Stephen McCarthy

Hysteresis Can Grant Fitness in Stochastically Varying Environment

Although the existence of multiple stable phenotypes of living organisms enables random switching between phenotypes as well as non-random history dependent switching called hysteresis, only random switching has been considered in prior experimental and theoretical models of adaptation to variable environments. This work considers the possibility that hysteresis may also evolve together with random phenotype switching to maximize population growth. In addition to allowing the possibility that switching rates between different phenotypes may depend not only on a continuous environmental input variable, but also on the phenotype itself, the present work considers an opportunity cost of the switching events. This opportunity cost arises as a result of a lag phase experimentally observed after phenotype switching and stochastic behavior of the environmental input. It is shown that stochastic environmental variation results in maximal asymptotic growth rate when organisms display hysteresis for sufficiently slowly varying environmental input. At the same time, sinusoidal input does not cause evolution of memory suggesting that the connection between the lag phase, stochastic environmental variation and evolution of hysteresis is a result of a stochastic resonance type phenomenon.

An integrated patient journey mapping tool for embedding quality in healthcare service reform

Abstract The healthcare sector is a highly regulated environment that is subject to numerous constraints. Standards around medical protocol, medical device certification, and data protection ensure that the wellbeing and privacy of patients is protected during all encounters with the healthcare system. However, a gap has opened up between the need to meet these constraints, improve performance, and also deliver good patient experience. For example, the medical protocol for hypertension during pregnancy establishes a set of clinically validated treatment guidelines, but does not consider the unique nature of patient experience. We assert that design research principles can be used to create visual tools that pay homage to these constraints and performance improvement goals without compromising patient experience. In this paper, we describe such a tool that has been developed during a healthcare project using a human-centred design research approach. The integrated tool for patient journey mapping addresses the shortcomings of existing methodologies by supporting multidisciplinary practitioners in designing healthcare solutions that meet the demands of existing constraints, performance improvement, and patient experience. In addition, we document how patient journey maps were used on the project to facilitate collaboration among a team of multidisciplinary stakeholders.

Switching behaviour of two-phenotype bacteria in varying environment

An increasing interest in multi-phenotype species has stimulated both experimental and mathematical research. One example is bacteria which have two phenotypes and can make transitions from one phenotype to the other in response to variations in environmental conditions. We model a population of such bacteria subjected to a stochastic environmental input, which fluctuates between two conditions preferred by the phenotypes. Our interest in this model is how the average growth rate of the total population is affected by alterations to the environmental thresholds at which the transitions between phenotypes are allowed. Under certain conditions, we find that the bacteria achieve a maximum growth rate by adjusting their behavior to act in a similar manner to a non-ideal relay. In this scenario, memory helps to increase fitness. We then extend the model to include multiple competing species with different thresholds and examine the limit of distribution of population among these species and phenotypes as time increases. For this purpose, we formulate a reaction-diffusion model which involves non-ideal relays describing the evolution of the state of different species; and, a Preisach operator with time-dependent density function to account for the integral effect of the species on the environment. Formation of patterns and multiple stationary limits are shown numerically in the multi-species model.

Citizen participation in decision-making: can one make a difference?

Abstract Big Data promises benefits for society as well as business. Do policy makers know how best to use this scale of data driven decision-making in an effective way for citizens? Citizen participation is portrayed in literature as a key component in policy decision-making. Yet, this decision-making process to date is often driven by other stakeholders such as scientific experts, academic institutions, national and international governing bodies, to name but a few. Furthermore, there is scant literature on the best way to create policy for new technology, taking into consideration the voice of the citizen. The prevailing question, therefore, is what extent does citizen participation in decision-making make a difference to shaping policy for technology? Our paper explores an experimental method for citizens to make a difference to European policy decision-making on the future of technology and the impact on society. Employing a case study of Irish citizens as part of the CIMULACT (Citizen and Multi-Actor Consultation on Horizon 2020) project this paper reports a new methodology for gathering citizens’ perspectives on future decision-making policies on technology. The findings reveal key advantages and disadvantages to this methodology. This paper makes a number of contributions to both the academic and practitioner communities.

Compliance–innovation: integrating quality and compliance knowledge and practice

Motivated by a gap in the literature linking compliance and innovation, this paper develops the novel concept of Compliance–Innovation (C–I). Based on a review of the literature and interviews with experienced practitioners, we characterise C–I as a transformational process to drive organisational improvements in sustainability and competitiveness. We explain how the organisational mechanism that permits identification and exploitation of knowledge for commercial purposes, i.e. Absorptive Capacity, may be enlarged through application of C–I because both external and internal contexts are appropriately and comprehensively incorporated. C–Is roots lie in the integration of quality and compliance knowledge into a central IT repository, and its potential for commercial exploitation through, for example, the Six Sigma approach is outlined – indicating its usefulness for orienting business focus, performance and innovation.

Social complexity and team cohesion in multiparty information systems development projects

Abstract Despite the proliferation of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for Information Systems Development (ISD), the rate of ISD project failure continues to remain exorbitantly high. In particular, social complexity is increasingly seen as an innate feature of multiparty ISD projects which make them less amenable to being ‘tamed’. However, an understanding of the intricacies of social complexity and how it impacts team cohesion in multiparty projects remains nascent. In this paper we offer findings from the case study of a funded academia-industry collaboration to investigate the elusive phenomenon of social complexity. A theoretical framework is developed to reveal the factors which contribute to social complexity and its impact on team cohesion in multiparty ISD projects. The findings derived from the application of this lens reveal the numerous challenges to team cohesion that arose from the interplay between macro- and micro-level factors. Theoretical and practical implications from the paper are also outlined.

Impacts of Openness on the Success of Information System Development Research Projects

Information Systems Development (ISD) research projects are those in which the conduction of research is not possible without the development of a tangible ICT solution. ISD research projects face inherent tensions between the need for exploration (i.e. radical innovation) and exploitation (i.e. incremental innovation). This requires varying degrees of openness to balance the exploration of new opportunities and exploitation of existing capabilities. In this paper, we investigate the management of openness in ISD research projects and their impact on project success. Findings from three ISD research projects are outlined which offer contrasting approaches to the management of openness. Each management approach is then evaluated according to the perspectives of success in the balance scorecard for projects i.e. Financial, Customer, Internal Business, and Learning and Innovation. Finally, key learnings from the projects are presented, as well as concluding remarks on success in ISD research projects.

Cascading effects in the moving Preisach model

We consider jumps in the input-output relationship of a system composed of a Preisach hysteretic transducer and a mean-field type global positive feedback loop. The discontinuities are induced by the feedback loop, which promotes avalanches of cascading flips of the independent domains (spins) in the Preisach model in response to a monotone variation of the input after a moment τ0. We discuss the locations of the avalanches and formulate an Equal Area Rule, which defines their size. Under the assumption that the history of the system prior to the moment τ0 has been formed by a stochastic input process, the state of the system at the moment τ0 and hence the location and size of the avalanches after this moment become random variables. We present several examples of their distribution.