U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology

Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this research investigated gender differences in the overlooked context of individual adoption and sustained usage of technology in the workplace. User reactions and technology usage behavior were studied over a five-month period among 342 workers being introduced to a new software system. At all three points of measurement, compared to women, men's technology usage decisions were more strongly influenced by their perceptions of usefulness. In contrast, women were more strongly influenced by perceptions of ease of use and subjective norm, although the effect of subjective norm diminished over time. These findings were robust even after statistically controlling for key confounding variables identified in prior organizational behavior research (i.e., income, occupation, and education levels), and another possible confound from technology research, prior experience with computers in general. Thus, in addition to identifying key boundary conditions in the role of the original TAM constructs (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use), this research provides the basis for the integration of subjective norm into the model. In light of these findings, implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter Facebook Reddit LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Reprints and Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation R. L. Bagley, P. J. Torvik; A Theoretical Basis for the Application of Fractional Calculus to Viscoelasticity. J. Rheol. 1 June 1983; 27 (3): 201–210. https://doi.org/10.1122/1.549724 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe Society of RheologyJournal of Rheology Search Advanced Search |Citation Search

This research investigated age differences in individual adoption and sustained usage of technology in the workplace using the theory of planned behavior. User reactions and technology usage behavior were studied over a 5‐month period among 118 workers being introduced to a new software system. At 2 points of measurement, compared to older workers, younger workers' technology usage decisions were more strongly influenced by attitude toward using the technology. In contrast, older workers were more strongly influenced by subjective norm and perceived behavioral control, although the effect of subjective norm diminished over time. These findings were robust, even after controlling for key confounding variables identified in prior organizational behavior research (i.e., income, occupation, and education levels). Theoretical and practical implications for understanding the effects of aging on technology adoption and usage in the workplace are discussed.

Generalized constitutive relationships for viscoelastic materials are suggested in which the customary time derivatives of integer order are replaced by derivatives of fractional order. To this point, the justification for such models has resided in the fact that they are effective in describing the behavior of real materials. In this work, the fractional derivative is shown to arise naturally in the description of certain motions of a Newtonian fluid. We claim this provides some justification for the use of ad hoc relationships which include the fractional derivative. An application of such a constitutive relationship to the prediction of the transient response of a frequency-dependent material is included.

Fractional calculus is used to construct stress-strain relationships for viscoelastic materials. These relationships are used in the finite element analysis of viscoelastically damped structures and closed-form solutions to the equations of motion are found. The attractive feature of this approach is that very few empirical parameters are required to model the viscoelastic material and calculate the response of the structure for general loading conditions.

Using a systematic item-development framework as a guide (i.e., item development, questionnaire administration, item reduction, scale evaluation, and replication), this article discusses the development and evaluation of an instrument that can be used to gauge readiness for organizational change at an individual level. In all, more than 900 organizational members from the public and private sector participated in the different phases of study, with the questionnaire being tested in two separate organizations. The results suggest that readiness for change is a multidimensional construct influenced by beliefs among employees that (a) they are capable of implementing a proposed change (i.e., change-specific efficacy), (b) the proposed change is appropriate for the organization (i.e., appropriateness), (c) the leaders are committed to the proposed change (i.e., management support), and (d) the proposed change is beneficial to organizational members (i.e., personal valence).

Solving optimization problems with multiple (often conflicting) objectives is, generally, a very difficult goal. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) were initially extended and applied during the mid-eighties in an attempt to stochastically solve problems of this generic class. During the past decade, a variety, of multiobjective EA (MOEA) techniques have been proposed and applied to many scientific and engineering applications. Our discussion's intent is to rigorously define multiobjective optimization problems and certain related concepts, present an MOEA classification scheme, and evaluate the variety of contemporary MOEAs. Current MOEA theoretical developments are evaluated; specific topics addressed include fitness functions, Pareto ranking, niching, fitness sharing, mating restriction, and secondary populations. Since the development and application of MOEAs is a dynamic and rapidly growing activity, we focus on key analytical insights based upon critical MOEA evaluation of current research and applications. Recommended MOEA designs are presented, along with conclusions and recommendations for future work.

This study attempts to refine the construct of contextual performance by dividing it into 2 narrower constructs, interpersonal facilitation and job dedication. Supervisors rated 975 U.S. Air Force mechanics on at least 1 of 4 aspects of job performance (different supervisors rated each aspect of performance), and 515 of these mechanics also completed self-report individual difference measures. Correlations between performance ratings and individual difference variables support distinguishing task performance from interpersonal facilitation but not from job dedication. Thus this study suggests the need to redefine task performance to include motivational elements of job dedication. Then task performance would include task proficiency and motivation to perform one's own tasks effectively, and contextual performance would include interpersonal skills, the motivation to maintain good working relationships and help others perform their tasks.

Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter Facebook Reddit LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Reprints and Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation R. L. Bagley, P. J. Torvik; On the Fractional Calculus Model of Viscoelastic Behavior. J. Rheol. 1 February 1986; 30 (1): 133–155. https://doi.org/10.1122/1.549887 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe Society of RheologyJournal of Rheology Search Advanced Search |Citation Search

Behavioral intentions have an expanding role in the field of turnover research They are becoming increasingly indispensable to empirical and theoretical work linking turnover behavior to psychological antecedents A literature review of published and unpublished works was undertaken to examine the magnitude and consistency of intent-turnov er relationships . Meta-analysis was used to cumulate and average results over studies A weighted average correlation of 50 was calculated between behavioral intentions and employee turnover Intentions were more predictive of attrition than overall job satisfaction, satisfaction with the work itself, or organizationa l commitment Furthermore, an analysis of potential moderator variables indicated that the length of time between procurement of predictor and criterion data influences the magnitude of intent-turnover relationships Behavioral intentions have rapidly come into vogue in the field of turnover research Prior to 1974, few published references to behavioral intentions existed in industrial and organizational psychology research domains (Locke, 1968; Lyons, 1971). However, since that date a veritable explosion of intentturnover research has taken place (Horn, Katerberg, & Hulin, 1979; Kraut, 1975; Mobley, Griffeth, Hand, & Meglino, 1979; Price & Mueller, 1981). Added impetus for the study of behavioral intentions stems m part from theoretical arguments that have singled them out as the most direct and immediate cognitive antecedents of overt behavior (Fishbem & Ajzen, 1975; Tnandis, 1977). The present investigation reviews the published literature linking behavioral intentions and employee turnover to determine the average magnitude of these correlations and to identify potential moderators of this relationship. Average va

The multilayer perceptron, when trained as a classifier using backpropagation, is shown to approximate the Bayes optimal discriminant function. The result is demonstrated for both the two-class problem and multiple classes. It is shown that the outputs of the multilayer perceptron approximate the a posteriori probability functions of the classes being trained. The proof applies to any number of layers and any type of unit activation function, linear or nonlinear.

Fractional order state equations are developed to predict the effects of feedback intended to reduce motion in damped structures. The mechanical properties of damping materials are modeled using fractional order time derivatives of stress and strain. These models accurately describe the broadband effects of material damping in the structure's equations of motion. The resulting structural equations of motion are used to derive the fractional order state equations. Substantial differences between the structural and state equations are seen to exist. The mathematical form of the state equations suggests the feedback of fractional order time derivatives of structural displacements to improve control system performance. Several other advantages of the fractional order state formulation are discussed. Nomenclature

Participation in decision making (PDM) takes several distinct forms. A review of empirical studies demonstrates that effects of participation on satisfaction and performance vary according to form. The findings cast doubt on the conclusions of earlier reviews based on a unidimensional view of PDM and raise several issues for the study and practice of PDM.

Anterior cruciate bone-ligament-bone preparations of wild primates tested in tension failed at a higher load and greater elongation, and absorbed more energy, at a fast rate of deformation than at a slow rate. The major mode of specimen failure changed from a predominance of tibial avulsion fractures at the slow rate to ligament disruption at the fast rate. Failure at the two deformation rates commonly occurred by a serial mechanism involving from one to all components of the bone-ligament-bone unit to different degrees. Factors important in ligament-failure properties included: (1) rate-dependent behaviors, (2) geometrical arrangement of collagen fibers, (3) surrounding ground-substance effects, (4) osseous insertion-site effects, and (5) the influence of non-physiological experimental loading conditions and disuse-induced changes in specimens.

An Introduction to Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms and Their Applications Optimal Design of Industrial Electromagnetic Devices: A Multiobjective Evolutionary Approach Using a Particle Swarm Optimizer with a Multi-Objective Selection Scheme to Design Combinational Logic Circuits Automatic Control System Design via a Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization of Trusses A Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm for the Covering Tour Problem Multiobjective Aerodynamic Design and Visualization of Supersonic Wings by Using Adaptive Range Multiobjective Genetic Algorithms Mutli-Objective Spectroscopic Data Analysis of Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosion Cores: Plasma Gradient Determination On Machine Learning with Multiobjective Genetic Optimization and other papers.

Fractional calculus is used to model the viscoelastic behavior of a damping layer in a simply supported beam. The beam is analyzed by using both a continuum formulation and a finite element formulation to predict the transient response to a step loading. The construction of the finite element equations of motion and the resulting nontraditional orthogonality conditions for the damped mode shapes are presented. Also presented are the modified forms of matrix iteration required to calculate eigenvalues and mode shapes for the damped structure. The continuum formulation, also incorporating the fractional calculus model, is used to verify the finite element approach. The location of the poles (damping and frequency) are found to be in satisfactory agreement, as are the modal amplitudes for the first several modes.

Recoverable product environments are becoming an increasingly important segment of the overall push in industry towards environmentally conscious manufacturing. Integral to the recoverable product environment is the recoverable manufacturing system that focuses on recovering the product and extending its life through remanufacture or repair. Remanufacturing provides the customer with an opportunity to acquire a product that meets the original product standards at a lower price than a new product. The flow of materials and products in this environment occurs both from the customer to the remanufacturer (reverse flow), and from the remanufacturer to the customer (forward flow). Since most of the products and materials may be conserved, essentially this forms a closed-loop logistics system. We present a 0–1 mixed integer programming model that simultaneously solves for the location of remanufacturing/distribution facilities, the transshipment, production, and stocking of the optimal quantities of remanufactured products and cores. We also discuss the managerial uses of the model for logistics decision-making.

Solving optimization problems with multiple (often conflicting) objectives is generally a quite difficult goal. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) were initially extended and applied during the mid-eighties in an attempt to stochastically solve problems of this generic class. During the past decade a multiplicity of multiobjective EA (MOEA) techniques have been proposed and applied to many scientific and engineering applications. Our discussion's intent is to rigorously define and execute a quantitative MOEA performance comparison methodology. Almost all comparisons cited in the current literature visually compare algorithmic results, resulting in only relative conclusions. Our methodology gives a basis for absolute conclusions regarding MOEA performance. Selected results from its execution with four MOEAs are presented and described.

This paper describes the Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE) methodology. MaSE is a general purpose, methodology for developing heterogeneous multiagent systems. MaSE uses a number of graphically based models to describe system goals, behaviors, agent types, and agent communication interfaces. MaSE also provides a way to specify architecture-independent detailed definition of the internal agent design. An example of applying the MaSE methodology is also presented.

Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEAs) currently have no generic benchmark test suites. This paper provides several Multiobjective Optimization Problems (MOPs) for use as part of a standardized MOEA test suite, and proposes a methodology whereby various MOEAs can be directly compared. Supporting these contributions is a detailed discussion of MOP landscape and general test suite issues, and presentation of a new theorem defining the structural limitations of an MOP's global optimum. This paper also discusses high-performance computer software deterministically computing an MOP's Pareto front at a given computational resolution. 1 Introduction Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEAs) are now a well-established field within Evolutionary Computation. They were "born" in 1985 when Schaffer [16] and Fourman [6] implemented the first MOEAs dealing with Multiobjective Optimization Problems (MOPs). Since then, over 140 published papers propose various MOEA implementations and a...