Michael W Usrey | Sporian Microsystems, Inc. (original) (raw)

Papers by Michael W Usrey

Engineering management journal, Dec 1, 2000

ABSTRACT Energy markets are deregulating rapidly and the price of energy is expected to decrease.... more ABSTRACT Energy markets are deregulating rapidly and the price of energy is expected to decrease. Energy suppliers that traditionally operated as regulated monopolies must now find ways to improve their productivity. Energy utilities are typically asset-intensive, so maintenance activities present a potential area for productivity improvement. Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) was developed in the commercial aerospace industry approximately 3 decades ago. In the 1980's, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) initiated studies for the application of RCM to generating facilities. Recently, EPRI has begun supporting the investigation of RCM methodology in the transmission and delivery of electric power. The origins and evolution of RCM, and the benefits of using RCM as the basis for a maintenance plan, are discussed. Successes and failures experienced by utilities attempting to implement RCM, and corresponding insights, are outlined. Results of a pilot implementation at Xcel Energy are presented. Management issues, including those related to recent merger and acquisition activity, are examined.

World Conference on WWW and Internet, Oct 1, 1999

Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and developme... more Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and development, a comparison of alternate asynchronous delivery media was conducted. For the course session on the management of intellectual property, asynchronous students were given access to the VHS tapes traditionally utilized, plus World Wide Web-based and CD-based (digital) lecture alternatives. The objectives of the comparison were: to determine student preferences; to ascertain the penetration of the computer technology necessary to utilize the alternative digital delivery methods; and to understand the usage patterns for the current videotapes to improve the design of future delivery systems. Students had two opportunities to express their preferences-a mailed survey administered immediately after the session and a less comprehensive follow-up assessment via the university's Faculty Course Questionnaire. With the mailed survey, students were asked for feedback in three categories: usage factors for VHS videotapes; preferences with respect to the digital delivery alternatives; and equipment barriers to utilizing the digital alternatives. Based on the survey results, approximately 50% of the students lacked convenient access to sufficient computer resources to take advantage of these alternate delivery mechanisms. (Contains 10 references.) (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.

World Conference on WWW and Internet, Oct 1, 1999

This paper present a model of factors influencing the teaching-learning exchange in adult distanc... more This paper present a model of factors influencing the teaching-learning exchange in adult distance education, focusing on five factors that have primary influence on the teaching-learning exchange: the teacher, the student, the content, the environment, and the learning community. Several techniques are proposed to overcome the limitations of distance education, including a course Web site, a threaded discussion forum (HyperNews), Web-based dynamic feedback forms, visualization, and interactive lecture outlines. Examples are provided of how these techniques were applied in a graduate course for the management of research and development. Measurement of asynchronous adult student preferences regarding these techniques is presented. (Contains 18 references.) (MES)

The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development... more The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development of high technology products and services. Development of such products r equires a robust engineering workforce. Unfortunately, current economic, market, employment, demographic, and education trends suggest erosion of America's global engineering leadership. A definition of engineering edutainment is developed herein. Reasons why some educators are dismayed by the concept of edutainment are discussed. A call is made for engineering edutainment that spans almost all U.S. demographic groups from cradle to grave. This holistic approach is offered as a critical underpinning for the foundation of the engineering workforce of the next century. It is put forth that the holistic approach is best accomplished through alliances including engineering faculty, K-12 educators, and practitioners from industry. Finally, guidelines to avoid the pitfalls of edutainment are provided.

ABSTRACT Gas turbine engine efficiency, safety, and life cycle cost are directly influenced by th... more ABSTRACT Gas turbine engine efficiency, safety, and life cycle cost are directly influenced by the durability and performance of the turbine hot section. Numerous advances have been applied to improve the capabilities of turbines including new structural materials, innovative thermal barrier coatings, and advanced heat transfer techniques; however, improved designs are still dependent on accurate knowledge of true turbine environmental conditions during operation. In conjunction with ongoing advances in physics-based modeling, physical measurement of actual turbine conditions remains a necessity. The Small CAESAR project supports the demonstration and maturation of advanced components, including sensors, under the VAATE program. Sporian Microsystems provided smart pressure/temperature sensor suite probes for testing under Small CAESAR. These probes survived in situ conditions in three engine locations: compressor discharge, high pressure turbine inlet and low pressure turbine inlet, in a test designed to demonstrate TRL 6.

Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE Engineering Management Society. EMS - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37139), Nov 7, 2002

ABSTRACT

The Quality Management Journal, 1998

He has a joint appointment in the Departments of Management, and Industrial and Management System... more He has a joint appointment in the Departments of Management, and Industrial and Management Systems Engineering. He previously taught at University of Minnesota, and has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He teaches and does research in the areas of quality engineering, quality management, new product development, organizational change, and complex systems. Prof. Dooley is on the editorial board of

WebNet, Nov 1, 1998

Adult education and distance education are two of the fastest growing segments of the education m... more Adult education and distance education are two of the fastest growing segments of the education market. Technological and procedural improvements need to be focused concurrently on three domains: course delivery technologies, course/program administration and course content. Delivery technologies, such as satellite, CATV, CD and World Wide Web, are perhaps the most visible area of change. Administrative procedures can benefit from both process re-engineering and emerging technologies such as the World Wide Web, touch-tone, speech recognition and facsimile (fax). Improvements in course content have the potential to benefit both traditional and non-traditional students. The Lockheed Martin Engineering Management Program at the University of Colorado, which has grown over the span of a decade to serve on-campus, live video and videotape students across the country and around the world, serves as an example of both progress that is possible in these areas and of the improvement opportunities yet to exist. Contains 14 references. (Author/AEF)

The objective of this investigation is to improve the planning, selection, and justification of i... more The objective of this investigation is to improve the planning, selection, and justification of information technology (IT) projects as a vehicle for business enhancement. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) criteria are used herein as a framework for strategic planning of information technology implementation. Research findings suggest that application of these criteria in isolation is not sufficient for planning

The Quality Management Journal, 1996

ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical ... more ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical definition of software quality existed. Content analysis is used here to objectively identify the dimensions of software quality. The dimensions are derived from the perspectives of both producers and

Solar power is a sustainable resource which can reduce the power generated by fossil fuels, lower... more Solar power is a sustainable resource which can reduce the power generated by fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy independence. The U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative has set goals to increase the efficiency of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. One SunShot effort to help CSP systems exceed 50% efficiency is to make use of high-temperature heat transfer fluids (HTFs) and thermal energy storage (TES) fluids that can increase the temperature of the power cycle up to 1300°C. Sporian has successfully developed high-temperature operable pressure, temperature, thermal flux, strain, and flow sensors for gas path measurements in high-temperature turbine engines. These sensors are based on a combination of polymer derived ceramic (PDC) sensors, advanced high-temperature packaging, and integrated electronics. The overall objective is the beneficial application of these sensors to CSP systems. Through collaboration with CSP industry stakeholders, Sporian has established a full picture of operational, interface, and usage requirements for trough, tower, and dish CSP architectures. In general, sensors should have accurate measurement, good reliability, reasonable cost, and ease of replacement or repair. Sensors in contact with hot salt HTF and TES fluids will experience temperature cycling on a daily basis, and parts of the system may be drained routinely. Some of the major challenges to high-temperature CSP implementation include molten salt corrosion and flow erosion of the sensors. Potential high-temperature sensor types that have been identified as of interest for CSP HTF/TES applications include temperature, pressure, flow, and level sensors. Candidate solar salts include nitrate, carbonate, and chloride, with different application temperatures ranging from 550°C-900°C. Functional ceramics were soaked for 500 hours in molten nitrate, carbonate, and chloride salts, showing excellent corrosion resistance in chloride salts and good resistance in nitrate salts. The demonstration of functional ceramics in relevant HTFs laid the foundation for full prototype sensor and packaging demonstration. Sporian has developed a packaging approach for ceramic-based sensors in various harsh gaseous environments at temperatures up to 1400°C, but several aspects of that packaging are not compatible with corrosive and electrically conductive HTFs. In addition to consulting published literature, a 300 hour soak test in molten chloride salt allowed the authors to identify suitable structural metals and ceramics. Based on discussions with stakeholders, molten salt corrosion testing and room-temperature water flow testing, suitable for CSP sensor/packaging concepts were identified for future development, and initial prototypes have been built and tested.

Engineering and Product Development Management

Quality Management Journal, 1996

ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical ... more ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical definition of software quality existed. Content analysis is used here to objectively identify the dimensions of software quality. The dimensions are derived from the perspectives of both producers and

Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE Engineering Management Society. EMS - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37139)

ABSTRACT

30th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference. Building on A Century of Progress in Engineering Education. Conference Proceedings (IEEE Cat. No.00CH37135)

The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development... more The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development of high technology products and services. Development of such products r equires a robust engineering workforce. Unfortunately, current economic, market, employment, demographic, and education trends suggest erosion of America's global engineering leadership. A definition of engineering edutainment is developed herein. Reasons why some educators are dismayed by the concept of edutainment are discussed. A call is made for engineering edutainment that spans almost all U.S. demographic groups from cradle to grave. This holistic approach is offered as a critical underpinning for the foundation of the engineering workforce of the next century. It is put forth that the holistic approach is best accomplished through alliances including engineering faculty, K-12 educators, and practitioners from industry. Finally, guidelines to avoid the pitfalls of edutainment are provided.

33rd Annual Frontiers in Education, 2003. FIE 2003.

Abstract The task of reforming the engineering education system to improve graduates&... more Abstract The task of reforming the engineering education system to improve graduates' writing skills, while justified, faces significant barriers. The College of Engineering and Applied Science's online writing lab (OWL) at the University of Colorado-Boulder is a unique and promising effort that helps overcome such barriers. Rather than rely on the impractical solution of additional required courses, OWL works closely with engineering faculty and students to improve the efficacy of existing technical writing assignments and the quality of ...

Quality Management Journal, 1998

This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of consume... more This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of consumer attitudes toward software quality. Ordinal scale development methods are used to develop objective, operational measures of software satisfaction. An on-line survey tool was developed to facilitate the large number of responses required for survey validation. The instrument will help solve important problems of software development productivity, software engineering research and survey research. Results show that relevant software consumer attitudes can be consistently and reliably observed and quantified. Results also confirm earlier studies that report benefits from the use of computer-mediated communication for survey research. Demographic data reveals an unbiased survey and provides confirmation of several trends existing today in the software marketplace.

Dooley This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of ... more Dooley This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of consumer attitudes concerning software quality. The operationalization of the construct software quality includes the dimensions of communication, completeness, features, flexibility, independence, simplicity, stability, and maturity. Ordinal scale development methods are used to develop objective, operational measures of these dimensions. An on-line, Internet-based survey tool was developed to facilitate the large number of responses required for survey validation. The instrument will help solve important problems of software development productivity, software engineering research and survey research. Results show that relevant software consumer attitudes

World Conference on the WWW and Internet, 1999

Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and developme... more Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and development, a comparison of alternate asynchronous delivery media was conducted. For the course session on the management of intellectual property, asynchronous students were given access to the VHS tapes traditionally utilized, plus World Wide Web-based and CD-based (digital) lecture alternatives. The objectives of the comparison were: to determine student preferences; to ascertain the penetration of the computer technology necessary to utilize the alternative digital delivery methods; and to understand the usage patterns for the current videotapes to improve the design of future delivery systems. Students had two opportunities to express their preferences-a mailed survey administered immediately after the session and a less comprehensive follow-up assessment via the university's Faculty Course Questionnaire. With the mailed survey, students were asked for feedback in three categories: usage factors for VHS videotapes; preferences with respect to the digital delivery alternatives; and equipment barriers to utilizing the digital alternatives. Based on the survey results, approximately 50% of the students lacked convenient access to sufficient computer resources to take advantage of these alternate delivery mechanisms. (Contains 10 references.) (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.

World Conference on the WWW and Internet, 1998

Engineering management journal, Dec 1, 2000

ABSTRACT Energy markets are deregulating rapidly and the price of energy is expected to decrease.... more ABSTRACT Energy markets are deregulating rapidly and the price of energy is expected to decrease. Energy suppliers that traditionally operated as regulated monopolies must now find ways to improve their productivity. Energy utilities are typically asset-intensive, so maintenance activities present a potential area for productivity improvement. Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) was developed in the commercial aerospace industry approximately 3 decades ago. In the 1980's, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) initiated studies for the application of RCM to generating facilities. Recently, EPRI has begun supporting the investigation of RCM methodology in the transmission and delivery of electric power. The origins and evolution of RCM, and the benefits of using RCM as the basis for a maintenance plan, are discussed. Successes and failures experienced by utilities attempting to implement RCM, and corresponding insights, are outlined. Results of a pilot implementation at Xcel Energy are presented. Management issues, including those related to recent merger and acquisition activity, are examined.

World Conference on WWW and Internet, Oct 1, 1999

Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and developme... more Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and development, a comparison of alternate asynchronous delivery media was conducted. For the course session on the management of intellectual property, asynchronous students were given access to the VHS tapes traditionally utilized, plus World Wide Web-based and CD-based (digital) lecture alternatives. The objectives of the comparison were: to determine student preferences; to ascertain the penetration of the computer technology necessary to utilize the alternative digital delivery methods; and to understand the usage patterns for the current videotapes to improve the design of future delivery systems. Students had two opportunities to express their preferences-a mailed survey administered immediately after the session and a less comprehensive follow-up assessment via the university's Faculty Course Questionnaire. With the mailed survey, students were asked for feedback in three categories: usage factors for VHS videotapes; preferences with respect to the digital delivery alternatives; and equipment barriers to utilizing the digital alternatives. Based on the survey results, approximately 50% of the students lacked convenient access to sufficient computer resources to take advantage of these alternate delivery mechanisms. (Contains 10 references.) (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.

World Conference on WWW and Internet, Oct 1, 1999

This paper present a model of factors influencing the teaching-learning exchange in adult distanc... more This paper present a model of factors influencing the teaching-learning exchange in adult distance education, focusing on five factors that have primary influence on the teaching-learning exchange: the teacher, the student, the content, the environment, and the learning community. Several techniques are proposed to overcome the limitations of distance education, including a course Web site, a threaded discussion forum (HyperNews), Web-based dynamic feedback forms, visualization, and interactive lecture outlines. Examples are provided of how these techniques were applied in a graduate course for the management of research and development. Measurement of asynchronous adult student preferences regarding these techniques is presented. (Contains 18 references.) (MES)

The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development... more The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development of high technology products and services. Development of such products r equires a robust engineering workforce. Unfortunately, current economic, market, employment, demographic, and education trends suggest erosion of America's global engineering leadership. A definition of engineering edutainment is developed herein. Reasons why some educators are dismayed by the concept of edutainment are discussed. A call is made for engineering edutainment that spans almost all U.S. demographic groups from cradle to grave. This holistic approach is offered as a critical underpinning for the foundation of the engineering workforce of the next century. It is put forth that the holistic approach is best accomplished through alliances including engineering faculty, K-12 educators, and practitioners from industry. Finally, guidelines to avoid the pitfalls of edutainment are provided.

ABSTRACT Gas turbine engine efficiency, safety, and life cycle cost are directly influenced by th... more ABSTRACT Gas turbine engine efficiency, safety, and life cycle cost are directly influenced by the durability and performance of the turbine hot section. Numerous advances have been applied to improve the capabilities of turbines including new structural materials, innovative thermal barrier coatings, and advanced heat transfer techniques; however, improved designs are still dependent on accurate knowledge of true turbine environmental conditions during operation. In conjunction with ongoing advances in physics-based modeling, physical measurement of actual turbine conditions remains a necessity. The Small CAESAR project supports the demonstration and maturation of advanced components, including sensors, under the VAATE program. Sporian Microsystems provided smart pressure/temperature sensor suite probes for testing under Small CAESAR. These probes survived in situ conditions in three engine locations: compressor discharge, high pressure turbine inlet and low pressure turbine inlet, in a test designed to demonstrate TRL 6.

Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE Engineering Management Society. EMS - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37139), Nov 7, 2002

ABSTRACT

The Quality Management Journal, 1998

He has a joint appointment in the Departments of Management, and Industrial and Management System... more He has a joint appointment in the Departments of Management, and Industrial and Management Systems Engineering. He previously taught at University of Minnesota, and has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He teaches and does research in the areas of quality engineering, quality management, new product development, organizational change, and complex systems. Prof. Dooley is on the editorial board of

WebNet, Nov 1, 1998

Adult education and distance education are two of the fastest growing segments of the education m... more Adult education and distance education are two of the fastest growing segments of the education market. Technological and procedural improvements need to be focused concurrently on three domains: course delivery technologies, course/program administration and course content. Delivery technologies, such as satellite, CATV, CD and World Wide Web, are perhaps the most visible area of change. Administrative procedures can benefit from both process re-engineering and emerging technologies such as the World Wide Web, touch-tone, speech recognition and facsimile (fax). Improvements in course content have the potential to benefit both traditional and non-traditional students. The Lockheed Martin Engineering Management Program at the University of Colorado, which has grown over the span of a decade to serve on-campus, live video and videotape students across the country and around the world, serves as an example of both progress that is possible in these areas and of the improvement opportunities yet to exist. Contains 14 references. (Author/AEF)

The objective of this investigation is to improve the planning, selection, and justification of i... more The objective of this investigation is to improve the planning, selection, and justification of information technology (IT) projects as a vehicle for business enhancement. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) criteria are used herein as a framework for strategic planning of information technology implementation. Research findings suggest that application of these criteria in isolation is not sufficient for planning

The Quality Management Journal, 1996

ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical ... more ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical definition of software quality existed. Content analysis is used here to objectively identify the dimensions of software quality. The dimensions are derived from the perspectives of both producers and

Solar power is a sustainable resource which can reduce the power generated by fossil fuels, lower... more Solar power is a sustainable resource which can reduce the power generated by fossil fuels, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy independence. The U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative has set goals to increase the efficiency of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. One SunShot effort to help CSP systems exceed 50% efficiency is to make use of high-temperature heat transfer fluids (HTFs) and thermal energy storage (TES) fluids that can increase the temperature of the power cycle up to 1300°C. Sporian has successfully developed high-temperature operable pressure, temperature, thermal flux, strain, and flow sensors for gas path measurements in high-temperature turbine engines. These sensors are based on a combination of polymer derived ceramic (PDC) sensors, advanced high-temperature packaging, and integrated electronics. The overall objective is the beneficial application of these sensors to CSP systems. Through collaboration with CSP industry stakeholders, Sporian has established a full picture of operational, interface, and usage requirements for trough, tower, and dish CSP architectures. In general, sensors should have accurate measurement, good reliability, reasonable cost, and ease of replacement or repair. Sensors in contact with hot salt HTF and TES fluids will experience temperature cycling on a daily basis, and parts of the system may be drained routinely. Some of the major challenges to high-temperature CSP implementation include molten salt corrosion and flow erosion of the sensors. Potential high-temperature sensor types that have been identified as of interest for CSP HTF/TES applications include temperature, pressure, flow, and level sensors. Candidate solar salts include nitrate, carbonate, and chloride, with different application temperatures ranging from 550°C-900°C. Functional ceramics were soaked for 500 hours in molten nitrate, carbonate, and chloride salts, showing excellent corrosion resistance in chloride salts and good resistance in nitrate salts. The demonstration of functional ceramics in relevant HTFs laid the foundation for full prototype sensor and packaging demonstration. Sporian has developed a packaging approach for ceramic-based sensors in various harsh gaseous environments at temperatures up to 1400°C, but several aspects of that packaging are not compatible with corrosive and electrically conductive HTFs. In addition to consulting published literature, a 300 hour soak test in molten chloride salt allowed the authors to identify suitable structural metals and ceramics. Based on discussions with stakeholders, molten salt corrosion testing and room-temperature water flow testing, suitable for CSP sensor/packaging concepts were identified for future development, and initial prototypes have been built and tested.

Engineering and Product Development Management

Quality Management Journal, 1996

ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical ... more ABSTRACT Theoretical developments,in software quality could be greatly enhanced if a theoretical definition of software quality existed. Content analysis is used here to objectively identify the dimensions of software quality. The dimensions are derived from the perspectives of both producers and

Proceedings of the 2000 IEEE Engineering Management Society. EMS - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37139)

ABSTRACT

30th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference. Building on A Century of Progress in Engineering Education. Conference Proceedings (IEEE Cat. No.00CH37135)

The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development... more The economic future of the United States depends upon our continued leadership in the development of high technology products and services. Development of such products r equires a robust engineering workforce. Unfortunately, current economic, market, employment, demographic, and education trends suggest erosion of America's global engineering leadership. A definition of engineering edutainment is developed herein. Reasons why some educators are dismayed by the concept of edutainment are discussed. A call is made for engineering edutainment that spans almost all U.S. demographic groups from cradle to grave. This holistic approach is offered as a critical underpinning for the foundation of the engineering workforce of the next century. It is put forth that the holistic approach is best accomplished through alliances including engineering faculty, K-12 educators, and practitioners from industry. Finally, guidelines to avoid the pitfalls of edutainment are provided.

33rd Annual Frontiers in Education, 2003. FIE 2003.

Abstract The task of reforming the engineering education system to improve graduates&... more Abstract The task of reforming the engineering education system to improve graduates' writing skills, while justified, faces significant barriers. The College of Engineering and Applied Science's online writing lab (OWL) at the University of Colorado-Boulder is a unique and promising effort that helps overcome such barriers. Rather than rely on the impractical solution of additional required courses, OWL works closely with engineering faculty and students to improve the efficacy of existing technical writing assignments and the quality of ...

Quality Management Journal, 1998

This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of consume... more This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of consumer attitudes toward software quality. Ordinal scale development methods are used to develop objective, operational measures of software satisfaction. An on-line survey tool was developed to facilitate the large number of responses required for survey validation. The instrument will help solve important problems of software development productivity, software engineering research and survey research. Results show that relevant software consumer attitudes can be consistently and reliably observed and quantified. Results also confirm earlier studies that report benefits from the use of computer-mediated communication for survey research. Demographic data reveals an unbiased survey and provides confirmation of several trends existing today in the software marketplace.

Dooley This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of ... more Dooley This paper is concerned with the development of an instrument aimed at the measurement of consumer attitudes concerning software quality. The operationalization of the construct software quality includes the dimensions of communication, completeness, features, flexibility, independence, simplicity, stability, and maturity. Ordinal scale development methods are used to develop objective, operational measures of these dimensions. An on-line, Internet-based survey tool was developed to facilitate the large number of responses required for survey validation. The instrument will help solve important problems of software development productivity, software engineering research and survey research. Results show that relevant software consumer attitudes

World Conference on the WWW and Internet, 1999

Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and developme... more Within a course at the University of Colorado addressing the management of research and development, a comparison of alternate asynchronous delivery media was conducted. For the course session on the management of intellectual property, asynchronous students were given access to the VHS tapes traditionally utilized, plus World Wide Web-based and CD-based (digital) lecture alternatives. The objectives of the comparison were: to determine student preferences; to ascertain the penetration of the computer technology necessary to utilize the alternative digital delivery methods; and to understand the usage patterns for the current videotapes to improve the design of future delivery systems. Students had two opportunities to express their preferences-a mailed survey administered immediately after the session and a less comprehensive follow-up assessment via the university's Faculty Course Questionnaire. With the mailed survey, students were asked for feedback in three categories: usage factors for VHS videotapes; preferences with respect to the digital delivery alternatives; and equipment barriers to utilizing the digital alternatives. Based on the survey results, approximately 50% of the students lacked convenient access to sufficient computer resources to take advantage of these alternate delivery mechanisms. (Contains 10 references.) (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.

World Conference on the WWW and Internet, 1998