Scholarly Work - Business
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/9306
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Item Inferred attractiveness gravity-based models for estimating realized access at rural hospitals(Informa UK Limited, 2024-09) Harris, Sean; McGarvey, Ronald G.; Thorsen, Andreas; Thorsen, MaggieOperating obstetric units in rural America is financially challenging in part due to low birth volume. Birth volume at a hospital decreases when birthers bypass it to go to a farther hospital. Beyond financial considerations, it is important from a healthcare equity perspective for hospitals to know whether certain subgroups of birthers avoid utilizing the hospital’s services. This can better inform resource allocation decisions targeting those subgroups. In this paper, we use a nonlinear programming optimization model, inferred attractiveness gravity-based model (GBM), to estimate realized access to obstetric care at hospitals in Montana. We compare three variations of GBM and benchmark our results to a regression-based conditional logit model. Results indicate that hospital attractiveness varies across the level of obstetric care provided and depends on the subgroup of birthers considered. While all GBMs produced smaller errors for hospitals with higher birth volumes, our novel variant was more accurate for low-volume hospitals. Bootstrapping analyses and resolving the models for population subgroups indicated large variations in hospital attractiveness. Research findings contribute to new knowledge about equity in access to obstetric care, the importance of considering population heterogeneity in GBMs, and the benefit of using hospital demand-based thresholds for GBMs in rural settings.Item Minding the abstraction gap: approaches supporting implementation(Wiley, 2024-07) Black, Laura J.; Greer, Donald R.Regardless of insights gained from building and analyzing dynamic models, the only strategies people can act on are those in their heads. The strategies people internalize are related to their perceived capacities to act—the verbs they believe they can do. If we want others to implement model-informed policies, then we must connect model abstractions with new situated, concrete actions stakeholders can take. We can emphasize opportunities to act with SD representations, navigating levels of abstraction cleanly, identifying flows as verbs, and choosing variable names that signal who is acting. By drawing on social-science theories as we offer our grammar of accumulations, activities, and relationships in the language of actions accessible to stakeholders, we help connect experiential understandings to richer, dynamic explanations people can internalize and so discover situated steps to implement policies informed by modeling. © 2024 The Author(s). System Dynamics Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of System Dynamics Society.Item Reflecting on Zagonel's dichotomy of microworlds and boundary objects(Wiley, 2024-07) Black, Laura J.Aldo Zagonel's distinction between “microworld” and “boundary object” approaches to modeling suggests we ask ourselves pointed questions about what we are valuing, under what conditions, as we involve stakeholders with system dynamics representations. Reflecting on developments in both participatory modeling and large system simulations, I propose that Zagonel's dichotomous descriptions lie along a continuum, with room for scholars and practitioners to explore more explicitly the multiple ways we adapt system dynamics methods to the needs and capacities of the stakeholders with whom we are working at that time. Regardless of approach, whether simulation models or causal diagrams, modifiable in the moment or fixed by design, the goal of using system dynamics representations remains focused on fostering intelligent action among the stakeholders facing the problem of focus. © 2024 The Author(s). System Dynamics Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of System Dynamics Society.Item Reflecting on Zagonel's dichotomy of microworlds and boundary objects(Wiley, 2024-07) Black, Laura J.Aldo Zagonel's distinction between “microworld” and “boundary object” approaches to modeling suggests we ask ourselves pointed questions about what we are valuing, under what conditions, as we involve stakeholders with system dynamics representations. Reflecting on developments in both participatory modeling and large system simulations, I propose that Zagonel's dichotomous descriptions lie along a continuum, with room for scholars and practitioners to explore more explicitly the multiple ways we adapt system dynamics methods to the needs and capacities of the stakeholders with whom we are working at that time. Regardless of approach, whether simulation models or causal diagrams, modifiable in the moment or fixed by design, the goal of using system dynamics representations remains focused on fostering intelligent action among the stakeholders facing the problem of focus. © 2024 The Author(s). System Dynamics Review published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of System Dynamics Society.Item Entrepreneurial Mindset and Intentions for Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship in Engineering and Business Students(SAGE Publications, 2024-06) Kwapisz, Agnieszka; Aytes, Kregg; Bryant, Scott; LaMeres, Brock J.With the shifting dynamics of the modern workforce, there is a growing recognition of the essential role that an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) plays in shaping future innovators, notably within engineering disciplines. Despite the acknowledged significance of EM, there remains a gap in understanding how it relates to entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial intentions (E/II). This research investigates the link between EM and E/II among business and engineering students. We also analyze how EM changes over time. Our findings indicate that in both domains, ideation correlated with entrepreneurial intentions (EI) and intrapreneurial intentions (II). In both domains, altruism was associated with II. Empathy and interest were related to EI in engineering students, distinct from their business counterparts, whereas open-mindedness and interest correlated with II. These differences emphasize the need for distinct educational strategies to prepare both business and engineering students for their entrepreneurial paths.Item Measures and Metrics of ML Data and Models to Assure Reliable and Safe Systems(IEEE, 2024-01) Werner, Benjamin D.; Schumeg, Benjamin J.; Vigil, Jon; Hall, Shane N.; Thengvall, Benjamin G.; Petty, Mikel D.The US Army solicited partners through a Broad Agency Announcement to propose solutions under a Small Business Technology Transfer contract mechanism for the program “Metrics and Methods for Verification, Validation, Assurance and Trust of Machine Learning Models & Data for Safety-Critical Applications in Armaments Systems.” OptTek Systems, Inc. and University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) were one of the selected proposals for Phase I. Under this contract agreement OptTek and UAH set the goal to research & develop (R&D) fundamental metrics & measures for the certification & qualification of ML training data sets & models. Of particular note, the use of a safety score calculated from the accuracy as well as a dedicated look at data quality have been demonstrated as reasonable approaches to the proposed topic. As the Technical Point of Contact for this effort, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC) authored the topic and provided guidance on the effort to align with mission objectives. This paper is an exploration of the research and development conducted by OptTek and UAH within the framework of how it may be applied to the assurance of systems to be developed by the US Army and augment practices in reliability and safety.