SOA Adoption Phases

The paper argues that attitudes to SOA follow a typical hype cycle from Technological Trigger, Peak of Inflated Expectations, and a Trough of Disillusionment to the more recent realization that SOA is a concept that may offer certain benefits but has several limitations. The main research question studies how the attitude to SOA changes in various phases of the hype cycle, how the SOA implementation cycle and an increase in business process maturity (BPMa) are interconnected and which factors influence the transition between the hype cycle phases. The paper shows that an organization’s success with implementing SOA depends on its ability to match the SOA implementation with an increase in BPMa. The dual purpose of implementing SOA is shown in the first framework: to assure the coherence of IT assets and to assure business/IT alignment. In the second framework, the interconnection of SOA and BPMa and its role in transiting through the hype cycle phases is outlined. The findings are analyzed using a longitudinal case study of a large Slovenian company.     

Stickiness of Rental Rates and Developers’ Option Exercise Strategies

In this study we incorporate sticky rents into a real options model to rationalize the widely documented overbuilding puzzle in real estate markets. Given the assumption that developers’ objective function is to maximize total revenue by selecting an optimal occupancy level, our model provides a better explanation of the phenomena we observed in the real world than the traditional market-clearance based real options models. We also show that developers’ exercise strategies can be affected by the size and the type of property markets. In other words, developers’ exercise strategies could differ among markets and under different conditions. Submitted to Cambridge—Maastricht 2005 Symposium.     

Development of spatial thinking abilities in engineering 3D modeling course aimed at lower secondary students

International Journal of Technology and Design Education - Spatial visualization ability is an important factor in a child’s cognitive development. Its development is affected by numerous...     

Spillovers among sovereign debt markets: Identification through absolute magnitude restrictions∗

This paper studies spillovers among US and European sovereign yields. We employ absolute magnitude restrictions on the impact matrix to identify the countries that were the main sources of spillovers. Despite the large size of shocks from euro area stressed countries, connectedness among sovereign yields declined between 2008 and 2012 due to financial fragmentation, particularly between countries with more divergent business and fiscal cycles. We show that none of the sovereign yields were insulated from foreign shocks and that shocks to the Greek bond market in 2010 explained 20–30% of the variance of sovereign yields in stressed countries, while in 2011–2012 Italy (not Spain) was the source of systemic risk.     

Consumer Preference for Traditional Products in West Balkans Countries

The objective of this article is to better understand consumers' attitudes, expectations, and behavior toward traditional food among consumers in selected Western Balkans Countries (WBC). The article also presents a picture of the profile of WBC traditional food consumers (TFC) in terms of their sociodemographics, attitudes, lifestyle orientations, and behavioral characteristics. The method used for the data collection was a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. In total, 800 respondents participated in the survey. WBC consumers expressed a positive attitude toward traditional food. If the researchers try to explain consumers' behavior toward traditional food, they can say that there are different types of consumers giving more or less importance to components considered traditional. The information about the profile, the image, and the actual characteristics of TFC has practical implications for marketing and communicating about traditional food, including their identification, differentiation, research and development, and positioning in the WBC food market.     

Wine Tourism as an Opportunity for Tourism Development: Examples of Good Practice in Slovenia

The authors discuss wine tourism activities in the context of general tourism development in Slovenia. The country’s winegrowing areas have developed traditionally important viticulture, a relatively intensive production of typical grape varieties and in some cases also a distinct entrepreneurial spirit, which consequently reflects in tourism and regional development, based on diverse cultural heritage and natural values. Three Slovene wine regions are divided into nine wine districts with their own identities and more or less distinct terroirs. Despite a several centuries’ long tradition and a rich wine culture, it is evident that in national tourism strategies and development plans, wine tourism still does not occupy the position that it probably deserves, although most of the documents stress its potential for local or regional development. On the other hand, the authors recognize a significant interest among winemakers and tourism professionals for strategic cooperation and systematic approach to develop wine tourism in the selected destinations. The authors therefore focus on some paradoxes and emphasize examples of good practice at the national, regional, and local levels.     

壳聚糖对水中重金属吸附性能的研究进展

为了有效处理水中重金属污染和提高虾头虾壳中壳聚糖的利用效率,本文对提取壳聚糖的化学降解法、微生物培养法、酶解法和微波技术法进行综述,分析壳聚糖的吸附原理、最优吸附条件和壳聚糖复合材料的优点,发现化学降解法为目前普遍使用的壳聚糖提取方法,溶液的pH值、反应温度、吸附剂用量及壳聚糖复合物的种类均会影响壳聚糖对水中重金属的吸...