• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.35-48
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• 2009

The paper proposes a quantitative causal ordering map (QCOM) to combine qualitative and quantitative methods in a framework. The procedures for developing QCOM consist of three phases. The first phase is to collect partially known causal dependencies from experts and to convert them into relations and causal nodes of a model graph. The second phase is to find the global causal structure by tracing causality among relation and causal nodes and to represent it in causal ordering graph with signed coefficient. Causal ordering graph is converted into QCOM by assigning regression coefficient estimated from path analysis in the third phase. Experiments with the prediction model of Korea stock price show results as following; First, the QCOM can support the design of qualitative and quantitative model by finding the global causal structure from partially known causal dependencies. Second, the QCOM can be used as an integration tool of qualitative and quantitative model to offerhigher explanatory capability and quantitative measurability. The QCOM with static and dynamic analysis is applied to investigate the changes in factors involved in the model at present as well discrete times in the future.

• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 1999

FCM(Fuzzy Cognitive Map) is proposed for representing causal reasoning. Its structure allows systematic causal reasoning through a forward inference. By using the FCM, authors have proposed FCM-based fault diagnostic algorithm. However, it can offer multiple interpretations for a single fault. In process engineering, as experience accumulated, some form of quantitative process knowledge is available. If this information can be integrated into the FCM-based fault diagnosis, the diagnostic resolution can be further improved. The purpose of this paper is to propose an enhanced FCM-based fault diagnostic scheme. Firstly, the membership function of fuzzy set theory is used to integrate quantitative knowledge into the FCM-based diagnostic scheme. Secondly, modified TAM recall procedure is proposed. Considering that the integration of quantitative knowledge into FCM-based diagnosis requires a great deal of engineering efforts, thirdly, an automated procedure for fusing the quantitative knowledge into FCM-based diagnosis is proposed by utilizing self-learning feature of neural network. Finally, the proposed diagnostic scheme has been tested by simulation on the two-tank system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 2014

This study performs an investigative research on the shopping value of consumers who purchase fashion/beauty products using group buying social commerce among the types of social commerce and private shopping malls. We provide basic knowledge on consumer behavior using social commerce newly appeared as shopping channels. For the method, the research was performed by designing a sequential integration method of conducting quantitative verification after qualitative research. As a result of qualitative research, multiple shopping values have been shown as the common shopping values of consumers using two types of shopping malls. The dimensions are price, quality, convenience, interaction, information, reliability, hedonic and impulse buying values. A total of eight sub-dimensions have appeared due to performing quantitative verification on the shopping value of group buying social commerce. The dimensions are same as the results from the qualitative research. The shopping value of consumers who purchase fashion/beauty products using private shopping malls has been classified into seven dimensions (except interaction value).

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.588-592
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• 2015

Many studies have affirmed a negative influence of fragmentation on learning and knowledge sharing in construction projects. However, the literature overlooked enablers of learning within this context. The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that facilitate project learning and ways to negate any unbecoming effects of fragmentation. Qualitative study used to explore the enablers through interviews administered to 11 top management individuals working in different construction projects in Malaysia. The findings revealed the following factors: participation, relationships, togetherness, and roles of project leader and coordinator. The role of boundary objects was also highlighted including information technology (IT), contract and procedures, drawings, specifications, and reports. The outcome of this paper initiates the development of a model for better knowledge creation and sharing in construction projects. The significance of this model stems from its ability to connection both the characteristics of construction project and project learning theories using the enablers. It is envisaged that future work will be to confirm the model in a quantitative study.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.448-466
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• 2019

Today, companies are increasingly focused on SCM (Supply Chain Management) as a means for cost-cutting and efficient operation. The company's ultimate objective is to win and maintain a sustained dominant position in the uncertainties of the global environment and future competitiveness. In this respect, this study examined the effects of management strategy, collaboration process and SCM integration on corporate performance in small and midsize parts manufacturers. The results of empirical analysis are summarized as follows. Management strategy, collaboration process and SCM integration had positive effects on corporate performance in domestic small and midsize parts manufacturers, and all hypotheses were supported. Consequently, it can be confirmed that quality, cost and flexibility for management strategy, and strategic objective perception, support policy, problem solution and knowledge information sharing for delivery and collaboration as small and midsize parts manufacturers are mechanisms for improving quality reliability, decreasing cost, delivery obedience and information system operation of SCM integration, and boosting corporate quantitative and qualitative performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.124-140
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• 1995

The merit of fuzzy rule based systems stems from their capability of encoding qualitative knowledge of experts into quantitative rules. Recent advancement in automatic tuning or self-organization of fuzzy rules from experimental data further enhances their power, allowing the integration of the top-down encoding of knowledge with the bottom-up learning of rules. In this paper, methods of self-organizing fuzzy rules and of performing defuzzification and inference is presented based on a multi-resolution radial basis function network. The network learns an arbitrary input-output mapping from sample distribution as the union of hyper-ellipsoidal clusters of various locations, sizes and shapes. The hyper-ellipsoidal clusters, representing fuzzy rules, are self-organized based of global competition in such a way as to ensute uniform mapping errors. The cooperative interpolation among the multiple clusters associated with a mapping allows the network to perform a bidirectional many-to-many mapping, representing a particular from of defuzzification. Finally, an inference engine is constructed for the network to search for an optimal chain of rules or situation transitions under the constraint of transition feasibilities imposed by the learned mapping. Applications of the proposed network to skill acquisition are shown.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7237-7241
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• 2013

Background: Smokeless tobacco use in South Asia is believed to be a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. In India, only a few studies involving health educational intervention by health care providers have demonstrated reduction in smokeless tobacco usage. In the present study we assessed the cessation efforts towards smokeless tobacco by physicians in two high tobacco prevalence states of India. The study also identified opportunities and barriers for integration of tobacco cessation services in routine practices of physicians. Materials and Methods: This mixed method study involved qualitative (phase I) and quantitative research study (phase II). In phase I, 59 in-depth interviews with physicians were conducted. In phase II, a quantitative study conducted among 238 physicians. An inductive approach was followed to analyze qualitative data using ATLAS. Ti software. The Chi-square test was employed to test the association between different variables of interest using SPSS version 17. Results: The majority of physicians related only respiratory problems and cancer with smokeless tobacco. Other major health effects like cardio-vascular problems, oral diseases, and effects on reproductive and neonatal health were recognized only by a few physicians. The age-group of 10-19 years was identified as most vulnerable to smokeless tobacco use. Less than one-third of physicians reported recording smokeless tobacco history of all patients. Findings indicated that less than half of physicians provided information on harmful health effects of smokeless tobacco with regard to specific diseases. Conclusions: The study revealed a low level of knowledge of physicians about harmful effects of tobacco and their suboptimal engagement in tobacco control practices. The study indicates the need of capacity building initiatives to equip physicians with skills in tobacco cessation.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.20-27
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• 2003

Hazard Analysis is one of the basic tasks to ensure the safety of chemical plants. However, it is an arduous, tedious, time-consuming work and requires multidisciplinary knowledge and demands considerable cognitive load from the analysts. To overcome these problems, there have been attempts to automate this work by utilizing computer technology, particularly in the area of knowledge-based technique. There is two methods in the risk assessment of Chemical plant; quantitative and qualitative risk assessment. Both of them have been applied respectively, but if the integrated method of quantitative and qualitative risk assessments is used, all of the advantage of two methods can be applied. It is difficult to carry out integrated risk management of chemical plant. Therefore, automated integration system of risk management is necessary. We developed S/W Automated System for Hazard Screening & Analysis(ASCA) and applied to practical plant. By applying ASCA to case study, we can get the information about relative ranks of equipments, variable deviation, and consequence of potential accident. In this study, we applied ASCA to the H.T.U(Hydrotreating Unit) of the process to produce aromatic material. We could know relative ranks of equipments, variable deviation of malfunction in storage tank, D-101, and consequence of potential accident using ASCA. If integrated risk management in the chemical plant is applied, we can develop the emergency plan and prevent the accident.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.501-513
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• 2016

Purpose: The current challenges faced by nurses in providing high quality and evidence-based practice (EBP) supported care require profound changes in nursing education. To understand the changes needed to strengthen EBP education, the researchers examined EBP self-efficacy, course needs, barriers, and facilitators for academic faculty and clinical nurse preceptors to teach EBP in undergraduate nursing curricula. Methods: For this study, mixed-method approach was used with survey data collected from 73 academic faculty members from 54 universities. Further, 17 clinical nurse preceptors in three academic hospitals provided qualitative data for exploration of barriers and facilitators to teaching EBP. Data analysis used SPSS/WIN 21.0 and content analysis. Results: Quantitative data showed that although the overall level of self-efficacy among faculty was moderate, the implementation levels were relatively low. Most faculty members agreed with the need to integrate EBP courses into undergraduate nursing curricula. The qualitative data showed that the barriers to teaching EBP were lack of knowledge, skill, and initial investment for teaching EBP; hierarchical, rules-oriented nursing culture; potential learner overloads in processing EBP; limited research dissemination and application. Facilitators were identified as the importance of EBP to the profession of nursing; collaboration in schools and hospitals; and continuing education in teaching/utilizing EBP. Conclusion: The findings indicate that for successful integration of EBP ni nursing education there is a need for faculty training and integrated EBP courses.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-32
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• 2020

Cost and time control of projects is important in preventing project failure. However, achieving effective cost and time control in practice is often challenging. The challenges of project cost and time control in practice are investigated by carrying out a questionnaire survey on the top 150 construction contractors in the UK followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews of practitioners from 15 construction companies in the country. Quantitative analysis reveals that design change is the most important factor inhibiting the ability of UK contractors from effectively controlling both the cost and time of construction projects. Four of the top five factors inhibiting effective cost control are also the top factors inhibiting effective time control albeit in a different order. These top factors-design changes, inaccurate evaluation of project time/duration, risk and uncertainty, non-performance of subcontractors and nominated suppliers were also found to be endogenous factors to the project. Additionally, qualitative analysis of the interviews reveals 16 key challenges to prevent for effective project cost and time control in practice. These are classified into four categorised based on where they stem from as follows; from the organisation (1. Lack of integration of cost and time during project control, 2. lack of management buy-in, 3. complicated project control systems and processes, 4. lack of a project control training regime); from the construction management/project management approach (5. Lapses in integration of interfaces, 6. project control not being implemented from the early stages of a project, 7. inefficient utilisation and control of labour, 8. limited time devoted to planning how a project will be controlled at the outset); from the client; (9. Excessive authorisation gates, 10. use of adversarial and non-collaborative forms of contracts, 11. communication problems within client set-up, 12. obstructive client representatives) and; from the project team (13. Lack of detailed/complete design, 14. lack of trust among the project partners, 15. limited time devoted to project control on site, 16. non-factual reporting). The study posits that knowledge of these project control inhibiting factors and challenges is the first step at ensuring they are avoided and enable the implementation of a more effective project cost and time control process in practice.