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Business Partner Compliance
(2022)
A key objective of this research is to take a more detailed look at a central aspect of resilience in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A literature review and expert interviews were used to investigate which factors have an impact on the innovative capacity of start-ups and whether these can also be adapted by SMEs. First of all, it must be stated that there are considerable structural and process-related differences between start-ups and SMEs. These can considerably inhibit cooperation between the two forms of enterprise. However, in the same context, success factors and issues in the start-up sector could also be identified that can improve cooperation with SMEs. These and other findings are then discussed in both an economic and an academic context. This article was written as part of the research activities of the Smart Services Competence Centre (proper name: Kompetenzzentrum Smart Services), a central contact point for all questions in the area of smart service digitalization in Baden-Wuerttemberg. Here, companies can obtain information about various digital technologies and take advantage of various measures for the development of new ideas and innovative services (Kompetenzzentrum Smart Services BW: Über das Kompetenzzentrum, 2021).
Ziel des Forschungsprojekts "Ekont" ist es, ein handgeführtes Gerät zum Betonabtrag an Innenkanten und Störstellen in Kernkraftwerken (KKW) zu entwickeln. Um die Reaktionskräfte zu reduzieren wird hierbei der neuartige Ansatz eines gegenläufigen Fräsprozesses untersucht. Ergebnis ist eine Getriebelösung, bei der eine mittlere Frässcheibe mit annähernd derselben Umfangsgeschwindigkeit in die entgegengesetzte Richtung von weiteren Frässcheiben rotiert.
Digitization and sustainability are the two big topics of our current time. As the usage of digital products like IoT devices continues to grow, it affects the energy consumption caused by the Internet. At the same time, more and more companies feel the need to become carbon neutral and sustainable. Determining the environmental impact of an IoT device is challenging, as the production of the hardware components should be considered and the electricity consumption of the Internet since this is the primary communication medium of an IoT device. Estimating the electricity consumption of the Internet itself is a complex task. We performed a life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the environmental impact of an intelligent smoke detector sold in Germany, taking its whole life-cycle from cradle-to-grave into account. We applied the impact assessment method ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint and compared its results with ILCD 2011 Midpoint+ to check the robustness of our results. The LCA results showed that electricity consumption during the use phase is the main contributor to environmental impacts. The mining of coal causes this contribution, which is a part of the German electricity mix. Consequently, the smoke detector mainly contributes to the impact categories of freshwater and marine ecotoxicity, but only marginally to global warming.
Jahresbericht 2022
(2022)
For some years, universities in countries where the first language is not English choose English as the medium of instruction. In German universities, instruction in German is still the dominant form, which makes university study in Germany less accessible to international students. To attract international students and to improve career prospects for home students, many German universities offer programmes taught in English or in a combination of German and English. It is widely expected that the implementation of EMI-programmes leads to improvements in English language proficiency (ELP). However, it has emerged that substantial gains in ELP in EMI programmes will only occur as the result of content and language integrated learning.
Der Prozess der Optimierung ist in Bereichen wie der Mathematik, Wirtschaft sowie sämtlichen Ingenieurswissenschaften ein zentrales und nicht mehr wegzudenkendes Werkzeug. Mit der Motivation der Nachhaltigkeit, Effizienz und Kosteneinsparung wird im Bauwesen ein optimaler Einsatz der Materialien gefordert unter Einhaltung der geforderten statischen Nachweise.
Die Methode der Verformungsreduzierung durch Materialumverteilung (kurz: MVM) greift die Anforderung auf, Material möglichst effizient einzusetzen. Diese Methode basiert darauf, die Steifigkeiten innerhalb eines geometrisch festgelegten und bereits vordimensionierten Tragwerkes durch Materialumverteilung in einem iterativen Prozess neu zu positionieren, wodurch die Verformung an einem vorab definierten kritischen Punkt reduziert wird und gleichzeitig die Verteilung der Ausnutzung vergleichmäßigt wird.
Ziel dieser Bachelorarbeit ist es, das in einer vorherigen Abschlussarbeit bereits entwickelte Grasshopper-Skript für eine praxisbezogene Anwendung zu optimieren und zu erweitern. Dieses Grasshopperskript soll neu strukturiert und auf Fehler untersucht werden. Ebenso soll ein Abbruchkriterium implementiert werden, das die Optimierung automatisch abbricht, sobald keine nennenswerte Reduzierung der Verformung infolge der Materialumverteilung mehr erfolgt. Dabei soll stetig die Tragfähigkeit aller Stäbe eingehalten sein.
Das optimierte Tool soll abschließend anhand geeigneter praxisorientierter Beispiele angewandt und validiert werden.
Im Sommersemester 2022 habe ich laufende und neue Forschungsprojekte sowohl national wie auch international vorangetrieben. Schwerpunktmäßig wurde die international etablierte Global Sanctions Data Base (GSDB) in Kooperation mit Forschern aus den USA und Österreich aktualisiert und in Form einer Forschungsarbeit der Forschungsgemeinschaft bekannt gemacht. Aufgrund der erarbeiteten Expertise habe ich zahlreiche Vorträge und Interviews in Medien zu Sanktionen und deren ökonomische Wirkung gegeben. Darüber hinaus wurde ein Buchkapitel zu Sanktionen in Kooperation mit internationalen Wissenschaftlern verfasst. Ferner wurde ein neues Forschungsprojekt in Kooperation mit einem regionalen Unternehmen zur Entwicklung eines Prozesses für die THG-Bilanzierung initiiert. Zwei wissenschaftliche Publikationen (peer-reviewed) wurden finalisiert. Ferner wurden 2 neue wissenschaftliche Forschungsprojekte mit internationalen Wissenschaftlern initiiert und die Ergebnisse in Arbeitspapieren veröffentlicht. Die zugrundeliegenden Manuskripte wurden in peer-reviewed Zeitschriften eingereicht. In Kooperation mit der Universität Konstanz wurde ein Schülertag für Gymnasiasten organisiert, um die Bedeutung von Wirtschaftspolitik den Schülern näher zu bringen.
Leveraging differences
(2022)
The digital transformation of business processes and the integration of IT systems leads to opportunities and risks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Risks that can result in a lack of IT Governance, Risk and Compliance (IT-GRC). The purpose of this paper is to present the current state of the research project. With this, the Design Science Research approach based on Hevner is using. Based on the phase of Problem Identification and Objectives, this paper will deal with the development of an artefact and thus present the draft of the Design phase. The artefact will be developed by selecting relevant existing frameworks and standards and the identification of SME-specific conditions.
Per-capita greenhouse gas emissions in cities like Bangkok or Shanghai have already reached emission levels of cities like London or Toronto. Large parts of the building stock and service infrastructure in cities in rapidly developing countries will be built in the coming decades—and may lock in high emissions pathways. A survey of projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol shows that only about 1% of projects have been submitted by municipalities, mostly in the waste management and more recently in the transport sector. This is probably due to a lack of technical know-how, legal barriers, methodological challenges, long project cycles and limited “visibility” of projects for the electorate. A case study of city network ICLEI’s experience with the CDM adds practical insights. We conclude that while the new market mechanisms under Article 6 may make it easier for municipalities to engage in international market mechanisms, new forms of cooperation between actors on multiple levels, potentially facilitated by ICLEI, are required to help to realize the urban potential in international market mechanisms.
The development of a new product can be accelerated by using an approach called crowdsourcing. The engineers compete and try their best to provide the related solution based on the given product requirement submitted in the online crowdsourcing platform. The one who has submitted the best solution get a financial reward. This approach is proven to be three time faster than the conventional one. However, the crowdsourcing process is usually not transparent to a new user. The risk for the execution of a new project for developing a new product is not easy to be calculated [1, 2]. We developed a method InnoCrowd to handle this problem and the new user could use during the planning of a new product development project. This system uses AI concepts to generate a knowledgebase representing histories of successful product development projects. The system uses the knowledge to determine qualitative and quantitative risks of a new project. This paper describes the new method, the InnoCrowd design, and results of a validation experiment based on data from a current crowdsourcing platform. Finally, we compare InnoCrowd to related methods and systems in terms of design and benefits.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend towards a general contractor strategy for plant engineering companies. Multiple disciplines and departments must be administered in a joint project. In the process, different work results are often managed in various systems without any associative relationship. A possible way to address this complexity is to implement a specifically tailored PLM strategy to gain a competitive advantage. Maturity models as well as methods to evaluate possible benefits constitute increasingly applied tools during this journey. Both methods have been theoretically described in previous publications. However, this paper should provide insights in the practical application within machinery industry. Therefore, a medium-sized German plant engineering company serves as an example for determining the scope and value of a multi-national overarching Product Lifecycle Management architecture as the central piece of a future digitalization strategy. The company’s current maturity levels for several digitalization capabilities are evaluated, prioritized and benchmarked against a set of similar companies. This allows to derive suitable target states in terms of maturity levels as well as the technical specification of digitalization use cases. In order to provide profound data for cost justification the resulting benefits are quantified.
Digitization extends to all areas of people's lives and processes, including public administration and government technology (GovTech for short). However, there are various problems here, such as the inappropriate development of new application systems, that are to be solved efficiently by combining two aspects: methodical digitization according to the process-driven approach and the idea of an app store for processes. This simultaneously fuels a process competition to advance methodical process digitization in the EU. Furthermore, this study explains the target-oriented use of this “firing” within the EU and concludes with a proposal of a new 3-schema architecture standard for successful process digitization within the EU.
An IT-GRC approach in SME
(2022)
The digital transformation of business processes and the integration of IT systems leads to opportunities and risks for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Risks that can result in a lack of IT compliance. The purpose of this research-in-progress paper is to present the current state of a IT-Governance-Risk-Compliance (IT-GRC) research-project. First, the results of an already conducted literature research will be discussed, combined with qualitative interviews (expert survey) of persons close to IT compliance. In the context of this paper, a first design approach will be developed by selecting relevant existing frameworks and standards and the identification of SME-specific conditions. The first design is intended to contribute a further artefact conception of tailoring approaches and standards and the creation of a guidance.
Dynamic Real-Time Range Queries (DRRQ) are a common means to handle mobile clients in high-density areas where both, clients requested by the query and the inquirers, are mobile. In contrast to the very well-known continuous range queries, only a few approaches, such as Adaptive Quad Streaming (AQS), address the mandatory scalability and real-time requirements of these so-called ad-hoc mobility challenges. In this paper we present the highly decentralized solution Adaptive Quad Streaming Flexible (AQSflex) as an extension of the already existing more theoretical AQS approach. Beside a highly distributed cell structure without data structures and a lightweight streaming communication, we use a multi-cell-assignment on limited pool resources instead of an idealistic unlimited cell-per-server assignment. The described experimental results show the potential of our local capacity balancing scheme for cell handover in a strongly decentralized setting. Leafs of a cell hierarchy define a kind of self-optimizing fuzzy edge for the processing resources in high-density systems without any centralized controlling or cloud component.
Dissipation of heat can be a major challenge when applying sensor systems outdoors under varying environmental conditions. Typically, complex software and knowledge is needed to optimize thermal management. In this paper it is shown how the thermal optimization of a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor can be performed efficiently. This approach uses standard CAD (computer aided design) software, which is readily available, and saves time and cost as the thermal design can be optimized before experimental realisation. A four-step process was developed and realized: (i) Measurement of the thermal energy distribution of the current sensor design; (ii) Simulation of the time-dependant thermal behaviour using standard CAD software; (iii) Simulation of a thermally optimized design. This was compared quantitatively with the original design and was also used for verification of sufficient increase in heat dissipation; (iv) Experimental realisation and verification of the optimized design. It could be shown that the optimized prototype shows significantly improved thermal behaviour in accordance with the predictions from the simulations. The new LiDAR sensor shows lower heat generation and optimized dissipation of thermal energy which proofs the applicability of the approach to complex sensors.
Ignorantia doctorum
(2022)
Since the turn of the millennium, many writing centers have been established at universities in the German-speaking world, in order to support students in academic writing. This essay argues for offering subject-anchored directive guidance and using scientific texts as a basis for model learning. It states that the rhetorical tradition is hardly taken into account in the writing centers. Five arguments for this ignorance are discussed and, if possible, dispelled: the antiquity argument, which considers rhetoric outdated; the orality argument, which understands rhetoric as irrelevant to writing; the moral argument, which condemns rhetoric as a tool for demagogues; the positivist argument, which criticizes rhetoric as unempirical; and the didactic argument, which rejects rhetoric as a rigid doctrine. The discussion shows, however, that the rhetorical tradition, with its normative power and centuries of teaching practice, is a treasure trove of writing didactics that holds many resources, such as well-founded assessment criteria for the quality, appropriateness, and usefulness of texts.
Die GIGA-Adaptionsmethode
(2022)
Der Aufsatz stellt eine schreibdidaktische Lehrmethode vor, die auf einem Cicero-Zitat über das Aptum, die Angemessenheit des Stils, basiert. Nach einigen psychologischen Vorüberlegungen zur Differenz von Sprech- und Schreibsituation wird das Zitat im Hochschulschreibunterricht in Hinblick auf die darin genannten Stilfaktoren analysiert. Die Ergebnisliste dient als Grundlage einer Methode, mit der sich die stilistische Passgenauigkeit von Texten aller Art stark verbessern lässt. Ziel ist es, eine möglicherweise schreibferne Klientel dazu zu motivieren, zu einem musterhaften, zweckdienlichen, sachgerechten und zielgruppenorientierten Schreiben zu finden.
In tomato drying, degradation in final quality may occur based on the drying method used and predrying preparation. Hence, this research was conducted to evaluate the effect of different predrying treatments on physicochemical quality and drying kinetics of twin-layer-solar-tunnel-dried tomato slices. During the experimental work, tomato slices of var. Galilea were used. As predrying treatments, 0.5% calcium chloride (CaCl2), 0.5% ascorbic acid (C6H8O6), 0.5% citric acid (C6H8O7), and 0.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) were used. The tomato samples were sliced to 5 mm thickness, socked in the pretreatments for ten minutes, and dried in a twin layer solar tunnel dryer under the weather conditions of Jimma, Ethiopia. Untreated samples were used as control. The moisture losses from the samples were monitored by weighing samples at 2 h interval from each treatment. SAS statistical software version 9.2 was used for analyzing data on the physicochemical quality of tomato slices in CRD with three replications. From the experimental result, it was observed that dried tomato slices pretreated with 0.5% ascorbic acid gave the best retention of vitamin C and total phenolic content with a high sugar/acid ratio. Better retention of lycopene and fast drying were observed in dried tomato slices pretreated with 0.5% sodium chloride, and pretreating tomatoes with 0.5% citric acid resulted in better color values than the other treatments. Compared to the control, pretreating significantly preserved the overall quality of dried tomato slices and increased the moisture removal rate in the twin layer solar tunnel dryer.
As interest in the investigation of possible sources and environmental sinks of technology-critical elements (TCEs) continues to grow, the demand for reliable background level information of these elements in environmental matrices increases. In this study, a time series of ten years of sediment samples from two different regions of the German North Sea were analyzed for their mass fractions of Ga, Ge, Nb, In, REEs, and Ta (grain size fraction < 20 µm). Possible regional differences were investigated in order to determine preliminary reference values for these regions. Throughout the investigated time period, only minor variations in the mass fractions were observed and both regions did not show significant differences. Calculated local enrichment factors ranging from 0.6 to 2.3 for all TCEs indicate no or little pollution in the investigated areas. Consequently, reference values were calculated using two different approaches (Median + 2 median absolute deviation (M2MAD) and Tukey inner fence (TIF)). Both approaches resulted in consistent threshold values for the respective regions ranging from 158 µg kg−1 for In to 114 mg kg−1 for Ce. As none of the threshold values exceed the observed natural variation of TCEs in marine and freshwater sediments, they may be considered baseline values of the German Bight for future studies.
The present contribution proposes a novel method for the indirect measurement of the ground reaction forces (GRF) induced by a pedestrian during walking on a vibrating structure. Its main idea is to formulate and solve an inverse problem in the time domain with the aim of finding the optimal time dependent moving point force describing the GRF of a pedestrian (input data), which minimizes the difference between a set of computed and a set of measured structural responses (output data). The solution of the inverse problem is addressed by means of the gradient-based trust region optimization strategy. The moving force identification process uses output data from a set of acceleration and displacement time histories recorded at different locations on the structure. The practicability and the accuracy of the proposed GRF identification method is firstly evaluated using simulated measurements, which revealed a high accuracy, robustness and stability of the results in relation to high noise levels. Subsequently, a comprehensive experimental validation process using real measurement data recorded on the HUMVIB experimental footbridge on the campus of the Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany) was carried out. Besides the conventional sensors for the acquisition of structural responses, an array of biomechanical force plates as well as classical load cells at the supports were used for measurement reference GRFs needed in the experimental validation process. The results show that the proposed method delivers a very accurate estimation of the GRF induced by a subject during walking on the experimental structure.
Botenstoffe für Innovationen
(2022)
Durch eine Aufweitung des Kristallgitters mittels Niedertemperatur-Eindiffusion von Kohlenstoff und/oder Stickstoffatomen können in der Randzone von nichtrostenden Stählen eine hohe Härte und eine hohe Verschleißbeständigkeit erzeugt werden, ohne dass zusätzliche Legierungselemente verwendet werden müssen. Die metallkundlichen Hintergründe für die Härtung, die Wirkung auf Verschleißvorgänge und mögliche Anwendungsbereiche werden geschildert. Anhand von Reibwerten wird gezeigt, in welcher Weise das Reibungsverhalten bei Schraubverbindungen durch die Behandlung verändert wird. Über Migrationsversuche wird nachgewiesen, dass die Ionenabgabe durch die Oberflächenhärtung nicht erhöht, sondern sogar abgesenkt wird. Neben dem besseren Verschleißschutz und einer höheren Dauerfestigkeit sichert diese Oberflächenbehandlung am nichtrostenden Stahl den Schutz gegen die Kontamination von Pharmaprodukten durch Metallabrieb/-ionen. Tests an oberflächengehärteten Edelstahlproben ergaben weiterhin, dass durch die Oberflächenhärtung die Biokompatibilität des nichtrostenden Edelstahls nicht beeinträchtigt wird.
Die Beständigkeit von hochlegierten korrosions- und säurebeständigen Stählen wird primär durch den Chromgehalt bestimmt. Allerdings gibt es entlang der Wertschöpfungskette von der Stahlerschmelzung bis zum fertigen Produkt eine Vielzahl weiterer Einflussfaktoren. Dem Schleifen kommt hier eine besondere Bedeutung zu, da es je nach Wahl der Prozessparameter sowohl zu einer signifikanten Verschlechterung als auch zu einer Verbesserung der Korrosionsbeständigkeit führen kann. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird aufgezeigt, dass die erzeugte Rauheit nur eine begrenzte Aussagekraft bietet. Vielmehr erhöhen lokale Mikrodefekte die Anfälligkeit gegen Lochfraß – je nach Ausprägung und Anzahl. Die Automatisierung für die Innenbearbeitung von Behältern im pharmazeutischen Apparatebau kann dabei zu einer signifikanten Verbesserung der Oberfläche und einem homogeneren Erscheinungsbild führen.
As fish farming is becoming more and more important worldwide, this ongoing project aims at the simulation and test-based analysis of highly stressed wire contacts, as they are found in off-shore fish farm cages in order to make them more reliable. The quasi-static tensile test of a wire mesh provides data for the construction of a finite element model to get a better understanding of the behavior of high-strength stainless steel from which the cages are made. Fatigue tests provide new insights that are used for an adjustment of the finite element model in order to predict the probability of possible damage caused by heavy mechanical loads (waves, storms, predators (sharks)).
Haarstylingutensil
(2022)
Adjusting the friction response of the wheel-rail interface is a key factor in the mitigation of wear and rollingcontact fatigue (RCF) in rails. The use of top-of-rail (TOR) friction conditioners has the potential to reduce maintenance costs significantly. Unfortunately, conflicting results on the use of commercial TOR conditioners have been presented in the literature. In this work, the performance of commercial TOR conditioners and a laboratory-made formulation were tested, both on the lab scale and in field measurements. Friction results are discussed together with the structural and chemical analysis of the tested materials.
A novel implant system for bone elongation will be presented. With this technique, the body's own bone material, so-called callus, can be formed by gradual distraction of the tubular bones, thus achieving an extension of femur and tibia bones. The driving principle of this fully implantable bone lengthening system is based on a shape memory element. During the surgical treatment, the intramedullary nail serves to stabilize the severed bone and enables the formation of new, endogenous bone material to lengthen the limbs or to bridge bone defects. The intramedullary nail is implanted into the medullary cavity and fixed at both ends with locking bolts. A receiver coil implanted under the skin receives the necessary energy twice a day through high-frequency energy transport to activate the thermal phase transformation of the shape memory element. This gradually increases the bone gap by 0.5 mm each time and stimulates callus formation. Consequently, osteoblasts or osteocytes are formed in the area of the desired bone extension and load-bearing bone material is formed. Three nail prototypes have already been tested for their functionality in a cadaver study in a German clinic. Currently a redesign of this intelligent implant system is underway, focusing on a novel coil geometry, a monitoring sensor system and control technology and a novel connection technology for the drive components. With this intelligent implant system, it will be possible for the first time to lengthen the bones in a patient-friendly manner and to continuously monitor, document and evaluate the entire lengthening process.
Improving the tribological properties of Stainless Steels by low-temperature surface hardening
(2022)
In this paper, we propose a novel method for real-time control of electric distribution grids with a limited number of measurements. The method copes with the changing grid behaviour caused by the increasing number of renewable energies and electric vehicles. Three AI based models are used. Firstly, a probabilistic forecasting estimates possible scenarios at unobserved grid nodes. Secondly, a state estimation is used to detect grid congestion. Finally, a grid control suggests multiple possible solutions for the detected problem. The best countermeasures are then detected by evaluating the systems stability for the next time-step.
The influence of sleep on human life, including physiological, psychological, and mental aspects, is remarkable. Therefore, it is essential to apply appropriate therapy in the case of sleep disorders. For this, however, the irregularities must first be recognised, preferably conveniently for the person concerned. This dissertation, structured as a composition of research articles, presents the development of mathematically based algorithmic principles for a sleep analysis system. The particular focus is on the classification of sleep stages with a minimal set of physiological parameters. In addition, the aspects of using the sleep analysis system as part of the more complex healthcare systems are explored. Design of hardware for non-obtrusive measurement of relevant physiological parameters and the use of such systems to detect other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnoea, are also referred to. Multinomial logistic regression was selected as the basis for development resulting from the investigations carried out. By following a methodical procedure, the number of physiological parameters necessary for the classification of sleep stages was successively reduced to two: Respiratory and Movement signals. These signals might be measured in a contactless way. A prototype implementation of the developed algorithms was performed to validate the proposed method, and the evaluation of 19324 sleep epochs was carried out. The results, with the achieved accuracy of 73% in the classification of Wake/NREM/REM stages and Cohen's kappa of 0.44, outperform the state of the art and demonstrate the appropriateness of the selected approach. In the future, this method could enable convenient, cost-effective, and accurate sleep analysis, leading to the detection of sleep disorders at an early stage so that therapy can be initiated as soon as possible, thus improving the general population's health status and quality of life.
Uzbekistan is an emerging tourism destination that has experienced a strong increase in tourists since 2017. However, little research on tourism development in Uzbekistan exists to date. This study therefore analyzes possible research topics and proposes a tourism research agenda for Uzbekistan. A mix of methods was used consisting of participant observation, semi-structured qualitative expert interviews and qualitative content anal- ysis. The results revealed a variety of research deficits in different areas, which could be synthesized into a total of ten research fields, which were clustered into three overarching areas, namely market research, management, and culture & environment. The subordi- nate research fields identified are Demand, Statistics, Potentials, Governance, Products, Infrastructure & Development, Marketing, Heritage & Nation-building, Sustainability as well as Peace & Conflict Prevention. A strategic research plan based on this tourism research agenda could help to foster a purposeful scientific debate. Tourism research in these fields has both the potential to investigate and compare theoretical issues in an unique context and to produce applied research results that can make a relevant contri- bution to tourism development in Uzbekistan.
In diesem Beitrag wird der finnische Tangotanztourismus
unter Berücksichtigung des Konzeptes des verkörperten Raumes (Low 2003) und des Raumverständnisses von Lefebvre (1991) auf den vielschichtig miteinander verbundenen Ebenen von Körper, Kultur und Raum analysiert. Die finnische „Kultur der Schweigsamkeit“ wird in diesem Zusammenhang im Besonderen
betrachtet. Methodisch werden hierbei sowohl Interviews mit Expertinnen und Experten, teilnehmende Beobachtung als auch die Auswertung von Filmmaterial herangezogen. Im Ergebnis zeigen sich vielfältige Wechselwirkungen von Körper, Kultur und Raum, die zusätzlich Potenziale für den finnischen Tangotanztourismus
aufzeigen.
Wie gehen mittelständische Unternehmen mit internationaler Geschäftstätigkeit mit Compliance-Risiken um? Wie gelingt das Risikomanagement spezifischer Herausforderungen der Regelkonformität in Wachstumsländern, die aus Compliance-Gesichtspunkten als Hochrisikoländer eingestuft werden? Und was beschäftigt dabei Compliance-Officer im Mittelstand?
Diesen Fragen widmete sich ein anwendungsorientiertes Forschungsprojekt am Konstanz Institut für Corporate Governance.
Die nachfolgende Publikation stellt die zentralen Studienergebnisse vor und fokussiert dabei auf Herausforderungen und Lösungen für das Compliance- und Integrity Management.
Wie gehen mittelständische Unternehmen mit internationaler Geschäftstätigkeit mit Compliance-Risiken um? Wie gelingt das Risikomanagement spezifischer Herausforderungen der Regelkonformität in Wachstumsländern, die aus Compliance-Gesichtspunkten als Hochrisikoländer eingestuft werden? Und was beschäftigt dabei Compliance-Officer im Mittelstand? Diesen Fragen widmete sich ein anwendungsorientiertes Forschungsprojekt am Konstanz Institut für Corporate Governance.
Welche Kompetenzen brauchen Führungskräfte, damit der Ansatz Compliance und Integrity als Führungsaufgabe in Organisationen verfängt? Und wie lassen sich diese systematisch nutzen und trainieren? Der Beitrag stellt den ersten Baustein eines am Konstanz Institut für Corporate Governance angesiedelten Forschungsprojekts vor, das darauf abzielt, bestehende Compliance-Systeme in Unternehmen praxistauglicher zu machen und die Wirksamkeit der Maßnahmen eines Compliance-Management-Systems (CMS) zu steigern.
Unternehmen stehen heute vor der Herausforderung, dass eine klare Trennung von verpflichtenden Anforderungen und freiwilliger Verantwortungsübernahme nur noch schwer möglich ist. Haftungsvermeidung, Reputationsschutz sowie der Aufbau und die Sicherung von Vertrauenskapital in Kooperationsbeziehungen gehen Hand in Hand. Der Beitrag beleuchtet Corporate Compliance und Integrity Management als Gestaltungsansätze eines gezielten und integrierten Managements der Unternehmensverantwortung. Compliance ist dabei das Rückgrat, Integrity ihr Herz.
Wirtschaftsprüfung
(2022)
Vertrauen durch Integrität
(2022)
Die vorliegende Studie analysiert die Barrierefreiheit der
Stadt Konstanz im Hinblick auf Angebote für und Nachfrage von Touristinnen und Touristen. Die Datenerhebung basierte auf einem Methodenmix aus Interviews und Umfragen von Probanden und Probandinnen mit Behinderungen und zuständigen Akteurinnen und Akteuren in der Stadtplanung sowie Begehungen vor Ort. Als theoretische Grundlage wird das Modell der Unabhängigkeit nach
Nosek and Fuhrer (1992) verwendet. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass der Bedarf an barrierefreien Angeboten sehr divers ist und die Umsetzung im Sinne eines Universal Design durch die zunehmende Nachfrage zentral. Die Analyse des Tourismusraum Konstanz zeigt Schwachpunkte und Stärken, mit denen sich Implikationen für andere Tourismusregionen ableiten lassen.
The Black Forest offers renewable energy as a specific tourist destination in the form of bioenergy villages (BEV). Particularly expert tourists tend to visit them. The results of two quantitative surveys on the supply and demand side show that there is, up to now, an untapped potential among experienceoriented
tourists for this type of niche tourism.
The trajectory tracking problem for a fully-actuated real-scaled surface vessel is addressed in this paper by designing a backstepping controller with a multivariable integral action, considering the thruster allocation problem. The performance and robustness of this controller are evaluated in simulation, taking into account environmental disturbance forces and modeling mismatch, using a docking maneuver as a reference trajectory. Furthermore, a comparison between the backstepping controller and a nonlinear position PID-Control with flatness based-feedforward is also analyzed.
The code-based McEliece cryptosystem is a promising candidate for post-quantum cryptography. The sender encodes a message, using a public scrambled generator matrix, and adds a random error vector. In this work, we consider q-ary codes and restrict the Lee weight of the added error symbols. This leads to an increased error correction capability and a larger work factor for information-set decoding attacks. In particular, we consider codes over an extension field and use the one-Lee error channel, which restricts the error values to Lee weight one. For this channel model, generalized concatenated codes can achieve high error correction capabilities. We discuss the decoding of those codes and the possible gain for decoding beyond the guaranteed error correction capability.
In this letter, we present an approach to building a new generalized multistream spatial modulation system (GMSM), where the information is conveyed by the two active antennas with signal indices and using all possible active antenna combinations. The signal constellations associated with these antennas may have different sizes. In addition, four-dimensional hybrid frequency-phase modulated signals are utilized in GMSM. Examples of GMSM systems are given and computer simulation results are presented for transmission over Rayleigh and deep Nakagami- m flat-fading channels when maximum-likelihood detection is used. The presented results indicate a significant improvement of characteristics compared to the best-known similar systems.
Reed-Muller (RM) codes have recently regained some interest in the context of low latency communications and due to their relation to polar codes. RM codes can be constructed based on the Plotkin construction. In this work, we consider concatenated codes based on the Plotkin construction, where extended Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes are used as component codes. This leads to improved code parameters compared to RM codes. Moreover, this construction is more flexible concerning the attainable code rates. Additionally, new soft-input decoding algorithms are proposed that exploit the recursive structure of the concatenation and the cyclic structure of the component codes. First, we consider the decoding of the cyclic component codes and propose a low complexity hybrid ordered statistics decoding algorithm. Next, this algorithm is applied to list decoding of the Plotkin construction. The proposed list decoding approach achieves near-maximum-likelihood performance for codes with medium lengths. The performance is comparable to state-of-the-art decoders, whereas the complexity is reduced.
Automotive computing applications like AI databases, ADAS, and advanced infotainment systems have a huge need for persistent memory. This trend requires NAND flash memories designed for extreme automotive environments. However, the error probability of NAND flash memories has increased in recent years due to higher memory density and production tolerances. Hence, strong error correction coding is needed to meet automotive storage requirements. Many errors can be corrected by soft decoding algorithms. However, soft decoding is very resource-intensive and should be avoided when possible. NAND flash memories are organized in pages, and the error correction codes are usually encoded page-wise to reduce the latency of random reads. This page-wise encoding does not reach the maximum achievable capacity. Reading soft information increases the channel capacity but at the cost of higher latency and power consumption. In this work, we consider cell-wise encoding, which also increases the capacity compared to page-wise encoding. We analyze the cell-wise processing of data in triple-level cell (TLC) NAND flash and show the performance gain when using Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes. In addition, we investigate a coding approach with page-wise encoding and cell-wise reading.
Large persistent memory is crucial for many applications in embedded systems and automotive computing like AI databases, ADAS, and cutting-edge infotainment systems. Such applications require reliable NAND flash memories made for harsh automotive conditions. However, due to high memory densities and production tolerances, the error probability of NAND flash memories has risen. As the number of program/erase cycles and the data retention times increase, non-volatile NAND flash memories' performance and dependability suffer. The read reference voltages of the flash cells vary due to these aging processes. In this work, we consider the issue of reference voltage adaption. The considered estimation procedure uses shallow neural networks to estimate the read reference voltages for different life-cycle conditions with the help of histogram measurements. We demonstrate that the training data for the neural networks can be enhanced by using shifted histograms, i.e., a training of the neural networks is possible based on a few measurements of some extreme points used as training data. The trained neural networks generalize well for other life-cycle conditions.
In diesem Beitrag stellen wir Inhalte und Methoden des Kurses »How to communicate successfully in international teams« vor. Wir zeigen auf, wie einzelne Kurselemente mittels unseres methodisch-didaktischen Ansatzes get_connected vermittelt werden. Die Darstellung basiert auf der Dokumentation eines im Sommersemester 2021 in Kooperation zwischen der HTWG Konstanz und dem Beijing Institute of Technology (online) durchgeführten Kurses. Die im Rahmen der Lehrveranstaltung dokumentierten Reflexionen, Einsichten und Evaluationen der Kursteilnehmenden weisen auf einen Kompetenzaufbau im Hinblick auf die Fähigkeit zu Perspektivenwechsel, Selbstreflexion, Frustrationstoleranz, Flexibilität und empathische Kommunikation hin.
Der Artikel stellt den methodisch-didaktischen Ansatz get_connected zur Förderung der Zusammenarbeit in kulturell gemischten Teams vor. Mit diesem Ansatz reagiert die HTWG Konstanz auf die langjährige Erfahrung, dass sich trotz grundsätzlich optimaler struktureller Bedingungen für interkulturelles Lernen – mit regelmäßiger Teilnahme chinesischer Studierender im
Fachstudium an der deutschen Hochschule – beiderseitige Vorurteile über »die anderen« nicht automatisch auflösen, sondern sich sogar verstärken können. In der konkreten Zusammenarbeit zeigt sich, dass das eigene Handeln oftmals hinter dem für sich selbst formulierten Anspruch an kulturell adäquates Verhalten zurückbleibt. Mit Methoden des erfahrungsbasierten interkulturellen Lernens
und insbesondere durch die von den Lehrenden als Coachinnen bzw. Coaches begleitete Arbeit mit Emotionen in kulturell gemischten (deutsch-chinesischen) Gruppen werden die Studierenden darin unterstützt, als Vorbereitung auf eine zukünftige Tätigkeit in international vernetzten Teams ihr
Kommunikationsverhalten zu reflektieren, den Perspektivenwechsel sowie neue emotionale bzw. kommunikative Strategien einzuüben und damit ihre interkulturelle Handlungskompetenz – auch im deutsch-chinesischen Dialog – zu verbessern. Der Beitrag stellt den im Rahmen von designbased research über mehrere Semester hinweg (weiter-)entwickelten Ansatz get_connected und
seine Umsetzung in einem Kursformat zum Erwerb interkultureller (China-)Kompetenz für Studierende aller Fachrichtungen vor. Die konkreten Erfahrungen bei der (Online-)Durchführung des Kurskonzepts im Sommersemester 2021 an der HTWG Konstanz unter Einbeziehung chinesischer (und internationaler) Studierender der Partnerhochschule Beijing Institute of Technology werden
im Folgekapitel (Beitrag von Thelen, Bai und Obendiek) dargestellt.
Chinesische Studierende in der wissenschaftlichen Auseinandersetzungskultur an deutschen Hochschulen
(2022)
Die zunehmende internationale Vernetzung der akademischen Welt, die sich in den
aktuellen Internationalisierungsbemühungen deutscher Hochschulen widerspiegelt, erfordert eine Auseinandersetzung mit interkulturellen Aspekten der Hochschuldidaktik. Unterschiedliche Lernstile und Rollenerwartungen an Lehrende und Studierende beeinflussen die gegenseitige Wahrnehmung und den Studienerfolg. Der Beitrag reflektiert Erfahrungen deutscher/westlicher Lehrender und chinesischer Studierender: Aus verschiedenen Perspektiven und auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen werden Diskrepanzen zwischen Erwartungen und tatsächlichen Gegebenheiten aufgezeigt und im Kontext unterschiedlicher Lerntraditionen erklärt. Dabei stehen die Anforderungen an die Lehrenden als den zentralen Akteur*innen einer erfolgreichen Wissensvermittlung im Vordergrund. Im internationalen Kontext sind ihre interkulturellen Kompetenzen ähnlich wichtig wie ihre Fachkompetenzen. Die chinesische Lerntradition erschwert chinesischen Studierenden einen direkten Anschluss an die Studienkultur im deutschen Hochschulsystem. Zu dem Hemmnis, in einer Fremdsprache zu studieren, kommt die Schwierigkeit, Debattenkultur und Wissenschaftsstreit als angemessene Auseinandersetzungsformen zu verstehen. Der direkte, offene und häufig nur aus westlicher Sicht als objektiv empfundene Umgang mit Themen kann aufgrund unterschiedlicher kultureller Prägung dazu beitragen, dass das Studium in Deutschland als anstrengend und befremdlich empfunden wird. In diesem Beitrag werden erfahrungsbasierte Überlegungen geteilt, wie chinesische Studierende an die Debattenkultur an deutschen Hochschulen herangeführt werden können. Der Beitrag endet mit Hinweisen und guidelines für deutsche Lehrende im Umgang mit chinesischen Studierenden.
Der Beitrag beschreibt beispielhaft die administrativen, organisatorischen und sozialen Voraussetzungen gelungener Austauschprogramme mit chinesischen Partnerhochschulen. Hierzu gehört neben einer intensiven Beziehungspflege mit diesen Partnerinstitutionen eine gelebte Willkommenskultur für chinesische Studierende an der deutschen Hochschule. Letztere beinhaltet eine über die notwendigen administrativen Prozesse hinausgehende Betreuung, besondere Kursangebote sowie eine kontinuierliche Vernetzung und Einbindung der chinesischen Studierenden durch verschiedene extracurriculare Aktivitäten zur Integration in den Studienalltag und in das Alltagsleben über verschiedene Phasen hinweg (vor der Ausreise, bei der Ankunft, im Verlauf des Studiums, bei der Gestaltung von Praxisphasen sowie beim Übergang ins Berufsleben). Als Teil
dieses Maßnahmenplans fördern interkulturelle Kursangebote in kulturell gemischten Gruppen nicht nur die Integration der chinesischen Studierenden. Sie leisten auch einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Stärkung der internationalen Ausbildung deutscher Studierender im Sinne einer internationalization@home. Entsprechende Angebote erhöhen damit die Wertschätzung von Internationalisierung als Mehrwert für die gesamte Hochschule. Gleichzeitig unterstützen sie den Ausbau interkultureller Sensibilität als wichtiger Qualifikation für das zukünftige Berufsleben für die Studierenden beider Seiten. Um all diese Maßnahmen zu verwalten und umzusetzen, sind personelle Ressourcen zur Betreuung und Evaluation der Programme erforderlich. Darüber hinaus bedarf es einer konstruktiven Kommunikationskultur zwischen verschiedenen Abteilungen der Hochschule sowie hinreichend mit China-Kompetenz ausgestatteter Akteur*innen (Mitarbeiter*innen im Akademischen Auslandsamt, Professor*innen, Auslands- und Regionalbeauftragte etc.).
In many industrial applications a workpiece is continuously fed through a heating zone in order to reach a desired temperature to obtain specific material properties. Many examples of such distributed parameter systems exist in heavy industry and also in furniture production such processes can be found. In this paper, a real-time capable model for a heating process with application to industrial furniture production is modeled. As the model is intended to be used in a Model Predictive Control (MPC) application, the main focus is to achieve minimum computational runtime while maintaining a sufficient amount of accuracy. Thus, the governing Partial Differential Equation (PDE) is discretized using finite differences on a grid, specifically tailored to this application. The grid is optimized to yield acceptable accuracy with a minimum number of grid nodes such that a relatively low order model is obtained. Subsequently, an explicit Runge-Kutta ODE (Ordinary Differential Equation) solver of fourth order is compared to the Crank-Nicolson integration scheme presented in Weiss et al. (2022) in terms of runtime and accuracy. Finally, the unknown thermal parameters of the process are estimated using real-world measurement data that was obtained from an experimental setup. The final model yields acceptable accuracy while at the same time shows promising computation time, which enables its use in an MPC controller.
The respiratory rate is a vital sign indicating breathing illness. It is necessary to analyze the mechanical oscillations of the patient's body arising from chest movements. An inappropriate holder on which the sensor is mounted, or an inappropriate sensor position is some of the external factors which should be minimized during signal registration. This paper considers using a non-invasive device placed under the bed mattress and evaluates the respiratory rate. The aim of the work is the development of an accelerometer sensor holder for this system. The normal and deep breathing signals were analyzed, corresponding to the relaxed state and when taking deep breaths. The evaluation criterion for the holder's model is its influence on the patient's respiratory signal amplitude for each state. As a result, we offer a non-invasive system of respiratory rate detection, including the mechanical component providing the most accurate values of mentioned respiratory rate.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of perceived stress on traffic and road safety. One of the leading causes of stress among drivers is the feeling of having a lack of control during the driving process. Stress can result in more traffic accidents, an increase in driver errors, and an increase in traffic violations. To study this phenomenon, the Stress Perceived Questionnaire (PSQ) was used to evaluate the perceived stress while driving in a simulation. The study was conducted with participants from Germany, and they were grouped into different categories based on their emotional stability. Each participant was monitored using wearable devices that measured their instantaneous heart rate (HR). The preference for wearable devices was due to their non-intrusive and portable nature. The results of this study provide an overview of how stress can affect traffic and road safety, which can be used for future research or to implement strategies to reduce road accidents and promote traffic safety.
Generating synthetic data is a relevant point in the machine learning community. As accessible data is limited, the generation of synthetic data is a significant point in protecting patients' privacy and having more possibilities to train a model for classification or other machine learning tasks. In this work, some generative adversarial networks (GAN) variants are discussed, and an overview is given of how generative adversarial networks can be used for data generation in different fields. In addition, some common problems of the GANs and possibilities to avoid them are shown. Different evaluation methods of the generated data are also described.
Sleep analysis using a Polysomnography system is difficult and expensive. That is why we suggest a non-invasive and unobtrusive measurement. Very few people want the cables or devices attached to their bodies during sleep. The proposed approach is to implement a monitoring system, so the subject is not bothered. As a result, the idea is a non-invasive monitoring system based on detecting pressure distribution. This system should be able to measure the pressure differences that occur during a single heartbeat and during breathing through the mattress. The system consists of two blocks signal acquisition and signal processing. This whole technology should be economical to be affordable enough for every user. As a result, preprocessed data is obtained for further detailed analysis using different filters for heartbeat and respiration detection. In the initial stage of filtration, Butterworth filters are used.
Determination of accelerometer sensor position for respiration rate detection: Initial research
(2022)
Continuous monitoring of a patient's vital signs is essential in many chronic illnesses. The respiratory rate (RR) is one of the vital signs indicating breathing diseases. This article proposes the initial investigation for determining the accelerometric sensor position of a non-invasive and unobtrusive respiratory rate monitoring system. This research aims to determine the sensor position in relation to the patient, which can provide the most accurate values of the mentioned physiological parameter. In order to achieve the result, the particular system setup, including a mechanical sensor holder construction was used. The breathing signals from 5 participants were analyzed corresponding to the relaxed state. The main criterion for selecting a suitable sensor position was each patient's average acceleration amplitude excursion, which corresponds to the respiratory signal. As a result, we provided one more defined important parameter for the considered system, which was not determined before.
oday many scientific works are using deep learning algorithms and time series, which can detect physiological events of interest. In sleep medicine, this is particularly relevant in detecting sleep apnea, specifically in detecting obstructive sleep apnea events. Deep learning algorithms with different architectures are used to achieve decent results in accuracy, sensitivity, etc. Although there are models that can reliably determine apnea and hypopnea events, another essential aspect to consider is the explainability of these models, i.e., why a model makes a particular decision. Another critical factor is how these deep learning models determine how severe obstructive sleep apnea is in patients based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Deep learning models trained by two approaches for AHI determination are exposed in this work. Approaches vary depending on the data format the models are fed: full-time series and window-based time series.
Sleep is essential to existence, much like air, water, and food, as we spend nearly one-third of our time sleeping. Poor sleep quality or disturbed sleep causes daytime solemnity, which worsens daytime activities' mental and physical qualities and raises the risk of accidents. With advancements in sensor and communication technology, sleep monitoring is moving out of specialized clinics and into our everyday homes. It is possible to extract data from traditional overnight polysomnographic recordings using more basic tools and straightforward techniques. Ballistocardiogram is an unobtrusive, non-invasive, simple, and low-cost technique for measuring cardiorespiratory parameters. In this work, we present a sensor board interface to facilitate the communication between force sensitive resistor sensor and an embedded system to provide a high-performing prototype with an efficient signal-to-noise ratio. We have utilized a multi-physical-layer approach to locate each layer on top of another, yet supporting a low-cost, compact design with easy deployment under the bed frame.
The importance of sleep for human life is enormous. It affects physical, mental, and psychological health. Therefore, it is vital to recognise sleep disorders in a timely manner in order to be able to initiate therapy. There are two methods for measuring sleep-related parameters - objective and subjective. Whether the substitution of a subjective method for an objective one is possible is investigated in this paper. Such replacement may bring several advantages, including increased comfort for the user. To answer this research question, a study was conducted in which 75 overnight recordings were evaluated. The primary purpose of this study was to compare both ways of measurement for total sleep time and sleep efficiency, which are essential parameters for, e.g., insomnia diagnosis and treatment. The evaluation results demonstrated that, on average, there are 32 minutes of difference between the two measurement methods when total sleep time is analysed. In contrast, on average, both measurement methods differ by 7.5% for sleep efficiency measurement. It should also be noted that people typically overestimate total sleep time and efficiency with the subjective method, where the perceived values are measured.
The trajectory tracking problem for a real-scaled fully-actuated surface vessel is addressed in this paper. A nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) scheme was designed to track a reference trajectory, considering state and input constraints, and environmental disturbances, which were assumed to be constant over the prediction horizon. The controller was tested by performing docking maneuvers using the real-scaled research vessel from the University of Applied Sciences Konstanz at the Rhine river in Germany. A comparison between the experimental results and the simulated ones was analyzed to validate the NMPC controller.
This paper presents a modeling approach of an industrial heating process where a stripe-shaped workpiece is heated up to a specific temperature by applying hot air through a nozzle. The workpiece is moving through the heating zone and is considered to be of infinite length. The speed of the substrate is varying over time. The derived model is supposed to be computationally cheap to enable its use in a model-based control setting. We start by formulating the governing PDE and the corresponding boundary conditions. The PDE is then discretized on a spatial grid using finite differences and two different integration schemes, explicit and implicit, are derived. The two models are evaluated in terms of computational effort and accuracy. It turns out that the implicit approach is favorable for the regarded process. We optimize the grid of the model to achieve a low number of grid nodes while maintaining a sufficient amount of accuracy. Finally, the thermodynamical parameters are optimized in order to fit the model's output to real-world data that was obtained by experiments.
Die Automobilindustrie steht wirtschaftlich aktuell besser da, als von manchem erwartet. Sie steht aber gleichzeitig großen Herausforderungen gegenüber, denn wir erleben die Überlagerung dreier Transformationen, deren Auswirkungen sich wohl in keinem Markt so gravierend niederschlagen wie in diesem. Um hierbei die Rolle als Leitmarkt zu erhalten, braucht es mehr Veränderungsintelligenz und eine noch höhere Innovationsdynamik. Diese sind mit beidhändigen Organisationen zu erreichen, die die Ambidextrie beherrschen, gleichzeitig das Kerngeschäft zu optimieren und mit strategischer Innovation Zukunft zu erfinden.
Technologiebasierte Startups leisten einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur wirtschaftlichen sowie gesellschaftlichen Entwicklung. Im Zuge ihrer Gründung benötigen sie Unterstützung in Form von Risikokapital, das in der Seed- und Early-Stage primär durch Business Angels (BAs) bereitgestellt wird. Die Abläufe und Bewertungskriterien des BA Investmentprozesses sind bisher jedoch unzureichend erforscht. Der vorliegende Beitrag nutzt Experteninterviews im Rahmen einer Fallstudie des baden-württembergischen entrepreneurialen Ökosystems zur Identifikation des Vorgehens von BAs bei der Bewertung und Auswahl technologiebasierter Startups. Zudem werden die Kriterien, nach denen BAs vielversprechende von scheiternden Startups unterscheiden abgeleitet. Somit trägt der Beitrag zur Öffnung der „Black Box” von Investmentaktivitäten in den frühsten Gründungsphasen bei.
Evaluation of tech ventures’ evolving business models: rules for performance-related classification
(2022)
At the early stage of a successful tech venture's life cycle, it is assumed that the business model will evolve to higher quality over time. However, there are few empirical insights into business model evolution patterns for the performance-related classification of early-stage tech ventures. We created relevant variables evaluating the evolution of the venture-centric network and the technological proposition of both digital and non-digital ventures' business models using the text of submissions to the official business plan award in the German State of Baden-Württemberg between 2006 and 2012. Applying a principal component analysis/rough set theory mixed methodology, we explore performance-related business model classification rules in the heterogeneous sample of business plans. We find that ventures need to demonstrate real interactions with their customers' needs to survive. The distinguishing success rules are related to patent applications, risk capital, and scaling of the organisation. The rules help practitioners to classify business models in a way that allows them to prioritise action for performance.
As organizations struggle to cope with digital transformation in
an innovation environment, partnerships between startups and established
companies have become increasingly important. Building upon years of
practical experience and empirical research, we present advantages,
obstacles, and the keys to successful corporate-startup collaboration.
While managerial mobility is ubiquitously seen as an integral part of the success in firms’ internationalization, discerning its empirical merits has been impaired by the paucity of quasi-experimental evidence, or adequate instrumental variables. To overcome these objective limitations, this paper proposes a novel identification strategy, which uses a control function based on on-the-job search theory to correct estimates for the presence of self-selected mobility flows. Our analysis confirms the finding that managers’ specific market experience matters for firms’ internationalization, especially when it derives from longer tenures at the former jobs.
Regarding the attributes of managerial knowledge, our results reveal that on-the-job earned experience is at least as effective for firms’ internationalization as in born knowledge (i.e. origins) and that managers’ personal network of customers is an important asset in managers’ fund of expertise for the expansion into new markets.
Kleinwind-Marktreport
(2022)
Die digitale Transformation von Geschäftsprozessen und die stärkere Einbindung von IT-Systemen erzeugen bei kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen (KMU) Chancen und Risiken zugleich. Risiken, die insbesondere in einer fehlenden IT-Compliance resultieren können. Wie Studien zeigen, sind KMU in Bezug auf IT-Compliance-Maßnahmen im Vergleich zu kapitalmarktorientierten Unternehmen jedoch im Rückstand [1]. Im Beitrag wird mithilfe von Experteninterviews und einer qualitativen Datenanalyse der Frage nachgegangen, welcher Status quo an Maßnahmen aktuell implementiert und wie der empfundene Compliance-Reifegrad ist. Weiterhin werden die Gründe und Motive erörtert, die zu diesem Zustand geführt haben. Letztlich sind Treiber identifiziert worden, die zu einem höheren Bewusstsein in der Zukunft führen können. Die Arbeit zeigt interessante Erkenntnisse aus der Praxis, da die Experteninterviews Einblicke in den aktuellen Status quo in Bezug auf IT-Compliance liefern.
Dieses Arbeitspapier behandelt den aktuellen Markt von Legal-Tech-Diensten in Deutschland und die rechtlichen Entwicklungen bezüglich der dort bestehenden Law-Tech-Branche. Ziel ist es dabei, anhand einer systematischen Analyse der beteiligten Marktkräfte, die Attraktivität der Legal-Tech-Branche einzuschätzen, um dem Leser dadurch eine Hilfestellung für die Strategiebildung innerhalb Law-Tech bezogener Unternehmen sowie Kanzleien zu bieten, denn die strategische Planung eines Unternehmens ist als Basis für den nachhaltigen Erfolg desselben unabdinglich.
Darüber hinaus zielt die Arbeit darauf ab, dem Leser einen Überblick über die rechtlichen Entwicklungen im Bereich von Legal-Tech sowie damit einhergehend ein Basiswissen über die Hintergründe der Gesetzgebung in Bezug auf die Law-Tech-Branche zu verschaffen.
Targetless Lidar-camera registration is a repeating task in many computer vision and robotics applications and requires computing the extrinsic pose of a point cloud with respect to a camera or vice-versa. Existing methods based on learning or optimization lack either generalization capabilities or accuracy. Here, we propose a combination of pre-training and optimization using a neural network-based mutual information estimation technique (MINE [1]). This construction allows back-propagating the gradient to the calibration parameters and enables stochastic gradient descent. To ensure orthogonality constraints with respect to the rotation matrix we incorporate Lie-group techniques. Furthermore, instead of optimizing on entire images, we operate on local patches that are extracted from the temporally synchronized projected Lidar points and camera frames. Our experiments show that this technique not only improves over existing techniques in terms of accuracy, but also shows considerable generalization capabilities towards new Lidar-camera configurations.
We are interested in computing a mini-batch-capable end-to-end algorithm to identify statistically independent components (ICA) in large scale and high-dimensional datasets. Current algorithms typically rely on pre-whitened data and do not integrate the two procedures of whitening and ICA estimation. Our online approach estimates a whitening and a rotation matrix with stochastic gradient descent on centered or uncentered data. We show that this can be done efficiently by combining Batch Karhunen-Löwe-Transformation [1] with Lie group techniques. Our algorithm is recursion-free and can be organized as feed-forward neural network which makes the use of GPU acceleration straight-forward. Because of the very fast convergence of Batch KLT, the gradient descent in the Lie group of orthogonal matrices stabilizes quickly. The optimization is further enhanced by integrating ADAM [2], an improved stochastic gradient descent (SGD) technique from the field of deep learning. We test the scaling capabilities by computing the independent components of the well-known ImageNet challenge (144 GB). Due to its robustness with respect to batch and step size, our approach can be used as a drop-in replacement for standard ICA algorithms where memory is a limiting factor.
Image novelty detection is a repeating task in computer vision and describes the detection of anomalous images based on a training dataset consisting solely of normal reference data. It has been found that, in particular, neural networks are well-suited for the task. Our approach first transforms the training and test images into ensembles of patches, which enables the assessment of mean-shifts between normal data and outliers. As mean-shifts are only detectable when the outlier ensemble and inlier distribution are spatially separate from each other, a rich feature space, such as a pre-trained neural network, needs to be chosen to represent the extracted patches. For mean-shift estimation, the Hotelling T2 test is used. The size of the patches turned out to be a crucial hyperparameter that needs additional domain knowledge about the spatial size of the expected anomalies (local vs. global). This also affects model selection and the chosen feature space, as commonly used Convolutional Neural Networks or Vision Image Transformers have very different receptive field sizes. To showcase the state-of-the-art capabilities of our approach, we compare results with classical and deep learning methods on the popular dataset CIFAR-10, and demonstrate its real-world applicability in a large-scale industrial inspection scenario using the MVTec dataset. Because of the inexpensive design, our method can be implemented by a single additional 2D-convolution and pooling layer and allows particularly fast prediction times while being very data-efficient.