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Xenia

Claudio Ciborra

in The Labyrinths of Information: Challenging the Wisdom of Systems

This chapter shows how — by skipping over issues like hospitality and adopting scientific discourse — systems methodologies turn themselves away from everyday human dealings with technology, and find ... More

This chapter shows how — by skipping over issues like hospitality and adopting scientific discourse — systems methodologies turn themselves away from everyday human dealings with technology, and find a (shaky) refuge in general and abstract dispositions and norms. It is argued that the notion of hospitality introduces a universe of discourse closer to human existence and its basic institutions, able to grant an existential indexing to systems development activities while avoiding human factors. Thinking, acting, and behaving in terms of hospitality allow something more constructive: the re-registering of our networks of dues and commitments to a strange actant (the technology) around a strange attractor.Less

The development of the Drosophila visual system

Tanya Wolff, Kathleen A. Martin, Gerald M. Rubin, and S. Lawrence Zipursky

in Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Neural Development

This chapter considers recent progress on eye development. It describes the structure and development of the visual system, and the genetic strategies used to identify genes controlling its ... More

This chapter considers recent progress on eye development. It describes the structure and development of the visual system, and the genetic strategies used to identify genes controlling its development. It then discusses the molecular basis of a number of different processes regulating individual steps in visual system development.Less

Dérive

Claudio Ciborra

in The Labyrinths of Information: Challenging the Wisdom of Systems

This chapter does not pursue further the view of technology as being endowed with independent action, or even intentions. Rather, it reflects on the idea that one of the main characteristics of ICT ... More

This chapter does not pursue further the view of technology as being endowed with independent action, or even intentions. Rather, it reflects on the idea that one of the main characteristics of ICT as a modern phenomenon in organizations and society is that it is á la dérive: the information infrastructure might have enhancing effects but it also drifts. Through such reflection, we encounter the phenomenological middle ground where intentions of people and other resources mingle and blur; where learning and recalcitrance, hacking and inertia show up simultaneously. This allows us to ponder the far-reaching and unpredictable trajectories of modern technology in organizations.Less

Reinterpreting the Resource‐Capability View of the Firm: A Case of the Development‐Production Systems of the Japanese Auto‐Makers 1

Takahiro Fujimoto

in The Dynamic Firm: The Role of Technology, Strategy, Organization, and Regions

An analysis is made of a firm's evolutionary capabilities using the car industry in general, and Toyota in particular, as an example. The resource view of the firm is extended to look in detail at ... More

An analysis is made of a firm's evolutionary capabilities using the car industry in general, and Toyota in particular, as an example. The resource view of the firm is extended to look in detail at how capabilities change over time, and attempt to explain inter‐regional and inter‐firm differences. However, instead of applying the concepts of resource‐based theories or capability theories on the firm as a unit, the analysis is applied at the operational level. In the process, the author makes an argument for not only interpreting capabilities as something directly affecting the level of competitive performance and the improvements of performance but also as the accumulation of these static and improvement capabilities; in other words, successful firms are not only competitive and know how to improve to stay competitive, they also know how to sustain these skills over time. The chapter goes on to explore, in some depth, this novel interpretation of evolutionary capability as a firm‐specific ability to acquire both static and improvement capabilities, and includes a table summarizing the evolution of selected production–development capabilities at Toyota, to accompany the discussion in the text.Less

Taking Stock and Looking Ahead: The German Financial System at the Crossroads?

Jan P. Krahnen and Reinhard H. Schmidt

in The German Financial System

The concluding chapter of the book is devoted to the question of whether the German financial system still is largely bank-dominated or has already changed to being (more) capital market-dominated, ... More

The concluding chapter of the book is devoted to the question of whether the German financial system still is largely bank-dominated or has already changed to being (more) capital market-dominated, or, in other words, whether change or continuity prevail. The authors first summarise briefly what the individual chapters indicate with respect to the issue of change and continuity. But since continuity and change coexist in almost any facet of the German financial system, the authors then discuss three competing views of the possible future development of the German financial system.One view is that of simple modernisation: Though with delays, the German financial system will continue to become more and more market-oriented. The second view holds that in the future the distinction between bank- and market-based systems will disappear anyway and that therefore a new kind of synthesis can be expected to emerge in Germany. The third view is that because of important complementarities, financial system development is not gradual and is prone to crises. This might lead to the adoption of the Anglo-Saxon type of a financial system, irrespective of whether such a system is desirable in pure efficiency terms.Less

The Purpose and Structure of the Book

Jan P. Krahnen and Reinhard H. Schmidt

in The German Financial System

This introductory chapter starts by discussing the motivation for writing the book, which is that although Germany is often cited as the most prominent example of a country with a bank-based – as ... More

This introductory chapter starts by discussing the motivation for writing the book, which is that although Germany is often cited as the most prominent example of a country with a bank-based – as opposed to a market-oriented financial system – there has, until now, been no account of the many developments and changes that have occurred in the financial architecture of the country. Next, it summarises the questions to be asked from the modern literature on the development and design of financial systems. An outline is then given of the structure of the book, which is divided into four parts that (I) give an introduction to and overview of financial systems and the German financial system in particular (2 chapters), (II) look at the German financial sector and German corporate finance (7 chapters), (III) focus on regulation and corporate governance in Germany (5 chapters), and (IV) based on the previous chapters, take stock and look ahead (1 chapter). The final section outlines the appropriate audiences for the book.Less

The Role of Sleep in the Development of Central Visual Pathways

Marcos G. Frank and Michael P. Stryker

in Sleep and Brain Plasticity

This chapter reviews evidence in support of the hypothesis that sleep may play an important role in brain maturation. It begins by reviewing the role of endogenous neural activity and experience in ... More

This chapter reviews evidence in support of the hypothesis that sleep may play an important role in brain maturation. It begins by reviewing the role of endogenous neural activity and experience in the development of central visual pathways. It then discusses current findings that support a role for sleep in visual system development. The chapter concludes with a discussion of several theories regarding the functions of sleep in developing animals; specifically, it reviews the ‘Ontogenetic Hypothesis’ that posits REM sleep as an important source of endogenous activity in the developing brain, and a second view which states that NREM sleep promotes the consolidation of waking experience; a process which begins at certain stages of development, but is retained throughout the lifespan.Less

Neurotrophic factors and their receptors: Roles in neuronal development and function

Louis F. Reichardt and Fariñas Isabel

in Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Neural Development

Neurotrophic factors are important regulators of the development and maintenance of vertebrate nervous system. During the development of the nervous system, neuronal populations undergo a process of ... More

Neurotrophic factors are important regulators of the development and maintenance of vertebrate nervous system. During the development of the nervous system, neuronal populations undergo a process of naturally occurring cell death at a time when their axons are innervating target areas. This mechanism ensures a balance between the size of an innervating population and the size of its target territory. Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first neurotrophic factor to be discovered. More recent work has shown that other molecules are secreted by target organs that regulate neuronal survival and differentiation. This chapter focuses on neurotrophins with brief descriptions of the actions of these other molecules.Less

Learning and Earning From E-Commerce

Michael J. Earl

in Competing in the Information Age: Align in the Sand

Four important IT management practices have emerged from the development of e-commerce projects. These practices address four central and classical questions of IT management: strategic information ... More

Four important IT management practices have emerged from the development of e-commerce projects. These practices address four central and classical questions of IT management: strategic information systems planning, IT architecture planning, managing IT-user relationships, and systems development methodology. All four are important components of Luftman’s Strategic Alignment Maturity Assessment.Less

Critical periods for human cortical development: An ERP study in children with cochlear implant

Curtis W. Ponton

in Reprogramming the Cerebral Cortex: Plasticity following central and peripheral lesions

This chapter describes the effects that a period of auditory deprivation due to profound deafness, followed by restoration of sensation via a cochlear implant, has on the development of the human ... More

This chapter describes the effects that a period of auditory deprivation due to profound deafness, followed by restoration of sensation via a cochlear implant, has on the development of the human auditory central nervous system. Neurophysiological evidence of human central auditory system plasticity in profoundly deaf adults and children who use cochlear prostheses will be based on scalp-recorded electrophysiological activity evoked by activation of the cochlear implant. This activity measured from cochlear implant users is contrasted with that of normal-hearing adults and children to illustrate the similarities and differences in auditory cortical activity. These results are set in the context of what is known about the generators of the AEPs (auditory evoked potentials) as well as recent studies describing the maturational sequence of the neuroanatomical structures, particularly in cortex.Less

The policy context

Andrew Green

in An Introduction to Health Planning for Developing Health Systems

This chapter traces some of the key policy themes that have been central to the health sector over the last twenty years. It begins by examining the policy of primary health care (PHC), which for ... More

This chapter traces some of the key policy themes that have been central to the health sector over the last twenty years. It begins by examining the policy of primary health care (PHC), which for many countries was the foundation of their health policies in the 1980s. In the 1990s, emphasis shifted away from PHC towards issues related to the structure of the health sector. Health sector reform (HSR) or health system development (HSD) policies (as they are now more commonly known) have become a major concern of many external partners and health ministries; the chapter examines the key elements of these that were promoted in the 1990s and subsequently. The post-millennium period and a number of more recent policy issues and developments are considered, including increased globalization and the focus on human resources. The chapter concludes by looking at the implications of these policies for effective health planning.Less

Addressing Implementation Challenges

Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger and Ashfaq Khalfan

in Sustainable Development Law: Principles, Practices, and Prospects

International law on sustainable development is evolving at a rapid pace, as are international laws in the fields of economic and social development, and environmental protection. New treaties are ... More

International law on sustainable development is evolving at a rapid pace, as are international laws in the fields of economic and social development, and environmental protection. New treaties are being negotiated and ratified, customary principles are in the process of recognition, international organizations are brokering agreements between states on priorities and action. In the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the 1997 Earth Summit+5 Special Session, and 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), and in the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, concerns have been raised that perhaps international law has moved too far ahead of real progress on the ground. This chapter focuses on ways to address these challenges. It presents an analysis of the clarified global sustainable development governance system that emerged in the 2002 WSSD negotiations, and, with Salim Nakhjavani, an analytical survey of innovative international approaches to compliance-building in sustainable development law.Less

How do we put these fine words into action? An overview of whole systems development

Margaret Attwood, Mike Pedler, Sue Pritchard, and David Wilkinson

in Leading change: A guide to whole systems working

Whole systems development is a set of propositions, tools, and practices that aims to engage all the people in the system in designing and implementing change. Sustainable change, in contrast to that ... More

Whole systems development is a set of propositions, tools, and practices that aims to engage all the people in the system in designing and implementing change. Sustainable change, in contrast to that which is temporary and superficial, is only brought about by involving all those who are part of the problem in creating and implementing the solutions. This chapter outlines the practice of whole systems development at the three levels of philosophy, operating principles, and processes; emphasises the importance of a pragmatic approach to change, action, and learning; develops some principles for the whole systems way of working; and explains how these are underpinned by five working processes, termed the Five Keys of whole systems development.Less

The New Face of Development Cooperation: The Role of South-South Cooperation and Corporate Social Responsibility

Francisco Sagasti, Fernando Prada, Mario Bazán, Jorge Chávez Granadino, and Gonzalo Alcalde

in Development Cooperation in Times of Crisis

This chapter discusses the arrival of new aid modalities and instruments that have led to the presence of new participants, including some from the private sector (firms, individuals, and ... More

This chapter discusses the arrival of new aid modalities and instruments that have led to the presence of new participants, including some from the private sector (firms, individuals, and foundations). Of note are the more recent aspects of international development finance: South–South Cooperation (SSC), and corporate social responsibility (CSR), both of which affect the mobilization of resources, aid, and international financing to a certain degree. SSC is becoming the new fashionable subject in discussions around reform of the international development cooperation system, which should be expanded and strengthened through the exchange of experiences, through the creation of funds to cover the incremental costs of cooperation, and through the involvement of developed countries in SSC via triangular cooperation. CSR and socially responsible investment, meanwhile, combine commercial and economic interests with altruistic and social benefit criteria.Less

The emerging practice of whole systems development

Margaret Attwood, Mike Pedler, Sue Pritchard, and David Wilkinson

in Leading change: A guide to whole systems working

Through a case study of a courageous effort to deconstruct the old system of local government and challenge it with a structure based on resident self-governance through neighbourhood committees, ... More

Through a case study of a courageous effort to deconstruct the old system of local government and challenge it with a structure based on resident self-governance through neighbourhood committees, this chapter illustrates the main principles and themes of whole systems development as they emerge from practice; shows that all whole systems development activities are a process of action learning; and develops a number of other themes and principles through the emerging story of Gladwell – working via ‘widening circles of inclusivity’ within multiple, overlapping systems, using action learning in the whole systems context, creating the space for leadership via ‘holding frameworks’ and ‘middle-ground frameworks’. The story that emerges is more an account of learning than a cause–effect change intervention.Less

Meeting differently: large and small group working

Margaret Attwood, Mike Pedler, Sue Pritchard, and David Wilkinson

in Leading change: A guide to whole systems working

Although in most cases this is an impossible aspiration, the key issue in designing whole systems development processes is to develop ways in which the actors can see, understand, and think through ... More

Although in most cases this is an impossible aspiration, the key issue in designing whole systems development processes is to develop ways in which the actors can see, understand, and think through their ways of working together on issues that cross organisational and community boundaries. This chapter examines the ways in which groups – both large and small – can meet differently to enable the principles of whole systems development to be practised; explores the leadership, design, and logistics of big events as one key mechanism for meeting differently; discusses the consultancy support needed to assist these ways of working; encourages one to reflect and learn from personal experiences of meeting differently; and explores the notion of ‘everyone in the room together’ as a metaphor for meeting differently as practised particularly through processes of action learning.Less

Epilogue

in Leading change: A guide to whole systems working

The main motivation for this book has been to understand and to improve practice in a new area of work that brings together the hitherto disconnected activities of organisation development, community ... More

The main motivation for this book has been to understand and to improve practice in a new area of work that brings together the hitherto disconnected activities of organisation development, community development, and public service development. This includes being sometimes downcast by the difficulties, complexities, and depredations of the so-called Mad Management Virus. This chapter provides a framework to help people make sense of this new world of practice, without oversimplifying the complexity in the situation. Whole systems development operates within a context of change defined by the underlying policy dilemmas and values that guide the work. The dilemmas provide the outer context; the values the inner. Within this context, the process of whole systems development work is defined by the Five Keys, and the outcomes of this process are the substantive and specific outcomes of the particular task, and the holding framework of the change architecture.Less