Publications by Colleges and Departments (MSU - Bozeman)
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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 Is Nuclear Energy the Most Promising Energy Source for a Sustainable Future?(Undergraduate Scholars Program, 2024-04) Kahle, Grant; Gannon, Paul; Catlett, DuaneThe use of nuclear power to produce electricity is a promising source for safe, clean, and reliable energy. Though in the past public opinion has inhibited the growth and success of this electricity source; today, with the pressure of climate change forcing the world to make a lasting change in the way our society generates electricity, nuclear power is the most prominent source for a clean energy future. The first main goal of our research is to gain knowledge to further understand Montana’s public opinion and knowledge of nuclear power, more importantly, the foundation and reasoning for their views. We have conducted a survey that asks whether the respondent is favorable or unfavorable and why they hold that opinion, then whether they feel knowledgeable or unknowledgeable about nuclear power to produce electricity. We have surveyed students at the end of two Montana State University energy and sustainability courses, and in the next semester will conduct the survey in the beginning and end of courses from the science and business backgrounds. The second main goal of our research is to gain an understanding of why nuclear power has such a high price tag associated with it. We are researching the costs through summaries of techno-economic analyses of the construction and operation of previous nuclear power plants. To achieve this goal, we have been in contact with Northwestern Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, NuScale Power, and other sources from the internet. These sources have been gracious enough to share abundant information and data regarding their economic and financial knowledge and research into the field. With this information, a further goal is to identify where nuclear power can decrease costs to make it more economically viable and competitive.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.