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Since 2015, several countries have shown significant interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and have released national-level AI strategic plans. These plans reflect the country’s rationale for embarking on AI. To identify what factors influence the AI approach of a country, this study employs the signaling theory to decode strategic national AI plans and understand each country’s rationale. The study adapts the typology of signals and plots AI information given in national AI plans (AI-enabled public services, research, data, algorithmic ethics, governance) in a matrix of intentionality and veracity considering socio-economic and political conditions. Our findings indicate that countries with high democracy scores are more likely than less democratic countries to prioritize ethical and governance issues of AI, however, this is more pronounced in democratic countries with a lower technology base. The results also suggest that advanced research capability and data accessibility for AI is a precondition to developing a nationwide AI system.

As the sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) systems develop and AI becomes a key element of organizational strategy across a wide spectrum of industries, new demands are being placed on senior leaders. To understand the growing challenges leaders will face in the age of AI, we conducted interviews with 33 senior leaders in several countries across a wide range of industries. Our research highlights key capabilities and skills that leaders will require. Underlying these capabilities is a mindset oriented toward continuous learning and self-development, which will enable ongoing and rapid adaptation to change. Our findings identified the following key capabilities: digital know-how, data-driven focus, networking, ethics, and agility. To successfully navigate the coming era, senior leaders will need to focus on reskilling the workforce, recruiting and retaining highly skilled talent, building an intrapreneurial culture, and managing unprecedented changes in technologies and the nature of work.

This paper exploits novel data and empirical methods to examine parental preferences for child care. Specifically, we analyze consumer reviews of child care businesses posted on the website Yelp.com. A key advantage of Yelp is that it contains a large volume of unstructured information about a broad set of child care programs located in demographically and economically diverse communities. Thus our analysis relies on a combination of theory- and data-driven methodologies to organize and classify the characteristics of child care that are assessed by parents. We also use natural language processing techniques to examine the affect and psychological tones expressed in the reviews. Our main results are threefold. First, conditional on contributing a Yelp review, consumers overall are highly satisfied with their child care provider, although those in higher-income markets are substantially more satisfied than their counterparts in lower-income markets. Second, the program characteristics most commonly evaluated by consumers relate to safety, quality of the learning environment, and child-teacher interactions. However, those in lower- and higher-income markets evaluate different characteristics in their reviews. The former is more likely to comment on a program’s practical features, such as its pricing and accessibility, while the latter is more likely to focus on the learning environment. Finally, we find that consumers in lower-income markets are more likely to display negative psychological tones such as anxiety and anger in their reviews, especially when discussing the nature of their interactions with program managers and their child’s interactions with teachers.

The COVID-19 pandemic, a worldwide health and humanitarian crisis, has created unique challenges for citizens, governments, and organizations alike. Business leaders ask ‘what is the new normal, post-pandemic?’ while industries become more complex and uncertain. Premises sit empty, employees work remotely, and customers possess less disposable income. However bleak, opportunities do exist. Organizations will, however, need to transform. Technology will need to be used to respond to the pandemic, and organizations must re-structure to better function. This paper examines the role that digital technologies can play in responding to pandemics and outlines four classifications of digital technologies for pandemic response. An as-is/to-be pathway analysis is presented using case studies from Chinese enterprises to provide trajectory guidance for moving forward to the new normal. After analysis from an incorporated technology-centric and business model-based framework perspective, six fundamental enterprise strategies are presented that are derived from literature and empirical observations.

Digital assets of organizations are under constant threat from a wide assortment of nefarious actors. When threats materialize, the consequences can be significant. Most large organizations invest in a dedicated information security management (ISM) function to ensure that digital assets are protected. The ISM function conducts risk assessments, develops strategy, provides policies and training to define roles and guide behavior, and implements technological controls such as firewalls, antivirus, and encryption to restrict unauthorized access. Despite these protective measures, incidents (security breaches) will occur. Alongside the security management function, many organizations also retain an incident response (IR) function to mitigate damage from an attack and promptly restore digital services. However, few organizations integrate and learn from experiences of these functions in an optimal manner that enables them to not only respond to security incidents, but also proactively maneuver the threat environment. In this article we draw on organizational learning theory to develop a conceptual framework that explains how the ISM and IR functions can be better integrated. The strong integration of ISM and IR functions, in turn, creates learning opportunities that lead to organizational security benefits including: increased awareness of security risks, compilation of threat intelligence, removal of flaws in security defenses, evaluation of security defensive logic, and enhanced security response.

Cities, like any complex adaptive systems, may become increasingly fragile if not properly managed. To date, the literature has focused primarily on the examination of cities within fragile countries. This has resulted in a dearth of studies that have looked at how developed (or even advanced) cities that operate in relatively stable countries and/or environments might allow unresolved issues to accumulate in the city: degrading its ability to function. Studying fragility in developed cities is a worthwhile undertaking given their economic, social, and political significance. This paper puts forth a conceptual framework to understand the nature of fragile cities in the developed world. Our framework frames fragility as a function of unresolved fractures of social compacts that degrades a city's ability to function over time and stress exacerbates its effects. Drawing on over two dozen incidents from developed cities, we ground the framework and illustrate its value.

Chatbots — computer programs designed to interactively engage with users, replicating humanlike conversational capabilities during service encounters — have been increasingly deployed across a wide range of Internet-based public services. While chatbots provide several advantages (e.g., improved user experience with reduced waiting times to service access), the surge of chatbot use in public service delivery has frequently been plagued with controversy, poor publicity, and legal challenges. One important reason for this is that users of the services, and the wider public, do not always feel that chatbot-mediated services demonstrate the appropriate public service values. We investigate the public service value dimensions required in chatbots designed for use in the public sector. Specifically, we (a) review chatbots and their use in the delivery of public services; and, (b) develop a framework of how public service values can be exemplified by chatbots. Our study provides implications and evaluation criteria for stakeholders in chatbot assisted public services, including researchers, public managers, and citizens.

Transformation into a prosperous smart city has become an aspiration for many local governments across the globe. Despite its growing importance, smart city transformation readiness is still an understudied area of research. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, this paper identifies the key factors affecting smart city transformation readiness in the context of Australian cities. The empirical investigation conducted in this study places Australian local government areas (n = 180) under the smart city microscope to quantitatively evaluate, through a multiple regression analysis, the key factors affecting their urban smartness levels—a proxy used for smart city transformation readiness. The findings disclose that the following factors determine about two-thirds (65%) of the smart city transformation readiness: (a) Close distance to domestic airport; (b) Low remoteness value; (c) High population density; (d) Low unemployment level, and; (e) High labour productivity. The study findings and generated insights inform urban policymakers, managers and planners on their policy, planning and practice decisions concerning smart cities.

Strong internal governance by the governor and legislature matter.Team approach to innovation is necessary.It is unmistakable that innovation leads to higher performance within government. In the public sector, the strategic quest for IT-based innovation often starts by hiring a successful private sector CIO and hoping his or her prior experience will transfer. However this often ignores the existence and influence of other entities and IT governance structures that form the innovation ecosystem. Applying the legal view of agency theory to the U.S. state innovation ecosystem and using a crisp-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (csQCA) approach, we investigate factors that are associated with public sector IT-based innovation. We find that CIO characteristics, structural oversight mechanisms, CIO relationships with authorities, and the state environment combine to form configurations that lead to both high and low performance.

Information systems continue to be used by actors who want to undermine public institutions and disrupt political systems. In recent times, actors have engaged in acts of information warfare ranging from attempts to compromising voting systems, to spreading false propaganda and even direct attacks on public infrastructure via information systems. Initial analysis points to the fact that most of these attempts have been successful in achieving their intended objectives. Given this reality, we expect them to intensify and be more creative in the future. In this paper we draw on a critical analysis of the role of information systems in creating political disruption to propose that information systems can be ‘weaponized’ by compromising their goals and values even while they remain protected. Building on this proposition we develop a risk-based Actor, Lever, Effects and Response Taxonomy (ALERT) to assist security practitioners and policymakers to analyze and respond to attacks enabled by information systems aimed at political disruption. We illustrate the utility of ALERT using representative examples of weaponized attacks from credible news sources. Finally, we leverage the insights gained from ALERT to propose a theoretical framework where we assert that over time as actors gain maturity and experience using levers to disrupt political systems, so too does the public sector gain experience in response thus building their response capacity. This dynamic relationship increasingly pushes both actors and defenders to come up with more innovative, agile and sophisticated methods to weaponize and respond to information systems enabled attacks.

Successful innovation depends upon effective communication of the business value of innovation. Yet different stages of the innovation process require different communication strategies. Companies who have recognized the different elements of the innovation process are able to target their communication mechanisms to achieve the best results from organizational innovation. In this article, we employ Desouza’s model of intrapreneurship to outline key communication challenges and strategies for addressing them across the five phases of innovation: idea generation and mobilization, idea screening and advocacy, experimentation with ideas, commercialization of ideas, and diffusion and implementation of ideas. The importance of communication to each stage is identified and barriers are noted. Drawing from first-hand interviews, case studies and a literature review, and further refined by presentation of the ideas to various executives, we propose in this article seven communication strategies for organizations to consider across the innovation process. Overall, having a clear understanding of the stages of the innovation process, and the kinds of communication that are most beneficial to each stage provides a clear vision of how to communicate the business value of innovations both internally and to external stakeholders. The effectiveness of communication can determine the success or failure of an innovation project.

Intelligence is a critical component for all counter-proliferation activities. It allows us to assess and determine what makes up the current threat environment in terms of the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology. When informed with an accurate assessment of the situation, policy-makers are better suited to counter the proliferation threat. However, success and failure hinge upon how well information is managed during the intelligence process. The intelligence process as it relates to estimating nuclear capabilities or intentions is wrought with many challenges and complications. The denial and deception techniques employed by states running covert weapons programs and the dual-use nature of many weapons components create many difficulties for intelligence organizations. Additionally, illicit transnational networks obscure the situation further by serving as a source, for both nation states and non-state actors, for acquiring dual-use commodities and technologies. These challenges can lead to the miscalculation of a state's capabilities or intentions, as witnessed with the case of Iraq in 2003 when western intelligence services grossly overestimated the capabilities of Saddam's regime. This paper presents a comparative analysis of three cases of nuclear proliferation: India's 1998 nuclear tests, the exposure of the A. Q. Khan network and Iran's nuclear program. Drawing from the analysis, the authors examine the lessons learned and propose recommendations for future counter proliferation policy and strategy.

The objective was to compare a pre-synchronization protocol by induction of a dominant follicle using a progesterone intravaginal device before an Ovsynch protocol (Presynch) with Double-Ovsynch in lactating dairy cows. Lactating Bos indicus × Bos taurus crossbred cows (n = 440) were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatments (all IM injections): (1) Double-Ov (n = 228): GnRH (Day –17), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) 7 days later (Day –10) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) 3 days later (Day –7) followed by an Ovsynch protocol 7 days later (GnRH on Day 0, PGF2α on Day 7, GnRH on Day 9); (2) Presynch (n = 212): insertion of a sustained release progesterone intravaginal device (Day –10), 10 days later (Day 0), an Ovsynch protocol was initiated with progesterone device withdrawal on Day 7. All cows were artificially inseminated 15 to 20 h after the second GnRH injection of the Ovsynch protocol and were pregnancy checked by ultrasonography 30 and 60 days later. On a subsample (n = 102), ultrasonography was performed on Days 0, 7, 9, and 24 of the experimental period. On another subsample (n = 42), blood samples for progesterone analysis were taken on Days 0, 7, and 24. There were no differences between pre-synchronization methods on synchronization parameters [presence of a follicle >12 mm on D0, Double-Ov 94.2% (49/52) and Presynch 92.0% (46/50); P = 0.66], follicular diameter on the 1st GnRH (Double-Ov 17.2 ± 0.7 mm and Presynch 18.6 ± 0.9 mm; P = 0.28), ovulation rate to the 1st GnRH [Double-Ov 86.3% (44/51) and Presynch 81.2% (39/48); P = 0.50], synchronization rate [Double-Ov 84.6% (44/52) and Presynch 86.0% (43/50); P = 0.84], follicular diameter on the 2nd GnRH (Double-Ov 17.5 ± 0.6 mm and Presynch 18.0 ± 0.5 mm; P = 0.48), ovulation rate to the 2nd GnRH [Double-Ov 90.9% (40/44) and Presynch 86.0% (37/43); P = 0.48] and CL diameter on Day 24 (Double-Ov 27.9 ± 0.7 mm and Presynch 29.4 ± 0.9 mm; P = 0.19). Corpus luteum presence on Day 0 was different (P = 0.03) between treatments [Double-Ov 57.7% (30/52) and Presynch 36.0% (18/50)]. Moreover, there was no difference (P = 0.85) between pregnancy rates on Day 30 [Double-Ov 39.0% (89/228) and Presynch 40.1% (85/212)] or Day 60 after AI [Double-Ov 34.8% (79/227) and Presynch 38.7% (82/212); P = 0.41] and gestational loss between 30 and 60 days after AI [Double-Ov 7.9% (7/88) and Presynch 3.5% (3/85); P = 0.13]. Proportion of cows with P4 1 ng mL−1 on Day 7 [Double-Ov 77.3% (17/22) v. Presynch 95.0% (19/20); P = 0.14] and P4 concentration on Day 24 (Double-Ov 4.7 ± 0.6 v. P4-Ov 5.9 ± 0.9; P = 0.84) were similar between treatments. In conclusion, pre-synchronization by induction of follicular persistence using a sustained-release progesterone device before Ovsynch yielded similar results to the Double-Ovsynch protocol on follicular development and regression patterns and on the fertility of lactating dairy cows.

The aim was to evaluate the effect of subclinical mastitis by somatic cell count (SCC) on follicular dynamics, ovulation, oocyte and cumulus cell quality, exosome size and concentration in milk-producing cows. Crossbred cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus; that is, Holstein × Gyr) were randomly allocated to control (SCC 400,000 cells mL−1) groups. In experiment 1 (follicular dynamics), cows (n = 57) were submitted to ultrasonographic evaluations every 24 h, after removal of an intravaginal progesterone device (Day 8) up to Day 10. From Day 10, ultrasound evaluations were performed every 12 h, until ovulation or until 96 h after progesterone device withdrawal, in order to follow final dominant follicle growth and ovulation. In experiment 2 (oocyte, cumulus cells, and follicular fluid evaluation), cows (n = 23) were submitted to follicular aspirations, preceded by synchronization of the emergence of the follicular wave. The levels of target genes in cumulus cells (BCL2, BAX, PI3K, PTEN, FOXO3) were evaluated by RT-qPCR. In the follicular fluid, the exosomes were isolated for evaluation of particle size. Data were analysed by the Glimmix procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Ovulation rate (P = 0.09) was higher in control cows [control 77.42% (24/31) and mastitis 57.69% (15/26)]. Viable oocyte rate (P = 0.01) was also higher in control cows [control 59.1% (130/220) and mastitis 41.9% (125/298)]. The dynamics of follicular growth did not differ between groups. The number of degenerate oocytes (P = 0.001) was higher in cows of the mastitis group. In the evaluation of cumulus cell gene expression, there was a higher abundance of BAX transcripts (P = 0.003) in cells of mastitis cows. Additionally, the mean and mode of exosome diameter in mastitis cows were smaller (P = 0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively). In conclusion, ovulation rate, oocyte quality, and follicular fluid exosome diameter were lower in cows with subclinical mastitis, demonstrating a link between mammary gland sanitary status and reproduction.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on a neglected dimension in strategic sourcing – security.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes two vignettes which illustrate different kinds of security breaches and discusses securing strategic sourcing efforts.FindingsThe paper points to the need to seriously consider the security dimension in sourcing agreements.Originality/valueThis paper will hopefully raise awareness to the security dimension in the context of strategic sourcing.

The reality of terrorism has become ubiquitous. Terrorist groups continue to garner front-page exposure, which contributes to their agenda, while stories of hostage dilemmas, suicide bombings, assassinations, and a variety of nefarious criminal activities lead the unsuspecting to wonder, “What's next?” In order to begin to understand terrorism researchers should first understand how these terrorist groups operate and, far more importantly, what motivates others to co-operate with terrorists. No terrorist group operates in isolation. It is assured a priori that terrorist groups have to collaborate with other entities in order to further their agenda. In the conventional sense, terrorists have limited resources, limited capabilities, and limited reach. Without co-operation and support in support of criminal enterprises, they would function in isolation; their impact would be isolated. This article outlines two models that demonstrate how cooperation between terrorists and recognized, albeit criminal, instit...

What happens to a technology artifact after it is adopted? It has to evolve within its particular context to be effective; otherwise, it will become part of the detritus of change, like the many genes without a discernible function in a living organism. In this paper, we report on a study of post-adoptive behavior that examined how users modified and innovated with technology artifacts. We uncovered three types of modifications made to technology artifacts: personalization, customization, and inventions. Personalization attempts are modifications involving changes to technology parameters to meet the specificities of the user; customization attempts adapt the technology parameters to meet the specificities of the user's environment; and inventions are exaptations conducted to the technology artifact. This paper presents a grounded theoretic analysis of the post-adoptive behavior based on in-depth interviews with 20 software engineers in one multi-national organization. We identify a life-cycle model that connects the various types of modifications conducted to technology artifacts. The life-cycle model elaborates on how individual and organizational dynamics are linked to the diffusion of innovations. While our research is exploratory, it contributes to a deeper understanding of post-adoptive behavior and the dynamic relationship between user innovations and organizational innovations.

Purpose – The development of virtual crisis centers for organizations should be established. This study seeks to contend that having such a center will help an organization monitor the necessary signals generated and dissipated from within and around the organization in order to sense impending crisis. Once detected, the center can be used to evade or in some cases even curtail the effects of the crisis. If signal detection does not work, the center can be used to restore the organization.Design/methodology/approach – Conceptual. The discussion of what it takes to build such a crisis center is grounded on past work related to failures in intelligence leading to the disaster of 9/11.Findings – Virtual crisis centers will become a necessity in face of even more uncertain economic and political times. The benefit of such centers stems from an initiative which reflects preparedness and determination through actions to mitigate and possibly evade some of the consequences related to crisis.Originality/value – P...

As businesses struggle to lower cost and grow revenues, outsourcing initiatives are underway in many small, medium, and large global companies. Outsourcing strategies are considered by many as a “silver bullet” to resolve organizational problems. They have been touted as the “holy grail” to reduce costs, focus on core business processes, improve product and service offerings, and speed up time to market. These benefits are only achieved by organizations that master the art of devising, deploying, and maintaining outsourcing relationships, for many these benefits remain elusive. The following article identifies the ten traps of outsourcing.

The American psych is complex and is as mystifying to members of other nations as are the notions of martyrdom and murder for a cause alien to most US citizens. There is an irony in the fact that billions were spent on our intelligence infrastructure during the Cold War to assist in the bellicose posturing between the two Super Powers who, while capable, never intended to obliterate civilization while comparatively few resources are dedicated to the more complicated current intelligence requirements and a more genuine threat associated with events surrounding September 11 th . This disparity is not for lack of resources; rather it is grounded in self-serving, synthetic priorities that exist among law enforcement agencies or between those agencies and the justice department. These conditions serve to effectively limit any ability to gather and share information related to the national interest. The purpose of this project is to address a unique approach to the concept of intelligence gathering and sharing intended to protect our nation from terrorism and associated transnational crime. We intend to outline, in general, nonclassified terms, how different components of law enforcement’s intelligence sector operate, how the infrastructure is connected, and problems associated with information flow as a result of this coupling and/or degrees of cohesiveness. Constructively, we explore and provide preemptive methods, models, and measures intended to strengthen vulnerability inherent in current systems. Our process involves the science and literature of complexity, cybernetics, semiotics and signal theory, information theory, international cooperation, mathematics, and statistics.

The following paper examines concepts associated with cyberterrorism. Most of the current attention given terrorism involves both probability and consequences related to the physical world. Focuses in “what-if” scenarios involve threats to the economy and the population from an enemy that has all the discretion in selecting the battlefield. But what if the target of terrorism activity is a virtual world? The economic and communications infrastructure of many countries depend on cyber thoroughfares at least as much as they do those of concrete or steel. Yet little attention is given to the notion of attacks that can occur in cyberspace. This discussion examines what cyberterrorism means, the forms it may take and how it may occur, and safeguards that should be considered in preparation for cyber warfare. To this end, we draw from current theories involving semiotics, emergence, and complexity to ground our work.

The future of many terrorist related games or plans may well involve the cyber space. However, the literature on what needs to be in place to play the cyber terrorism game is scant. Most of the current attention given terrorism involves both probability and consequences related to the physical world. Focuses in “what-if” scenarios involve threats to the economy and the population from an enemy that has all the discretion in selecting the battlefield. This essay examines what cyber-terrorism means, the forms it may take and how it may occur, and safeguards that should be considered in preparation for cyber warfare through use of a semiotic model. To this end we draw from current theories involving semiotics, gaming, emergence, and complexity to ground our work.

In this article we introduce policy informatics as an emerging research space. Policy informatics is the study of how information systems are leveraged toward solving complex public policy problems. We illustrate the role of humancentered participatory platforms in facilitating collaborative, and productive, deliberations on policy issues. When individuals and groups seek to collaborate to resolve policy issues, competing interests and adversarial positions on issues as well as an unawareness of the others’ perspectives often result in poor outcomes. Generating and disseminating feelings of empathy among members in these networks is crucial for mitigating conflicts. However, empathy generation and transfer is a complex challenge that requires systematic research within the design of participatory platforms. A thoughtful application of information systems (IS) can help bring diverse stakeholders together and promote cooperation by facilitating richer communication channels and timely feedback to generate a sense of shared community to pursue shared goals.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) Act addresses the effectiveness of internal controls, which in most organizations are either fully or partially automated due to the pervasiveness and ubiquity of information technologies. Significant or material control deficiencies have to be reported publicly. The adverse impact on organizations declaring deficiencies can be severe, for example, damage to reputation and/or market value. While there are many practitioner-led manuals and methods for dealing with 404, there has been little published in the academic research literature investigating the role of Information Systems organizations in implementing Section 404. The paper addresses this gap in knowledge. We used institutional theory as the lens through which to examine the experiences of Section 404 implementation in three global organizations. We used the case study method and an abductive strategy to gather and analyze data respectively. Our findings are summarized in six recommendations. We found that institutional pressures play a critical role in the implementation of Section 404. In particular, organizations face coercive pressure to achieve Section 404 compliance, without which punitive sanctions can be imposed by regulators. Organizations tend to imitate one another in the methods they use so that each is perceived to be in line with their competitive environment. Organizations face normative pressures to act in ways that are socially acceptable, which is to achieve compliance. Failure to do so would be a signal to the market that the organization does not take controls seriously. We expand these findings in terms of power and influence tactics that IS organizations can use when implementing Section 404. Our findings provide directions for practice and lines of enquiry for further research.

The world we live in continues to expand on a number of distributed dimensions. Most notably, work in organizations is commonly handled in distributed settings. Expertise needed to conduct work is also distributed across geographical regions. The recent surge in offshore outsourcing is testament to the sophistication of distributed engagements. Distributed work has implications for knowledge management programs in organizations. Specifically, an organization must not only be able to show competency in leveraging knowledge within a locality, but must be also able to effectively and efficiently move knowledge across localities. Successful distributed knowledge management is a critical determinant of competitive advantages. In this mini-track, we are pleased to introduce four papers that discuss varying aspects of distributed knowledge management. The first paper Reputation Systems is by Gail L. Rein. Gail uses a UML based view to discuss how reputation systems can be developed and managed in organizations. This is an important step toward the recognition of reputation a measurable and explicit attribute; it does so using several determinants, such as knowledge, experience, credentials, endorsees, connections and others. In a distributed environment, reputation can make a difference on how other people seek knowledge.

When the term ‘knowledge management’ was introduced into the business vocabulary, the first wave of interest was in the development of knowledge management systems (KMSs). We remember our experiences during the late 1990s, when almost every technology vendor had a knowledge management offering in the works or one that was being positioned in the market.

The objective was to investigate the relationship between changes in body condition on reproductive traits of donor mares in an embryo collection program. Fifty-six non-pregnant mares, 3 to 18 years old, were studied from August 2008 through April 2009. Body condition score (BC; 1-9 scale, thin to obese) was estimated monthly. Body weight and tail and rib s.c. fat depths (SF) were measured monthly. SF was determined by ultrasound. Dominant follicle diameter (DF) was measured daily during the follicular phase. Mares were artificially inseminated and embryo transfers were conducted 6 d after ovulation. Analyses were performed with SAS® (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Age classes were as follows: age 1, 3 to 6.9 (n = 17); age 2, 7 to 12.9 (n = 25), and age 3, ≥13 years (n = 14). Months in experiment were T1 to T6. BC classes were as follows: B1, 7.5. Embryo recovery rate was compared by chi square. Effects of month and age on BC, weight, and SF were analyzed by a mixed model. Age, BC, and month fixed effects on DF diameter were analyzed by ANOVA with mare within class as the error term. Means were compared by contrasts. BC was higher (P = 0.02) in older mares (6.78 ± 0.2 and 6.93 ± 0.2 in age 1 and age 2 v. 7.25 ± 0.2 in age 3) and increased (P = 0.009) with time (from 6.79 ± 0.20 to 7.42 ± 0.26 for T1 to T6, respectively). Weight (kg) was not associated with age but increased (P = 0.03) throughout the experiment. Tail fat increased with age (P = 0.04) and decreased with increasing months on experiment (P = 0.02). DF diameter increased daily through the follicular phase (P < 0.0001) and was smaller (P < 0.05) in mares with lower body condition (33.80 ± 0.31 in BC1 v. 34.17 ± 0.31 mm in BC4). DF diameter decreased (P < 0.01) with month on study. Embryo recovery rate was not affected by age or BC but was lower (P = 0.003) in mares that ovulated follicles smaller than 40 mm compared to mares ovulating follicles greater than 40 mm. BC above 6.5 was associated with higher embryo recovery rate, which was, in turn, correlated positively with DF diameter. Thus, our results support the use of BC scoring to predict performance in equine embryo transfer programs. Body condition scoring was not a good indicator of SF under the current experimental conditions because SF decreased during the breeding season. BC scoring may indicate lean tissue gain, which may be a better indicator of reproductive efficiency in mares. FAPEMIG, CAPES, Haras El Far.

Innovations in software engineering organisations frequently emerge from risky behaviour. Most often, these risks are taken by only a small percentage of the software engineers practising radical engineering (REs). They go against the status quo, experiment with new methods or technologies, and have the burden of bringing the innovations into the mainstream of the organisation. Most organisations however, do a poor job of adequately and effectively managing radical engineers. In this paper, we analyse the relationship between innovation regimes and radical engineering practice. We find that REs can be practised at either end of the order-chaos continuum. Successful software organisations are those that are able to balance between the extremes and manage REs effectively, and also those that follow a series of innovation stages in sensible ways. In this paper, we discuss lessons learned in managing REs found in software organisations and propose organisational actions for effective innovation management.

The medical field in recent years has been facing increasing pressures for lower cost and increased quality of healthcare. These two pressures are forcing dramatic changes throughout the industry. Managing knowledge in healthcare enterprises is hence crucial for optimal achievement of lowered cost of services with higher quality. The following paper focuses on developing and fostering a knowledge management process model. The process is then viewed through the lenses of various strategic management and competitive frameworks.