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This exploratory, qualitative case study describes how a centralized training organization (LandWarNet School) was improved by introducing decentralization (Army Learning Model) toward “the best competitive position” or "sweet spot," defined by Brafman and Beckstrom (2006) as “enough decentralization for creativity, but sufficient structure and controls to ensure consistency” (pp. 189, 191). Any presence of the six chaordic elements of a decentralized organization, as described by Hock (1999), was also considered. LandWarNet School (LWNS) trains approximately 6000 US Army Soldiers annually and is centrally organized. The new Army Learning Model (ALM) is a vision for a more decentralized training approach where soldiers are in charge of their learning, training is facilitated rather than presented, and technology is integrated for engaging experiences. Thirty-two Face-to-face Appreciative Inquiry (AI) interviews were conducted to solicit success-based narratives in reference to the current and the aspired ALM implementations from all willing LWNS stakeholders (employees, soldiers, customers, Army contacts). Consistent with AI methodology, only positive questions were asked and only affirmative responses were recorded (Whitney & Trosten-Bloom, 2010). Confidentiality was provided for those who specifically requested it. Also, 7,329 responses to the end of module survey question, “What did you like best in this module?” previously collected from LWNS students were reviewed for ALM elements and controls as well as chaordic elements as triangulation. All data collected were posted to the LeaderMeeter|Meter blog for review by participants. One summative, facilitated group meeting was held for stakeholder confirmation. The data collected were compared to the three categories of ALM elements (32) in TRADOC PAM 525-8-2 to describe the status of the LWNS’s ALM implementation. All but three of the ALM elements were reported as present or aspired. More learner-centric elements were aspired than present. Three common controls for consistency were noted within the top five of both present and aspired ALM elements: content needs to be self-driven, easily accessible, and realistic. Of the six chaordic elements, one was noted as currently present and five were aspired. Since the AI questions solicited only success stories, it was assumed that the reported ALM elements (decentralization) improved the LWNS (centralized organization).

The rapid expansion in networking has provided tremendous opportunities to access an unparalleled amount of information. Everyone connects to a network to gain access and to share this information. However when someone connects to a public network, his private network and information becomes vulnerable to hackers and all kinds of security threats. Today, all networks needs to be secured, and one of the best security policies is firewall implementation. Firewalls can be hardware or cloud based. Hardware based firewalls offer the advantage of faster response time, whereas cloud based firewalls are more flexible. In reality the best form of firewall protection is the combination of both hardware and cloud firewall. In this thesis, we implemented and configured a federated architecture using both firewalls, the Cisco ASA 5510 and Vyatta VC6.6 Cloud Based Firewall. Performance evaluation of both firewalls were conducted and analyzed based on two scenarios; spike and endurance test. Throughputs were also compared, along with some mathematical calculations using statistics. Different forms of packets were sent using a specialized tool designed for load testing known as JMeter. After collecting the results and analyzing it thoroughly, this thesis is concluded by presenting a heuristics method on how packet filtering would fall back to the cloud based firewall when the hardware based firewall becomes stressed and over loaded, thus allowing efficient packet flow and optimized performance. The result of this thesis can be used by Information Security Analyst, students, organizations and IT experts to have an idea on how to implement a secured network architecture to protect digital information.

In order for a company to grow and prosper, dynamic leadership must be applied throughout the organization. In spite of modern technology and all the new innovative machines people remain the most important factor in any industry. This study is directed toward the improvement of managements effectiveness in getting things done through people and situations. No technique or management methods are effective unless they are administered and carried out by competent employees. Middle management is very crucial in a company's ability to prosper and grow, and is situated between executive management and first line managers. Because two-thirds of the printing industry employs less than 20 employees, middle management is viewed somewhat differently than other industries. A spokesman at the 1989 Printing Association of Georgia annual Banquet said that locating good employees at all levels is their greatest concern. The study is directed at middle management in the Atlanta area of the printing industry. The study looks at education and training to see its effect on the performance of middle management.

To insure that we can communicate effectively on the modern battlefield, the United States Army has developed an extremely sophisticated communications system utilizing the most current electronics technology. The enemy's use of electronic warfare techniques is an attempt to destroy the effectiveness of this system. It is a serious threat that must be countered. This report details the use of non-electrical tactical communications as a back-up system of communications in future military conflicts. It presents an alternative method of communications capable of providing essential command and control channels during periods of enemy electronic warfare activity.

Problem of the Study: The problem of this study was divided into two parts. The first part was to gather information on the automated leather hide nesting and cutting equipment available, its current level of use, and the capabilities and features of each. The second part was to conduct a survey of companies in the leather goods manufacturing industry within the United States to determine the need and level of interest in this type of technology. Procedures: Companies producing this type of equipment were identified through discussions with a number of manufacturing companies that produced leather cutting equipment. The capabilities of these automated leather hide nesting and cutting machines were then compiled and documented. A survey instrument was then developed and sent to leather goods manufacturing companies throughout the United States. This survey was designed to determine if there was a desire for this type of technology and which features were most highly desired. Findings: The two areas of this study were 1) the equipment available in this field of technology and 2) the interest that leather goods manufacturing companies in the United States display toward this equipment. Two companies were identified that produced automated leather hide nesting and cutting equipment for sale in the United States. These companies were Atom Hi-Tec and Humantec. The Atom Hi-Tec equipment (Aleut 3000) combined a high resolution matrix camera and light table in conjunction with nesting software to automatically nest leather parts on a hide. The hide was then cut with a computer numeric controlled (CNC) waterjet cutter. The Humantec equipment (Lasernest) used a ceiling mounted laser projection system to project images of parts onto a hide for nesting. The cutting was then performed by an oscillating knife cutter with a ceramic blade. The survey was mailed to a sample population of companies in the leather goods manufacturing industry. Companies in the luggage, personal goods, and shoe companies were the only ones that reported any interest in the automated nesting and cutting systems. Shoe companies accounted for 33.3% of the companies interested. The majority of the companies surveyed (59.1%) reported annual sales of $10 million or less. The largest portion (72.2%) of the companies produced more than fifty styles or sizes of product. It was also found that 57.9% of the companies introduced a new product every three months or less. Over half (65.0%) of the companies cut leather parts that are less than one square foot in size. Almost all (70.3%) of the companies used traditional die cutting methods to cut leather parts. It was found that only 24.4% of the companies cut over 100 full hides per week, while 75.6% of the companies cut over 100 sides per week. Companies that reported a leather waste factor of five to ten percent and companies that had a leather waste factor over fifteen percent each accounted for 30.0% of the companies in the survey. The survey showed that 26.8% of the companies were already using some lorm of automated equipment. Only 35.0% of the companies surveyed were aware that the automated equipment in this study existed, and only 20.0% of the companies had inquired about it. The survey determined that 66.7% of the companies chose reduction in material utilization as the most important feature of automated leather hide nesting and cutting. It was determined that 30.8% of the companies would not consider purchasing the equipment, and only 15.4% were willing to pay the amount necessary to acquire the equipment.

This report details the interrelation of communication technology and doctrine with the military tactics of World War I. While modern tactics display a reliance upon communication, little is recorded stating how past tactics have been influenced by the communication media available. In fact, little is recorded in history texts of the signalling techniques and organizations. When modern tactics and tactical organizations are considered as a whole, then the extreme importance of communication and of electronic warfare becomes a glaring reality. No modern military commander would enter a conflict without all possible means of command and control, coordination, and administration and supply. His signal assets are critical to these functions. With the necessity of communication assets being a modern reality, then the correlation of communication and tactics must have extensive roots in the past. This study examines these roots as they appeared during World War I because the turn-of-the-century tactics were closely associated with technological change.