4 Large Language Model. The article demonstrates how to load pre-engineered prompts and associated settings from disk, as well as how to execute C# code alongside semantic code. It also shows an example of chaining functions together and discusses future topics to be covered in the next article. The article aims to provide hands-on guidance for library patrons interested in AI programming with Semantic Kernel. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on Patrick Mongillon, President of the European Organization for Quality, and discusses his diverse roles in the quality profession, emphasizing the need for a strategic, agile, and efficient approach in the era of Industry 4.0. He highlights challenges and opportunities, linking quality to competitiveness and outlining his aspirations for promoting the evolution of quality management in Europe.

The article focuses on the U.S. Navy awarding a 19.3 million U.S. dollar contract to ThayerMahan to develop specialized long-endurance autonomous systems, sensors, Artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning for undersea and maritime advantage. Topics include the contract objectives, ThayerMahan's role in enhancing autonomous maritime sensing, and the significance of strengthening the Navy's capabilities in the 21st century.

Retail Markets THEOFFICESQUAD KEY CLIENTS LeGrand Legal, Powell Window Cleaning, Triton HOA Management VIRTUAL LATINOS KEY CLIENTS Abacus Analytics, Business Done Better, GSA Focus Firms providing physical or cybersecurity products and services to other businesses in a combined $290 billion global market $9.44M The average cost of a cyberattack in the U.S., per McKinsey GENERAL ACCUSHRED KEY CLIENTS Midland Title, Prosperity Advisors, Savage & Associates COMMVAULT KEY CLIENTS American Pacific Mortgage, Emerson Electric, The Weitz Company CONDUCTORONE KEY CLIENTS Craft, Loom, Ramp DEVO KEY CLIENTS Avnet, H&R Block, Noname Security DIGITAL HANDS KEY CLIENTS Amscot Financial, AT&T Services, Trinity Manufacturing SEON KEY CLIENTS Notable, Rebtel, Viabill SILENT QUADRANT KEY CLIENTS Alpine Group, Hahn Agency, National Immigration Law Center Austin-based marketing firm Hahn Agency specializes in data analysis, which means it stores sensitive and confidential client information. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Harvard Business Review discusses the importance of project managers adopting a startup mindset, particularly for projects that are uncertain and ambiguous. The traditional emphasis on planning and execution does not account for the reality that many large-scale projects do not proceed in a linear fashion. Instead, project managers should anticipate changes and incorporate tools from the startup world into their processes. These tools include a project management canvas, customer development process, minimum viable project, and scale-up strategy. By thinking like a startup, project managers can navigate uncertainty and achieve project goals through constant discovery and iteration. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the need for a digital transformation in the Army's acquisition workforce and how Udemy training is providing a solution. The training includes three prioritized courses and three additional recommended subjects to help acquisition professionals understand and apply digital concepts. The Army partnered with Udemy to provide an online platform for learning and business training, utilizing underutilized licenses to populate all acquisition workforce members. The training is currently required for ASA(ALT) employees but is encouraged for all acquisition professionals to stay aware of the latest technologies. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the importance of a robust and agile supply chain for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems in the Army. The Army has shifted towards a new model focused on continuous modernization and the use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies to deliver new capabilities to the field more rapidly. However, there is a concern that this shift may lead to a throwaway mentality and neglect of sustainment responsibilities. Sustainment is crucial for readiness and maintaining a stable supply chain for repair parts. The article emphasizes the need for a balance between modernization and sustainment to ensure the Army's ability to fight and win. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the Army's digital transformation and the adoption of a continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) model and mindset. The Army is committed to rapid change and has implemented new policies to enable continuous software development and upgrades. The article highlights the importance of feedback from users and the shift towards a more agile and responsive software practice. The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Army for Data, Engineering, and Software (DASA(DES)) is driving digital transformation by providing products and services to support programs. The article emphasizes the Army's commitment to innovation and maintaining a competitive edge. [Extracted from the article]

The Army's organic industrial base (OIB) is a critical component of national defense, comprising 23 arsenals, depots, and ammunition plants that manufacture and maintain Army equipment. To ensure readiness for future multidomain operations, the Army is investing in a 15-year OIB Modernization Implementation Plan. This plan includes modernizing facilities, processes, and the artisan workforce, incorporating emerging technologies, and enabling surge capacity for large-scale combat operations. The Army is already investing over $2.6 billion in OIB modernization, with additional funding from the Department of Defense. The plan aims to sustain the artisan workforce, support the Army's modernization efforts, and provide precision sustainment and predictive logistics through data and information system technology. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the importance of the size of user stories in software development. The author emphasizes that small stories are valuable because they minimize waste and allow for faster feedback and learning. The article also explores the challenges of working with small stories, such as transaction costs and the need for improved flow. Techniques for slicing stories into smaller increments, such as example mapping and story decomposition, are also discussed. Overall, the article highlights the benefits of working with small stories and provides insights into how to effectively implement them in agile development. [Extracted from the article]

Over the past 25 to 30 years, agile innovation methods have greatly increased success rates in software development, improved quality and speed to market, and boosted the motivation and productivity of IT teams. Now those methods are spreading across a broad range of industries and functions and even reaching into the C-suite. But many executives don’t understand how to promote and benefit from agile; often they manage in ways that run counter to its principles and practices, under- mining the effectiveness of agile teams in their organizations. From their work studying and advising companies that have successfully employed agile methods, the authors have discerned six crucial practices for capitalizing on agile’s potential: (1) Learn how agile really works; (2) understand when it is appropriate; (3) start small and let passionate evangelists spread the word; (4) allow teams that have mastered the process to customize their practices; (5) practice agile at the top; and (6) destroy corporate barriers to agile behaviors. They expand on each, providing executives with a practical guide for accelerating innovation and profitable growth. INSET: Agile Values and Principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the U.S. Air Force's sixth-generation stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, which is progressing well but faces financial challenges. Topics include the program's history and development, the use of advanced digital engineering and agile software, and the budgetary constraints affecting the Air Force's ability to expand the fleet beyond the initial planned 100 aircraft.

Purpose: Consistency and consensus are two important research issues in group decision-making (GDM). Considering some drawbacks associated with these two issues in existing GDM methods with intuitionistic multiplicative preference relations (IMPRs), a new GDM method with complete IMPRs (CIMPRs) and incomplete IMPRs (ICIMPRs) is proposed in this paper. Design/methodology/approach: A mathematically programming model is constructed to judge the consistency of CIMPRs. For the unacceptably consistent CIMPRs, a consistency-driven optimization model is constructed to improve the consistency level. Meanwhile, a consistency-driven optimization model is constructed to supplement the missing values and improve the consistency level of the ICIMPRs. As to GDM with CIMPRs, first, a mathematically programming model is built to obtain the experts' weights, after that a consensus-driven optimization model is constructed to improve the consensus level of CIMPRs, and finally, the group priority weights of alternatives are obtained by an intuitionistic fuzzy programming model. Findings: The case analysis of the international exchange doctoral student selection problem shows the effectiveness and applicability of this GDM method with CIMPRs and ICIMPRs. Originality/value: First, a novel consistency definition of CIMPRs is presented. Then, a consistency-driven optimization model is constructed, which supplements the missing values and improves the consistency level of ICIMPRs simultaneously. Therefore, this model greatly improves the efficiency of consistency improving. Experts' weights determination method considering the subjective and objective information is proposed. The priority weights of alternatives are determined by an intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) programming model considering the risk preference of experts, so the method determining priority weights is more flexible and agile. Based on the above theoretical basis, a new GDM method with CIMPRs and ICIMPRs is proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses enterprise mobile app development, offering a comprehensive guide for developers. Topics include assessing readiness, crucial factors before starting and development life cycle; it also explores testing methodologies, best open source tools and launch considerations; and it mentioned post-launch activities for success in the competitive app market.

The article focuses on best practices for designing and implementing microservices, enabling organizations to achieve agility, scalability and innovation for successful digital transformation. Topics include drivers and benefits of microservices adoption; best practices for design and implementation; and open-source tools and frameworks for microservices development.

Task and Project Management Project management methods focus on assigning and tracking deadlines, identifying milestones, and helping to make sure a matter is completed promptly. The goal is for the new procedures and tools to make each staff member's tasks easier to accomplish and ultimately to ensure the smooth operation of the law office in this new work world. Microsoft Planner is not as robust as other project management applications, but it can be a great introductory tool, especially for law departments just starting out using project management. The product helps create workflows from procedures, helps turn procedures into graphical process maps, leverages artificial intelligence to help with writing, incorporates permission levels, and integrates with hundreds of other applications. [Extracted from the article]

Agile methodology, created to fast-track software development, is now being used throughout organizations by teams that want to execute projects quickly. But those efforts often don’t pan out, say Babson’s Rob Cross and Alia Crocker and Harvard Law School’s Heidi K. Gardner. Their research reveals that many large agile initiatives not only miss their goals but also cause organizational disruption—including staff burnout, the loss of key talent, and infighting among teams. What’s going wrong? With the help of organizational network analysis—a methodology for mapping how people collaborate—the authors have identified where unforeseen barriers undermine agile initiatives. The main problem they found: Traditional practices for executing agile projects are ineffective. Companies err by staffing agile teams only with stars, isolating them from the main business, and dedicating members 100% to teams. This article offers alternative approaches: tapping “hidden stars,” who will be less overloaded, for agile initiatives, and then identifying and reaching out to highly connected potential resources who can bring in expertise as needed. INSETS: Who Makes the Best Team Member?;Who Should Lead a Project?;What Is Organizational Network Analysis?. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the application of Agile and Scrum project management methodologies in research and development (R&D) processes. While Agile has been widely used in software development, it is less familiar in manufacturing and science-based environments. However, many innovative organizations have embraced Agile principles for their emphasis on autonomy and continual process improvement. Agile is based on four core principles: individuals and interactions over processes and tools, flexibility and responsiveness over following a plan, continual improvement through short feedback loops, and deliverables over projects. The article highlights the benefits of Agile, such as reduced inefficiencies, more flexible teams, and a happier and more innovative workforce. The Scrum framework is commonly used to implement Agile, with its focus on transparency, inspection, and adaptation. Scrum teams work in short development cycles called sprints, and the use of Kanban boards helps visualize the project's progress. By adopting the Agile mindset and utilizing the Scrum framework, organizations can foster adaptability, collaboration, and ongoing improvement in their lab operations. [Extracted from the article]

The author discusses the use of post-incident artifacts in computer software companies, which often use Agile software development methods which incorporate a post sprint reflection period often referred to as a postmortem. Artifacts include three templates: a facilitators; a record-keeper; and a signpost. Topics include organizational learning, knowledge-based decision making sing artifacts, and dynamic remediation of issues that could lead to future incidents.

The article explores the challenges in research labs, highlighting the resource-intensive nature of physical experiments and the limitations of data collection. It discusses the role of digital tools, such as simulation and multivariate analysis, in accelerating research, reducing waste, and improving data analysis to make research more efficient and sustainable.

Project management software is a powerful tool that helps teams and organizations plan, execute, and track projects efficiently. Best Practices for Using Project Management Software To make the most of project management software, you should follow these best practices: Define Clear Goals: Before starting a project, define clear goals and objectives. Popular Project Management Software Tools Trello: Trello is a web-based project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help you manage your projects visually. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on several way in which plans or projects have been approached for many years is very much characterized by a classic approach, which is often equated with the term project management. Topics include examines it arose through the process control of work processes as simple or complicated challenges could be planned and implemented by experts.

ConocoPhillips is set to acquire Marathon Oil in a $22.5 billion all-stock transaction, which includes $5.4 billion of net debt. The acquisition is expected to result in at least $500 million in savings in the first year. The CEO of ConocoPhillips states that the acquisition will add high-quality, low-cost inventory to their portfolio and aligns with their focus on safety and long-term value. Additionally, Equinor has chosen Emerson to provide well-completion monitoring systems for its Rosebank oil and gas development project in the North Sea, and Rockwell Automation plans to lay off approximately 870 employees in an effort to reduce costs. DuPont has announced plans to split into three separate publicly traded companies, with each company focusing on different industries and benefiting from tailored capital allocation strategies and strategic flexibility. [Extracted from the article]